Rose’s Buttons

Collectors and sewing enthusiasts both love… love… love JHB Buttons.  I thought you might like to have a little more information about this company.

JHB are the initials of founder Jean Howard Barr.  Jean lived in Denver and was a part time sales rep for her brother’s coffee mug business and had a knit and yarn shop in Boulder. The story goes that Jean and her husband Jim were visiting Warsaw, Poland on a humanitarian mission. One of her customers asked her to look for buttons for some ski sweaters.  Jean volunteered to look for buttons while in Europe.  She found the perfect buttons and bought all the shop had.  In 1969, JHB Imports was incorporated and the first full catalog printed.  By 1971 more suppliers and buttons were added.  And in 1974 a building was constructed to house the business.

JHB Button Licensed Product Card

JHB Button Card

Jean’s motto was “It has to be the BEST …or is’ not a JHB Button!”.  JHB went on to acquire international license products like Beatrix Potter, Peanuts, Paddington Bear and Kellogg’s. The brand is known for quality, novelty and unusual designs.  This company truly produces buttons that are the collectible buttons of the future.  Jean Barr passed away in May of 2009 and the company is run by her son, Jay.