Cute As A Button

I guess this little phrase still gets used a lot. I've always wondered how it got started as I've made an exhaustive study of buttons and have found few, if any, I'd call cute. But here it is, stuck in the language as firmly as if it had taken root. And I'm willing to bet, it'll be around for awhile yet. This is a 6 by 4.5 inches gel pen drawing on medium bond acid-free paper. Its buttons are anything but cute but Original Jones Art loves a dose of irony as he sits cooped up like an old rooster in northwest Austin, Texas. Is it time to crow yet?