Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold. I first learned this song as a young girl in Girl Scouts and have never forgotten it. Back in January, I chose to share this song as part of my very first Silver Sunday. Thankfully, Beth @ Gypsy Fish Journal decided to continue with Silver Sunday as the Second Sunday because today I want to share about both my golden friends and my silver new friends that this song reminds me of and this Sunday party is the perfect place to introduce them. Thank you Beth for hosting the party.
My best friend is Darcy. You met her on an earlier Silver Sunday post. She is the wonderful lady with the log cabin home decorated Victorian Shabby Chic, with the pet goats (Rachel, Phoebe and Monica), the pet pig and the 6 foot tall Suit of Armour. (If you missed it, please click here.) There isn't a room in my home that doesn't have some plate, artwork or pillow that wasn't a gift from her. She knows my style to a T. Years ago she presented me with these lovely silver fruit, some of you may have already seen them, but I wanted to add what makes them so special. For all my friend's immeasurable talents, the one she lacks, she does not sew. When she first presented me this fruity gift, they were in a cast iron basket that was lined with a cloth napkin that she had painstakingly sewn and embellished. Of course I loved the fruit; however, knowing what it took for her to figure out the operation of a sewing machine, done only for a best friend, that gift was priceless.
I have known Melody for over 25 years. Our paths have varied over the years but we always find ourselves reconnecting. She currently is my office assistant and thank goodness she keeps me focused at the tasks at hand. Like many of us, she is helping her elderly parents begin the process of cleaning out and downsizing. Recently her mom passed on to her a pair of silver wine glasses. They are a beautiful soft silver, but what makes them even more beautiful is the music they produce. When clicked together, a note emanates from these goblets, clear and bright, as a note sounding forth from a silver bell. It really is quite amazing. When she presented them to me, knowing that I would appreciate and use them. I felt honored. I promised to cherish them as if they had been a gift from my own mother.
I count both Darcy and Melody as true and golden friends. Not into blogging themselves, they nonetheless are supportive of my efforts and encourage me as I learn new computer skills. Please note the fancy framed photos. I have been practicing and having too much fun.
As much as I love my old friends, it has been because of blogging that I have met so many new and delightful friends....... My Silver friends. This is how I met Shara of Monkeybox. Awhile back she was showing her finds from a school rummage sale. All fun finds. Then she showed what she found in a box of vintage Christmas decorations ...... silver plastic reindeer and a sleigh. They were my reindeer or I should say the reindeer I had as childhood Christmas Decorations. I left Shara a comment on how special those reindeer were to me as they reminded me of my father. I now only had a few and I don't remember if there had been a sleigh but at some point in time, there must have been one for my set as well. It had been so amazing to see this find of hers because I have never seen these reindeer anywhere else, ever.
Imagine my surprise when the day after I posted my comment, Shara responded by asking if I would like the sleigh and the reindeer. We had just met! How sweet and thoughtful and more meaningful to me than she knew. I received her e-mail on March 15th. The date may have significance to only a few that know it is the Ides of March, the day Caesar was killed. However, it has significance to me as it was the day my father passed away. I was only 13. This friendly gesture from a stranger was as if my father was saying hello to me, that very day, through Shara. The silver may be only plastic, and an antler or two may be missing, but these little reindeer and sleigh are worth more than gold to me. Had it not been for blogging and my stopping over to Monkeybox for a visit, I would not have met this lovely lady. I would love to go junkin' with her anytime.
Here is a photo of the combined sets of reindeer and the sleigh. I only need to find one more. Because they were Christmasey, I decided to show them in my garden for a more springtime feel.
When I wrote back to say Thank you to Shara I asked her if she wouldn't mind if I waited until now to do a proper blog post thank you. I knew then that I wanted to save it for today's Silver Sunday. But I find today that I have more thank you's to share. You see, my previous post talked about a giveaway prize I had just received in the mail. The timing had been perfect as I had been rather sick with a cold. I was only mentioning the cold to set the tone for just how nice getting a fun package on an otherwise horrible day had been. What I had not expected but was not surprised at, the thoughtfulness of my fellow bloggers and the sweet comments that post generated, concerns for my health.
So a special thank you to Melinda at 15 Bella Vie, Carol at Old Glory Cottage , Linda at A La Carte , Sweet Bee Cottage, and Athena at a Weblog of Artist Athena Workman for your kind thoughts. I would invite you all and Shara over to my house for tea and rich red velvet cupcakes if only I could. Please be sure to stop by and say hello to these lovely ladies, and see their fun blogs, their gorgeous jewelry and amazing one of a kind dolls. When I wrote about doing a giveaway to celebrate having 100 followers, I remarked that my blog is both a journal of my life as well as a journey. Having such great folks join me in my travels brings me such joy and happiness. How lovely is that .... all the silver in the world can not buy that feeling.
Thank you for enduring a lengthy post, but I wanted to take the proper time to say Thank You to all. Please be sure to visit Beth and all the other folks participating in today's Silver Sunday. She certainly knows how to throw a party.
I will be announcing the winner of my giveaway Sunday. Not to keep up the suspense on purpose, it is late and I ran out of time to add up all the comments and extra chances. Good luck to all.
Have a lovely day.
Sherrie
It is another Silver Sunday, where has the time gone. I wanted to do something a little different today for Beth over at Gypsy Fish Journal and all the others participating in her fabulous blog party. So while thinking of what to post, I decide to watch a little TV. The movie was Forever Young with Mel Gibson and Jamie Lee Curtis. The movie has Mel as a 1939 test pilot that volunteers to be frozen for a cryogenics experiment and is awoken in 1992. There is a scene showing him sitting in his living room, circa 1939, before the big day.
The camera pans across the room and then, there it is, I see it. It is my greyhound ashtray. In Mel's living room!! I found this piece years ago at a local flea market. I think I paid $5.00. I felt it had an art deco feel. At the very least, it is from the 30's.
Now I don't use the ashtray for its intended purpose. It usually holds candy and sits in front of another flea market find, a silver colored metal pedestal.
When I bought this piece fifteen years or so ago, it had originally come from an estate sale. The top is wood (oak) with a brass plate held down by a brass tack in each corner. It sits on a piece of thick wood with 4 large wooden balls for feet. I have never seen anything like it. Any suggestions?
So there you have it. Thanks Mel for reminding me about my ashtray for this month's Silver Sunday Party. Please be sure to join in for this little silver party, whether tarnished or polished, it is all so fun to visit.
Also don't forget to check out the giveaways hosted by Jill at Gypsy Brocante, by daughter and mother, Sara and Abbey at Sweet Magnolias Farm and Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal. Have a pleasant Sunday.
Sherrie
Today is a combination post which I call Silver Sunday Vintage Valentines. I am joining in again with Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal for the start of Silver Sunday Session II and with Joan at Anything Goes for the Vintage Valentine Card Party. Both parties will be fun. You know what great hostesses Joan and Beth are. Please be sure to stop over and say hi to all their party guests.
I was only planning on participating with just my Valentines, I am short on any new silver. Then I remembered my friend Darcy and a few silver treasures that I knew she wouldn't mind sharing. Darcy lives in a log cabin home that she has decorated in the shabby chic Victorian style. It may surprise some folk expecting a lodge type decor (especially being up in Maine), but I must say her style works. I have made her promise to let me take some pictures to share, for another post. But for today, may I present her collection of Knights in Shining Armour.
The first knight is over 6 foot tall and stands guard in the living room. He holds a sign that reads "Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons ... For you are crunchy and good with ketchup." Words to live by.
*I just found this perfect Valentines Day card over at Fiona and Twig that I just had to add to my post.
She also has two other knights, one 4 feet and the other 2 feet tall.
Definitely not what you would expect to find in a log cabin home
but it is so Darcy.
Now as a segue into the Valentine post, here is a photo of the hubby, resplendent in his tux, in a SILVER frame with VINTAGE VALENTINE DAY card.
This Valentine would have been received by some lucky little girl in the 40's, as would the rest of the cards in my collection.
This charming little Valentine, shows kittens playing with a puzzle. I thought it looked cute against my Floraline vases and shiny red puzzle piece magnet.
My friend Darcy has kittens, dogs, chickens, a pig and 3 goats. The goats like to try to climb into my car each time I visit. Today, was no exception.
So I thought I would do a goat card for them.
I love old books and use them for decorating as well as reading. I tend to be drawn to them for the color of their jacket as much as the contents therein. These are some of my red books. The little girl is giving a lesson to the little boy.
This next one is my favorite card. It is older than the 40's but unsure the exact date. It simply reads "Will you help me kill time? Now that surely screams out romance.
Music and Valentines Day are a natural pairing, so here is a pair of musicians serenading with guitar and trombone.
Valentine's Day would not be complete without a tasty treat, so here is a little girl cooking up a batch of Valentine Sweets for her beau.
Hope that you all get some chocolate, served on a silver tray, while you sit back ad enjoy Silver Sunday and Vintage Valentine Card Blog Parties. Happy Valentine's Day.
Today is the final Silver Sunday (Session 1). A big thank you to Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal for hosting this party and for continuing with Silver Sunday (Session 2, which will now be just the second Sunday of the month get together). It has been fun. I have met some great ladies and had a chance to see some amazing silver, in all their tarnished and polished glory, along with some fabulous bling. We were dressed to the nine's for this party.
So pull up a chair, silver of course, and sit down for a spell and let me show you what I found.
These are some of my favorite things for entertaining..... silver crowns with a wire ring. I use them as place card holders or to hold menu descriptions on a buffet table.
You can never have too many knives.
Both of these pieces were recent Goodwill finds, $.99 cents each.
This cake stand is another Goodwill find this past summer. I loved the amber glass/silver base and based my Thanksgiving table on this color scheme. I found the matching silverware (a service for 10) for only $.25 cent apiece.
These are family pieces. The My great grandmother's baptism cup I have already shown. The other two pieces are from my husband's family and came down from Quebec. The silver piece with handle I believe is a candy dish but I have always displayed it with the two handed cup. They have been polished so many times, over so many lifetimes, that all that now shows is this beautiful soft tarnished glow.
This letter opener also came from my husband's family, from his grandparents. Just having these pieces around provide much needed and appreciated continuity, a link to the past. They have no real monetary value but are priceless treasures nonetheless.
Thank you for allowing me to share with you these past few weeks and for all your delightful and heartwarming comments. This is what makes blogging so much fun and rewarding.
Thank you. Please be sure to check out all the other participants over at Gypsy Fish Journal.
Whew, am I tired. For the past week, I have been visiting some pretty amazing places, all from the comfort of my magic carpet. I am participating in the One World One Heart Journey. I have to say that I saw some really nice silver give aways on this trip, including some fabulous mercury glass votives that I am keeping my fingers crossed that I may win. But today is Silver Sunday and you will find me here, feet firmly on the ground ..... in a very cold 6 degrees Maine. Thankfully, at least it isn't snowing, yet.
Silver Snowman on the door is getting ready to be replaced with lots of hearts for February.
I had prepared for this post ... my photos were taken .... but the Internet decided to be slow, very slow, very, very slow. You get the idea. I was able to upload only three photos, so I have only one silver treasure to share.
My father-in-law passed away several years ago. In gathering things to post for today, I remembered the old silver watch belonging to him that was passed down to us. There had been an old cigar box that Joe had used as his safety deposit box of sorts, and that was where I found the watch ..... and much more.
There was a silver crucifix, a silver/black pocket knife carried daily and something silver and blue.
It was a bookmark lovingly made by my daughter when she was 7 and given to her beloved grandfather, Sepe. I never realized that it found safekeeping in this treasure box, put there by Joe himself. I guess he felt that it was a worthy treasure. I would agree. Not everything valuable has to be sterling silver.
(I'll save those for next week -- see you then.) Please don't forget to say Hi to our host Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal for throwing this great party.
It is Silver Sunday and welcome to my post. Thank you for stopping by for a visit. By the way, for those who have visited before, please note the name change, hope that you like it. Also, please be sure to say hello to Beth, our glittering hostess, at http://thegypsyfish.blogspot.com and the other participating "Silver Sunday Sistas" to see all the silver fun.
I call this photo "Silver Icicles on a Winter's Day"
As a caterer, I am always picking up serving pieces to use, brand new, lawn sale or thrift store finds. Here is a sample of silver ladles or gravy spoons. The first spoon pictured on the bottom is just marked stainless. The second spoon, my favorite in its simplicity, is stamped Viners of Sheffield England, Empire Stainless Steel. The third spoon is marked Japan with Pageant, Stainless Harvest. The fourth spoon is marked Rogers or Royers, too small to make out. the biggest spoon at the top, is marked Oneida LTD, Silversmiths.
In my 8th grade literature book, there was a short story about a woman that walks in to a silver shop and requests to be shown their most expensive silver ladle. The proprietor hands the woman a beautiful piece, simple, with no adornments. The woman is offended. The ladle is to be a wedding gift for a very prominent and influential couple. She would be embarrassed to present such a simple and presumably common gift. The owner patiently explained that anyone can create an item covered with embellishments, perhaps unnecessary touches. A rosette or curlicue design may be covering flaws in the piece. It takes true craftsmanship to create a simple and flawless piece thereby making it priceless. I wish I had noted the author's name as I have often told that story to make that same point.
These pieces above, except the cake server, are all marked Oneida LTD Silversmiths and have such a beautiful soft shine. The cake server has no markings and is quite a heavy piece.
The next three pieces are all marked China, and although they are shiny, it is a bright and cheap shine. I keep them to use for utilitarian purposes only and don't mind if one of these pieces gets lost.
I love the fork to the left, kind of a crinkle cut design, it is marked Korea. The other 2 pieces are both Cuisinart 18/10 Stainless.
I don't own much silver for my own personal dining table; however, I had purchased these salt and pepper shakers from a large and well known shop in Maine. This was several years after I had been married, still with no formal set of "good china". I had a moment of weakness, thinking that since I was now married and a new home owner, that it was time to start a proper dish collection, meaning from Macy's or some other similar retail establishment. This shaker set is beautiful, and I do love them, but thankfully, they were the only official store bought formal purchase that I have made.
I was married in 1980. I did not have a gift registry on file, again at a store like Macy's. My friends and family were broke, times were tough. I received 3 crock pots and tons of towels among the assorted gifts of home-made pillows, quilts, cook books, can openers and a blender. All those gifts are now gone, all lovingly used. The one gift that remains, was my most cherished gift of all, a silver tray, silver plate to be exact, with a little fork. It is a "party set" produced by Rogers Bros, marked IS, 199, America's Finest Silver Plate. Whenever we entertained, the tray would be used.... for cheese and crackers or nuts or olives. It made me feel like such a proper little hostess. After each use, the tray would be carefully washed, wiped dry and be put back in its box for safe keeping. Needless to say, I now own a substantial collection of trays and other serving pieces, that are large enough for crowds of 40 - 100. But I will always remember how I felt when I would bring out that little tray for the few slices of cheese it would hold and how I dreamed of becoming the hostess that I became.
My last piece of silver, a 25th Silver Anniversary plate.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a chance to say hello. Looking forward to our visit together next Sunday.
I thought I would be better prepared this week for Silver Sunday. It has been a bit of two steps forward and one step back, not to mention having a sick child all week. So here is what I pulled together. Thank you for stopping by to say Hello.
First of all, a thank you to Jill at Gypsy Brocante. She has posted a winner of her fab blackboard trays. Sounds like she has something for next week as well. Please check out her site.
This is my favorite piece of silver. It is a cherished family memory and keepsake. I believe it is a christening or baptism cup. I am hoping that my learned blogging friends can provide some feedback on that. It will still take a polish but I prefer the tarnished flavor of the piece. There is a face on the handle, and it is engraved with the name Annie, my great grandmother. I don't have many treasures from my Dad's family, very few actually exist, so I am thankful to have this.
Not sure if it counts as a Silver Treasure, but my daughter, age 5, in her silver ballet costume, is a family treasure for me.
I don't usually decorate with silver, but I tend to be drawn to shiny silver frames. The mirrored frame is my daughter's (yes, the little ballerina) High School graduation photo, the one next to it is of me, age 2, with my cousin's college cap, and the three little girls are my sisters, with me off to the side, wearing our Easter finery.
One of my favorite little silver frames, holds a photo of my mom on her wedding day. I have also included the silver grapes from my bowl of silver fruit, shown earlier, from my best friend.
Finally, here is an an unassuming silver tray. I just purchased it yesterday from Goodwill for $.99 cents. The tag still shows. With all the wonderful blackboard trays that I saw last week at Silver Sunday, I am getting ready to create one of my own. Thanks for all the tips and tutorials on the subject.
Thanks again to Beth at http://thegypsyfish.blogspot.com for hosting this party. Please be sure to check out her post and all the other participants. See you next Sunday.
Blog Update!!!
Silver Sunday Giveaway Alert
Jill at Gypsy Brocante is adding to the fun of the Silver Sunday Blog Party with a give away. Next Sunday, someone will be the lucky recipient of one of these lovely blackboard trays. Check out her site at http://gypsyfleamarket.blogspot.com. Good luck to all who enter. Thanks Jill.
Already the 10th of January. I suppose then it is only fitting that it is 10 degrees up here in Maine, to match the date. So time to warm up a with a little Silver Sunday glow. I thought we should do a Ladies Night Out. Okay Beth, grab your silver shoes, purses and all your bling, time to sparkle and shine!
For those that are getting a sense of me, you know that everything I have has to have a story. Whatever the piece, be it pottery, furniture or jewelry, it has to have history, whether my own or an older piece that has now included me in its provenance.
This snake bracelet was purchased at a flea market located in an old mill in Brunswick, Maine. Definitely a place to check out if you are ever visiting the State. The piece is vintage and fun and perfect for my daughter who owns a snake, a Ball Python. She actually has collected several snake themed jewelry pieces. This collectible is one of the items on our "to find" list when we scout out flea markets and vintage shops. It does make you wonder what attracted the original owners to these reptilian treasures.
The black heart necklace is a very special piece to me. It was hand-made by my father as an anniversary present for my Mom, over 50 years ago. I'm not sure what material the black heart is cut from, nor what metal is the backing. I do know that the head was carefully and painstakingly cut out from a dime. The chain is silver. I am also not sure why my Mom honored me with this necklace, I have both an older and younger sister, but I am very grateful that it is now mine. This necklace, along with the story of my dad's love for my mom, will be passed on to my daughter..... someday, but not today.
When it comes to silver telling stories, you have to have a charm bracelet. It doesn't matter if you are tom boy or girly girl, I think it is a rite of passage for any young lady. I received mine as a birthday gift when I was 16. My daughter received hers when she turned 14. My charms include a bike, a cross, a sewing machine (representing what is important in my life) among several music themed charms that were awards from school. Elizabeth's also includes music charms representing her own school awards. (Like Mother, Like Daughter) I wished I had better pictures of the charms.
This pretty little purse was a birthday gift to my mother from one of her dear friends. She has had it for many years, and for many New Year's Eve parties, and other special gatherings. This Christmas, she gave it to my daughter. Elizabeth celebrated this New Year, being 21, with good friends, and Nana's silver purse. She is looking forward to many similar future New Year's Eves!!!
Next week I will showcase my more traditional silver pieces. Till then, please stop over and visit the other participating Silver Sunday Sistas and say Hi to Beth, http://thegypsyfish.blogspot.com. May their silver glow keep you warm on a chilly January night. Thanks for stopping by.
I have known Melody for over 25 years. Our paths have varied over the years but we always find ourselves reconnecting. She currently is my office assistant and thank goodness she keeps me focused at the tasks at hand. Like many of us, she is helping her elderly parents begin the process of cleaning out and downsizing. Recently her mom passed on to her a pair of silver wine glasses. They are a beautiful soft silver, but what makes them even more beautiful is the music they produce. When clicked together, a note emanates from these goblets, clear and bright, as a note sounding forth from a silver bell. It really is quite amazing. When she presented them to me, knowing that I would appreciate and use them. I felt honored. I promised to cherish them as if they had been a gift from my own mother.
I count both Darcy and Melody as true and golden friends. Not into blogging themselves, they nonetheless are supportive of my efforts and encourage me as I learn new computer skills. Please note the fancy framed photos. I have been practicing and having too much fun.
Here is a photo of the combined sets of reindeer and the sleigh. I only need to find one more. Because they were Christmasey, I decided to show them in my garden for a more springtime feel.
