Vintage Summer and Other Lovely Things

Spring has sprung, as they say, and it has been actually been so wet that it leaves many of us wondering what is in store for summer. I know that whatever is happening now it is ten times better than last year here in Michigan when it was so hot and humid so early in the spring that we never felt like we had a spring. Hey, on the whole, I am just grateful for blue skies, leaves on the trees and the enjoyment of early morning or late evening walks even if I have to wear a sweatshirt for either!
I cannot believe that it has been since March that I have not visited my page and shared my thoughts and information on the things I know and love and the memories I have of days past that made me the person I am today. 

The things that come to mind when I think of summer are many.  The last day of school, wrapping the textbooks in brown paper and cleaning out my desk, picnic lunches out on the grass by the rectory...all of these things were commonplace up until eighty

Downsizing Yet Retaining Your Treasures

Moving into a one bedroom apartment, downsizing from a four bedroom home with a living room and a family room and a much bigger kitchen was a painful exercise for me.  Not only was I bidding farewell to more space and a myriad of places to try out my design savvy, but also I was forced to inventory all of my "stuff" and make tough decisions on what to keep and what to let go of based on lack of space for storage and display. I was forced to acknowledge that I had less shelving, closet space, and walls upon which to hang frames and rooms in which to display my choices in throw pillows, lighting and accessories.  I had to put a stop to bringing home wonderful decorative elements from my trips to the thrift shops because now...I would have no place to put them. To me coming to this truth was the more painful part of the moving process.  Sure I lamented the loss of my home after twenty three years. But for me, the bigger realization was painful. -- I had to think like people in my life who had no idea what being sentimental is about and no appreciation for vintage or antique.Unless I could wrap my brain around this mantra, I was doomed to fail at making this move work.

I wonder who of you who is reading this can understand how hard it was to re-think my "keep, don't keep"  mindset  to make my relocation successful.  I decided to focus instead on the excitement of new surroundings and my joy at being employed after going for nearly three and a half years of part time work but needing a full-time career position and  wondering where I would go if I never again would be a full-time employee.  When I accepted my circumstances and committed myself to being grateful and use strength from there to move forward it became much less of a sad thing and more of a happy occasion to be celebrated. Once I was settled in my new place, no matter how small, I would have placed before me a fresh pallet upon which to exercise my creativity, exhale.  I would finally be able to take in the peace and tranquility that comes with smaller utility bills, having no one to cater to except for myself, and enjoy minimalism decorating which I would eventually come to embrace. I have learned there is something to be said for having less "stuff"  sitting on every open level spot and occupying every inch of wall space around me. I could find comfort in knowing that this new place symbolizes a rising up of a phoenix after a long arduous journey that had left me feeling out of hope and running out of time. Now, what better thing to do in this new place than to just be happy?

Well here we are a year and a half later and I am loving my space more than ever.  I found a way to keep my stuff and make it all fit in my new place.  I utilized a few tried and true tricks and a little bit of ingenuity.  I have a place for the extensive collections that I did not part with and a space for everything else that most would have either left on the curb or given away. I have reached a place where there is a healthy balance of "things" in my space and have avoided the sometimes unavoidable scourge of becoming looking like I joined the hoarders. My space is friendly, open, full of light and I have the things I love in enough quantity around me to tell each and every visitor what I am about, what I love, and what kind of person I am.  From the first step in the door people can see pictures of my children and special others in my life. They get a glimpse of my many collections and most importantly, the things I chose to display are conversation starters.

 

One of the things that I have done is use all the spaces I can that even you may not have thought of before.  I am using space above the cupboards in my tiny kitchen to display vintage kitchen wares, cake plates and china coffee and teapot collections, and various other pantry items.  I have some Hall pottery bowls, some refrigerator butter containers sitting up there as well as some pieces of various historic value displayed. On one wall I display some  plates that I have that I find very pretty.  On my counter top Homer Laughlin bright yellow fiesta ware creamer arranged in the corner.  Copper jello molds of various designs and fancy gold framed pictures hang about on the back splash behind the sink. There is no shortage of character in this kitchen, I made sure of that!

 This corner space would be a real snoozer without something to look at in an otherwise blank space. From the floor you can see a vintage tin biscuit/cookie canister with a Bakelite handle on it, a Spode Billingsley Rose coffee pot and a ceramic rabbit milk pitcher. 

 I like the color and shine of copper because it lights up the space. You can see my Halls ceramic bowl and the towle painted tray.   The "HOME" sign is more contemporary but that's okay!

 I have a few of these aluminum cake plates. I do use them and when I don't I have one up here on the shelf.  I think you may recognize the Mexican lady napkin holder and the milk glass sugar and creamer.  More copper and a birdhouse is there for the perfect red and yellow color it adds.


I love my little chicky egg timer and Homer Laughlin creamer...yellow is such an inviting color to introduce
into any space....especially the under cabinet areas in kitchens where light is minimal and there are gray shadows.



The positions of the wreath, copper and cauliflower relief plaque works because all have different textures.
It may seem like a lot to have in one corner, but the canisters are functional and the items on the wall
provide color. These things, if not for this space to show them, would be holed up in a storage
area or in a bin or given away.



I haven't used it yet...but I plan to. Most people think of these nik naks as dust collectors but I
refer to them as conversation starters.

I have a set of canisters filled with staples and a tin canister with a bake light knob, a cute vintage egg timer, and a  bright yellow Homer Laughlin Riviera creamer that is actually used from time to time. It helped a lot to actually add knobs to the cupboard doors! The landlord was nice about allowing me to have the freedom. to do that.  Purchased for pennies at a recent garage sale.   Most landlords are not as flexible about changing cosmetic items, save a single wall with an accent color on it.

On to the bathroom.  I have a lust and love for crystal and "bling" in general. Sometimes things can come off looking a bit gaudy, but in a measured amount, it can look tasteful and elegant. The bathroom in my apartment looked empty and boring being all white from top to bottom providing me the perfect backdrop for showcasing my shiny bright nik-naks. Everything surface in there is white, from the sink to the vanity top to the original small square vintage floor tiles to the tub surround, to the walls and ceiling. But I was inspired and introduced crystal into the space. I ordered some solid crystal knobs for the vanity from Ebay for a mere $2.95 plus shipping for the pair, brought out my $4.99 thrift store Waterford vase (someone obviously didn't recognize the piece as a genuine Waterford...good for me!) and a bouquet of cream color fabric roses.  These things would bee stored away in a box if not this opportunity!  I continued the theme with a crystal soap dish and a small crystal biscuit jar and a candle holder (2) on each side of the basin.  On the back of the toilet bowl I brought out my milk glass tray and set two of my many crystal perfume bottles on it.  White shower curtain with clear plastic hangers, white rugs and there....all of my beautiful crystal out in the open. I don't have to worry about any of it being broken cause there is just me in this space. And my bathroom shines and twinkles like the feminine space it should be after many years of decorating casual for everyone else in my family.  Every single one of these lovely items would not be out in the open if not for me choosing a design and color palate that required their use. 

                       

I never needed tons of counter space to manage my morning routine so
this look works for me!  Oh joy! These sparkling collectibles greet me first thing
in the morning and set my mood for the day!

Just a couple of simple crystal knobs dressed up this boring white vanity and helped to
make my collection of crystal perfume bottles, candlesticks and vases sort of
"belong" in the space.



The crystal biscuit jar and lotus candle holder twinkle
so brightly right after a cleaning. The candle is
one of those flame less ones. Out of the box and  in
the bath for a romantic light when guests come over.

This sits to the left of the white vanity basin. With the crystal and the mirror being so close together it all relates better. Most of the time before now my crystal vase was in a shoebox wrapped in tissue where absolutely no one could look at it and enjoy seeing something pretty!

The "towel rod" was packed away after I got it a the Salvation army. Heck, I don't know if it is a towel rod, but that is how I decided to use it. Anyway my pretty embroidered and lace towels, part of my vintage linens collection is now a showpiece under the pretty ornate picture frame. All of these cool accessories were staring at the inside of a cardboard box..until now.

Hallways have always been regarded as a pass through.  I have a very small hallway but plenty of boring tall walls to display family photos and a few choice prints that I have come across in my thrift store and antique mall visits.  This space provides the perfect backdrop for all of them.  And no...my hallway doesn't feel smaller...it feels artsy and fun!  It is fun to give my guests the 2cent tour when they come to visit.  Most of the family photos are in black as are the frames to keep the "noise" at a low pitch in the space. I think that these choices made this space work better.  Oh, and the little table..rescued from someones curbside garbage heap, became a useful drop off point for keys or maybe a small vase of flowers from time to time. Charmer!

  <All my favorite b&w  family photos.













       My special friends>

Do people really put much thought into their bedrooms?  It is a functional space for most of us and we are in there to sleep, dress and well..that's about it.  I wanted to celebrate the opportunity to move away from my last bedroom with all the dark colors.  This room has a very large window that streams in light...and love I say...and it needed to be decorated right.

Initially, I was a little disappointed when I found out that my windows had no moldings. But no matter, I dressed them up with a crystal embellished rod and light and airy silk panels in a pretty taupe.  I have a mirrored nightstand and a crystal lamp and have adorned the space beside each side of my bed with more crystal and white and taupe collection pieces, again pulled out of the dark side of a closet. I have my vintage Buzza prints hanging next to the upholstered headboard. These prints are in aged fashion and the color evokes history and charm.  With those I have mirrors and ornate framed pictures hanging there too.  A crystal jewelry jar sits on the mirrored nightstand and a Waterford crystal vase with white and blush pink posies resting in it.  I guess you can see I do like roses. The main thing with this bouquet is that they introduced an additional speck of color into an otherwise monochromatic color scheme which bounces off of the rose print that hangs above the bed. It all works together!

This "bluebird of happiness" print is what I am all about.

I love this frame by Cynthia Rowley..totally vintage charm

My beloved Buzza Prints!

A pretty vignette of crystal, silver, and bright bright white. All the little things that make this room cozy and allow for bringing out all of my "stuff". When I roll over in the morning I have something lovely to look at.

Corners are not always meant to be empty. I couldn't let the corner be a blank space and I had a chair that I thought would have to go into storage. Fortunately, my new room design worked so well with the color and style.  The cabriolet legs and the ivory moire fabric upholstery lended itself to the color of the walls and the silky taupe fabric of the curtain. A bit of bling sealed the deal...a pillow I had been keeping for just the right place to set it embellished with tiny silvery glass bead work.  Voila! What could have been a tired empty corner is a showplace and a quick place to sit to put on my slippers or just take rest.  I have a collection of hatboxes and these provide storage for cashmere scarves, gloves  and various other accessories for use whenever I need them.

I so love this chair!

Don't let anyone criticize mixing pillows of many different looks.  This is YOUR space..and no, i don't mind moving all of this around when I turn in at night. It doesn't take but only a few seconds! Notice that everything balances and all the colors in the room are accentuated and displayed even though I may be breaking a rule about quantity.  Dusting the furniture is not any more tedious than without all this to work around and they are things that I can look at as I awaken in the morning and see and smile at. A nice way to start my day.

Sparkly and fluffy bright white and cream colored pillows are propped up against the shammed ones on the bed and sit on each chair.  I had a collection of pretty throw pillows in various designs and shades of white, ecru and taupe.  They were in a zippered plastic container until now.  Throw pillows are vastly underrated!  They are, by far, the cheapest way to spruce up and add color and character to a boring sofa, bed or chair. They don't have to match...just have to be interesting! No rules to their use. 

This mirror is something I absolutely treasure in my space. It sparkles like mad! The chair was a $25 find. The great thing about these kinds of chairs is that I can change the look with a simple and inexpensive slip-cover if I move it to any other room.

Funny thing about all of my furniture likes...I am varied in my choices and those I had on hand from my past..but here they all sort of "sing" together. The symphony created is beautiful when combined with my furry silk trimmed blanket and sparkly taupe comforter that lays at the lower part of the bed. The ivory, white, taupe and blush pink colors throughout the room mingle gently and the style differences add that extra something.  I love my room. Soon I will be hanging a vintage crystal chandelier in there to replace the boring light/fan that hangs there now.

My point here is this: you can take it with you to your smaller next home, just be sure to follow the guidelines such as these:

1.  Evaluate your new smaller space.  Make your choices as YOU like for what to fill it with and remember that the more you put up the smaller your space will eventually feel to you.

2.  Minimize minimize minimize.  No one needs to display twenty sets of toothpick holders, I don't care how much you love them.  Collections that are small individually but grow to humongous numbers are the collections that require you to vet. Remember, designing in a small space is about showing what you are about but not being so one dimensional that people begin to think of you as the "crazy toothpick collection lady."

3.  Utilize the boring spaces as places to display your stuff.  That space, if you are fortunate enough to have it, about our kitchen cupboards, not only valuable as storage but also a great place to design a vignette that will impress even the most hardened "throw it out" kind of guest that comes to visit you. Another tip to follow is to keep things up off the floor if you can because this will fool the eye into thinking you have more space.

4.  Be smart in your design. Make your displays follow a theme rather than a mishmash of objects. Making sure that the objects all relate to one another in their function is the key. Kitchen items belong in the kitchen.  There is no reason to put old tools like wood planers and hammers there. Your display should make sense, tell a story, explain something about you, what you love and how you live your life.

5. Keeps the proper items in the proper rooms.  Try to stay away from showing off your gun collection in your smaller living room. This  is something that requires a discriminating decision and maybe belongs in the basement, garage or man cave.
 
6. If you have an interesting collection of anything that you think might be enjoyed by others on a larger scale, connect with your local library about setting up a display of your things there. Libraries have glass enclosed showcases that are there specifically to feature such displays for a month or two at a time. I have enjoyed displays of Southwestern jewelry, pottery or doll collections or even milk glass collections.  Libraries love to provide a venue for collectors because it is free and educational for their patrons.

7.  I have always loved beautiful pillows. I have so many down filled silk covered pillows and I can find a place for ALL of them in my new home. People seem to forget that pillows are a great way to introduce color, style, and bling into an otherwise plain room.  Don't be afraid to have too many either..only people who do not wish to bend a flex a little taking them off of the bed at night and setting them back up on the bed in the morning fail to appreciate this. 

8. If you must use floor space under tables and chairs, use pretty boxes as storage to double duty the space.  Hatboxes come in all kinds of sizes and those pretty storage boxes that look like luggage are perfect for storing books, jewelry, scarves and other accessories.

9. Accept that you may have to give away, donate or store many of your things. Decide what to keep by evaluating like this:  Does it hold a memory?  Does any of my children want this?  Is it valuable monetarily?  Have your tastes changed?

What I did was look at the second half of my life, symbolized by my moving out of my big house to a smaller apartment, and asked myself what really mattered in my life and moved forward.  This was more about starting over, second chances and that includes second chances at changing my personal surroundings to reflect my new confidence and excitement about my life, including my family, my career and the rest of my life. I had embraced a renewed attitude of gratitude and a pledge to shed the old and embrace the new.

Take a look at the photographs here and get inspired.  Look through decorating magazines and picture what you see in your space. You can make it work and find a place for all the things you love there if you just open up your mind.  So long as you are not mixing 1960's orange and brown mushroom wallpaper with crystal and milk glass you should be okay. You will instinctively know where to put what before you end up putting "it" in a box to give away or throw away. 

I would like to someday own another house.  I hope to have a cozy cottage type dwelling. Until then I will be a happy and stylin' apartment dweller.  I am content in my comfortable place of refuge and will continue to entertain guests as I have been up to now. But for the absence of a second floor and three bathrooms, company will be just as comfortable in my place as I am.

Take care until next time!

One of the most enjoyable things that I do is visit flea markets, thrift stores and estate sale basements to find neat and undiscovered treasures, that most time, the seller has no real knowledge of.  I don't mean to say that I take advantage of the sellers, but I always say, if you are going to deal in antiques or vintage items of any kind, best to know what the value is. Most of the time, I find cool stuff that really just appeals to me for being beautiful and those are the things that I buy to look at and treasure for myself.  I happened upon such a find just the other day at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market in Royal Oak, Michigan.

I looked and looked. I was hoping to find that nice lady who had the vintage draperies and rods the last time I was there three weeks prior. I looked for the man selling the trinket box made that jewelry company that starts with the letter M.  Well, I could not find either of them there so just enjoyed checking out the other things that the other sellers had. On my way out, I happened upon a gentleman who had a curious glass bowl on display. There was no price on it, but something told me it was expensive. I inquired anyway.

"That's a Heisley glass bowl in the Orchid Pattern," he said. I picked it up and it was just the most beautiful pattern I had ever seen etched onto glass. It was footed and fanned out from the center like a lotus flower. "Remember that name, Liz" I instructed my daughter. "I have nothing to write this down and I want to remember it so I can look it up when I get home."

I looked it up on the different sites that deal in antique glass. It turns out that this Orchid pattern is one of the most coveted of the patterns by this manufacturer. A.H. Heisey company produced glassware from 1896 to 1957 in Newark Ohio.  The glassware was noexpensive when it was produced and was the pride of many a new bride's first bridal registry pick. They began working with pressed glass using molds, and then moved on to the delicate etched patterns that look so much like crystal that we know today.    Sometimes you can find sets of glasses, water, flutes and the like in sets of 6. When you find them, grab them because if you want to collect them, the Orchid pattern is the most popular. Later you can move on to their candelabras, sugar and creamers and the many platters produced as serviing pieces.  

 I think I would like to keep my dish and add some serving pieces to it.  I cannot think of a better table setting than one that includes daily shabby chic plates and mismatched teacups and saucers...and here and there, a sprinkling of beautiful Orchid patterned Heisey glassware.
I also like Fostoria glassware and there are some lovely patterns there such as Romance or Cambridge or Chintz.  I hope to someday have a collection of the pattern my grandmother used to have.        

I will let you know when I find a set and will share a photo. Until then, I am off...on another buying trip and find another cherished treasure to display here!  Bye all!

Puttin' on the Ritz with your Silverplate Flatware

I have shared information about my china collection and so it seems fitting to move on to sterling plated flatware. I especially  wanted to share my love for vintage silver plate flatware.  I have several sets that are all very lovely.  When I began collecting china,  I realized my 18/8 stainless just would not do!  It seemed only right that beautiful Staffordshire, Noritake, or Jonathan Haviland Bavaria china should be side by side with flatware as fancy and attractive. 

About 20 years ago  or so I purchased my first set of silver plate flatware at a local home goods store.  It was on clearance, and I remember paying $40 or so for a service for 8 including a hostess serving set.  Bargain!  I learned early on in my marriage that family dinners I would now be hostessing meant really putting on the Ritz.  It was not only welcomed by my guests, but very much appreciated as I set each space with an actual cloth napkin,  beautiful matching dishes, sparkling crystal glasses, candlelight and a festive centerpiece. Beneath my chandelier, my table always looked extra special making my guests feel just the same way.

The pattern here is the Classic Shell pattern.  It has barely been used because I forgot I had it!  It is the first set of silver plate  I ever purchased.

So, just to share a few pictures of the sets of flatware I have in my possession  I decided to write this blog about this charming addition to my vintage collectibles list.
The set featured here is in a baroque pattern, very fussy and shiny like new.  I picture using this set with my Haviland Limoges china with the platinum trim and delicate blue garland flowers!



Each place setting is only 3 pieces..but that is all I need!



I love the fancy detailing and baroque influence of this pattern.

 This set is unnamed, but bears the markings of solid silver.  I love the fancy pattern!
I took the set to a dealer not long after I purchased it to find out the name of the pattern so I could replace some spoons..(service for 10 on everything except for the spoons).  But with no pattern name on any of the pieces and only a couple of markings too small to read I had no idea how to find matching spoons to it.  The dealer used his resources to first tell me that the piece must be solid silver because the "lion" marking and an "AP" marking indicated as such. I was pretty excited..and then he said, with further research, that the "acid" test he did showed I was dealing with silver plate.  Oh well! No matter...it is a lovely set with all the fanciness I liked in sterling silver plate and I was not interested in selling it anyway. He did say that for $50 plus shipping, I did pretty good on this set and should be pleased!  I am a pushover for bling..so I am glad just to have it in my possession!  Notice the shininess of the set?  This came to me in almost new condition with little obvious wear!  I could not be happier even without being able to ID the pattern to replace the lost spoons.



This fancy floral pattern bods well with all of my china!

 It was not much later that I found another set on Craig's List that I decided to purchase.  Fortunately I was able to ID this pattern by the name actually appearing on each piece.  It is called Distinction pattern, and was manufactured by Prestige.  I have never heard of this manufacturer before.  I did a little research and learned it was last manufactured in 1951.  It is very pretty and in good condition. I adore the delicate and romantic floral pattern. This will go great with my Spode Billingsley Rose dishes for a simple but elegant afternoon tea with tiny finger sandwiches and cookies!  I plan to have such an event with my daughter who like me, does love tea!






My "Morningstar" needs a good polishing, but I have the time and the patience. I am certain it will pay off!




The ensuing month I came across this set on Ebay. It is a set manufactured by Oneida and is called Morningstar.  I liked its feminine yet art deco style. It needs some heavy duty polishing and with care to the crevices between the floral pattern. I know it is worth it however, and look forward to sharing this when I entertain, as with all of my silver flatware sets.

I do have a couple of sets of china with 22 kt gold trim and detailing. For those, I have a set of gold  flatware that I love.  It is very plain and I have no picture here to show you. I am happy to serve my guests on my Bretton Woods china (you can find pictures of this in my previous blog) with my gold flatware. So beautiful!

I have one additional set of flatware that I received from my sister.  It came in the original flatware chest and looked like it had never been used!  It is a lovely set of Wm Rogers and the pattern is Lady Doris, and was reportedly manufactured in the '30's.  It is hard to see in the photographs here, but the pattern is enhanced by the curlicue marking at the base of the bowl on the spoons and fork.  this is a set I would be proud to set up with my Noritake occupied Japan china as well as my vintage Homer Laughlin.  It is beautiful but not too fancy so would fit in a more casual setting. 

See?  As shiny and new as though brand new!

It is a delicate pattern and both casual and fancy! 

The thing that I am sharing here with you today is  that if you have silverware, like your fine china, don't keep it hidden.  Pull it out and set the table.  Decorate the table with candle light and beautiful cloth napkins (don't even think of using paper ones) and make it a real holiday for your family. The kids will love it. And if you don't do that...then invite over your lady friends and have a lovely afternoon tea Downton Abbey style! 

An otherwise ordinary family dinner can turn into something special when you are putting on the Ritz with your once hidden silver plate flatware!

                                     

                                                   An Easter brunch or a little girl's birthday table.  Can you think of a better way to jazz up the celebration for that little darling you know and love?

 It is really the latest thing these days and good way to wind down in the late afternoon with those you enjoy having around!  Silver plate flatware- - - another vintage collectible that is meant to be enjoyed!

A lovely afternoon tea table. Notice the lights bounding off of the crystal creating a fancy special

Fun with Flatware

Once you get into collecting fine and pretty china, you will find that your 18/8 stainless steel that you either bought yourself or got as a wedding gift just won't do.  If you like serving on your mix and match collection of Staffordshire, wedgewood, noritake or mikasa, you will come to realize that to set off that pretty table just right you have to indulge in silverplate flatware.  I say "silverplate" versus "sterling silver" because none of us could really afford to own a solid silver flatware set. If you are fortunate enough to have one then good for you.  The message of this post is for you as well!

I began owning silverplate when I discovered a service for 8 of the popular "shell" pattern for sale at TJ Maxx about 15 years ago.  Even back then I knew how I preferred my holiday table to look.  This set, while inexpensive, was just the ticket.  I had been to a couple of bed and breakfasts and recalled being served a breakfast tray with two kinds of jam, some pastries and breads on a pretty plate and a delicate china teacup set...accentuated by the gleaming silver plate eating utensils.  I remember that being served this way made me feel special and the silverplate utensils added the exclamation point that, like a bug, bit me, and made me realize I wanted a set for myself.

Now some china that you have may be trimmed in 22 kt gold and in those cases, I do not use silver plate.  For those dishes, I also acquired a gold plated set that I use.  I use these with my Bretton Woods set of china which is trimmed in, you guessed it, 22 kt gold. Most pretty china has some kind of trim including platinum or silver. Some have no trim at all.  Whatever the case, using the silver flatware really enhances an already very attractive table.  Add a little candle light and you have the makings of a very special setting for most any occasion.

I have several sets of sterling in my possession.  Not only do I have the first set that I spoke of earlier, I also have a couple of sets of vintage flatware.  I remember when someone I know gave me a set that that had rescued from what would have been a very sad ending in the trash.  Lady Doris, which was manufactured by William Rogers in the '30's, looks like new and came in the original box.  I love, love, love this set and have used it for a few afternoon teas that I have held, just so that I would have a reason to pull it out from my closet!

On this flatware, there is a delicate curly engraving at the base of the tines on the fork and at the cradle of the spoons.  My set is shiny as the day it was given to me and I check it every so often to see that it stays that way.  I am fortunate in that it looks unused and no silver has been rubbed off of any of the pieces!  I got this from one of my sisters and it meant so much that she thought of me to give it to! It is a service for twelve and I have another set of the same in case I ever lose any pieces.  I will never part with it!

Another set I have is also in beautiful like new condition with just a few pieces showing wear.  It has a lovely baroque style to it which makes it only for really fancy occasions...I hope to have one of them soon.  The set has no name...no markings, and is unidentifiable without those things.  I took one of the forks to a dealer who looked at the markings and found the left facing lion and the "AP" mark.  These marks are supposed to indicate the markings of the age of the piece and the fact that the piece is solid silver. However, the dealer could not determine that this was true and after a little bit of hemming and hawing and suggesting that maybe I had come across a $30000 set of silverware for just $50, he did what you call an "acid test" and found that there is an underlying metal (not detectable with a magnet...another thing that fooled him into thinking the set was solid silver) and so my set could not possibly be solid silver. Too bad..but it is beautiful anyway and I really have no intentions of parting with it anyway.

You can see from the photographs how well taken care of this set is.  The dealer said that sometimes the shinier the silver plate the more chance of it being cheap/fake.  This set, however, he said, does not fall into that category, and while he could not identify the maker from the markings he found on it, he said I did very well since this is a very attractive pattern and it is in such fine condition. With the exception of a little tiny bit of wear between a couple of the tines on a couple of forks, it appears as almost new.

Here are the markings that appear on the set:

Then the other marking is an "AP" which I cannot seem to find on my google images search. 
Mystified to find out these markings indicate one thing, but the acid test indicated another, I wrote to someone online who claims to know these things. Still waiting for my answer on how to ID the maker of this set. Interesting to find out!

I purchased two other smaller sets and they arrived in not as good condition as the two sets I just featured. 

A close-up of the Morningstar design...quite pretty actually. A little art deco flavor..

These could use some good polishing and get into those crevices with a q tip and some polish.  Quite a big job really.  I haven't done it yet.    I see this set as a good filler for not so fancy gatherings, but just enough sparkle to make the meal, whatever it is, a little more interesting.  The pattern here is from Oneida and called Community, "Morningstar".  I paid $18 plus shipping for 16 pieces on Ebay.  I think that is a bit of a bargain even if I have to use a little elbow grease to bring out the shine in them.

I have one last set that I recently purchased also.  I was thinking that one day someone will have a shabby chic wedding and need this stuff and I could enjoy it in the meantime. So I ran across this offering on Craigslist and bought it.

In the close-up you can see the intricate delicate floral pattern. I think it is very romantic and picture using this with my Spode Billingsley Rose china for a Downton Abbey style luncheon!  They were in need of polishing when I got them, and actually, I am still working on that. The pattern here is called Distinction and was manufactured by Prestige in 1951.  I have 35 pieces and paid $47 plus shipping so just a little over a dollar for each piece!  I hate to think of these being used to make wind chimes..they are still in good enough shape to put on a vintage white table cloth and arrange your place settings in style.

My point is this:  If you have silver plated flatware, use it!  Maybe for a special Mother's Day tea or an Easter Buffet!  Have your sisters over and enjoy making them feel special with a nice meal, cozy surroundings and lots of floral and fawna for decoration!  Pair up your little used china and your special flatware and make a memory!  You will always remember it and so will your guests!

Old Toys

A Place for Everything, but Done Attractively!

You know from past blogs that I am a collector.  The beautiful and charming nik-naks and china collections I have acquired over the years are one of my prides in my old age.  When I was younger I would keep my doll collection upright in their stands, but I did not take the care to keep their respective boxes in good shape and lost the tissue and cardboard insets that came with them. I wish I had.  Well, I have learned more then about storage and keeping of treasures. I have also learned that displaying lovely things brings me great joy.  I am more likely to use and enjoy the memory-jogging items I have when I can see them and others can too. 

Recently I acquired two sets of china that I am so happy about.  I know that in my family there is no one who has a complete set.  I began to purchase china sets because their vintage designs and producers attracted me.  You know the names...Homer Laughlin...Noritake...Staffordshire.  Over the years I purchased most of my things from flea markets and thrift stores.  Then I discovered Craigslist.  Some people in the past five years have been forced to downsize and let go of their treasures or simply accept that they could no longer house items when they were losing their homes. Some people just got tired of having things they rarely or never used.   While my heart breaks for these individuals, I know that I will never sell my things, and they would be happy to know that they were now in the hands of someone who could truly appreciate them.  I will leave them to my  very large family of five sisters and one brother or their very large network of nieces and nephews that they have bestowed upon me..plus there is my own children to consider.  I decided early on in my collecting that I would make certain that my things ended up in the hands of those I love to pass on to future generations.  I would create the heirloom memories that have bound my loved ones together or bring back a happy time when families used to sit down together at a long endless line of tables decorated with vintage table clothes and displaying relish trays of olives and pickles..there for the taking before the main dish appeared.  These memories were, in my life, of Thanksgiving and other holiday dinners in my grandmother's basement, where me and my sisters would run around in our holiday best and watch the preparation of the meal, taking in all the wonderful aromas emanating from the kitchen.

My first recent acquisition was this service for eight set of Bretton Woods china, which also came with a covered vegetable and a tray and also a gravy boat and plate.  It cost me $85 and the seller couldn't have been happier to find a buyer. Only one plate had a chip on the edge which he tried to carefully repair. It was a clumsy repair, but the set was lovely enough with its perfect cream color shiny surfaces and 22 kt gold pattern with dark burgundy striped edge.  The teacups are so beautifully shaped.  I used them for a recent Saturday night dinner I had for my friends. Finally, too, I was able to use my gold plated flatware!  I have these dishes in my main dish cupboard in my kitchen and use them all the time now. They are like new and its a shame to keep them wrapped up in yesterday's newspaper and shoved in the back of a storage closet.

Next I purchased a service for 10 of a Noritake pattern of china called Greenbrier.  It's a more contemporary version of the design, not the "Occupied Japan" version.  Never used, wrapped up in paper dating back to 2002.  I felt a little guilty paying the owner for them..a nice early 30's gentleman whose marriage just didn't work out. He was more than pleased to give me the entire set of 10-5 piece place settings, with 6 crystal Mikasa wine glasses in the French Countryside pattern, 4 cereal/soup bowls to go with the service for 10, and 3 sets plus a hostess serving set of Oneida in the Morning Blossom pattern for an astonishing sum of $100!  This was the set I would be so happy to present to my first daughter in law! 

I have four cereal/soup bowls to go with the place settings. I look forward to finding 6 more to complete the set.The pattern is a lovely mint green with tiny bouquets of flowers, trimmed in the finest hint of silver around the edge of each piece.  It was evident from its unwrapping that none of the pieces had been used..not a fork, spoon or knife had yet touched the surface of any of the pieces.

The French Countryside pattern of these crystal glasses set off each place setting beautifully.  There are 4 more to purchase before I have one for each place setting. I may finisy the set, I have not yet decided.  It is evident that the bride who chose to register for the Noritake dinnerware and the accompanying Mikasa crystal glasses had fine taste. 

These Waterford Brookside Water glasses were hiding in a back cupboard till the Noritake and Mikasa pieces came into the house. Not anymore!

So here I was with this beautiful china for 10, lovely crystal stemware and my own Waterford glasses. I decided I had better come up with a strategy for getting them up and out into the light.  So, I set my sights on finding the perfect shelving or curio to do so.

I searched only for a week or so before I happened upon a wonderful french provincial mahogany china cabinet at my nearest Salvation Army.  I cannot say enough about how wonderful that place is!  I buy so many things there and have come upon so many values in the way of furniture and baking dishes and utensils and almost new clothing. Anyway, I visited this one particular day when I saw the china cabinet sitting there. It had been marked down from $99 to $79 and then to finally, $59.  With a 25% discount for moving it out that same say, I purchased the piece for only $47.94!  I did have to pay someone to get it to my location for $50 but it was worth every penny. 

I  struck gold when I found this cabinet in the nearest Salvation Army! And they supplied the name of a mover who came out immediately to get it into my place!  A little bit of Pledge and its shining!

Morning Blossom, by Oneida. I have 3 unopened sets plus a hostess set now!

The cabinet with its three drawers and two side cabinets with shelving, plus the four glass doors above with the groved plate holder was perfect for displaying my new china and glassware.  I had a functional piece that not only provided storage and safekeeping, but was easy on the eyes for my decor.  I could either repair the few scratches and years of light wear on the wood finish or I could sand it out one day and turn it into the shabby chic piece I envisioned I would own years ago.  The most wonderful part of this cabinet is that it coordinated nicely with my antique Bergere chairs that were placed nearby.

I found that the storage provided by the lower cupboards in the cabinet could be used to bring out other things I had shoved up in the closets of my place also. My sterling silver flatware could be housed in the drawers as well. I was able to bring out my vintage Heisey Orchid glassware and display that as well behind the glass doors. 

I had purchased this creamer and sugar at about the same time that I had bid on and won on an Ebay auction for a set of 8 Sherbert Heisey Orchid glasses.  What luck that now they did not have to stay behind closed doors any longer! 

I don't know if it is a bad thing to be able to enjoy things that may seem meaningless to others. I do not subscribe fully to the school of thought that material things are meaningless. Some things that we own and treasure are meanful to us and sometimes that is what counts.  Who cares if someone else doesn't appreciate this concept?  I know that for me life is meant to be enjoyed and if beautiful things put a smile on my face then they should be displayed attractively and with love. 

I hope that you discover what beautiful things you like and decide to put them out for all to see and enjoy.  Perhaps you will find a steal of a deal such as I did.  Life should be happy and provide solace and contentment.  Our surroundings ought to be a place where even in the busy busy worry world we can look at something lovely  and feel something that moves us.  Sometimes people cannot do that for us all the time. 

On your next outing, stop by a place where you can view what others decided were throw aways.  You may just find some way to display your collections and pretty things in a way to share them with everyone and most importantly, with yourself!