Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Morning light on silver...


I've wanted to change the look of the buffet for awhile and when Manuela had a post displaying her silver... here... it was all the encouragement needed.

Out came the silver polish and in one of those If You Gave a Mouse a Cookie kind of moments where one thing led to another... I decided to change everything but the silk flowers.

It looks a little like it did when my husband first brought home the buffet from his sister's place.  Everything displayed came from Goodwill, thrift stores, garage sales, and the silver set was a very inexpensive find at an antique mall about five or six years ago.  It actually came with a different silver tray which is really, really big.  By using the smaller silver tray, I have room for other pretty items.  I keep the larger tray for some future tea party.

I'm always surprised at how inexpensive one can purchase silver while thrifting.  One of my other talented decorating genius type friends just wrote about purchasing silver at an auction... here.  Tracey McBride is the author of two of my all time favorite books for inspiring my creativity... Frugal Luxuries and Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons.

Everything continues to be rather topsy turvey-upside down-inside out here but we are making progress.  I'm working on Christopher's room to make it mine (first packing away what is his) and we're waiting to hear from the insurance company.  As I wrote a friend today, I have such new respect for 18th Century homemakers.  :)

7 comments:

Vee said...

That's a beautiful picture of your silver and tea cups...restful and lovely.

I imagine you know more than you'd like to know about 18th Century Homemaking. Wonder if they had any useful tips that made their lives easier than ours would be trying to duplicate theirs without their understanding of things. You must have watched the PBS shows like Frontier House and Manor House. There's another that I forget where I learned how to sweep a floor properly. ☺

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

I think it is harder on us to live the life of an 18th Century homemaker because we know the difference! For them they were often living with their 'modern' conveniences!

Can't wait to see what you do with Christopher's room.

Your silver is lovely.

Deanna

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Brenda it looks just beautiful! I love the goblets and the two pretty teacups! Tarnished silver has it's delights, but I really do like polished better. Now if only I had someone who's job it was to keep it shiny!

Manuela

Bess said...

Your buffet arrangement is very pretty, Brenda. Love the sunlight through your pretty curtains, too. When my mother died, I sent ALL of her silver to auction because no one in the family wanted it (I already had all I wanted to take care of, which is very little!), and I can't remember exactly, but it sold for practically nothing. Sad, but nice for collectors. Hope you have a wonderful day. Bess

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

My dear,kind,friend...as always...a thousand thanks for making my day (yet again) with your generous references. Your vignette is sooo lovely...an absolutely perfect and literal example of frugal luxuries!!!

As I look at these charming images of your serene home it's hard to imagine all the topsy~turvy~ness that is also going on in your world right now. Reminds me of the post you wrote last March after the disasters in Japan...the one showcasing how Japanese homemakers were making their homes (makeshift and otherwise) attractive and serene despite the chaos surrounding them. Have I told you lately how very much I admire your perspective on things Brenda? If not, I should have...and do! Thank you so much for your inspiration.
Love, prayers and good thoughts to you and yours...as always.
Warmly,
Tracey
x0x

Anonymous said...

so pretty. love it.
joanna

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Love the elegant photo. I love to polish my Grandmother's silver. It makes me feel like I am setting the world to right. Such a slow and meditative process.

All joys to you,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island