Time for Summer Fun

It’s a Summer Block Blog Party

I am joining Vanessa from At The Picket Fence and sharing a cool summer project that can be done with big and little children that involves plants. At the end of the project, the adult supervising the project gets a pretty cool project to keep or share as a gift for the home and/or garden. Most importantly, just have fun!!! ~ Paula

My three year old son, Sebastian, will show you how to display fabulous succulents in wonderful silver.

Sebastian visits a local plant nursery and choses his favorite succulents

Summertime yields many opportunities for children to become involved with plants, gardens, or just plain being outdoors and appreciating nature. We visit our national, state, and community parks, as well as local botanical gardens and nurseries.

I actually polished them but Sebastian wiped them down afterwards :-)  

I collect silver and silver plated objects from various antique stores. I also followed Vanna’s, from Delusions of Grandeur, sage advice and started hitting local Goodwill stores. OMG...Jackpot! I cannot believe people just give a way these things because they are tarnished. Thank you fabulous folks! I have paid no more then $4.00 at the Goodwill.

We just found a little area in the backyard and set up the materials that we needed.

Silver Objects (i.e. bowl, creamer, dish, tray)

Gravel

Planting Soil

Small Garden Hand shovel

Succulents 

(Orchids and Cactus would be great too)

1) Add a little gravel to the bottom of the silver object of your choice

2) Add soil to plant your succulents

Sebastian Chooses which succulent he wants to use

3) Plant the succulent in the soil (Since Sebastian is only three, it was best I do that part)

4) Add a wee bit of gravel carefully under the petals of the succulent

Sebastian is super excited about his project. He decides to give it to his grandmother. Maybe, I will get one next time.  :-)

We presented the gift in a beautiful gift bag with flowers, added a picture of Sebastian with the succulent in silver in a silver frame, and included several pictures showing each step Sebastian took in creating this gift for grandmother.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Show some love and leave us your thoughtful comments.

Thank you Vanessa for hosting this wonderful summer blog party!

To Shine or Not to Shine...

Silver Chalkboard

Your silver of course!

Sterling, stainless, or silver plate, it has always been collected and prized by its owners. Silver items blend with any decor, as the accent or as the star.


The elegant blackboard, that sits in the kitchen, was super simple to make. All that was needed was a silver tray purchased on sale at a local antique store, blackboard paint and chalk. Yep, that was it. This idea came from the fabulous Cindy of My Romantic Home. 

The silver antique butter dish to the left is one of the best antique finds. Low fat cream cheese has been served from it.

Double-sided Chinese Teapot

One thing we learned from Mary Carol Garrity's Nell Hill's is placement and the use of stands and books to elevate objects. This silver stand found at an antique store was the perfect stand for the double-sided Chinese teapot.

The measuring spoons and silver salt and pepper shakers are used whenever cooking takes place.

June of 2010, will always be memorable. While perusing Suzanne Duda's Pink Roses and Other Passions, she was sharing the beautiful measuring spoons she received for Mother's Day. They were ordered from Anthropologie. A week later those beauties showed up at the front door. They are not only beautiful but quite functional and heavy in weight. They really make the silver salt and pepper shakers look great.  

Antique Jelly Jar on top of a small cake stand

You can never have enough silver trays.

Succulent in Silver

Have you been by to visit ANTIQUE CHASE? She is a genius. This is where we got the idea of Succulent in Silver. It's an absolutely brilliant idea. We love it. 

Stunning after the morning's rain

Beautiful silver vanity set

Even the salt and pepper shakers are wrapped in elephants.

A silver caddy in a silver tray is pretty neat

This silver tray was found at a local Goodwill Store. We followed the fabulous idea of our friend Vanna over at Delusions of Grandeur. She is just an amazing person. 

Inside of the cloche are a porcelain rose and a porcelain pitcher with roses on it sitting atop of a silver cake stand. The cake stand was recently found at a local Goodwill store for $4.00. Yep, the decimal is in the correct position. By the way, the tray in the picture above was $3.00. See, that's why we love Vanna. 

Hugh Casson earthenware is enhanced by this silver sugar bowl

Replaced the M & Ms with sea shells

Fascinated with ink blotters

Love sea shells in a brides basket 

The Patina is left on the bride's basket. It actually looks better with the patina on than polished away.

Silver stand highlights blue & white piece

You can find all kinds of wonderful stands at antique stores. They come in all shapes and sizes. This stand was black last weekend when it was picked up from the antique store. With lots of patience, silver polish and love, voila!

Below the table is a silver sugar scuttle with bath salts

The table is from Ghana. His name is John. John holds all the essentials needed for a fabulous bath. 

Silver and blue & whites enhance each other

Antique silver pickle castor

We try to find functionality in the items we collect. This pickle castor is an elegant way to store the toothbrush and toothpaste. The antique dealer suggested leaving the aged patina on the pickle castor. Yep, she was right. 

Silver matchbox

Love collecting silver boxes

Call it an obsession. Boxes are so amazing because inside of each and everyone of them is a story. The silver coin case on a chantelaine that is standing belonged to my great-grandmother and the monogrammed flat round one was my grandmother's which housed her mirror and face powder. ~Paula

An antique mahogany secretary desk serves as a night stand

A silver fan vase is great in any room

Check out the beautiful toast rack

The toast rack holds books and journals. This was a great idea we picked up from Nell Hill's. You can't have just one. 

Shiny bright or aged with patina, there is no place in the home that can't be enhanced by silver. "How do you like yours?"

Gonna party with Lee over at Tales from Bloggeritaville.

We are partying with the following fabulous folks this Friday: Show and Tell Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Vintage Inspiration Friday, and Inspiration Friday. Please join us!