French Milled Rose Cinnamon Molded Soap

French Milled Rose Cinnamon Molded Soap is fragrant and so easy to make. The fragrance lingers and the oil in the recipe make your hands feel soft and smooth. Here's the recipe:

French Milled Rose Cinnamon Molded Soap

1 cup grated soap (mild, non-scented, like Ivory)
1/4 cup rose water
1/4 cup coconut oil

Place the above ingredients in a large glass measuring cup. Place this in a kettle of boiling water. Melt and stir the soap until it becomes like marshmallow cream with a small amount of stringiness or rope-like. This takes 10 - 15 minutes with constant stirring. When this stage is reached, remove from heat. Add:

1/4 tsp. powdered cinnamon
Red or pink candle dye melted in 1 Tbsp. almond oil
10 drops rose oil
5 drops cinnamon oil

Stir well and place soap mixture on waxed paper. Then, drop by tablespoons or scoops onto anothersheet of axed paper. Allow to harden, gently molding and forming to smooth surface over time.

Fragrant; gently soapy. Place in a crystal bowl or pretty basket on a rose-embroidered hanky. Enjoy!

Craftin' with Lavender

The lavender is beautiful in June! It's time to make lavender crafts! Years ago my children's Suzuki piano teacher taught me how to make lavender wands. She was a very special person, believing in embracing the whole child. Not only did she teach appreciation for music and how to play it well, but how to incorporate the little things of life --- like flowers, fine food, and beautiful art --- into one's scope.

After mastering the art of weaving lavender wands, it was easy to learn how to make lavender bottles, mussie tussies, and lavender baskets.

Today "the traveling teapot" and I teach how to make lavender wands --- step-by-step --- on the Traveling Teapot blog. You are welcome to stop by!

Easing of Tensions

Wherever you are drinking your tea,

whether at work, in a cafe, or at home,

it is wonderful to allow enough time to appreciate it.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Today I'm sharing a Royal Albert teacup and saucer with you. It's covered with peaches, plums, pears, and berries. Inside the teacup, a cluster of red cherries dangle from their stems. Gold guilds the edge of the teacup and saucer's edges.

The tea is Apple Cider Spice from TeaSource,  a blend that claims to be 'steeped in experience'.  It was a gift from a friend, and it is delicious!  The packaging says to imagine  Red Delicious and Braeburn apples  that are bursting with aroma and flavor with a  few wintry spices tossed in.  And it lists the flavorings as cloves, cinnamon, ginger,  orange peel, rose petals, and safflower. There's nothing that says APPLE on  the ingredient list, but that's alright, the apple cider spice flavor is rich and full.  It's a comforting tea that is full-bodied, spicy,  and it's perfect for a relaxed moment or two.

There is something nearly as relaxing as sitting in contemplation with a cup of tea. Beads, strung onto string or wire repetitively, allow for creative and purposeful détente. Stringing beads AND sipping tea? The ultimate in the easing of tensions. Tranquility.

Ribbon Paradise

Ribbons made from silk and satin are so inviting with their gentle patina or glowing sheen. If you love textiles like I do, I'm sure you understand the draw to admire, touch, and create. Making flowers and trims out of ribbon isn't something I have attempted, but I do admire those who have the patience and skill to create with such beautiful materials.

There are images galore of flowers made from ribbon in Google. And here's a Pinterest board of ribbon and fabric flower ideas. But none are nicer than the ribbon flowers and trims made by Deb, a woman who recently spoke to the local quilt guild. It was a chilly winter evening and the meeting room was filled with women who arrived wearing hats, coats, and gloves. We were met by a beautiful display of colorful hats, gowns, and ribbon boards designed and fashioned by Deb. They were exquisite! Such patience and such ability she has! 

Have you made ribbon roses or other flowers before? My mother did some ribbon embroidery (a similar art) and was skilled at making ribbon flowers. Her favorites were always pansy's which she used to adorn baskets, candles, pillows, and more.

Click on the photo montage to enlarge and get a better look.

Chocolate, Crochet, and Tea

 

Awhile back my blogging friend, Tammy, wrote a blog post called Chocolate, Crochet, and Tea. Now that is a title that's sure to draw me in!  I always enjoy her blog posts, especially because Tammy knows how to enjoy the little things in life. Moments rather than things are treasures to her. I appreciate her perspective and her joy in living each day. She really does fill her quiet moments of the day with chocolate, crochet, and tea! She crafts some beautiful things! 

Years ago my mother attempted to teach me to crochet. As a teenager I made a baby sweater and booties for my "hope chest". Of course they were made in "pink" and I never had a baby girl so they weren't used. They are still stored away for a time when they might be needed for a grand-baby or two. When mom taught me, she was my instruction guide. I didn't learn to read a pattern and since mom could make anything without a pattern, I never really learned how to decipher the art of pattern reading.

This past winter I decided that I needed to push myself and learn something new. Pretty yarns in beautiful colors drew me in, and I decided to learn to read a crochet pattern. Of course there were many aspects of crochet I had to relearn as well. I admit to many frustrating moments, but Tammy's example spurred me on. She posted this dishcloth pattern on her blog and started posting what she'd made. I decided to do the same and "wallah", dish cloths were the result! Thanks to my friend, Karleen for helping me decipher pattern instructions...and to Mitty and Verna at the Quilt Guild for taking time out of quilt piecing to help me fine-tune my stitching technique. And of course, thanks to Tammy for inspiring me from far away! Throughout the stitching process, my teacup of chocolate oolong tea has been by my side. Chocolate, crochet, and tea.

Moon Flower

Moon Flower is the common name for several kinds of flowers that bloom during the darkness of night. Frequently they exhibit flowers that are white. I especially like the one named Angel's Trumpets because they have such pretty, fluted trumpet flowers. They are graceful and elegant.  My friend, Salina, relates to them so well that she has named her blog, Moon Flower,  for these night-blooming flowers. She says that her creativity comes out at night and that she enjoys creating in the quietness and peacefulness that comes at the end of the day. For several years I have enjoyed observing the things she creates. Each of her projects comes from her heart and is an expression of who she is. She enjoys nature and this love is translated so well in her creations. I'm always amazed at the items she produces from simple, natural ingredients.  

Recently I was happy to receive a package from Salina. It contained one of her beautiful, felted bird nests with three baby-blue felted eggs inside. It also contained a matching handmade book and four pretty, stamped gift tags. They are so spring-like and look pretty on a table in my living room. Thank you, Salina!


If you would like to visit her shops, you can find her on these sites:


Handmade Books and Paper Items


Crocheted, Felted, Home Decor, and Jewelry


She also has a vintage and de-stash shop; linked on the sidebar of her blog.


I think you'll enjoy visiting her and seeing the pretty things she makes. Enjoy!

Quilt Vision Board

I love vision boards. I think a beautiful, gold-leafed frame that's hung on the wall with a blank space inside to place pictures and objects that inspire you is just lovely! But I really don't have space on my walls for one. Yesterday I was thinking about the quilt I'm making and wanted to see what it was going to look like when done. I found my wooden drying rack and discovered it made a very helpful "vision board"! Layers of print fabrics and some of the nine-patch squares hung on the wooden dowels gave me a vision of what my completed quilt might look like. And the secret to every good quilt and the coordination of prints, colors, and fabric? Squinting! I always analyze my choices by squinting, just to make sure nothing stands out too much --- or gets buried in the mix. A cuppa tea helps with the analysing process. 


Do you quilt? What is your secret to selecting fabrics for your project?

Altered Tea Box

Have you ever  bought something that is in a unique container and you just cannot help but re-purpose that container for something else? Sometimes a food container or shoe box is just too unique to throw away! I really love the boxes that tea comes in from Steven Smith, Teamaker because they are sturdy and unique. Instead of throwing them away, I've tried to think of ways to use them in other ways. Recently, for a friend's birthday, I used scrap booking papers to decorate one of these tea boxes. Tari loved it! I don't know how she decided to use her box, but it could be storage for tea sachets, recipes, hair clips, tickets, stickers, receipts, or small keepsakes. Before I wrapped it up for her, I couldn't help but take some pictures so I could have a little "show and tell" with you! 

Happy Creating!

When our children were small and we were developing our parenting and educational philosophy, we decided that creativity was a trait that was important to us and one that we wanted to develop in our children.  According to one of my favorite books on the subject, one of  the best gifts we could give our children is to provide them with ready-materials and time.  It’s important to let children invent, create, and have fun.  It sure makes a mess, but it’s worth it!  Arts and crafts projects that don’t use pre-drawn patterns or designs allow children to create and develop according to their view of the world.  Here are some ideas for some of the craft projects.  Maybe they would be something you would enjoy doing with the children in your life.
 
1.  Paper mache’ — create sculptures or scenes using newspaper and flour & water glue.  After it dries, paint with Tempra paints and add twigs, stones, dried moss, aluminum foil or mirror rivers and lakes, etc.  Great fun!  We once created the Garden of Eden doing this!

2.  Sawdust and glue — similar to paper mache’ but using fine sawdust and Elmer’s glue instead.

3.  Make kites — use a plain template and paint or color designs on the kite body to make your own design or check online or the library for books and kite shapes.

4.  Wooden objects — children seem to enjoy crafting with wood, so we bought lots of different ‘wood’ things from the craft store and let them paint, decorate, hammer, nail, etc. to make things.  Stencils are helpful in adding designs like planes, trains, etc.  When homes were being built around the neighborhood, we would ask the contractor if we could take the wood scraps home.  They were happy to get rid of them and they provided raw materials for some great building projects.

5.  3-D art using foam shapes, twigs, dried legumes, etc.  Fun to use a basic design on tag board and then glue objects on it to make a collage or work of art.

6.  Computer art — using simple programs that teach 3D animation, computer graphics, or photo editing.

7.  Kits — lots of fun!  Go to Michael’s or Craft Warehouse and look at all the kits that are available.  Latch hook rugs, felt art, beading, etc. can all be fun for both girls and boys.  Boys enjoy making latch hook rugs in an airplane theme!

8.  Candle-making — either dipped candles, molded candles or rolled candles using beeswax.  Kids especially have fun with this project:   take an aluminum pie plate and hold a regular candle up in the middle of the plate.  Then pour melted, colored wax into the plate.  Gently dip the plate of wax in a sink full of cold water.  The hot wax will rise to the top and will ‘hug’ the candle, making a candle holder.  Work as a team, as hot wax can burn.

9.  String art — look online for designs.  A pattern looks somewhat like a dot to dot page, but without the numbers.  Colored string is sewn on the page in sequences that create a woven effect and make beautiful pictures — of ships or buildings — etc.

10. Watercolor — really fun and helpful if you can find someone who is willing to give a few lessons first.  Use ‘cheater’ techniques to help get started with watercolor (like dot stickers that keep paint from sticking somewhere when you first coat the page, etc.).  Small paintings make great Christmas gifts for family.

11. Boys love sewing machines!  And so do girls.  Make them earn their driver’s license first (to teach machine safety) and then give them small projects where they create designs — hot pads, pillows, and other small things are fun.  Or, have them turn a t-shirt inside out and sew up the neckline and the sleeves.  Turn right-side-out and stuff will pillow stuffing.  Then stitch up the bottom.

12.  Theme quilts — have them make quilt blocks on a theme (we made one with a dog theme and another with an airplane theme).  Use muslin for the blocks and cut them out in 10″ squares.  Using fabric crayons, permanent markers, appliques, buttons, or photo transfers (where you print off photos onto transfer paper and then iron them onto fabric) to create blocks in the selected theme.  Give grandma a block to make — and one to dad — and one for mom — etc.   Then have the child sew the blocks together with printed fabric (also in their theme — they have fun going to the fabric store and choosing something that strikes their fancy).  The quilt top is pretty easy to make.  Add a back (stitch together like a pillow case with thin, rolled padding for the middle and then turn right side out).  Tie with yarn and stitch up the turn-space by hand.  Easy and really valued by the child when done!

13. Make wicker and twig (or silk flower or dried leaf) arrangements or wall hangings.  Cool glue guns, fabric ribbons (printed in themes kids like) etc. all work together to make small objects, arrangements, wall-hangings, etc.  The fun is the process — and they make nice gifts for family members.

14. We had a great time with ceramics!   A ceramics shop has green-ware that they will show you/your child how to clean (using tools kind of like a dentist uses).  After it’s cleaned, they will bake it for you in a kiln for a small fee.  Then have child apply a glaze and take it back to the ceramics shop to be processed in the kiln again.  We chose projects like gazing balls, vases with multi-colored glazes that melted and make funny patterns, chess game pieces, etc.  You can also get plain clay from them — like play-dough.  Statues, objects, free-form pots, etc. can all be made.  When done and dried they can be fired and glazed as well.

15. Model rockets and model airplanes — plastic or paper — ones that fly or are used just for decoration — all are fun and teach creativity and following directions.  Allow your child to think ‘outside the box’ as they create on their own using the base kits that are available at craft stores.
16. Model airplane paints work great for painting designs on stones for paper weights.  Be sure to buy the type of paint that is safe to breathe!

17.  For art — never negate the value of Legos when it comes to developing creativity!  So many skills are learned with Lego building.  You might assign specific projects with Legos — a complete village or building or vehicle.  Take a picture of the finished project to remember it by.

Happy creating!  Remember, children are only limited by time, resources, and their imaginations!


~ Thanks, Katie, for sharing a fun afternoon and for posing for the picture! ~

Painting with Puff!

 

When I was a child, my first grade reading book was Dick and Jane.  They had a dog named Spot and a cat named Puff.  I always thought Puff was a cute name for a cat!  But this post isn’t about reading or about cats.  It’s about a fun art project that uses ingredients mixed together that create a paint that puffs up when microwaved.  How fun is that?  Here’s the recipe.  May it keep the children in your life happily entertained for at least an hour or two!


In a small bowl, combine:

2 Tbsp. self-raising flour*
6 drops of food coloring
2 Tbsp. salt

Add enough water to make into a creamy paste.  Using a paint brush or sponge, create a design on tagboard or cardboard.  Make another ‘batch’ of puffy paint in other colors if desired.  Paint, paint, paint.  When done, microwave the design on high for  15 – 30 seconds.  The paint will puff and should dry completely.


*To make your own self-raising flour, blend 2 cups of all-purpose flour with 1 Tbsp. baking powder.

~ Thank you, Allison and Levi, for cheerfully posing for this picture! ~

A "Make It" Christmas: Felted Soap

Since I grew up in a teaching family, preparations for Christmas usually didn't start until school was out for the holiday.  Then our house turned into "Santa's workshop".  Each family member would get busy creating meaningful gifts for the others.  Mom's gifts usually involved a sewing machine or crochet hook, and Dad's his woodworking tools.  Sis and I enjoyed making glue, glitter, and fabric scraps into works of "art".  A "making it" Christmas was always the best!  Don't you love homemade gifts?  Sometimes ideas come too late in the season, but they are always useful for "next year" or "last minute" stocking stuffers.

Here's an idea from Earth Guild for making felted soap; perfect for a "make it" Christmas, this year or next!

Felted Soap A curious idea, but the result can be very pleasing. Make a bar of soap with a built in wash-cloth, good for gentle exfoliation. Materials A bar of soap (one that is round or has rounded edges will be easier to cover evenly; edges are apt to make thin spots) Wool roving or batts - it doesn’t take much (colorfast; rich colors should be checked to make sure they will not run) A stocking or piece of similar mesh or netting A ribbed mat, such as a washboard, a felting board, a sushi mat, a ribbed container lid, or a piece of bubble wrap (not absolutely essential, but useful to speed up the process) The Process Wrap a thin layer of wool around the soap in one direction. Wrap a second layer at right angles to the first. Wrap a third layer on top of the first. These layers can be all the same color, or not. Cover the soap as evenly as possible, paying special attention to corners and edges. Add wisps of wool in various colors and directions. Carefully put the wrapped bar in the toe of your stocking, or wrap it up snugly in whatever mesh or netting you are using. Gently dribble on warm water, till the wool is wet through. (If you are not using a mat, skip to the next step.) Gently rub the wrapped soap on the mat of your choice, all sides and all edges, for about ten minutes. It should lather up. Roll the bar around in your hands as if you were washing them. When the wool is well adhered to the soap, remove the stocking or mesh wrapper. Rinse with cold water. The cold will shock the wool and may give the felting process an extra boost. Rinse away the suds, squeeze the bar a little bit to remove water, blot on a towel, place on rack to dry. Between uses, the bar should be placed on a rack so that it can dry out.

© Earth Guild (You may reproduce this if it is unaltered and our name stays on it.)

A Happy Camper

Everyone has their own way of preparing for winter.  For my husband, a simple task like fabricating a new chimney for the cabin makes him a 'happy camper'.  As long as the wood stove can be cranked up to full heat and the cabin cozy, I'm happy too, especially if I have a fun needlework project nearby.  

With the arrival of autumn, hand-crafts and projects become more important, as gardening and summer chores wane.  My friends are pulling out their knitting, quilting, and sewing projects.  It's time for me to do the same.  A new idea, now and then, helps as well.  Look at these beautiful 'autumn leaf' wool felted pot holders!  They are simple, colorful, and easy to stitch.  While you are at the Design . Sponge blog be sure to take a look at their very creative project for a patterned tea lover's cup.  Cute, huh!  

If you have a second, I'd enjoy reading what types of projects you have planned as the weather gets chilly.  Please leave a comment so we can get the ideas flowing!

A Simple Rag Rug

 Are you one who appreciates things of the past?  Or have you noticed how some things that were common and practical are now obsolete, but appreciated by those 'in the know'?  I think that rag rugs fall into this category.  Authentic rag rugs are hard to come by these days.  Replicas can be bought in country-themed shops, but they are usually fastened by monofilament threads that stitch the knotted strips together rather than hooking and looping for one-piece fabrication.  Monofilament threads break apart over time and the rug falls apart.  In comparision, crocheted rag rugs will withstand hard use and many washings.  The art of rag rugs making made a come-back in the 1970's and I remember my mother skillfully creating one that she used on her stoop for years to come.  But hers were nothing in comparison to Grandmother's magnificent rag rugs made from wool scraps.  They were large enough to visually anchor a dining room table and chairs, or to fill the space in front of a hearth in the family room.  Mother's were a recreation.  Grandmother's were authentic to the core.  Such beauty, warmth, and grace they added to her home.  The art is not to be lost!  Simple projects, like chair pads or small rugs for the front door can still be made.  Scraps of cotton or wool can be saved from other projects and successfully used for rag rugs over time.  Old garments, recycled for a project like this, cut costs and save resources.  Essentially any type of fabric will work, but natural fibers, like cotton and wool, will provide the most enduring value and effectiveness when it comes to the helping the rug achieve its duty as welcome mat and cozy covering.

If you would like to try your hand at this art, instructions can be found here.

Bringing Nature Indoors

Autumn is a wonderful season to collect objects from nature and to use them for decorating. Pinecones, leaves, flowers, seed pods and other items can be made into wreaths, ornaments, and centerpieces. Seeds and nuts glued onto construction paper in patterns and designs that delight are fun to create for both young and old. Late summer flowers and leaves can be pressed in an old catalog or flower press so they can be preserved. After dried, they work well for crafts like beeswax framed leaf and floral art or as bookmarks when placed between layers of clear adhesive contact paper. If you'd prefer a different look, simply place dried leaves or flowers between sheets of acetate and cut into a shape you like. Then stitch around the edges with a sewing machine and thread in a color that compliments the insert. Spray paint decorates pinecones and seeds pods beautifully. Gone are the days when only gold or bronze paints were used for a project like this. Think outside the box and use colors like pale pink, creamy white, or pale peach. After the paint has dried, use twine, fine wire, or fishing line to create little loops. Affix with a glue gun and hang on an autumn branch or from the window trim.

Happy autumn! Go outside and find a bit of nature to bring indoors. It will make your day! Enjoy it!

Lilac Sugar-Scrub

 

Spring is abundant in blossoms, but some seem to come and go quickly!  Lilacs bloom in early spring, but the life-span of their blossoms is short.  Finding way to preserve their delightful fragrance is a challenge, at best.  Last week I decided to try to make lilac sugar for an oil and sugar scrub (otherwise known as a manicure in a bottle!).  Fresh blossoms cut from their stems were added to an equal amount of plain, white sugar.  These ingredients were placed in a gallon-size zip-lock bag and sealed overnight.  Then the contents of the bag were placed on a rimmed cookie sheet and spread out to dry.  Lilac blossoms contain a fair amount of moisture, so it took several days for the sugar to dry completely.  Today the sugar was sifted through a colander and then a sieve.  The sugar now has the gentle fragrance of lilacs.  Next, it will be blended with an equal amount of almond oil and placed in a jar for future use.  It will be used sparingly --- so that the sweet fragrance of lilacs can be enjoyed for weeks and months to come.  Fragrant.  Beautiful.  Lilacs.    

C H O C O L A T E

 

Aren't these beautiful chocolate bars?  I discovered them at a coffee & tea shop in town.  Each is a unique work of art and heart.  Replicas of old postcards, rubber stamped verses, ribbon, and sequins artfully decorate a chocolate bar wrapped in pretty paper.  I love chocolate, but these are the kinds of candy bars that I would keep forever!  I do have that tendency, you know.  A beautifully wrapped piece of chocolate is enjoyed in its wrapping for so long that the chocolate inside turns hard and white before I open it.  By then it is not good to eat.  It's actually a point of discussion in our family.  The others think chocolate should be opened and eaten immediately.  How sad is that?  They miss the enjoyment of having and enjoying the wrap.  Enjoy your day and go find yourself a piece of delicious chocolate to unwrap!

Jelly Bean Art

 

Sometimes unusual decorating discoveries are made in the most unusual places.  In this case, jelly beans were used as part of the decor in a coffee & tea shop restroom.  They created a colorful "splash" of color that was vibrant and stunning.  What a simple way to add interest and color to a space.  The creator used large, lightweight tiles or squares and added a hanger to the back.  Then, they carefully glued jelly beans over every square inch of each tile.  I must say, the result was surprising and effective.  This is a great project for everyone, but if you have kids in the family, I'm quite sure that they would be delighted to participate in creating this tasty craft idea.  One for the board. . .one to eat. . .one for the board. . .

Blue Ring Bling

 

Earlier this week I shared pictures of the 'gold collection' of napkin rings that I made from simple gold napkin rings and assorted vintage jewelry.  Today I am sharing a picture of the 'silver collection'.  These napkin rings were some that have been stuck away in a drawer for years and rarely used.  Once quite plain, they now are an eclectic set of napkin rings in shades of blue.  I'm looking forward to pairing them with some vintage blue china and a few favorite blue teacups and saucers.  They are a bit 'outside the box' when it comes to proper table decor, but I think they'll set a fun and interesting table, just the same.

Creating Napkin Rings with Bling

 

Napkins are always a part of proper table setting.  The more formal the meal, the plainer the presentation.  Always folded, the napkin can be set on the plate or to the left of the fork on the table setting.   Very formal meals always have fabric napkin, but paper napkins have become more and more acceptable over the years for most table settings.  Fancy folded paper napkins are never considered appropriate for a formal table, but they sure are fun for a casual one!  At times a napkin ring can be a part of a proper table setting, but those with "bling" should be reserved for a whimsical or casual table.

 

You might remember the beautiful napkin rings that my friend, Tari, gave me recently.  I posted about them here.  She found them when on a trip to North Dakota and knew I'd love them as part of a vintage tea table. 

Today I decided to try my hand at making a few more.  I gathered together several plain napkin rings and raided my treasure chest for an assortment of old broaches, earrings, beads, and pendants.  Most were old yard sale finds (as in before my time) with enough bits of tarnish to make them more interesting.  Little bits of "bling" all worked together to make pretty metallic circlets made to hold napkins.  I attached the "bling" individually or in groupings of three or four items.  Some of them matched (if I had two vintage earrings for a napkin pair) but the rest were created by themes of like colors, sparkle, texture, or bead.

It was a relaxing and creative way to spend an afternoon.  Who needs retail therapy when you can create to your hearts content?

Silver Teaspoon Jewelry and More

It's always interesting to observe how life happens.  Today I happened upon a silver bracelet that was handmade by an 80-year-old woman and I met a woman who was more than happy to model it for a photo so I could share it with you!  Since I have been sharing about silver teaspoons here on Gracious Hospitality, it seemed like perfect timing!  This bracelet has a silver hinge that connects the two silverware handles on the back side.  I thought it was quite unique!  Thank you, Judy, for modeling!


And thank you to Gracious Hospitality readers for your comments about how you use silver in your homes.  Here are some of the terrific ideas you shared!

Suzan said... I have all my vintage silverplate flatware in a decorative planter on the "pass through" bar between my kitchen and my dining room. I also have my everyday plates on a buffet plate rack so it is easy to grab flatware and plates to set the table. I use my silverplate everyday and keep my sterling silver for special occasions. I love digging through boxes of flatware at yard sales and flea markets looking for my favorite patterns! 

Marilyn said... I do have a collection of silver spoons which I have sitting in an old gravy dish. I am not sure I could drill holes in them.    
 

Karen said... I love old silver teaspoons. I purchased a bracelet and a ring made of spoons. I use some of my old silverware bent as a hook for hanging dried flowers or whatever. I don't have many pieces of silverware but am always looking for more.    

 

Adrienne said...I think there is such beauty in tarnished silver - the colors bring out the pattern in ways brilliant shine cannot! I love to keep my old silver spoons in my great-grandmother's carnival glass spooner. It was always on the table in her kitchen, filled with spoons for those who may need one to taste the delectable tasties coming from her oven!

 

Great ideas!  Isn't it fun to learn of the creative and effective ways that others use to express themselves with pretty vintage pieces?  If you have time, go visit the blogs of Suzan, Marilyn, Adrienne, and Karen.  I know they will be most gracious hosts!