I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT. . . SHORT AND STOUT. . .

Ok, so it's actually a coffeepot, not a teapot, but I love it just the same!

I've been wanting one of these. . . forever. . . but I sure wasn't willing to pay the high price being asked!
This fall, while at a garage sale, I found an Oneida Silver plated Coffeepot for $3. Now that's more like it! Then I put it away when I got home until I had a bit more time. Now was the time! I picked up a lamp-making kit $8, steel nipple and hex bolts packages (about $2 each) all at The Home Depot. The lamp shade I found recently at a trip to the thrift store for $1.99. (That's what prompted my memory of the coffeepot.)
I began by drilling out the top ornate piece on the coffeepot lid. You can do it ladies. Just go out to the garage. Head towards hub's tools, grab the drill, find a large drill bit, make sure the drill is in the F (forward) not R (reverse position) and GO!! Drill it from the underside of the lid and it'll pop right off!

Next, drill a hole for the cord to be fed through.

Secure the steel nipple with hex bolts. . . one on top and one underneath the lid. Easy Peasy!


Make sure the steel nipple is level then tighten down the hex bolts.



Start feeding the cord UP through the hole you drilled towards the bottom of the coffeepot.

Thread it through the top UNDERSIDE first, then feed it out the top.

SEE??

Now, just follow along with the instructions on the back of the lamp making package. The directions are extremely clear. I chose to add the harp neck, even though the lamp shade I used did not need a harp. I just like to plan ahead for the future. . . in case I change out my shade and the next one has a frame for a harp. It's easier to just add it now than having to take it apart to add it later. . . how do I know? Done it!

Add the socket pieces. . . according to the package directions.



Prepare your wiring. . . .secure the wire ends to the two screws on the socket. Confirm you have the ground wire going to the ground screw. All on the package directions ladies!


And you're DONE!! And it only cost around $17!


And now my new lamp has a permanent home. . . at our built in kitchen desk. . . and I'm Liking IT!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

Sher

A Little Moving Sale Visit

Garage/Yard Sale season is about over here in Michigan. I did happen to find one today on my way to the grocery store. . . so, of course, I stopped. It was an older couple having a sale. They were in the process of moving (and fighting). The woman wanted to have a moving sale, the husband didn't want to be bothered. Some items were priced, some not. Things that I thought should have been cheap had a big price tag on, things that were worth more were priced cheaply. The husband grumbled when asked for his help by the wife. Seeing marriages and relationships like this only make me treasure my wonderful husband. I am blessed! We are very supportive of each other's ideas, even if we don't necessarily agree with them : ) .

Anyways, this little item was not priced. I asked the price and was told 50 cents. It's a vintage, but never been used, 24% Lead Crystal Anna Hutte Bleikristall, made in Germany, powder holder. It has a powder puff, screen with a silver plated lid (or maybe it's Sterling, it doesn't say). On the backside of the top is a mirror and it says weighted and reinforced. It's probably not worth too much, but I certainly think it's adorable and worth 2 quarters!! Besides, it reminds me of my Grams!! Grams would keep her face powder and bath powder in things like this. . . . Remember bath powder? I don't see it anymore. Every year for Christmas that was my gift from my grandparents. . . a new flannel night gown and bath powder (or dusting powder some would call it). . .Man, did I make a mess with the powder in my mom's bathroom! Grams always powdered after her bath. But then these days, who has time for baths? Quick shower, get out and go!! Sigh. I think tonight, I'll take a bath.

Blessings. . . until next time (hopefully, I'll have a post of the finished chairs soon - they are done, but I was in a rush to get out of church last night and get our youngest home, so I forgot to take a picture!),

Isn't this adorable?

I stopped at a few garage/moving sales this past week. Isn't this just adorable?

My husband always asks when I buy something at a "sale" and bring it home, "Where are you going to put that?" My response is always the same. . . "If something speaks to me, I'll find a place for it!"

I think I've found the perfect spot for it, don't you? For 2 bucks, and it's silver-plate. . . not bad.

. . . And besides, a little birdie told me to buy "it!"

Blessings!

Vintage Heaven

I promised a few days ago to share my vintage silverplate with you. Here it is:

Isn't this silverplate flatware simply wonderful? I love old things. I love vintage things. I love "simple elegance." They just don't make things like they used to.

How did this collection get started? I originally purchased several place settings at an Estate Sale. Love those Estate Sales! Then I brought them home, polished them up and put them in a drawer. . . to forget about for awhile. I got busy, life happened and a few years rolled around. Funny how that happens. Later when I came upon them. . . there they were. . . beautiful, shiny, vintage, heavy silver-plated flatware begging for more pieces. My quest began. Thank God for EBAY. I first had to investigate what pattern I even had. So, Amazon was a great source for purchasing books on identifying flatware patterns. I purchased a book by Tere Hagan, called Silverplated Flatware. It is an identification and value guide book.

My pattern is by Wm Rogers & Sons. The pattern name is Triumph - it was first introduced in 1925. 1925!! That's before my parents were even born. 82 years old and still stunning! (I only hope the same is said about me when I reach that age :>). There just seems to be such a better degree of quality (to me anyways) than from the patterns produced today.

I continued on my search through EBAY. I found many individual pieces, a few place settings together, etc. I even found an original magazine ad from 1925 introducing the Triumph pattern for Christmas. Of course, I purchased it all. Don't want to see any pieces without homes. I got place settings, serving pieces, even a sugar, creamer & tea pot of the same pattern.

Now, my beautiful set is complete. . . and I absolutely LOVE it. Was is worth waiting 26+ years for my silver-plated flatware? Oh yes!! It was worth it!!

Come on over sometime and we'll "share a meal."

Blessings!

Sher

It's like a "Miracle" to me!!

Silver. You either like it, or you don't. I do like it. I don't like cleaning it. Back when Hubs and I married (26 years ago) silver was a fortune! Therefore, I didn't register for silver-plate flatware because the price was out of this world. Today, I don't think brides register for such things. (They register at Home Depot for grills, sporting goods stores for hiking equipment, etc. Things have certainly changed, haven't they?) Entertaining is not what it used to be. Everyone is too busy. That's probably a better thing. Not so fussy. Just more casual. You can certainly get together more often and don't have as much work if you just order a pizza or throw burgers on the grill.

. . . But I still like silver and I use my silver. I use it for the "Ladies Advent Tea" at our church, I use it for ladies luncheons and brunches I host at my home, we use it on special occasions, birthdays, holidays and sometimes "just because day." Someday, I hope to use these fine things for my daughter's bridal showers. Oh yeah, I have my silverplate flatware now. It's a vintage pattern from 1925 and I love it. Simple elegance is what I call it. Someday I'll post about it and show you all a picture of this lovely set I've pieced together.

Anyways, back to what this post is about. I stated above I don't like cleaning silver. . . well I found the most wonderful product. Maybe those of you who like silver have already found this product. It's by Haggerty. It's a spray on cleaner that you use with special Haggerty gloves. You spray the cleaner on the gloves. . . then you actually "rub" off the tarnish. It's magic I tell you, pure magic. I had so much fun when I actually saw how fast this product works that I cleaned all the silver in no time and had fun doing it. . . . And it doesn't smell . . . . like, you know, that grandma's home Toni permanent wave kit either! You who have silver and clean it, know what I mean. Then the next bestest ever product is the Haggerty Silverware Dip. It's a tall plastic container with a little dipping basket inside. You place a few pieces of flatware into the basket, dip for no more than 10 seconds and out comes your flatware ready to rinse and dry. Amazing I tell you, simply amazing!

Just wanted to pass it on to those friends of mine who like silver. For those friends of mine who have all their silver in a box stored in the basement. . . oh well, never mind.

Oh yes, I almost forgot. . . after cleaning your silver, throw the gloves in the washing machine, wash and they are ready for the next time.

Happy polishing!

Blessings!