Emma Bridgewater

Have I ever talked about Emma Bridgewater? I'm pretty much obsessed with her pottery. Ever since I had Clementine I wanted to purchase her a silver baby mug from Tiffany's, but they are super expensive - so I settled for a silver spoon and you know what... that spoon is driving me crazy! It gets tarnishy on a dime and it has scratch marks all over it. Since silver is so high maintenance and completely out of vogue I was stuck. I headed over to Emma Bridgewater's website and was completely smitten by her baby mugs. Here are my top favs!

Figs Baby Mug

Egg and Feather Baby Mug

Polka Dot Baby Mug

The mugs are priced around $25 each and Bridgewater sells other items, pitchers, platter, jugs etc... Here's my beef, the company is located in England therefore shipping to the US is $30! And even though I of course understand why it costs this much it's irritating and has stalled my grand plans to have a gorgeous mug for my two babies.

-Grace

A Change of Perspective

The pairing of white and gold has long been one of my favorite color combinations. Together they can evoke so many different moods...

...simplicity,

Clementine Gold Lip Dish

charm,

Tiny Bouquet Earrings

  

luxury,

Gold Leaf Bowl

 

individuality.

Periodic Table

 

I’ve believed that silver has been rightfully quarantined where it belongs: mid 90’s jewelry. 

However, I recently rediscovered an unlikely combination of materials that has me rethinking my standards of beauty.

Enter: dark wood and silver.

Silver Moon Crib

 

 

Silver Moon detail

Alone, neither silver nor mahogany is my favorite but together they have become a source of inspiration. Now I’m re-evaluating my other prejudices and wondering what other revelations I might have.

So here’s wishing you a weekend filled with pleasant about-faces in your point of view.

Happy Weekend!

-Alissa

Four Favorites

18k Gold Turquoise Ring

$379 from artemer on Etsy

9 Factory Spools

$55 from lovintagefinds on Etsy

7 Creme Brulee Lollipops

$10 from TheGroovyBaker on Etsy

13.5cm Silver Corn on the Cob

64 GBP from Sceneinsilver on Etsy

Four of my most recent favorites, hunted and gathered on Etsy. 

- Cathleen 

How to Polish Silver - The Definitive Guide

That's right, I said it: The DEFINITIVE Guide (Cue dooming music).
My Survey of Silver professor is renown for her expertise in all things silver. Here is her guide to taking care of the delicate silver you may own.

When you've found that your silver is in need of polishing use an old white linen tablecloth and a chalk based polish like Wrights or Goddards. Once you've finished polishing the silver give it a nice rinse in distilled water.

Never put your silver in a dishwasher!
If you see that you need a brush to polish your silver don't use an old toothbrush, use a horsehair bristle brush. This is the most gentle on easily dent-able silver.

Remember, silver polish is a mild abrasive so when you polish you are actually removing some of the silver molecules.

Always handle silver with gloved hands. Never rubber gloves! Rubber is toxic to silver. Wear nitrile gloves. Latex and vinyl are also rubber so don't expose your silver to either of these materials.

If you have an old piece of silver and you notice that is has little black splotches on it- this is a good thing! It means your silver is old. The silver is so old that the silver has been worn away in some places. Treat silver in this state with extra caution and whatever you do - don't get new silver electroplated over the piece.

So---if you've read this far, you're nuts!!

Any tips or tricks you may have when keeping your silver in tip top shape?

- Grace

Hair Jewelry

Sterling Silver Cast Human Hair Bangle

$251.89 from vanderglas on Etsy

I absolutely looove the look and texture of these silver bracelets and earrings cast from braids of real human hair by Polly van der Glas of Vanderglas Jewellery & Objects based in Melbourne, Australia. Inspired by hair, teeth, and fingernails, materials that change meaning once they are divorced from the body, Polly's interest in objects that define beauty and the moment of transformation once they are shed, is something that I too have always been fascinated by. Kindred spirits! 

Sterling Silver Cast Human Hair Hoop Earrings

$342.57 from vanderglas on Etsy

You can see more of her work on her website: www.vanderglas.com.au
And more jewelry in her Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/vanderglas


- Cathleen