Friday, September 30, 2011

Homer Laughlin China

I adore the pattern & its lovely detailing...
It's such a lovely and peaceful day that I just HAD to come and share it with everyone!
Homer Laughlin Blue Willow China
Today is an off day so I thought I would start unpacking some more of Grandmother Harris's belongings and I came across what is left of her beautiful Homer Laughlin Blue Willow China. They are so mesmerizing! I've been sitting here for an hour now inspecting every single piece.

A spot of glue & I will be like new
There are chips and nips here and there, and even a broken handle. But a bit of super glue should fix the handle. As for the chips and nips, I find beauty in them regardless...

Put me on a mantle & I shall be lovely again
I have no clue how many pieces are apart of this collection, so I think I will just hunt for the proper pattern and see what I come up with. There are so many versions out there, but you have to pay close attention to the details. Some are similar and some are perfect matches.

One more would be perfecto!
I'm going to clean them up and find them a good home. Oh how I need a china cabinet, but the hunt continues. Until then, as long as they are no longer packed away, I shall enjoy them no matter what. Though I look forward to the day I have a house and I can share them the way Trina at A Country Farmhouse shares hers...

So happy to be out of the box & into the light...
Enjoy your Friday Everyone!
~N~

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Big Mama's Silverware

 3 years ago, my beloved Big Mama, (an affectionate alternate name for Grandma Harris), passed away and it broke me heart... I've come along way since then and am now able to handle her beautiful possessions bequeathed to me.

Upon arriving home after her funeral, I kept her belongs packed away until last year when I moved into my first apartment.

I now feel comfortable enough to embrace them and to share them here with you, my new found friends.

These were Big Mama's 1847 Rogers Bros Heritage Collection silverware. When we were dividing her belongs amongst the family, I mostly received her cooking sets because that was a passion she and I shared.
1847 Rogers Bros Heritage...
I wish that I had taken photographs of their condition prior to their cleaning. I suppose in her tender age and with her health problems, they were no longer needed. Though, if you could imagine silverware being burned, then that's the best interpretation I could give.

I've never polished silverware before so I had no clue what I was getting myself into when I started this project, but I'm glad that I did.


As I set out to restore each piece, I allowed myself to wonder about their history with Big Mama.
Since she is no longer with us, there is no one to ask who can give me the true details I long for.

To even speak her name sometimes brings a look of loneliness over my father's face so I know to ask him would be too much.

There is my aunt, but we are not close to that side of the family, though I hoped that with Big Mama's passing we all would be closer but my many attempts to stay in touch were never reciprocated so I gave up.
Sorry for the glare, I was trying to capture the
floral detail on their handles...

I wonder if they were a wedding gift... Big Mama was married 3 times. Her first husband was abusive and thankfully she left.
Her second husband was my biological grandfather, whom I never really knew, their marriage lasted long enough for my father and aunt to be born, then they parted ways.

But her third and final marriage was the one.

She married my Grandfather Shot, why the nickname Shot? I have no clue but truest me, all us grandkids adored him. Real grandfather or not. They actually married once before and divorced because Granddaddy had a drinking problem I believe and Big Mama left him until he straighten up.

I guess realizing a real treasure he got himself together and asked for her hand in marriage, again.
Remember my cute find from the thrift store here?
I thought it would be lovely to house the silverware...
I wonder if she used them for her Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners... With the family split, there were never any big family gathers for holiday dinners with Big Mama & Granddaddy. I wish there had been, maybe then I would have more memories with them both and with this lovely silverware.

Can you see all of my hard work to restore them?
 But that is alright, I shall make my own memories with them... Happy Saturday!
~N~
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