Friday 16 September 2011

Silver Service

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” [Proverbs 25]

apples calendarFor as long as I can remember, there have been “Apples Of Gold” calendars hanging up in the houses of many of my Christian friends [I don’t think I have ever had one though!] My landlady had one all through my student years – and we would race each other in the morning to tear off yesterday’s page, and find the bible text for the new day.

apples diary

They don’t just do verse-a-day calendars – they also produce quite attractive diaries too. [but no good to me, I am a committed Filofax girl]

I was thinking about the ‘settings of silver’ this week. As I helped Marion pack up to move, she said “Do you want this? I was going to chuck it” It was an extremely tarnished, silver plated basket. I brought it home with me.

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First of all, I put it in my widest pan, with scrunched up tinfoil and a tablespoon of bicarb, and a kettleful of boiling water. See how black it is!

I let it bubble away for a bit – and after about 15 minutes removed one filthy piece of tinfoil, and a considerably cleaner basket.

I washed it in regular washing-up liquid [dish soap in the US, I think]

Then I discovered I was out of metal polish. I improvised by making a paste of cheap cooking salt and a splash of lemon juice. It is still not 100% right – I still need to get into those crevices with an old toothbrush and some regular polish – but after a total of only 30 minutes boiling, bathing and buffing I’d got it this far…

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I am not sure about golden apples, but at Christmas, I think this will look super with some satsumas and a few ivy leaves as a table centre.Or perhaps some pinecones and clove-studded pomanders…

Thanks Marion!

7 comments:

  1. It is going to be a lovely table centre, Angela. I'd forgotten you could use foil in that way.

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  2. Wow what a transformation! And don't forget if its silver it will also keep the vampires away lol
    x x x

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  3. so very pretty. I don't have silver around the house, as I hate having to keep it clean!!

    Gill in Canada

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  4. Can't wait to see the photos of it at Christmas!
    Jane x
    HP sauce is good to use on silver too, but smells awful!

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  5. What a beautiful basket! It has a beautiful patina and I think it could make a lovely centerpiece any time of the year.

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  6. Thanks for the tip. I have just tried it with a completely black silver bracelet. It worked in seconds, no need for silver polish at all!!! Magic?

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  7. Dear Anon - glad it worked!
    fishcake - no vampires round here anyway [too much garlic!]

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