Thinking Outside the Traditional St. Patrick's Day Decorating Box

Though I’m not of Irish decent, I LOVE St. Patrick’s Day! I love that it is a holiday everyone seems to enjoy being a part of, I love that it means spring is on its way, and I love the bursts of bright green color everywhere!

What I do struggle with each year is how to decorate my home in a fun and festive way BUT also in a stylish way. It’s very hit or miss at the local craft stores/grocery stores and it seems all I see are green-tinseled shamrocks and oddly creepy leprechauns.

This year I decided to scour the Internet and see what great and fresh St. Patrick’s Day decorations I could use as inspiration for my own home. My goal is to infuse stylish shades of green color to create a fresh, relaxing and festive look as well as think outside the “standard” St. Patrick’s Day decorating box.

Front door wreaths are big for me – they are the opening and welcome point for your home. Right now my poor front door looks dull and boring after Christmas and stays dull-looking usually until spring. I am thrilled to see some great options to help fill the gap! Though some examples are homemade (not everyone has the crafty gene), they are stylish and can easily be re-created and used year after year.

Another important showpiece for my home is the mantel and the kitchen table.  We spend a lot of time in our family room and kitchen I really love to showcase each holiday with a themed décor.  What I love about these three examples is that they look like ideas that my 9-year old son can help me create.  What kid doesn’t love a staple gun, paint and glue?

And it’s always big for me to have one classic piece - you can never go wrong with a good table-runner. You can use a good table-runner as the underlay for any festive home décor.

Celtic Table-Runner in Cream or Sage

I’m anxious to see how my newly crafted plan for St. Patrick’s Day decorating turns out. I would love to see any great ideas you have for St. Patrick’s Day decorating! You can post to our Facebook page and hopefully help inspire me and others!

Contributed by: Heather Hadfield (Dietrich), Sterling Pear

New Year's Resolutions - Resolving to Keep Your House Clean? Impossible? NO!

If you’re like me you’ve spent the past three weeks taking down all the holiday decorations and also noticing all of the things that need to be done around the house. You go to take down garland and think, “I clearly haven’t dusted this bookshelf in a long time”. Or, you follow the trail of pine needles only to be reminded that the floor beneath the couch is suffering from serious neglect. This year, we’ve got a New Year’s resolution for you that is easy to follow and comes with a great incentive.

First the resolution. We officially declare 2014 the "Year of the Clean House"! Sound boring? It’s not! Because I love to decorate I decided to think of this resolution less as cleaning and more as maintaining a well-kept backdrop for my keepsakes and during the holiday season, my decorations. Now, this where the incentive comes in. For every month that you stick to your cleaning schedule, you get to reward yourself with something new for your home! If you’re anything like me keeping the clean house  resolution will be its own incentive!

Every time I think of cleaning I get SO tired and feel completely overwhelmed so I decided to make an itemized spreadsheet. I divided the house into separate areas each with their own individual sub-areas as the focus for deep cleaning one week of the month. Then, I divided up the different chores for each area so that one job is assigned to each day of the week.  Sound confusing? It's not and here is an example of how it works:

Area: Living Room

• Monday:  Floors
• Tuesday:  Dusting
• Wednesday: Windows
• Thursday: Tables/Lamps/Fans
• Friday: Sofa and Chairs

For a 1300 square foot house, that breaks down to about an hour’s worth of cleaning a day. It’s doable!  But don’t beat yourself up if there is a day that just doesn’t work with the schedule. It’s life and it happens.  Plus, there is always tomorrow!

Contributed by: Terrie Petree for Sterling Pear

Bidding Farewell to Ornaments We Love 'til Next Year

We can't believe the Holiday season is almost over! In just days, most of us will be packing up our ornaments and décor and saying goodbye until next year. And, if you ask Sterling Pear fan, Jerry Durante, our signature Keepsake Ornament Chest is a great place to keep those items safe for the next, say, 10 months.

Let's hear from Jerry directly...

 

First let me say we love Sterling Pear's chests for storing our holiday ornaments. We didn’t start our collection, my mother did, unknowingly, 27 years ago.

 

When my wife and I got married, my mother purchased a Lenox ornament. It kind of grew from there. Each year thereafter, she purchased a Lenox piece, which she still does today. Adding to that, when my wife and I see a Lenox piece we like, we buy it. Then our son bought us a Swarovski snowflake one year and now after 27 years of Lenox and 10 years of the Swarovski flakes, we have 80 large and small crystal snowflakes, each sentimental.

With our collection, one of the biggest challenges with putting up the tree was opening all the boxes of the ornaments. And, all those boxes took up a lot of room. Then, of course, taking down the tree and put them all back in the correct boxes was not fun. Plus, we wanted to ensure the ornaments were protected in storage. That is when I started looking for something better than what we had.

I found Sterling Pear's  keepsake ornament chests online. They not only keep the ornaments safe, they are easy to empty and fill. Now putting up and taking down the tree isn’t the chore it use to be.  The chests are great looking and very easy to store everything. We need two chests, which fit all of our ornaments perfectly, including the tree top angel.

 

These chests, I feel, are the best investment we could have made for our ornaments. After all we have over $4,000 invested in ornaments. Keeping our investment and our memories safe is priceless.

Thank you for making these!

Kathy and Jerry Durante


contributed by Lizzy Smith for Sterling Pear

 

Sterling Pear Interviews Clara Scroggins: World-Famous Ornament Collector!

We originally posted this interview with Clara Scroggins, world-famous ornament collector, back in January, 2013 and really wanted to share her amazing interview again!

Clara Scroggins of Tampa Palms owns and curates the world's largest privately owned ornament collection, which tops 1-million pieces.

She has been collecting ornaments for more than 15 years! 

Her own collection includes ornaments by many famous names including Waterford, Lalique, Versace, Hallmark, Lenox, Reed and Barton, Christopher Radko, Baccarat, Swarovski, artist Thomas Blackwell, jewelry designer Jay Strongwater, Tiffany Co. and more!

Clara is an expert on storing and caring for sterling silver, crystal, gold, cut crystal, porcelain, breakable, blown glass balls, hand painted ornaments and more! We are so excited to have spoken with her. We hope you enjoy these tips on preserving your ornaments and heirlooms so you can pass them down to your children and grandchildren for generations to come. 

SP: What is the first rule in storing fragile an collectible ornaments? 

Clara: You don’t want your ornaments to rattle around. Use white shredded paper in each department of your ornament storage box to keep ornaments comfy and nestled in each slot. You also want to be careful that ornaments are not crushed against each other. Give each one a little room to breathe, while still being protected. “The ornament storage boxes by Sterling Pear are good for this because they are strong enough to stack without crushing the ornaments. There are many ornament storage companies and options now, and many ornament storage boxes that are made, are not”.

SP: Is it important to use acid-free paper when storing ornaments and heirlooms?

Clara: While it is not necessary to use acid free paper for storing ornaments, it is very important to use acid-free paper when storing heirlooms such as a wedding dress, antiques, and baby christening dresses to prevent yellowing. Wrap the items in the paper to keep them preserved.

SP: Should ornaments be stored in an airtight container to prevent moisture? What about sterling silver? Porcelain? Christmas Cards?

Clara: If you live in an environment with extreme temperatures, do not store ornaments in an airtight container. Ornaments need room to breath. The exception to this is China, Crystal and ornaments with Swarovski crystals. These can be stored airtight. 

The Swarovski crystals, when exposed to heat, can cause the glue to melt so your crystals come off. The good news is that companies now recognize that ornaments are exposed to Christmas tree lights and windows, and have made adjustments to prevent those things from happening. You can also just glue the crystals back on if this happens, and sometimesvsmall repairs may be needed.

Clara on storing Sterling Silver: Never store sterling silver where it can’t breathe. Use the packaging that the silver comes in which is pre-treated. You can also buy the protective bags separately to preserve your silver if the bags are misplaced or damaged.

Clara on storing Porcelain: The design in porcelain is fired in so it won’t come off on regular sheet paper. Store in an ornament storage box also wrapped in paper.

Clara on storing Hallmark cards: Leave them in the original box or wrap them invbubble wrap or tissue to preserve them.

SP: Why do ornaments get little black spots on them? Is it from moisture?

Clara: Black spots can come from age, being antiques, or humidity inside the ornament. Never store your ornaments in an attic or basement to avoid humidity or extreme temperatures. The Sterling Pear Ornament Storage boxes are so elegant you can use them as an end table or display piece in your living area to showcase your ornaments and heirlooms. So there is no need to hide them because their look is elegant enough to have out in a room. Ornament such as Disney and Hallmark will be fine and do not need climate-controlled temperatures.

SP: Are there any ornament companies that we should keep on our watch list? 

Clara: Fabriche designs beautiful ornaments that will continue to be timeless for years to come. Store them in crushed paper to keep them safe. Other companies to watch are Lalique, Lenox, Versace, and Blvgari and are beautiful to be shown off in an elegant, exquisite container from Sterling Pear. 

SP: What do you like about Sterling Pear’s Ornament Storage Chests and Boxes? 

Clara: I love the ornament boxes from Sterling Pear because they show off your ornaments so well! There is no need to hide them in a closet or attic because they showcase beautifully. They are like a piece of furniture in your home and can be used as an end table or neatly stacked as they are strong and will not crush your ornaments. There are many ornament storage companies and options available now and this is not always the case. The Signature Box can be used to store Easter ornaments since its lighter, and the black Keepsake Chest year-round or winter for storing Christmas ornaments and other collectibles. 

SP: What do you currently store in your Sterling Pear boxes? 

Clara: I store blown glass ornaments in the green ornament storage box and both colors are beautiful. My father’s heirlooms, which are very precious to me, will be stored in the black elegant keepsake chest, which I plan on passing down to my son and grandchildren. That’s what’s nice about your boxes. They are elegant enough to store and display family heirlooms, baby christening dresses, wedding dresses and fine ornaments.

Although she is best known for her amazing collection of ornaments, we've learned that Clara’s goal in life is really about giving back to others. She frequently opens her doors for holiday tours to interested groups and hopes that her beautiful and extensive ornament collection continues to bring joy to the world long after she's gone. Click here to read more on Clara and her exquisite collection.

Please visit Sterling Pear if you are interested in stylishly and safely storing your cherished ornament collection this year.  Take an additional 20% your order when you enter coupon code CLARASAV at check-out.  

Sterling Pear Chats With Meagan, a Fan of Our Keepsake Chest

It brings us great joy to hear from those who love Sterling Pear products as much as we do! Over the last week we've been highlighting ways our customers use their Sterling Pear items.  Today we were honored to chat with Meagan Morrell, fan of our Keepsake Ornament Chest. 

SP: How did you come across Sterling Pear's Keepsake Chest?

MM: I'm a pretty particular person and after I had my first baby, I searched extensively for a chest or box to store all of the keepsakes I collected during my pregnancy and the baby's first few years of life. I wanted something large enough to store a number of items, but not large enough that it would be a piece of furniture. It needed to have a somewhat flexible interior, because baby items come in all shapes and sizes (it's amazing how many keepsake chests are not large enough to hold something like a baby book or scrapbook!). It needed to be durable enough to weather long-term storage (like dust and humidity) and toddlers! Nothing I found really fit what I had in mind. I discovered and considered the Sterling Pear chest for awhile but never made a move to buy it. It was a financial commitment. After I purchased a couple of other keepsake boxes and looked at dozens more both in stores and online, I finally decided to just go ahead and purchase the Sterling Pear chest. It was well worth the money and wait because this is a beautiful piece. We got another chest for our second daughter who was born this year.

SP: What items are you storing in the chest?
MM: Baby keepsakes. I have things like my daughter's baby book, hospital outfits, first toy, first blanket, pacifier and handprints in there right now. Eventually, I'd like to add things like cards we exchange or drawings she made. Other items include photographs, Christmas ornaments, and favorite toys and outfits, which her baby sister is currently using. We make a lot of crafts together and I imagine that I'll add some of those someday. There's even a necklace in there that I purchased for when she's older. My baby daughter's chest isn't as full because I haven't had the time yet. If we ever have another baby, we will purchase a third chest for that baby, too.

SP: What a great idea! Those items sound precious.
MM: I like to think so! While searching for keepsake chests, I came across a lot of vintage hope chests that were given to women on their wedding day. I'd like to think this Sterling Pear chest is a modern version of a hope chest. It's sturdy but portable. It's large enough to store many keepsakes, but small enough to store in tight spaces, like in an apartment. When my daughters grow up and maybe have their own children, I envision myself presenting them with this beautiful gift full of their baby keepsakes. Hopefully they will cherish these keepsakes just as much as I have. Their time being so small passes so quickly and I really love being able to sort through this chest and reflect on those moments.

SP: Where do you put the chests now?
MM: Right now, the chest is at the top of my closet away from sticky fingers! It works for us and I like having it someplace that I can access easily. I enjoy knowing that my daughter's keepsakes are safe and within close reach.

SP: Any other comments you'd like to share with our readers about the chest?

MM: This chest is sturdy! One thing I love is that it has divided compartments so you can customize and organize the chest to what you need to fit in there. The dividers are lined, too, which is a nice touch. The chest has multiple trays, which are deep enough to fit even blankets or plush, or a number of baby outfits you want to treasure.

SP: Thanks, Meagan!

Contributed by Lizzy Smith for Sterling Pear

Stockings & Nostalgia

Last night, I was chatting with my friend about this being prime baking season. Time to head to the store and get large quantities of butter, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and sprinkles to decorate sugar cookies. We started reminiscing and it took me back to the days of my childhood.

As a kid, my parents would load up us three kids, the family dog, and a lot of luggage into our motorhome and drive from California to Richland, Washington to visit my grandparents. I loved their house during the holidays. It smelled of apple cider and vanilla, pie crusts and popcorn balls.

And while on Christmas morning, the presents that Santa left were most exciting, what I loved best were our stockings. Inside them were always small treasures-- earrings, candy, maybe a watch, beautiful mittens.

Now as an adult, I try to keep that stocking tradition alive. Because my daughters and I moved two years ago, their Christmas stockings somehow got lost amidst boxes and packing paper. So this year, I purchased two new stockings for them. Personally, I love traditional stockings best, which makes Sterling Pear's a perfect choice for me.

One thing that I never anticipated, however, was how difficult (and dangerous) those stockings can be. With my 18-month old nephew, Dylan, in the midst of exploring everything new, he has pulled one stocking down already. Thank goodness he wasn't hurt. Our cat, Princess, has also discovered how "fun" it can be to try and pull the stockings down. Sterling Pear's mantle clips are fantastic in keeping these potential accidents at bay. The heavier the stocking, the more the stocking actually stays in place. Call me a fan.

It's not too late to add Sterling Pear to your holiday collection. And, on December 18, free shipping on all orders!

Happy Holidays! May they be filled with good cheer, wonderful smells, and beautiful memories.

Contributed by Lizzy Smith for Sterling Pear

Ready for the Holidays But Your Home is Lacking Sparkle?

You’ve been holding back all year, but now that the holidays are here it’s time to unleash your inner sparkle! The holidays give us license to bring a little dazzle into our homes. For most of us, the Christmas tree is the centerpiece of our holiday sparkle, but what about the rest of the house? This year, we decorated our tree, hung our stockings and put out our lights. Then we looked around and thought, “Something is missing!” With that, we began looking for ways to add sparkle to our home without playing it too safe or going over the top.

In our search, we found some very simple decorating ideas that are easy, affordable and, of course, sparkly! We love the idea of using things you already own. For instance, polishing your best silver and setting it out for display. You can even fill a favorite silver bowl or platter with ornaments; it’s nearly effortless and the effect is brilliant! Along the same lines, Christmas is the ideal time to display your crystal. Nothing will add sparkle quite like those crystal candlesticks you got for your wedding or filling a few crystal goblets with Christmas candy in metallic wrappers and displaying them on the center of your table. Or, hang some crystals from your chandelier or light fixture and let them catch and reflect the lights from your tree. Dazzling!

If you’d like to add some new decorations to your collection and you want them to sparkle, we are excited that metallic Christmas trees are making a comeback. We are not suggesting a full size tree flocked in gold tinsel; but think of how beautiful a small gold or silver tree might look in a quiet corner of your living room, or in our case, in a little girl’s bedroom. Our three year old really wanted her own tree in her room this year, but we weren’t excited about having two sets of needles to clean up. We compromised with a small decorative tree. She loves the Leafy Topiary Tree in Gold and we love the added sparkle! Decorative trees make great centerpieces or add the perfect subtle shine for any room in the house. And, there are no extra needles to clean up!

We’d love to see how you add sparkle to your home. Please email us pictures or suggestions at info@sterlingpear.com!

Contributed by: Terrie Petree for Sterling Pear