I love your decorations, being in the south we don't see many ice skates but I like the idea. My favorite decorations are the things we have saved over the years - even the old aluminum tree - I still do not understand why my mother bought that thing when you couldn't put lights on it. For some strange reason, I still like it, maybe for the memories it brings back.

Up until 12 years ago I worked in the food service industry, so I have lots of silver plate flatware. Once I was in the upper closet of a Sheraton where I worked and found boxes of Oneida Silver Plated Hotel Flatware, asked the GM about it, and he said take it,it was enough for 100 place settings! I have other boxes of sets of 12 or 24 settings that were given to me by GM's when cleaning out closets. I like the hotel silverplate, it's heavy and the knife handles are solid. The spoons get a tad yellow and I just wipe with Wrights Silver Polish. That's is my everyday stuff. As for cleaning in the dishwasher, thinking back I would have to say it takes about 30 years or so to toss the silverplated flatware washed in a dishwasher. Have to admit I am anal about the baskets in the dishwasher, being trained to put the knife blades down so not to poke yourself getting out, separate the spoons, forks and serving and utility in separate baskets. The Sterling set, I hand wash, it's sentimental. When I was a very young girl our family had a contract for vending machine sandwiches. On the bread bags there was a coupon on the side to cut out and redeem for sterling flatware. They would save all the bags for when my Grammie came to visit in the summer and she and I would sit and cut out the coupons. I still remeber bead crumbs and plastic sticking to me, lol. I would have to look but I think we cut enough coupons for a set for 24. Sterling doesn't tarnish as fast as plated, I keep mine is a chest with silver cloth, takes no time at all to shine up. Linda, I think the set you have is the same as what my Mom had, sure looks like it from the pic. I wish my cutlery was as wide as yours.

FWIW, I know how your wife feels about that fixture! I fell in love with the Kevin Reilly chandelier---the rectangular one with the fake candles--and have seen it at an aquaintenance's house and in a kitchen magazine. After much research a year ago, I found it for $13,000 at one of the Holly Hunt showrooms. But just now (after 15 more minutes looking...) I found an old eBay listing it for $5,800. Ugh. So Restoration Hardware is another budget way to go for a similar look. It is perfection isn't it?! Here is a link that might be useful: candle fixtures at Restoration Hardware

You are so right about that, Anj. I love that we all do different things, and that sometimes motivates me to try things I probably wouldn't have otherwise. There are so many wonderful designers and patterns--that really makes it fun--but hard to choose as well. I'm finally working on some of the older designs that I've had earmarked for many many years. It feels good to finally be doing some of them. My motivation for doing them was because I wanted to be able to weed out some of my stash of books and patterns--so many books had only one or two designs earmarked. Once I've painted those, I should be able to pass those books on to someone else to enjoy. Luvs