Gorgeous in Silver - cupcakes, Jewelry and re-invented Vintage Cutlery

I always enjoy looking at pretty things on the Internet but today felt drawn to silver and glitter and romantic images and have created a pretty “silver” collage. I decided not just to post as a “visual” feast but have included a yummy recipe for orange blossom cup cakes and some wonderful ideas for decorating them in silver for either a wedding or anniversary or just because you want to create something pretty. 

I have also found some lovely products with a silver theme, including the wonderful vintage tea spoons, two separate companies with unique ideas for re-inventing a use for beautiful vintage tea spoons.   You must visit their stores to see their great products, I think they are beautiful.

I have added links to go directly to any products you may like, just click on the shop names.

Gorgeous in Silver

Snowflake Showers wedding cake by She Takes the Cake


Silver and white bridal bouquet photo shared from ACapeCod Bride.blogspot.com . Morgan is the owner of this delightful blog which is about her creating a beautiful budget wedding in only 6 months.  A really lovely blog.

Kas Fabiano Bed Linen from Wallace Sacks Linens

Swarovski crystal heart beautifully wrapped in sterling silver on an 18" sterling silver chain - US$28.00 by Classic Keepsakes, please click on the link to see other designs in Classic Keepsakes etsy store. 

Full length ball gown tulle skirt as seen in collage above. Dove grey tulle lined with silver bridal satin US$345 by Tutus Chic. Tutus Chic has the most gorgeous tulle skirts and beautifully detailed bodices.  I have previously featured Tutus Chic's exquisite designs.

Vintage Silverware Silver plate Teaspoons US$19.00 by Wooden Hive . Wooden Hive takes vintage cutlery pieces and etches them turning them into unique pieces. Please take a look at their etsy shop to view other lovely designs including this unique bridal piece below at US$6.50.

The Vintage teaspoons below belong to California Spoon Rings, another etsy store. This  unique company craft beautiful vintage cutlery by bending, cutting and polishing into the most  gorgeous rings which are unisex.  I have selected three designs  below, however there are plenty more in their etsy store at California Spoon Rings

1. Vintage Orange Blossom design -  US$22.50 from California Spoon Rings

2. Sterling silver ring  New Standish Design 1905-  US$48.50 - California Spoon Rings

3. Silver spoon ring Oxford 1901 - US$20.50 - California Spoon Rings

(Please note at the time of posting all the above products were still available)

Orange Blossom Cupcakes

6oz (175g) butter, softened and chopped
6oz (175g) caster sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated orange rind
2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur ( I would imagine you could use orange juice instead but the taste would not be as strong)
3 eggs
5oz (150g) all-purpose (plain) flour (sifted)
1 teaspoon baking powder, (sifted)


Method:


1. Preheat oven to 180C (350F).

2. Line cupcake tins with cupcake papers.

3. Place the butter, sugar, orange rind and liqueur in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 8-10 minutes or until light and creamy.

4. Gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition.

5. Add the flour and baking powder and beat until just combined.

6. Spoon mixture into cupcake tins.

7. Bake for 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center of an orange blossom cupcake comes out clean.

8. Cool on wire racks before icing.


White Chocolate Icing: 

7oz (200g) white chocolate, chopped
160ml (2/3 cup) cream

1. Place white chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until melted and smooth.

This recipe comes to you from All About Cupcakes, here you can find many wonderful cupcake recipes such as chocolate mallow, almond and raspberry, lemon meringue and a trillion other   flavours, in fact anything connected with cupcakes.

Some Decorating ideas for your cupcakes

sprinkled with silver edible glitter 

( sorry I cannot credit this photo as cannot find the source, however if you own this photo please let me know and I will credit it accordingly :))

silver cupcake wrappers from the Craft Company
A company that has everything you can imagine to do with cakes and decorating, definitely worth a visit.

Today I will leave you today with a Greek Proverb

A heart that loves is always young

We are all wanting to stay as young as we can and it is a proven fact that happy, loving people do live longer, look younger and stay healthier.

Gorgeous jewelry by designer Virginia Wulf

I don't usually post on Sundays  but as I didn't blog yesterday and my quote the previous day may have come across as me being a bit gloomy,  I decided to put something brighter on my blog today and something "sparkly" caught my eye.  I came across the work of self taught jewellery designer Virginia Wulf, and no I haven't made a spelling error :).  Virginia lives in the Pacific North West a couple of hours south of the Canadian border. By day Virginia is an interpreter for the deaf and by night she is creating beautiful pieces of jewellery such as the ones I have posted below.  

Virginia says she believes in beauty, passion, solitude, kindness and love and her work is created with these ideas in mind.  Certainly Virginia's pieces caught my eye as being special. Her work has  a clarity and delicateness about it and and I love that she is also using gold as well as silver. Virginia combines her semi precious stones, crystals and pearls with different metals including, 14K  solid gold, silver, brass and 14K gold filled.


If you are not familiar with the term "gold filled" this means that they are much more durable than gold plate. Gold filled is an actual layer of gold pressure bonded to another metal, it has 100% more gold than gold plating. Gold filled is more valuable and tarnish resistant, does not flake off, rub off or change colour.  It is said to be suitable for people with allergies and a very economical alternative to solid gold.  This information came from "Reviews and Guides".

1.  7-1/4" bracelet designed with faceted smokey quartz gemstones and green faceted topaz. The gemstones are on a 14kt gold filled chain and have a beautiful 14kt gold clasp. Virginia says the stones are beautifully cut with stunning colours -  US$44.00

2. Earrings - soft champagne coloured freshwater pearls and beautiful handmade sterling silver detailed hoops. Simple and classic -  US$32.00

3. These earrings are on "sale" at the time of my blog -  Gold filled setting with Green Gold Gemstones that are beautifully faceted. These are one of a kind with a lucite leaf and swarovski crystal. I am unsure of the metal so you would have to contact Virgina through the link. The link is on the price - US$38.00

4. Dangling from a 14kt gold chain are these beautifully faceted champagne gold quartz gemstones hanging in a staggered fashion. Virginia says the cut and clarity of these stones is amazing. The stunning hoops are 14kt gold and  the gemstones are between 4-6mm in size - US$40.00

5.These earrings are faceted champagne quartz and gold quartz, they are wire wrapped and the hoops are 10k gold. Virginia describes the stones as stunning, well cut and shiny because of the great cut - US$42.00

6. This is a 23 inch long necklace combined with a14kt gold chain and five gorgeous coloured, beautifully faceted champagne quartz gemstones. The closure is a 14kt gold lobster clasp surrounded by two 14kt gold beads. 
Virginia designed this piece so that the the gemstone collection can be removed from the chain and the chain can be worn with other pieces you may already have.  - US$50.00 -  Details of the size of the gemstones are below:

Gemstones - 2 at 8mm width and length 
1 at 7mm width and length2 at 6mm width and length

(Note: this product is on sale at the time of my post) 

7. Some more "classic" pearls - beautiful freshwater water pearl earrings on 14kt gold filled chain and 14kt gold filled hoops. Virginia describes these as spectacular,  wonderfully shaped pearls that are creamy white in color. A Great gift and for every day wear. Classic and elegant. - US$36.00

As with all the stores I pick out from Etsy at the time of my post feedback is 100% positive and prices are at the time of posting. It is possible however that pieces may be sold by the time you click on the link, however Virginia has many other designs available and I would recommend visiting her Etsy store.