What is upcycling? Well, simply put, upcycling is the process of transforming waste materials or unwanted products into new, higher-value items with improved functionality or aesthetic appeal. It is a creative and environmentally-friendly approach to recycling and waste reduction.
Unlike traditional recycling, which often involves breaking down materials to create new products, upcycling focuses on repurposing and giving new life to existing materials without degrading the quality and composition of the material. The goal is to extend the lifespan of objects and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
Upcycling can involve various materials, including furniture, clothing, electronics, packaging, silverware and more. Instead of discarding these items, they are creatively redesigned, repaired, or transformed into something useful or beautiful. This process requires imagination, craftsmanship, and innovative thinking to see the potential in discarded or overlooked materials.
By upcycling, not only are new products created, but the environmental impact is reduced. It helps conserve resources, reduces energy consumption, minimizes pollution associated with manufacturing new goods, and prevents the release of harmful substances into the environment.
Upcycling has gained popularity in recent years as people become more aware of the importance of sustainability and reducing waste. The concept of upcycling encourages consumers to rethink their relationship with products and waste. Instead of discarding items, people are encouraged to explore their potential for repurposing or to support businesses that specialize in upcycled products. Upcycling promotes a more circular economy, where materials and resources are used more efficiently and waste is minimized.
At Laughing Frog Studio (LFS) our design approach is always made with creative sustainability in mind! All of our creations are made from vintage and antique silverware that is headed for the landfill because most younger generations do not want the family silverware. At LFS, we take that silverware and upcycle it rather than recycle it. In other words, we do not degrade the base material of the silverware, which is an amalgam of metals, by melting it down. Instead, we take the existing metal composition and use our imagination to create something new.
When creating our upcycled silverware designs, there are times when we try to honor the original piece by letting the original silverware design shine - spoon rings, spoon handle bracelets, etc. Other times, we create a design that you would not even KNOW was made from upcycled pieces silverware - we take parts and pieces of the silverware and design, cut and/or embellish them into completely new creations. But ALWAYS, it is silverware saved from demise.
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Every creation you purchase from Laughing Frog Studio is made by me or Matt -that’s it! There are only two of us and we employ all of the imperfectly perfect, painstakingly glorious handmade methods of creating. You will receive an authentically unique, beautiful truly handmade, upcycled silverware creation from the two of us that is made with love.
Laughing Frog Studio’s mission is to create high-quality, handmade, unique and one-of-a-kind upcycled vintage silverware jewelry, accessories and housewares that enchant the creative spirit, honor the eco-friendly lifestyle, and spread kindness and a sprinkle of humor as often as possible.
Other Blog Posts:
How to Find the Necklace Length that Best Suits You
Top 5 Upcycling Projects for Beginners that Require Few Skills & Equipment
Spoon Rings and Love Over the Ages - A Unique History
Silverplate vs. Sterling Silver? What's the Difference?
Handmade: Made by Hand & With Love
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• To hike to the top of Kilimanjaro?
• To indulge on a crusty baguette and a wedge of soft brie in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower?
• To compete in the Olympics as a platform diver?
• To have lots of babies and revel in the chaos of a large family?
• To open a small shop selling goods made by HAND in the USA?
Many of us have a dream that quietly nudges us in the back of our mind. Some of us ignore these nudges and continue on our existing paths; others act on these nudges by taking a giant leap. At Laughing Frog Studio our dream was to make things with our hands and to sell to people who loved our work. In 2011 we took a giant leap and started a small shop selling handmade ucpcycled silverware jewelry, accessories, including spoon rings, silverware keychains, knife bell necklaces, etc.
We are absolutely elated when we make a sale. Literally each sale is like a shot of adrenaline, dopamine or serotonin (there may actually be some science here) that just makes us so happy. We do a little happy dance from the thrill and excitement of our dream being validated and supported: that is absolutely amazing.
We are not alone in our desire to have our dreams validated. Each new small business is started with a dream in mind. So much time, energy, money, physicality and passion goes into starting a small business; if it weren’t about fulfilling a dream, the endeavor would simply be a total time (and resource) suck. So, as small business owners, when we start making sales and see that our dream is supported, that is EVERYTHING! Megan DeCicco of Solutions on 2nd, the company that started the #Buysmallsavesmall Instagram mission, is spot on when she says “For a small business owner getting a new order for your shop is great; but knowing your dreams are supported is priceless.” At Laughing Frog Studio, we couldn’t agree more.
Megan DeCicco is passionate about small businesses and is the brainchild behind the Buy Small Save Small mission. The purpose of the mission to help small businesses thrive and survive in one (or more!) of three ways:
You can learn tons more about the Buy Small Save Small mission on Instagram page and/or the website.
As part of the Buy Small Save Small mission, Megan has taken the #shopall50 pledge to shop all 50 states while utilizing social media to get the word out about all the small businesses she is discovering. At Laughing Frog Studio, we have also taken the #shopall50 pledge – you can follow our progress on our website.
Now are you ready to get started validating small business owner’s dreams? It’s super easy!
1. You can simply interact with and share their social media posts (as that is usually small business’s only means of advertising).
2. And you can start shopping with small businesses across the USA. In case you don’t know where to start, we gotcha covered with 5 Small Businesses to Support Right Now.
Follow these businesses on social media, interact with and share their social media posts, and, if you have the means, shop their online stores.
1. The Paper Hug Factory, Tulsa, OK
2. One Love Candle & Bath, Loves Park, IL
3. Kae Apothecary, Mt. Vernon, IA
4. Good & Well Boutique, Houston, TX
5. The Roan Cow, Twin Falls, ID
We discovered the Paper Hug Factory well before the #buysmallsavesmall movement. In fact, I think we discovered her before COVID. Anyhow, we have been a huge fan for awhile.
Tyff Johnson is the artist/owner of Paper Hug Factory, and she is amazing with a capital “A”. Tyff creates handmade greeting cards that “exude thoughtfulness and impact the heart.” In fact Tyff calls what she does her “heart hustle”. How cute is that?
Tyff makes greeting cards that are truly one-of-a-kind and custom to you. You send her a photo and she will create a custom, stylized, layered paper, piece of art based on your photo! Her creations are just so unique; her work is just amazing. You gotta see it to understand it, so rush over to her Instagram and take a look!
Here is the photo I sent to her alongside the custom card she made for me.
I am actually going to frame the card and hang it in our studio.
We purchased from The Paper Hug Factory as part of our pledge to #buysmallsavesmall. To view our unboxing video for the Paper Hug Factory click here.
Website: www.thepaperhugfactory.Etsy.com
Instagram: @paperhugfactory.
One Love Candle & Bath is the heart and soul of Stephanie Franchini. We met as vendors at Nellie’s Barn Sale in Roscoe, Illinois in 2014. After Nellie's, I reached out to Stephanie about her Monarch Butterfly conservation blog post, read more here. Since then we have kept in contact off and on over the years.
One Love Candle and bath specializes in handcrafted personal and home scented products. They have a line of soaps, lotions, body butters, bath bombs, shower steamers, soy candles, home products and more. One Love’s goal is to offer luxury products while maintaining environmental awareness, sustainability, and fair-trade practices. It really is all about one love!
We bought the Buzz Kill All Natural Insect Repelling Pure Soy Candle as part of our #shopall50 pledge. Since we live in a warm climate and spend loads of time on the porch, this super effective candle has been very useful!
You can view our unboxing here.
Website: www.onelovecandleandbath.com
Instagram: @onelovecandlebath
Kae Apothecary is located in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Home of @cornellcollege which is where Matt and I met, so Mt. Vernon is very special place for us. I asked my college friend Stephanie Parish West, whom lives in Mt. Vernon, for suggestions for small businesses in Mt. Vernon that she loved. One of several shops she suggested was Kae Apothecary.
Kae Apothecary is an extremely unique shop in that it “provides self-care for the modern mystic by offering intentionally prepared products for your personal rituals.” To be honest, I don’t think you will find too many stores with this mission. Additionally, the array of products and services they offer is broad and stellar! From Numerology Readings (via zoom) to herbal teas to ritual supplies (Bits and Bobbles for Personal Ritual and Spell Casting to Focus, Cast, Cleanse, Bless) to general self-care and more!
As part of our pledge to the #buysmallsavesmall mission, we ordered a charcoal and bamboo toothbrush, a shower aromatherapy tablet and a Mt. Vernon coffee mug. The mug and toothbrush get used all the time.
You can view our unboxing here.
Website: www.kaeapothecary.com
Instagram: @kaeapothecary
We met Trissa Rosette in 2019 shortly after having moved to Texas. We were doing our first Texas market (@fleaatsilverstreet) and the Good & Well was parked across from our booth…yes I said “Parked”. Good & Well is a mobile boutique housed in a gorgeous 1968 Airstream named Happy. To be honest it is a genius idea! If you’ve ever done a show/event, you know how exhausting it can be setting up and breaking down.
The Good & Well Boutique is also online and offers handmade and small-batch goods made by women makers from all over the country. The goods are exclusively American from over 15 American makers. Even better, Good & Well gives back! They give a percentage of their sales to different causes. Right now they are supporting Kids Lives Matter International, INROADS, Just College Students Project, and Susan G. Koman Foundation.
At Good & Well you will find the cutest curated collection of goods in apparel, gifts, accessories, self-care and housewares. We love the Old Whaling Co. body butter and while we personally have not tried Soberdough Bread (we’re gluten free), we have heard the Soberdough Bread kits are to die for!
Furthermore, Trissa is just such a sweetheart and a joy to work with, she will take good care of you. I mean, it's what you would expect from a boutique named Good & Well, right?
Website: www.goodandwellboutique.com
Instagram: @goodandwellboutique
Last, but certainly not least is The Roan Cow Soap Company - they make super gorgeous soaps and body products. All their products are handmade in small batches without chemicals using their own fragrance blends. Plus, the names of their products are downright hysterical and will make you smile as you shop their website.
I found The Roan Cow whilst perusing get Product Powerhouse Podcast website. This website is a phenomenal resource for small business tips for businesses that sell products online. Check them out @product.powerhouse, they have loads and loads of very specific and easy to understand tips. Hey lookey there, you get a bonus small business recommendation today!
As part of our pledge to the #buysmallsavesmall mission, we ordered Charred Mint Body Butter and The Boss Cow wire cut soap. We’re saving the bar of soap as a gift. I use the body butter EVERY morning and EVERY night on my feet, it’s amazing! In fact, I need to order more and will do so after I post this blog! You can view our unboxing here.
By the way, we have shopped several of our recommended shops more than once and this one of those shops. My daughter worked as a wrangler in Wyoming this summer. This was her first time ever doing a job like this and she called me and begged “SEND LOTION my hands are trashed!” Naturally, I sent her some body butter since I knew it was so effective.
Website: www.theroancow.com
Instagram: @theroancow
C'mon, let's do all we can to help small businesses survive and thrive! Remember, while shopping their websites is wonderful, buying from them is not the ONLY way to support small businesses. Helping businesses spread the word about their shop is a great way to help them as well! It super easy! Share their social media posts, comment on the posts, tag friends, save the posts, email/text friends when you receive a promotion!
At Laughing Frog Studio, we have taken the pledge to #buysmallsavesmall and #shopall50 with a $20 purchase at small businesses throughout the USA. As always, we try to share and promote small businesses on social media whenever we can.
Every creation you purchase from Laughing Frog Studio is made by me or Matt -that’s it! There are only two of us and we employ all of the imperfectly perfect, painstakingly glorious handmade methods of creating. You will receive an authentically unique, beautiful truly handmade, upcycled silverware creation from the two of us that is made with love.
Laughing Frog Studio’s mission is to create high-quality, handmade, unique and one-of-a-kind upcycled vintage silverware jewelry, accessories and housewares that enchant the creative spirit, honor the eco-friendly lifestyle, and spread kindness and a sprinkle of humor as often as possible.
Other Blog Posts:
5 Small Businesses to Support Right Now with the #Buysmallsavesmall Pledge
Top 5 Upcycling Projects for Beginners that Require Few Skills & Equipment
Spoon Rings and Love Over the Ages - A Unique History
Silverplate vs. Sterling Silver? What's the Difference?
Handmade: Made by Hand & With Love
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original artwork and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.]]>
HOW DO YOU FIND THE RIGHT NECKLACE LENGTH FOR YOU?
Necklaces are a fun way of accessorizing– sometimes a necklace can change the whole vibe and look of an outfit! Adding new necklaces to your wardrobe brings new possibilities to existing outfits. Just think, those tops you’ve had forEVER get a fresh look when paired with a new and exciting upcycled silverware necklace. But first you need to determine what length of necklace works best for you.
Finding the right length of necklace for you depends on several things; it’s important to take into account your body size, proportions and body type. Additionally, you need to consider your neck shape and size, as well as your face shape.
Let's get started....
SIZE PROPORTION
Let’s start with your body size/proportion. If you are super petite at 5’2” with a small frame a 24” long necklace may not work for you and will likely get caught in your belt buckle! If you are 5’11” a 24” long necklace will likely drop nicely in the middle of your chest. If you are short and/or petite, you’ll want to choose a length that sits right around your collarbone, so the piece does not overwhelm you. A good rule of thumb is as follows:
With respect to proportion, you need to consider the size of your torso as it relates to the rest of your body. On most women, a necklace shorter than 20" sits at/above the bust. When you go longer, though, you want to be sure the necklace works with the length of your torso and your bust, especially if you are short or full-figured.
BUST
If you are small busted, you can pretty much rock any necklace length and you can easily pull off long chains of 28”-35”. If you are busty, you will need to determine the correct length of necklace for you so that it hangs in the proper spot for you. Some women are very proud of their bust and have no problem having a necklace swinging from their bust area. But if you are a woman who is self-conscious of a large bust, opt for shorter necklaces (18”-20”) to draw the eyes upward.
BODY TYPE
Women’s bodies come in all shapes and sizes. You will want to make sure your necklace lengths work to emphasize those angles and curves to your best advantage.
NECK
If you have a long neck, you can easily pull off a choker necklace. If you do NOT have a long thin neck, you will want to go with a longer necklace about 20”-24” long which will give the illusion of length.
FACE/SKIN
Your unique face shape dictates the style of necklace suits you best. Here are some common face shapes and the best types of necklaces for those face shapes:
PRO TIPS
Finally, a few Pro Tips. Remember, a necklace draws attention to wherever it falls. So if you..
NECKLACE LENGTHS
Here are some common necklaces lengths and their corresponding names.
Length |
Name |
Location on Body. |
13 - 15" |
COLLAR |
Wraps tight around the throat or neck. |
15-17” |
CHOKER |
Rests at base of neck. |
17-19” |
PRINCESS |
Sits just on collarbone. |
20-24” |
MATINEE |
Worn between collar bone and bust in the décolletage. |
28-37” |
OPERA |
Hangs on or slightly below bustline |
37-60” |
ROPE/LARIAT |
Drapes from below bust to stomach. |
{Necklace Length Artwork by Olivia Boyd @ohboyd.jpg on Instagram}
MEASURING YOURSELF FOR NECKLACE LENGTH
To determine what necklace length is best for yourself, you can use a tape measure or a string.
Every creation you purchase from Laughing Frog Studio is made by me or Matt -that’s it! There are only two of us and we employ all of the imperfectly perfect, painstakingly glorious handmade methods of creating. You will receive an authentically unique, beautiful, truly handmade, upcycled silverware creation from the two of us that is made with love.
Laughing Frog Studio’s mission is to create high-quality, handmade, unique and one-of-a-kind upcycled vintage silverware jewelry, accessories and housewares that enchant the creative spirit, honor the eco-friendly lifestyle, and spread kindness and a sprinkle of humor as often as possible.
Other Blog Posts:
Top 5 Upcycling Projects for Beginners that Require Few Skills & Equipment
Spoon Rings and Love Over the Ages - A Unique History
Silverplate vs. Sterling Silver? What's the Difference?
Handmade: Made by Hand & With Love
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original artwork and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.]]>
As a small business owner, I know that marketing my business on a next-to-zero budget is very difficult. Luckily, there are some cost-efficient tools that small business can utilize in order to get the word out – blog posts (like this), direct mail, social media, doing markets/shows, buying advertising, sending out press releases, etc. However, when your business is so small that you can count the number of employees on one hand, trying to utilize all of these advertising avenues becomes overwhelming and you need to make sure the tools you use are effective at getting your message out.
One of the tools I use the most is social media. I am always trying to put out fresh content, show off our newest creations, show up as a human being and connect with others. Our friend Meg from Solutions on 2nd did an Instagram post urging people to try to help small businesses with purchases, social media shares, comments, saves etc. When I saw this post, I was super excited and commented with my wish to start a social media movement, complete with a hashtag, to share, promote and support small businesses. A week later the #buysmallsavesmall movement was born. Meg hits the nail on the head when she says, “For a small business owner, getting a new order for your shop is great; but knowing your dreams are supported is priceless.”
The brilliant idea sprouted by Meg and Solutions on 2nd is the Buy Small Save Small movement complete with a hashtag #buysmallsavesmall and its own website. Buy Small Save Small is a very simple concept:
To learn more about what you can do to help save small businesses, go to www.buysmallsavesmall.com – you an even take a pledge to #buysmallsavesmall and #shopall50. Let’s all do what we can to help small businesses across the USA!!
{ Please note, this post does NOT contain affiliate links which means Laughing Frog Studio DOES NOT receive a commission if you decided to purchase. We are simply doing our part to support small businesses. }
We discovered Give A Damn Goods when they approached us to do a collab. We created some custom stamped silverware keychains for several gift boxes in their online shop.
Give a Damn Goods is a very special shop that sells Ethical Goods & Gifts that Give Back. You can find a gorgeous, fun and eclectic line of goods that all fall into “do-good” categories: Anti-trafficking, Artisan Made, BIPOC Owned, Eco-Friendly, Ethically Made, Fair Trade, Homeless Care, Made in America, Up/Recycled, and Small Business Supporter. And Emily, the owner, doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk. She is a huge supporter of small businesses and practices and eco-friendly lifestyle which she shares in her social media posts.
So if you are looking to purchase a gift or a self-gift and want to get some extra social responsibility goodness juice with your purchase, check out Give A Damn Goods website and their Instagram page.
Kat Samardzija of Locker Lifestyle is a total powerhouse young entrepreneur that started her business in college in 2016 after having her belongings stolen from her gym locker on campus. Kat came up with a brilliant idea to avoid future loss – a Wrist Locker®.
Kat’s Locker Lifestyle Wrist Locker is a genius solution that is exactly what it sounds like. It is a well-designed pocket for your wrist. In this hands-free storage, you can stash your cash, keys, id and even your phone while you are exercising. Plus, they are dry-wicking and machine-washable.
Locker Lifestyle is a woman-owned business that focuses on innovation, quality and fun. Shop their online store for your own Wrist Locker. They even make Head Locker (headband).
To shop for innovative active storage solutions, check out Locker Lifestyle website and their Instagram page.
I am not 100% sure how we discovered Hummingbird Candle Company, but I am so glad we did! Talk about GOOD VIBES! This place is literally vibrating with joy and positivity! Plus, their business is guided by ecofriendly principles and strongly promotes Women Supporting Women.
Hummingbird Candle Company makes Eco-Friendly Luxury Candles. They have an online store AND two Brick & Mortars that you can visit and shop. PLUS, at their brick and mortars, they offer Candle Making Experience of pouring your own candles! To top it all off, they offer a ton of unique scent categories like “Foodie Scents”, “Crisp & Clean” and "Vibrant Energizing". The candles come in 3 sizes and prices for all budgets.
As part of our pledge to the #buysmallsavesmall mission, we ordered three candles from Hummingbird and they smell absolutely divine! You can view our unboxing here.
To shop for unique eco-friendly candles made with love, joy and positive vibes, check out Hummingbird Candle Company and their Instagram page.
Rugid Grind is a coffee roaster in Houston Texas that has a beautifully curated selection of on-site roasted coffees. But they are more than that; their tag line is “brewing with a purpose” because every bag of coffee sold funds their mission to end youth homelessness across the world through funding the 180 Project.
In addition to having a SUBLIME coffee selection, they also have some interesting options.
As part of the #buysmallsavesmall mission, we purchased the Santa Rosa which had very sweet, caramel, smooth buttery body, dark chocolate, some berry notes, clean finish. You can view our unboxing here.
To buy your small batch roasted coffee with a mission, check out Rugid Grind as well as their Instagram page.
If you are looking for the cutest, most cheerful and on-trend macramé earrings and other creations, Purely Macrame is the place to go! All items are handmade by Steph Opfer whom exudes pure kindness and joy.
Steph created Purely Macrame “in November 2019 to help our family pursue financial freedom. Now we are currently saving to purchase a HOME for our family of five!”
All Purely Macrame earrings are super light and come in so many colors and designs – who knew you could do this much with macrame?
As part of our pledge with the #buysmallsavesmall mission, we bought two pairs of earrings. One for me and one for my daughter.
You can view our unboxing video here.
To get your own cute, cheerful and on-trend macramé earrings, go to Purely Macrame and also check out their Instagram page.
Let's all do our part to help small businesses in the best ways we can. Remember, buying from them is not the ONLY way to support small businesses, helping spread their word is a great way to help them too! Share their social media posts, comment on the posts, tag friends, email/text friends when you receive a promotion!
At Laughing Frog Studio, we have taken the pledge to #buysmallsavesmall and are trying to #shopall50 by years end with a $20 purchase at small businesses throughout the USA. Additionally, we try to share and promote small businesses on social media whenever we can.
Every creation you purchase from Laughing Frog Studio is made by me or Matt -that’s it! There are only two of us and we employ all of the imperfectly perfect, painstakingly glorious handmade methods of creating. You will receive an authentically unique, beautiful truly handmade, upcycled silverware creation from the two of us that is made with love.
Laughing Frog Studio’s mission is to create high-quality, handmade, unique and one-of-a-kind upcycled vintage silverware jewelry, accessories and housewares that enchant the creative spirit, honor the eco-friendly lifestyle, and spread kindness and a sprinkle of humor as often as possible.
Other Blog Posts:
Top 5 Upcycling Projects for Beginners that Require Few Skills & Equipment
Spoon Rings and Love Over the Ages - A Unique History
Silverplate vs. Sterling Silver? What's the Difference?
Handmade: Made by Hand & With Love
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original artwork and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.]]>
At Laughing Frog Studio, we love upcycling, in fact we’ve built our business around upcycling – we upcycle vintage silverware into jewelry, accessories, housewares and more. We strongly believe in upcycling as an eco-friendly means to honor the history, quality and spirit of vintage goods. We have invested time and money into developing the skills and acquiring the tools necessary to successfully upcycle vintage silverware into unique upcycled creations.
But what about you the beginner? Have you been scrolling through Instagram and seen a really cool upcycling creation and thought “WOW that is so clever and cool! I wish I could do that, but I wouldn’t know where to start.”
Upcycling does not need to be complex or intimidating. Take a deep breath and look around your house! You probably already have stuff begging to be upcycled! Look in the back of your closet or cupboard, and you will find your inspiration. Do you have a box of Granny’s old hankies that have a lot of sentimental value? Maybe you have way too many extra unused kitchen items like canisters and cutting boards! What do you do with them, you can’t just throw them away-that is wasteful and bulky for landfills. You could always donate them, but what’s the fun in that? That’s where upcycling comes in.
Here are our top 5 favorite upcycling ideas for beginners that don’t require any fancy tools or skills.
0 skills | 0 equipment | 1 supply - a canister
This upcycling project is great because it brings immediate gratification.
Look in your pantry, you probably have at least one canister that is sitting empty. Grab that orphan, find a houseplant that needs a makeover and marry the two pieces. We used a lidded coffee canister without the lid.
Wash the canister well and then fill the base with pebbles (I literally, went outside and collected pebbles and rocks for this part, no joke) or other coarse materials for excess water to drain into.
Next, carefully remove plant from original pot and set aside. Take the remaining potting soil from the original pot and pour over the pebbles. Carefully loosen the roots of the plant, place in the new receptacle and fill with remaining potting soil.
Be sure to water immediately.
0 skills | 2 equipment (chalkboard paint & painters’ tape) | 1 supply - old spaghetti sauce jar
Who doesn’t have at least one spaghetti sauce jar in the pantry right now? Homemade sauce is the boss, but when in a hurry, that jarred sauce is very quick and easy. But don’t throw that glass jar out when you are finished. It is WAY to useful and can easily be upcycled into chic pantry storage.
Simply thoroughly clean the jar and remove the labels. Prep the surface of the jar for being painted with chalkboard spray paint by masking off a rectangle, or any other shape, with blue painters’ tape – you probably have some in your garage right now! Paint the exposed area, let dry, remove tape and label appropriately with a piece of chalk. Here is a really simple step by step plan.
0 skill | 0 equipment | 2 supplies - hankies and a tension rod
Grannie will be so happy to know her hankies will be loved for another generation. This upcycling DIY is super simple the best part is NO SEWING REQUIRED!
Using a tension rod in your window, fold the hankies diagonally over the rod so they create a pointed edge. BOOM you’re done!
0 skills | 1 equipment - screwdriver | 2 supplies - corks and stainless-steel hose clamp
Depending on how much wine you drink, ahem, you may or may not be able to do this project. As for me, I drink enough wine to make dozens of these trivets! Ha ha! If you don’t have an abundant supply of them rolling around in a drawer, just call your local fancy restaurant, I am sure they would be happy to bestow you with a bevy of corks.
To do this upcycling DIY project, you simply need aforementioned corks and a stainless steel hose clamp.
What is a stainless-steel hose clamp? Well it’s a lot like an embroidery hoop but its made of metal and is used in plumbing. Come to think of it, I bet if you have an embroidery hoop lying around, it might work just as well!
Anyhow, check out Sadie Seasongoods simple three-step process for making an upcycled wine cork trivet.
1 skills | 1 equipment – drill with drill bit | 2 Supplies - cutting board and drawer handles
Charcuterie and cheese boards are simply all the rage right now. The longer they are trendy, the more elaborate they are becoming. As such, some are becoming unwieldy to carry safely. Simply add a set of kitchen hardware handles to these boards and you can now safely carry your beautifully curated charcuterie board with ease.
This upcycling DIY is super simple but you do need to be comfortable with a drill. If using a drill is something that is in your wheelhouse, you are good to go on this project. Grab an old, unused cutting board from the back of that low, out-of-the-way kitchen cupboard and head to the garage and find a pair of handles from the last kitchen remodel project. Alternately, you can head to goodwill and find an old wooden cutting board and then off to home depot for a pair of drawer handles.
Check out Sadie Seasongoods for the deets on how to make your own upcycled cutting board serving tray.
Dress up your new upcycling DIY cutting board charcuterie tray with Laughing Frog Studio's fun lines of spoon charcuterie/cheese knives, handstamped cheese spreaders and silverware cheese markers.
1 skills | 1 equipment – drill & screws | 1 supplies: Old drawer
This upcycling project is a personal favorite of mine! First of all, old furniture tends to be super well made and has loads of personality. Plus, there are so many options for creativity here! You can go as simple as literally removing the drawer from the dresser and hang it on the wall! Or you can paint, distress or add wallpaper to give real pizazz to the piece. Another option is to leave the drawer pull handle on for a real upcycled ingenuity look. Or marry several old drawers together to get an artsy display.
To make your drawer wall shelf, simply find the drawer you would like to use. If it is small enough and light enough, you can simply affix a picture hanging hook to it and hang it on a nail. If the drawer is rather heavy, you will probably want to screw the drawer into the wall studs to insure stability.
See? Like we said, upcycling really does not need to be complex or intimidating. Why not try one of our suggestions right now while you’re feeling inspired. Share your finished creations with us in the comments of this blog post and/or on our Instagram or Facebook pages.
Additionally, we invite you to browse all the fun upcycled silverware creations that we make at Laughing Frog Studio.
Every creation you purchase from Laughing Frog Studio is made by me or Matt -that’s it! There are only two of us and we employ all of the imperfectly perfect, painstakingly glorious handmade methods of creating. You will receive an authentically unique, beautiful truly handmade, upcycled silverware creation from the two of us that is made with love.
Laughing Frog Studio’s mission is to create high-quality, handmade, unique and one-of-a-kind upcycled vintage silverware jewelry, accessories and housewares that enchant the creative spirit, honor the eco-friendly lifestyle, and spread kindness and a sprinkle of humor as often as possible.
Other Blog Posts:
QUIZ: What Does Your Silverware Pattern Preference Say About Your Style & Personality?
Spoon Rings and Love Over the Ages - A Unique History
Silverplate vs. Sterling Silver? What's the Difference?
Handmade: Made by Hand & With Love
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Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original artwork and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.]]>
Holiday gift shopping is normally a stressful process. But in 2020 with all the chaos swirling, particularly Covid-19, this process is even more overwhelming.
At Laughing Frog Studio, we don't want you to be stressed. We want you to find unique, beautiful, meaningful, creative, eco-friendly holiday gifts that are perfect for anyone on your list. You should enjoy the holidays without stressing about shopping - that's why we came up with the Laughing Frog Studio Holiday Gift Guide.
Here's our Pro Tip - Remember, when shopping for a particular person, think about those qualities that make that person unique.
You see how this works now, right? It’s really quite simple, just determine one or two overarching traits or interests that are unique about the gift recipient and then tailor a gift accordingly.
At Laughing Frog Studio, most of our designs appeal primarily to women. So, finding a piece of jewelry for her is a good choice. We have a large array of types of jewelry as well as variations within each type. We have Spoon Cuff Bracelets AND Spoon Link Bracelets. In the necklace category we have Silverware Necklaces as well as Stamped Spoon Necklaces.
Here are a few of our more popular categories for women.
Necklaces | |
Bracelets | |
Sterling |
There is nothing better than a personalized gift! We offer personalized gifts as well as custom designs. Simply let us know a general idea of what you are thinking, and we will work with you to come up with the perfect design.
Here are a few of our ready-to-go personalized gifts.
"Cherish" Necklace Personalized Vertical Bar Spoon Handle Necklace with Frame. Customized with two names and a pewter frame for you to add your own photo. Additional names available for an additional charge. |
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Custom Stamped Silverware Set - Vintage Mismatched Fork, Knife & Spoon. This 3-piece set can me customized with up to 9 characters. |
In the era of covid, gatherings are likely to be less frequent, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still need to consider a hostess gift. If you are having a Zoom holiday gathering, the person who is doing the planning and organizing still deserves a lovely hostess gift, right?
If you find yourself in a fortunate situation where you can safely be with friends and loved ones over the holidays, then a traditional hostess gift is a must!
Here are some of our favorite Laughing Frog Studio creations that make excellent hostess gifts.
Spoon Charcuterie/Cheese Knife | |
Cheese Markers - Set of 4 | |
Spoon Wine Labels - Cheap Stuff & Good Stuff (Super fun when paired with the appropriate wines!) |
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Stamped Spoon Christmas Ornaments (Lovely paired with a bottle of wine!) |
Yes! We have gifts for guys. After we had been doing this a little while, Matt said, “we cant just have lady things, we need guy things” too. So we started making things that guys will like too.
We have Money Clips, Belt Buckles, Keychains and Bookmarks that will all appeal to the guys on your list.
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Stamped Spoon Money Clip | ||
Fork Skull Necklaces/Keychains |
For quick and easy gifts under $25, we gotcha covered!
Stamped Spoon Tassel Bookmarks $19 | |
Spoon Earrings - $24 | |
Stamped Spoon Keychains - $18 |
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Fork PEACE Keychains - $20 | |
Stamped Spoon Necklaces $19-$25 |
We hope this guide helps to narrow down some ideas to help ease your gift giving stress this season.
We at Laughing Frog Studio wish you the happiest of holidays this year – its 2020, you deserve it!
Every creation you purchase from Laughing Frog Studio is made by myself or Matt. That’s it! There are only two of us and we employ all of the imperfectly perfect, painstakingly glorious handmade methods of creating. You will receive an authentically unique, beautiful truly handmade, upcycled silverware creation from the two of us that is made with love.
Laughing Frog Studio’s mission is to create high-quality, handmade, unique and one-of-a-kind upcycled vintage silverware jewelry, accessories and housewares that enchant the creative spirit, honor the eco-friendly lifestyle, and spread kindness and a sprinkle of humor as often as possible.
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OTHER BLOG POSTS:
Handmade: Made by 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭 & with 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮
Flatware - Silverware - Cutlery - What's the Difference?
Spoon Rings and Love Over the Ages – A Unique History
Surviving Quarantine with Kids – Rewards & Discipline
Silverplate vs. Sterling Silver? What's the Difference?
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Please feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
]]>At Laughing Frog Studio we honor individuality - we make each of our creations by hand to ensure that each piece is unique. Our handmade jewelry, and other creations, are cut, shaped, soldered, stamped, assembled etc. without the use of mass machine manufacturing. While a machine can crank out hundreds of units per hour, a person can only make a few pieces by hand in that same amount of time. If something needs to be cut, we get out our old-fashioned tools like snippers and saws and get to cutting. If something needs to be bent, we use old-fashioned tools plus a lot of muscle! Why do we do all of this by hand? Well because we believe that handmade techniques speak to individuality, beauty and love.
Everyone knows that no two snowflakes are alike; each is unique and beautiful. Like snowflakes, no two humans are exactly the same; the variations and imperfections we exhibit are what makes each and every one of us so very uniquely special.
The same goes for Laughing Frog Studio handmade jewelry creations; variations and imperfections are precisely what makes each creation special and unique and reveal the authentic humanity involved in our production processes. Our creations do not have perfect machine punched circles, instead, they are cut by a person and finished by hand. Our stamped words are not perfectly spaced and in perfect alignment, each letter in each word is hand set with a steel stamp and stricken individually with a sledge hammer.
Our handmade jewelry is beautiful because with the variations and imperfections you can literally see the effort, time and love involved in the process; you can see that a we have spent time planning the design, figuring out how to make it come to life, determining which inventory is necessary to create the item, preparing the components, then composing the final piece. Consider all this time and effort, as well as the trial and error “re-do’s” involved in this process. And then there are the personal injuries suffered - sledge hammer on thumb, need I say more? Turning an antique casserole spoon into a belt buckle or a vintage fork into an elephant necklace requires creative ingenuity, planning, trial-and-error and often a lot of grace and humor. To put in all this time and effort into a handmade piece is truly an act of love.
Laughing Frog Studio’s mission is to create high-quality, handmade, unique and one-of-a-kind upcycled vintage silverware jewelry, accessories and housewares that enchant the creative spirit, honor the eco-friendly lifestyle, and spread kindness and a sprinkle of humor as often as possible.
Flatware - Silverware - Cutlery - What's the Difference?
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Please feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
Is it Flatware? Or wait, is it Silverware? Wait, No, it’s Cutlery? What is the difference between these terms when it seems like they all basically refer to the same thing? And What the Heck Is Holloware?
However, I must acknowledge my gratefulness for having grown kids who know how to (for the most part) entertain themselves, handle their responsibilities and self-regulate. If I had school-aged children, I am not sure I would be in such a good and grateful place – I would most likely be shaking in the corner, drooling screaming, pulling my hair and laughing maniacally to myself!
You see, as much as I love my kids and think I am a pretty decent mom, I struggle at it. I work very hard at trying to be a good, patient, forgiving, and teaching mom. This is not something that comes easy for me, plus add to the mix that everyone in our household is ADD/ADHD and wooooooo-eeeeeeee, it can get crazy sometimes. As such, I was always coming up with systems to help order our chaos. I am going to tell you about one of those systems that I designed for my family years ago; I am very proud of it as it is very effective – even a local psychologist with whom I shared the system, asked if he could prescribe it to some of his patient/parent duos.
The Card System©.
The whole idea behind The Card System© is to encourage your kids to engage in the behaviors that you prefer and to take the volatile emotion out of situations when there is behavior you do not prefer. The Card System© has cards to address positive and negative behaviors – Green Cards and Red Cards.
Green Cards
When you see your kid(s) exhibiting behaviors that are worth reinforcing, acknowledge them. For example, you see your kids sharing nicely, interrupt the good behavior and say "I like the way you are sharing, you earned a green card." Allow them to each pull a green card (basically a reward card) at once and implement it immediately in order to reinforce the desired behavior.
The trick here is to actively notice the behaviors you prefer and stop and comment on them and then reward them, thereby reinforcing them. Once you get the hang of it, your kids will start to do "good" behaviors in an attempt to "earn" the green cards.
Example:
As previously stated, the whole idea behind The Card System© is to reward good behaviors as a means of encouraging your kids to engage in the behaviors you prefer. But every day will not be perfect, and your kids will still misbehave. At these times, you will need to use the red cards (consequences cards).
Red Cards
When your child is misbehaving, first bring their behavior/actions to their attention in a calm voice, "Danny, I don't like the way you won’t let your sister play with the truck. Please share." If they do not begin behaving in the preferred manner, then warn them that they need to change their behavior, or they will get a red card. If they continue to not oblige your request, then immediately remove them; explain why what they did was wrong. Then have them pull a red card (consequences card) immediately.
Here's the real benefit of the Red Cards - By having them pull the red card, it helps you as the parent keep your emotions out of the consequence process. This is important if you are having a bad day and are having trouble keeping your emotions in check. Plus, since they are the one that chose the card, they are more likely to accept and own the consequence.
Of course, we all want our children to be well behaved and do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do; we do not want our kids to become dependent on rewards or trinkets. The Card System© is simply an "on-ramp" to the highway of good behavior. Once the desired behaviors become habit, perhaps you will not need to use the green cards as often and simple praise of good behavior may be enough. As the parent of your own child, you can gauge this for yourself.
Example:
Boredom Cards
In addition to behavior cards, The Card System© has activity cards called Boredom Cards. The whole idea behind the Boredom Cards is to help the kids come up with something new and unique to do when they simply cannot come up with something on their own.
There are two types of Boredom Cards: Yellow Cards (Solitary Play) and White Cards (Group Play)
Luckily, my kids are now ages 18 and 21 so I really don’t need to have any sort of “system” in place. But as the quarantine wanes on and my adult kids simply get bored beyond comprehension, I may just break out my The Card System© kit. LOL!
If you would like to purchase an easy .pdf downloadable set of The Card System©, they are available in our Etsy Shop for $2.95. You can print on regular old white index cards or you can get fancy and order a pack of index cards that has Green, Red, Yellow and White in one pack.
There is lore that spoon rings date back to 17th century England – and the legend is very romantic. It is said that servants working in manor houses would steal sterling silverware from their master’s homes and craft them into bands because they could not afford a true wedding band. Furthermore, it has been said that Robin Hood gave his beloved Maid Marian a ring made from a stolen spoon. Given his penchant of stealing from the rich to give to the poor, this legend is not too hard to believe and truly romantic.
(Credit: Please let me know if this is your photo so I can credit properly.)
That romantic history of spoon rings really is no surprise as spoons themselves are rooted in a romantic love tradition from Wales dating back to the 15th century. The Welsh tradition is that a man carved a wooden lovespoon by hand to give to his love interest as a means of showing his affection and proving that he would be able to provide for her and the family.
The romantic and loving tradition of making a spoon ring for a loved one continued through the years following Victorian England and across the globe. It turns out many more people had access to “fancy” silverware with advent and popularity of the silver-plating (electroplating) process in the mid-1800s. This process allowed families to have silver sets but instead of costly sterling silver, they could now have silver plate at a fraction of the cost but just as beautiful. As a result of this technology, the tradition of making spoon rings continued for decades and reached a fever pitch in the late middle 20th century with advent of the Hippie movement in the 1960s/1970s.
(Credit:http://fyeahhippies.tumblr.com/post/3204996866)
The Hippies rejected the middle-class society because they felt it was dominated by materialism and repression. In response, they developed their own distinctive lifestyle which, among other things, included a more “casual style” in terms of personal expression and they preferred handmade creations to mass produced products. In addition, they had a deep respect for the earth and nature and featured love, in all forms not just romantic, as a basic tenet of their lifestyle.
It is no surprise that silverware rings were frequently made during this period. It was a wonderful way to express oneself, or love towards another, while honoring the earth by recycling (the term upcycled* had not been created yet) and snubbing the establishment by taking a fancy symbol of materialism and cutting it up to create a whole new item with new meaning and purpose. Many rejected the typical diamond engagement ring in favor of these rings as an expression of love.
As we enter the new millennium, these Hippies are entering their golden years. While many of these Hippies probably no longer flaunt their hippie-ness and probably dress a little more mainstream, you will occasionally see a handmade spoon ring from “back in the day” on their hand. And if not on their hand, you will certainly find it in their jewelry box where, not doubt, their young adult grandchildren have discovered the rings and are now asking to borrow them.
Silverware rings are having a bit of a renaissance as we enter the new millennium. This renaissance is due to do the Millennials, which is a more populated generation than the Baby Boomers that included the Hippie movement. Indeed, Millennials are similar to Hippies in that they tend to reject mass materialism, they value handmade, stylish and locally-sourced products and they have a fierce sense of protecting the earth. In fact, 73% millennials are willing to spend more on a product if it comes from a sustainable brand (2015 Nielson Global Corporate Sustainability Report article).
The millennials are leading the charge on trends like downsizing, tiny houses, minimalism, capsule wardrobes, creative upcycling and more. “This is a generation that is bigger than the boomers in population, but their wallets are smaller, and they are more into the style of life than the stuff of life.” (The Robin Report, 2016). Really, it’s no surprise that Millennials are seeking out spoon rings and other silverware jewelry pieces. It appeals to their sense of style, sustainability and economy-minded approach to living. While, as a generation, that tend to be less sentimental about things and possessions, they appreciate the innate beauty of a vintage silverware and the wonderful craftsmanship that goes into a handmade silverware jewelry piece.
At Laughing Frog Studio, we HAND CREATE each piece of upcycled silverware jewelry that we make. Because we upcycle our creations from silverware, that means that you are getting an actual vintage/antique piece of silverware, and the history that comes with it. Additionally, you will receive an item that is hand crafted by talented artisans rather than an item that is mass produced with new metals from a casting of a piece of silverware. While these mass produced CAST rings are called spoon rings, they are not authentic because they are made from cast new metals and they are not made in the same spirit as a spoon ring which promotes love, authenticity, history and sustainability.
At Laughing Frog Studio we make many upcycled silverware creations in addition to the beloved spoon ring. We make bracelets, earrings, necklaces, money clips, barrettes, belt buckles, key chains, bookmarks and more! We can even make creations with your family silverware! With your handmade creation, you will receive some history of the piece - manufacturer, pattern name and pattern year.
Now that you are immersed in the romanticism and history of spoon rings, perhaps you should get one for yourself or a loved one. Shop Laughing Frog Studio for upcycled silverware rings and other remarkable creations.
*Note: What is Upcycled vs. Recycled? Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials, useless products or castaway items into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. Simply put it means reusing a material without degrading the quality and composition of the material for its next use. Recycling on the other hand is the process of turning waste into a reusable material or product. So while upcycled silverware is taking a piece of silverware and making a piece of jewelry, recycled silverware would be taking the silverware, melting it down and so that the silver/base metal can be used to make a whole new product.
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Other Blog Posts:
Vintage Silverplate Tells a "Story" Just Like Vintage Photos Tell a "Story"
Silverplate vs. Sterling Silver? What's the Difference?
The Secret Meaning of Flowers on Upcycled Silverware Jewelry
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Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
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We ended 2018 by selling our house as part of our downsizing process. With the kids having flown the nest for the most part, it just didn't make sense to keep the big 'ole house. Initially we bought a larger house because we are a family that is physical, loud and lives "large" so we needed the space to "move around". However, now the kids are gone and when they are home, all they need is a space to sleep and be on their phones. So we bit the bullet, purged our belongings until our eyes bled, listed the house and sold it. We will be moving into a smaller house, but until we decide where to go, we are temporarily living in a one bedroom apartment.
Yeah, I said one bedroom! And I am LOVING it! So much easier to clean and maintain, so much less "stuff" to deal with and its SO WARM since we are in a middle unit! Yes, it was a little tricky when the kids came home, but we got creative. We hid a mattress behind a couch and made a "nest" for one child. The other child is very adaptable and didn't mind sleeping on the couch because he spends a lot of the school year sleeping in a tent. In fact, he received a tent as a Christmas gift and just had to set it up in the only floor space left in the apartment!
Needless to say, as a result of this chaotic transition, we have been a little MIA for the last 8 weeks. The buyers of our home wanted us to move out the week of Thanksgiving! So we moved all our belongings to storage, moved into our apartment then started the holiday season of Thanksgiving (in Texas) and Christmas (in Colorado). It has been chaotic to say the least! But the kids are back at school, so now things are settling back down a little bit and we can focus again on our upcycled silverware jewelry and other handmade creations!
We're excited to get started with 2019 and see what is in store.
How is your 2019 shaping up? Tell us your plans for the fresh new year!
We love hearing from our "people" so comment on this blog post or hop on over to Instagram (laughing_frog_studio) or Facebook (Laughing Frog Studio) and start following us and chit chatting with us - Let's put the SOCIAL back into social media!
]]>I have never liked them, that is, until the month of my 51st birthday. We were travelling to North Carolina to drop our son off at school. On our way, we stopped to stay the night at the home of our Cornell College friends Bethany & Jeff whom live in Kentucky. The live in a gorgeous home on a mountain in a rural area of Kentucky. Naturally, they prepared us a wonderful dinner of BBQ pork shoulder, cole slaw and baked beans. Trying to be healthy and polite, I took a helping of baked beans. I was gobsmacked at just how delicious these baked beans were! I literally had to go back for seconds!!
So, I asked our hosts for the recipe because I was just thoroughly enamored with this rich flavor palette combined with the wonderful super food of a bean. As you might expect, there was no real recipe....."oh we jus throw a can of prepared baked beans in with some ketchup and mustard, sometimes some molasses or honey, sometimes some beer or Worcestershire or whatever we have on hand and then bake it for a long time. Sometimes we top it with bacon."
Well dang! That didn’t really help me. So I decided to create my own recipe to which I could return to over and over when I had a hankering for delicious baked beans. BULLSEYE!! My first try and it was OMG WTF DELISH! I am so proud of my recipe creation, that I HAVE to share it with you!
(I served this with chicken breasts marinated with olive oil, lemon juice, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and s&p. I then layered the chicken with fresh jalapeno sticks, and a cream cheese spiked with garlic and fresh green onions. We also had rice that was baked in tomatillo sauce.)
And yeah this post has NOTHING to do with upcycled silverware, spoon rings, vintage silverware or the like. But sometimes you just have to share the love and share a recipe - am I right?
To see more recipes we have either created or tried, choose "Recipes" in the topics box at the top of the page. But here is one recipe you really must try! Classic Overnight Oats!
Where is home for you? For me, home is both a place and a feeling. When you move on the average of every three years, home becomes the people you call family and the love that is between you all. When we moved into this house 12 years ago, it was just a house. But for the first time in my life, I wasn’t moving every three years; I lived in one place for TWELVE YEARS!! We are now empty nesters living in a 3600+ square foot house! That is just too much house for two people and it makes more sense financially and logistically to move to a smaller abode. |
After 12 years though, this house is no longer “just a house” this is a home where my kids grew, laughed and cried, had sleepovers and fevers, learned to cook, had TV movie nights and snuggled for hours, ……this is where they developed into the fabulous people that they have become; this house is now chock full of memories and it is hard to let it go. |
My kids are mad, naturally, that we are selling the house and moving. They think we are making this decision very cavalierly like “woot woot the kids are gone….we’re outta here……!” But that is not the case; on the contrary! We love this house and all the memories. The truth is, it just doesn’t make sense for two people to live in and manage all this space. I wish there was some way I could convince them that my heart is broken too……not only have they flown the nest, now I must say goodbye to the house where most of the memories were made with them.
Its funny, in preparation for the move, I have been doing tons of purging. But when it comes to the kids belongings, I have been having such a difficult time saying goodbye to their stuff. Getting rid of their stuff is like getting rid of them! Alas, I have dozens of Rubbermaid tubs stacked in the basement with baby clothes, hand drawn pictures, shoebox dioramas, beloved stuffed animals and other mementos.
Not only do I save ALL their belongings, but I have several very special belongings of my own that I simply can NEVER part with. The antique mantel clock that is beloved and cherished because I remember it sitting on the antique cabinet next to the rocking chair in my grandma’s kitchen. Even though we have a king size bed, I will never part with headboard my husband made for the queen size bed we had when we were first married.
So I ask myself “when home is ‘the people you call family and the love that is between you all’ then why am I keeping all of these things?” All I can come up with is that as a result of moving so many times, I never had a place that would evoke memories of my past. It turns out that my possessions that I moved with me were the things that evoked those memories. And while for the first time this house is truly a home for me now and filled with memories, I must bid it adieu and move on. I will no longer be able to walk thru the house and catch the shadow memory of one of my kids rolling on the floor in their room laughing hysterically. I will have to replay memories in my head and refer to my beloved “things” to evoke my memories as a move forward in time.
So I guess I have to say that my things are my home.
So we have established that I am a “things” person, but now I think I better understand why I am a things person. Knowing this, it is no surprise that we create silverware jewelry / silver spoon jewelry. Our creations are deeply rooted in the principle of honoring the past and evoking memories; while the moment is gone, a token of the moment in time is preserved.
Are you a “things” person too? Have you also wondered why your “things” are so important to you? Perhaps my philosophy will help you to better understand yourself. With that being said, perhaps you have grandma’s silverware sitting in a box in the dining room right now. When was the last time you used that silverware or even opened that box? Perhaps you should make some lasting mementos from that silverware so that you can enjoy it regularly.
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Other Blog Posts:
Surviving Quarantine with Kids – Rewards & Discipline
Vintage Silverplate Tells a "Story" Just Like Vintage Photos Tell a "Story"
Welcome to Laughing Frog Studio
Silverplate vs. Sterling - What's the Difference?
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Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
Probably most of you! If not for aesthetic reasons, then most definitely for health reasons. As I age, I am trying to eat more healthfully and I have some tips to share with you!
I had been recently seeing posts on Instagram and Pinterest about overnight oats that you make the night before and then the next morning, you grab and go! I decided to give it a try. Right out of the gate I found the most delicious recipe!! The recipes is from Wholefully.com, a fantastic source of really delish, easy and healthy recipes. (go check them out asap!) The post had a base recipe that had several flavor variations. I tried the chocolate peanut butter and was SO WOWED!!! It is thick and creamy and satisfying! It does NOT seem like you are eating something healthy!!! I tried the banana chocolate chip too and while it was good, I headed right back to the chocolate peanut butter one. The flavors in their blog post are as follows: Chocolate Peanut Butter, Carrot Cake, Banana Chocolate Chip, Tropical Fruit, Strawberry Cheesecake, Pumpkin Spice, and classic.
I did make a few modifications to the recipe for my own personal taste. Here is the recipe from www.Wholefully.com and my version side by side.
Classic Overnight Oats (Chocolate Peanut Butter) |
Overnight Oats for Sugar-Addicts (Chocolate Peanut Butter) |
EDMONDSON laughingfrogstudio.com |
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1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt |
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt |
½ cup (heaping) rolled oats |
½ cup (heaping) gluten free rolled oats |
2/3 cup unsweetened milk of choice |
2/3 cup whole milk |
1 Tablespoon chia seeds or ground flaxmeal |
1 Tablespoon chia seeds |
½ teaspoon vanilla extract |
½ teaspoon vanilla extract |
2 Tablespoons natural peanut butter |
2 Tablespoons Jiff smooth peanut butter |
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder |
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder |
Pinch of salt |
Pinch of salt |
0-2 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup |
1 Tablespoon honey + 1 Tablespoon raw sugar |
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Mini nestles morsels |
* NOTE: 1 Tablespoon raw sugar = 3 packets of raw sugar from a restaurant.
You may notice mine is not quite as healthful, it has a lot more sugar (and there are lots of things to be said about sugar and how it affects the body). But for me the goal was to drastically up my fiber. If it was not palatable, I would not eat it. So there is sugar involved in my version in order for me to insure that I get enough fiber daily. But of course there are lots of alternatives to sugar like honey, syrup, agave, etc.
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Other Blog Posts:
Vintage Silverplate Tells a "Story" Just Like Vintage Photos Tell a "Story"
Welcome to Laughing Frog Studio
The Secret Meaning of Flowers on Upcycled Silverware Jewelry
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Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
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Its summer and we have been crazy busy which means no time to write a blog post. But we HAVE started making these custom hand stamped ice cream spoons! Makes a great hostess gift for any summer event you may be headed too....or you can have one just for yourself!!
To order, contact us and we will get the ball rolling on your custom order listing. $18 per spoon. Please note, there is a character space limit, but we can help you get something that will fit!
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Weddings bring about many traditions that are tried and true. There’s the bouquet toss, the best man speech, the first dance, the cake smash, the father walking his daughter down the aisle. the throwing of bird seed (rice is bad for birds) as the newlyweds depart, freezing the top tier of the cake to eat at the first year anniversary etc.
I cherish traditions as they connect us to those who came before us and those who will come after. While I wanted to have the tradition of a cake at my wedding reception, I was not interested in the cake smash - I did not want cake all over my face and dress for the remainder of the event. I mean we are all for silly fun and laughter (Duh, our business name is Laughing Frog Studio) but having a sticky mess of goo on your face and dress when you are trying to celebrate and entertain is just not cool. So the cake smash tradition was not something I was keen on doing.
So, instead of feeding one another cake with our hands and risking the temptation to smash one another, we opted for these weird things called forks! You know, a utensil to eat with! At the time, while we were into antiques and vintage decor, but it did not occur to us to have a set of special vintage cake forks as part of the cake table. If we were to get married today, we would For SURE have special handstamped wedding cake forks that read “Goofball 1” and “Goofball 2”.
Once the wedding day has passed, it is nice to make traditions that last a lifetime.
While we didn’t have this wonderful keepsake at our wedding, its never too late to add a symbolic tradition to your marriage. I think we will soon be making “Goofball 1” and “Goofball 2” forks and may begin the weekly tradition of giving thanks for one another at our Sunday meals.
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Other Blog Posts
Silverplate vs. Sterling? What's the Difference?
Welcome to Laughing Frog Studio
The Secret Meaning of Flowers on Upcycled Silverware Jewelry
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Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
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This week while processing some new upcycled silverware jewelry creations, I noticed that most silverware pieces feature flowers as part of their design if not the whole design. For example, the spoon ring above is really all about Lilies as the design is a Lilly all the way around. Same with the spoon cuff bracelet featured showing a full design of a carnation.
If you look at most of the silverware pieces we use for our upcycled silverware jewelry creations, I’d say that abut 75% of the pieces feature or include flowers as part of the design. While I am not completely sure why flowers have such a presence on vintage and antique silverware, I suspect it may have something to do with the secret flower language called Floriography that was popular in the previous century.
During the Victorian Era, giving a bouquet of flowers was more than simply a kind gesture or gift of beauty. These bouquets were often intended to convey a secret feeling or a message to the recipient. This was known as Floriography, or flower language and is not too different from modern day emojis. Often these bouquets were very cryptic and conveyed a feeling or idea that could not be spoken in the oh-so-proper Victorian times. The beauty of this method of delivering a message is that any meaning could be easily denied, thereby absolving the giver of any inappropriate and or socially unacceptable thoughts or behavior.
There are many online sources for the meaning of certain flowers. But since we are make jewelry out of silverware, we are going to list only those flowers that we see most often on antique silverware.
(Note: While flower colors are not depicted on antique silverware, it is still notable and interesting information and we are including it here.)
CARNATION - Fascination; Divine Love; womanly love; devoted love
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Other Blog Posts
Vintage Silverware Tells a "Story" Just Like Vintage Photos Tell a "Story"
Silverplate vs. Sterling? What's the Difference?
Welcome to Laughing Frog Studio
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Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
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I know I wonder about the “story” a photo is telling every time I Iook at a vintage photo.
I have the same “story” curiosity about antique objects – they pique my curiosity about a time in the world that had different goals, fears, values, experiences, traditions, equipment etc. Furthermore, antique silverware has always had special place in my heart because, for me, there is a strong connection between sharing meals, family, traditions and love. Antique silverware has always been something to which I have been drawn and about which I have been very curious.
Obviously, vintage silverware is beautiful as a work of art. But it is also beautiful as a quiet story teller and does so in several ways: historical cultural significance, historical designs and patina wear.
At one point in history there was a specific piece of silverware for every single food type. (Well, not really every single piece, but it seems like there was!). Why was this the case? What pieces went with what foods? The answers to these questions have a lot to do with the culture at the time. In the late 19th and early 20th century, which is predominantly the Victorian era, wealthier families had servants that prepared their meals for them and these meals were often quite elaborate. During the Victorian era, there was rapid prosperity and growth; wealth was a motivating cultural factor, and which gave rise to ostentatious ornamentation in all areas of life intended to create the feeling of being “rich.” During this time there was a cultural emphasis on wealth, beauty, luxury and propriety. As such many pieces of silverware were created for specific foods a way to add beauty to the table and to maintain propriety by keeping the hands and table clean. For example, a tomato server is a wide, flat and round piece of silverware that is pierced with holes. This server is designed to lift individual fruit slices in a very refined and delicate manner that allow excess juices to drain away before lifting.
Flatware Piece Type Guide from Silverware of the 20 Century: The Top 250 Patterns by Harry L. Rinker.
Beautiful handle design also tells a quiet historical story. If you look at the artistic handle designs, some designs are ornate and intricate while others can be whimsical and yet others can be stoic and reserved. The designs often reflect the times. As I said earlier, during the Victorian era, because of rapid prosperity, wealth was a motivating cultural factor, which gave rise to ostentatious ornamentation in all areas of life and was intended to create the feeling of being “rich.” This flamboyant ornamentation was reflected in Victorian design, with layers upon layers of intricate and detailed design that was rhythmic, symmetrical, pattern-loving and often floral. Conversely, when we as a culture were in a period of war or depression, the designs became a little more reserved and austere or streamlined reflecting the simplicity of the time. These cultural and design forces are reflected in the silverware designs.
Silverware can even tell a story by the scratches, dents or other wear marks. While it is not evident how the marks got onto the pieces, I still wonder about the story behind those marks on each on each individual piece. When I pick up a piece to begin creating, I see the wear marks or the lack of wear marks and begin to wonder…
Simply put, what story is the piece trying to tell and how do its flaws, or lack thereof, enrich that story?
Just as an old photograph tells a story, our goal at Laughing Frog Studio is to create upcycled silverware creations that continue to tell the story of the original piece. We bring patterns and pieces out from their dark wooden coffins into the light of day, upcycle them into a brand new form and function and give them a second chance at being a valued and a beloved storyteller for the new owner.
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Other Blog Posts
Silverplate vs. Sterling? What's the Difference?
Welcome to Laughing Frog Studio
The Secret Meaning of Flowers on Upcycled Silverware Jewelry
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Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
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Silverplate flatware is silverware that is made from a base metal and then coated/plated with a thin layer of fine silver.
No. First, there are several types of silver. Fine Silver, Sterling Silver, Coin Silver.
That’s a big question. But we will try to make it as simple as possible. There are the four main base metals: Copper, Brass, Cupronickel, and Nickel Silver, Nickel.
Copper is not often used as a base for flatware as it is very soft. More often a copper alloy is used.
Brass is not a pure metal but an alloy of copper and zinc. It is usually 70 % copper and 30% zinc.
Cupronickel is an alloy of copper that contains nickel and strengthening elements, such as iron and manganese. It is usually 90% Cupro (copper-nickel) and 10% iron.
Nickel Silver is an alloy of nickel, copper and zinc. It is usually 60% nickel, 20% copper and 20% zinc.
Nickel is a pure metal is really only used in very old antique pieces.
With all that being said, we cannot say with 100% certainty what the base metal is of each specific piece we make. Sometimes we can guess the base metal based on how the metal looks when its cut or how it responds to our creation methods. But we simply cannot say with 100% certainty.
This is a very tricky question. For the vast majority of people there will be no reaction whatsoever. But if you have a nickel allergy or some other metal allergy, we suggest you choose pieces made from more pure metals like sterling silver. (Note: Sterling silver is also an alloy, so people can still technically have an allergy, but those responses are far less frequent with sterling as it contains a very high percent of fine silver.)
Regardless of the metal composition, vintage silverware (both sterling and silverplate) are gorgeous works of art that capture a moment in historical time and lend themselves nicely to upcycling with beauty and style.
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Other Blog Posts:
Is It Flatware or Wait is It Silverware? Wait No, It’s Cutlery
Vintage Silverplate Tells a "Story" Just Like Vintage Photos Tell a "Story"
Welcome to Laughing Frog Studio
The Secret Meaning of Flowers on Upcycled Silverware Jewelry
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Feel free to share this post, but please link it back to this site. Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back, blog name and company name. All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
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This is our first blog post. GAH! We are not really sure what we are doing, so bear with us as we grow and evolve.
First we'd like to WELCOME you to Laughing Frog Studio. We opened for business in 2008 on etsy and, while we still have some creations on that site, we eventually grew to the point where we needed our own website to sell our creations and better connect with our loyal customers.
We are a small mom and pop shop, literally! Matt and I are parents to two kids and started making upcycled silverware creations (spoon rings, spoon cuff bracelets etc.) as a means to make a little extra money - raising kids is expensive!! WHO KNEW?!?!? Our daughter (and our son) has played hockey since she was three years old. She chose the sport and little did we know how expensive it would end up being. But it brought her joy and sense of self and purpose, so we were gonna do whatever was needed to finance her passion.
But in the process, we also found our passion. Matt, while he spends his weekdays as a desk jockey, he finds deep fulfillment in creating with his hands - he even minored in art in college! I have always loved and admired those who could create with their hands. I never felt I had such innate skills, but mentoring under Matt, I have found that maybe in fact I do!
While our our daughter no longer plays expensive club hockey, she now attends expensive college and plays hockey! Meanwhile, our son no longer plays expensive club hockey, he is away at boarding school in the southeast. So now Matt and I together fulfill our passion whilst making some extra money to help pay for these expensive kids.
Please feel free to poke around our new website and let us know if you have any questions. Stay tuned for more blog posts and hopefully we will get the hang of this thing called blogging!
~jen
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