April 17, 2010

From The Garden... To The Butter Knife





By now you have all figured out that "I must not like to relax ever" or creating is my form of relaxation. I have created these little European flea market pretties because the gardens are starting to bloom and that's when we love to start filling up all those pretty little flower vases throughout our homes as if we just made a trip to our favorite florist. I am going to explain and show you some of the silver bud vases I have created out of the handles of vintage silver flatware knives.

The fun part is rummaging the flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales, and gathering up your odd matching butter or flatware knives to start creating. When you have a nice selection of them it is time to go to work. You will want to use a good gripping pair of pliers, holding tight to the handle of the knife and with the pliers you will wiggle back and forth the tip of the knife until you have loosened it enough to pull it out. When you have accomplished this small task, that is if you want to look at it that way, you will want to then use an ice pick or tool of this sort to dig out the compound inside the handle of the knife. The compound holds the tip of the knife in place to secure the handle, you may happened to have gotten a knife or two that are already hollow and if that happens you will say to yourself, why can't they all be made like this. The compound will crumble out like hard plaster, you will dig and probe until you have a hollowed out handle and this is really not as hard as it sounds.

When you have the handle hollowed out you will want to cut the end off with a fine saw blade capable of doing this kind of cut, you may want to place it in a vice to saw through a bit more evenly. Some of the knives you may even be able to just cut the ends off if the blade does not continue deep into the handle, this makes your job a lot easier for you. This is why I mentioned you will want to get a nice selection of knives together for this project, due to the time and effort you have to put into making them, you will find it a lot more rewarding when you make a few at once then just one or two. The finishing touch is to drill a small hole at the top and only on one side careful drilling, so as to not accidently go all the way through to the other side. You only want one hole on one side so you can place a suction cap with the attached wire hook and threading the wire hook through the hole and suctioning the cap to a beautiful glass surface, you may also make a wire ring through the hole and hang it from a small hook on any surface you desire. The final step is your choice, you can fill the handle up with water for live flowers or leave it empty for a place to dry a small bundle of Lavender the way I have shown pictured.

I know this sounds like more then you want to tackle, but the joy of restyling vintage knife handles that have become a group of bud vases will become one of your favorites that you will be proud of. These silver wall pocket vases would be a great gift to give for Mother's day or a birthday, most of all a just because I adore you gift...I hope I have inspired you to go on the hunt for discarded flatware and breath new life into them.

25 comments:

Terri Gordon said...

Hi, I love your idea, and it is just beautiful. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful Sunday. Terri

Marlene said...

Oh I have a nice collection of old pieces of flatware..I love this idea! I think it would look wonderful as a curtain tie back filled with dryed lavender flowers for my four poster bed linen drapes to gather at each posts! I decorate the room with vintage silver..so it would be a good complement...I think it could be used also for a a special gift wrapping .. I decorate the outside of my gifts with little gifts.. would it not look adorable the silver mini vase with dried lavender and lavender ribbons... ! almost as nice as the gift inside..great inspiration!

WhiteWhispers2u said...

Fantabulous! Your amazing really what else could you think of........You have all kinds of tricks.You Go girl! ~Cheers Kim

Beach House Living said...

I've been working on doing these as my next flatware project! My family's home had them in the 70's along with other things out of flatware. I thought some would look nice in our garden window.

They look so sweet with your cloches.

We seem to be on a similar path with our projects! Except I still haven't gotten to the chalkboard one yet. Have you gotten out your stamp set yet?

Love 'em.
Regards,
Rita

Razmataz said...

I never would have thought to have done that! You must have a lot of energy. I do think they are sweet and would be lovely at place sttings on the dining table.

Anonymous said...

Yet another fabulous creation - LOVE these!!!
:)
Zuzu

Marie Lost Bird Studio said...

Hi Dore,
WOW, what a fabulous idea - those look gorgeous.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a wonderful day.
Hugs
Marie

BELLE BLANC said...

Hi Dore,
thats a fun idea... but I think I don't have the heart to do this to my old flatware... love the lavender twigs you decorated in it! Greetings, Mira!

BELLE BLANC said...

Oh Doré, thank you so much for adding me to your blogroll! I just wanted to ask you if I may add your blog to mine.. :0)
So I will do this right away, Hugs Mira!

Inspiration i vitt said...

vad otroligt bra idé ", är bestick underbart och det är så roligt att hitta dessa på loppmarknader.
Kram till er / Ingela

Laura Venosa Verbena said...

what a beautiful idea!!! Leave it to you. Wish we lived closer you are amazing! xo Laura

Obee Designs said...

Hey Dore!
I am just loving this and ALL OF YOUR CLEVER IDEAS!! You have a wonderful way of seeing things not for what they are but what they can be, it's great!! I love doing the same exact thing. It gives me such pleasure to take things that aren't anything great and making them into something fabulous. Isn't it so gratifying??
Thanks for sharing another magnificent craft project.
I hope you are having a wonderful day!
XoXo
Gail

VS said...

Beautiful Post my Friend!!! Your blog is amazing...I'll be back!
Smiles,
Susie

My Cottage Charm said...

Hi there! :)
Just dropped by to say thanks for entering in my giveaway...I'm so excited to see who wins!! :)
I love your flatware idea...how sweet. I have some vintage flatware that I don't really use for anything right now...great idea!
Hope you have a great day!
Melissa

Prior said...

LOVE these~! I've never tried them, but you've inspired me, Thanks! Lezlee

Rebecca said...

Hello
You are one busy girl! The idea of these are great, maybe someday I will try this. Love your flowers also...I have been working on those in the shop along with journals.
It is a fun day to create isn't it?
Wanted to ask you if you have a good source for burlap yardage?
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Many Blessings
Rebecca

Anne Lorys said...

This is absolutely, amazingly beautiful!
I've never seen anything quite like that.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Anne

LuLu said...

You have such a gift! I adore old flatware and to see what you did with it takes it to a new level. So beautiful. Thank you for visiting my blog it brought me to yours and am so enjoying my visist reading all your older posts over my first cup of morning tea.
wishing you a wonderful weekend,
xo,
LuLu

WhiteWhispers2u said...

Guess what I got in the mail today! A Beautiful lil Surprise from my Sweet Friend..............How Special was that!

It's adorable, and I just keep moving it around so I can see it at all times.I'm touched and love my special lil treat from you and Miss Hannah.Thank you, thank you...Kisses & Hugs

Your an Awesome Friend and a kind Soul.Bless you! ~Cheers Kim

Jennifer said...

I love that these hang! What a perfect little gift for someone! Jennifer - hope to see you sometime at jennsthreegraces and I'll be back! Jennifer

Tricia said...

I've never seen anything like it, very cool!

Loose Sparrow Arts N Crafts said...

Wow! We have a lot in common. I play around with vintage silverware, too. I have broken spoons into two parts, flattened them, twisted wire and beads around the handles, and adhered estate pieces to them. I have a few on etsy you can see. I have a dark haired beauty of a daughter ,too, along with a red-head. I am now a follower. Much love, Jo

Cabin 19 Supply Company said...

LOVE this idea!!! Thank you for sharing! Would be great tied to wedding gifts with fresh white flowers or with one single pine sprigfor Christmas.

maría cecilia said...

Now I know what to do with those pieces that are broken and kept away!!!!!
cariños

Anonymous said...

Would you mind me sharing this post and a link included on my blog? I think my blogging friends would love this idea!

Thank you
mary