I missed posting yesterday as I took a 165 mile round trip to Greensboro, North Carolina to meet a wonderful friend for a pre-Christmas lunch and a visit to Replacements, Ltd., the world's largest and most amazing china/silver/crystal repository.
If you break a dish, smash a glass, or put one of your Grandma's silver demitasse spoons down the garbage disposal - as I did - most likely you can replace it here.
The story of Bob Page, Replacements founder/owner, is wonderful in itself. An auditor for the NC State Government, he started collecting odd pieces of china at yard sales and flea markets, and then friends asked him to search for pieces they were missing. Within a few years, with no space left under his bed to store stuff, he gave up his daytime job and went into the business full time. The annual sales have gone from about $40,000 to something like $30 billion - yes that's billion!! Beside spending an hour viewing not only the china, we enjoyed "oohing and aahing" over the fabulously decorated Christmas trees, holiday table settings, and the thousands of decorations for sale.
We also took the guided tour of the gigantic warehouse and watched the entire process from merchandise arriving, to shelving, then wrapping and shipping. Among the hundreds of employees, who by the way are allowed to take well behaved dogs to work (and we met some cute ones), are silversmiths (apparently a dying breed) from many countries who work restoring and repairing the beautiful silver culled from estate sales worldwide. Below, a magnificent solid silver tea service........................I'd put it on my Christmas list but don't want dh to have a heart attack when he sees the price!
My silver bits and pieces are being mixed in with the touches of gold I showed a few posts back. This sweet crumb tray (brush was missing) I found at SuzAnna's, along with the silver and crystal cruet.
Love this mica silver star year round but it looks really pretty at Christmas.
A silvery ribboned tassel - always a place to hang one of these.
Some vintage looking silver backed crystal drops which are tree ornaments.
The tarnished silver look I'm liking, bugle ornament found at Replacements, Ltd. yesterday. I wish I could, I wish I could - play it for you - instead I'm sending each of you Christmas WISHES and hope your holiday decorating is fun at your house.
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Sounds like an interesting place to visit. I really am no longer a fan of silver as I live in damp Holland. I love it but don't want to own it. You can repolish it an hour after you just finished here. I love seeing more of your decorations. The crumb tray is so intricate and pretty! And that star! Well, it is really beautiful. I think your bugle is a wonderful piece of whimsy for the holidays!
ReplyDeleteI am having fun with my decorating. I have to still put up my village and then decorate at the front door. My tree is finally up and has been approved by Dagi himself.
Hugs ~
Heidi
Mary, that sounds like a wonderful place to visit! Great post!
ReplyDeletePat
Replacements China looks very interesting. Every time we drive in that direction I have always thought that it would be fun to stop. Maybe next time I will. That must be a very good friend to drive that far just for lunch! Aren't good friends wonderful?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place.
ReplyDeleteI love anything silver.
Rosemary
Heidi - note I like my bits of silver tarnished, not polished and shiny! I remember growing up in damp England and always having to polish Mother's tea set and my Dad's billiard trophies - what a painful job that was.
ReplyDeleteYour tree is fabulous!
I too love anything silver, specially on my table. A table decorated in silver is always so deliciously elegant and romantic.
ReplyDeleteI love to come by here.
Good to see you again, Mary.
Cielo
I have a friend who has bought from them, too. Absolutely yummy photos, Mary! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the bugle a lot. Makes you think of those long ago soldiers hearing their morning wakeup.
ReplyDeleteThat place sure sounds like fun to see. That has to be a very special friend, what a long drive for lunch.
Love all your decor...so classic. I collect silver as well. Your mercury star is gorgeous. cherry
ReplyDeleteThat must have been so much fun! I've often looked at their site. I like my silver tarnished. I LOVE that silvery ribboned tassel!
ReplyDeleteManuela
Beautiful! LOVE that star! I will have to check out Replacements on my next business trip! xo, suzy
ReplyDelete