Sterling Pear - Holiday Elegance Made Simple

Thinking Outside the Traditional St. Patrick's Day Decorating Box

2014-03-03T07:03:00.003-08:00

Though I’m not of Irish decent, I LOVE St. Patrick’s Day! I love that it is a holiday everyone seems to enjoy being a part of, I love that it means spring is on its way, and I love the bursts of bright green color everywhere!

What I do struggle with each year is how to decorate my home in a fun and festive way BUT also in a stylish way. It’s very hit or miss at the local craft stores/grocery stores and it seems all I see are green-tinseled shamrocks and oddly creepy leprechauns.

This year I decided to scour the Internet and see what great and fresh St. Patrick’s Day decorations I could use as inspiration for my own home. My goal is to infuse stylish shades of green color to create a fresh, relaxing and festive look as well as think outside the “standard” St. Patrick’s Day decorating box.

Front door wreaths are big for me – they are the opening and welcome point for your home. Right now my poor front door looks dull and boring after Christmas and stays dull-looking usually until spring. I am thrilled to see some great options to help fill the gap! Though some examples are homemade (not everyone has the crafty gene), they are stylish and can easily be re-created and used year after year.

Another important showpiece for my home is the mantel and the kitchen table. We spend a lot of time in our family room and kitchen I really love to showcase each holiday with a themed décor. What I love about these three examples is that they look like ideas that my 9-year old son can help me create. What kid doesn’t love a staple gun, paint and glue?

And it’s always big for me to have one classic piece - you can never go wrong with a good table-runner. You can use a good table-runner as the underlay for any festive home décor.

Celtic Table-Runner in Cream or Sage

I’m anxious to see how my newly crafted plan for St. Patrick’s Day decorating turns out. I would love to see any great ideas you have for St. Patrick’s Day decorating! You can post to our Facebook page and hopefully help inspire me and others!

Contributed by: Heather Hadfield (Dietrich), Sterling Pear

New Year's Resolutions - Resolving to Keep Your House Clean? Impossible? NO!

2014-01-21T14:26:00.001-08:00

If you’re like me you’ve spent the past three weeks taking down all the holiday decorations and also noticing all of the things that need to be done around the house. You go to take down garland and think, “I clearly haven’t dusted this bookshelf in a long time”. Or, you follow the trail of pine needles only to be reminded that the floor beneath the couch is suffering from serious neglect. This year, we’ve got a New Year’s resolution for you that is easy to follow and comes with a great incentive.

First the resolution. We officially declare 2014 the "Year of the Clean House"! Sound boring? It’s not! Because I love to decorate I decided to think of this resolution less as cleaning and more as maintaining a well-kept backdrop for my keepsakes and during the holiday season, my decorations. Now, this where the incentive comes in. For every month that you stick to your cleaning schedule, you get to reward yourself with something new for your home! If you’re anything like me keeping the clean house resolution will be its own incentive!

Every time I think of cleaning I get SO tired and feel completely overwhelmed so I decided to make an itemized spreadsheet. I divided the house into separate areas each with their own individual sub-areas as the focus for deep cleaning one week of the month. Then, I divided up the different chores for each area so that one job is assigned to each day of the week. Sound confusing? It's not and here is an example of how it works:

Area: Living Room

Monday: Floors
Tuesday: Dusting
Wednesday: Windows
Thursday: Tables/Lamps/Fans
Friday: Sofa and Chairs

For a 1300 square foot house, that breaks down to about an hour’s worth of cleaning a day. It’s doable! But don’t beat yourself up if there is a day that just doesn’t work with the schedule. It’s life and it happens. Plus, there is always tomorrow!

Contributed by: Terrie Petree for Sterling Pear

Bidding Farewell to Ornaments We Love 'til Next Year

2013-12-31T14:07:00.000-08:00

We can't believe the Holiday season is almost over! In just days, most of us will be packing up our ornaments and décor and saying goodbye until next year. And, if you ask Sterling Pear fan, Jerry Durante, our signature Keepsake Ornament Chest is a great place to keep those items safe for the next, say, 10 months.

Let's hear from Jerry directly...

First let me say we love Sterling Pear's chests for storing our holiday ornaments. We didn’t start our collection, my mother did, unknowingly, 27 years ago.

When my wife and I got married, my mother purchased a Lenox ornament. It kind of grew from there. Each year thereafter, she purchased a Lenox piece, which she still does today. Adding to that, when my wife and I see a Lenox piece we like, we buy it. Then our son bought us a Swarovski snowflake one year and now after 27 years of Lenox and 10 years of the Swarovski flakes, we have 80 large and small crystal snowflakes, each sentimental.

With our collection, one of the biggest challenges with putting up the tree was opening all the boxes of the ornaments. And, all those boxes took up a lot of room. Then, of course, taking down the tree and put them all back in the correct boxes was not fun. Plus, we wanted to ensure the ornaments were protected in storage. That is when I started looking for something better than what we had.

I found Sterling Pear's keepsake ornament chests online. They not only keep the ornaments safe, they are easy to empty and fill. Now putting up and taking down the tree isn’t the chore it use to be. The chests are great looking and very easy to store everything. We need two chests, which fit all of our ornaments perfectly, including the tree top angel.

These chests, I feel, are the best investment we could have made for our ornaments. After all we have over $4,000 invested in ornaments. Keeping our investment and our memories safe is priceless.

Thank you for making these!

Kathy and Jerry Durante

contributed by Lizzy Smith for Sterling Pear

Sterling Pear Interviews Clara Scroggins: World-Famous Ornament Collector!

2013-12-26T08:50:00.000-08:00

We originally posted this interview with Clara Scroggins, world-famous ornament collector, back in January, 2013 and really wanted to share her amazing interview again!

Clara Scroggins of Tampa Palms owns and curates the world's largest privately owned ornament collection, which tops 1-million pieces.

She has been collecting ornaments for more than 15 years!

Her own collection includes ornaments by many famous names including Waterford, Lalique, Versace, Hallmark, Lenox, Reed and Barton, Christopher Radko, Baccarat, Swarovski, artist Thomas Blackwell, jewelry designer Jay Strongwater, Tiffany Co. and more!

Clara is an expert on storing and caring for sterling silver, crystal, gold, cut crystal, porcelain, breakable, blown glass balls, hand painted ornaments and more! We are so excited to have spoken with her. We hope you enjoy these tips on preserving your ornaments and heirlooms so you can pass them down to your children and grandchildren for generations to come.

SP: What is the first rule in storing fragile an collectible ornaments?

Clara: You don’t want your ornaments to rattle around. Use white shredded paper in each department of your ornament storage box to keep ornaments comfy and nestled in each slot. You also want to be careful that ornaments are not crushed against each other. Give each one a little room to breathe, while still being protected. “The ornament storage boxes by Sterling Pear are good for this because they are strong enough to stack without crushing the ornaments. There are many ornament storage companies and options now, and many ornament storage boxes that are made, are not”.

SP: Is it important to use acid-free paper when storing ornaments and heirlooms?

Clara: While it is not necessary to use acid free paper for storing ornaments, it is very important to use acid-free paper when storing heirlooms such as a wedding dress, antiques, and baby christening dresses to prevent yellowing. Wrap the items in the paper to keep them preserved.

SP: Should ornaments be stored in an airtight container to prevent moisture? What about sterling silver? Porcelain? Christmas Cards?

Clara: If you live in an environment with extreme temperatures, do not store ornaments in an airtight container. Ornaments need room to breath. The exception to this is China, Crystal and ornaments with Swarovski crystals. These can be stored airtight.

The Swarovski crystals, when exposed to heat, can cause the glue to melt so your crystals come off. The good news is that companies now recognize that ornaments are exposed to Christmas tree lights and windows, and have made adjustments to prevent those things from happening. You can also just glue the crystals back on if this happens, and sometimesvsmall repairs may be needed.

Clara on storing Sterling Silver: Never store sterling silver where it can’t breathe. Use the packaging that the silver comes in which is pre-treated. You can also buy the protective bags separately to preserve your silver if the bags are misplaced or damaged.

Clara on storing Porcelain: The design in porcelain is fired in so it won’t come off on regular sheet paper. Store in an ornament storage box also wrapped in paper.

Clara on storing Hallmark cards: Leave them in the original box or wrap them invbubble wrap or tissue to preserve them.

SP: Why do ornaments get little black spots on them? Is it from moisture?

Clara: Black spots can come from age, being antiques, or humidity inside the ornament. Never store your ornaments in an attic or basement to avoid humidity or extreme temperatures. The Sterling Pear Ornament Storage boxes are so elegant you can use them as an end table or display piece in your living area to showcase your ornaments and heirlooms. So there is no need to hide them because their look is elegant enough to have out in a room. Ornament such as Disney and Hallmark will be fine and do not need climate-controlled temperatures.

SP: Are there any ornament companies that we should keep on our watch list?

Clara: Fabriche designs beautiful ornaments that will continue to be timeless for years to come. Store them in crushed paper to keep them safe. Other companies to watch are Lalique, Lenox, Versace, and Blvgari and are beautiful to be shown off in an elegant, exquisite container from Sterling Pear.

SP: What do you like about Sterling Pear’s Ornament Storage Chests and Boxes?

Clara: I love the ornament boxes from Sterling Pear because they show off your ornaments so well! There is no need to hide them in a closet or attic because they showcase beautifully. They are like a piece of furniture in your home and can be used as an end table or neatly stacked as they are strong and will not crush your ornaments. There are many ornament storage companies and options available now and this is not always the case. The Signature Box can be used to store Easter ornaments since its lighter, and the black Keepsake Chest year-round or winter for storing Christmas ornaments and other collectibles.

SP: What do you currently store in your Sterling Pear boxes?

Clara: I store blown glass ornaments in the green ornament storage box and both colors are beautiful. My father’s heirlooms, which are very precious to me, will be stored in the black elegant keepsake chest, which I plan on passing down to my son and grandchildren. That’s what’s nice about your boxes. They are elegant enough to store and display family heirlooms, baby christening dresses, wedding dresses and fine ornaments.

Although she is best known for her amazing collection of ornaments, we've learned that Clara’s goal in life is really about giving back to others. She frequently opens her doors for holiday tours to interested groups and hopes that her beautiful and extensive ornament collection continues to bring joy to the world long after she's gone. Click here to read more on Clara and her exquisite collection.

Please visit Sterling Pear if you are interested in stylishly and safely storing your cherished ornament collection this year. Take an additional 20% your order when you enter coupon code CLARASAV at check-out.

Sterling Pear Chats With Meagan, a Fan of Our Keepsake Chest

2013-12-23T06:55:00.004-08:00

It brings us great joy to hear from those who love Sterling Pear products as much as we do! Over the last week we've been highlighting ways our customers use their Sterling Pear items. Today we were honored to chat with Meagan Morrell, fan of our Keepsake Ornament Chest.

SP: How did you come across Sterling Pear's Keepsake Chest?

MM: I'm a pretty particular person and after I had my first baby, I searched extensively for a chest or box to store all of the keepsakes I collected during my pregnancy and the baby's first few years of life. I wanted something large enough to store a number of items, but not large enough that it would be a piece of furniture. It needed to have a somewhat flexible interior, because baby items come in all shapes and sizes (it's amazing how many keepsake chests are not large enough to hold something like a baby book or scrapbook!). It needed to be durable enough to weather long-term storage (like dust and humidity) and toddlers! Nothing I found really fit what I had in mind. I discovered and considered the Sterling Pear chest for awhile but never made a move to buy it. It was a financial commitment. After I purchased a couple of other keepsake boxes and looked at dozens more both in stores and online, I finally decided to just go ahead and purchase the Sterling Pear chest. It was well worth the money and wait because this is a beautiful piece. We got another chest for our second daughter who was born this year.

SP: What items are you storing in the chest?
MM: Baby keepsakes. I have things like my daughter's baby book, hospital outfits, first toy, first blanket, pacifier and handprints in there right now. Eventually, I'd like to add things like cards we exchange or drawings she made. Other items include photographs, Christmas ornaments, and favorite toys and outfits, which her baby sister is currently using. We make a lot of crafts together and I imagine that I'll add some of those someday. There's even a necklace in there that I purchased for when she's older. My baby daughter's chest isn't as full because I haven't had the time yet. If we ever have another baby, we will purchase a third chest for that baby, too.

SP: What a great idea! Those items sound precious.
MM: I like to think so! While searching for keepsake chests, I came across a lot of vintage hope chests that were given to women on their wedding day. I'd like to think this Sterling Pear chest is a modern version of a hope chest. It's sturdy but portable. It's large enough to store many keepsakes, but small enough to store in tight spaces, like in an apartment. When my daughters grow up and maybe have their own children, I envision myself presenting them with this beautiful gift full of their baby keepsakes. Hopefully they will cherish these keepsakes just as much as I have. Their time being so small passes so quickly and I really love being able to sort through this chest and reflect on those moments.

SP: Where do you put the chests now?
MM: Right now, the chest is at the top of my closet away from sticky fingers! It works for us and I like having it someplace that I can access easily. I enjoy knowing that my daughter's keepsakes are safe and within close reach.

SP: Any other comments you'd like to share with our readers about the chest?

MM: This chest is sturdy! One thing I love is that it has divided compartments so you can customize and organize the chest to what you need to fit in there. The dividers are lined, too, which is a nice touch. The chest has multiple trays, which are deep enough to fit even blankets or plush, or a number of baby outfits you want to treasure.

SP: Thanks, Meagan!

Contributed by Lizzy Smith for Sterling Pear

Stockings & Nostalgia

2013-12-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

Last night, I was chatting with my friend about this being prime baking season. Time to head to the store and get large quantities of butter, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and sprinkles to decorate sugar cookies. We started reminiscing and it took me back to the days of my childhood.

As a kid, my parents would load up us three kids, the family dog, and a lot of luggage into our motorhome and drive from California to Richland, Washington to visit my grandparents. I loved their house during the holidays. It smelled of apple cider and vanilla, pie crusts and popcorn balls.

And while on Christmas morning, the presents that Santa left were most exciting, what I loved best were our stockings. Inside them were always small treasures-- earrings, candy, maybe a watch, beautiful mittens.

Now as an adult, I try to keep that stocking tradition alive. Because my daughters and I moved two years ago, their Christmas stockings somehow got lost amidst boxes and packing paper. So this year, I purchased two new stockings for them. Personally, I love traditional stockings best, which makes Sterling Pear's a perfect choice for me.

One thing that I never anticipated, however, was how difficult (and dangerous) those stockings can be. With my 18-month old nephew, Dylan, in the midst of exploring everything new, he has pulled one stocking down already. Thank goodness he wasn't hurt. Our cat, Princess, has also discovered how "fun" it can be to try and pull the stockings down. Sterling Pear's mantle clips are fantastic in keeping these potential accidents at bay. The heavier the stocking, the more the stocking actually stays in place. Call me a fan.

It's not too late to add Sterling Pear to your holiday collection. And, on December 18, free shipping on all orders!

Happy Holidays! May they be filled with good cheer, wonderful smells, and beautiful memories.

Contributed by Lizzy Smith for Sterling Pear

Ready for the Holidays But Your Home is Lacking Sparkle?

2013-12-11T08:23:00.001-08:00

You’ve been holding back all year, but now that the holidays are here it’s time to unleash your inner sparkle! The holidays give us license to bring a little dazzle into our homes. For most of us, the Christmas tree is the centerpiece of our holiday sparkle, but what about the rest of the house? This year, we decorated our tree, hung our stockings and put out our lights. Then we looked around and thought, “Something is missing!” With that, we began looking for ways to add sparkle to our home without playing it too safe or going over the top.

In our search, we found some very simple decorating ideas that are easy, affordable and, of course, sparkly! We love the idea of using things you already own. For instance, polishing your best silver and setting it out for display. You can even fill a favorite silver bowl or platter with ornaments; it’s nearly effortless and the effect is brilliant! Along the same lines, Christmas is the ideal time to display your crystal. Nothing will add sparkle quite like those crystal candlesticks you got for your wedding or filling a few crystal goblets with Christmas candy in metallic wrappers and displaying them on the center of your table. Or, hang some crystals from your chandelier or light fixture and let them catch and reflect the lights from your tree. Dazzling!

If you’d like to add some new decorations to your collection and you want them to sparkle, we are excited that metallic Christmas trees are making a comeback. We are not suggesting a full size tree flocked in gold tinsel; but think of how beautiful a small gold or silver tree might look in a quiet corner of your living room, or in our case, in a little girl’s bedroom. Our three year old really wanted her own tree in her room this year, but we weren’t excited about having two sets of needles to clean up. We compromised with a small decorative tree. She loves the Leafy Topiary Tree in Gold and we love the added sparkle! Decorative trees make great centerpieces or add the perfect subtle shine for any room in the house. And, there are no extra needles to clean up!

We’d love to see how you add sparkle to your home. Please email us pictures or suggestions at info@sterlingpear.com!

Contributed by: Terrie Petree for Sterling Pear

Beautiful Ornaments Deserve a Beautiful Home

2013-12-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

I love the day after Thanksgiving. That’s because in my home, the Christmas Season begins. I put up the tree, find my cardboard boxes with ornaments, and start decorating. That evening, I bake cookies and make hot chocolate and I gingerly open up my beautiful collector’s boxes that store the ornaments I’ve collected over the years.

I started collecting Christmas ornaments in 1992. That was the year that I graduated from the University of Utah and moved to Washington, DC on an internship. That first Christmas in our nation’s capital was magical. I went to the White House tree lighting ceremony, The Nutrcracker ballet, did cookie exchanges, ran in the snow near the Washington Monument… And one morning, my colleague, Mary Beth, showed me a beautiful ornament she had purchased the night before. I had never seen such a beautiful ornament. It featured a replica of a painting of Mary Todd Lincoln that hung in the White House. I had to have one, too. Money was extremely tight for me and the ornament was pricey but I purchased one anyway.

And thus my passion for collecting ornaments was born. Every year, I purchased a new White House Christmas ornament. And every time I’d visit somewhere unique, I’d add to my collection. Today, I have boxes of beautiful ornaments from all over the world—from Coolfont (West Virginia) to Moscow to Maui to London to Bishop (California)—they serve as reminders of some of my favorite places in the world. And every time I take them out of their boxes, I remember when and where I purchased them. On January 1 when I take down my tree, I put all those beautiful ornaments in cardboard boxes (very banged up and beaten cardboard boxes) and shove them into the storage closet.

…Until this year! I just ordered Sterling Pear’s KeepsakeStorage Chest and that’s where the ornaments will be lovingly and beautifullydisplayed year ‘round. Right here in my living room. I’ll put a lovely wooden tray that I purchased from a local vintage shop on top of the box and use it to rest my bedtime tea and magazine. Soon, I’ll have more space in my storage closet and a great piece of furniture in my living room. Perfect. (In fact, I’m thinking about getting two additional boxes- one for both of my daughters’ bedrooms to store “stuff” in.)

For my beautiful and memorable ornaments, they won’t be hiding in seclusion for 11 months of the year anymore.

Contributed by Liz Smith Nielsen for Sterling Pear

Sterling Pear chats with Dr Christmas’ Bob Pranga, decorator of celebrity homes, movie sets & TV shows

2013-12-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Season is in full swing and the décor is out! While most of us decorate our own trees and homes, that’s not true everywhere. Think about it… Every time you watch a favorite holiday movie, like Christmas Story or Elf, someone decorated that set. Same with a holiday-inspired TV shows, commercials or advertisements. Those amazing trees in the lobby of an office building or department store? Someone decorated that, too. And in Los Angeles, that “someone” is oftentimes Dr. Christmas.

Dr. Christmas is a holiday decorating company and is owned and operated by Bob Pranga and Debi Staron (who, by the way, also own several of Sterling Pear’s signature KeepsakeStorage Chests). Their long list of clients include numerous celebrities, movies, museums and shops.

Sterling Pear recently chatted with Bob about Dr. Christmas:

SP: Any fun stories about decorating a celebrity home or a movie set?

BP: A few years ago I was decorating Jaclyn Smith's home and it was getting very late. Jaclyn asked if I was hungry. When I told her that her staff was probably already in bed, she reminded me that she was perfectly capable of making a sandwich. I had forgotten that celebrities are normal people too! Also, the biggest home I ever decorated was in Malibu, CA. The owners requested a tree in every single room!

Bob Pranga and Heidi Klum

SP: Do you have a favorite home or set you’ve decorated?

BP: The Hollywood Museum. I love props that I recognize from movies I love like Miracle on 34th Street or Elf. Or from the original movie starts like Bob Hope, Judy Garland and Bing Crosby. At the Hollywood Museum I can decorate with those props or use them for inspiration.

SP: This season, what particular design trends are you seeing?

BP: Some of the trendiest colors this season are orange and citrus green. Usually Christmas colors follow the hot colors in fashion from the prior year. Still, the traditional holiday colors are most popular - the reds, golds and greens. Those colors are never out of style.

SP: How do you decorate your own home?

BP: In general, people tend to gravitate to what they grew up with. So for me, I love retro Christmas items from the 1960s era like Frosty and Rudolf motifs.

SP: Where do you get your inspiration for decorating a private residence?

BP: I try to blend the holiday decor with the home itself. While there certainly is a fantasy element of the holidays, I believe it should look relaxed, yet festive. For example, when decorating for the Hollywood Museum one year we had the Ruby Slippers and we decorated around that one piece, using it as our main source of inspiration. I try to do to the same in a home.

SP: What do you think of Sterling Pear’s Keepsake Storage Chest? How do you personally use it?

BP: Is's a great organizational tool. After I set out the ornaments all I need to do is put a big, beautiful ribbon around the chest and it doubles as beautiful decor.

SP: Thank you, Bob! Happy Holidays.

Contributed by: Lizette Nielsen for Sterling Pear

Cyber Monday & Simple Tools to Make Holiday Decorating a Snap!

2013-12-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Cyber Monday!

Even for those who really do hold out until after Thanksgiving, the Christmas decorating and shopping season has officially begun, and we couldn’t be more excited! To share our excitement, we’re offering FREE SHIPPING and an additional 20% OFF on all Sterling Pear products through the end of today (use coupon code CYBERMON at checkout).

Based on what’s going on at our own homes, we’re guessing that some, if not all, of you are trying to figure out how to display your favorite decorations from years gone by and also make room for the pretty new things you’ve added to your holiday collections. With that dilemma in mind, we’d like to suggest three little items that can make a world of difference in the way you decorate: Garland Ties, Stocking Holders and Wreath Hangers.

Garland Ties

Garland Ties: Simple and understated as they are, garland ties can revolutionize the way you display greenery on mantelpieces, railings or banisters. The ties secure your garland in the right position without you having to scramble for an old twist tie or a piece of string to hold your decorative vision in place, and they’re much more attractive! Our burgundy, brown or gold ties add just a touch of style to complement the deep green of your garland.

Stocking Holders

Stocking Holders: With your garland sitting pretty, it’s time to hang the stockings by the chimney with care. Last year, we carefully spaced four permanent hooks into the underside of our mantel. Whoops. This year (or actually early next year), we’ll need another stocking and another hook. Instead of getting out the drill again, we’re going with stocking hangers. They are beautiful, temporary and don’t damage the mantel. From mantel clips, to elegant scrolls to festive candy canes, stocking hangers will highlight your stockings without hurting your surfaces.

Wreath Hangers

Wreath Hangers: Two weeks ago, we talked about how much we love wreaths because they offer decorative versatility to your front entrance without breaking the budget. You probably know someone who has a different door decoration for every season. Wreath hangers, like our magnetic or adjustable wreath hangers, make this type of year round decorating a breeze and easily complement your favorite Christmas wreath. One of our latest additions to the Sterling Pear line is our Red Ribbon Holiday Wreath Door Hanger - it is classic and just so festive.

We would love to see how you use simple tools like garland ties, stocking hangers and wreath hangers to simplify and beautify your holiday decorating. Please send pictures, and your tips and tricks, to info@sterlingpear.com.

Don’t forget! Celebrate Cyber Monday with FREE SHIPPPING and an additional 20% OFF through the end of the day using coupon code CYBERMON at checkout only at www.sterlingpear.com!

Contributed by Terrie Petree for Sterling Pear

New Ways to Give Thanks this Thanksgiving

2013-11-26T17:06:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year when families draw closer, cherished recipes come out of hiding, and there’s that palpable buzz in the air that says the holidays have arrived! At Sterling Pear, we know we’re not alone when we say that we love this time of year, and we like to focus on the things that make Thanksgiving truly unique – it’s a purely American holiday devoted to being grateful for the bounty we enjoy in our lives.

Thanksgiving, for us, is the holiday dedicated to remembering the difficult beginnings of our country and, in turn, the wealth of opportunities and resources that we enjoy as its citizens. We are mindful of the people in places like the Philippines or Syria who are experiencing difficult times. And in a time when our country may seem deeply divided, it’s nice that we can all pause on Thursday to be thankful for the liberty and history that we share.

This Thanksgiving season we have found two great new traditions to start in our own families– Gratitude Trees and Giving Tuesday.

The gratitude tree, a simple and heartfelt way to give thanks.

Gratitude Trees: A recent issue of a children’s magazine encourages children to make a Gratitude Tree. Children write down things that they are grateful for on colored paper in the shape of leaves boasting festive fall colors. The more they are grateful for, the fuller the tree becomes. In the sample we saw, the leaves said things as simple as, “I am grateful for mommy and daddy,” “I am grateful that dinner tastes so good,” and “I am grateful my eyes are pretty.” What a great activity to help your children remember all the little things we should be thankful for!

Giving Tuesday: Our other new tradition this year is another way of showing thanks. It’s called Giving Tuesday and its goal is to become one of the big holiday shopping landmarks (hopefully to rank with Black Friday and Cyber Monday), but the focus is on giving to charitable causes instead of buying gifts. Giving Tuesday officially began last year and is the brainchild of the United Nations Foundation. Mark your calendars because Giving Tuesday is on Tuesday, December 3. If you’re Twitter friendly, check out #GivingTuesday or you can go to www.givingtuesday.org for additional information.

Last but certainly not least, we’re thankful for you! When we pause on Thursday to count our blessings, our Sterling Pear friends and customers will be on our list! Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Autumn Decor for Your Front Entrance

2013-11-20T11:17:00.002-08:00

Nestled between the fun of Halloween and the joy of the holidays, the month of November gives us a brief but beautiful window of time when we can indulge in the bright oranges, reds and yellows of autumn. At Sterling Pear, we think that fall colors are some of the best and most inspirational for decorating! This year we’re especially excited about autumn door decorations that really showcase the warmth and brilliance of the season.

Perhaps what we love most about door decorating is that it’s a simple and easy way to keep your home looking current. For example, the look of a square autumn leaf wreath is perfect; the square shape is a fresh, modern take on the traditional door wreath, and the entire project can most likely be made with items you have on hand.

Our child friendly version of the square autumn leaf wreath

We decided to give this square leaf wreath a try in a kid’s version and drew inspiration from our friends over at thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com.

We collected leaves from our neighbor’s yard and, rather than buying a square wreath frame, we simply cut a square out of cardboard and glued the leaves directly onto the cardboard. Our final result wasn’t as polished as the picture that inspired us, but even little hands covered in glue can’t mess up the simple beauty of red fall leaves.

One side note: these leaves were collected in San Diego where fall weather is as sporadic as trees that drop their leaves. We easily collected enough for our wreath; imagine what you can do in areas where the fall harvest is more plentiful!

If you prefer more traditional autumn shapes, we love the combination of Indian corn and cornucopias. Indian corn is easy to find, and the corn’s blues, yellows and reds are so vibrant that you can easily make simple decorations that look beautiful. Try tying a few ears together with a ribbon, or we’ve seen lovely door decorations with Indian corn and fall flowers tied together with bright ribbon. Even better, grab another handful of those red leaves from the neighbor’s yard and arrange them with the flowers and the corn in a cornucopia for your door! The possibilities are endless!

Suggestion: After your wreath or fall arrangement is complete, you can use beautiful wreath hangers with colorful ribbon to hang and showcase your masterpiece on your front door.

We would love to see how fall has inspired you! Send us a picture of your fall masterpiece and we may showcase it on our blog to inspire others. Email your photos to info@sterlingpear.com.

One final note, if you’re wondering how to hang a square wreath or, perhaps even more challenging, a cornucopia, we suggest tying a pretty ribbon around the top of your wreath or just below the mouth of the cornucopia. Then, use a wreath hanger to hang your decoration. If you don’t already have a wreath hanger, have a look at some of ours.

Contributed by: Terrie Petree for Sterling Pear

Joyous Wedding Wishes to a Sterling Pear Co-Founder

2013-07-08T16:46:00.001-07:00

The setting couldn’t have been any more beautiful: an always weather and picture perfect San Diego, California coupled with a bride and groom that were aglow with their love for each other and excitement of their big day!

It’s been a busy spring and summer for Sterling Pear’s co-founder Janet Hayden who married the love of her life Scott Bishop, in a beautiful April ceremony at the LDS San Diego Temple followed by a ring ceremony in beautiful Pacific Beach.

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Bishop

As her friend of almost 20 years (has it been that long?) and business partner of almost 8 (crazy how time flies), it’s been an honor to see their love story from conception to present day! The love and respect they have for each is clearly evident and extremely well deserved.

Isn't she stunning?

It is belated, but wishing you a wonderful life together full of happiness Mr. and Mrs. Bishop! Now make sure you use one of our Wedding Keepsake Chests to store all of your wedding mementos!

Now all Keepsake Chests 20% Off through July 31, 2013

Contributed by: Heather Hadfield, Co-Founder, Sterling Pear

Real Eggs, Really Easy Easter Garland!

2013-03-20T06:35:00.001-07:00

If you are like me, I'm sure you have that group of friends who are not only strikingly beautiful and fantastically smart, but are also stylistically crafty as well. To me, this is a "Holy Trinity" of sorts.

These traits describe my dearly missed friends in Washington, D. C. area to a “T”. I get green with envy each time I see them getting together to put their classy craftiness to work and really miss the fun chatter and banter (and sometimes even musical numbers) that come with each get-together.

My friends have honored me with being able to share their latest and greatest in crafting efforts: beautiful Easter Egg Garlands made out of real eggs.

First, their list of supplies started with:

• Dozens of real eggs
• Fishing line
• a Dremel hand drill
• Cookie sheets
• Food coloring dye (mixed with a little white vinegar to get the best color)
• Toothpicks
• 1 ½” – 2” Ribbon

The Prepping

To prep the eggs they carefully drilled a small hole in the tops and the bottoms of each egg. Using a toothpick inserted into one of the holes, they swirled around the egg yolk so that the insides could be blown out in to a sink.

After the insides were removed, they gently washed the eggs and set them on a cookie sheet to be placed in a 300 F oven (for 8-10 minutes) to harden up the shells.

As soon as the eggs cooled they were able to dye the eggs in an assortment of fun Easter colors.

The Pretty

When the eggs had fully dried from the colored dye, fishing line was used to string the eggs together, making sure to use an assortment of the colors. Festive ribbon was then used to finish-off the edges of the garland strands. And in the words of the immortal Amber, “Badda-Boom, Badda-Bing, we had ourselves some garland!”

The overall consensus was that it was pretty quick and an easy project (the longest part was dyeing the eggs). Thank you dear friends for letting me share your genius!

Contributed by: Heather Hadfield (Dietrich), Sterling Pear

Several years ago... two women started a business. Here's their story....

2013-02-27T12:22:00.000-08:00

"Sterling Pear co-founders
Heather Hadfield Dietrich & Janet Hayden"

Sterling Pear was launched in 2006 by Heather Hadfield Dietrich and Janet Hayden. Sterling Pear started with a different overall concept; designing and selling complete Christmas ornament "kits" (storage solutions, ornaments and linens).

We designed two ornament storage solutions that were unlike any others on the current market. Both were luxurious and sophisticated, something fitting to hold the treasures of one's collection of precious heirloom ornaments and collectibles - almost like big jewelry boxes!

We knew we had something special and we decided to focus solely on these boxes since we didn't have the initial time and resources to roll out the whole ornament "kit" at the same time.

We launched with our Keepsake Ornament Storage Chest and a few other Christmas decorating products. Now, each year we've been adding more products with an emphasis on ingenious design and sophistication.

Heather and I became friends back in the mid-1990's when we were both living and working in Washington, DC as young adults. I was a few years out of college and had my first "real" job working in corporate fundraising for a national environmental federation. Heather had just returned from four years of working in Seoul, South Korea where she hosted a national radio show and also taught English as a second language. She was working part-time in a retail shop while she was deciding where to live and finish her degree.

One day I happened to be a customer in the shop where Heather worked. While ringing me up at the register we made small talk about the store and we realized that we had a connection - my ex-boyfriend was friends with one of her colleagues. Heather was so genuine and friendly that I knew instantly that we'd be friends. We exchanged phone numbers and ended up getting together the very next day.

"Heather & Janet at the
Presidential Inaugural Ball,
January 20, 1997"

As far as friends go, we were instant best friends- nearly inseparable for the next couple of years. We went night clubbing together, went on double dates, and even went on our first trip to Europe together (thanks to Heather's fabulous travel planning and good travel sense.) I ended up helping her get a job with my non-profit and we worked together for a few months until she landed a business development and marketing job for a small start-up. This new job, in turn, provided her many lessons about starting a business and being an entrepreneur.

Ten years later Heather relocated to the Philadelphia area and I had moved to New York City. I had been working in various jobs in PR, marketing, banking and was currently a personal assistant to the Chairman of a NYC commercial real estate firm. I had the specific goal of starting a business of my own but struggled with what type of business it would be. I attended many start-up business classes on the side, and was soaking up everything entrepreneurial I could. Heather was a new Mom and was trying to find a balance of being a stay-at-home mom after an industrious career in marketing and corporate event planning.

One weekend I visited Heather in Philadelphia to see her new home and spend time with her baby. She told me about a business idea she had involving Christmas ornament kits. I loved her idea and I loved the idea of working with her! I knew her work ethic and I knew she was someone I could trust! At that moment, we made the decision to go into business together and it was a natural fit. I returned to New York with a decision to make it happen. There was no stopping us!

Since then we've made a few mistakes and even had our share of setbacks. We were on the brink of quitting numerous times. But each time, one of us would always stay positive and pull the other out of the dumps, providing encouragement that we could succeed.

"Keepsake Storage Chests"

By 2010 we finally broke even and made a small profit. It is very satisfying to know that the business has grown every year - (even after the incredibly rough second year of the crash). We no longer doubt our ability to succeed and it is only onward and upward for us!

And I guess you can say.... The rest is history!

by Janet Hayden

Easy & Memorable Valentine's Table

2013-02-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

Still trying to come up with a plan for Valentine’s Day? Are you past the need to head out for that romantic restaurant with all the other couples? Well, why not set a pretty table for dinner in! Kids/no kids, paired up with friends/just the two of you, take-out/homemade -- it’ll make for a nice change from the typical Sunday night routine.

Start by repurposing holiday items. Break out a red table runner or tablecloth from the recent holidays. For a focal point, take a clear glass or crystal vase and fill it with conversation hearts. Finish by adding your favorite white, pink or red flowers. Remember, don’t fill the vase with water or your hearts will become mush!

Next scatter candles across the center of the table. You can also fill small ramekins or glass bowls with chocolate covered almonds, cashews, raisins, or blueberries. Arrange these amid the candles.

Finally, a quick and easy way to dress up place settings is to replace napkin holders with red or pink satin ribbon tied in a big, beautiful bow. With just a few minutes’ work, you’re set for a memorable dinnertime in the comfort of your own home!

Oh, some quick dessert ideas: make a pan of brownies and cut them out with a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Serve with your favorite ice cream and garnish a side of strawberries or raspberries. If your selection of cookie cutters is non-existent, make a quick heart-shaped stencil out of paper. Place it over cupcakes (square-cut brownies, slices of Bundt cake, larger round cakes will all do the trick too) and shake confectioner’s sugar or cocoa onto the stencil. Gently remove the stencil, and voila! A beautiful presentation for easy, everyday desserts!

Contributed by Heather Martinez

Sterling Pear Interviews Clara Scroggins: World-famous Ornament Collector!

2013-01-22T16:40:00.000-08:00

Sterling Pear Interviews Clara Scroggins: World-Famous Ornament Collector!

Clara Scroggins of Tampa Palms owns and curates the world's largest privately owned ornament collection which tops 1-million pieces.

She has been collecting ornaments for more than 15 years!

Her own collection includes ornaments by many famous names including Waterford, Lalique, Versace, Hallmark, Lenox, Reed & Barton, Christopher Radko, Baccarat, Swarovski, artist Thomas Blackwell, jewelry designer Jay Strongwater and Tiffany & Co & more!

Clara is an expert on storing & caring for sterling silver, crystal, gold, cut crystal, porcelain, breakable, blown glass balls, hand painted ornaments & more! We are so excited to have spoken with her. We hope you enjoy these tips on preserving your ornaments and heirlooms so you can pass them down to your children and grandchildren for generations to come.

SP: What is the first rule in storing fragile & collectible ornaments?

SP: Is it important to use acid-free paper when storing ornaments and heirlooms?

SP: Should ornaments be stored in an airtight container to prevent moisture? What about Sterling Silver? Porcelain? Christmas Cards?

Clara: If you live in an environment with extreme temperatures, do not store ornaments in an air tight container. Ornaments need room to breath. The exception to this is China, Crystal and ornaments with Swarovski crystals. These can be stored air-tight.

The Keepsake Ornament Storage Chest

Clara on storing Porcelain: The design in porcelain is fired in so it won’t come off on regular sheet paper. Store in an the ornament storage box also wrapped in paper.

Clara on storing Hallmark cards: Leave them in the original box or wrap them in

bubble wrap or tissue to preserve them.

SP: Why do ornaments get little black spots on them? Is it from moisture?

showcase your ornaments and heirlooms. So there is no need to hide them because their look is elegant enough to have out in a room. Ornament such as Disney & Hallmark will be fine and do not need climate controlled temperatures.

SP: Are there any ornament companies that we should keep on our watch list?

SP: What do you like about Sterling Pear’s Ornament Storage Chests?

Clara: I love the ornament boxes from Sterling Pear because they show off your ornaments so well! There is no need to hide them in a closet or attic because they showcase beautifully. They are like a piece of furniture in your home and can be used as an end table or neatly stacked as they are strong and will not crush your ornaments. There are many ornament storage companies & options available now and this is not always the case. The green ornament storage box can be used to store Easter ornaments since its lighter, and the black Keepsake Chest year-round or winter for storing Christmas ornaments and other collectibles.

SP: What do you currently store in your Sterling Pear boxes?

Clara: I store blown glass ornaments in the green ornament storage box and both colors are beautiful. My father’s heirlooms which are very precious to me, will be stored in the black elegant keepsake chest which I plan on passing down to my son and grandchildren. That’s what’s nice about your boxes. They are elegant enough to store & display family heirlooms, baby christening dresses, wedding dresses and fine ornaments.

Although she is best known for her amazing collection of ornaments, we've learned that Clara’s goal in life is really about giving back to others. She frequently opens her doors for holiday tours to interested groups and hopes that her beautiful and extensive ornament collection continues to bring joy to the world long after she's gone. For more on Clara and her exquisite collection, click on this link: http://ow.ly/gCmqo

If you are interested in purchasing the Keepsake Chest or Signature Ornament Storage Boxes click here: http://ow.ly/gCmv8

Follow us on Facebook for special offers & discounts: www.facebook/SterlingPear

To be a guest blogger please email us at: info@sterlingpear.com

Our Best-Selling Ornament Storage Solutions Are Now Back in Stock!

2012-11-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

After selling out last holiday season, the long-awaited return of our Keepsake Ornament Storage Chest and Signature Ornament Storage Box is over!

Keepsake Ornament Storage Chest

Once you experience the luxury of our Keepsake Ornament Storage Chest you'll see why this is the only storage option deserving of your finest heirlooms and treasured collectibles. The chest's contemporary styling blends seamlessly with even the most upscale home decor.

Signature Ornament Storage Box

Our Signature Ornament Storage Box is truly remarkable and is luxuriously lined with silver satin fabric, the three interior trays feature padded tray bottoms providing your most delicate ornaments and collectibles a soft and gentle year-round storage place.

Both of our flagship products are designed exclusively by Sterling Pear and are available now at www.sterlingpear.com.

2012-10-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

In the past I have posted pictures of my own personal Halloween tradition of creating the "Bat Cave" in our foyer. It has become a yearly event that my son and I enjoy doing each and every year.

I just came across this take on our "Bat Cave" over at http://www.styleathome.com and absolutely LOVE how they've added the Halloween tree, crow in the cage and the festive banner and pumpkins! What a great way to dress up any foyer!

We'd love to hear about how you decorate for Halloween and some of the traditions you may have. Add a comment or post to us at our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SterlingPear). Hope you have a Spooktacular Halloween!

Contributed by Heather Hadfield Dietrich, Sterling Pear

Patriotic and Stylish 4th of July Front Entry

2012-06-28T03:26:00.002-07:00

4th of July Wreath

At Sterling Pear, you all know that we are fans of the holidays. But, truth be told, we are fans of ANY and ALL holidays! Because of our love to decorate, we've decided to highlight favorite and new decorating ideas we come across as each holiday rolls around.

We are starting with this cute do-it-yourself 4th of July wreath from our friends over at Nap Time Crafts. Couple this adorable wreath with one of our Magnetic Wreath Hangers, or our Adjustable Wreath Hangers, and you are bound to make Betsy Ross proud this year!

Now through the 4th of July, take advantage of 20% OFF any of our wreath hangers (Magnetic and Adjustable Wreath Hanger styles). Simple use coupon code JULYFOUR at check-out only at www.sterlingpear.com.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Festive and Cheery Front Entry

2011-11-17T10:02:00.001-08:00

A festive and cheery front entry is the perfect way to welcome holiday guests to your home each year. One of the most popular ways to do this is with a classic holiday wreath. Wreaths are quick, simple and a classy way to decorate for any holiday AND in a short amount of time.

Adjustable Wreath Hanger

This year, Sterling Pear is carrying some new and innovative wreath hangers to help you perk up your home’s entrance or interior with style and ease.

Our new Adjustable Wreath Hangers fit on most standard doors and can extend from 16.5” to 25”.

Magnetic Wreath Hanger

And our Magnetic Wreath Hangers are perfect for using on metal doors or doors with single-pane windows.

Now until Wednesday, November 23^rd enjoy 10% OFF on all Adjustable and Magnetic Wreath Hangers. For more information on our new wreath hanger line, or to see other creative holiday decoration solutions, visit us at www.sterlingpear.com.

** No coupon code necessary **

Mom's Best Bets - Classic Tree Skirt Give-Away

2010-11-16T04:53:00.000-08:00

Our friends over at Mom's Best Bets are giving away one of our Classic Tree Skirts. Their site is a GREAT resource for any Mom needing child-friendly resources or gift ideas (they even fun travel tips on Hawaii, since that is where they are based). Entering the give-away is easy so make sure you visit their site today!

Inspirational and interesting 4th of July ideas

2010-06-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

The long 4th of July weekend is just around the corner and I just can’t wait! The taste of BBQ, hearing the kids squealing with joy while running barefoot through the sprinklers, the beautiful nighttime display of fireworks . . . These are just a few of the things that I love about the 4th of July holiday.

Many web sites and blogs are now featuring a lot of really cute, new ideas for decorating and entertaining the 4th of July. One of my favorites blogs that I’ve recently come across is TipJunkie. Apart from the wealth of knowledge found on this site, you’ll also see above and beyond (but realistic) patriotic decorating ideas submitted from their followers.

As for entertaining, I’m always semi-confident on the food side (make sure to check out the YUMMY recipes at Delish), but always get stumped as to how to set up an easy bar. This is where another recent new web find comes in handy. The Kitchn features a great article on how to build a basic summer bar. Now, no more worrying about if I have the right bar stuff on hand.

And what 4th of July celebration isn’t complete without some decedent desserts! Hostess (with the mostess) has her 4th of July Dessert Roundup (take 1 & 2) up and I have decided that I’m making it a goal to try each and every dessert (hello red-velvet cake with raspberries and blueberries)!

Enjoy your 4th of July holiday and remember the freedoms we enjoy. Also, we’d love to hear how you plan on celebrating the 4th. Let us know your favorite decorating or menu ideas in the comments below.

Contributed by Heather Dietrich, Sterling Pear

Making a Memorable Memorial Day

2010-05-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

For most of us Memorial Day marks the official start of summer. While the original purpose behind Memorial Day is to commemorate and honor those who lost their life in battle, more and more people are now taking advantage of the three-day weekend to recreate with friends and family. Hosting a Memorial Day party can incorporate both the traditions of the holiday and allow for plenty of relaxing as well.

Memorial Day Decorations

If you decide to host a party, don’t be afraid to go blatantly patriotic on your Memorial Day celebration. Put up American flags outside your home, and even go a little crazy and use a few of them as decorations indoors. On your tables, spread blue tablecloths with red runners. You can use the holiday’s red poppy as your centerpiece flower, or you can simply use American flags in vases. Your unused 4th of July tableware and utensils will really come in handy on Memorial Day, so don’t forget to bring them out.

And in a true Memorial Day tradition, if you have a flag in your yard or lawn, fly it at half-mast from morning until noon in honor of all the fallen soldiers.

Memorial Day Food

Memorial Day often brings with it the first really warm weather of the year, so take full advantage of the weather and barbeque outdoors (plus, clean-up is MUCH easier!).

There are lots of great foods that go along with good old-fashioned grilling; watermelon, potato salad, deviled eggs, home-made ice creams are a just a few of my favorites. Keep in mind, guests will inevitably ask, "what can I bring?" Even if you tell them "nothing" they'll bring something anyway. Best to use this to your advantage -- ask them to bring something you'll use at the party. Guests feel useful and you can then check something off of your list and stay within your budget better. BYOB is, of course, a classic way to cut your party budget -- drinks ain't cheap. Plus, folks get to drink exactly what they want and you don't have to worry about providing an array of choices to suit everyone.

Memorial Day Activities

It's safe to say that many Memorial Day activities usually involve something to do with water; a pool, lake or the beach. If you're hosting a party and don't have a pool, it's easy to buy a $7 kiddie pool and scatter beach chairs around. Guests can then sit and sip their cool drink while dipping their toes in some cool water. Plus, anything containing water is bound to entertain kids for hours.

If you want to take some time before your party begins to honor our fallen soldiers, visit a local cemetery or attend a church services in their memory. You can even volunteer to put American flags on the graves of the fallen soldiers to honor their memory. These soldiers died nobly for the country, so it’s only right to put aside a little of our time to remember and visit them, even if we are not related to them.

Whatever your Memorial Day plans are, please take a minute to remember the people who have died to defend the freedoms we enjoy. Have a great Memorial Day! Another small tip: make sure you save any left over decorations -- you'll be a step ahead for the 4th of July celebrations!

Contributed by Heather Dietrich, Sterling Pear

Fun and Easy Spring Photo Tradition

2010-04-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

These days it’s hard to go more than a block without noticing the beautiful blooming trees and emerging daffodils and tulips. Why not capture these to enjoy throughout the year and start a new annual spring tradition!

Take your camera and snap photos of your favorite colors. Try taking close-up shots of blossoms or full-frame shots of a daffodil. If you have children or a pet, why not include them in front of a lush bush or among a bunch of tulips? Let your creativity flow, and try interesting angles, or unusual framing.

After you’ve evaluated the photos, choose your favorites. Then group 4 or 6 in a neat square or rectangle on a hallway wall. Choose matching 8x10 frames that work with your home’s décor, black, brushed nickel, white, chocolate brown, whatever works best in your home.

If you didn’t include family or pets in the original photos, why not take recent photos (maybe a Spring school photo) of your family and intersperse them with the beautiful blooms. This is a fun and unique way to display your latest portraits.

And, to take this tradition beyond an annual event, why not update the wall each season; when the foliage changes to the lush greens of summer, or to the striking burnt oranges and yellows of fall or the beautiful, stark landscape of winter?

Contributed by Heather Martinez