Step into the world of Masters Week in Augusta, Georgia, with returning guest Vera Stewart, as we explore the traditions, etiquette, and understated elegance that define one of the South's most iconic spring gatherings.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Vera shares insight into the rhythms and rituals of Masters Week, from its distinct visual language and sense of restraint to the ways it shapes how people host, gather, and entertain. Together, we explore how this unique tradition reflects a broader culture of hospitality, intention, and timelessness. 

We also discuss Vera's new cookbook, Generations, inspired by her years of cooking, teaching, and hosting. Filled with approachable, family-friendly recipes, the book captures the spirit of her long-running cooking camps, bringing people together through food and tradition.

Whether you're drawn to entertaining, seasonal gatherings, or culinary heritage, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at how traditions continue to shape the way we live and celebrate today.

Listen in for:

• The traditions and etiquette that define Masters Week in Augusta
• How the event influences entertaining and hospitality
• The cultural rhythm of this iconic spring tradition
• Vera's approach to hosting like a pro
• A look inside her new cookbook, Generations, and its inspiration

Resources:

• Visit Vera's website for information on her camps, show, and to pre-order her new book!
• Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook.
• Listen to our first episode, which focused on entertaining during football season. 
• You can find Vera's first two books on her website, but if you prefer to shop on Amazon, they're also here: Recipes from My Table and Occasions

If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

While Historic Garden Week offers a glimpse into some of Virginia's most beautiful private homes and gardens each spring, the story doesn't end when the gates close.

In Part II of this conversation, Allie Kochinsky is joined by Deneen Brannock and Candy Crosby of The Garden Club of Virginia to explore the deeper work that sustains this long-standing tradition.

Learn how funds raised during Historic Garden Week are translated into long-term preservation projects, why stewardship requires ongoing care rather than one-time restoration, and how the organization's fellowship program supports research. 

Using projects like the restoration of the Kent-Valentine House grounds as a case study, this conversation highlights how preservation is not static, but an evolving practice rooted in education, investment, and responsibility.

This episode explores:

• How Historic Garden Week supports preservation efforts across Virginia
• Why long-term stewardship matters in historic landscapes
• The role of fellowships in shaping preservation's future

Visitors may come for the beauty of spring, but they leave having contributed to something far more lasting: the protection and understanding of Virginia's cultural and landscape heritage for generations to come.

RESOURCES

• Listen to Part I of this conversation here.
• Visit the Historic Garden Week website (and grab your tickets!) here.
• Interested in the Fellowships? Learn more here.
• Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook.
• Give to the Garden Club of Virginia.

If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

“When you step into Whitehall, you’re not just walking through a house—you’re stepping into a vision of what America could be: a place of beauty, innovation, and possibility.” — Campbell Mobley

What can a single house reveal about the creation of an entire destination?

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, I speak with Campbell Mobley of the Flagler Museum, the Gilded Age estate of Henry Flagler in Palm Beach, Florida.

Completed in 1902, Whitehall was once described as "more wonderful than any palace in Europe," and it remains one of the most important surviving Gilded Age homes in the United States. Today the museum preserves not only the architecture and interiors of the house, but also the broader story of how Flagler's railroad and hotel ventures transformed Florida's east coast and helped establish Palm Beach as a winter resort destination.

In our conversation, Campbell, the museum's Chief Curator, shares how the museum interprets this history for modern audiences, what visitors often find most surprising when they walk through the house, and how historic spaces like Whitehall help us understand the social life, design sensibilities, and ambitions of the Gilded Age.

We discuss:

• The creation of Whitehall and its remarkable architecture
• Henry Flagler's role in shaping Palm Beach and Florida tourism
• How the Flagler Museum brings Gilded Age history to life today
• Why historic houses continue to resonate with modern visitors

For anyone who loves design history, Palm Beach culture, or the stories behind America's great houses, this episode offers a fascinating look inside one of the country's most iconic historic homes.

RESOURCES:

• Plan your visit to the Flagler Museum, check out their exhibitions, or view upcoming events here.
• Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook. They're also on YouTube!

Read about Palm Beach and Flagler!
Start here: www.arcadiapublishing.com/GRANDMILLENNIAL
Code: GRANDMILLENNIAL


If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

“You have their chair, you have their bed, you’ve got their desk — it’s a tangible human connection.” — Lisa Minardi, Executive Director, Historic Trappe

How do historic objects help us understand the past?

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky speaks with Lisa Minardi, Executive Director of Historic Trappe, about the role of material culture in preserving the nation's history.

Historic Trappe stewards several important historic properties connected to the Muhlenberg family, including the Speaker's House, as well as the Muhlenberg House and the Dewees Tavern, home to the organization's Center for Pennsylvania German Studies. Through exhibitions, research, and hands-on preservation programs, Historic Trappe helps visitors understand the daily lives, craftsmanship, and cultural traditions that shaped early Pennsylvania. 

We also discuss the launch of the inaugural Pennsylvania Antiques Show, a new antiques show bringing together dealers, collectors, and historians to celebrate Pennsylvania decorative arts and craftsmanship. 

In this conversation, we explore:

• What antiques reveal about everyday life in early America
• The importance of preservation education
• How antique shows help sustain collecting and scholarship

For collectors, history lovers, and anyone fascinated by historic craftsmanship, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how objects, architecture, and landscapes preserve the stories of the past.

RESOURCES

• Visit the Historic Trappe here. 
• Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook.
• Grab your tickets to the Pennsylvania Antiques Show!

If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

Before founding her namesake brand in Bermuda, Sarah Bray-West spent years as a writer and editor in New York, contributing to big-name publications. But over time, promoting constant consumption, even of beautiful things, began to conflict with her values.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Sarah shares the story of stepping away from the editorial world, relocating to Bermuda, and reimagining what it means to create responsibly. From biodegradable sun hats woven of palm leaf to the use of vintage ribbons, her brand, Sarah Bray Bermuda, is rooted in craft, intention, and an honest approach to sustainability.

If you've ever felt conflicted about modern luxury, or wondered whether elegance and ethics can coexist, this episode offers a thoughtful and refreshing perspective.

RESOURCES

• Shop Sarah's website here.
• Follow along on Instagram.

If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

“It’s a Virginia tradition of graciousness and hospitality — every visitor is welcomed with a big smile and genuine happiness to see them.” — Virginia Gillick

Each April, as Virginia comes into bloom, a remarkable tradition unfolds. During the third week of the month, private homes and gardens, many rarely open to the public, welcome visitors in celebration of beauty, place, and history.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, I sit down with Karen Ellsworth, Director of Historic Garden Week, and Virginia Gillock, Board Member and Chair, to discuss the origins and evolution of this nearly century-old tradition.

We explore the Garden Club of Virginia's founding vision, why the event has endured for generations, the deeply place-based nature of the tours across Virginia, how gardens tell stories that architecture alone cannot, and what visitors can expect this year. 

From floral arrangements and front-door hospitality to the anticipation of spring across the Commonwealth, this conversation highlights what makes Historic Garden Week so special, and why 2026 marks a particularly meaningful moment in its history.

RESOURCES:

• Learn more about Historic Garden Week here, including how to purchase tickets.
• Follow along on Facebook and/or Instagram to stay updated on events, photographs, and more.
• Interested in the book recommended by today's guests? Snag your copy of Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nature.

If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

“Each tea has a proper brewing method… if you put that little bit of intention in, the finished cup is just so much more enjoyable.” 

Tea is one of the most enduring rituals in our daily lives. A pause, a comfort, a habit passed quietly from one generation to the next.

In this episode, I'm joined by Emeric Harney of Harney & Sons, the family-run American tea company known for its dedication to quality, craftsmanship, and tradition. Together, we go beyond nostalgia and into the inner workings of a heritage brand, from how their tea is sourced and blended to the relationships built with growers around the world, to the discipline required to create consistency in a product shaped by nature.

Emeric shares what it means to steward a multi-generational company, how art and science come together in the process, and why tea remains an enduring ritual.

RESOURCES:

• Visit the Harney & Sons website here.
• Follow along on Instagram.
• Check out Emeric's cocktail bar, Quantum Toad!

If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

“It’s beautiful to take a step back and let the child stay the central character.”

In this episode, I sit down with Dunn Latham, President and Designer of Little English, the children’s fashion and lifestyle brand founded by her mother, Shannon, in 2004. What began as a collection of traditional hand-smocked layette has grown into an upscale, full-service apparel and accessories line, carried by Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Maisonette.

Dunn shares how she carries forward the family legacy, honoring not only the heirloom-quality garments the brand creates but also the ethos and spirit of Little English itself — a company that has been lovingly passed down and continues to shape the traditions of childhood, celebration, and thoughtful living. From crafting “forever quality” clothing meant to be treasured and passed down, to inspiring milestone moments like baby showers and first birthdays, this conversation blends nostalgia, style, and intentional living.


RESOURCES:

• Shop Little English here.
• Visit the Instagram page (and be sure to follow Dunn directly).

If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

Valentine's Day is about more than chocolate; it's a tradition steeped in history and sentiment. In this episode of Grandma's Silver, I sit down with Nancy Rosin from the National Valentine Collectors Assocation to explore the world of valentines.

From delicate lace and embossed cards to clever pop-ups and handwritten notes, these collectible treasures reveal the customs, courtship rituals, and humor of generations past. We talk about how valentines were made, what made them meaningful, and how they were preserved as keepsakes. Plus, what they can teach us about love, celebration, and the joys of tangible tradition today.

Whether you're a collector, a history enthusiast, or someone who enjoys celebrating February with thoughtfulness and style, this conversation is full of stories that will make you see Valentine's Day in a whole new light.

RESOURCES:

• Follow Nancy's Facebook group here.
• Check out the Association's website.
• For visuals to accompany this episode, click here.

If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

"Home really became a refuge for me.”

In today's episode, I sit down with interior designer Dana Wolter, who is known for her chic Southern style, discerning eye, and creating spaces that blend timeless elegance with comfort. From her early experiences growing up in a large family to designing turnkey residences across the nation, Dana has cultivated a philosophy that homes should be sanctuaries for family life.

RESOURCES:

• Visit Dana's website here.
• Follow along on Instagram.
• Shop her new book, The Elegance and Comfort of Home.

If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.