Repurposed Monday - Lamp Base

Sometimes it is just too hard to let some things go and in this case, it was a black lamp base.  For a number of years it has been sitting in my storage room collecting dust.

Well, I stumbled across a darling lamp in one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie and there it was.....the perfect bunny Lamp.  Unfortunately, the Runway Bunny Ensemble lamp is no longer available at the store or online but here is a photo of it.  Created by the Swedish design team "Front", a cheeky hare proudly dons a top hat (the lampshade) to model it in your home.  At 13.5" H, it was priced at $199.  A little too expensive for a whimsical accent but a great inspiration piece!!!



I could not get it off my mind and a few weeks later while shopping, I came across a darling white ceramic garden bunny.  I really love the crackle and aged finish on my bunny.

It appeared to be the correct size for my lamp base so I bought it and it was. I then adhered to the base with a household glue....a perfect fit. I found a burlap drum shade at Walmart. It is part of their Better Homes And Gardens line and I couldn't pass it up at $9.97.

 

I could have kept it simple but decided to add just a touch of black grosgrain ribbon to the top and bottom.  Grosgrain ribbon and glue, the perfect combination!

My 'Runway Bunny Ensemble' lamp is part of my Guest Room Makeover Project that I look forward to sharing with you in the near future.

Project #4 Complete!

What have you repurposed lately? 

Let me know what you think.....I love reading your comments!

Joining the Party.....

 

Repurpose Thursday - Flower Votives

My very first blog posting featured a French Blue Chest that I had refinished and at the end of the post, I asked you to take a closer look at my handmade votive.  An inexpensive yet dramatic effect accomplished by hot gluing tulip petals to the bottom of a votive.



Well, it dawned on me that flower votives could be a unique decorative element for our Thanksgiving table.  Thankfully, I had three fall flowers left over from my fall wreath as well as votives from a wedding that I had designed and of course, my glue gun. 

My tutorial is basic and easy to follow so here it goes...

Separate flower petals and cut into pieces.

Glue 1st row of petals at desired height and then 2nd row while overlapping petals.

Continue gluing petals until you have covered the entire votive.

Turn votive over, glue leaves to base and then adhere a felt circle to complete the project.

And voila....

Let me know what you think.....





Repurpose Thursday - Crewel Pillow

Like many DIYer's, I love perusing flea markets, antique stores, Goodwill and the list goes on.  Shari of Swinging On A Star Creations and I have been doing this together for years.  We actually call it "Junk-tiquing".  Recently Shari and I visited one of our favorites, Trader Jacks in Pittsburgh. 

We tend to look for different things.  Shari is an artist extraordinaire and I am tend to look for pieces of furniture that I can restyle.  We often spot items for one another and generally share lots of laughs.

Well, on this visit, I spotted this great piece of vintage crewel artwork.  It was in perfect shape and a steal at $8!!!  Here it sits at my doorway after our wonderful day of junk-tiquing. 

Although it was a bit yellowed around the edges, the crewel work was in perfect shape and I just knew it would become a pillow in my family room.  Once I removed it from the frame, all I needed to do was press it and find a perfect pillow size insert. 

And here it sits in my husband's favorite chair!

Let me know what you think....and please become a follower to see what is Repurposed on Thursday!



Repurpose Thursday - Silver Vintage Champagne Bucket

If you're anything like me, sometimes it's just too difficult to part with some things.  In this case, it was a very special silver champagne bucket that was given to us by one of our bridesmaids.  It has sat in our sideboard for years, not receiving the spotlight it deserves.

I was inspired by a photo I saw in a magazine recently that used a similar silver piece for a flower pot.  So, I decided to resurrect our silver bucket.  Upon removing it from the sideboard, I discovered that I had quite a cleaning task ahead of me.   Here is what it looked like....I'm actually embarrased by its state of tarnish.

So, I contacted my dear friend, Joan (the best antique dealer around!) and she recommended a product called Simichrome Polish. She guaranteed me that it was the best and easiest silver polish around.  Apply as directed and you'll be amazed by the results!!



I am thrilled with my repurposed, glistening wine bucket that now holds recycled silk orchids and moss.  It sits proudly on my server in my dining room and I'm loving it!

Let me know what you think....

Repurpose Thursday - Flower Lamp Shade

Today, I am starting a new weekly feature entitled "Repurpose Thursday". Every Thursday I will feature items from clothing to furniture that I have 'repurposed' as well as creative repurposing from around the web.  I hope you are inspired by this feature to repurpose, reinvent, reuse and recycle.   So, here it goes...

It's often hard to part with certain items in your wardrobe for a variety of reasons.  Well, in this case, I had purchased a blouse for an event I was attending that has since hung in my closet for years.  I loved its pleated chiffon accents.

I then developed an interest in handmade rosettes and it dawned on me that I could use these rosettes pratically anywhere and this blouse was the perfect item to start creating flowers with.  YES, I tore up the blouse to make flowers!!!  I knew that I could use them on a number of projects and the first was on a lamp shade for my daughter's university apartment.

I sewed a number of different sizes with the different pleated ruffles from the blouse and then glued them on to the lampshade and voila!!! 

Lampshade closeups from two different angles....

Voila!  Sitting on my piano before it heads to my daughter's apartment....

I tried to incorporate some of Centsational Girl's photography tips, I still have a long way to go!

Let me know what you think....