Let There Be Light

Whew!  It took a little longer than we expected but this weekend's lamp building extravaganza is complete.  It was so much fun going through all of the lovelies we have been hording carefully saving and finding new lives for them all.  Here are the results:

Big Daddy and I came across this Brownie Jr. Six-16 many months ago and were so excited!  We rushed home and began our research.  We learned that this camera was introduced in 1936 and was worth approximately.....you ready?....next to nothing.  What?!  How could this Art Deco beauty be worth so little?  (Something about the manufacturer discontinuing film production in 1942....humph.)  We decided it would go into the project pile until we had the perfect plan. I love that this piece of history has a new (and purposeful) life.

Tripod Lamps.  We've been lucky enough to find a number of fabulous vintage tripods over the years and love turning them into lamps.    The little one even has pretty brass legs when fully extended....Rawr!

Old film reels are so fabulous!  They are industrial and architectural and always remind me of old Hollywood.  I love the simplicity of this one.

This old Edison record is now a pendant light.  Big Daddy paired it with a long red houndstooth cloth cord and it's a real beauty.









This simple wood base and cloche bell jar are the perfect setting for a Marconi bulb.  I love that it feels like a museum exhibit with Steampunk flair.







We picked up this piece of driftwood at an insanely overstuffed vintage shop downtown a while back.  (Remind me to tell you about it...That place is a complete trip!)  The wood is architectural and sculptural and we let it speak for itself.



We'll be listing these goodies in the Etsy shop as the week progresses, but for now I'm happy to have given these beautiful pieces new lives.  The hard part is going to be resisting the urge to keep them for myself!

Pay It Forward

Well, it's official.  We have too much stuff.  Yes, it's awesome vintage stuff but it's stuff none the less and my bedroom has been a danger zone for too long.  Big Daddy and I have stubbed our toes on typewriters and bowling balls and have pledged to get everything off of the floor and onto a shelf....immediately.

The good news is that our plan includes sharing some goodies in the new Pay It Forward section of the shop.  That means that these items are for sale for 20 cents (the Etsy listing fee and minimum sale price allowed) plus shipping.  Our toes are optimistic that they will be safe from harm in the next week or so.  And sharing more of our goodies always makes me happy.  Enjoy!

Commas Save Lives

What?!  You don't believe me?  Well, just look at the two sentences below and see if you disagree.

Let's eat, Grandpa!           vs.           Let's eat Grandpa!

See what I mean?  This is important stuff my friends!  A few years ago my girls and I read the book Eats, Shoots, and Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference and really enjoyed it.   It's definitely worth checking out from your local library if you haven't read it.  Lots of good stuff in there!

Knowing how important punctuation is, can you imagine how excited we were when Big Daddy and I came across this little cutie on one of our typography quests?  Isn't she pretty!?  I've been admiring all of the marquee letters on Etsy and thought this lovely would be the perfect place to start.  Big Daddy did his electrical thing and I added a little trim to the inside and I must say that I absolutely adore her!

Say, you know what the real problem with this thrifting/upcycling lifestyle is?  You want to keep every last fabulous thing.  I do keep a few from time to time but this one I'm going to share.  (I've already called dibs on the first pi and ampersand we come across, don't you worry.)  I think I'll hang her in my bedroom for now, you know, just to keep her safe and all.  In the mean time you folks watch that punctuation.  Commas really can save lives!

Bad News, Good News

Big Daddy and I have come to the conclusion that we have too much awesome stuff.  As cool as it all is we are seriously running out of space for it, so it's time to downsize a bit.  But how?  We decided the first thing to do is slash prices in the Etsy shop.  So, until we are able to sell a good portion of these lovelies (and easily walk thru the bedroom without fear of knocking something over) they will be at rock bottom prices.  Just think of it as our early Christmas present to you.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Blue Gal

Reaching Out

Recently I received a note from another Etsy seller inquiring about some of my past sales and photography tips.  She was so sweet and curious and I could not have been more flattered.  I know she wanted information but what she could not have realized is that by taking the time to reach out she gave me a gift as well.  You see, I've been selling on Etsy since November of 2010 and still feel like a newbie.  I'm always reading, learning, and tweaking things in an attempt to increase shop visibility and sales.  It's really a lot of work and if I didn't enjoy thrifting and sharing the items I find so much it would not be worth it.  But I do love it so I keep plugging away and trying to improve, little by little.

Many times I visited other people's shops to admire their wares and techniques, but not once did I consider asking them for help.  I'm not sure why that is really.  I suppose I didn't want to bother anyone and assumed that is what my inquiry would be.  Now that I have been on the receiving end of one of these notes I realize I had it all wrong.  Taking the time to reach out to another seller is a gift in and of itself.  It says that you value the work they have put into their shop and what better compliment could one receive?  I also found myself grateful to be able to pass along a tidbit of information in an attempt to help a friend out.  We all work so hard individually to learn these things and it really is comforting to be able to pass that information along.  So thank you, Cheryl, for making my day!  (And, just as importantly, helping me realize how much my life could be improved by a Skull & Crossbones washcloth.  Isn't it perfect?!)