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!

Weekend Workshop

It is on!  This weekend we are pulling out all of the bits and pieces we have been collecting on our thrifting adventures and putting them together to make one of a kind lighting masterpieces!  (hehe...well, that's the plan at least.)  Big Daddy has the know-how and I have the eye, so we're a pretty big mess great team.  Most of our cooperative creative ventures go a little like this...

Me:  Oooh, I have an idea!  Let's put these two pieces together.

Big Daddy:  I can make that work.  I'll just use this L bracket to connect them.

Me:  No way, that will look weird.

Big Daddy:  What did you want to use?

Me:  I don't know, something pretty, and industrial looking.

Big Daddy:  Maybe this piece?  Or that one?  You have lots of options, just let me know.  You know the L bracket would get the job done nicely.

Me:  Ugh, absolutely no L brackets!  I think I'm going to have to see it finished to decide.  It just depends on the overall feel of the finished piece.

And this is about the time when Big Daddy has to refill his drink.  (Isn't that funny?  Creating art makes him thirsty...hehe)  The truth is I'm a pretty lucky girl.  He puts up with me and all of my craziness and after his cup is full he always comes back to the table.  He's even been known to put pieces together just to let me see what they will look like and gladly disassembles and rebuilds when I change my mind.  Oh my gosh!  I'm so excited to see what we can come up with this weekend.  I'll keep you posted, for sure!

What's in a Name

My oldest daughter just turned 13.  (Still hard for me to believe I have a teenager!)  For this monumental birthday I wanted to give her something to show her just how proud her father and I are of the young woman she has become.  Something that she would always remember as a sign of our respect for her individuality and strength and a reminder that we will always support her, no matter what.  So, I changed her name.

Let me start at the beginning.

She was named "Julia" after my great grandmother, who was at once one of the strongest and gentlest women I have known.  She was born in the year 1900 and had the most amazing stories to tell.  (And don't even get me started on her baking skills....good golly!)  She lived through some incredible hardships and came out on the other side with her dignity and a sense of humor that could not be beat.  She was fierce and kind and everything I hoped for my daughter.   Yes, "Julia" would be perfect!

When my daughter was 4 years old I began to teach her to write her name.  She was an early reader and I very distinctly remember the conversation we had.  I showed her the letters, one by one  J-U-L-I-A.  She told me I was wrong.  (Not the first time, or the last.)  She said the word I spelled said     /jew-lie-ae/ and that was not her name.  She wrote J-U-L-E-E-A.  I tried explaining to her that I was pretty sure I was right (you know, being part of the team that chose the name and all) but she was insistent.  So, I let it go.  I told myself that she was still young and could spell it any way she wanted to, sure that one day she would get older and see the error in her ways.  (Ah,  I was so young and naive .)  

Today, she is 13 and she still spells her name "Juleea".  It's perfect for her, actually.  She is unique and original and has always known that this spelling is the right one for her.  It took me a few years to figure out what she already knew.  (Sometimes us moms are slow like that.)  But today I am proud to report that this error has been fixed.  She is now legally, officially, and in every way, my Juleea.  Happy Birthday, love!

Mr. T

It's summer time here in Texas and you know what that means, it is hot!   Fortunately I have a new friend helping me beat the heat in the kitchen this year.  Meet my new bestie, Mr. T.

Isn't he a cutie?  Not only is he good looking but he's a real whiz in the kitchen.  He (along with my handy dandy slow cooker) has given me the ability to serve my family hot, fresh, and healthy meals without heating up the entire house.

Don't be taken aback by his compact size.  (Come on ladies, you know size isn't everything.)  This little guy heats up in a flash and can toast, bake and broil.  I do love me a fresh cold salad but the summers here are so long that boredom sets in and I long for some old school baked goodies.  Thanks to Mr. T, now I can have my cake and eat it too!

P.S.  My kids have been teasing me about calling my toaster oven by his official name, "Mr. T".  I've told them that he's more than an appliance and referring to him by anything other than his actual name would be rude.  (You don't hear Gordon Ramsey calling his assistants with a "Hey, sous chef", do you?  I didn't think so!)  Anything you can do to help me out here would be appreciated.  And if you have names for your "assistants" I'd love to hear them.  Bring it on, folks!