Antiquing With Aging Dust - An Upcycled Table Mirror

What's a girl to do when she needs a mirror to put her makeup on, but her vanity sits low and the stores don't have one tall enough?

 This is the kind of stuff that makes us junkers!

In a previous post I took a discarded lamp and upcycled it into this pretty display jar.

Lucky for me there were a couple of gorgeous parts 
from that lamp still available. 

 

Together with a few extra pieces from other lamps and 
a smaller table mirror, I was able to make this:

The detail is so beautiful!

I upped the contrast on this to show where the antiquing is.  

It is not really this dark as you can see in the other pictures.

I didn't want to use dark wax to antique this piece, because it changes the off white color to more of a bone.  Instead, to bring out the detail I painted CeCe Caldwell's Aging Dust into the shadow areas with a small paint brush.  It's a bit time consuming, but the look is soft and subtle.

I think I like this mirror better than 
what I found in the stores anyway!

Apothecary Jars - A Wintery Collection

Last year on my blog, The Lavender Tub, I shared a collection of apothecary jars and glass displays that are fun to change out for the different seasons.  You can see more about them, here, with some autumn ideas.  Today I'm sharing a wintery mix.

This raw cotton was grown and picked by our Aunt Dorothy.

The beads that grow when added to water look 

like small balls of ice.

 A frosted leaf in a frame and a little bird add some silver shimmer.

This fire and ice crystal candle holder 

looks like it's from Elsa's castle.

These lovely candlesticks used to be lamps.

It was a bit warm for us in Oklahoma today - 80 degrees.  It seems our winter is already passing, and these icy looks are past their time.  Around here we all know better, though.  The sun is just toying with us, and by Sunday it's supposed to be a low of 27.   

Large Display Jar For My Office From Outdated Lamp

If you haven't guessed, I really like making things from old lamps.  Truth be told, cast off lamps really are my favorite source for materials.  Lamps are the accessories that dress up a room, but that is also what dates them so quickly.  Happily for me, there seems to be an endless supply of lamps to thrift just because they are out of fashion.

This lamp is a perfect example.  I think my friend said she found it on the curb and picked it up.  When she asked if I'd like it.....well, what do you think I would say?  My head started spinning with possibilities.  And here is how it looks now.  For Christmas I filled it with an assortment of different shaped ornaments.

I scraped and removed most of the painted floral motifs from the glass.  My plan was to remove them completely, but I really like this slight design better.

For a lid I topped it with a piece from a chandelier and a vintage glass doorknob.

A large jar adds such a nice touch to my office.

This is how it is currently displayed.  By the way, those are just cookie cutters from the Dollar Tree and some creamy tulle.  The cookie cutters are turning out to be my favorite Valentine decoration this year.

Aren't they interesting like this, too?  

I know this lamp idea is a little on the crazy side, but isn't this better than having all these fabulous parts just go to the dump?

I'm linking up at Tatertots & Jello

Vintage Floor Lamp to Towel Holder

If you've followed me on my other blog, The Lavender Tub, well....you know I have a bathroom with a big lavender tub....hence the name.

It is such a great tub, and the fact that it is freestanding right in the middle of the floor is wonderful. At least it is wonderful until you need a towel and then it is a bit of a stretch to reach one.

When I found this vintage floor lamp at my neighbor/friend's garage sale for $1, I knew just what I wanted to use it for.  She knows of my crazy-out-there ideas.  I think she's been waiting to see what came of her lamp.

It is actually just perfect for what I need, and I love that I can move it next to the tub or off to the side.

Since a piece of the lamp was broken off, I found a pair of matching frames at the thrift store for 50 cents each and created this vintage sign to cover the broken spot.  (The frames are glued back-to-back.)  I also added this crystal from a Hobby Lobby Christmas ornament.

Although I cleaned it thoroughly, I love all of its age and imperfections.  No new paint desired.  I also love how heavy and sturdy it is, which is why remaking old items is the best.  You can't beat those solid, old materials.

I sure hope my friend approves!

A More Interesting Dining Table

If you're a person who uses your dining table for eating everyday, this may not be for you.  We used to be, but now my kids have flown the nest for most meals and this large table sits waiting for my little birds to all come home.

  While I do love to have something pretty on the table, I try to avoid the bowl-in-the-middle-with-a-candle-on-each-side look.  There is nothing wrong with that, I just want to add some unusual things so it doesn't feel quite so formal.

 Something like this adds such nice texture.  It just has to be included.

So, here is the look I'm going to try for a while and just change out pieces for the different seasons:  A large anchoring piece, something to hold even taller naturals/flowers, a tray with a plate of candles, and a compote filled with unexpected thingys.  Of course it's fun to try fresh things for each season, but it's also nice not to have to come up with totally new ideas for every area you wish to decorate.  If you want to - go for it!  This is just an alternative idea that kind of lets you do both.

Now comes the fun part for me.  For this chilly display, I anchored with a lamp I upcycled by removing the lamp hardware and topping with a finial.  I added a white compote filled with any kind of sparkling things I could find in my house, a thrifted tray filled with $ tree candles on a silver plastic charger, and finished off with some cherry blossom branches in a hurricane vase.  So simple.

 

You don't have to spend much, or anything at all, if you shop your home.  Just choose 2-3 colors, look for different textures, and containers that would provide the different heights to create interest.

A sparkly piece of fabric would look nice too, but I think the bold pattern of this old tablecloth is enough.  They are not snowflakes, but they kind of take on that feel.

Won't it be fun to change this out for Valentines Day?