Repurposed Vintage Glass Insulators

I just love these old telegraph and electric glass insulators. They were first produced in the mid-1800’s for use with telegraph and electric lines. You can find them at almost every antique market and there are tons of ideas floating around out there on how to repurpose. One, which I love and will try, is to repurpose into a hanging pendant light. However, if you don’t have a 1/4 inch diamond drill bit and drill lubricant tucked away in your work shop then try my quick and easy project.

Buy some battery-powered tea lights, place an insulator over the light and you’ve created a beautiful glowing table setting.

Easy, right! Stick with me crafters…another idea is to wrap twine around the insulator to create hanging luminaries.  Place the battery-powered light within the hanging insulator and you’ve set the mood for a fantastic back-yard gathering. Wouldn’t these be great for an outdoor wedding! PS — for obvious reasons, I strongly suggest you use battery-powered tea lights for the outdoor luminaries.

Or…add a little water, some flowers and…

Enjoy your weekend and happy crafting!

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A Few Of My Favorite Things – March

Hello gang. As promised, I’m going to continue to dedicate one post per month to, you guessed, A Few Of My Favorite Things.

I love collecting, surprise, surprise.  And I usually have an idea for those little goodies I pick up here and there (like on trash night). For instance, the portrait above was found in the trash. Okay I hear ya, “Ya should have left it there!” You see, I collect portraits. To me there’s something oddly cool about these amateur paintings. Some day when I graduate from my kitchen to a proper art and craft studio, I want to line the walls with these characters. Creepy maybe? Nah….

If you follow my blog, you know I collect anything related to maps like this really cool map tin. I suppose it was intended for desk use to hold pencils and pens. Right now it’s filled with beautiful fragrant lavender that my friend Florence grows on her lavender farm.  Florence and her husband Anthony also own a fantastic local gallery called FloreAnt Projects Studio and Gallery.

I case you’re wondering, the marbles on this tray were my grandfather’s, father’s and ultimately mine. No one can say I lost my ancestral marbles.

The glass tray they are sitting on I made using a copied image from a 1884 autograph album that belonged to Mary J. Carter from Camden, New Jersey. The album found its way from Camden to a tiny little antique store in Lititz, Pennsylvania and it has the strangest personal messages like:

“When your husband at you flings,
Tea pots, plates, and other things;
Seek relief and seek it soon;
In the handle of the broom.”

Oh Mary……

Here’s how you can make a decoupage tray just like this one.  The trays I use are from Behrenberg Glass, behrenbergglass.com. They have the best selection of glass trays and they even have recycled glass trays like the one in this project.

1. Make copies of your favorite image.  Depending on the size of your tray, you’ll either need to enlarge or reduce the image on a laser copier.
2. Clean your tray with glass cleaner.
3. Soak the copy in water.
4. While that image is soaking, completely coat the back of the tray with glue – I use Elmer’s School Glue. Then place the image face down on the glue and using a brayer, roll out the excess glue and bubbles.
5. Let dry completely and then trim the excess paper hanging over the edge of your tray using an X-Acto knife or razor blade.
6. Tape off the edges of the tray and spray the back with a primer. When the primer is dry you can paint the back of the tray any color you like.

These trays are great for hanging on your wall or using as a catchall trays to hold YOUR marbles.

Happy crafting…and collecting!

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Since I like to collect stuff, each month I’m going to do a blog titled, you guessed it, ‘A Few Of My Favorite Things.’ And, within these posts, I’ll share a little project or two (or three) you can do to repurpose your ‘Favorite Things’.

Starting with my globe — yes I LOVE globes and anything map related. My friend Kate is convinced I need to seek help with this particular obsession. This one caught my eye because of its unique zodiac base. I have a collection and some are in good shape and some…not so much.  To see a project for those not in good shape, check out my video, A World Of Thanks.

Now let’s move on to the green metal flower frog. What can I say, it’s just perfect. It’s green, my favorite color, and I could use if for its original intent or it can hold photos. As you can see, mine is holding a picture of my mom and dad on their wedding day, June 29th, 1940. Even though she has her eyes closed, it’s one of my favorite photos.

And last but not least, a green vintage metal toy car and an arts and crafts era ceramic planter. My friend Shaina gave me this lovely Norfolk Pine which I repotted into one of my favorite old ceramic pots. I added some moss, small rocks and my little green car.  Doesn’t it look like like it’s driving through a redwood forest? Alright, maybe not but I think it looks cool.

Happy Sunday and happy crafting!