Oh My God We're Back Again (with a Terrarium Lamp)

This post is me picking up from where I left off in my last post. I'm surprised I'm actually doing this. If you don't recognize the title, that's the first verse in "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by the Backstreet Boys. 

In my last post I was bragging about how great my vintage thrift store lamp makeovers are. I mean, I think they're cool because I designed them myself. You might not agree. 

I came up with idea to make a terrarium lamp a while back. Not sure where I came up with it; I think that I wanted plants in a jar and I just happened to have a glass lamp. I Googled my plan and found only one example of a fake terrarium lamp in a blog post. Great, my idea was slightly original! Wait, what's a terrarium you ask?

These are. There's something very "70s-nature-boho" about these plants growing in jars. The 1970s was a time when crafting and indoor plants were popular and terrariums were both of those things.

Here is my ultra obvious "how to" on my terrarium lamp! See this:

The humble glass jar lamp. Often seen filled with shells, sometimes hexagon shaped. Notice this is an actual old ginger jar lamp, not a Mason jar! Look in your thrift store lamp aisle.

I like to start with one of those. If empty, cool; if not, de-shell. See that round metal base? It unscrews from the bottom for a jar entrance! I gather up some artificial plants and other things. 

These "other things" might be found in a thrift, but you might have to hit up a crafts store.

There's my work station and supplies. Let's break it down and use pictures:

 

Artificial air plants

 Artificial succulents

Moss chunks

Moss!

Driftwood

Aquarium pebbles

I pick out some of those things. Then I put the things in the lamp. You following? Need further directions? 

But seriously...this is not a difficult project. Add a lampshade for an additional challenge. Here are some of my results!

 

T

This one is my favorite because of that cool shape.

I also really like that one with the mid century mod lampshade.

 

I tend to stage them next to owls.

Are they not kind of cute?! 

I have also filled a few glass jar lamps with other things!

Buttons and other sewing supplies!

Tiny vintage toys! I thought that one was so much fun but it collected dust for about two years before it sold! The buyer's review stated that she loved it and also called it "fun," so I'm glad someone appreciated it.

I made this Christmas themed lamp...about three seasons ago. Still for sale! 

Here's the before and after!

 

Thrift store lamp upcycle!

DIY Lamp with Extra Shade

 I know that I post roughly once a decade but if I was a regular blogger I would blog about things that I like. One of those things is lamps. I'm a vintage seller and I'm hitting up them thrift stores on the reg always hunting for things like lamps.

Look at that one! During one of my last thrift trips before it all closed down in March I found this thing of beauty. It was just sitting on a shelf in Goodwill, $8 in mint condish!(How do you feel about abbreviations like that? Too annoying maybe?)

That one I found and sold "as is" with no need to fix or change anything. What about lamps that need help? Or could be made better?

Like this one did. Looks great doesn't it? That's because my dumb ass didn't get a before picture because of course I didn't. When I bought it it was mostly gold with a black plastic piece in the center. I spray painted it in that blue color. 

...But I couldn't just leave it alone. I had a perfectly lovely lighting piece but maybe I could make it even cooler? I took inspiration from another thing I really like:

Speckled paint and/or drip glaze! Those are a few I've found and sold along the way. Many were hand painted in the mid century era by amateurs. Because people chose which colors and techniques they personally liked it's as if a lot of them are one of a kind! 

I decided to try the speckling technique of flicking a paint covered toothbrush at my lamp.

I started with a yellow tone. It looked kind of nice!

But why stop there?! You've got the speckle, why not the drip?

Maybe a bit much? Have I made a huge mistake?

😔 I may have overdone it but what was done was done. I didn't feel like starting over. I added a lampshade, glued pom poms around it then staged it up. Somebody purchased it and their review claims they really like it!

I wanted to do more one of a kind lamp art. I did some Google image searching and Pinterest scrolling. I was much disappointed. Search terms like "thrift store lamp makeover" and "DIY lamp" did not bring me much in terms of creative inspiration. I found lots of things that seemed to be in opposition to being one of a kind. I feel a rant coming on... 

Hey DIYers! Why is everything a fracking "farmhouse?" Are homes on farms full of whitewashed furniture and jars!? 

Chalk paint everything! 

Pop of color? How about NO color!

Make everything white!

It just seems like so many makeovers took the bold choice of making their lamps fade right into the background. Even most of the shades where white. A lot of pins and pictures said stuff like "Make your own Pottery Barn lamp" or "Just like the mass produced junk at Walmart!" It grinds my gears because a lot of old things in thrift stores are unique because they're not made any more; you can't just walk into a store and buy them. Why make them look like something you could just walk into a store and buy. These two gave me a little frown:

 That one's not actually a lamp, but I thought it was. Look what they did to my boy! His '70s glory; gone!

I should take the time to say "no offense" to folks who stumbled into this salty ramble. I can imagine comments saying, "Why don't you let people like what they like?!" as if I'm wrestling a bottle of flat matte ivory colored paint from someone's hands. Obviously, I'm happy that these crafters made something that they like. I'm just so sad that someone took that kitschy '70s owl and turned him into a ghost. 

However...I didn't hate everything!

 

I like that one! Here's credit to the blogger:  Drip lamp made from '80s duck lamp 

 

I also liked these:

A blogger team (lucky) bought these lamps and both women took one home. The each made their own lamp design and they both came out pretty cute! Source: Lamp makeover X2

 

Now that I've sufficiently thrown shade at some perfectly nice (probably) fellow bloggers, what do I have to show for myself? 

 

These:

Those are two examples of lamps I "made" by attaching things to things. On that note, I'll finish up here. I'll do a post about that glass jar lamp another time.

Too Much Time On My Hands

It's a song by Styx, seen here recreated by Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd.

Even with no other responsibilities, I'm having a hard time starting this post. I think the feeling of having infinite time to do things makes me feel I am in no rush to do those things.
We're all trying to adjust to this dystopian new world in which we've been thrust into due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. Some of us have lost a lot. I have only lost a little and for that I'm grateful, but I'm sad as hell because those little things are important.
You get on social media or Reddit and everyone's posting things they have accomplished with all their free time.
Everyone: "Now's the time to work on that project you've always wanted to start!"
Me:

Lol, the mocking Spongebob meme is one of my favorites. For whatever reason I don't have that motivation do any projects. I love projects!
Here's a project: remote teaching/learning. When this started, I assumed I'd be jobless. I help children with special needs do their work. Half of that job is convincing my main student to do said work. I can picture how that would work remotely...
Me: Hey, let's get a little bit of math done! Then we can-"
Little girl: (presses a few keys.)
Me: Don't you close out of this Zoom meeting!"
Little Girl: Little Girl has left the chat.
Instead, we are fortunate enough to be able to stay employed by doing read alouds online, class meetings, professional development, etc. "I can do that!" I said cheerily with a smile and a positive attitude. I've always wanted to do tutorials on Youtube.
The first project I did was a decoupage. You know, Mod Podge. That's always a fun and easy thing.
So here it is, decoupage tissue paper collage!

There's part one because I don't know how to edit videos. (It's on the list.) Here's part two:

That's pretty cute, right? If you didn't watch the video, here's a spoiler.

A minimalist mountain sunset! I also have another one.

I am actually somewhat proud of these things! I used stuff that I already had to show kids to be creative with junk around the house. And! I'm doing the "craft" part of Craft, Thrift, or Die!
I have a lot to talk about. Let's see if I write more or! Let's see if I can hold onto that positive "can do attitude!" Maybe I'll even do part two of that post about crewel embroidery!

Quick! Just blog something! Here's a necklace

So, it's fall now. I haven't blogged. When school starts, I seem to go through a little transition period. I'm like, "Woah, I have to get up and go to work everyday and get used to a new assignment! My mind is blown!" So, I haven't blogged in almost two months. I figured I better get something posted to break the blog fast. It's a necklace put together from scraps of three other necklaces.
I started with this:

A silver tone octopus pendant. Not exactly a rare find, but I found it at Savers for $1.99 and had a plan. You see, I love necklaces. I rarely wear my bracelets or rings any more and I almost never wear earrings. But necklaces I have in abundance. I like to find the right piece of neck jewelry to flatter my outfits.
When I wear something like a solid color t shirt or anything that lacks detail in the bodice section, I like long necklace. Not a long chain or strand of beads; I've found that I'm so damn particular that I can describe exactly the necklace I want to pair with a t shirt. It's got a cluster of stuff...
It has a long and multi-piece pendant and not a long chain. So, the good part of the necklace takes up space, not the chain. Examples from the internet:

I needed a chain about 24".

All photographs were taken using a Canon digital SLR potato. I added those tassels to that chain about two years ago (here's that post.) So there's that part.
Now scroll back up and look at the octopus. See how there is an extra hole there on its bottom arm? I don't know what that hole is called. I just needed something to hang from it.

Here is an understated little cubic zirconia necklace that I haven't worn in a while. This was easy to transfer because the bale was easily opened and closed. So, there's something.

Nice, but nope; it still needs more. How about one of them black tassels? Sure.

Aaaand that works for me. Didn't feel like fancying up for any decent pictures. Here's the necklace on a shirt!

I'll write about the school year next time, I have other news. That necklace ain't the only thing that's been chopped up. Look at this pic from a little while back:

Look at the neck area. See anything? Here, I'll embiggen and circle it...

I can barely see it either. That's because I tend to make them disappear in my pics. Here's the dark secret I've been hiding!

Nice to mole you.

Remember 2002? Here...

I've been very bothered by 3-dimensional birthmarks for quite some time. They don't look awful in the picture, but I assure you I noticed and the damn kids definitely noticed and some were curious enough to ask "What is that on your neck?"
Finally...nothing. Nothing's on my neck. Despite them being benign, I recently had them removed via surgery. Which I may not have elected to do had it not been for that other thing.
There was a huge, hideous bump in the back of my scalp near the hairline. I've had it since birth, but only in my adulthood did it grow to ginormous size. I did not get a picture of that. Nor did I get a picture of the fourth thing. The third now-removed mole, once located on my right axillary. That's the armpit.
On that note, I'll wrap this up. I have many, many refashions to show you so you better come back!