Lamp Lunacy and Porcelain Prettiness

Lamps: they are my mostest favorite thing to thrift. Favorite in kind of an obsessive, too-excited way, in fact.

An interesting vintage lamp gives me a thrill that other folks get over, oh, a new love, winning the lottery, or chocolate cake. (Though I wouldn't turn down any of those things, either.)

As a result, I have a lot of them in each room. And this is okay, given my house is an otherwise pretty dark little Victorian.

Lamps offer that warm glow that also warms my heart.

So when I saw this baby at the L&L Fleatique over the weekend, I could not leave it there.

It's not actually stained glass, but some sort of frosted plastic material made to look like glass. I imagine, based on the materials, that it was probably made in the 60s or 70s, when they started really incorporating plastics into lamps.

I thought the whole thing was sort of gaudily beautiful, which is often my quirky criteria for a good lamp. And the colors are just so inspiring to me when lit. It's now residing in my livingroom.

At the Salvation Army thrift store earlier in the week, I nabbed this glass, pink vintage ceiling light shade...

I plan to use it on my third floor office, where currently there is a white, plastic, very sterile Atomic Age shade which just doesn't work with the rest of the house. It should be a fairly simple swap, and at just $4.99 the price was right.

At only $5, was this frosted glass, depression era boudoir lamp of a lady in a belle skirt...

I'm not sure why it was marked to just $5, when it had been listed at $35, but everything in that area of the Fleatique was, so I couldn't pass the deal up. Again, because of lampaholism.

At the Good Samaritan thrift store, I got these two painted plates from Germany (I plan to hang them on the wall)...

And these Moonstone pattern cups. At $0.69 a piece, it was a very good deal.

Oh, and last, I got this nice little dresser jar from Germany the same day I got the pink lampshade. I think it would be handy for storing cotton balls, Q-tips or something like that.

So that's the thrifty goodness for this week. Quite a lot, really, at one time-- funny how that happens!!

Let's hope none of you are too "shook up" from yesterday's earthquake. I was standing at work, talking to someone and didn't feel it at all, while all my colleagues seated at their desks were really feeling it rock-n-roll.

Lamp Lunacy and Porcelain Prettiness

Lamps: they are my mostest favorite thing to thrift. Favorite in kind of an obsessive, too-excited way, in fact.

An interesting vintage lamp gives me a thrill that other folks get over, oh, a new love, winning the lottery, or chocolate cake. (Though I wouldn't turn down any of those things, either.)

As a result, I have a lot of them in each room. And this is okay, given my house is an otherwise pretty dark little Victorian.

Lamps offer that warm glow that also warms my heart.

So when I saw this baby at the L&L Fleatique over the weekend, I could not leave it there.

It's not actually stained glass, but some sort of frosted plastic material made to look like glass. I imagine, based on the materials, that it was probably made in the 60s or 70s, when they started really incorporating plastics into lamps.

I thought the whole thing was sort of gaudily beautiful, which is often my quirky criteria for a good lamp. And the colors are just so inspiring to me when lit. It's now residing in my livingroom.

At the Salvation Army thrift store earlier in the week, I nabbed this glass, pink vintage ceiling light shade...

I plan to use it on my third floor office, where currently there is a white, plastic, very sterile Atomic Age shade which just doesn't work with the rest of the house. It should be a fairly simple swap, and at just $4.99 the price was right.

At only $5, was this frosted glass, depression era boudoir lamp of a lady in a belle skirt...

I'm not sure why it was marked to just $5, when it had been listed at $35, but everything in that area of the Fleatique was, so I couldn't pass the deal up. Again, because of lampaholism.

At the Good Samaritan thrift store, I got these two painted plates from Germany (I plan to hang them on the wall)...

And these Moonstone pattern cups. At $0.69 a piece, it was a very good deal.

Oh, and last, I got this nice little dresser jar from Germany the same day I got the pink lampshade. I think it would be handy for storing cotton balls, Q-tips or something like that.

So that's the thrifty goodness for this week. Quite a lot, really, at one time-- funny how that happens!!

Let's hope none of you are too "shook up" from yesterday's earthquake. I was standing at work, talking to someone and didn't feel it at all, while all my colleagues seated at their desks were really feeling it rock-n-roll.

Treasure Box Thursday: Luster, Lamps and Other Lovelies

This past week or so has been a happy time... for my curio cabinet. See, it has received the bulk of my thrifted treasures lately, in some scores that have brought both shine and good cheer.

One of my favorite items from last Saturday was this remarkable little teacup from the Monroeville Goodwill Thrift Store...
It's a hand-painted porcelain piece which isn't old, but certainly harkens back to Art Nouveau pieces. It was new with a tag, and the designer is Kathy Ireland. I knew Kathy did home furnishings-- English-inspired rugs and sofas-- but I didn't know she'd included porcelain in her line.

Here's a closeup on the saucer. I'm really happy with the quality and detail...
Another fave find was this hand-painted vintage lamp from the Salvation Army thrift store...
I know regular readers will be wondering why on earth I, of all people, need another lamp. The answer to that is, 1.) Lamp addition does not yet have a 12-step program. And 2.) I'm actually downsizing some lamps, and have given a few away to my friend Scoobie's home, so I will no longer be tripping over the, um, lights fantastic.

Here you can see a closer view on those lovely handpainted roses.
Yum!

What I also found to be "yum," was this little lusterware creamer with cherubs on it which I got for $0.99 at the Salvation Army Superstore...
This shiny type of porcelain always makes me happy because it reflects light in what would otherwise be a rather dark house.

And lastly, I netted myself two sparkly souvenir sandcastles, treating my Inner Child to some playful magic...
I wasn't allowed to buy these as souvenirs growing up-- my mother thought it was a waste of money-- so as an adult, I'm really defiantly enjoying picking them up for pennies now. I think they work pretty well with the lusterware and Victoriana...
The Victorians, after all, were all for decorating with interesting souvenir items.

So, that about washes away the contents of this Treasure Box. I hope you all are enjoying a week of the things that lift your spirits.

Treasure Box Thursday: Luster, Lamps and Other Lovelies

This past week or so has been a happy time... for my curio cabinet. See, it has received the bulk of my thrifted treasures lately, in some scores that have brought both shine and good cheer.

One of my favorite items from last Saturday was this remarkable little teacup from the Monroeville Goodwill Thrift Store...
It's a hand-painted porcelain piece which isn't old, but certainly harkens back to Art Nouveau pieces. It was new with a tag, and the designer is Kathy Ireland. I knew Kathy did home furnishings-- English-inspired rugs and sofas-- but I didn't know she'd included porcelain in her line.

Here's a closeup on the saucer. I'm really happy with the quality and detail...
Another fave find was this hand-painted vintage lamp from the Salvation Army thrift store...
I know regular readers will be wondering why on earth I, of all people, need another lamp. The answer to that is, 1.) Lamp addition does not yet have a 12-step program. And 2.) I'm actually downsizing some lamps, and have given a few away to my friend Scoobie's home, so I will no longer be tripping over the, um, lights fantastic.

Here you can see a closer view on those lovely handpainted roses.
Yum!

What I also found to be "yum," was this little lusterware creamer with cherubs on it which I got for $0.99 at the Salvation Army Superstore...
This shiny type of porcelain always makes me happy because it reflects light in what would otherwise be a rather dark house.

And lastly, I netted myself two sparkly souvenir sandcastles, treating my Inner Child to some playful magic...
I wasn't allowed to buy these as souvenirs growing up-- my mother thought it was a waste of money-- so as an adult, I'm really defiantly enjoying picking them up for pennies now. I think they work pretty well with the lusterware and Victoriana...
The Victorians, after all, were all for decorating with interesting souvenir items.

So, that about washes away the contents of this Treasure Box. I hope you all are enjoying a week of the things that lift your spirits.

Trying Not to Diffuse the Message About Vintage Torchieres

I made a mistake a few years ago, and I don't want you folks to make it, too.

I remembered this for the first time this weekend, when I found a lamp that I adored-- which was one I don't expect everyone to appreciate as I do. (Yes, we all know I have Lamp Addiction. There's a Twelve Step Program I don't care to participate in at this moment.)

Anyway, at Denise's Antique Mall in Indiana, PA, on Saturday, I found a gorgeous lamp for $20 which I felt needed to come home with me. One of brass and a rainbow-hued lustrous, Carnival glass style... One which made me happy just to see it. (And, honestly, at $20, plus decent wiring and lightbulb, I knew I would find the right place for it.)
The lamp, in spite of its very art glass feel, (it's made by a company called Rembrandt I'm still researching) came with a milk glass torchiere shade. And the moment I looked at it, I remembered...

This is not a torchiere. This is a regular table lamp, with a DIFFUSER which needs a fabric shade.

And a quick examination on eBay told me that many folks are very confused about the history of these nice old lamps with diffuser shades. I realized in an instant-- you folks deserve to know the truth.
A diffuser is a milk glass shade that was common in the early electric lighting periods, and was used specifically so very bright bulbs would bend and soften light in lamps coming through fabric shades. Meaning you would plop a fringed, drum or bell shade right over it.

Basically, so you would get consistent solid light, and you all would not see one very bright light bulb!

Today, at antique stores and thrifts, we're left with the base lamp, and the diffuser-- because so many fabric shades met unpleasant fates. So to our modern eyes, it looks like we're buying a torchiere lamp, with a built-in milk glass shade...

But it's not necessarily true! The diffuser would almost act as a harp, allowing you to set a wider, fabric shade over the top of it.

I'm not thrilled with the color of the shade I currently have, but it gives the feeling of what a proper shade might look like over a diffuser.
About two years ago, I had bought what I thought was a nice torchiere light with a milk glass shade. I knew I wanted to put a real harp and fabric shade on it... and gave the milk glass piece back to the charity organization to resell...

Only to discover that was part of the original lamp I'd kept.

So, I figured, what is The Thrift Shop Romantic if not a way to help others head off the goofy mistakes I made, and help preserve the best in vintage goodies?

This new lamp is now residing in my bathroom-- which I know sounds wholly unromantic, but actually, is perfect because I neglect no room, and there are many rich Carnival glass colors already in it!

For more information on diffusers, click here.

My lightbulb moment gave me a whole new perspective on vintage lamps. May you have your own lightbulb moment this week!

Cheers, folks!

Trying Not to Diffuse the Message About Vintage Torchieres

I made a mistake a few years ago, and I don't want you folks to make it, too.

I remembered this for the first time this weekend, when I found a lamp that I adored-- which was one I don't expect everyone to appreciate as I do. (Yes, we all know I have Lamp Addiction. There's a Twelve Step Program I don't care to participate in at this moment.)

Anyway, at Denise's Antique Mall in Indiana, PA, on Saturday, I found a gorgeous lamp for $20 which I felt needed to come home with me. One of brass and a rainbow-hued lustrous, Carnival glass style... One which made me happy just to see it. (And, honestly, at $20, plus decent wiring and lightbulb, I knew I would find the right place for it.)
The lamp, in spite of its very art glass feel, (it's made by a company called Rembrandt I'm still researching) came with a milk glass torchiere shade. And the moment I looked at it, I remembered...

This is not a torchiere. This is a regular table lamp, with a DIFFUSER which needs a fabric shade.

And a quick examination on eBay told me that many folks are very confused about the history of these nice old lamps with diffuser shades. I realized in an instant-- you folks deserve to know the truth.
A diffuser is a milk glass shade that was common in the early electric lighting periods, and was used specifically so very bright bulbs would bend and soften light in lamps coming through fabric shades. Meaning you would plop a fringed, drum or bell shade right over it.

Basically, so you would get consistent solid light, and you all would not see one very bright light bulb!

Today, at antique stores and thrifts, we're left with the base lamp, and the diffuser-- because so many fabric shades met unpleasant fates. So to our modern eyes, it looks like we're buying a torchiere lamp, with a built-in milk glass shade...

But it's not necessarily true! The diffuser would almost act as a harp, allowing you to set a wider, fabric shade over the top of it.

I'm not thrilled with the color of the shade I currently have, but it gives the feeling of what a proper shade might look like over a diffuser.
About two years ago, I had bought what I thought was a nice torchiere light with a milk glass shade. I knew I wanted to put a real harp and fabric shade on it... and gave the milk glass piece back to the charity organization to resell...

Only to discover that was part of the original lamp I'd kept.

So, I figured, what is The Thrift Shop Romantic if not a way to help others head off the goofy mistakes I made, and help preserve the best in vintage goodies?

This new lamp is now residing in my bathroom-- which I know sounds wholly unromantic, but actually, is perfect because I neglect no room, and there are many rich Carnival glass colors already in it!

For more information on diffusers, click here.

My lightbulb moment gave me a whole new perspective on vintage lamps. May you have your own lightbulb moment this week!

Cheers, folks!

Treasure Box Wednesday: The Other Half o' Fun

When last we left Treasure Box Wednesday, my thrifty bud Scoobie and I had had an exciting adventure down Route 30 here in Pennsylvania. And like one of those excellent shopping dreams you just don't want to wake up from, so many things ended up being 30%-50% off!

Well, I'd shown you a number of items from that trip last week. And I have just a few more to share with you now.

One of my absolute favorites is this delightful hand-tinted bubble-glass photo of a brother and sister reading together...


Sorry about the glare! Because of the bubble-glass, it's a little hard to film without getting a reflection.

I'm guessing because of the style of the frame, the kids' clothes, and the big bow in the sister's hair, the photo is from around 1910-1920-something.

You can see my new li'l chillins here...


Don't they remind you a little of Darla and Porky from The Little Rascals?

One other thing discovered on this trip was... okay... brace yourself for the not-surprise...

A second lamp.

Yes, yes, I know. My friend "Da Old Man" of "Crotchety Old Man Yells at Cars" has already informed me I need a 12-step program for lamp addiction.

And he said that last week before he even saw this one, I'm almost embarrassed to admit...


But I do make room for them. And I give some to other family and friends. So, it's not solely pure lamp greed...

Please don't stage a lamp intervention for me. I need them! :)

In much smaller finds, I uncovered this nice vintage Valentine's hankie at the Salvation Army Thrift Store...


And last, for a whopping $1, I got this pastoral scene tin plate at the Good Samaritan Thrift Store...


Now, before we go today, I thought you all would enjoy seeing the mantle shelf I'd gotten a while ago at Denise's Antique Mall, all cleaned up and polished...


It was going to go on the mantle you currently see it sitting on. But I'm afraid the way the lip of the mantle comes up, the logistics are wrong. I need to rethink where this will go.

• And that leads me to share a few laughs with you if you click here... It's a little humor piece I'd done regarding some, erm.... problems... I experienced this weekend in trying to hoist it in a case of Shelf-Awareness and Shelf-Shabotage.
  

It wasn't a pretty scene, but I guarantee you'll get a chuckle. (My absurdity might as well at least entertain others.)

Anyway, that's it for today. Wishing you, er, shelf-shatishfaction in all your decorating projects this week! See you Sunday!

Treasure Box Wednesday: The Other Half o' Fun

When last we left Treasure Box Wednesday, my thrifty bud Scoobie and I had had an exciting adventure down Route 30 here in Pennsylvania. And like one of those excellent shopping dreams you just don't want to wake up from, so many things ended up being 30%-50% off!

Well, I'd shown you a number of items from that trip last week. And I have just a few more to share with you now.

One of my absolute favorites is this delightful hand-tinted bubble-glass photo of a brother and sister reading together...


Sorry about the glare! Because of the bubble-glass, it's a little hard to film without getting a reflection.

I'm guessing because of the style of the frame, the kids' clothes, and the big bow in the sister's hair, the photo is from around 1910-1920-something.

You can see my new li'l chillins here...


Don't they remind you a little of Darla and Porky from The Little Rascals?

One other thing discovered on this trip was... okay... brace yourself for the not-surprise...

A second lamp.

Yes, yes, I know. My friend "Da Old Man" of "Crotchety Old Man Yells at Cars" has already informed me I need a 12-step program for lamp addiction.

And he said that last week before he even saw this one, I'm almost embarrassed to admit...


But I do make room for them. And I give some to other family and friends. So, it's not solely pure lamp greed...

Please don't stage a lamp intervention for me. I need them! :)

In much smaller finds, I uncovered this nice vintage Valentine's hankie at the Salvation Army Thrift Store...


And last, for a whopping $1, I got this pastoral scene tin plate at the Good Samaritan Thrift Store...


Now, before we go today, I thought you all would enjoy seeing the mantle shelf I'd gotten a while ago at Denise's Antique Mall, all cleaned up and polished...


It was going to go on the mantle you currently see it sitting on. But I'm afraid the way the lip of the mantle comes up, the logistics are wrong. I need to rethink where this will go.

• And that leads me to share a few laughs with you if you click here... It's a little humor piece I'd done regarding some, erm.... problems... I experienced this weekend in trying to hoist it in a case of Shelf-Awareness and Shelf-Shabotage.
  

It wasn't a pretty scene, but I guarantee you'll get a chuckle. (My absurdity might as well at least entertain others.)

Anyway, that's it for today. Wishing you, er, shelf-shatishfaction in all your decorating projects this week! See you Sunday!