Treasure Box Wednesday: Lucky and Unlucky Breaks

I have some pastel pretties to share with you this week, but first, I wanted to mention I'm doing a giveaway on my humor blog, Of Cabbages and Kings, where participants have a chance to receive one of two free copies of my new humorous space fantasy novel, There Goes the Galaxy. I know that kind of reading isn't everybody's bag here, but I also know it is for a few of my readers. Plus, it's free. We all like free. It doesn't get more thrifty than free. So I figured I'd mention it. You can check out the There Goes the Galaxy giveaway fun by clicking here.

Okay, that said, back to the order of business! I wanted to show you photos of the little mantle decor I've been working on. The newest acquisitions here are the two green and pink vintage lamps, which I got at the Salvation Army Superstore a few weeks ago...

They needed rewiring and shades, and oddly I found a pair of perfect shades at TJ Maxx the day after I bought them. They match my mint-green Victorian fire tiles perfectly.

The second item that's new is the blue Hull vase in the center of the display. I got this at an antique mall not far from the Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Faire. The Hull vases on the ends, if you remember back, were also from the Salvation Army Superstore.
Above, you can see the blue Hull tulip vase just a bit better.

And lastly, when trying to rewire a different old lamp I had an experience I've never had before in all the lamps I've redone...
THAT is the metal base which was apparently totally cracked and missing much of itself, and it was replaced at one time by some cork panels. As I was working with it, it simply began to crumble apart. I know spelter is a soft metal, but WOW. Sooooo, I will be searching for a boring vintage lamp with a similar base I can take apart and put on the vase of this one.

This lamp vase is gorgeous-- pale green with handpainted roses, so it's entirely worth the effort. I just figured you all would find it interesting to see when these projects take unexpected turns.

And at THIS turn, we must end this week's Treasure Box post. Wishing you happy days as we make our journey quickly into October.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Lucky and Unlucky Breaks

I have some pastel pretties to share with you this week, but first, I wanted to mention I'm doing a giveaway on my humor blog, Of Cabbages and Kings, where participants have a chance to receive one of two free copies of my new humorous space fantasy novel, There Goes the Galaxy. I know that kind of reading isn't everybody's bag here, but I also know it is for a few of my readers. Plus, it's free. We all like free. It doesn't get more thrifty than free. So I figured I'd mention it. You can check out the There Goes the Galaxy giveaway fun by clicking here.

Okay, that said, back to the order of business! I wanted to show you photos of the little mantle decor I've been working on. The newest acquisitions here are the two green and pink vintage lamps, which I got at the Salvation Army Superstore a few weeks ago...

They needed rewiring and shades, and oddly I found a pair of perfect shades at TJ Maxx the day after I bought them. They match my mint-green Victorian fire tiles perfectly.

The second item that's new is the blue Hull vase in the center of the display. I got this at an antique mall not far from the Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Faire. The Hull vases on the ends, if you remember back, were also from the Salvation Army Superstore.
Above, you can see the blue Hull tulip vase just a bit better.

And lastly, when trying to rewire a different old lamp I had an experience I've never had before in all the lamps I've redone...
THAT is the metal base which was apparently totally cracked and missing much of itself, and it was replaced at one time by some cork panels. As I was working with it, it simply began to crumble apart. I know spelter is a soft metal, but WOW. Sooooo, I will be searching for a boring vintage lamp with a similar base I can take apart and put on the vase of this one.

This lamp vase is gorgeous-- pale green with handpainted roses, so it's entirely worth the effort. I just figured you all would find it interesting to see when these projects take unexpected turns.

And at THIS turn, we must end this week's Treasure Box post. Wishing you happy days as we make our journey quickly into October.

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: Everything in its Place

To quote Popeye, "I'd had all I could stands, and I can't stands no more." This was Saturday, after days and days of snowfall, which had kept me indoors, staring at the walls.

I mean, I love my house. But there is such a thing as too much togetherness.

So in spite of continual flurries, I decided I would make a truncated trip down Route 30, as long as the roads were clear.

But the Thrifting Gods were kind, and I uncovered a number of things I knew just where they would go.

I'll start with my most surprising discovery. See this little handled green crock?...
The chartreuse limey color attracted my eye as I have quite a bit of this color in my kitchen, between my pseudo-retro coffeemaker and toaster, and some Lemongrass Fiesta ware.

But turn the bowl over and...
McCoy? I won't even make you guess the price, because it wouldn't be fair. I'll just tell you: $0.79!!

That would be my cheapest McCoy piece yet.

Interestingly, at another store, one of the workers there was talking about how he feels there's no market for McCoy anymore. That he has quite a bit of it in the store, but no one buys it.

I'm not so sure about that. I think it might have more to do with the color of the McCoy rather than McCoy itself. As a McCoy amasser, I noticed his pieces myself as I went a-traveling. And I personally wasn't interested in it because it was almost all yellow. I haven't spied yellow as being a particularly trendy color at the moment.

I wonder whether if it comes back into fashion, people will be more interested in his pieces for their decor?

I just thought it was interesting how markets change.

Anyway, at the L&L Fleatique, I found a great mint green vintage desk lamp I simply couldn't pass up...
In great shape, with lovely lines, and an $8 price tag, I had it in my hand pretty quickly!

On my journey, I also snagged a bunch of these lamp crystals. I knew just what I needed them for, the question at the time was only how many I needed. Fortunately, I guessed correctly...
You can see them in their new home here...
And last, I got this pretty hobnail Moonstone bottle. I have been swapping some of the dollar store bottles I'd had on my stained glass window ledge for more interesting vintage pieces, so the bottle now resides here...
It's missing its stopper, but I don't think that really detracts from it's beauty.

So that's the story for this Wednesday.

• For those of you who missed Sunday's post on Westmoreland County pressed glass, click here.

Have yourselves a nifty, thrifty remainder to your week!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Everything in its Place

To quote Popeye, "I'd had all I could stands, and I can't stands no more." This was Saturday, after days and days of snowfall, which had kept me indoors, staring at the walls.

I mean, I love my house. But there is such a thing as too much togetherness.

So in spite of continual flurries, I decided I would make a truncated trip down Route 30, as long as the roads were clear.

But the Thrifting Gods were kind, and I uncovered a number of things I knew just where they would go.

I'll start with my most surprising discovery. See this little handled green crock?...
The chartreuse limey color attracted my eye as I have quite a bit of this color in my kitchen, between my pseudo-retro coffeemaker and toaster, and some Lemongrass Fiesta ware.

But turn the bowl over and...
McCoy? I won't even make you guess the price, because it wouldn't be fair. I'll just tell you: $0.79!!

That would be my cheapest McCoy piece yet.

Interestingly, at another store, one of the workers there was talking about how he feels there's no market for McCoy anymore. That he has quite a bit of it in the store, but no one buys it.

I'm not so sure about that. I think it might have more to do with the color of the McCoy rather than McCoy itself. As a McCoy amasser, I noticed his pieces myself as I went a-traveling. And I personally wasn't interested in it because it was almost all yellow. I haven't spied yellow as being a particularly trendy color at the moment.

I wonder whether if it comes back into fashion, people will be more interested in his pieces for their decor?

I just thought it was interesting how markets change.

Anyway, at the L&L Fleatique, I found a great mint green vintage desk lamp I simply couldn't pass up...
In great shape, with lovely lines, and an $8 price tag, I had it in my hand pretty quickly!

On my journey, I also snagged a bunch of these lamp crystals. I knew just what I needed them for, the question at the time was only how many I needed. Fortunately, I guessed correctly...
You can see them in their new home here...
And last, I got this pretty hobnail Moonstone bottle. I have been swapping some of the dollar store bottles I'd had on my stained glass window ledge for more interesting vintage pieces, so the bottle now resides here...
It's missing its stopper, but I don't think that really detracts from it's beauty.

So that's the story for this Wednesday.

• For those of you who missed Sunday's post on Westmoreland County pressed glass, click here.

Have yourselves a nifty, thrifty remainder to your week!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Thrifted and Wired

No, no, no... Don't worry-- the lamps above aren't mine. They'll be heading off with my bud Scoobie, as she moves into her new house early next month!

Ah, but they needed rewiring first and a bit of TLC. And, since you all probably know by now how I have Lamp Addiction, I was more than happy to take a little time to help them work and look their best.

The green luster lamp with the courting couple scene was something Scoobie had gotten at Construction Junction for $5. Structurally, it was in pretty good condition, but the more I got to looking at it, I didn't care for how mottled and rusted its base was...


So after rewiring it, I busted out a nice shade of gold leaf paint, and gave it a careful coating! Looks much cleaner and fresher, no?...

Normally, I don't mess with the metal bases unless they're really looking poorly. Generally, I like the more worn, vintage patina to them. But in this case, I think the gold leaf was the right decision. Here you can see the full lamp...


And here you can see the lamp trio I rewired that day. Now all Scoobie will need to complete the look is a couple of cheerful shades! (Oh, and to close on her house next week. Y'know, those piddly things...)

At the Salvation Army thrift store this week, speaking of these courting couple items, I'd uncovered this red tin bowl. This'll be headed off to Scoobie's new place, too-- possibly to hang out with the lamps...

Sort of an early housewarming!

And then this, this is for me...
Just a cute little vintage Valentine's Day figurine I'll use in my holiday display in February. Hey, when you thrift, it's always good to think ahead!

And that about wraps up this week's Treasure Box.

• If you didn't get to check out all the drama, the sweaters, and the angry, angry 60s skiiers of Sunday's "Slope Opera" post, click here for a bit of a chuckle.

And if you already did or you simply have to run, well, perhaps I'll see you on Sunday for something new! Take care!