Repurposed Vintage Floor Lamp Chicken Wire Lampshade

My new addiction of repurposing furniture pieces has come to an end for now.  I think I have done all that I wanted to do before I had shoulder surgery on September 12.  There has been hinting that the inside of the house needs my attention.  Really?

The first piece I want to share is a vintage floor lamp with a chicken wire lampshade.  A picture is worth a 1000 words.  Enjoy!

Starting this process was not so easy as a matter a face the whole project through me curve balls.  Being a novice I improvised as best as I could.

The paint in no way was going to come off this floor lamp.  I used several paint removers to no avail.  They did take me to a pink shade that was so deep into the wood it wasn't budging.  I didn't want to use my lye solution for fear of losing the detail on the lamp.

The finial, top cap and base were soaked in vinegar and baking soda as recommended by Hometalk people that responded to my question on getting rid of rust (not all of it but some.)

Absolutely my favorite feature is the double light with pull chains.  In love.....ahhhhh!

I didn't want all the rust gone but the rough rust.

I think this is the appropriate spot to explain all of the oops that led me to a different look and then oops here we go again.

Since I couldn't get the paint off I thought that I would just paint it all with black enamel paint so I would have a dark base to work with.

Oops #2 the black paint would not adhere and separated in little circles everywhere.  Solution #2 rubb black paint off.  The look was awesome and I should have stopped there but not me I went on.

Two coats of off white, creamy looking homemade chalk paint went on.  Fun time to sand!

Oops #3 as I sanded only the pink was showing up.  Solution #3 cover it with dark stain.  It gave me a darker pink but it was better than the pink that it was.

Here is the lamp!

The base looks much better with rust still on it but not built up on it.

The intricate design after many oops finally made it and I like it after all.  

More about the chicken wire lampshade on tomorrow's post.  Don't miss the adventure.

New Flea Market Vintage Finds, Treasures, Junk

The first of the month brings our local Flea Market to town.  Always excited to get there.  Got up early to get things done I needed to do....priority.....I jumped into the car and was off.

Lots of smaller things were in my bag this time.  It was all good.  I had done very well this time getting better prices.  My fear was gone.  Pointing out what was wrong as I learned from The American Pickers to get a lower price.  So proud of myself.  My bag was full a couple of times as I had to go to the car to empty the new treasures so I could get some more.

Finally it was time to leave.  I noticed a sign that said, "Really low prices on all kinds of stuff.  Come to the Grange building."  Energized from the luck of the morning I was headed to the Grange Building.  On my way I remembered I had forgotten to stop at this one place at the Flea Market that was outside.  My car didn't even hesitate in pulling into a spot to drool over more "junk" as in "treasures."

There before my eyes was a floor lamp that was just screaming my name.  It was vintage, the style I had been looking for and in all of its beauty there it was before my eyes.  Ahhhhh, now the price.  Once the gentleman told me the price my hopes dropped as there was no way I could pay what he wanted.  So just like Frankie from American Pickers I set aside the items that I wanted and had a bundle.  Right at that moment I got my price plus the man gave me a small cupboard (that I do not need BUT it was FREE).  AND he told me he had a barn full of "junk" and that I was welcomed to come to pick it.  Oh was I riding cloud nine now, you betcha I was!

He loaded my finds and as I got into the car I couldn't wait to show Mike and Mom my treasure hunting finds for the day.

I haven't taken pics of the smaller treasures yet but I snapped a few of the items to share with you today.

Tomorrow I will have pics of the smaller items.

A Vintage Sled Found a Loving Home

Seems like forever since I last posted.  As I said in my last post there needs to be more hours in a day! What do you think?

I want to share a little project that I worked on this past week.  It really didn't take that long but I kept getting interruptions and blah, blah you know how that goes.

There was this little sled at an auction that looked so lonely and it was calling my name.  I felt so sorry for it.  However there was this lady there who must have had a million dollars to spend as she was out biding everyone there.  Under my breath or really in my mind I kept saying to myself, "Oh please do not want that sled."  I wasn't sure she would give it a good home.

Time came and the bidding started.  Instead of waiting I threw up my number.  I was holding my breath and no other bids came.  I got it for $2.  At that moment I wanted to dance on a table somewhere.  The little waif sled was mine.  Proudly and lovingly I carried the sled to my car.  Once home I put it in the garage and there it sat.

Guilt ridden I finally fixed it up.  It wasn't in terrible condition just some rust and of course it needed some love.  Sunday it was a beautiful day to work outside so I took advantage of that.  Carefully carrying my little sled to the back yard to my "work" area the transformation began.

Here are the before and after pictures.  Hope you enjoy them.

Don't you think it looks loved now?  The sled will be on my porch for the Holiday season and have usefulness once again.