Creative Ways To Upcycle Vintage Glass Insulators

 

Vintage glass electric insulators are so cool! What were they used for? They were used to separate the electrical wires from the wooden telephone poles, basically insulating the poles from the wires so that the poles didnt burn down. They were commonly made of glass or porcelain. 

(Read here for lots more info on insulators)

Check out what some creative folks below have done with them...

Threaded insulators. Read all about them at Glassian

Check out this fabulous outdoor chandelier made by Vickie at Ranger 911

Mini-lights

Barn wood insulator scone by timelessjourney via Etsy

Lamp made from glass insulators

Vintage glass insulators as post caps, image via Pinterest

Glass insulator sconse from Conant Metal & Light

Insulator hanging planter (above) and luminaries (below) by Mark Kintzel

Insulator tree 

Insulator candle holder by Tracys Trinkets and Treasures

Insulator used to hold flowers

Insulator pendant lights from RailroadWare

Cute insulator coat rack with DIY from Katie at Creatively Living

Insulator mantle art by Afterglow Studio

Insulator Christmas tree


Read more about insulators here!

I hope you enjoyed this look at upcycled vintage glass insulators. What would you do with old insulators? Id love to hear from you so please leave your comments below! 

Enjoy your week! 

Love, Laura

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(this is an updated post that was originally published on 8/9/2012) 

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

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My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

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Painted Acorn Pumpkin House

Painted acorn by Duane

check out the original painting acorns blog post here

What do you think?

Check out my new DIY jewelry books on amazon!

    

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New Broken China Jewelry In My Shop

Here are some new pieces that I just listed in my shop. Hope you like them! Click the images to see more photos of each item.

Vintage basket of roses china

Antique Hazel chintz (above and below)

Aesthetic brown transferware, handpainted

Antique English china

Antique Art Nouveau porcelain

Royal Winton Old Cottage chintz

Antique German porcelain

Antique Art Nouveau porcelain

Vintage equestrian china

Antique calendar plate from 1915 Art Nouveau butterfly

Antique calendar plate from 1915 Art Nouveau butterfly

What do you think?

Learn to make your own jewelry from broken china with my new book:

Want to make your own jewelry from broken china?

Then you should check out my new jewelry instruction book! 

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Homemade Cream Of Mushroom Soup With Wild Rice Recipe

This has been one of the warmest winters on record in Pennsylvania, but just a few days ago the temperature finally dipped down below 10°F, just in time to make some hot comforting soup for winter! This recipe comes from my mother, who got it from her mother, and its another one of those family recipes that is not written down anywhere. We all know it by memory, but today I thought I would share it with you! Not a fan of rice? The wild rice is optional - omit it and you will have regular, rich & delicious cream of mushroom soup!

Ingredients 

4 cups of sliced, fresh raw mushrooms

1/2 stick butter

3 heaping tablespoons of flour

1 can (or 1 cup) of beef broth 

1 container sour cream

1/4 to 1/2 cup wild rice, uncooked

1 clove of garlic, crushed (or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder)

Salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Wash and slice mushrooms, and then place mushrooms in a large soup pot and cover with water and a little extra water (I use about 6 cups of water; if I am using more mushrooms I will increase the water a bit). Sprinkle with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook on medium high heat.

Simmer mushrooms on medium high heat until mushrooms reach a rolling boil, then turn down and simmer over medium heat.

Add 1/4 cup (or more if you like) of wild rice to the simmering mushrooms. I usually add between 1/4 to 1/2 cup of rice.

Add one cup (or one can) of beef or chicken broth to the mushrooms. I use beef broth.

Continue to simmer the mushrooms, water, rice, and broth on medium heat. 

While the mushrooms are cooking, in a separate medium bowl add 3/4 container to one whole container of sour cream. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of flour and two tablespoons of water. Whisk the sour cream, flour, and water together well and then set aside. 

In a separate, medium sized pot, melt 1/2 stick of butter over medium heat. 

Once melted and just beginning to bubble, add 2 tablespoons of flour, and whisk in quickly with a wire whisk, continuing to whisk, making a roux, while the flour/butter mixture begins to lightly brown. Whisk constantly and be careful not to burn the mixture! You will see it beginning to brown as you stir it on the heat. (see below)

Once it is a nice golden brown as in the photo above, remove from heat and carefully mix the roux into the pot with the mushrooms. It will usually bubble up when you pour the roux in with the mushrooms, so pour slowly! 

Now add the sour cream mixture to the mushrooms, whisking it together well. Add salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Simmer, covered, for another 3o minutes or until mushrooms and rice are completely cooked and tender. 

Serve with a crisp salad and crusty bread. Enjoy! 

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Enjoy your day!

Love, 

Laura

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!


My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Read More..