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!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

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

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Big News! Make Vintage Upcycled Jewelry With Laura Beth Love DVD

Oh wow. Thats all I can say. I just got a big surprise when I was on Barnes & Noble online and came across my first jewelry instruction DVD, Make Vintage & Upcycled Jewelry: Dishfunctional Plate Necklace. Yay! Its now available for sale, and it looks so pretty! I just had to share the news with you! My second jewelry instruction DVD will be released a little while after this one, and I am so excited for you to see that one too. I hope you have a great weekend! 

Enjoy your day!

Love, 

Laura

Check out my new DIY 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..

My 5 Favorite Things For Today Friday November 13 2015

My 5 favorite things for today...


1. Vanilla Chai decaf tea from Stash Tea in THIS mug. Add one tablespoon of honey and a splash of lowfat milk and Im a happy girl. I love the mug. I found it at Kohls.

2. Sara when she lays around like this and watches me. Oh Sara, you look so bored! 

3. My fireplace mantle in my music/family room. This is a collection of a few of my favorite things; the ceramic reindeer bust, my thrift store Buddha collection, the tall candle jar that was a gift from my late brother, and the twig and branch peace sign wreath that I made a few years ago. I love the way it looks with the white lights. Want to make your own? Check out the tutorial here!

4. This quote: "Dont ruin a good today because of a bad yesterday" reminds us that each new day is separate from the previous one, and that we should not carry the previous days troubles into the next day but instead try to leave them in the past. Ive been going through a hard time lately, and so I am holding on with both hands to any advice like this.

5. This photo of leaves in our front yard that my daughter Erica took on her way to school one morning. The colors are perfect.  

What do you think?

Enjoy your day!

Love, 

Laura

Check out my new DIY 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..

V is for Vintage Quilt Makeover

How I took a vintage quilt (that was never quilted) and made it into two proper quilts for my girls beds, if only their great great grandmother knew where her quilt was today!

I received this very thin handpieced quilt from my mother about 10 years ago.  It actually came from her father's home and was made by his mother so now this vintage quilt will span 5 generations.

I cut the quilt in half to make two quilts, gave them a proper backing with batting and then quilted them to enhance the star pattern.  I sure hope my great grandmother is pleased with the transformation.

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P is for Pipe Projects Round Up

6 diy pipe projects

The pipe trend seems to be hanging around for awhile now.  I've done a few projects with pipe so I thought I'd share them all here in one round up style post for those looking for some pipe inspiration.

Mason jars, copper pipe and wood all in one project - how can you resist?  This is a fairly simple build using scrap wood and makes a great gift too.  See the details here.

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Colorful Mixed Media Butterfly Necklaces Made From Vintage Ephemera Illustrations

Newly listed in my Etsy shop...

these necklaces are made from beautiful vintage butterfly illustrations that have

been copied and applied to paper. The paper is then adhered to thin wood and then

laser cut and then sealed. The reverse side of each one is painted black. Each has a 

brass chain that measures between 19 and 20 inches long, and each has color

coordinating beads or crystals. Check them out!

Check them out here in my Etsy shop!

Check out my new DIY 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..