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A Farm of My Own:  Lighting up your life  |
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dg7954
True Blue Farmgirl
129 Posts
Diane
Doylestown
pa
USA
129 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 13 2005 : 06:24:41 AM
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I thought I would start a new topic about lighting. It is so important to any space. I love indirect lighting and use it quite frequently, but I love, love, love, lamps. They can say so much about you. They can warm up a room in a snap, and create any number of moods. They can have so much personality and history to them. What do your lamps look like? Any stories attached to them? Do you have a favorite one that lights up your life?
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2005 : 10:09:11 AM
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Diane, have you thought of starting an interior decorating board?
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com |
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quiltedess
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Nancy
Priest River
ID
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2005 : 10:26:10 AM
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One of my favorites is an old fashioned looking Ott floor light. I bought it for myself for Christmas last year, with a 50% off coupon, from Joann's. It sits near the sofa next to "my" spot so I can see really well while I'm doing knitting or sewing. I love the way lamps can warm up a room.
In my laundry room I have huge, bright flourescent lights, they really help me see in there, but I sure wouldn't want them anywhere else in the house.
Nancy |
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katie-ell
True Blue Farmgirl
1818 Posts
Katie
Illinois
1818 Posts |
Posted - Oct 16 2005 : 07:18:28 AM
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I have a thing for vintage floor lamps! My favorite has sage painted upright, with twists of blue and ornaments flaring outward or upward -- so hard to describe!--painted old gold. An s-shape on the top has a dragon on one end and the lampshade on the other. The base is openwork and also painted. I guess it must be from the 1940s -- found it at a yard sale 25 years ago -- my husband and I purchased it together before we were married. I put a hectagonal shade on it -- dreamy botanicals on a black background. Love that lamp!
Also in use is a gold with two twisty parts on either side of the upright and with a marble base. Found that one in the trash.
I have two in waiting -- one needs to be repainted (right now a pepto-bismol pink) and one needs a new socket.
Because of the lack of windows in our primary living space, we need all the lamps we can get for winter. Diane, you may have inspired me to take on those last two floor lamps! |
Edited by - katie-ell on Oct 16 2005 1:23:04 PM |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Oct 16 2005 : 11:07:23 AM
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The only lamps I have that I am crazy about and have a story...are my three oil lamps.MY uncle Arnel (yep, that is how it is spelled in his case) ..my beloved grandma's brother...gave them to me aobut 10 years ago. He died about 2 years ago now. They were lamps that belonged to his mom, My great grandma, who was named Elsie, and came from Oklahoma to Calif during the depression and they had traveled along with the family ..my grandma was the oldest of twelve children..all but two born before they left Oklahoma...and Uncle Arnel was the second child. I also have one of her old washboards..it hangs on my laundry room wall.
the lamps are in different rooms..one in the kitchen, one in the living room and one in the family room and whenever the power goes out I light them. It always makes me think of my grandma. Knowing that she used to be in the light of those same lamps is comforting. I miss her alot.
Jenny in Utah
Put all your eggs in one basket..and then watch that basket!! Mark Twain |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Oct 16 2005 : 2:00:34 PM
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I have a cool floor lamp that came from (where else?) a yard sale. It has a marble base that lights up, a glass shade that is open on top and three "flame" lights beneath this glass shade. They do not have shades and I'm not sure if they ever did or should. All the lights work independently of each other. Sadly, the lamp sits in the garage because it needs to be rewired and I haven't found anybody that can do it yet.
My favorite lamps (also stored in the garage to appease DH) are made of popsicle sticks. For years I taught crafts at summer camps and it was a big joke that I could make anything out of popsicle sticks or lanyards. These were a gift from a former room-mate :)
let it shine!
Sharon
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
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katie-ell
True Blue Farmgirl
1818 Posts
Katie
Illinois
1818 Posts |
Posted - Oct 16 2005 : 2:31:09 PM
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Sleepless -- I used to have the kind of cool floor lamp that you described. Actually, this kind of lamp would have had one large shade that sat atop the upward facing glass shade and covered all three flame lights as well. I think it might be called a drum shade. I found the shade at a garage sale; found the lamp at Sally Army.
Those lamps are so great -- giving wonderful mood lighting or lots of brilliant light, depending on how many you click on.
I rewire one-socket lamps -- it's pretty easy to do; instructions are in basic wiring books at the library -- but the multiple bulb kinds I haven't attempted; probably much more complicated. Locally, our hardware stores (Ace and True Value) offer a rewiring service. . . .
A popsicle stick lamp!! How whimsical!! Husband should allow you to put that inside -- in the porch, maybe? |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Oct 17 2005 : 07:09:03 AM
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| I have a creamy ceramic one with great vase-like shape that I bought in Illinois for $10. It had no shade, but it goes well with my house and I found a light blue shade to go on top to match the house better. I love it - it is definitely my favorite and I smiled when I pulled it from its box upon unpacking here. |
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westfork woman
True Blue Farmgirl
554 Posts
Kennie Lyn
Emmett
Idaho
USA
554 Posts |
Posted - Oct 17 2005 : 11:33:39 AM
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One of my favorite lamps was made by my father-in-law when he was in high school. He chopped down a black walnut tree when he started high school and when he was a senior it had dried enough to use. He made a rolling pin, a kitchen table, a gun cabinet, a piano bench, a cedar chest, and a table lamp. My mother-in-law used all but the lamp. We had lived in this house a least 5 years, and I found it in the basement, (it is amazing the treasures I found there). It is just a simple, elegant candlestick shaped lamp. It hadn't been sealed with anything, so I sanded it and put coat of tongue oil on it, DH wired it and we use it in our living room. I like the feel of table or floor lamps in a room, much cozier. I also have an old wagon wheel fixture from the 50's that I am working on for over the kitchen table. I have found the chimneys, but need the little copper shades, maybe we can make some.
Greetings from the morning side of the hill. |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 1:20:44 PM
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Katie-ell, the popsicle lamps were used and loved (well, by me at least)in our living room for years, then in our bed room, so I think DH really gave them a turn. We really can't use them in our living room now (no place to set them), or in the bed room. I think he's giving a lot to not have tossed them by this point. Someday, when I have an enclosed porch, they will be used there.
As for the rewiring on the floor lamp, I'm holding off until I find an electrician who says,"Sure, that will be easy!". I think (if he still exists), he's about 75 mad looks like somebody's uncle!
Sharon
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
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katie-ell
True Blue Farmgirl
1818 Posts
Katie
Illinois
1818 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 1:48:51 PM
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| We had a mad-uncle-type lamp man in our neighborhood when I lived in Evanston years ago. He had the most wonderful shop -- packed to the gills with lamps of every vintage -- and he sat in the back with his dog, grousing at whoever came in. But oh the lamps he had! And he was the best at rewiring -- my favorite lamp was rewired by him. Funny, I haven't thought about him in years. I think the space is a Starbucks now. Sad but true. |
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sock_heaven
Farmgirl in Training
14 Posts
14 Posts |
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A Farm of My Own: Lighting up your life |
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Lighting up your life
