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Make-do Sconce

First of all, I just hit 1000 followers!  Thank you, everyone.  Second, make sure you visit my Workshop Series post for great paint tips as well as a link party to share your decorative painting efforts.  There are giveaways for three lucky participants, so join in!

Other than the catalog, this is the only Pottery Barn thing that I own.  My mom received a pair of sconce/vases for a Christmas present and wasn’t sure what to do with them.  So, she gave them to me.  Now, one side of me that you girls probably don’t know about is that I am an enormous klutz.  (I once fell off an 8′ ladder into a paint can, but that’s another story.)  In a classic “me” move, I broke one of the glass vases that fit into the sconce holders.  I was so sad that I finally owned something from Pottery Barn and I broke it within 10 minutes of having it in my house. 

I was not ready to throw these in the trash, so I tinkered around.  I took some broken chandelier crystals that I found in my grandparent’s attic, some Sterling silver butter plates, ribbon and candles.  I was determined to make something work out of this decor tragedy.
I tied the chandelier crystals onto the sconce with small white ribbons and rested the butter plate with the candle on top. 
Now that I’m looking at these pictures, I think I might put silver leaf on the sconces… Hmmm. 
They currently flank the mirror in by very 1940s pink and black bathroom.  I don’t go in there often, so I kind of forgot about them, but my mom mentioned them the other day.  She thought that was the point where my DIY creativity and make-do design sensibility bloomed.  Just look what some broken sconces started… 
Miss Mustard Seed
I’m posting this to Transformation Thursday.

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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38 Responses

  1. Congrats on the 1000! I totally know how you feel. 🙂

    Your mom is one wise woman. I adore her and how she encourages you.

    I can relate to meager beginnings in all this. Funds being tight led me right here too. Pushing creativity is what this is all about. Glad we get to share all this with you!

    Donna

  2. Congrats on hitting the 1000 follower mark, how exciting!

    And I think your sconces are lovely, and even prettier than the originals! They are one of a kind beauties now!

    Kat 🙂

  3. I like them! And isn't that what creativity is all about, making do and coming up with something yourself.
    Wish I had some crystals, I have been looking for them forever (for the right price of course, you can find anything easy if you are willing to pay the big bucks, which I am not).
    Good luck with the contest deadline!

  4. 1000 followers!! woohoo…congrats!! And I love your sconces. They are beautiful. Nice way to deal with them. See…not broken at all…just making a new statement!!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

  5. I like your style, maybe that's what I follow you eh? Heehee.. to reinvent, re-do, remake it the only way to go. It's part of you and not some other designer. And what a designer you've become!

    Love it!

    with love,
    Olivia

  6. Very awesome…and tell me I am not the only one who doesn't think we couldn't do that same thing now with cheap "hang on wall" toothbrush holders?

    Oh and btw, I fell into a vat of dirty oil at a mechanics garage when I was a youngster. I was mortified…and had to ride home in skivies and a shop blanket. :/

  7. Very awesome…and tell me I am not the only one who doesn't think we couldn't do that same thing now with cheap "hang on wall" toothbrush holders?

    Oh and btw, I fell into a vat of dirty oil at a mechanics garage when I was a youngster. I was mortified…and had to ride home in skivies and a shop blanket. :/

  8. Very awesome…and tell me I am not the only one who doesn't think we couldn't do that same thing now with cheap "hang on wall" toothbrush holders?

    Oh and btw, I fell into a vat of dirty oil at a mechanics garage when I was a youngster. I was mortified…and had to ride home in skivies and a shop blanket. :/

  9. Very awesome…and tell me I am not the only one who doesn't think we couldn't do that same thing now with cheap "hang on wall" toothbrush holders?

    Oh and btw, I fell into a vat of dirty oil at a mechanics garage when I was a youngster. I was mortified…and had to ride home in skivies and a shop blanket. :/

  10. Very awesome…and tell me I am not the only one who doesn't think we couldn't do that same thing now with cheap "hang on wall" toothbrush holders?

    Oh and btw, I fell into a vat of dirty oil at a mechanics garage when I was a youngster. I was mortified…and had to ride home in skivies and a shop blanket. :/

  11. Charming as all get out! I hope I'm not being "cheeky", if you get a chance, check out my current post on pillow slipcovers. Being the slipcover diva that you are, I hope this will give you some inspiration (not that you need anymore, but you know…) :).

  12. Charming as all get out! I hope I'm not being "cheeky", if you get a chance, check out my current post on pillow slipcovers. Being the slipcover diva that you are, I hope this will give you some inspiration (not that you need anymore, but you know…) :).

  13. 1000 Followers! Kudos! I can't believe you don't have 100's of 1000's!!!

    OK, I'm the same with the PB thing. I have one PB thing in my house and when I broke it I had to go out and buy that Gorilla glue to fix it that day, like threw-my-shoes-on, didn't-even-say so-long-out-the-door to buy the glue! Got home and fixed it! Phew!

    The scones are so romantic! There's such a thing as silver leaf??

  14. You know I've become addicted to your blog, I Hideways. Thank you very much for visiting me, and I put a translator, I hope it will be useful. My English is very bad so I translated with a translator's comment, I hope you can understand.

  15. Love your sconces with their new "crystals"…beautiful. Thank you so much for coming over to my blog with your sweet comment. I really appreciate it, please come back to visit again!

  16. Now that is clever. I don't think we can ever go wrong with crystals! I love it.

    Congrats on your 1000 followers. I was thrilled when I reached that first hundred. 🙂 Thank you for visiting junkblossoms again. your comments are always so sweet and so welcome. Blessings Pat

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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