10/22/2015

You CAN Make a Pendant Light Out of Anything!

Here is my popular master bathroom!

It's a well thought out space that hubby and I enjoy using since we gutted it about six years ago.

I love the look of a chandelier over a claw foot tub and installed one over mine.



What I didn't bargain for was having to clean that chandelier every other week. Yes, I am a bit of a neat freak and I just hate the dust on this piece.

And I didn't find any volunteers to take on this task of cleaning, so out goes this little lovely! It's time to be practical.


It was time to do something different and something a bit unique. Initially, my love for cage lighting almost won out on the replacement...
But I held off buying this, thinking I would still have an issue cleaning the dust off the cage unless it easily removed from the socket and I wondered if it would get lost in the view of the vintage leaded glass window that would be behind it. Then I saw this...
Cool and easy to clean. I even have a dimmer on my switch for this, but I still held back. Until I saw this...

This is unique and looks like it was an old something or other, but that just fueled my creativity. Plus you know how I rather make it than buy it. That lead me to this...
Do you know what this is?

Several years ago on our travels to Kansas, to visit my son, we happened upon this at a quaint little shop. We initially didn't know what it was when we first saw it and were told that it is an old tin top to a turret. Like this...
See how the top of the turret has a cap? Well we brought this one home, but I found that it is a bit hard to display. I have moved it around the house trying to find a good spot for it, but now I had the best idea...turn it into a pendant and make it useful!



I spray painted the inside with silver colored paint to reflect the light from the Edison bulb that I would be using.

Then I thought of my blogging friend Angie from Knick of Time. I remembered that she did a post on making lighting from objects and has an ad on her blog from a supplier called, Vintage Wire And Supply

First I went to where you can get the answer for almost anything...YouTube. Yes, it's my go to. I watched a video on how to make anything into a pendant light and learned about 'strain reliefs', something I knew nothing about.

Since I loved the original brown patina of this turret top, I ordered what I needed in oil rubbed bronze.

Hubby's job was to drill a hole into the top of the turret cap. I wired it all together and with his help holding it...

Yep, that is my crazy hubby, I took down the chandelier (with a tear in my eye),
And wired in the new and unique pendant!
The lighting at night is really different. It's a down cast light vs. the all over light I got from the chandelier.
That perfectly okay because this light is just used more for a night light in the evenings or mood lighting on the rare occasions when I soak in the tub. I'm a shower kind of gal.

I even don't mind the bit of light that 'leaks' out of the cracks in the old seams of the turret cap.


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Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
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Create Link Inspire Party @ The Crafty BlogStalker
Show & Tell Party @ Flamingo Toes
Project Inspired Linky Party @ Cupcakes and Crinoline
The Inspiration Board Link Party @ Homework
From Dream to Reality @ The DIY Dreamer
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The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life 
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Be Inspired Party @ Elizabeth & Co.
Wednesday
Vintage Inspired Link Party @ Knick of Time
Fall into Fall Wednesday @ DIY by Design 
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Work It Wednesday's @ The Happy Housie
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Wow Me Wednesday @ Ginger Snap Crafts
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Link Party Thursday @ Bloom Designs Online
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Wildly Original Wednesday @ I Gotta Create!
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Friday
Home Matters @ Life with Lorelai
Handmade Hangout @ From Gardners 2 Bergers
What To Do Weekends @ Crafts A La Mode
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Flaunt It Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Creativity Unleashed Link Party @ One Project Closer/The Better Half
Freedom Fridays @ My Turn For US 
Shabbilicious Friday Link Party @ Shabby Art Boutique
Junkin Joe @ The Cottage Market
Fabulous Friday Party @ Simple Nature Decor

Saturday
Weekend WrapUp Party @ Tatertots and Jello 
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal

Sunday
Share It One More Time @ One More Time Events
That DIY Party @ DIY Show Off
Sunday's Down Under Linky Party @ Natasha In OZ


22 comments:

  1. You always amaze me Terry! You are so creative and everything turns out beautiful.

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  2. Your unique pendant light is beautiful and the perfect addition to your already gorgeous bathroom, love it!

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  3. You are such an inspiration to me! I love wiring up stuff, too, as long as it's not too hard. Anyway, it's great. I'm going to feature your fun light on Facebook and Google+. Pinning, too, of course. Wow. You are super girl! Your grandaughter is pretty sweet, too. I have an 8 month old grandson who is so much fun. I don't remember having this much fun with my own kids. :) Best wishes, Linda @Crafts a la mode

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  4. another fabulous idea!! It makes the trim in your window dec show up, too!

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  5. Thanks for sharing the pretty decor ideas at Dream Create and Inspire, very trendy! Maria

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  6. Awesome find and it makes a perfect mood lamp in that room...I think I would switch to baths...lol, thanks, Sandi

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  7. Now this is my kind of project! You rocked this, girl!

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  8. The chandie was pretty, but the "new" pendant light is just perfect for the space... love it! And what a fabulous idea for repurposing! :) ~Rhonda

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  9. This looks great for the space! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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  10. How amazing! This is an awesome find. I love the idea. Thanks for sharing!

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  11. You are so creative! It looks amazing! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the Features at the Round-Up from the Before & After Wednesday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link so you can check out your feature. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2015/10/the-last-round-up-from-before-after.html Have a lovely rest of the week. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  12. Really gorgeous! The history behind it makes this even better. Love it!

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  13. This is just fabulous, Terry. I'm visiting from the Dedicated House B&A Wednesday(sadly, the last), but I also want you to know your Courtly Check tea service that I pinned long ago (your original pin) still gets repinned regularly from my board. Your skills are wonderful, and this light reminds me of MacKenzie Childs' light fixtures. Really nice.
    Rita C at Panoply

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  14. I'm in love with it!! Great job on using something you had. I am absolutely in love with your bathroom! That new light gives it a nice romantic glow!

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  15. This is amazing. What a great idea to turn this old beauty into a functional light. Thanks so much for sharing at Vintage Inspiration Party.

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  16. Very cool and unique Terry! Featured at Be Inspired this morning. Thanks for sharing. And I have a light that I love, but can't keep clean too. It drives me crazy!

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  17. Awesome awesome light! I love that you painted the inside silver too :)

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  18. I love your creativity. Wondering if you were as disappointed with the orange light the Edison bulbs give off. I purchased a light fixture that was advertised with the Edison bulb so I went and got one...but didn't like the look the bulb gave to the room. Ended up with a halogen bulb because I needed the light.

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  19. Way to go! I have had that tho't about chandeliers - so thanks for confirming it. What you did was just lovely. And of course - your bathroom is lovely too!

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It makes me smile to hear from you!