Garden Orbs

Christmas is over for another year. The Christmas tree and decorations are packed away until next time. Now what do you do with light sets where only half the strand works or you plan to upgrade to brand new lights? Do you throw them in the bin or do you try to reuse them?

I have found that to have a well lit Christmas tree I need to buy more sets and I’m hoping that the stores will be bringing back last years lights as they were almost perfect. What I loved about them is you can connect the strands together. Less transformer packs and less power plugs = Awesome. The only draw back to them is they have clear cords. Oh well you can’t win them all.

So where is this random ramblings leading I hear you ask?

Take a squiz at this.


It was time to retire my old LED sets from Christmas duty and give them a new year round job and when I first found this idea here, I just had to make my own.

The light shades were found for about $3 each at Saint Vinnie's and at the resale area of the local dump. The one on the left is glass and the other one is acrylic. They are a dime a dozen at any goodwill store. I am on the look out for another glass one because let’s face it, they just look better and have a good weight about them.


All that you need to do is stuff the lights into the shades and hey presto, high end looking glowing garden orbs on a beer budget. Can’t get even better than that and it only takes a couple of minutes to do.

Here are are few more pics for you to enjoy.




 Hmmm now I just need to get some greenery happening which is going to be a challenge. Not a green thumb in sight.

Till next time and stay safe,

Jenni (aks Smokeygem)

Rocky Swap Meet 2011 - Part 2

Ok, I've been M.I.A for a few weeks now but I have a really good reason... really I do. I have just recently finished my STEPS studies at Uni and boy was it full on with assessments and exams. I have taken on an optional study course in maths so that I don't get rusty leading up to the beginning of my Undergraduate studies next year but that should be less time consuming. I hope.

Anyways peeps, here are the pics of my "purchases" from this years swap meet. Unfortunately I didn't get much as I was having some serious back pain that day. I am however happy with what I did get.

The first item I found was this wheel rim and whatever it came from it was small. The diametre is just a tiny 14.5cm but I did have a project in mind when I picked it up. It was late in the afternoon so it would probably come as no surprise that I got a discount on it. I held it up and asked the vendor what he wanted for it... he said I can take it, FREE. Can't get better than that I hear you say? Oh but I did do better my friends. It was sitting with a set of four larger wheel rims and the guy said I could take them as well.

The small tyre rim I got for FREE

... and the four extra wheels also for FREE. Bargain!!!

These guys are 16.5 cm in diametre

The next lot of stuff I got came from another stall. I've got no idea what I'll be using these for yet but I'm sure inspiration will strike... maybe Pinterest will help me on this one.

The final item I purchased is this contraption. When I saw it I thought it was actually a hook, but apparently it's some type of vintage hand held gardening hoe. Sorry for the poor quality on this one.

See that hole at the tip? I'm guessing that's the screw hole for a timber handle. Don't you just love that rust?

Next year I'll be a little bit more prepared an maybe a little bit more fitter and lighter :-P

Part 3 of the Rocky Swap 2011 tour will feature what I call "Ugly dolls" although my Mum absolutely LOVES them.

Cheers

Jenn

Look What I Found On The Weekend

It’s been awhile since I made my way to the local recycle dump and it totally surprises me what people throw away. What surprises me even more is how people gather in front of the door like a herd of cattle and stampede in when the door is opened. But the biggest surprise was the snatch and grab mentality. Case in point, in order to put some cute little spice bottles into a just as cute little tin case which I will show you soon, I had to put the items I had up (only got two hands like the rest of us), and within seconds a man went to take one of the items saying he could not see my name on it. Guess I’ll just have to take a bag with me next time.

Anyways, here is my little collection of interesting finds.

Candle Hurricane

This is the item I almost lost. Isn’t it a little beauty? 

A view of the candle wax that needed to be removed

Spice Bottles

Tin Lunch Boxes

Salt and Pepper Shakers

Beauty Container

Jewellery

Waste Paper Bin

Love the black trimming with the studs.

And the grand total for all this? $5

Nope that's not a typo my friends. I paid just 5 bucks for this entire stash.

Looking forward to the weekend to see what else I can find for my home and stall.

Cheers