Seven Things to Do With A Bell Jar

Bell jars were originally laboratory equipment used to contain a vacuum environment. They were used to demonstrate the physics of how things functioned inside a vacuum. 

For example, a ringing alarm clock placed in a bell jar, with the air pumped out, stops ringing. 

In Victorian times, they were used in purely decorative ways without the vacuum feature. Displays in bell jars might include taxidermy, clocks, or fragile items. 

#1 - Wasp Nest

My own bell jars above hold a small vintage photo frame and a wasp nest on a candlestick.

Here are six more bell jar ideas from Pinterest:

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#2 - Vintage Books

I love this one with the vintage books and jar. 

Simple, yet wonderful.

Notice - this one has no base.

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#3 - Dried twigs & Feathers

The cloche above has vintage bottles with 

twig clippings, a feather, a vintage photo...lovely.

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# 4 - Vintage Keys 

Love love love.

Not cheap, and it has a 4-5 month delivery time.

Times like this are when I feel 

happy I'm frugal and creative.

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#5 - Vintage Bottles

I need to find another bell jar

so I can place my vintage bottles inside it!

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#6 - vintage page scrolls.

The ones above are music pages. 

You could use Bible pages or other book pages, photos, etc.

Tie them with cotton twine...even make a fun gift with it! 

Print secret messages or coupons for your family to redeem for favorite meal, a massage, I'll clean your room, one free walk the dog...whatever works as little gifts you can give. 

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#7 -  Family Treasures, photos, etc.

Compose your own vignette!

What a great way to celebrate the 

upcoming holiday seasons!

To see even more ideas, visit my Pinterest page HERE.

Word for the Day:

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
http://my1929charmerblog.com/	Sunday’s Best
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/	Amaze Me Monday
http://distresseddonnadownhome.blogspot.com http://southernhospitalityblog.com/	Make it Monday Thrifty Treasures
Tuesday
http://knickoftime.net/	Vintage Inspiration Party
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Party
http://mysalvagedtreasures.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Party
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://tarnishedroyalty.com/	Drop it or Swap it Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com	Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.thecottagemarket.com/	Junkin’ Joe
http://melissasantiques.blogspot.com/	Thrifty Things Friday
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk

Quick, Easy and Cheap Chair Makeover

(AKA How to Turn an Accident into an Asset!)

If I were a bettin' woman, I'd bet you have a chair something like mine...stuck somewhere. 

Maybe you found it in a thrift store for $5 like I did.

Maybe you inherited it, and it doesn't quite work with your environment, but you would not want to get rid of it...

Maybe it is a great chair, but it has a spot that won't come out, or a hole or two, like my chair did.

Let me back up a bit and help you and your chair out by telling you that before the holes, I had painted this chair in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint...dirty upholstery and everything. 

It kept the fabric soft an pliable, unlike my attempts with watered down latex paints. It covered well. 

I used the paint full strength on the wood, and watered down by more than half for the fabric. 

Then, after a tiring, hot garage sale day (having one, not going to them), I sat in it. I heard a distinct pop and felt an uncomfortable hard place at about the same time. We had pulled a couple of clothing items from the sale and put them in the chair, along with a piece of ornamental iron...I didn't see the iron and didn't consider moving the clothing from the chair before plopping into it. 

If you don't know this about me yet, I procrastinate fiber projects like sewing pillows, curtains, and upholstery. I will occasionally cover a square seat cushion, but this one was a bit more complicated, so I kept putting it off. 

Then I began to see patchwork upholstery things in Pinterest...usually in industrial or bohemian type rooms. 

So when I began my heavy industrial living room revision, I decided to stop putting a pillow over it and try something semi-permanent. I had nothing to lose! (Details on this vignette HERE.)

Here is what the finished chair seat looks like:

It was quick and easy, and free, since I had some basic materials on hand already. I bet one more time that you probably have them around as well...if not, you can find them at Walmart or Hobby Lobby. 

Supplies needed for a patchwork chair fix:

• Fabric - however much you think you need...I used remnants of a drop cloth I had on hand from recovering square chair cushions. If you're not a fan of industrial shabby, you could use upholstery pieces, denim, anything you might find to coordinate with your room. A heavier weight fabric will be better than a light weight.

If you're a seamstress, you could finish the edges. I just ripped my drop cloth into random rectangular shapes and called it good. 

• Aleene's Tacky Glue (click here for the web site.)

This glue is made for fabric, and it is the perfect consistency - not too drippy, not too dry. It dries soft and pliable, not hard and stiff. You can find it at Walmart, Hobby Lobby, or order it online through Amazon.

• Stencil or fabric transfer materials of your choice

If you use drop cloth and want to do a faux lettered piece like I did, you'll need a stencil of your choice. I didn't put a lot of thought into mine, just picked a few letters, I think M, Q and W, for no reason other than they were on the top of the stack.

For those of you who have mastered fabric transfers, they would be fabulous!

• Sharpie marker 

I used a regular black, but you could use any permanent marker you like - thin, fat, colored, etc.

• Brown acrylic paint mixed with water 

I used this to age my drop cloth. It looked a bit too "raw" before. 

Note: Don't do this like I did it...I'm giving you the proper order below - which I will use when I do this again! 

I had planned to use raw drop cloth, but did not like the contrast. So I stenciled and painted after gluing...

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Draw your letters on your canvas drop cloth with a sharpie, outlining carefully inside the stencil. Fill in lightly, trying to avoid obvious texture or directional marks.

2. Water down your brown acrylic paint so it is like intensely muddy water. Paint it on your fabric to get a mottled aged effect. (I dipped the tip of a 1 inch flat brush into  a dollop of paint, then swirled it in  water I had dribbled into the lid of a yogurt container.)

3. Go look at Pinterest or put dinner in the crock pot while it dries. If you are impatient like me, use a hair dryer to dry your fabric.

4. Make a tiny cut in the canvas where you want the rip to begin. Then, rip a straight line. Make another tiny cut and rip again. Rip random sized patches to cover your spots, holes, etc. Fray the edges a bit. (I prefer the look of more than one patch. Go for 3 or 5...)

5. Spread a thin layer of glue all over the back side of your patch, covering even the frayed edges. 

6. Position one patch at a time, pressing from the center toward the outside in all directions to ensure it is adhered with no wrinkles. Keep going with your patches until you think it looks good. 

7. Let it dry - I let mine dry overnight to ensure no glue would leak out of the edges or patches would not move around when sat on.

That's it. Simple, and I think, it will be durable, too. 

Word for the Day:

Matthew 9:16

No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
http://my1929charmerblog.com/	Sunday’s Best
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/	Amaze Me Monday
http://distresseddonnadownhome.blogspot.com	Make it Monday
Tuesday
http://knickoftime.net/	Vintage Inspiration Party
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Party
http://mysalvagedtreasures.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Party
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://tarnishedroyalty.com/	Drop it or Swap it Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com	Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.thecottagemarket.com/	Junkin’ Joe
http://melissasantiques.blogspot.com/	Thrifty Things Friday
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk

http://www.pneumaticaddict.com/ - Outside the Box Link Party

Thrifty Life Thursday #36 with Features from Last Week, and a Very Cool Feature for Yours Truly!

This week, I've gotten maybe a third of the way through my vintage industrial/fancy French living room revision. It's been really, really fun...even more than I had imagined.

This is the area in front of the only window in the room...which is naked. On purpose.

I moved the trunk that used to be the coffee table there. On top of it, there are currently a few items that may or may not stay...but one thing I like is the lamp. I spray painted it mustard. At first, I didn't like it. It looked too slick, but not really glossy or shiny enough to look "mod." In this living room, it needed to be distressed.

So I attacked it with a piece of sand paper and it was much better. 

Both the shade and the lamp are thrift store purchases.

Most recently, it looked like this:

Before that, it looked like this for about 5 minutes:

Even before that, it looked like this:

Gotta love the thrift that keeps on giving...

Before I show you the 4 (yes, it was a hard, hard week to pick, and there was a really good reason for 4 picks...) features this week...

I have to share.  I was honored to be Vintage Blog of the Week at Adirondack Girl @ Heart! 

Diana did in-depth digging around my blog...and shared stuff I had forgotten about. It was so kind and encouraging, I seriously asked her if her day job was in public relations! 

Diana has a great eye for thrift store finds, and she shares information as well as her pricing on items she finds and sells. You definitely don't find many bloggers who are that open regarding the pricing, and I get it, prices vary by region, but still, it is refreshing. Check out her post on vintage crackle glass...very informative. 

She features a new vintage blogger each week, as well as a collectible item, a faith post, and her weekly finds. If you haven't visited yet, you're in for a treat! Thanks, Diana, for the honor of being your featured blogger this week. :)

This weeks Thrifty Life Thursday features include another surprising feature by Audrey from Timeless Treasures... (Why do I continue to be surprised by this dynamo? I should just assume it is something great and go on, right?) 

I kid you not...I opened the link (the very last one at the party), started reading, and began laughing out loud...from pure joy and amazement! 

She can take a random pile of her cool, thrifted junk and put it all together, including wiring, spray paint it a pretty color, and make something totally surprising and wonderful! A SOLAR CHANDELIER. Anthropologie would want to sell it for a zillion dollars. 

The clincher? It is for her secret garden. She grows tomatoes, pumpkins and things...Lord, give me energy and creativity like Audrey! And, she's doing this in the middle of a MAJOR bathroom renovation. It takes me weeks to rearrange my living room...

SOMETIMES, your steps get ordered in a way that seems like more than a coincidence. The next two features are sort of like that...

Cindy, from Consider it all Joy, shared a furniture makeover that turned out really nice. (She genderizes her furniture projects, too...) I emailed her and told her I wanted to feature it. 

Pretty, right? She uses it in her dining room for table linen storage. Then, I read another post, and found something in it that Cindy needs for her sweet piece...

Dianne, from Deanie's Stash ALWAYS finds stuff I have never seen anywhere before. This week, she had vintage candy vending machines, erector sets, type writers, shaker lids...yes, plural. 

She ALWAYS shares truly awe-inspiring vintage finds. And then I saw these...

And I had only JUST seen this at Cindy's blog...

So I wondered if I might do a little match-making...and maybe these girls could barter...

Last but never least, Vickie from Ranger 911 posted about an adorably quirky, pink vintage clock she found recently. 

Then she added the singing birds, and her dad's pink wool baby booties...I am turning all mushy inside from the charm! But wait...there's more!

This eclectic vignette includes several more components...one of them is an adopted ancestor...in the form of a vintage framed photo of a little girl. The near-scowl on that pretty little face was the icing on this tasty 4-layer cake!

Kudos, everyone, for your originality, creativity, resourcefulness and kindness. You add value to this life...though we have not met in person. I look forward to seeing what you bring next week!

THRIFTY LIFE THURSDAY #36

Gathering Guidelines:

This is a gathering for people who enjoy hunting for treasures 

that may have previous experience or lived a former life elsewhere. 

Please share items that are second-hand or are composed of second-hand materials.

Types of Posts to Share:

• Home decor, furniture, collectibles, garden items and even wearables are welcome, as long as they have a second-hand element.
• Please, no food items, new pieces from "real" stores, or crafts, unless made with upcycled, thrifty finds.

• Hand-me-downs and curbside finds are welcome, as are items found in thrift stores, garage sales, antique shops, flea markets and other interesting places.
• Treasures may be listed as you found them, or with your updates, tweaks, and re-purposes; befores and afters are both welcome.

• Items need not be "vintage" but must be pre-owned or second hand.

• Posts including Etsy and other shop links are welcome! For visitor enjoyment, please link to your blog post, not directly to your Etsy shop. 

Etiquette:

• Though it is not a requirement, it would be lovely if you would follow Revisionary Life  via Blogger, Bloglovin' or subscribe via email. Links are located in my sidebar to the right.

• Please link your post (not your blog address) back to Revisionary Life.             
• Please visit at least one other party friend.

• I'd love for you to comment and introduce yourself if we've never met before. :) Otherwise, don't feel obligated to leave a comment. 

Features:

• Featured items must meet the criteria above. 
• Only posts that link back may be featured.
• I will try to leave a comment or email you and let you know if you were featured!

Word for the Day:
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, 

but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see 

the Day drawing near.

Sharing with Ivy and Elephants - http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/