Light the Way ... to 2010

Let nothing dim the light that shines from within...

Maya Angelou

It seems fitting that, as 2009 slowly draws to a close, we finalise old projects in order to make way for the new... Remember these?

You first met them on my blog here when they were still scuffing their toes loafing around in my hallway, waiting for some TLC from me and looking for a bit of purpose in life.

"You must put your best foot forward," I told them, "if you want to move on to bigger things!" So together we decided they would shed a little light on the future. Finally, with an old bike fork, a bit of welding help from my Ferronnier, a thrifted glass lampshade from a  vide-grenier and some deft wiring skills, this is what we came up with:

You will note that I managed to restrain myself from taking to the poor things with a paint brush and my 'patine' effect (Sighs of relief. Applause). My how difficult it is to leave the past behind. I guess it's more about constantly reinventing it so that it molds and shapes itself to the present...

I had to add my signature touch though, in the form of the quote at the top of this post. I've already used it here too. Words always provide a conscious reminder for me to remain in the present and to focus on the positive. No exceptions.

I can see from the exuberant post Christmas posts that you are all full steam ahead already on 2010's projects. Before I get far too ahead of myself, as I am wont to do, I promise myself to take stock of this last year, acknowledge it's highs and lows and objectively observe the results.  This ain't gonna be easy as I have absolutely no recollection whatsoever of the low points. I'm sure there were some, but I seem to have misplaced them somewhere. I must start taking things a little more seriously...

Mostly though, I am going to spend the next couple of days finalising the old projects and consolidating so my next foot forward is not only on solid ground, but REALLY my best! Mind you, how could it not be with the fabulous new pair of snuggly warm slippers I found lounging in a box with my name on it under ze Sapin !!!

Anyway, now that all three of my cherished messmonsters have been lovingly kidnapped by the PiL I am officially on holidays for five whole days. Paradoxically, this means I am free to WORK to my heart's content. Oh Joy! Oh Peace!

Oh Singing Really Loudly to my favourite songs while I 'illuminate' my home!!!

This first lamp is going to help light our very pretty, but rather dark French farmhouse. The next ones will be for sale (at very reasonable prices!). Don't hesitate to email me for details.

More lamps to light your way coming over the next few days

(umm - Mr Ferronnier, about that welding...)

Open the door and light the way... to Christmas!

On every door a Christmas wish...

... hand made with a dash of vintage and a touch of new.

This festive season, may you

open more doors...

A splash of crimson in a vintage jam jar lends an apéritif that Christmassy feeling...

for all my French friends who are watching their weight just before the big 'feast.'

Crimson (yes, they are radishes) compliments
vintage pink champagne perfectly.

Bon apétit!

An old bonbonnière ...

(Mmm - she used to be used for making home made nut or orange wine. You know the recipe: 40 nuts. 40 sugars. 40 days etc etc? NO? Leave a comment and I will send you the recipe. But to make it as well as my MiL... takes practice. And now I have her bonbonnière...)

...Lights the way for guests in the entrance.

Tomorrow (date of the Immaculate Conception) is the Fête de la Lumière in Lyon , when every house decorates their window sills with millions of candles to light the way for the passer by. Maybe I've taken a bit of poetic licence with the number of candles used.

It's reputed to be BEAU-TI-FUL!

For more beautiful vintage Christmas decorations you can visit
  Joan at Anything Goes Here.

By the light of my bonbonnière I shall now get back to my painting.

A luminous Crimson Christmas to all!

Lighting the way to... the Winners

This evening, 3 little pairs of hands dipped into a magician's hat ...

... and to their own delight they pulled out the three winners to my giveaway from Thursday's post.

"What are we doing this for Mummy?"

"Because Mummy is an IT DUMMY and has no idea how to procure that widget Julie has for selecting random winners"

"Because Mummy thought it would be a fun game over desert for a change!"

(Hear giggles and squeals of delight from messmonsters)

Now your answers were soooo EnTeRtaiNinG and imaginative that I put all of them into the hat. Some of you had the answer half right. Some have really inspired me for future projects. And some were just hilarious in general!  In fact, next time I will hold a contest for the most inspirational new use for a flea market find and get the messmonsters to judge!

Would you like the winners first? Or the uses for the objects? Let's try for a bit more suspense (Heck, you can always scroll down to find out if you are like me and read the last page of a book to reassure yourself that everything will work out ok...)

The answer then! Each object is indeed going to be used to make a lamp or light fixture. Some will even be for sale as soon as I get my wee online shop up and running (This week I promise myself, THIS week).

BUT it's going to take me a little time to finish them. Why?

Put your best foot forward and Light the Way!

 The shoe lasts are going to become the base for 4 individual lamps (I already have the wiring ready and the vintage lampshades) but I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WELD and am counting on our local blacksmith to help me out with fixing the other bits to the lasts. He promised he would call a month ago but this is France so you can't be in too much of a hurry...

The Bed Springs, with the reluctant help of SkippY, and a lovely big piece of flat driftwood will replace the 1 teeny spotlight I have in a sombre corner of the house.  I'm sure you're wondering how in heaven's name I'm going to pull this one off, and for that matter, so am I. But I have a little idea in mind and they usually work out! I promise it will be visually attractive (fingers crossed ;-)

March to the Beat of a Different Drum: and Light the Way

And the wee 'tam tam' will indeed be mounted on an old door as a light for a little boy's room. This one I can do all by myself - but it's going to be tricky straightening the bands on the sides after so many years of neglect. This is probably the easiest one to start with - So keep an eye out for it on forthcoming posts!

After all that, I'm a bit disappointed not to be making a pogo springy footed, drum beating  scarecrow like LULU (hear applause).

Amanda (more applause) had the great idea of attaching the springs as candle holders in the drum. Hmm, I know where there are a few more abandoned mattresses so I may have to try that one out later...

You know Tammie (so much applause-hands hurting now), I really do think we will find ourselves in a world of joy and peace if we value more things handmade, reuse, recycle, appreciate and share... at least that's what I tell my kids every day.

Don't forget you three to contact me by email with your addresses so I can post the little decorations off to you.

Thank you ALL for participating because I don't think I've had so much fun in ages (no night life obviously seeing as I'm sitting here at 1am ;-). Don't forget to pass by again to see the finished products. And I promise I'll do another give away - probably a "positive plank" next time - for my 100th post!

Happy Monday,

Love

Ange

Light the Way ...to Words of Joy and Peace. Give Away Riddle!

What do these old bedsprings (from the moth eaten base of an antique bed my parents in law were taking to the dump)

This old drum

and these antique shoe lasts (found under a pile of metal at a flea market)

all have in common?

All correct answers left as a comment on this post before Sunday 11pm Toulouse time will be in the draw to win a 4 piece set of ...

THESE little Words of Joy & Peace!

Hand made this week (see yesterday's post), and embellished with recycled ribbon

and other flea market finds like these

Use them as gift tags (with a hand written note on heavy tracing paper lightly pasted behind as I do) or christmas decorations, presents for the kids' teachers ...

3 Winners announced on Monday!

PS - There is a hint in the title...

Happy Thursday - Peace to all...

and even though it's Thursday - I'm linking this to
Small Footprints' Change the World Wednesday 
(I'm always running late...)
Reinventing new uses for old junk is also good for our Environment!

Open the door and light the way...

It is just an old door adorned with an albeit ornate 'applique.'
They are relics of broken pieces left discarded, wet and black, by the firemen which were lovingly rescued and reincarnated by me on return from holidays in Australia.
Amusingly, this is the piece in my house that, at every sale I have held, everyone most wants to buy.  Yet, it is one of the few things I still can't let go of...
This old door still has a story to tell.
Watch this space!
Soon its secrets will be illuminated ...

Eclairer le chemin (Light the Way)

En effet, "Eclairer le Chemin" me semble plus approprié comme devise (à discuter avec les 3 messmonsters autour d'un repas) que "Redefinir l'Impossible."

Un peu d'ordre (au milieu de tout ce désordre) nous ferait tous du bien dans notre Cocoon à la campagne...

Soyez les bienvenus à notre nouvelle table de salle à manger...

N'hésitez pas à passer pour partager un repas simple avec nous. S'il fait sombre - on vous éclairera le chemin...

Light the Way to Redefining the Impossible!

Beaker's choice of a phrase to enhance our new "old" dining room table was a toss up between "Light the Way" (Let nothing dim the light that shines from within) and, "Redefine the Impossible" (don't be afraid to do something just because it's impossible).

He finally, and thankfully opted for 'Light the Way.'  As resolutely positive as I am, I'm not sure that I could cope with having to encourage my messmonsters' pursuits at redefining the impossible everytime we sit down to breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have enough trouble getting them to follow some semblance of order at the best of times.

It also dawned on me that, I might like to enjoy that solitary glass of wine in silence at the table in the evening, without feeling like I have to take on the world in the ensuing 3 seconds.

Yes! 'Light the way,' is uplifting, not to mention an interesting topic for discussion during meals with the messmonsters. Much more appropriate than, 'Mum, what's that big stain of Orange paint outside the garage?' for example...

(Umm, Er, Sorry SkippY)

My eternal gratitude, Maya Angelou, (I believe you uttered that wisdom) for providing a conversation starter/alternative/diversion...