Thursday, April 19, 2012

The 70's called....

...they want their brass back. You know what I'm talkin about. You've been there, or at least know somebody who has...maybe still is.    Dear Lord....

The thrift and second hand stores are full of it. Goodwill has it....and of course they want more for it than it's worth! Just think....if the price of brass ever goes up like silver and gold.....get.outta.my.way...I'm headed to the thrift!!

I usually pass by the brass section (and I'm not talkin musical horns here) but this lamp caught my eye during a recent visit to my favorite only local re-sale store.








Why, yes, I did start eliminating the brass before the "before" picture....couldn't help myself...








See all that pretty fluted, curvy, brassiliciousness? Ok, let me just apologize right now for my brassy sarcasm....not intending to offend anyone who may still love the look.  If that's you....stop reading.  Go visit one of the blogs on our sidebar.  If you're not offended and totally get my sarcasm...read on...








The lamp even came with these iridescent, genuine plastic, tear-drop crystals! They go with anything and everything 70's!











Here's where the transformation begins.....a little elegant finish, silver metallic paint to pull this baby into the here and now.....or at least as far as the 80's!

A simple and cheap artist's paintbrush magically erases the offensive gold....







...until, alas! There is no more!


Yes, yes I do see that it is entirely too silver. Please be patient....I'm not done yet. There's more trickery up my sleeve....
I need to do something to enhance that beautiful faux marbling in the only part of the lamp that is not brass or light bulb or electrical cord. I'm pretty sure it's not real marble.....but it is real pretty.




Enter black acrylic craft paint (sorry, no photo) diluted with plain old tap water. Paint on, dabble off with a damp paper towel.

Here it is after painting on the diluted black, before dabbling it off....kind of runny and drippy.



Doesn't that look better? And less silvery? And more aged? And much less brassy? Yes, I think it does too.







Throw in those iridescent dangly things......umm....jury's still out on those.....









And there she is! A little less brass and a little more......hello lovely~!
Yes, the lamp shade is naked. That's another post....another day....




Who's with me on this one?  Buh-bye brass.  Hello romantic, crystally, marbley, naked-shaded lamp!
Can I get an AMEN?!

Follow me over to SNS #130.....you'll be glad you did!!

To be continued....

9 comments:

  1. AMEN sista! Love a girl that paints everything like I do! In fact, I have a brass lamp I inherited from my parents that needs a similar treatment. Just might happen this weekend! Happy Spring Ya'll from Houston, TX

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  2. Beautiful job! I would buy this lamp in a New York minute.

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  3. OH YEA!

    (to the tune of Goin' to the Chapel)Goin' to my thrift store and I'm, loookin' for a brassy lamp, goin' to the thrift store for a lamp!WAY TO GO!

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  4. Oh, amen and then some! Awe-some. Cannot wait to see the conclusion!!!

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  5. You really gave the lamp a great update! Love the new look! Thanks so much for stopping by my Bachman's post!

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  6. Love it, Cassie!...so much better than the before.

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  7. Yep, love it! I would like to be a vendor this fall, could you pass on info to me? Please visit me for an Annie Sloan book giveaway.

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  8. Nice!! Now I know what to do with my two brass lamps out in the garage **since I bought them 2 years ago** for charity.

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