Wednesday, August 11, 2010

(and the garage sale said) Let There Be Light!

Aren't they sexy?  For some reason that's the only word that comes to mind about these lamps-- there's something just so deliciously naughty about their curves.  And their very naughty price tag-- $1.50 each.   

 I think they would look great paired with drum shades in this fabric
It comes in orange, too-- Grady would love that.  I think I would leave the bases orange-- maybe.  Nothing is safe when me and my paint brush get on a roll.

Or this one-- pretty.

I'm really feeling the brass lamps these days, aren't I?  I love this one (and my other one) because they are old-- their patina isn't newly minted for big-box sale, but comes from years and years of honest dirt (the cord can't lie-- I haven't seen a cloth cord on a new lamp, ever!   I will definitely rewire this one before use!)  $5.00 at a thrift store. 

A simple, classic shade would be good.
This lamp is my find of the year-- I LOVE it. It's perfect for the boys' room, which is coming together (at least in my head! If you saw the real thing right now you'd be scratching yours, though-- I have some pretty heavy-duty floor painting to go on in there, and I've been waiting for the right time to move them out for a few days.)



This one was so cheap-- $2 at a garage sale.  I can't even stand it it is so good. 
Not so good-- my crappy kit-lens that came with our camera.  Anybody have recs on a good lens for a Nikon D-50 that is good in low light and doesn't cost a fortune?  With all this money I'm saving on lamps these days I think it might be time to spring for a new lens!

12 comments:

anellesgardening said...

I just asked JP about your lens dilemma. Unfortunately, that's a flaw in the Nikon D series. You won't really be able to get good lighting in low lighting no matter what lens you use. :( It's just how it is designed. The D series is the amateur version, and just isn't as versatile.

Melissa said...

Do you mean to tell me my $700 camera body is an amateur body? Geez. Wonder what just $500 buys you-- a box of crayons and a sketch book?

Joy said...

I don't know about your camera problem because I'm a Canon girl, but the lamps are a great find. We'll need room shots when you're done. :)

Lacey (schoolhousefarm) said...

$500 buys you my awesome camera. i'm telling you. slr's are a desire of the past. my canon s90 is magical, i tell you, magical...&, fits in my pocket. so, if the lens is more than that, just get my sweet light box--& if you're not comfortable with dealing with settings there is a dummy-low-light-automatic-option. Seriously. best camera ever.

Courtney at SL's No Ennui said...

I thought you didn't LIKE orange! I see you are possibly changing your mind??? I say these words all the time to Husband when he says, "I thought you didn't like ___________":

"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes."
Walt Whitman

I LOVE the orange bottoms and think you should leave them and go with the navy fabric :)

paula said...

gorgeous, gorgeous, and more gorgeous!

anellesgardening said...

Yah, JP has the same $700 camera, so he's in the same boat. Awesome camera if you have good light, but not so good in low lighting. It's sort of the industry thing that goes back and forth. If you've got light, get a Nikon, but if you're wanting to do low lighting, you need the Canon....

Anonymous said...

I have a Nikon camera and I love my 50mm f 1.8. It does better in low light and it is cheap!-Jennifer W.

brown robin said...

All this chatter about cameras for some reason cracks me up... however, I want to know more from "Gremlina" about the light box. I've needed to go that route for a really long time. Melissa, you have to be a lamp magnet, I swear. You got it goin' on girl.

Anonymous said...

Loving the fabric for the drum shades. Great finds!

xo

E+J

Haven and Home said...

$1.50 for those?!?!?! Great find!

Courtney at SL's No Ennui said...

Oh, how I've missed your posts! I hope school is going well :)