When I lived in the states, I spent a lot of time shopping for junk I could turn into usable and attractive furniture, what later received the name upcycling and became overwhelmingly popular. I got the furniture building gene from my father who spent hours working in his shop on furniture projects and home remodelling. Though I was never very good at turning my visions into reality and machinery continued to be a mystery no matter how much I tried, my siblings consistently turn out impressively phenomenal products. What went wrong? Still, I have in my home several pieces from my visionary time and my efforts at recycling, staying out of the particle board world, and worthwhile distractions.

I found the Waring blender above, actually a pair of them, at a swap meet. They are nearly identical with slight differences in the pitcher. I paid to have them wired as lamps, and then again with EU fittings. One illuminates my desk and the other a reading nook. Every time I switch one on, I imagine the drinks someone must have made with them some time ago and fight the urge run to the kitchen for a margarita. I prefer these simple lamps over the more modern desk lamp I recently used, being one of a kind, historical, and a rejection of our throw away culture. (I gave away my old lamp, I didn’t throw it away, so someone is getting some use out of it!)