Upcycling the recycling...

Hello again - I will cheer up eventually, being a misery guts from time to time is part of my nature (silly things get me down)!

I bought this from a charity shop the other day and was really buying it for the little case (Bronte is fond of these) and I was going to do what I often do and donate the slide projector back to the shop (I have often done this with china when I really, really do not want it all but just a 'token piece' - daft really).  Anyway I changed to the glasses that I can see close up with and realised that it was quite a nice looking projector.

I thought that I could then upcycle (sort of) this into a fancy light for Bronte's bedroom and perhaps project some vintage images at the same time!  What do you think?  Daft? For £7.50 that was not too bad for a case and light (then again I could have bought a new one.....).

 By sheer coincidence I noticed that there was an image of an electrical gizmo with an old plug also on this fabric

This fabric is a pair of curtains and one day (when I am feeling very brave) I will use the fabric for something.....

I cannot remember a time when I have not used things in ways other than original purpose - when a teenager (what the heck was I thinking!!!!) I bought these two 'things':

I know that you are thinking: "^%£^"£^$%&$$£............%$^&**&&???" - but bear with....these are Edwardian snooker/billiard cue holders of course.  They could be found going cheap because we do not usually have Edwardian snooker cues in our homes any more and also I don't think everyone would know what they are. So what do I use them for?  Holding our umbrellas of course - the top photograph shows the lovely little ratchet mechanism that swirls round!  The photographs are not very good (and are dusty) because these are tucked inside a cupboard but they have been used for this purpose for several decades in our home!  Who knew!

PS: I have been saving up for varifocals - then the awful reality of what I have been making will hit me!

PPS:Just adding something in here that is not related to making things or second hand stuff!  I don't usually watch any medical/hospital related type programmes - I huff and puff about them too much. However I have been watching some of the Great Ormond Street series and the other day Professor Martin Elliott was featured carrying out a tracheal transplant.  I remember him coming to our office many years ago (he did not have white hair then!) and asking us if we would ask bereaved families if they would consider tracheal donation. This was/is pioneering surgery - though I fully understand it is not for everyone to be a part of and we are all different in our thoughts and views.  I was one of four transplant co-ordinators who worked solely on the donation side of transplantation in our region (at that time there were only about 65 co-ordinators in the country and they worked mainly on the recipient side) - I was the person that you never wished to meet because of what I represented. Thinking of those bereaved families now brings a lump to my throat - kind and brave families, I remember you all. I have never been able to attend the memorial services that are held for those who have donated because I know that I would cry too much. A difficult but tremendous job to have been a part of for several years.  I really do appreciate everything that we have and sometimes I really miss working in intensive care.  Adding this in only to show that I am not all frou frou and vintage fabrics!!

Have a sunny day inside - even if it is raining outside!