Put a Bird on it? Sure. But let’s throw a big net over another design mega trend today — one with classic vintage-upcycling roots: Put A Bulb In It. A two-day miniseries. Today: 24 pendant lights made by repurposing and upcycling vintage treasures, which you can buy online. Tomorrow: A video featuring lighting expert Susan Schneider of Shandells.com, who shows me how we can fashion upcycled and artful pendant lights on our own.
So let’s get going! Above: The humble Ball Jar pendant light, which seems to have started this entire megatrend. The Ball Jar pendant, above, is from Barnlight Electric $149. Disclosure: Barnlight Electric is a current advertiser, but this feature isn’t a part of deal or anything. The reason I like this light, in particular, is because it features an authentic vintage Ball Jar (which I think is important.) Readers, as you are looking through all of these lights shown, please remember that you often do get what you pay for — such as porcelain sockets, cloth-covered cords – good solid lighting.
Poke around at Barnlight Electric some more,and you see these vintage acetylene tank tops repurposed into lighting, $149. They even have them in orange. 
Note: Barnlight Electric is having a 10% off storewide sale right now – enter Spring11 on checkout.
These are sa-weet! Pendant lighting made from old railroad insulators. Back in the late 60s and early 70s, we used these as planters — we flipped them the other way, strung them in macrame, and added spider plants. What a flash from my past! Vintage railroad insulator pendants from RailroadWare, $149. Also available via Remodelista, where I first saw them.
Antique Key Plate pendant, from Napa Style, $599 (more styles available). Love the colors and the keyholes!
Here is another take on the insulator pendant, from Napa Style, $299.
Are you having fun yet? This one might be my favorite so far, because I fed my share of chickens growing up: Pendant light made from a vintage chicken feeder, from Napa Style, $399. That’s some chicken scratch! That Napa Style likes their upcycled, repurposed vintage, that’s for sure.
Add some baubles and a pendant can easily become a chandelier. (Though, I have left ”chandeliers made from upcycled vintage treasures for another day.) This Eat Drink Be Merry Chandelier by Jose Esteves for Anthropologie turns vintage spoons and forks into a $4,800 work of art.
Heading over the etsy.com, which I suspect will be a bonanza, I immediately am presented with this pendant light made from a vintage jello mold, just $35, from BootsNGus.
Readers, also note: Please also take care not to overload the wattage of any pendant lighting — depending on where you buy an upcycled pendant light from, you might want to have it doublechecked with a local lighting expert to make sure of its wiring and that you are not overloading it.
Pretty pretty pretty. Different vases and such, matched with vintage receptors or caps or whatever you call the things that hold them– love the mashup! Each of these is $48 from BootsnGus.
More pretty pendant lights — grouped, $100 — from BootsnGus. BnG, who is based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, sure is workin’ this concept! $100.
You got your pendant light made from a blender, $32 also from da boots. haha
BootsNGus pendant light made from ceramic planter.
Pendant light made from cracker tins, several styles available, $55 from metalight on etsy.com.
Colander pendant from metalight, $150. (Colandar discorama.)
Pendant light made from oil funnel, $68.95 from PaddyRidge on etsy.com.
Pendant light from pizza shaker, $35 from WashburnArt, etsy.
Pendants made from vintage teacups, $48 each, from TheSalvagedTeaParty, etsy.
Back to fancy artists with their own websites. Pendant light made from a vintage egg basket. Drats, I sold a vintage egg basket at my garage sale last summer. What was I thinking? NEVER let anything leave the house! Hoard everything vintage, don’t let those neat-freaks dissuade you! $125 from Junkyard Lighting.
Same idea, same company as above, currently sold out. Haha, I am pretty sure I still have my metal basket that looks like this. They will pry it from my cold, dead hands.
Adorable beyond adorable: Pendant lights upcycled from vintage kitchen canisters by Rodney Allen Trice / The Other Man’s Treasures. First spotted on Simply Stated.
Died and gone to heaven. That Rodney Allen Trice is a genius. This pendant made out of a vintage Christma tree holder is just the best. It looks from the website like all work is custom.
Ooooh, I love this, too: Vintage doilies sewn together to create a pendant light, $850 by ReMadeUSA by Shannon South.
Now these are pretty fantastic: Lead crystal decanters turned into pendant lights. They are by Lee Broom, I can’t see a price. I am pretty sure they are very spendy.
Phew. This one took me hourz. Just as I did with my megapost last week, on — 19 mid century and modern sofas — I am looking to build the definitive list of pendant lights upcycled from vintage treasures. If you spot any more artisans or retailers, will you let me know? Put a bulb on it!
WOW! These are amazing! What a tribute to the inspiration and ingenuity of the American spirit. My favorites are the cracker tin light and the kitchen canisters. Thanks for your inspiration in finding these!
Very interesting post. Some look like they can be very nice in a home setting, Others might look better in a picture. Surely makes you think outside the box. (You forgot the cheese grater lights from That 70′s Show though)
I’ve seen people making yard / garden ornaments out of dishes and vases fashioned into “flowers.” They put them on sticks. I’ve also see some bird feeders made the same way. If you cruise Etsy you should be able to find some.
I’ve also seen old metal canisters and coffee pots made into bases for lamps. Some of the canisters look better on the counter, to me, though. Although that light was pretty creative.
I think hose rail insulators were also used up on telephone or light poles. I just came across another one in my garage…I thought I had gotton rid of all of them.
Sometimes the old insulators are also hanging up on the attic wall in you house, where the electricity used to come in!
I really like the jello mold lamp…from “da boots” HA!
I loved that one, too! (I noticed they even kept the tupperware lid on it.)
OK, you guys are weird. The jello-mold pendant is ugly! But I’m drooling over all the others! Here’s my own upcycled pendant lighting from things found at Habitat for Humanity thrift store: http://www.diypics.com/upcycle-a-pendant-lighting-fixture/ Cost: about $9
Hi Marty, I take that as a compliment. Let you freak flag fly!
Amen, sista!
this is awesome because a lot of them appear to be plug-in. being in a rental with little overhead lighting sucks, but this might be my cure!!
Love those! I am right down the street from Barnlight in my winter haven, MUST check their vintage redo selections.
Love the Railroadware insulator pendants. Would you believe, just gave my insulator collection to a cousin to enhance his much bigger collection? No fooling, as soon as it leaves the house, a perfect use pops up.
And when I saw the title of this segment, I immediately thought of colander lights, how beautiful that one is. I wonder if we could make one for a ceiling fan? Thinking, thinking…..
This is one of my all-time favorite posts! I love lighting and you found some great pieces. It’s hard to choose a favorite- I loved the Tupperware lid still on the jello mold (how else would you change the bulbs?) and the vintage Christmas tree holder, clustered with tree bulbs. The vintage key plate pendant, though, might be my #1.
I like the idea of pairing these posts with “Show us yours” followups, like the sofas. Wouldn’t we love to see everyone’s fabulous pendant lights?
(Next- table lamps!!!!!)
I love the ones made from canisters and the Tupperware jello mold! So, so, so cute!
All of those are so creative and cute. I’m always amazed at what people can think up. I like that jello-mold lamp for sure!
These are great! I think BootsnGus will solve the problem of the 21st century lighting fixtures in my kitchen and dining room. Thanks, again, Pam. You are like my own personal decorator, except you let me have my way with my own sense of style, which no decorator ever did.
Wow, that Jello-mold one and the Christmas tree stand one are blowing my mind. I love the ingenuity here.
Definitely both of the electrical insulators are my favorites, then the kitchen canisters with nicely laid-out holes punched in them. I also dig the Tupperware, but hopefully they’re using LED bulbs in there and nothing that’s going to get hot.
YES: Please consult with local professionals if you buy these hand-made ones to ensure they are safe and that you get expert advice on how much wattage to put in.
Oh, wow, so much creativity here! I think the colander one is my favorite, but I also really love the canisters, insulators and vases. Gorgeous!
Really cute ideas. But why buy such, when they would be so easy to make???? Local hardware stores should have all the materials.
I have a vintage Ball canning jar with zinc lid. Belonged to my grandmother–would have a hard time punching a hole in a lid that is over 100 years old–sacrilege.
Now on the other hand, if I picked one up at a garage sale or goodwill or such, would have no problem–no emotional attachment.
Tomorrow, Susan and I have a video about doing this yourself. That said, I am not going to diss buying pieces made by professionals. They can have access to really high-quality materials, and they know what they are doing. It’s the old adage: Time = Money.
Oh, not intended to be disrespectful at all. I’ve just always been one who looks at things like that and think to myself, “I could do that.” For projects that really pique my interest, I usually do! Again, you are right–time versus money.
no offense taken!!!!
LOVE the Jello-o mold & the Colander – what FUN!!!
Neat stuff–my only quibble is that that’s not an oil funnel. It’s the top section of a vacuum drip coffee maker–I use one every morning.
OMG – I LOVE the escutcheon lamp!!! How do people come up with these ideas?!?
Immediately my fav’ was the christmas light pendant! Second goes to the cracker tin, and third is the colandars
WOW. I suddenly feel like I’m going to spend the rest of the year making pendant lights. Thanks for sharing.
OOOO so inspiring!! I am going to be making some kind of crazy light for my new stairwell in the addition on my house, I’ve got so many ideas now it’ll probably keep me awake for days.
I also get to make something for the dining room. I’ll have to ask my electrician friend for some help now that I’m thinking of a grouped pendant light. 
These are awesome, my faves are: the canisters, the collander one is the bomb…the insulators, and the lead crystal decanters, oh, and the silverware one (but jeez, $4800?????hope it is sterling!)
Tami
Oh, great post again Pam! Thanks for your time and energy so we can all oooooh and ahhhhh!!!!
The Jello molds lights (there’s a robin’s egg blue one, too) are cool. As someone already mentioned, the lid is the frosting on the Jello. QUESTION: Is the top part a part of the Jello mold?
The blender one is pretty good. The blue Ball jar is very nice. I have two Skyflakes tins …
Damn fine stuff! I just ordered a pair of insulator candle holders. I have collected insulators since I was a child – how excellent to find someone who has crafted cool things with them!
These are great! There’s a few I really really like…I’ve seen a colander done before with just one hanging and didn’t suit my fancy but I like this double colander one — very UFO looking!
I’m still collecting souvenir spoons to make one like this that you posted about in July 2009… http://retrorenovation.com/2009/07/09/vintage-tea-towels-souvenir-spoons/ made by Suzie Stanford. Ooops, that would be considered a chandelier, right? check out her site for some more lighting inspiration…http://www.suziestanford.com.au/
and Pam? you said “I sold… What was I thinking? NEVER let anything leave the house! Hoard everything vintage, don’t let those neat-freaks dissuade you!” HALLELUJAH and AMEN!! There’s a reason I keep so much stuff others consider garbage! LOL
Fun post, thanks!
Wow, just checked out the website for the canister lights…this is too funny – the Electrolux Wall Sconce! And I really love the JOY dish bottle string lights!
http://www.tomtinc.com/pages/LIGHTportfolioELECTROLCEIL.html
http://www.tomtinc.com/pages/LIGHTportfolioJOYLANTERNS.html
Woohooo, I gave away my insulators, but I just showed this to my Dad and he has some he will give me. Now to decide how I want my triple light fixture to look…
I have a metal cake cover that was my gramma’s and I think I have just thething to do with it now……….
Tat! Yup!
Umm…. those glass insulators are for electricity. My dad used to climb poles. Logic should tell you there is NO way they could have held up on railroad tracks.
LOVE the blender lamp! What else could you do with it when the motor burns out? Nice collection all together.
So how did you drill holes in those insulators? I took a flood light to a commercial glass place here in town for a lamp I’m working on and it took 20 minutes to drill a hole in it. The insulators are WAY thicker than the floodlight.
What’s your trick?
Check out Conant Metal & Light. They specialize in handmade repurposed lighting and they offer some funky stuff!