Before I reveal the thrift store lamps, let me tell you the preamble to this story… My husband and I were fortunate a few years ago to be able to visit Tokyo, Japan. Everything you see and read about their culture is true. They are an extremely gracious and genteel people, and their country is absolutely beautiful! We were there during peak cherry blossom time, and the trees were everywhere!
The Japanese people celebrate the season with Cherry Blossom festivals in most communities and they flock to the tree-lined streets for photo ops. The cherry blossom motif is prolific – even manhole covers get in on the celebration!
We were there on a mission trip from our church so we stayed pretty busy, but we did take time to see some sights and do a little shopping! One day we went to the popular shopping district of Shibuya, Tokyo. It was so much fun to visit the booths and galleries of local artists and we happened upon some beautiful woodblock prints of the beloved cherry trees! Some were done in pinks, which really wouldn’t fit my décor. But I spied one done in lovely orange tones, which was more like it! Gosh, ya’ll… I fell in love with this print!! So we splurged a little (I told my hubs that I’d rather have this one piece than lots of ‘little trinkets’).
When we got home, I had the painting matted and framed, and it now hangs in our home as a reminder of the wonderful trip we once took to Japan!
Now for the rest of the story! After we returned, on one of my thrifting expeditions, I picked up these porcelain and brass ginger jar thrift store lamps with, you guessed it… cherry blossoms – orange ones!! For a song, I might add. I think they were $13 for the pair…Oh, my. In their current state, they didn’t look like much, but I cleaned them up, purchased new quality lamp shades for them, and they are the lamps in our sitting room.
The thrift store lamps coordinate with the Japanese print beautifully!
Isn’t it fun when you find a diamond in the rough?? Here’s a look at the thrift store lamps in the room…
What treasures have you found, exotic or otherwise??
Enjoy your day!
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