Last Friday, at the estate sale I hit I found a box of vintage Christmas light bulbs. You can see them there in the left hand corner in the box.
I thought that someone had challenged me to show my collection of vintage bulbs, and when I checked my challenge list....sure enough, Peggy had challenged me in this department.
This is one of those collections that I have because I craft. Since I am also always picking up Christmas items, I often find the stray bulb here and there in a box with other goodies. I can't bear to throw them away, and thus my collection had evolved.
I am drawn to the colors, shapes and sizes of these light bulbs. They add a vintage touch to some of my crafting.
Can you believe variety of shapes?
Sometimes I get lucky and I find a figural bulb tucked in with the more generic bulbs.
Like this walnut or this melon (?)
This fish was a good catch.
These star shaped bulbs were in the box I bought last weekend.
These were in the box from last Friday as well. They reminded me of the curtain tie backs from the previous collection challenge post. The outside decorative frame is metal and the center flower (in the red one) is plastic.
I would love a whole light strand of these lighted ice bulbs.
One of the attractions of these vintage bulbs is the colors that they came in. I am thinking I may swap out some of the light-bulbs that we currently use to decorate the outside of our house with during the holidays. These boxes of vintage bulbs are just yummy. I love the soft green and the peachy/pink. My house would definitely have a vintage glow!
Thanks Peggy for this suggestion.
If you are inspired by this collection...you can start collecting now and have 7 months until the holiday!
If you have a suggestion for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of _____." I would be happy to see what I can dig up.
They look so pretty in your pictures! I lit my sweater on fire with a string of Lighted Ice balls, and I've been wary of them since....
Posted by: barbara | May 03, 2011 at 09:58 AM
LOVE the fish!
Don't you wonder about the walnut? Would it really look beautiful lit up? Maybe so, the glass ornaments always catch my eye.
Fun collection. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: janet | May 03, 2011 at 10:33 AM
I love vintage Christmas lights - I never see one without thinking of my dear Father and how he endured my endless games around the Christmas tree. Memories.....
Posted by: Lynn | May 03, 2011 at 12:19 PM
I would love to see some of those bulbs lit up. The colors are just wonderful! But aren't you afraid of them, because they're so old? A couple of years ago I bought an old strand of lights, and when I plugged them in, the bulbs got so hot so fast that I burnt my fingers. Be careful Laurie!!!
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | May 03, 2011 at 03:06 PM
Amazing! Laurie, have you seen the wreaths made w/vintage (burned out) bulbs and tinsel? perhaps a new item for you to make with the plainer ones for the holidays! (let me know and I can find a link..)
Posted by: Katyo | May 03, 2011 at 03:16 PM
OH I love the vintage light bulbs!! Can you spare any?? I found some and put them in a tall glass container and they looked really nice!! Wonderful treasures!!!
Posted by: elma | May 03, 2011 at 05:45 PM
I love them all mixed up and thrown together. The matte finished and the twisted bulb. They are gorgeous. I love to collect them and store them in jars. Haven't been as lucky with the shapes, love the walnut...but I miss some of those colors. Can you imagine the things I could take to the color match counter? Smiles...Renee
Posted by: My Vintage Mending | May 03, 2011 at 08:08 PM
Miss Laurie..do you have any game pieces that you like? I love the old pieces with the head figure on them. Like the ones from Head of the Class...Smiles...Renee
Posted by: My Vintage Mending | May 03, 2011 at 08:09 PM
51 Collections shared and still going strong. Love it! I can't believe all the shapes of lights you have - the fish is my favorite. Fantastic share.
Posted by: Karina | May 04, 2011 at 09:44 AM
Hi Laurie,
Great collection! I especially
like the walnut and fish and I
like the way you have displayed
them in the glass container.
I remember these bulbs and how
hot they got while on the tree.
I think some tinsel melted on them
once. (so I was told) :0
Hugs,
Janis
Posted by: Janis | May 04, 2011 at 04:18 PM
What a fun and different collection to show. Brings back lots of memories. Love it!!
Posted by: Lisa | May 04, 2011 at 05:58 PM
I really Love this collection... and I love the way you have displayed them. An outside display would be great because of all the old fashioned colors - but as a couple of people have mentioned ... those bulbs can get really HOT .. so be extra CAREFUL .
Posted by: Lisa W. | May 04, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Love this collection as I also collect old christmas bulbs. I have mine in a cool jar and it sits on my shelf year round. Love all the colors! They would be cute also if you tied some to some bakers twine for kind of a "banner" effect. hmmm....I may have to try that!
Posted by: Marci | May 04, 2011 at 08:12 PM