Oh, how I love this time of year – Yard Sale and Auction Season! It’s all about the find and how the find can be repurposed! I was at an amazing barn sale this weekend full of wonderful old things – old galvanized buckets, garden tools, feed sacks, enamelware, furniture . . . I could go on and on! I’m always tempted at sales like this to buy with abandon, but I don’t have a warehouse to store all this stuff (and, it’s really just stuff). So, I have put limits on myself for what I buy. I want the items I purchase to be useful, work in my decor, and be versatile (useful in different situations – like decorating at home or for a party).
Vintage Soda “Torpedo” Bottles
At this barn sale, there was an enamelware basin with several of these green glass bottles. At first, I thought they were just your typical old glass bottle- like an apothecary bottle. But then I picked one up and was like – “whoa, the bottom of this bottle is round!” I asked the owner what the bottles had been used for and she said they were soda bottles used in the early 1900’s.
The glass is super thick and full of imperfections that, to me, make it more valuable than a brand new crystal decanter! Oh, I do like shiny and new, but a repurposed vintage bottle has a story. So, I brought home three of these green glass bottles with an idea in mind.
My idea was to hang these old bottles with some twine and wire and use them as hanging vases to hold flower cuttings all summer! You could do the same thing with a vintage mason jar or any old bottle. Just wrap some 20 gauge wire to fit tightly around the neck of the jar or bottle. Make two round loops with the wire to attach a twine hanger (see the photo above). I tacked small nails into the top of my kitchen window trim to hold each twine hanger, but you could also tie the twine to a curtain rod. I decided to stagger them a bit in height to add more interest.
Repurposed Vintage Bottles – Hanging Vases
So, what do you think of my repurposed vintage soda bottles? I think they meet all my buying criteria – they are useful, work in my decor, and they can be repurposed to use in other ways! So, have you ever seen this kind of bottle? And, do you like to go to yard sales, barn sales, and auctions too? Let me know if you’d like to see more of my finds!
If you like this post, you might also like these repurposed projects:
DIY Chicken Feeder Light Pendant
DIY Hanging Window Basket Cat Perch
Pamela Gordon
I love these vintage bottles and if I’d seen them would probably have turned them down due to the rounded bottoms. Your resourcefulness has made them a sweet addition to a window display. I’d love to see more of your finds and what you do with them. I also enjoy yard sales etc. Last year I found a vintage wooden folding stand with a tray top (for a dollar!) which I recently painted to use on the deck this summer, and at the same sale I got an old trike that although rusty makes a great porch decor and maybe even a photo prop when our grandsons visit this summer. I’m sure they’ll try to ride it! Have a lovely day. Pamela
Doreen Cagno
I’m so glad someone wants to see my finds!!! I’ll probably share throughout the summer! Thanks Pamela!
Wendy Johnson
I would love to see any and all of your finds. I would definately bought those bottles although I probably would not have been so quick to find a use for them.
Doreen Cagno
I loved that the bottles were unique! I’ll be sharing some other finds soon!!
Danette
That’s a really smart idea. And you can never go wrong with those blue vintage bottles. They are always beautiful.
Doreen Cagno
I know – I love the color of vintage blue glass!!!
Kim
Those are so pretty, Doreen. Great idea for the rounded bottoms.
Doreen Cagno
Thanks, Kim! I just linked up at your party!!!
lynn cockrell
What a great idea using the torpedo bottles as hanging vases! They really are pretty.
Elizabeth
I love it!!!
Gwen
Yes!!!! Because you direct us how to use them!!! It’s fun too!!!!
Beth quLley
Love those bottles!!! Fabulous idea
Vanessa
I have never seen these types of bottles. Beautiful – What a lovely idea.
Sherry MorrIson
Genius idea! Love your creativity. And please keep showing us your found treasures and how you use them. ?
Doreen Cagno
Thanks so much, Sherry! I will be sharing more soon!!!
Julie
This is really creative. I have never seen these before. I saw a little bit of a garden out your kitchen window. Would love to see more of your flower beds.:)
Doreen Cagno
Hi, Julie! Stay tuned! Sharing some outdoors hopefully soon!!
Shannon Fox
I am soooo in love with these!!!