Tips for Tuesday
These lamp shades are really quite simple to make (just time consuming) so you'll look much more talented than you really are ;) You'll find a step-by-step tutorial here.
Anyone who really knows me knows I hate paying full price for anything. Most of what we own was either purchased at a rock-bottom price or a do-it-yourself project. I think it was back when I was working in the fabric store that I first began making lampshades. The store had received a shipment of lampshade frames and I thought I'd try my hand at making one.
Anyone who really knows me knows I hate paying full price for anything. Most of what we own was either purchased at a rock-bottom price or a do-it-yourself project. I think it was back when I was working in the fabric store that I first began making lampshades. The store had received a shipment of lampshade frames and I thought I'd try my hand at making one.
Thankfully, my husband is handy with wiring and made lamps to go with the shades.
For this cute little lamp I filled a quart size Mason jar with my grandmother's buttons.
We have it displayed on a vintage sewing machine cabinet. There's no machine in it, but we liked the looks of the cabinet.
One shade soon turned into three as my husband wired more lamps for my sewing room and I made coordinating shades to top them off.
This old girl was in sorry shape when we bought her for a steal at the Shipsy auction. I took the old fabric off the dress form and used it for a pattern to cut out the new fabric. Then, more of Bob's wiring magic!
You can see my dress form lamp on the right of this photo. The sewing machine cabinet with the button lamp is directly behind the shade.
Then several years ago I bought a really cool antique floor lamp from an auction. All it needed was a new shade. I think this one is my favorite, though it was made a little differently than the others. Because of the shape I was able to have a pattern made and keep the fabric in one piece instead of several.
I had another floor lamp that was looking pretty shabby. It's brass-look finish was worn off in several places and I was thinking it was time for it to go away. Then a friend told me of the wonders of spray paint. I bought some Rust-Oleum Hammered in a copper finish and coated my lamp with it (as well as some tacky-looking heat registers). Several years later and the lamp still looks great.
My husband is recovering from major surgery, so I took advantage of the time sitting with him to make a new shade. They're quite easy to make and require more time than skill so it was a great project for the evenings. I use this lamp in the same room as the antique lamp, though on the opposite side of the room, so I wanted the shades to match. Surprisingly, I couldn't come close to matching the plum colored fabric but I did find identical trim to go around the bottom edge.
My motto is, "Always try to make it look like I meant to do that!", so I decided I'd be better off going with a totally different color rather than using one that was just a bit off. I found this green fabric, which matches one of the tassel colors and is very close in color to the loveseat in the room.
I hope you'll join me next week Tuesday for a step-by-step tutorial so you can adorn your lamps with these cute shades too!
Blessings,
Lisa
I've been known to link up with: Soli Deo Gloria, Inspire Me Monday, Titus 2sdays, Tell Me a Story, Teach Me Tuesdays, Courtship Connection, Into the Beautiful, God Bumps & God Incidences, Word-Filled Wednesday, Winsome Wednesday, Simply Helping Him, Weekend Whatever, Spiritual Sundays, True Vine Challenge, Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday, The Beauty in His Grip, Playdates With God, Monday's Musings, Monday Montras, Thrive at Home, Knick of Time, Hope in Every Season, Funky Junk Interiors
These are great Lisa, link this up today at Knick of time and Friday night at Funky Junk Interiors!
Wow, these are adorable! I especially love the one with the sewing machine as it's base. Super creative!
I'm hosting my Homemaking Linkup Weekend and would love to have you join, if you'd like!
Have a great day!
Mrs. Sarah Coller
impressive and impeccable beauty! You're a talented woman~ Blessings
It looks like you've really got the art of lamp shade making down pat! Great job! And thanks so much for stopping by and commenting on my little $2 lamp.