This is a lamp shade that I have had around for a couple of years. I have two of these lamps with this pink shade and they have been very happy in Ryan's room. Okay, I know that it is not Ryan's room because he does not live with us anymore but I just cannot bring myself to call it a guest room. So I think I will always call bed rooms by the name of the child that occupied it, perhaps Ryan's Retreat, Lindsey's Lounge, and Anna's Escape. I don't know just a thought. Anyway, I decided that the shade need a redo.
I took the fabric off of the frame and this is what I started with. The first time I went into Urban Arts and Crafts, I fell in love with the lamp shades they have hanging above their cash register. They had made them using sewing pattern pieces. I knew that someday I would make one of my own and decided this was a great lamp shade frame to try it on. I began with sewing pattern pieces and Mod Podge.
I started delicately painting the Mod Podge over the pattern pieces and overlapping the pattern pieces as I went. I folded the tissue over the top and bottom wires and carefully Mod Podge the back side. Once the tissue is covered in the Mod Podge it tears very easily as it is wet. So I tried to get a coat on and then not go over again.
Once the first coat had dried completely I put a coat of Mod Podge on the inside and then when that dried, I coated the outside with a second coat. The result makes the shade feel like plastic. It was not nearly as fragile as I had imagined.
I added trim along the top and bottom edges just to snaz it up a bit. Besides the edges were a bit rough and I needed to cover them up, and you can never go wrong with a great beaded trim. Trim scrapes in my studio are a perk of my job and you can bet I save every little bit. You never know when you will need a dab of trim.
Here is where the lamp now lives, in the Stitches by Sturman studio. I love the golden light that it gives off. I have not deceided what to do with the pink bubbles, you can see the one at the top and there is also one on the bottom. But that is for another day. I think I will put it on a timer so that I can leave it on all the time and will not have to worry about turning it off and on.
ok girl this is so good. i just might have to copy for a lamp in my spot. Lori
Posted by: Lori | October 27, 2009 at 01:19 AM
Hmmmm - do I sense a bit of comptition between the sisters! You go girls - pumpkins, lamp shades - whatever it takes to keep you both creating!!! You are both so good at it!
Posted by: Peggy Bergfalk | October 27, 2009 at 01:56 PM
This is just way too cute - do you know how many 100's of patterns I have thrown away in my lifetime of making those crazy outfits for you and your sisters when you were little!!! Can't wait to see it in real life!
Posted by: Peggy Bergfalk | October 27, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Another great lampshade idea!! There have been several this week that I just love and yours is one of them!
blessings
mary
Posted by: mary | October 27, 2009 at 10:51 PM
grandma i would have loved to have those old patterns!!
Posted by: Lindsey S. | October 28, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Hey Linds - are you wishing for the patterns so you could make a cute red dress for yourself with big white eyelet circles around the bottom of the sleeves? Yup your mom & her sisters had them - and so did I - what was I thinkin!!!! Remind me to show you pictures sometime so you can have a good laugh!
Posted by: Peggy Bergfalk | October 28, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Well, now. I like that idea! How clever:)
Posted by: debbie | October 28, 2009 at 05:07 PM
That's a really cool idea! I like it a lot!
Posted by: Someday Crafts | November 02, 2009 at 09:07 AM
I love the information, I commend them for their ideas. So inspirational and entertaining at the same time. I'd love to learn more about him.
Posted by: soft cialis | April 26, 2010 at 03:52 PM