flower embellished lampshade

spring is trying to arrive. mother nature is just a bit fickle right now...

until she makes up her mind, i find ways to 'force' spring by adding flowers to my decor.
and i don't just mean in vases and pots...

a 'bouquet' of faux flowers was used to embellish this plain lampshade,
adding spring-fresh style with little effort.

continue reading to see how!

diy wire lampshade frame Christmas tree

i created this tree last year, from lampshades and wire lampshade frames & a wire waste basket.

that was after i had stepped away from blogging, so i never shared it here... 

with a 'tree' theme running through all of my December posts, 

i thought it was fitting to include it now!

'continue reading' for the details...

Fifty Shades of..... naaahhhh.....

This post isn't about that book. It's about lamp SHADES.
Oh, yeah, those look pretty nice, don't they? They didn't start out that way!

Take a gander at the... ah... swanky?..... lampshades below.

I got them from my junking friend Beth Evans-Ramos 

[of Salvage Studio book fame, now known for Mama Knows Her Cocktails]

 who gave me these shades after no one would buy them at her garage sale. for a buck.

Yeah, they were THAT bad!

We had a pretty good laugh about the cheap plastic-tablecloth-like material they are covered in

and the little bits of tinsel that gather it in several places.

[Seriously, who came up with this design?!]

Worst part? The smell.  These babies were victims of secondhand smoke, for sure.

When I started removing the plastic from the frame, I saw that it actually started out as WHITE. 

That nice warm ocher/gold tone? Smoke stains. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick.......

Once I got all that smelly tacky plastic off, the frames emerged as FABulous vintage accents.  

LOVE the shape. Now THAT I can DO something with!

 

Because I love to see the shape of the wire frames, I usually finish off lampshades like this simply:

These have criss-crossed two lengths of twill fabric tape around them.

I tied a small bow at the top edge of each bend in the frame, to hold the twill tape in place.

And, as shown up above, they looked fabulous in my booth at the Farm Chicks Antique Show...

for all of five minutes. Just long enough to snap that photo.

Because they were the FIRST thing that sold. For $20 each.

Let's Review: 

two fugly plastic lampshades at a garage sale = $1 each FREE
time to strip frames bare = 20 minutes 

[which included putting on a mask so I couldn't smell the smoke odor]

cost of twill tape =  $2.00 at thrift shop

time to embellish bare frames with twill tape = 10 minutes
two stylish lampshades at one of the biggest antique shows in the USA = $20 each

THAT is why we go junking!!!
I made so many lampshades over 5 years that people called me 'the lampshade lady' at shows.

[I guess it's better than 'shady lady'.....]

Here are just a few of the ones that I have created with still-visible bare frames:

 lacy doilies sewn together and seam binding tape   .   glass crystal strands

 rik-rack, seam binding, and a button strip from a linen shirt  .  gold velvet ribbon and manila stencils

 dollhouse china, seam binding and ribbons  .   metal shoe stretchers

 a strip of burlap with a canvas military belt  .  wood clothespins to hold photos

 and of course, there are these lampshades from this popular post!

I recommend using faceted clear or frosted white 'candle flame'-shaped incandescent bulbs

or edison bulbs when you are working with shades like this.
The light from them is softer and won't glare in your eyes on cool fall nights!

shared online:

Worthing Court | Home{work} Wednesday

Tripping Was NOT in My Plan...

you know those bloggers that create a plan for their blog posts?

like, a three month list of what gets published when - and including what content ?

that must be nice.

i plan my seasonal content ahead, i do - but more often than not 

i find myself putting an unscheduled project together on the fly at the last minute, for one reason or another, 

and it turns out SO GOOD that i just have to share it. today's post is a great example.

oh, yeah, that 'last minute' part? you could add 'by accident' to that, too.

because i nearly had an accident in my studio - and that's how this particular project came about...

continue reading to find out how my klutziness worked in my favor!

yes, you can paint a lampshade!

this colorful lampshade was a spur-of-the-moment weekend project, 

an idea that came to me as i collapsed into a chair 

after the second day of my weekend studio/office overhaul project.

i was scrolling through Instagram and saw an image that completely delighted me - 

and solved my problem of 'what can i do to this plain ol' lampshade?'

paint it, of course!

so, i put down the phone, grabbed my paints, and gave this old thrifted shade a makeover.

i really love the way it turned out, and it was an easy way to add color and pattern to the room.

continue reading to see what started this whole thing...

Lampshades to LOVE

 I just can't leave well enough alone...

 I usually buy my home decor items - like lamps - at thrift stores and garage & vintage sales,
and they usually come with lampshades.
Thing is, I never like them! 
I love the lamp base, which is why I buy it,
but then I always have to add something or deconstruct something to do with the shade
to make it something I can live with... or sell.

Like MOST of my projects, it's not really complicated...

The lamp on the left has a perfectly acceptable shade, right?
I thought so too, but when I sat it in the vignette in my vintage decor booth*,
all of the lovely detail of the three 'candles' beneath that shade became invisible.

I knew I had to do something, so I looked around me to see what I had to work with...
and my eyes stopped on those rusty, crusty wire garden baskets 
hanging from a chandelier over the table.
There was one more of them sitting under the table, and I grabbed it,

flipped it over, and sat it on top of the lampshade (shown on the right).

The wire brought out the metal tones of the three 'candles' under the shade,
and the whole thing looked a lot more 'vintage' - easy-peasy.

This lampshade started out as a simple wire frame from a thrift shop.
I tore strips of red ticking cotton fabric and found some vintage red velvet ribbon,
and simply tied loops of each around the frame.
I think it took me a whopping 15 minutes from start to finish.

I like my projects to be 'Fast, Cheap, & Easy'TM!

MORE inspiration:

view more of my lampshade transformations

a super-quick lampshade treatment

one of the most drastic lamp transformations ever

I've used chandelier crystals, metal shoe trees, wire waste baskets,
aprons, vintage piano player music rolls, belts, stencils, sheet music,
vintage linens, wallpaper, vintage ceramic tea cups, and more
to 'foof' up lampshades over the years...

a few that I gathered up in 2013 to share here on HWF:

 I hope you find inspiration for your own unique lampshades here!
Have fun creating!
...we'll leave the light on for ya'... ;)

shared online:
one project closer | creativity unleashed

shabbyfufu | share it one more time
 .

Create a Cloche and Dome It!

Using a cloche is a simple way to give small items presence in your decor.

Most cloches / domes are made of glass, especially the vintage ones... 

but you know I love using unexpected materials in new ways,

so I created a dome from a wire tomato cage!

I showed it covered with ivy in a past post, but of course it can be used WITHOUT the ivy...

 You can find my tutorial for this project here

The wire form is an industrial-style way 
to create a 'cloche' effect:

Place it over several small items to add the finishing touch to any vignette.

It's also indestructible, great for use outdoors in EVERY season...

[and at @ $2.99 per wire tomato cage, 

it's a VERY inexpensive way to get a lot of usable style!]

 You can find my tutorial for the seed packet tin can vases here

Another easy way to create a dome is to use a metal lampshade frame...

Simply remove the fabric, and use the bare metal frame to top a gathering of items.

Lampshades come in endless sizes and styles, 
so you can create dozens of different domes!

This is a great use for old lampshades, since the fabrics get stained and torn -

you can pick them up for a song at thrift shops and the Goodwill outlets!

Oh, Lighten Up!

Several years back, I happened upon a small thrift store's 'going out of business sale'.

And found these lamps sitting in the parking lot for $5 each:

Shown as found.

Dear Lord in Heaven.... someone thought this was a good idea....

You DO realize that the white parts in this 'before' image used to be BRASS, right?
So some manufacturer somewhere, sometime, actually gave the OK for these to be made and sold.

In the seventies, no doubt. ugh.

Then someone else took the time to tape the glass off and paint the brass parts white -

but left the hideous gold-orange glass with black felt pen-embellished raised scrollwork.

ACK!

And yet.... I see the possibilities even in the hideous ugliness:
If I could just neutralize the color and visual hot mess, these could actually be quite charming.
And so that's exactly what I did...

continue reading to see the amazing AFTER shot!

You Light Up My Life...

welcome to Day 6!

 love that adorable lampshade up above?
it's made from vintage ribbons, laces, and GARTER BELTS!
 
i love using unusual materials to create lampshades!
here are more inspiring ideas that will light up your life...

 i created all of the lampshades pictured - 
some for my own use, and some to sell.
it's easy to personalize them for every room!

repurposed wire lampshade mobile

wire has made an appearance in my projects on this blog many times,

from the various ways i have used wire tomato cages and wire lampshade frames,

to the simple crowns, cages, and domes i have fashioned from this inexpensive material.

earlier this summer, i grabbed some wire items that i've created in the past,

and combined them with wire lampshade frames and a few new finds

to create a whimsical wire mobile in my studio.

i love how it adds movement and color to the room

and because it's overhead, it takes up no space at all!

continue reading for the incredibly simple way it is suspended...

A Rather Shady Project!

 In my last post, I focused on the dried roses in my office...

but right next to them is one of my trademark 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' TM ideas
for updating your decor each season:
Slipcover your lampshades!

That lovely vintage alabaster lamp from a thrift store

has a plain ol' white drum shade that cost me all of three bucks at the IKEA 'as is' department.
It has one lil' dent in the back ;)
But no one sees it, because I am constantly covering the lampshade with all kinds of things - 

like this slipcover, which was made from
A RUFFLED TANK TOP!

I can just hear you now... yes, yes, I can....
"OK, Deb is certifiable now. She's gone over the edge with this one.
Cutting up CLOTHES to decorate with?"
Oh, wait, there was that sweater thing..... ;)

No sewing, no gluing - nothing but a cut with scissors.

 Maybe a straight pin or two to make sure it stays tight on the shade, that's IT.
Five minutes TOPS.

Perfect for the holiday season, when you want to freshen up the decor in your rooms!

The 'How To':

*Slip the shirt over the lampshade BEFORE YOU CUT IT.
*Move it around to to find the best 'fit' and the correct amount of shirt to cut off.
*Remove the shirt from the shade, lay it flat, and cut it in half.

* Slip the cut portion of the shirt (lower half) back onto the shade.

* Tuck the top edge of the shirt section over the top edge of the shade.

* Use a few straight pins to hold it tight if the shirt is a lot bigger AROUND than the shade.

I use women's small size shirts, and they always fit perfectly on basic lampshades.

Just think about doing this using a sparkly glittery tank top :)
Or... just maybe.... a SWEATER!

Want MORE lampshade inspiration? Click HERE!

shared online:

Yesterday On Tuesday | Project Inspire{d}

Spice Up Your Winter Decor with Black!

my last post showed the winter decor in my Cottage, all in tones of brown, tan, and white.

the photos here show the same rooms in another year,

where BLACK was added to the scheme for graphic impact and a fresh new look.

like adding a dash of black pepper to a recipe,
a fresh coat of black (or color) paint on a few accessories

can really change the flavor of a room
and spice up your winter decor!

this vintage victrola cabinet has been re-purposed as a bar

and the black paint makes the sparkling glass and silver accessories POP

 painting the chairs, lamp base, chandelier, and mirror frames  added just the right modern touch to the dining room. [here's my tip on painting chandeliers: use Krylon Appliance Spray Paint in gloss finish. No primer needed.
use two LIGHT COATS and let dry completely in between. FLAWLESS finish!]

the victrola 'bar' cabinet was a great addition to the next house we lived in,
joining a newly-refurbished black buffet in the dining room...
and yes, i made the glam lampshades myself. i LOVED those!

okay, so maybe you don't want to PAINT anything black.

that's okay!

what about using black in small accessories that are easily changed?

what about using your DISHES?

take a look at how bringing a few of those everyday items out 

and putting them on display in your home

can really spice up your winter decor!

the damask-pattern mugs and plate came from Marshalls

and the stack of art-deco border plates is vintage.
all of the other pieces are clear or white, but your EYE goes to the black patterns!