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My it's been a busy weekend...but 3 lamp projects planned and 3 lamp projects finished! Oh, and I realized that I hadn't introduced my husband, and I couldn't have done my projects this week without him. Beware, with all these projects this will be a LONG post!!!
This is my Cigar Geek. He is a brilliant techie and an avid cigar smoker. (See example in hand above.)
So here's where we started...
...an old, ugly lamp and an old colandar. Ahh, but we're missing a third. I did say it was a 3 lamp project. I don't have a great picture of it, but here's one from our OU/OSU bedlam game party last year...yes we're OU (that's OKLAHOMA people!) fans...anyway, it's that lamp right in the middle there. And, yes, that's my Cigar Geek in the big chair there!
I took them all to the garage where I had a spray paint can of Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze waiting for them. I sprayed 2 out of 3 of the lamps, because lamp one above was in need of repairs before it could get pretty. So Cigar Geek worked on replacing the light bulb and cord part of the lamp while I painted the rest.
Once all the broken pieces of lamp one were removed I sprayed it too.
Just so you can see how much work my sweet Cigar Geek did here's all the broken parts he had to remove (some breakage was done to get the broken part removed.)
Once he replaced the light piece and the cord and I sprayed the shade holder (with the old finial...will be replaced SOON!!!) we got started on the new hanging lamp from the old colandar.
We started by drilling a hole in the center where we wanted to put the light, but we soon discovered that a normal light piece (would someone please tell me the name of that so I can quit calling it a "light piece". SOCKET...that's what I mean...sheesh!!!) or socket was going to be too long and the light bulb would stick out the bottom. So back to Lowes we went and decided on a candelabra socket because it was much shorter. We had to get the right screws and while there picked up a candelabra light bulb, the kind you use in bathroom fixtures. It was shorter and we hoped would fit inside the colandar when we put it all together. We also picked up a hanging lamp kit, or swag kit, with an 18' long black chain and a 20' long brown cord. Here's were we are at this point...
See...I couln't have done it without my Cigar Geek. He did most...well other than painting he did all...of the work on this lamp, but it was my idea!!!
My Cigar Geek used the holes on the colandar to attach the socket, which meant that it wasn't exactly centered, but I didn't really care. It was close enough.
Then we had to figure out how to hang the chain off the colandar and have it even. Sweet Cigar Geek drilled holes on the bottom at each side under the middle of each handle. It's hard to describe so check it out in the picture below.
Then he took a length of the chain (it was actually loose in the package we'd bought, but it was exactly the length we wanted the lamp to hang down if we folded it in half...perfect!) and opened up a link on each end then weaved it into those holes he'd just made. Then the middle link was the one we used to hang it from the ceiling over my table in my room (which is where I needed this badly for all my projects!!!)
Doesn't he look thrilled...but he did such a good job. I think he was just done for the night. The next day he measured how far out we wanted the lamp to go and drilled the ceiling for the anchor to hold the hook up. He also drilled for a hook in the ceiling right above where the lamp will be plugged in. Then he hung the chain without the wire inside and decided where the switch would be. That piece couldn't weave through the chain so therefore the chain had to stop at that point.
Then he wired up the light, hung it back up and removed the excess chain. And that project was DONE!!!
I love the way it turned out and the light sits up inside the colandar just how I wanted it to. Thank you Babe!!!
Now on to finishing lamp 1...project 2. I hated that flowery lamp shade and love burlap right now. I decided to cover the lamp in ruffly burlap. I chose creamy and natural burlap for the project (since I had it on hand it was an easy choice!). I cut my burlap to even it out by following carefully one of the lines in burlap. If you've ever worked with burlap you know what I'm talking about. Then I cut several 3 inch wide pieces out of each fabric. I ended up needing 4 stripes of natural and 4 stripes of cream burlap for the lamp so I think I cut 6 strips of each color. As the lamp shade base got bigger I needed a longer strip of burlap to cover it and get the ruffled effect. Then I removed the outside row of burlap string all the way around so it had a frilly edge. Using my sewing machine I zigzagged all the way around each piece to keep it from fraying later. Then I basted a line down the middle to gather it up with. Once it was gathered up I measured and evened out the ruffles around the top edge of the shade and hot glued it down.
I repeated the process 7 more times till I covered the whole side of the shade. I overlapped each stripe a bit to fill in and cover up that ugly floral pattern. Here's the finished result:
My next shade was in great shape and looked nice, but I wanted to tie it in to this shade. So I took the same burlap and made up 6 flowers. To do that I cut 1 1/2 inch strips of the burlap, twisted it and hot glued it as I went till I had a pretty burlap rose. I added a few ties I made out of the burlap strings I'd pulled out of the above strips to dress it up, then I attached it in groups of 3 to the creamy lamp shade.
Last thing I had to do was put them on the newly painted lamp bases and set them up in the living room.
DONE and DONE!!!
3 pieces that are new Treasures...and introducing my hubby too...it's a great weekend!!!
Enjoy what's left of this holiday weekend...till next time...
Jennifer
Blogs I'm Linking Up With:
Sunday
DIY Showoff:
Project Parade
Flamingo Toes: Think Pink
I {heart} Nap Time: Sundae Scoop
Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Twigg Studios Sunday Showoff
Under the Table and Dreaming: Sunday Showcase Party
Cherished Treasure: Sunday Blog Love
My 1929 Charmer: Sunday's Best
Flamingo Toes: Think Pink
I {heart} Nap Time: Sundae Scoop
Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Twigg Studios Sunday Showoff
Under the Table and Dreaming: Sunday Showcase Party
Cherished Treasure: Sunday Blog Love
My 1929 Charmer: Sunday's Best
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Wonderful job! So creative. Nice you had a Man on the job too...lighting is not fun, as I have seen my husband up on ladders many times and think better him than me:) Thanks for sharing and joining my party.
ReplyDeleteAwesome trash to treasure pieces. It's nice to have a hubby who knows how to to the electricity parts! Thanks so much for linking up at One Creative Weekend! I hope to see you back on Friday.
ReplyDeleteThank you...I linked up. Good luck with your endeavors!!!
ReplyDeleteThey look so good, and love all of them. so glad you hubs is a big help, mine is too! My problem I can never find a lampshade that fits. So creative, so pretty! Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday’s Best – you helped make the party a success!
ReplyDeleteWow - so much in one post - they are all fab!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff Jennifer!!!! Love all the lampshades!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer... From Dream to Reality!
They're all great, but I think my fav is the simple burlap flowers. Don't know why, but they're just too cute!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful lamps!! I love the colander..and those rosettes are adorable!! :)
ReplyDeleteLuisa
http://labellemadeleine.blogspot.com
Awe! Each one is so sweet with so much charm! Great job!
ReplyDeleteI can't decide which one I like best! Those are fabulous! Great job! Thanks for sharing at the Pomp Party! Pinning!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking this great post to the Say G'day Linky Party. What a crafty and clever crew you all are! I love the burlap roses you made!
ReplyDeleteI just shared your great ideas on Google+.
Best wishes and hope you can join in again this weekend.
Natasha in Oz