Saturday 17 April 2010

No-Sew Lampshade



This is Lolla....She's a lamp with a bit of a history. She was found deserted and lonely in Oxfam Home. She was a cheap old thing really and feeling a bit worthless with a meagre price tag of €18. She's actually a bit of an old bird but you'd never know it since going under the knife with her extreme makeover...Here's her before shot...



I know....hard to imagine this was her in a past life.


Her transformation really was a no-sew operation. The first step was stripping her bare. I then simply ironed interfacing onto the back of my chosen spotty fabric. This helps to stop the edges from fraying and stiffens the fabric a little too. I cut the fabric into 3 centimetre wide strips which were a few centimetres longer than the height of the shade frame. With my trusty glue gun, I glued the bottom of one strip to the bottom of the frame, stretched it up tightly and glued it to the top also. I overlapped the layers as I went as the top of the shade was smaller than the bottom. The glue sets really quickly so this was really quick and easy to do.


I spray painted the stand in white....my favourite refresher colour. And ta da....the first stage is done. She looked so pretty already...I love the way the fabric strips look like a pretty pleated skirt....but I wasn't finished yet...


I still haven't told you about my recent shopping escapades in New York....I'll come back to that....but I got to use some of my finds here already. Some painfully pretty ribbon and my all time favourite trim...pom poms!! Again, no sew...glue gunned on....easy peasy.


Death by Pom-Poms? Yes Please! Pom-Poms make me soooooo happy!


And then a final flourish....these are Lolla's customising accessories. The corsages are simply pinned on so she can change them whenever the mood fancies her.

14 comments:

Ciara Brehony said...

I'm in love...

marty, sharon and pearl said...

awh thanks ciara! i'm not sleeping at night because i cant stop looking at her!! even mart (who sometimes becomes a little overwhelmed by all the girliness!) woke up this morning and said she was gorgeous! xx

Ellen said...

That was quite the makeover! Is there a particular type of glue you use that doesn't lose it's stick with the heat of a lamp? I have some shades I would enjoy doing a makeover of.

lemonade kitty said...

Don't think I would have looked twice at that manky old thing, but now it's gorgeous!!! Love the blue and white spotted material and the trimmings...you've done aq lovely job. I'm on the lookout for one now!!! Lucey xx

Cliona O'Flaherty said...

SHE'S GORGEOUS!!!

Elaine Prunty said...

Oh lampshade love.....you know i have a thing for lampshades.....a big huge thing for lampshades...
yours is super gorgeous, she's a proper lady now,
i like your no sew technique and i LLLLLOVVVE those pom poms....i've tried everywhere in ireland and there not available.(.NY in on my to do list this year,(sept) i'll love to get your 'places to get fantastic things list" before i go ....
wallpaper looks beautiful too...

Anonymous said...

Pom pom trim is available in A Rubanesque in Dublin :)
Clare

marty, sharon and pearl said...

hi ellen....i'm hoping the glue doesnt melt actually!! the lamp is only used occasionally for short periods of time as its a bedside lamp so fingers crossed!

elaine....yes, clare got there before me....rubanesque will get pom poms in for you - they may have some samples there and a catalogue too. they can even call samples in too.. so much pom pom love xx

GardenOfDaisies said...

I love the trim on this pretty blue lamp!!

Designermmg said...

u are just too much. am not buying anything anymmore just goin to make it... u cheer me up when i read ur blog.. busy woman..lol

magpie chic said...

I absolutely love this. Am going to have a go!
Jacqui

Lorna said...

Gorgeous and so well done

Urbanstems said...

I just discovered your blog from Dandelion Daydreamer she did a lovely post about you. Yay for blogging. Your blog is fab. I had to leave a comment on this even tho it is some time since you posted this - but I too love the ole pompoms! Great job on the lamp - love it. Sinead

incarnadine29 said...

I am officially in love with your blog. You have a way of prettifying things! Truly inspiring. :)

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