Sunday 12 May 2013

Lampshade Workshop

Nothing boosts the creative mojo like a workshop with inspirational friends! Yesterday I attended a lampshade workshop at Eternal Maker in Chichester for a morning of crafty fun and inspiration. And oh, the fabrics! This shop is Heaven on Earth to me, Aladdin’s Cave, a candy shop...

First we snooped around the shop to find fabrics for our lampshades. I planned on making one for Bunny’s room to replace her ceiling shade, which needed updating. Here is what I made


How thrilled was I to find this panda fabric? Can you see them peeking out? Perfect for a nearly 10-year-old, cute but not little girlie. Finished off with a wee bit o’ kitsch, pom pom ribbon in her favourite colour.
The most awesome bit? Not one stitch needed, took next to no time (goes more quickly when you’re not chattering away with the gals, sipping tea and eating cookies!), and the kit costs £10.50 online. We all left with an extra kit to make another lampshade at home.

 
This morning I made a lampshade for Little Flower’s room. Here is the kit provided


And here’s what I added

 
This is one of Little Flower’s fitted cot sheets from when she was a baby. I found the ribbon in a drawer. Her room still has the curtains and various accessories that were bought with this sheet, so I decided to upcycle it to make a coordinating bedside lamp. My grandma had already used some of the fabric pattern to make some decorative cushions.
You won’t believe how easy this is! Unroll the self-adhesive lampshade panel and measure it against the fabric.


 
Cut the fabric to fit with a margin around the panel, then peel off the sticky side and adhere it to the fabric.


Trim the fabric, bend the sides where indicated, then peel off the panel edges.


The fun bit is winding very thin, very strong double-sided tape around the lampshade rings, lining them up with the fabric edges, and rolling away!


More tape inside the ring, then fold over those ragged edges and tuck under.

 
 
 
 
 
I decided to add ribbon trim to the top and bottom


And ta-dah!!! The finished lamp


Is this fantastic or what? Took about half an hour. Now I’m roaming the house to see what else needs a new lampshade...I see visions of small patchwork, one with appliqué and freestyle machine embroidery...oh me oh my!
You can buy these online here. Of course, I did supplement my purchase with a few fat quarters, a fabric bundle, some ribbon and a metre of fabric for an embroidery project...but I’ll show you those next time...

Happy crafting!

Chrissie x

11 comments:

  1. What a fantastic workshop! I love both the shades you made, they are beautiful. I think I may be purchasing one of those kits soon...!
    M x

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    1. Thank you, and let me know if you buy one, I'll email a few more tips! Oh, and this is definitely a project that crafty daughters can help with... Chrissie x

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  2. Well of course I bought a whole metre of the panda fabric, I must make something else with it! ;-)

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  3. It came out beautifully. Thanks for the tutorial, I'd love to try it.

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  4. Love them both. What a good idea to provide you with a kit to use at home.

    J xx

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  5. Love both shades but the panda fabric is squealworthy :-) xx

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  6. They are so cool. Love both fabrics that you used. Amazing - I want to try it!

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    1. You should! Make one for your new creative space... Cx

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  7. What a fantastic kit! Your lampshades are gorgeous! Very inspiring!
    Helen x

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    1. Thanks Helen! I found some old lamp bases in the loft last night...I'll have the most well-lit home in the village soon! Cx

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  8. Love the lampshades, looks a great idea for revamping some old shades.

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