New day. New ideas. New topics.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 4:41PM I love to create things. I mean, I REALLY love it! I also love the internet, and, to me, the internet and crafting go hand in hand! If you are at all familiar with this blog, you know that I initially learned how to make a tutu (which eventually prompted me to start a business) by Googling "How to Make a Tutu". And that is why the internet and crafting go hand in hand to me: if you want to make something, but aren't sure how to go about it, or you need inspiration and or encouragement, you just google it, and Voila! Instant ideas and directions. Once you have done this a few times you will find that there are certain sites and blogs that you keep coming back to.
For me, Living With Lindsay is one of my favorite sites. I have quickly become a huge fan of Mandi at Vintage Revivals. She does completely fantastic projects in a a very unexpected way. Plus, if you take the time to read her story, her personal life is even better than her projects! Another blog I frequent is the Nesting Place. This blog, Heart Break Kids, for the past 10 months has been strictly for tutus and tutu designs. Today, however, I have decided to expand my blog topics. Hey! It's my blog! You don't have to read it! But, let's by honest--there is only so much I can say about tutus. And I am a talker. I can say a lot about nothing. I can even ramble when I am typing. See? Anyhow, I love to read crafting blogs, and DIY blogs, and home decorating blogs, and--you get the idea. I am always working on something--usually several somethings at once--and I LOVE the validation I get from being able to share my projects with others. (I am a stay at home mom. What can I say? I have little interaction with other adults on a daily basis, and there are thousands of you reading this blog, so, I figure, why not talk with you? One of you is BOUND to be interested in my projects!) Plus, I already pay a bit of money for this blog, so it wouldn't make sense to start another! Back to my point. I am going to start sharing some of my projects on here. I would first like to say that my friends are always telling me, "You are so creative!" and I always tell them ,"I got the idea from someone else!" While I do LOVE to create, I am not the best at thinking up original ideas. I love to see what other people are working on, and then modify it to fit my style. That being said, this first project that I am going to post was a completely original idea! I decided to share this project first because, 1) it is my most recent project, 2) it cost me absolutely nothing, and 3) my friend Lindsay at LivingWithLindsay just posted a similar update and I took that as a sign that I should share it with you. (Okay, I wouldn't say it was so much of a sign. More of an "OOOO! OOOO! OOOO! OOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I did something cool like Lindsay!" moment that I experienced while reading her most recent post!)
Here's what you need to do this project:
An ugly lamp that you want to change
Scrap fabric
About 20-40 minutes, depending on the size of your lamp
(And I will apologize in advance, but the pics are a little blurry because I couldn't find my husbands super-expensive-professional-camera, so I used the little digital one that I carry in my purse. I also let the kids use this camera everyday, and there was apparently something goobery (probably not a real word) on the lens, but I didn't discover until after I went to upload the pics. Oops!)
I bought this lamp about a year ago. It was $12 at Target. It gives great light, and I love that it has a reading lamp, 'cause I LOVE to read! Lots of LOVE going on here today… Anyhow, the lamp was totally not my style, but totally in my budget, so that was that. Last Sunday I was trying to figure out an inexpensive way to give the lamp a makeover. I decided that some scrap fabric should do the trick.
I selected three different fabrics from my scrap bin. I selected fabrics all in the same palette, but I think this would be really cool with lots of bold colors and crazy prints too! I literally just tore my fabric into strips.
Once I had a pile of strips, I just started double knotting them onto the lamp, working from the bottom, up. If there were any pieces that had long, straggly (yes, that appears to be a word) threads, I just trimmed them off. (And I would just like to give a shout out to the photographer of this pic--my 4 year old son, Quinn! Nice composition, buddy!)
It took me about 40 minutes to do this, but a smaller lamp would take considerably less time. So, that's my first project that I wanted to share with you! What do you think? I hope you'll send me a pic if you try it!
P.S. Over at the Nesting Place, The Nester declared yesterday National Take A Risk Day, and had a Link party. She has HUNDREDS of craft ideas that people sent her. Want to get lost in crafting goodness for an inappropriate amount of time? Check out her party here!
Reader Comments (4)
Thank you for leaving me a comment Holly :) What a nice treat! To answer your question, I did make the pillow :) Last month I started a little shop on ETSY and have been selling them. I sort of have a problem........because I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE pillows. LOL. I guess if they won't all fit in my house it might be time to start selling them.
I love your blog. :) Those tutu's are super cute. I wish I had a little girl, I would buy one from you. :)
Hope you have a great day.
-Leah
Ohmygosh how fun!!!!!! This was a fantastic idea to vamp up that lamp =) hehe!
Hey Holly!!
Your lamp caught my eye at the shower - I loved it!! I wanted to tell you but you were running around being the hostess with the mostess! The shower was lovely - you did a great job! THANK YOU!!
Posting your creations is a great idea - thanks for sharing!!
Last but not least - great job on the pictures Quinn! You could be on your way to being a great photographer, just like your Daddy!
Enjoy your new adventure my Friend! Many blessings and success are sure to be yours!
Lizz
We have similar tastes in blogs- you read two of my favorites! Love all the lamp ideas!