A Tale of Two Lampshades

129twigandvine_lampframe 129twigandvine_lampshade

 

 

 

Last fall I began making a fabric shade for a wire frame I came across (where? can’t remember…). It wasn’t easy. But I like this kind of challenge.

As usual, I got the bulk of the work finished in a frenzy and then got hung up on the finishing details.

My friend Sara found the perfect quirky yellow lamp base to go with it at a thrift store (she found a pair and was willing to part with one). So the unfinished shade perched jauntily on the yellow lamp for a few more months on the windowsill in my studio, taunting me to find solutions to the various problems.

 © Sue Schlabach

In January I had an ‘aha!’ moment and finished it up. It ended up a bit of a wonky crazy-aunt-cat-lady looking shade. But I love it nonetheless.

 

 © Sue SchlabachIf you wish to make yourself crazy try your hand at this style of lampshade, here are the full instructions! Download 800 kb PDF: 129twigandvine_lampshade_DIY

Photo by Roland Persson for IKEA.

Then today. A second lampshade came into view.

This new collection of IKEA shades (called LYRIK), designed by Sissa Sundling are so simple, I have to ask myself, why do I choose to make things so hard?

Yet my final lampshade is about as one-of-a-kind as you can get. Believe me, I doubt I’ll be making another one like it. But I do love it!

For the next one I’ll take some tips from Sissa and try just one kind of fabric.

Discovery of the LYRIK shade came via Poppytalk.

15 Comments

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

richardmcgowanreply
April 5, 2012 at 7:39 am

I admire your tenacity. 🙂 I think I might have given up(!)

squatorclamorreply
April 5, 2012 at 8:09 am

Once again you have inspired me! I have a lampshade wire form waiting to be dressed up…Yours is so beautiful, I love it!

Just A Smidgenreply
April 5, 2012 at 10:03 am

I love both! But yours is definitely pretty and I love it because I have a little “hippy” in my soul!

129twigandvinereply
April 6, 2012 at 7:07 am
– In reply to: Just A Smidgen

True! It did make me think of a funky skirt while I was sewing it.

nicethingsinmylifereply
April 5, 2012 at 3:43 pm

I love them, especially the first one. I’m so annoyed with myself I had two wire frames that I’d been keeping for ages, I couldn’t figure out what to do with them and so I got rid of them – I could kick myself now.

129twigandvinereply
April 6, 2012 at 7:06 am
– In reply to: nicethingsinmylife

Thanks! I seem to have quite a collection of wire frames all of the sudden. They are a little hard to store, so I can see why you got rid of them. No doubt you’ll come across another soon enough! Take care.

Amy Braunreply
April 5, 2012 at 9:49 pm

Love the colors.

129twigandvinereply
April 6, 2012 at 7:06 am
– In reply to: Amy Braun

Aim!!! Thanks so much. Miss you. xox

Karenreply
April 9, 2012 at 7:57 pm

You may call it wonky but I call it great!…I love your shade. It is also nice to meet another blogger from New England.

129twigandvinereply
April 9, 2012 at 8:21 pm
– In reply to: Karen

Thanks Karen! Great to meet you too. Your Italian Easter recipe looks amazing.

Karenreply
April 9, 2012 at 8:42 pm
– In reply to: 129twigandvine

Thanks for stopping by.

LolaLovesCraftreply
April 12, 2012 at 6:34 am

Thanks for the tutorial. Great way to use up all those scrap fabrics1

Broken Anonymousreply
April 16, 2012 at 3:13 pm

I absolutely adore both! The first would be perfect for a little cozy crafting nook and the other, perfect for a soft, romantic bedroom. Now when I go to thrift stores I’ll think twice about passing up old dingy shades with great bones!

129twigandvinereply
April 17, 2012 at 3:17 pm
– In reply to: Broken Anonymous

So glad you like. And yes-grab up some shade skeletons! I want to try weaving one with ribbon or fabric strips next.

Lundagård «reply
August 6, 2012 at 5:00 am

[…] lampshades are so unusual. And with my recent lampshade obsession I am wondering how they are made. The fabric looks sheer on the gray one—and you can see its […]

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