Shady Lady

Allow me to introduce my latest obsession (one of many). Lamp shades!

Listen, I have nothing against a simple, white drum shade, but sometimes a girl needs something fun, funky and freaktastic.
A few posts back I talked about how accessories for the home are like the jewelry we wear with our outfits. While a simple, gold necklace is timeless, sometimes it's fun to wear something a little more edgy and out there. Accessorizing the home is no different.

The best part is, that all of these shades cost under $3 to make. So, if you get tired of them and want to change them out with something else you aren't out much. I'll admit, most of my projects come with that contingency. I like switching things up often, so I don't spend a lot of money on my accessories.

The first shade I made is this funky, fabric shade. It was made from scraps I had on hand. I bought the shade at the thrift store for $2 or $3. My fabric choices are a little in your face, but you could get the same layered affect using less bold fabric. Tulle or wide lace would also be fun options, methinks.

I really love skeleton shades which I will talk a little more about in a second. I have a few of them in my house already, but I didn't want to go overboard, so I starting thinking of ways I could cover them. I immediately thought of old sheet music. It seems to be the in thing and I was actually looking for a lamp to go in my music room...it seemed like the perfect idea. But then I remebered paper is flammable, so I knixed that idea. I didn't want to recover it in fabric, so I continued to think about it in hopes that genious would strike. It didn't. My heart was really set on a sheet music shade so I went ahead with it. I found a book of music at the thrift store awhile back for $1 or $2... a collection of Beethoven's Sonatas actually. It hurt me a little to desecrate the poor book, I guess ten years of piano lessons will do that to you. But I figured if I ever got into a Beethoven-y mood I could just play it off the lamp. I'm glad the dear lamp shade will serve some purpose as shading light cannot be one of them. Here's where the big disclamer comes in. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use this lamp shade on a lamp that is a primary source of light or your house will likely go up in flames. This shade is purely decorative, which works for me as I have plenty of overhead lighting and other lamp light where it will reside.

She's pretty gorge, even though she isn't functional. I'm totally fine with her just sitting there looking pretty. I think I'll call her my "trophy" lamp.

This is my favorite skeleton shade. I found her at the thrift store for $1. They may be a bit of an acquired taste for some, but I find them utterly delicious. I love how unpretentious they are...a complete contradiction of the first shade I featured. One word of caution however, use a low wattage bulb or wear sunglasses when turning on a skeleton shade clad lamp. I nearly blinded myself doing it the other day. Because there isn't any covering on the shade there is nothing to diffuse the light which results in a hellishly harsh and intrusively bright light.

Here's to soft light, cool shades...and hopefully no house fires or retinal damage! Good luck.

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