A Lighting DIY: The New Chandelier

So having always loved these

and after seeing how Jen made hers

I decided to make one and use it as an interim chandelier in the dining room until 

something more like this is in the budget..

source, source, source

There are a few different tutorials kicking around for this one, 

but I ended up doing something a bit different.

Having never wired anything before, I wanted to be sure that this was not going to be a fire hazard!

(and thought that using a pre-made pendant light might just save a whole lot of time)

 so I bought one of these..

two bottles of fabric stiffener

and a heaps of white cotton yarn.

We had an exercise ball kicking around (I am not co-ordinated enough for one of these - truly :)

So it was off to the races.

TIP: Cover your work area in plastic before you start, and secure that plastic to the surface.

You will be glad you did. This is messy. SUPER messy.

removed the top piece from the shade..

this will give the finished product extra strength and keep the bulb in place. 

Marked a circle for the hole you need to leave for placing the electrical and bulbs inside later.

Keep it fairly high, and it won't be noticable.

This is where the plan changed a bit.

 I was about to take a picture of the yarn soaking in a tub full of stiffy,

but I stood there staring at all that white, and knew I really wanted something more natural and textural.

So.

Out of the cupboard came the twine!

Now I had to wrap the metal frame with twine ( to disguise it) before I could begin shaping the ball.

I soaked the twine thoroughly, wrapped it around the ball once, 

and tied it to the frame - leaving a few extra inches for hanging during drying.

Then it's just random wrapping until you get the effect you like.

It took me about an hour to get to this stage.

Next, I used a small brush to cover the entire thing with an additional coat of stiffy,

and hung it from a ladder to dry - 

the dogs were trying to figure out exactly what was going on in the craft room!

 I waited 24 hours, but should have waited longer.

It had hardened further by the time we hung it.

Gently push the ball in all around to loosen the ball from the twine, then deflate gently.

I had to squeeze both my hands inside to cut the ball up before removing -

 it was too big to fit through the opening I had left!

Using the pendant light meant simply removing the wire from the top plate and feeding it through, them replacing the top plate and installing.. that whole process took about 10 minutes!

Remember the dining room before?

Here it is with our new light:

The large scale is perfectly dramatic,

and the texture plays really well off the new chairs - still waiting for cushions :)

now the whole space is bathed in the most wonderful patterns, especially at night...

All in all, a fairly simple DIY - although I had my doubts that it would harden sufficiently, it did!

The best tip I can give use is to be really generous with the fabric stiffener.

I'm completely happy with the results- and the price - it was $40.00 in total.

When we do replace this with a chandelier, 

it will definitely find it's way into another room of the house.

Hope these projects inspire a few of you - 

if they do, please send me some pics of your creations so I can share them on the blog!

til next time..

Natures Palette: Winter Magic Comes Inside

It's a snow day - last night bought us about six inches of sparkling snow, and there is more on the way.

Admiring the gorgeous contrast of the bare trees, soft greys of the sky with all this white goodness.

The sheer beauty has me longing for the serenity of these interiors.

source

source

source

source

source

These spaces have such a soft feel, it's as if you could float in and out of them..

People always expect me to push bright orange walls on them :)
Although I consult about color, I embrace white walls.
Anyone who has ever painted their home white knows how difficult choosing exactly the right one is!

If that is what you love, then place it in your home.

Color comes in many strengths, and it does not always have to shout it's presence.

source

til next time..

An Early Gift for Owl Lovers: Free Calendar

Found this over on Decor8,

always a treasure trove of goodies :)

Shivani, the author of My Owl Barn, 

is offering an Owl Lover Calendar for 2011.

She has worked with heaps of talented Artists to create this downloadable version,

 which is free (!!) and allows you to choose 12 of 30 different images to create your own version.

I just downloaded mine, and it will be living on my desk next year.

Thank You, Shivani, and all the artists who generously made this possible.

hope you're having a lovely, relaxing Sunday-

til next time..

Let's Just Stay In Bed..

Dawn seemed to follow midnight with indecent haste.

                                                                      -Deathly hallows, J.K. Rowling

source

source

source

til next time..

Tree Week: Super-Creative Tree Alternatives That Will Have You Re-Thinking Your Own

K.

Some people don't like common, traditional, or normal.

I get that.

Whenever I'm off on a new idea for a DIY,

 D. shakes his head and asks, "Why can't we just have a normal house?!"

Then he laughs.

'Cause he loves me just the way I am, right hon?!

The best thing about the internet is the ability to connect with all these brilliant minds and their workings.

Apartment therapy, you rock my world.

That one on the right would be perfect for the green room, everything in easy reach :)

source

This could even work with plants you have around the house, just mix in a few small evergreens..

source

Embroidery hoops and fabric - what could be easier?

source

House and Home came up with this  - love it! 

source

Craft paper! SIMPLE. Kids could manage that one on their own.

source

Office tree, done.

source

Those are all good. Really good.

But these are the best.

Makes you want to chuck that old fake tree right out the front door, doesn't it?!

have great friday :)

til next time..

The Little Branch That Grew

Yesterday I went skulking for fallen branches in the forest so I could make these..

 I ended up finding a rather large branch.

Actually, I think it's more of a tree.

off to the store for yarn.

A LOT of yarn :)

til next time..

Tree Week: A Modern Version For Under $10!

It's tree week!

With the holiday decorating in full swing, I am obsessing a little over trees.

These are my favourite sort of trees at the moment.

Today I will be skulking (even the word sounds fun, really :)

around the woods behind my place to find some large branches...

Sparkle.

source

source

source

Color.

source

Simplified color. 

I sort of love this for Christmas.

Let's just skip the baubles..

source

but I'd like something a bit more tactile,

 and voila-

the winner!

source

source

source

There's nothing quite like wool knits for the winter - mittens, sweaters, throws, pillows

I'm a yarn junkie :)

Can't wait to get them made!

And a few of these to decorate the presents -

we made those last year as well.

source

Am working on the finishing bits for the chandelier today,

 so I will post pics of the branches and that shortly, hope you can stop by.

Just wanted to share a bit of good news and a HUGE thank you before I go -

 I won two giveaways on Monday :)

The first from Natalie at The Daily Imprint,

was for these adorable holiday decorations, 

generously gifted by the talented women of Polli:

Natalie is a Deputy Editor on Real Living Magazine, and it shows in her writing :)

She features fresh, insightful interviews with interesting creative minds frequently on her blog.

Stop by, you'll enjoy it.

The second giveaway, from the charming Jennifer at Rambling Renovators,

was a pair of tix for The One of A Kind Christmas Show & Sale.

Will be heading down there this Sunday :)

Their blog follows Jennifer, husband and daughter Chloe (great name :)

as the super-talented couple renovate their home in Toronto.

There's heaps of great DIY and beautiful design - it's one of my favourite reads.

Thank you so much, ladies.

You made my week!

til next time..