My MIL (mother-in-law) and I went to Hobby Lobby last week to buy some upholstery webbing and other supplies for current projects. We had two fidgety toddlers, so I asked if she would get eight yards of upholstery webbing cut for me while I picked up some other things. When we found each other, she was laughing. The clerk at the cutting counter asked what the webbing was for.
"It's for my daughter-in-law."
"What is she going to do with all of it?"
"She uses it to cover lampshades and things."
Blank stare.
"She's a designer."
"Oh. Ooookay."
Some people just don't get it.
So, I took my upholstery webbing and used it to cover a dated thrift store shade, which topped off a brass thrift store lamp that I primed, painted and antiqued.
Here's how the lamp started. It's a very heavy, quality lamp, but I don't know a single person who likes brass lamps anymore. Well, my mom has brass lamps, but her home is very traditional and they work there. Anyway, I used a spray primer for metal to make sure the paint would adhere. After the primer coat dried, I brushed on two coats of red (equal parts red and burnt umber) acrylic paint and finished it off with a rub of dark walnut stain.
The huge shade was a challenge to cover. The bell shape made me get creative with the pattern, but I love how it turned out. I simply cut the pieces of webbing to size and used hot glue to hold them in place.
Do you get it? Or am I alone here? Hello?
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