Recovering a lamp shade and some other touch ups

Before Fifi asked me to do a photo shoot for Romantic Country magazine, I was already on a home fix up binge.  I've been making pillows, slip covers, touching up paint, rearranging and foofing.  Good timing for her call!

This bench was brought in from the garden a couple years ago, so we'd have a spot to sit and put on shoes by the front door, and the baskets under it are perfect for toys and kid's shoes.  But I'd never made cushions for it, I've been wrapping fabric around a cushion that didn't match and making do with that.

About ten years ago, I'd found some old, floral curtains in a dumpster (I nicknamed it the "Dumpster of Gold", there was so much beautiful bounty in it!!!). They were just the right fabric for making pillows for this bench.  The top pillow is stuffed with poly fluff, but the bottom one is just a pillow case over that same cushion that I'd been wrapping around fabric before. That way, I can slip it off and wash it after muddy dogs spend time on this bench. Which they love to do.  It's Twinkle's perch so she can keep an eye on the front door and protect us. 

The pink rag rug was one that used to be white, but the white wasn't coming back after years of use. (I don't throw much away) It was still in decent shape, so, I dyed it, along with some  stained tees and other odds and ends. Because when I have a dye pot going, I always feel the need to scrounge around the house looking for other things to dip in it.

I used the liquid Rit Dye in fuchsia, but only a 1/2 bottle along with a 1/4 bottle of tan to tone it down. I think I could have done 1/4 of pink and 1/8 of tan and been happier with the result.

It seems like I've been on the go nonstop for the last couple of years and hadn't really had a chance to nest.  Since I declared this the Summer of Whammy and took time off to simply be a grammy and enjoy my family and home, I found lots of little projects that needed tending to.  Like this lamp shade that I revamped. 

If you have ever covered a lamp shade, you know that with the curved shape, it's hard to smooth fabric down onto.  To avoid measuring, I decided to patch work it.  I took scraps of rose pattern cotton, and brushed the lamp shade with school glue, and brushed some onto the scraps too, then laid them onto the shade.

After piecing in a background of roses, I covered the seams with lace applique bits (picked up on the Enchanted Affaire bus tour in downtown LA for 25 cents each).  And made a bottom trim border from some old tatting over a row of dangly beads.

Around the top, I used some trim from a vintage skirt.  All the lace and trim was attached with Ultimate glue, but I'll bet fabric glue would work the same. School glue wasn't strong enough for this part.

Tah Dah!  Just perfect for the Rosey Room, to go on the $4 Goodwill lamp that Aunt Sandy left behind for me when she left here.

The throw on the bed got a make over too.  It was one that I thought was just lovely, but it sure fell apart fast. The top is sheer with cut velvet roses, and velvet trim. But the backing on it shredded and fell off. I saved the top because it was such perfect fabric and I always thought I'd use it someday for something.

Who knew, that I'd return it to being a throw again?

I came across the piece of fabric when I cleaned out the closet for the Studio Tour and decided I was ready to reuse it. What great timing, since soon after, Fifi made arrangements to photograph the house.  And this was just what the Rosey Room needed.

All I did was buy some stretchy, crushed velvet on sale at Hancocks for $4.40 a yard, and sew it on the back. I am hoping that the stretchiness will help it last longer than the previous lining. And the crushed velvet is soft and comfy to wear over my lap as I watch TV. So, this throw will go to the living room now that the photos are done. The guest room doesn't get used often enough to keep it up there. It's so pretty and soft, I want it in the living room to snuggle under on a regular basis.

 

Comments

[Tessa]

Yet another gorgeous post...

Your home is so, so, so beautifully decorated. That I can't help but comment on every post. Oh I know, comments rock. But then I wonder if some bloggers don't like to get too many comments, from the same blogger...? ?????

Anyway, thank you for the lovely photos and for the great idea on how-to-do-over-a-lamp-shade!

Tessa~

[Claudia]

I so love everything you do!
Claudia

[Charlotte]

I think it is necessary to take time for ourselves to rest and recover, like your Whammy summer. I love the process of looking at what we have and re-imagining it. I think it makes those improved items more special. Not to mention the satisfaction of recycling rather than purchasing. I've put my redecorated guest room together with only 1 purchase, plus a gallon of paint. Gads, I have so much unused stuff, still, after a year of serious donating. No need to shop! Well, you know, except for craft supplies.

[jeanie]

Looks great, Karla. I admire your upholstery skills. Not my ability. But boy, you can really save money -- and make a whole new space!

[Terry Neibaur]

everything looks awesome Karla

[jackie collins]

This room is so cozy and comfy! I love all the blended colors and the lampshade is gorgeous! All things become more beautiful when they tell a story! Thank you for sharing your talents!

[Linda P.]

Your discovery of that "dumpster of gold" makes you wonder why people wouldn't take their re-usables to Goodwill!

Love your lampshade! How great that you found some 25-cent lace appliques!!! I'm afraid I would've been tossing those lovelies into my basket by the dozen. Ha! Oh, and I actually have a couple of lampshades in my living room that I just plunked some elastic-waisted Goodwill skirts over, and I love 'em.

Thanks so much for sharing some of your re-do magic with us. It is so much fun to see and gives us a few ideas as well!