Bottle Lamp + Map Lampshade = lamp Love.
And more importantly, TWO items on the projects list done and dusted.
OK, it's a bit wonky charmingly handmade but I love it.
I've had this bottle kicking around for ages. Originally it was wrapped in wicker, and contained a delightfully smooth (cough cough) Retsina. Eventually it was emptied, de-wickered and cleaned, to become the base of a lamp. I was just going to buy a Lamp Adaptor kit, jam it in the top, and find a shade!
After a looooong time of searching for a 'Lamp Adapter Kit', I discovered that they are not sold in Australia, because we must use Licenced Electricians for everything electrical. Damn you American blogs with your tantalising craft projects! After many discussions with hardware store assistants (including one man at Bunnings who seemed eager to have me arrested, simply for suggesting such a thing) I decided that it would be easier to buy a cheap lamp and sacrifice it to my goal of Lamp Nirvana.
This is the cheapest I could find, at $6. Pretty nasty, eh? Off with it's shade, and on we go.
Using a kitchen knife, I carefully sawed around the top of the base. I left a bit because I wasn't sure how much space I would need at the top of the bottle.
Kitchen shears took care of the rest.
And then I jammed it in the top. It was a little wonky, and I spent some time thinking about how to remedy this. Blue tack or play dough? They would melt in Summer. Some felt circles? This was an undisputed fail. in the end I just put an elastic band around it. This was good for holding the cable down in a more pleasing position as well. Problem solved! Next!
I had planned to turn this shade into a map shade, but was informed I had to leave the lamp alone. So I did, and then I found another manky lampshade downstairs that was ready for a makeover. I removed it's fabric, and the adhesive trimming holding it all together.
Using the old lamp fabric as a template. I taped the edges down lightly to stop them curling up, and cut around it, leaving a few centimetres for edging to turn over. I don't think anyone is going to miss this map, there has been so many roadworks going on over the last 5 years I'm pretty sure it is out of date.
Marking the corners to make it easier to place back on the framework was a great idea, after I tried delicately wrestling it onto the wiring, that was now in two pieces.
I started at the smaller end, using my small pieces of my old friend sticky tape to hold it in place. Do you love sticky tape? When I was 6 I tried to hem a nightie with sticky tape. Frankly, I still don't see a problem.
Then I turned it over and did the same to the larger end!
Both ends are now stuck down, but it is still flimsy and not at all finished..
I've been saving this vintage thread for years, and only use it for really special things. I know it sounds crazy to be so attached to cotton, but it is just so lovely, like the strongest, finest string. I wish I had more of it.
I stitched a blanket stitch around the edges, to keep it attached to the frame and firm the whole thing up. I wish I had used a basic rolling stitch because the blanket stitch used so much thread! This picture is of the join I made when I ran out of thread. I trimmed the loose threads and stuck them down inside the shade, which was a good fix.
I think it was worth it though. Besides adding structure, I love the way the stitching adds something to the way the lamp looks while being hardly visible. I am also in love with the pale green vibe the whole thing brings to the lounge room, like a nice welcome for Spring.
xx