Painted Lampshade Do's & Don'ts

I decided to try painting this lampshade that had some unpleasant dark spots all over it.  Since I had to paint some wood molding pieces for our bath remodeling project (soon to have it’s one year anniversary of duration) I used the same brush and cream-colored latex paint for the shade.

 I am happy with the streaky effect, and the way the paint mottled with all the stains.

Some of the panels of the shade have this oval design because the inside and outside layers of fabric on the shade got stuck together.  I’m working on embracing that look.  Next time I would try to separate the layers before they dried.  Spray paint would have worked, but I try to avoid using it.  That nasty empty can going into the garbage is a huge issue for me.

I can be a scaredy cat about some things (head stands in yoga, going off of diving boards), but I am fearless with something like painting a lampshade or cutting up a sweater.  I figure I have nothing to lose.  It’s a thing that can be reused some other way, even if my first idea is a dud.

The lamp base came from the Goodwill.  These monster, plaster-filled bases are plentiful, and usually come painted in colors that need covering.  I kept adding layers of paint, and wiping some paint off until the right look showed up.  I don’t take any chances with old lamps and their wiring.  It’s easy to pop in a new socket, cord and plug.

On these dark and rainy days, a new lamp is a welcome addition. -- Beth

What to do with a Stretchy Sweater

This sweater is at least 11 years old, and used to be about half this size. It continues to expand sideways. And I decided midway through last year, that my body was going to go the other direction! I was ready to donate the sweater to the Goodwill, when I had an idea to transform it into a skirt.

Here’s the sweater. First, I cut off the arms and cowl neck part. Then I straightened the edges into sort of an a-line. I don’t own a serger, so my plan was to zigzag the seam edges first with my sewing machine from the 1950’s. The edges came out ruffled. I was cranky for a few seconds, then decided I would have the seams be on the outside, and be a design element. For the waist, I simply folded the sweater over, and stitched the edge to form a tube for an elastic waistband. The hem of the skirt was the bottom hem of the sweater. To make it more ruffled, I zigzagged that edge while slightly stretching the fabric.

I am darn pleased with my new skirt. I’ll wear it with tights and some boots. Now to alter some sweaters for tops!

I have a huge girl crush on Natalie Chanin, author of the Alabama Stitch Book. She did a great post recently showing and talking about using what you have. Read it here.

And for a hilarious read of what to do with ugly sweaters, visit A Girl Named Timi’s blog, and read about her Ugly Christmas Sweater holiday party.

More NYC Adventures

Visiting New York City during the holiday season is magical! And better yet is having a navigator on your team to help you get to all the shops and neighborhoods you want to visit. Our son Morgan steered us through the streets and onto lots of subway and bus rides. We saw new areas, and visited a couple of favorite shops. And the level of creativity in NYC is non-stop, over-the-top inspiring! Besides seeing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, I had my sights set on a pilgrimage to Tinsel Trading Company. The picture above is a wall of vintage and newer millinery flowers. A wall.
These beauties are under lock and key. They are sold by their weight, not length.

Intriguing drawers were filled with tempting treasures throughout the store. Tinsel Trading Company is dreamy.

Bergdorf Goodman had my favorite window displays. I could have spent hours on the sidewalks studying each of them. So many details, and mesmerizing combinations.

Barneys is well known for their window dressings, and did not disappoint. They had a tribute to 35 years of Saturday Night Live.

I got a bee in my bonnet to get a Christmas shopping bag from Bloomingdales, after seeing hundreds of their hip, neon, retro bags on the arms of other shoppers on the streets. Along the way, we had some fun with this window camera.

The outside entrance to ABC Carpet and Home was dripping with crystal chandeliers and festive paper garlands. My picture doesn’t do it justice. One window had this heap of silver paper chain. It was perfection.

Our visit could last through Saturday this time, since there was no studio needing me to be there. We high-tailed it to two flea markets in the Chelsea neighborhood – The Garage and the West 25^th Street fleas. I enjoyed both of them. We even popped into a Goodwill across the street from The Garage.

We’ll be returning to NYC next spring for another visit. Can’t wait! -- Beth

Can this jacket be saved?

Has this ever happened to you – you are out and about, and you realize right then and there that you can’t stand what you are wearing? I hadn’t worn this floral jacket for a while. I wore it quite recently and half way into my day of appointments, I was over it. Too loud. Not the fashion look I’m after. BUT it fits perfectly!

Once I got home I decided to try fading it. I had run across a box of something from Rit Dye that was for fading jeans. (So many bonuses of purging and reorganizing – the bounty of items you forgot you had and now have again.) Into the washer – even read the directions – and the jacket still was too bright. Let’s move on to chlorine bleach. Back into the washer with a large dose of bleach and a long soak. I even threw in our kitchen bar towels to freshen them up at the same time. There was some progress, but not enough, and this is the current state of the jacket.

Should I cut bait and donate the jacket to the Goodwill? I could rescue the mother of pearl buttons first, since they are quite spiffy. Or as a last resort, what about dying it black to cover up some of that color?

Purge Week

I am finishing day four of being in the mood to re-organize, sort and purge shelf after shelf in our home. Tuesday was ribbon day. I love ribbon. I have loved ribbon a whole bunch, for too long. At one time, it all fit nicely on this vintage shoe rack. Then an annex formed, and nothing was as easy to get to anymore.

This shot doesn't convey the magnitude of the disorder. When I am in the middle of a project, I usually figure out a little too late to take pictures.

These shelves in the "annex" are showing big progress.

Here's a lovely site - a now empty space! But obviously, I still have hoarding issues. The progress is I am only hoarding the ribbons I enjoy the most.Here are four garbage bags filled with my discards, waiting for a friend or two to rummage through. Some of this ribbon may end up as supplies for our September Art Party. The rest are headed to a Goodwill near you!