A Spider Story (A Revised Lamp and an Experimental Drum Shade)

A while back, I mentioned I have been working on making a drum shade. I have learned quite a bit about what NOT to do! But, I finally have a somewhat interesting first-time drum shade of sorts, and some information that might help the rest of you who want to revise or update your lighting. 

Above is the original lamp - a Goodwill purchase with a nice shape, but a dated finish. I'd bought it several weeks ago, and finally decided what to do with it last week. 

I masked it with tape and foil, but later decided the brass harp didn't look right, so I painted it all in Rustoleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze. I LOVE Rustoleum. Rust-o-le-YUMM! It covers so well and you can't beat the cost-to-value-added ratio!

I was going for a "Restoration Hardware meets funky cottage" sort of vibe. 

For the shade, I really wanted to play around with hardware cloth. I went to Lowe's and bought a roll in the 1/4" size, since  the smaller weave worked better for this project. I also bought a pair of tin snips to use in cutting the wire, and a spool of 26 gauge wire for joining purposes.

I had purchased some wooden embroidery hoops intending to use them in my experiment. I decided 10" diameter hoops worked with the base. I painted them to match the lamp.


The major differences in the vintage drum shades and the new ones is scale. The vintage ones tend to be both wider and taller in relationship to the lamp base than the new ones. I like the new dimensions better. The vintage shade that came with a similar lamp was 15" in diameter. To my eye, that's way too top-heavy.

The thing I struggled with the most was getting a sturdy enough hand-made twisted wire "spider" (Yes, in my research, I learned that is a real technical term for the lamp part that attaches the shade to the lamp.) 


I tried twisting multiple strands of wire to make it sturdier, but it was very difficult to get it perfectly centered. Gravity also caused the hand-made center of the "spider" to be higher than the rim of the shade. Not a good look.

I did not succeed in crafting a perfect drum shade before this post, but you get the general idea.  


Now, for the part I learned - not shown in the photos you see here: To make this whole process easier, begin with the right size "spider" from an old shade and a corresponding bottom ring. This will make quick work of it.


Once I "perfect" a shade, I'll do a proper tutorial. I do have a few ideas about other materials to incorporate and use in making drum shades. 

This shade is a taste-specific item, not for every environment. I put a decorative 25 watt candle-type bulb in this lamp. It would be best used in an entry way, a stair landing or some place that needs light but requires no task work. Since the shade is completely transparent, it casts very cool patterns on the wall and ceiling. 

Word for the Day: 


1 John 1:5


This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.


Until next time, keep shining your light! 
Remember, you are made in HIS image.


-Revi


Linking this week to:


http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/2011/09/mod-mix-monday-17.html   (Mod Mix Monday)
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/09/pottery-barn-bedford-office-renovation.html#more   (Metamorphosis Monday)
http://www.houseinroses.blogspot.com/    (Show Off Your Cottage  Monday)
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com     (Primp Your Stuff Wednesday)
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/   (Piece of Work Wednesday)
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ (Feathered Nest Friday)
http://www.remodelaholic.com/    (Fridays on Remodelaholic)
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com//   (Frugal Friday)
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/  ( Frugalicious Friday)
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/  (Flaunt It Friday)
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ (Saturday Nite Special)