Beryl gets a new hat!

When I bought Beryl the Cockatoo lamp, she came with a shade that I liked but always wanted to change at some point.

So I finally got around to doing something about it!

I bought some cute spotty fabric from Spotlight and a cheap shade from Bunnings.

To see how much  fabric I would need, I placed the seam of the shade on the edge of a towel and rolled it along the towel until the seam appeared again.  I made a mark on the towel and used a tape measure to find the length.

I measured the width of the shade and added an extra inch either side to fold over the wire on the inside. For a nice tidy finish I folded over an inch of fabric and gave it a press with a  hot iron.

I used a can of spray on adhesive to hold down the fold and allowed it to dry for a few minutes.

I then spray the entire length of fabric with the adhesive and very carefully began to roll the shade along the fabric.  I lined up the raw edge of the fabric with the seam on the back of the shade and finishing with the folded edge.

I folded the edges into the inside of the shade and left to dry for a while.

I’m really pleased with the results.  The whole project from beginning to end took less than half an hour and approximately $20.00.

A lamp shade and a Koala

Before we left our house I grabbed a few projects that I’d like to find the time to do.  One is  to find some fabric  to recover a lamp shade to go with the pink lamp base I’d painted earlier this year.  The turquoise shade  developed a mysterious  large dent.  hmmmm….boys?

I’ve brought a very cheap lamp shade from Bunnings, cut out a template from butchers paper, brought the adhesive spray, watched some YouTube videos and now I’m on the hunt for some suitable  fabric.

I’ve seen some gorgeous lamp shades …..

I have fallen in love with this owl lamp shade.  The website Little Treasures that I found this shade on is worth checking out.  They have several other designs and they’re all equally as lovely.

I’m still on the hunt for fabric that I like.  I have visited many different online fabric stores and came across one that has some brilliant fabrics.  It turns out the business is here in Brisbane.  It’s called Voodoo Rabbit and is on Stanley Street, East Brisbane.

Acacia Racoons Canyon by Free Spirit

A Ghastlie Night Mold Green by Alexander Henry

A Ghastlie Gallery Smoke by Alexander Henry

I recently bought a chocolate-brown and  rather battered , plaster Koala from The Cottage Garden Nursery at East Brisbane.  I’ve left it at my parent’s house and my lovely mother has started to sand it down.  I’ve been perusing the spray can aisle at Bunnings for a colour.

Any suggestions?