A new shade of things

Well, we had our real first causualty with Hudson last week.   Somehow he got a hold of one of our living room lamps and broke it. He is 16 months now and has been cruising around for quite a while, so I am not complaining and actually I am rather shocked that something hadn't broken sooner, he is after all my child!!! It was a beautiful blue/turquoise lamp that I loved. But it was just a lamp that I got at TJmax, nothing too special and really not a big deal. But to be honest, I was a little disappointed because it was a really CUTE  lamp and it was PERFECT in the room and I thought where will I ever find another lamp that is that perfect and that price?????

The reality is I probably wouldn't, so I had to take things into my own hands and here is what I came up with, with the help of my lovely mother!!! It is 100 times better than what I had before. :) :) :)  AND what a great life lesson! You can get all worked up and cry over a spilt lamp or you can go to the thrift store, find a sweet lamp, throw in some beautiful fabric that you have been dying to use and get creative.  Taking something broken and making something new, beautiful, and one of a kind. I love it!!

There are several DIY tutorials for how to cover a lamp shade but they weren't very descriptive or complete so here is our tutorial, complete with our lessons learned.

Tools -
   Scissors
   Spray adhesive, we used High strength 90 and this was probably too strong
   Craft brush and craft glue
   Fabric and a cool old lamp

STEP 1 - Make a template - This step is important and will help you in the end.

Trace your lamp shade on to a large sheet of paper, newspaper, butcher paper, or whatever you have. Place the lamp on one end of the paper on its side, starting with the seam, trace the outline of the lampshade as you roll it across the paper. Then decide how much fabric you want/need to fold over the top and bottom of the lampshade, anywhere between 1/4 in - 1 in. is probably right. Add this amount to the top and bottom of your template. ***The more exact you are here the better! You don't want to have to trim the fabric or have it uneven on the inside because you do see the inside of the lamp shade depending on where you are in a room. 

STEP 2 - Cutting - Cut out your template and then trace it onto your fabric. Cut your fabric.

STEP 3 - Set your self up for success :) - Use clothes pins to place your fabric on your lamp shade and see that everything aligns how you want it to. (You can also do this with your template before you cut your fabric to double check your measurements)

STEP 4 - Prep  - Spray glue is crazy, sticky, gooey stuff, so we protected our lamp with a plastic bag and probably should have protected the surrounding area a little better.  PRACTICE spraying the glue before you start on your shade, so you know how much pressure  to apply and how it sprays.

STEP 5 - Gluing  - We found it was easier to work with the shade on the lamp, and to go in small sections about 4 inches at a time.   Starting at the seam, we unpinned the first 4 inches of the fabric, one of us held the fabric out as the other sprayed.  Once the surface was evenly coated we smoothed the fabric down. and then re-pinned the tops and bottom to hold everything in place.  THEN we un-pinned the rest of the fabric and continued to work in about 4 inch sections.

STEP 6 - Finishing top and bottom - To avoid getting glue everywhere, we did not attempt to spray the glue the fabric to the top and bottom of the shade. Instead, once the face was dry (10-15 ms.) we used modpodge and a sponge brush to glue fabric to top and bottom, folding over appx 1/2" and working around the shade. This also let us have better control and make a nicer cleaner line on the inside of the shade.

Grab a book, sit back and relax by the light of your gorgeous new lamp shade!

What a week!

Well, we didn't finish the sun room, but who wants to be working inside on the sunroom when the sun is shining outside?  Not the Betzlers!  We had an absolute blast with Cindy and are so thankful for her willingness to come and be with us and Hudson-sit.  She was amazing, not only did she find time to read and re-read every book on the book shelf,  play cars and ball and other games, walk the town, she was also able to help us make a real Scandinavian feast to celebrate Saint Knuts day! Thanks Cindy!

 How many Grandma's do you know who are outside snowshoeing with their Grandkids?

Bedtime - Hudson and Cindy's favorite time of the day.

Hudson is already looking forward to Grandma's next visit!

Grandma B is here!

And I have big plans for her. Which include teaching me how to sew, making window seat coverings, pillow cases and potentially curtains for the sun room. However, I think Hudson may have different plans for her.  They include reading, playing with balls, and lots of cuddling.  He's cuter than me and all together more fun. I have a feeling he will be first choice if she has to choose.  Let's hope she doesn't.  I have been wanting to post pictures of the room because I am so excited about the wall paper but I haven't because I really like a finished project...but as a motivational tool I am posting pictures before Cindy's visit in hopes that I can post pictures of a completed or almost completed room after Cindy's visit!

 

The Sunroom

The Window Seat...

 I also owe and huge thank you to another Betzler and my good friend Julie for making my wall paper dream a reality.  Wallpapering is stinking hard! I couldn't have done it without you Linnea and Julie.  Soon, I will have you over for scones and coffee and we can relax on the window seat and admire the paper. THANK YOU!

My competition, it's not looking good window seat.

Make these cookies. RIGHT NOW!

I just had to post this recipe right away, so anyone craving chocolate could make them ASAP. These cookies are awesome.  I made them for myself for a Birthday dessert, hoping to have something chocolatey and delicious but semi-healthy.  These did the trick. They are gluten free, low in sugar and so quick and easy to make.

Ingredients -

1 cup Nut Butter (peanut, almond, cashew, whatever you have)
1 egg
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/8 tsp. Baking powder
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup sucanat (I bet other sweeteners would work (maple syrup) or  use 3/4 cup reg. sugar instead of honey& sucanat)
1/4 cup cocoa powder (I used dark)
1/3 cup (generous) oats

Mix everything together until combined. The dough will be a dense and feel a little different than normal dough. Roll into balls, bake 10-12 ms. at 350. ENJOY!!!!

The Kitchen Island

It has been a fun filled and busy last few months!  We had an absolutely wonderful time traveling home to see family and friends over Christmas and Thanksgiving that combined with the holiday hustle and bustle and small spill on the cpu (ops! Sorry Colin) has meant no time for blog post.  So we have a lot to catch up on...Starting with last year for Christmas gift from Colin - a handmade (from old doors) kitchen island!  It actually isn't as late as it seems, it did take him awhile to finish it, it took me a while to decide on a color, it took us awhile to move it and it took me awhile longer to take pics but here it is... 

The raw materials

 Almost done...

 In the kitchen.  

The color in the photos is a little off but it is a real pretty brown with a butcher block top. 

THANKS Colin - I LOVE IT!!!!! Can't wait for this years gift  - a handmade kick-sled so Hudson and I can brave the Wyoming winters and play around in the park in the snow.  Hopefully, I will be posting pics before 2013.