These delicate DIY pendants fulfill the performance of providing the right illumination for the front of my studio, and they also reflect the specific nature of my job: fabric, texture, DIY-ibility, shape and form. These beauties require just a little forethought to create but will earn a stunning, chubby lighting invoice for your home.
After more than a few tries at mastering these lacy light globes, I know what designers are up against on the road to product growth. You don’t need all the gory details — the finely trained how-to measures here alone can help you get the job done right. Listed below are my mistakes in one sentence: Don’t be tricked into thinking that massaging the lace pieces in Mod Podge can make them tough enough to keep their shape when the inflatable ball indoors is deflated.
Curious about ways to get those magnificent fixtures? I will explain how.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Materials and tools:
Plastic play balls, approximately 18 inches in diameter and with atmosphere valvesPlastic wrapStiffy Fabric Stiffener, liquid and sprayLace fabric (old tablecloth or another substantial lace or crocheted fabric)3-inch, 5-inch and 8-inch circle templatesPencilPlastic container or bowlBig bowl or stand for drying the globesFanPendant lighting fixture or another Kind of hanging outside lighting, such as twinkle lightsTwo-part transparent resinPaintbrushSmall sharp scissors or X-Acto knife, plus Normal scissorsHandheld air conditioner and pump needle
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Use the plastic wrap to cover your inflatable toy balls. The plastic wrap will allow the ball to easily pull away from the surfaces of the eventual lace globe.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Use an 8-inch circle stencil to cut out lace rounds.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
You will want about 25 lace bands to overlap one another and pay for each plastic play ball.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Put the lace into a plastic container and then pour into lots of Stiffy Fabric Stiffener to soak the lace thoroughly.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Work the stiffener to each one of the lace pieces. Wring out the pieces carefully prior to placing them onto the inflatable balls.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Put the lace bands on each ball, overlapping the edges by about 1 inch. Add another layer of lace on the upper third of this ball to make it extra rigid. This region of the fixture will need strength when you hang the globe on a pendant fixture.
Let the stiffener dry thoroughly. This took approximately three or four times for me.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
When the lace has dried onto the balls, then spray Stiffy Fabric Stiffener over the entire surface for added crispness. Allow it to dry for about a day and a half hour.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
This is the place I got ahead of myself and had to repeat this measure before I removed the inflated ball — only imagine the ball is still inside the lace globe. Use a template to draw a 3-inch circle to fit the light socket inside the ring.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Cut out the hole with little scissors.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Mix the two-part apparent resin.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Brush the resin onto the upper third of this ball and let it dry for 30 minutes. That is important so the globe will hang the ring without drooping.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
After tracing a 5-inch circle directly contrary to the small 3-inch hole, cut out the lace, deflate the ball and then immediately remove it from in the lace globe.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
You are now ready to hang three feminine, lacy globes on three multilength pendant fixtures. Have a look at a local hardware store for some options.
When you have a covered outdoor area, you could fill the completed globes with twinkly, battery operated lights and then hang them in clusters.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
In my busy shop, the front lounge is a favorite sitting area where folks read design publications, look through publications or enjoy a cup of tea.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
The light makes the front of my studio inviting and comfy.
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
The globes add interest into an empty space when the lights aren’t on.