Hope you all had a good weekend. It certainly didn't feel like Midsummer here, any midsummer magic that went on was definitely under the cover of an umbrella. Wet on Friday, grey and dismal on Saturday and gale force winds yesterday. Our poor gardens don't know what's going on.
On Friday afternoon I finished something that had been sitting around for a few months now. I bought this old standard lamp from a junk shop and managed to persuade M that with a coat of paint and a new shade, the new shade being the most important thing as he was not very happy with the frou frou one that came with it, it was just what we needed in the corner of the living room.
Months ago I remember seeing on this gorgeous blog the most beautiful chair made by the very, very talented Niki. It was love at first sight! Florals, colours, pattern and patchwork, serious chair love! It's picture stayed in my mind.
I have been making lots of cushions recently for the living room. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but boy it's so much cheaper to buy some fabric and make the covers yourself and you get to plan what to do with the leftovers. I saved all the scraps, as you do, for a rainy day. This being a rainy day and my heart yearning for a taste of summer, I set to work on my lampshade. It was easier than I thought, newspaper pattern for the panels, quick sewing of seams on the machine and a blast of glue gun for the trims. Thanks Niki and Clare for the inspiration.
I'm happy with it, M's happy with it, the girls love it and the cats are very tempted by those bobbles! Our living room is light and airy and the walls are painted a very soft grey.
We have been slow to put up paintings and pictures in here and I'm happy with the mixture of pattern and florals in this corner - a summer's garden next to the sofa! I'm hoping it's not the only garden we'll be enjoying this summer.
40 comments:
Dear Kim.. all I can do is sigh! Your home looks so beautiful and has a real air of serenity about it.. I could do with some advice please..
Your sewing talents have triumphed again and what a beautiful lampshade you have made..
I am sure Mr Roses and Sister Roses are very proud of Mrs Roses..
DXX
I just wish I could sew :-) Lovely.
just gorgeous, the fabrics are fantastic. I love cushions, but hubby hates them, it is a constant battle.......
What a unique and clever lampshade. I bet you wished you had the matching chair!
BEAUTIFUL, Kim! I need your talents on this side of the pond if you're willing to come to the Cape - oh how I have become stuck in a rut with decorating (so many MALES in this house)! lol Hope your weather clears!
So crafty!
So pretty! We can always count on the English girls to brighten any room and make a gray day a happy one!
oh kim! the lamp is lovely. and the flowers were perfect for midsummers. even if you guys had a grey weekend!
Kim, that is lovely, I so agree with you about making your own cushion covers, but have never tried a lampshade. Are they Kath Kidston fabrics?
Hi,
Love your (if I may name it), your reading corner, inspiration spot!! With the first photo of the lampshade I thought that was the fro froo one you had to get rid of!!!! I loved it so boy was I happy to see that it was your beautiful new creation and it was STAYING!!! :)
It is all beautiful!
With kindness,
mary
Gorgeous - you're so skillful!
Happy Monday Kim, The "lampshade" is just so charming!!!... I think we need to switch houses for the summer!...We would adore some cloudy drizzly days & you could enjoy the pool, the sun & the 100 degree temps! Have a great Monday!...heidi XO
Brilliant, both the cushions and shade. I have been yearning to do a shade but haven't the foggiest idea on how to do it. Did you use a tutorial?
Isn't it funny how you something on a blog and can't get it out of your head?
Great job,
Lisa
Knitty, Vintage and Rosy
Can I sigh too? Tis a thing of beauty. I love the mirror as well. And the wall colour. And the feeling of r-e-l-a-x when you look at the whole picture. Clever girl.Glad there were no accidents with a glue gun..ouch x
The fabric is lovely!! That lamp is deeeevine!!
Have a good week,
Diane
What a transformation ~ so pretty!
if it was possilble bo fall in love with a lamp, I've done it! You've inspired me to give it a go!
Julia x
ps. By the way I like it, if you hadn't guessed.
Oooh, your summer roses are looking lovely! It sounds like your weekend weather was like ours -- rainy and dreary. And now, today seems a bit cool -- certainly not summer weather!
I look at that & think Romance! How pretty. Love your mirror.
Sorry to hear that the weather stole the midsummer magic a little. Your lampshade is fantastic. I love it. Heaps and heaps. Well done for making it. I hope you will be able to find something a little less special for the cats to be tempted by.
LOVE the lampshade...it is perfect, and oh, so girlie! Sweet fabrics you've chosen for it. I've not made over a lampshade before...somehow I'm slightly nervous it won't turn out right and then what?! LOL! It was raining off and on here all Solstice weekend *SIGH* When's real summer coming back? Happy Days ((HUGS))
Hello Kim
that lampshade is too pretty for words, I love the way the fabrics combine to give an all over rose-garden effect. Beautiful. Cushions are beautiful too, your home is delightful.
Lx
your lamp is lovely. The weather is another thing isn't it!!!
You are very clever!
The lampshade is lovely.Such delightful fabrics ;-)
Delightful, sweetpea! I'm doing a lampshade also at the moment! If you'd like to see a scrumptious cover for my office chair come over and look at yesterday's blog post. It's absolutely adorable. Nuuuuu, I didn't make it but the sweet cherub who did is a miracle worker!! Beautiful!!
Smoochies,
Connie
I would need no convincing to have this shade in my living room Kim, it is fantastic. I really do like the different fabric sections. Yet again showing us you are a woman of many talents. x
Such pretty things Kim, hope you and your girls managed to get a glimpse of the fairies the other night. Just wanted to let you know that I'm moving the blog, joining Blogger like you, you'll now be able to find us at:
http://catondarlingandmoore.blogspot.com/
Hope to see you there sometime.
Well done Kim, you've put some lovely materials together to make a lovely shade
lisa x
Your shade is wonderful. It gives me hope for my newest lamp adventure. Tragicly many sewing projects turn in to adventures but what the heck that's what makes them so much the better when they work well:) Keep up the good work and have fun!
Fabulous work on the lamp Kim!!! I love it to bits! I love mixing florals and did just that when I made my large patchwork quilt for our bed. It looks like a brand new and very chic high street lamp now. Laughed when I read that the trim is tempting the cat. :) I think you have the prettiest mirror too. I so long for a mantle so I can decorate it. We have a woodstove and I keep trying to convince Jos to let me have our handy man come and build a chimney around it with a pretty mantle. It sounds like some boot sales are in the future for some pretty vintage frames to hang in your living room. :)
Hugs ~
Heidi
Great Job Kim! (Thanks for the mention! ;-)) The slip cover was hard work, but I was pleasaed with the end result...must get round to doing one for myself!)
I have made lampshades like yours for me though - the nice thing with them is, you can twizzle them around so that a different fabric faces front and it feels like a whole new shade.)
Must say, you've been far more productive than me....I must get on my sewing machine today.
Have a lovely day,
Niki x
I agree with Michele, all I can do is sigh. It is absolutely beautiful. Your sitting room looks absolutely gorgeous too. How I long for such a serene looking room. As I am currently being a patient lady and living with Simon's 'decor' I have a sitting room painted a deep red colour. It's cosy at night but rather too much during the day. You should be very proud of your beautiful shade and room.
Your lamp shade looks lovely, I've done something similar recently but using patchwork pieces - Your living room looks so fresh and pretty - Natalie x
Kim,
your so very clever, I just love the lamp shade it's gorgeous and very summery.
I'm off now to look at Ebay for old lamps and shades lol
Inspiring sweetie, thanks.
Hugs.
Catherine x
I love the lampshade! It's beautiful!!
Hi Kim....WoW what a beautiful job you have made of your lamp standard and shade! I love all your cushions too....they would be great for my little 'camp'....if you ever get tired of them! I love to make things and paint things too...so much better than buying them already done - it is just finding the spare time. Your room looks so beauiful and calm - all my favourite colours too.
Caorl xx
Kim that is fabulous! I love all the different fabrics on it. It looks like it comes from one of these tremendously expensive interiors shop in Cambridge. Just beautiful!
Rosie x
Hi Kim,
I love what you have done with the lamp, man I wish I could sew, I love the affect with the different fabrics together.
Cheers Linda
What a great job you did... the lamp shade looks so cute and everyone's happy with it!
Kim that is just so pretty!! I absolutely love it and you've inspired me to do up a lamp I found and have tucked away. Now I know exactly what to do with it.
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