Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy made a sweet little hanging lamp for her daughters’ room using strips of scrap fabrics. I am soooo tired of my bedside lamps and thought I’d try her idea.  I have a pair of buffet lamps that we use on either side of our bed, and I’m just sick of the gold, beaded shades.  This starts with a lampshade frame, so …

Ripping apart ugly lampshades is good for the soul.  Try it, you’ll see!

Then take scrappy little strips of fabrics and tie them around the bare metal framework.

I used vintage sheets and ripped strips about an inch wide.  Ripping rather than cutting gives the ragged, stringy look I was going for.  I tied the strips over each spine and tried to leave the ends on the outside of the shade, so they’d be away from the heat of the bulb.  I trimmed up any long strings inside the shade too, just in case.

Keep going until you’ve covered the shade.  More or less, it’s up to you.

The question is, do I like it?

Hmmm.  I think what I really need is a more substantial table lamp.  But for a free makeover?  Oh yeah, it’ll do!