posted by Lily on homely, patchwork, quilts, thrifted

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There was an almost plain lampshade calling my name on Saturday.  Abby, mum and I were thrifting – Abby was hunting down the components of a new costume – we had a simply wonderful day and came home with lovely treats.   Including this here shade which was lurking by the counter at the Family Op Shop in Cheltenham.  Mum and Abby didn’t think it was worth the $6 price tag.

I knew different.  It has bobbles.  Really good quality, thick, velvety, lush bobbles.  I used to sell them at the patchwork store.  I know how much they cost.  They cost more than $6.  And I LOVE bobbles AND lampshades – perfect combination as far as I could see.

You know what it was lacking though, don’t you?  Mmhm!  Fabric.  Lovely, warm, florally, mixed-up fabric.  Of the patchwork variety.  With a bit of thrifted vintage blanket and some quilting.

I did measure it, truly I did.  But my version of measuring is clearly an imprecise science.  One more row needed.

Finish the quilty lines – I’m especially looking forward to how the piercing of the needle creates wee holes that the lamplight will shine through.  Makes me think of a beautiful Shirley Hughes story I used to read with Abby when she was a little boot.  Makes me wonder how pretty it would look if I could do magical swirly quilty patterns.  Hmm?

And making sure I don’t stand on the dog, who has wodged herself in between my feet and the christmas decorations.  To stand on even a millimetre of fluff is to offend her immensely and she will flounce out of the sewing shed – and tell on me when the rest of the family get home.  She will!  True!

A side binding to slip stitch into place and hold the wee quilt firmly onto the lampshade.

And some pvc glue around the top – I left the top band of fabric half an inch longer than the blanket, then ironed and stitched the raw edge of the fabric over by 1/4 inch, then folded this hem over the top edge of the lampshade with a generous strip of glue, held in place by lots of pegs to dry.

Have to give it a trial run before I head off to babysitting.  Hm!

Ooooh!  Like it very much.  The blue bobbles are just lovely and the stitchy lines are sparkling gently, just as I’d hoped.  Very cheery and cosy.  Might need to indulge in a bath now just so’s I can indulge in the ambience.  I know the little one will like it on Thursday night when it’s time for stories in the bath.

Home again – and I’ve removed the peggy headdress.  Goody!  Yet further evidence to support Julian’s theory that if a sniper was to come to our home, they’d have to dress as a quilt :-)