wednes-DIY: ruler lamp

moment of truth - i have crafters ADHD. i don't consider a table full of craft supplies a mess (unfortunately wade doesn't share this sentiment). and i usually have a good 3-4 projects going at a time.

i bought the supplies for this little project way back during nashville's march flea market. wade and i had a looooong list of flea market hopefuls - remember? but we also have a long list of bills to pay (including taxes - boo) so we only brought $20 w/ us. and we came home w/ several new records for wade + 5 old yard sticks for me!

inspiration: i am loooooving this ruling the roost lampshade from roost living. too bad i don't have 495 bones to shell out.

materials:
* several wooden rulers or yardsticks (i should have counted! i think i used 7 yardsticks!)
* saw + sandpaper
* lamp shade
* masking tape
* glue gun

1 // measure the length of your lampshade and cut your rulers so that they are a little longer than your shade. my rulers needed to be 9" long - perfect ... each yardstick made 4.

2 // sand down those jagged edges.

{smooth vs rough}

3 // using masking tape, align the tops of the rulers w/ the top of the shade. begin with one ruler and then add another and another around the shade.

*** i found that my rulers weren't a perfect fit - BUT the yardsticks at home depot are wider than a standard ruler. w/ 2 home depot rulers, i had a perfect fit!

4 // once the tops are in place, use masking tape to evenly place the bottoms of the rulers to the bottom of the shade. to evenly space my rulers, i tried to align the ruler perfectly perpendicular to the table. however - i went around the shade quite a few times making sure the spacing was as close to perfect as possible.

5 // unattach the bottom of one ruler so that you can lift it while keeping the top connected ... like a toilet seat. add your hot glue. then close the "toilet seat" - carefully replacing the bottom of the ruler to the base of the shade and maintaining your spacing. work you way around the shade (remove the masking tape as you secure each ruler.)

the finished product:

we're pretty excited w/ the result! and our little office space is finally coming together:

of course, i'm still on the hunt for a few cute accessories (and a plant for that empty pot by the lamp - pathetic!):

1 // a horse hair brush as a pencil tray
2 // yes - again a chemistry set (i know i posted about it yesterday)
3 // and an old wire desk tray

did i mention this little wooden filing cabinet we found on craigslist for $10? w/ a good sanding, a bit of gray/blue stain, some chrome spray paint for the fixtures, and a couple cute pieces of scrap fabric ... i think she's looking a-ok. i might take the sander to her once again - to give her a bit of wear. what do you think? (i'm becoming an expert sander. we also refinished that desk a few weekends ago.)

okay - okay ... i've gotten a little carried away! :) this was a DIY after all - not a show-n-tell.

be sure to send me a link if you make your own ruler lamp!!!

linked to:

{love} weird science ...

i never really got into chemistry in high school. i credit my passing grade to having a good lab partner. but i'm really digging these upcycled chemistry sets + pretty pretty fresh flowers:

{source: violeta from portugal, cloudfront, hautelook}

everything's prettier w/ fresh flowers.

someday: wade will have his ginormous garden. and i will have endless fresh bouquets!

{whatever wednesday} upcycled boots!

a couple of weeks ago i went on the hunt for the perfect tall black boot. completely out of season - spring and all - but i didn't care. i had seen too many of my stylist friends rocking tall black boots and leggings - and i NEEDED black boots.

during my big goodwill shopping spree a few weeks back, i picked up these funky things at goodwill. i say "funky" because i haven't actually had the guts to wear them - a bit too 80s. a bit too biker. and definitely a bit too diva for me. but at $2.00 (hello 1/2 off day) ... i couldn't pass them up:

well - while in boston i finally found the perfect pair of tall black boots on sale at urban. so last night i decided to give the goodwill pair a makeover.

inspiration:

l: carlsen cuff ankle boot {66.75}
r: cooperative suede bow wedge bootie {49.99}

the result:

i cut off the top half of the boot shaft. flipped it inside out and then stitched it to the bottom half of the boot. this way - when i fold over the top the stitching is hidden beneath the cuff on the inside. finally, i add a few stitches to tack down the extra fabric inside.

(want to know a secret: i COMPLETELY intended for the snaps to be on the outside of the booties. but doh - after finishing the first boot i realized that they were on the inside. hand stitching leather w/out a thimble - there was no way i was going to seam rip and start over. i guess now they're like a little hidden surprise.)

i think they're pretty h-o-t! wade's out on the road until thursday - so i'll have to wait to get his opinion. ;)

by the way - what's with me and headless pics this week!?!