Clay & Leather Lampshade Purse

Materials:

2-3 feet leather
leather lacing
contact cement
leather scissors
4" paper lampshade with clamp-on wire holder
silver & black Premo Polymer clay
wavy clay blade
cardboard
corrugated cardboard strip
glue brush
pencil
paper
scissors
compass
bone burnisher
drill tool
blade
wire cutters
400- and 600-grit wet sandpaper
buffing wheel
oven for baking clay
silk drawstring evening bag
permanent gold metallic pen
snake chain, ribbons or woven chain as adornments

1. Cut the wire clamp from the inside of the lampshade and set aside.

2. Cut a circle of cardboard to match the bottom diameter of the shade. This is the bottom circle.

3. Cut a circle of cardboard 1-1/2 inch larger than the diameter of the top of the lamp. This is the top circle.

4. The lampshade is the "bucket" to the purse. Place the shade on its side on the leather; roll and trace a pattern to cover the shade. Draw the pattern 1 inch larger all the way around to allow for seams and tucks (figure A). Cut out the leather.

5. Coat the leather and the lampshade with contact cement. Cover the shade, folding and hiding the seam in the back. Glue the leather over the top and bottom rims of the shade (figure B).

6. Cover the bottom circle with leather. Push it into the bottom of the shade (figure C).

7. Glue the silk drawstring bag inside the shade.

8. Cut a circle of leather 1 inch larger than the top circle. Cut through (along the radius) to the center of the top circle. Overlap the cardboard to make a cone. Make the cone slightly larger than the diameter of the top of the shade. It should be 1-1/2 inch high. Glue the cone together.

9. Cover the cone with leather (figure D). You will need to cut a wedge of the leather free to adjust to the cone, but allow an extra edge for the seam which should be tucked and nicely hidden. The bottom edge of the cone will have a half-inch of leather; do not tuck this under--it will hold the band of the top (figure E).

10. Make a cardboard strip the circumference of the top. Cut leather 1 inch larger than the strip. Cover the strip with leather, tucking under and gluing the edges (figure F).

11. Glue the strip to the top cone, attaching it to the leather that hangs over the edge of the cone.

12. Make an oval ball of clay and stuff it inside the wire that clamps over the light bulb. Press the wire into the clay to make indentations that will later secure the clay.

13. Bake the clay at 275 F degrees for 20 minutes. When the clay is cool, cover with slices of the wavy fan cane (see next step).

14. To make the wavy fan cane: Make a 2" x 2" rectangular block of silver clay. Slice through the block five times with the wavy blade (figure G). Stack three thin sheets of clay as black, white, black. Pull apart the rectangle and line each wavy layer with a stacked sheet (figure H). Reassemble and compact the cane. Pinch and stretch one end to create a wavy fan (figure I).

15. Wrap the wire clamp with leather lacing. Insert the clay handle between the wrapped wire and knot (figure J).

16. Bend the ends of the wire clamp towards the top cone. Poke the wire clamp through the top. Once it is poked through, bend it to hold securely (figure K). Also poke the leather lacing through and tie securely. This will also help to hold it.

17. Line the inside of the top with ribbon and cut leather to hide the secured clamp and give the purse a beautiful finish (figure L).

Option: A 'collar' can be used to hide the neck of the top handle. This is a strand of beads or cords wound around the 'neck'.