This wire luminaria was inspired by a lamp featured in the book titled
Making Great Lamps by Deborah Morgenthal. Though it looks different from the one in the book, it was similar in technique.
Materials:
chicken wire
handmade paper
white tissue paper
lampshade ring or one or two embroidery hoops
25 or 50 light strand white Christmas lights
short lengths or wire, chenille stems or twist ties
matte varnish
Steps:
- Cut a length of the chicken wire long enough to go around the wire ring or embroidery hoop with enough overlap to attach to the first layer to hold it securely together. The piece of wire should be cut as wide as you want the lampshade to be high. (figure A)
- Lay the chicken wire cylinder on its side and place the strand of Christmas lights inside. If there are too many on the strand to place them evenly around the chicken wire cylinder, you can gather them in small bunches and secure with twist ties (figure B). Secure the lights, individually or in bunches to the wire with the lights facing in toward the center of the cylinder (figure C). Note: When attaching the lights be sure to start at the bottom with the plug on the outside.
- Place cylinder upright and wrap it with a large piece of tissue paper. If the paper goes all the way around that is fine but if not, not to worry. Just cover the exposed area with another piece or pieces. Attach the paper to the wire by coating it with a generous coating of varnish (figure D).
- Keep adding tissue until the cylinder is completely covered. Don't worry about neatness. Then start covering with handmade paper pieces. If you have handmade paper with leaves or flowers in it, this will add the design element. If not you can put in pressed flowers and/or leaves. If you use pressed flowers cover each one with a torn piece of the tissue.
- Continue adding torn pieces of paper and any desired flowers and/or leaves until you have about four layers built up. Allow to dry and plug in!
Resources Making Great Lamps
by Deborah Morenthal (ISBN: 1579900577)
Click
here to order this title.
Lark Books
Website:
www.larkbooks.com Also in this Episode
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