Again! Again today, we had no sunshine! Our temps were in the mid-thirties with high winds and more sleet or rain. Not the usual weather that we encounter here on the Bayou. So what did I do?? Felt miserable and cooped up inside. I don't suppose I would do well ever living in a place where I would be snowed in..I get "cabin fever"! I just don't know you folks do it in places that get masses of snow. I am spoiled with mild winters! But rather than bemoan the fact that my gardens were desolate and the pier was too slick to tread upon, I took advantage of my forced indoor stay. I worked on another gourd! It is a good thing that my brother keeps me well-supplied with these from his garden! This is another gourd lamp..if you recall, my dog, Ezzy, sort of had a run-in with the last one. This one is to be quite elaborate with lots of what my niece called "bling"! First step in any gourd-making process is to choose the gourd. As strange as it may sound, I tell people that if I hold a gourd for a bit, it will "tell" me just how it wants to be decorated. By this, I mean the shape and feel of the gourd will inspire the design. I am always thrilled when I have a "free-design" piece and not one that someone has particularly requested. The free-design ones always get the brain in imagination mode..the wheels start turning and then..WHAM!..I am off and running! This gourd "said" it needed the so-called bling!
Looking through a quilt pattern book, I chose a very simple design. This was my first attempt at anything sort of geometric and I did not know how difficult it might be to apply to a gourd..better keep it really easy! I drew the pattern on the gourd. In looking at it, I realize that it is a tad bit lopsided but hey..gourds are lopsided! And this is hand-made! And I guess I might have been a little careless as I was rushing to get this part over and done with! (You can choose any of the above excuses that you like..it is actually a little bit of each of them!) I started poking holes or actually in this case..burning the holes! An old soldering iron fit the need right well and made the perfect size holes! I wanted to fill these holes with different colored beads and a few marbles. I thought this might give this lamp a stained glass effect. (Ha..Tiffany Lamps indeed!) Actually, Tiffany Lamps have always astounded me..the colors intrigue me to no end. Back to my gourd..I made holes all day! I am still making holes! I just hope that by the time I finish poking all these holes, there is enough gourd left to hold it all together!
Enough holes were poked to give at least some semblance of a design so I added a bit of paint here and there just to make the pattern stand out a bit when the light was not in use. Over all of this, I will have to apply a coat of clear finish to protect the paint and help seal the beads. I knew I would have to paint more but I just could not wait! I really wanted to see what this lamp was going to look like! In my mind's eye..it was going to be gorgeous! That is the whole trouble with me and these pieces..I have limited amount of patience! I want instant results! I want to see my finished lamp! I glued some beads in place and a marble in the center. Oh enough of that..I swiped one of the light cords from the Christmas decorations and stuck it up from the bottom of the gourd. Later, a new cord and lamp socket will be wired in place from the top of the gourd since this is to be a hanging lamp. For now though, this would suffice. I darkened the room and fumbled around for the cord's switch..holding my breath, I flipped the light on. Magic happened! It was just what I had imagined! A happy light that may not illuminate a room but will brighten someone's evening with a cheerful glow!
The gourd has a lot of work yet to be done. More holes..more paint..more beads. (I sure have learned to appreciate clear-drying glue!) It is far from being complete but I am satisfied that it will be just what I envisioned! Now all I have to do is poke about another zillion or so holes! Tomorrow's post will hopefully contain a picture of a completed gourd lamp! But for now..I think I will throw another log on the fire and make a cup of hot chocolate!
Ok..so my little misfit of a tree, The Little Tree, has made its official debut as a decorated Christmas tree! It has brightened the dining room tremendously! It is absolutely pulchritudinous! (Now..be truthful..how many of you quickly looked up that word?!! Actually, my son and I were discussing this word today..it sounds like the exact opposite of its definition! Pulchritudinous.. beautiful, comely! Doesn't it almost sound as if it is something quite disgusting!) Anyway, now the question..my tree is decorated but has no topper..what should I use as the crowning glory of The Little Tree?? The tree itself is old, balding and tired.. it is leaning slightly to the left.. it is gorgeous if only in my eyes! It has the tiny, white lights and exactly $14.98 of ornaments! I challenged myself to decorate a tree for under $25 and have managed much better! The lights came from the local dollar store and the bought ornaments were from DollarTree! They actually have really pretty decorations. The boxes of glass ornaments surprised me with the quality! The garland of tiny light bulbs is another dollar store find and the green beaded garland is..well..sort of recycled. Actually, that will be called upcycled! Face it, Folks, I live on the Gulf Coast..we have Mardi Gras beads cluttering up every junk drawer in our house! The suggestion of using those for garland came from a young girl that I met in DollarTree. She and I were discussing how to decorate on a budget..I, because of my challenge and she, because of this being her first Christmas in her apartment. When I got home from the store, I dug around in every nook and cranny, box and basket, closet and cabinet to find all of the old Mardi Gras beads. What a collection! I had well over a hundred strings. I had multiple strings of all colors..except.....red. There were only two strings of red. I had so wanted a red beaded garland
to match the big tree in the living room. Nope..wasn't happening..no way. Next choice was gold..only there were all sorts of golds..yellow gold..orange gold..almost white gold..hmmph! I am down to mounds of blue..too many different sizes..pink..whoever heard of a pink garland..purple..now there's a thought..and green. Green won out since the theme of the tree was to be red, gold and green following a gifted Santa ornament. So the garland was free. Since I have spent well under my allotted $25, I have leeway to splurge on a topper. I am just not sure that I really want any of the toppers that I saw at the stores..I want something a bit unique..something that will catch the eye and say "Hey..I am up here on the beautiful tree..look at me!" I would love something handmade perhaps! So there it is..what do I put on top of my tree? Any suggestions???
