Decorated Light Shades

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 5

Decorated Light Shades

Make Your Own And Have Them To Match Your Rooms Handicrafts: No. 192 —By Violet M. Williams. 'J'HERE is no need to have to apologise for your light shade being a sixpenny one if you decorate it in one of the many ways suggested here. After studying these illustrations you will probably think of many more for yourself. A perfectly plain shade costing only a few pence is all that is required for the foundation. Nine shades are described in this article and are shown with cord, tassels, ribbon, wool pom-poms and skeins of embroidery wool decorating their surfaces.

The plainer your shade when you buy it the better. Unless it is for a bedroom do not choose the mottled effect shades or those with a pattern on their imitation parchment surfaces. Choose the perfectly plain ones, for it is these which, when decorated, have the most expensive air about them. For the first suggestion you require a length of very thick cord. This is for a large shade—a finer cord should be introduced on a smaller shade. Tassels may be introduced, if you wish. Pierce holes at regular intervals around the top edge of the shade. If a thick cord is being used on a large shade pencil around, small coins in the positions you wish the holes to come, then cut out each one with a sharp knife or razor blade. Where a small shade and fine cord is being used, cut out the holes with the point of your knife, unless you possess one of those small sixpenny machines for making holes in letters

about to be filed. Or. again, a leather worker will possess a punching tool which is ideal. When the holes are made merely thread the cord through and knot the ends about an inch away from the end; fringing out the rest, or else sewing a pair of rich tassels into place. The second sketch shows another cord suggestion, this time very suitable for a tube-shaped shade, though other shades may be decorated in this same way. Make two rows of holes down one side of the shade and lace the cord through. As many crosses of lacing as you wish may be introduced and here again tassels may be added or the ends of the cord merely knotted.

The third design shows cord again.

This time a large shade is advisable and the cord should be the thickest obtainable and not a silk variety. Punch holes around the lower edge of the shade and thread the cord through, leaving each loop loose so that the effect is as in the illustration. Sketch number four is a dainty bedroom shade. Purchase several yards of two shades of satin ribbon. Measure the shade to be trimmed and purchase four times as much in each shade of ribbon. A cheap quality only need be used. The ribbon will be above eyelevel, and the dainty effect will be the same whatever the price of the ribbon. Run, a thread along the centre of the ribbon. and then draw it up until the ruebed ribbon fits around the edge of the shade. Finish off the cotton and then glue the niching into place. A second ruehing is introduced above the first.

Artificial flowers decorate the next bedroom suggestion. Choose single petal flowers, such as wild roses, and glue their centre backs along the edge with petals touching. Arrange a single leaf between each as in the drawing. Illustration number six shows a shade with a “bull's-eye” decoration. Cut out three circles of brightlycoloured lacquered satin ribbon, such as brown, greeu and orange. Make one

circle about 3in. diameter, the second one 2in., and the third, Tin. Stick the largest into place first, then the next size on top of it, and the third on top of that. Introduce as many of these jolly motifs as you wish. They may be made larger if you wish, and a thick tassel attached to the centre of each as in the sketch of the seventh suggestion; here only one circle of material is shown, however. Three skeins of contrasting embroidery wool are cut and plaited to form a thick edging in the eighth design, whilst four bright wool pom-poms decorate the last shade, making it very suitable for a nursery or other small, cheery room.