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Have you inherited a collection of vintage doilies that you have no idea how to use? Maybe you can’t resist some found at your favorite thrift store or flea market. While you can use them under your side table lamps or hang them on the back of your favorite chair like grandma used to do, it turns out there are plenty of others. Genius ways to recreate vintage doilies around the house. A creative YouTuber, Emily Rayna, figured out how to completely transform a simple doily into a stunning lampshade. To make it, she coated a doily in a mixture of craft glue and water, draped it over the balloon until it hardened, then added a pendant light to the center to create a boho pendant fixture that provides lots of character and charm.
Although relatively simple, this project can get messy and take a few days to complete so choose your crafting space accordingly. You probably already have all the materials you need. Each lampshade takes a single doily, which can be any size you like but a symmetrical shape will work best. A regular balloon works well for the rain, but you can use an inexpensive beach ball, large mixing bowl, or other similar bulbous item. To protect it from your glue-soaked doily and to ensure the fabric comes out clean after drying, you should coat your form thoroughly in Vaseline. And, since some vintage doilies look faded, you might want to try painting yours before you start. Discover elegant home decor with these vintage reproductions.
How to make a boho light fixture using vintage doilies
Since vintage doilies are usually made from crocheted or tatted yarn, to successfully shape them you will need to soak them in a two-part glue mixture, such as Elmer’s Liquid School GlueOne part water. When the doily is soaked, coat your balloon, beach ball or other shape in Vaseline. If you are using a balloon, secure it inside a box or bowl as the next step can be a bit delicate. The most challenging part of this project is carefully placing the wet doily on top of the form. You can use your fingers, but a toothpick can be used to smooth especially delicate edges. For a more opaque look, consider layering multiple doilies. Once you are satisfied, let the fabric rest on the form undisturbed until it is completely dry. This is a step where patience pays off, as it can take several days to harden!
The next step is adding the pendant light. There are several options available on Amazon, but Emily Rayna used one for $9 OmiSun industrial pendant lighting fixture. The right fixture depends on the level of illumination you want to achieve, but it is very important to ensure that the lighting fixture and the doily pendant shade do not touch each other. To further ensure your safety, make sure you only use LED bulbs to avoid overheating issues that could melt the hardened glue or even become a fire hazard. Cut a small slit through the top of the boho doily pendant before carefully and gently pushing the plug side of your light fixture cord. Then you can hang your new light fixture anywhere you like Decorate with a bit of eclectic bohemian style decor.
