August 31, 2010

My DIY Pendant Light in Progress..... (Via Made By Girl)

I'm sure many of you have seen the Moooi Random Pendant light....well we've also seen how pricey it can be, especially if you want two of the medium sized ones. We're talking close to $2000!! So, I figured why not dig up a DIY online a take a shot at making one...why not right?!? Well, my guy was up for the challenge and that's what we did last night. 


It's still drying, SO HOPEFULLY it will dry nicely. We first tested on 2 small ones, with two different yarns and 2 different glues.....then we chose the best one and did the BIG one. Crossing my fingers!!
the one above is NOT my lamp! 
below is a peek at our DIY in progress
How we made the ball :
  • blow up the exercise ball 
  • mark a 6-7 inch circle off-center (this is for your hand so you can change the bulb)
  • plastic on the floor (it will get real messy)
  • wear gloves (it will get messy, I mean it)
  • rub Vaseline all over the exercise ball (this prevents the yarn from sticking to the surface once the glue is applied)
  • put wallpaper paste into a large bowl
  • unravel the ball of yarn (we used 300 yards for a 31" ball) dip it into the paste & saturate it completely
  • begin wrapping the saturated yarn around the ball randomly covering as much of the open space as possible without covering the drawn circle
  • once the ball is all wrapped in yarn, let it dry about 24 hours (we placed ours on top of a cardboard box for stability)
  • once dry, deflate ball carefully & pull it through the circle opening (the same opening used to change the bulb) very carefully.

Electricals:

Click here for full instructions

61 comments:

  1. How cool is this!!!!!!! I adore it!

    I am doing the post tomorrow so come check it out! : )
    Thanks so much!

    Luvs!

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  2. I love this idea ! I admire your bravery posting about it before it's done, but I've got a really good feeling about this ! You're brilliant using that exercise ball! If you pull this off, this should be featured everywhere. Biting my nails. . .
    xo
    Kate

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  3. Oh I'm sure it'll be awesome! I did this about a year ago but on a smaller scale & I sprayed the yarn once wrapped instead of dipping it. Ours turned out great & got passed down to my sister. Can't remember where I found the tutorial... readymade maybe?

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  4. Oh I'm sure it'll be awesome! I did this about a year ago but on a smaller scale & I sprayed the yarn once wrapped instead of dipping it. Ours turned out great & got passed down to my sister. Can't remember where I found the tutorial... readymade maybe?

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  5. TESS CARTER: Interesting...What did you spray it with??

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  6. Cant wait to see the finished product. I have three of these pendant lights near my desk at work...and I work for the Australian Govenment!

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  7. What a fun project can't wait to see it. Where are you planning to hang it?

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  8. KSK: More than likely in the new place ill be moving to... :))

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  9. Nice!!! I am looking forwards to see the lamp. I think i might try this one. thank you for telling how to.

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  10. Wow! Impressive, Jen!! :D Am very interested to see how you get the excercise ball out, hehe :)

    Love the project though, genious!!

    xx
    dagny

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  11. im excited to see what you did on this jen...so far so good to me.

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  12. I've seen a few DIY projects for this, but so far this looks the most promising. Can't wait to see the finished lamp!

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  13. I've been wanting to do this myself, as I've been eyeing the moooi light for a very long time.
    I would love to try this out!

    Thanks for posting!
    I hope it turns out well for you:)

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  14. I was also thinking of making this lamp! It's so gorgeous!
    Cant wait to see the end result!

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  15. omg....i can't wait !!!!!!! ABSOLUTE brilliance !!!!

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  16. Wow!
    I can not wait to see the end result.Thanks for the instructions!

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  17. I really want to see how this turns out, but a tip for next time if you make another, There's a ball that you can get at Walmart, the grocery store, you know those balls that you see kids bouncing in the store and you wish they would stop. There normally in a big tall bin in the middle of the store someplace. Much cheaper option that the excise ball.

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  18. Who would have ever thought??
    Very cool!!


    xo Laura

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  19. i can't wait to see how it comes out! i'm crossing my fingers too!

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  20. How cool!! I can't wait to see the end result. This would be a perfect replacement to my Ikea paper lantern.

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  21. great tutorial! thanks;)

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  22. WOW! How cool is that! Love this idea!
    <3 Cara
    PS. come on over and enter my fun giveaway!

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  23. While this looks very exciting, I must say I'm a bit surprised... See, I admired your post about the persons copying you and how you took a firm stand against them. Someone designed this as well; the designer's name is right there in the link... Aren't you doing the same thing yourself - and teaching it? Even if you're not doing it to make a profit, I kind of think the principle is the same. No? Not trying to be rude here at all; I'm just really surprised and was so upset on your behalf about the copycats.

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  24. Genius! I look forward to seeing the finished effect.

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  25. oooooo,nelly. Can't wait to see the finished product here!

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  26. That's an awesome idea! I can't wait to see the final result! I'm pretty sure I would screw it up somehow, as is my game!
    xoxo
    Lila ferraro

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  27. Clever! Can't wait to see it complete. :)

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  28. Wow, this is looking amazing! I saw this somewhere and yours is looking great. Good luck finishing the job and I can't wait to see photos! Janell

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  29. looks great..can't wait to see it in your place.

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  30. ooo! How exciting and can't wait to see how it turns out. What a perfect idea to use the exercise ball!

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  31. I will definitely be trying this! I'll let you know how it goes and I'll link back to your site when I blog about the adventure. Thanks so much for posting this - this is exactly what I need in my dining room and is going to look spectacular against the dark blue walls!

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  32. How cool is this!
    I was already looking for a look-a -like of Moooi lamp in the shops. But it was still quite expensive. But now I think I will be making it myself for my home office.
    i am wondering though how you made the electricity part...

    Olik

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  33. I think this is going to turn out fantastic. Can't wait to see the finished results. Brilliant!

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  34. Beautiful! I can't wait to see how it comes out!

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  35. OK, I've never actually seen this done successfully (I've heard of a couple of failed attempts.) But it looks like yours will be great! I can't wait to see the end result!

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  36. MARIA THERESE:
    No, it's infact NOT the same thing. I'm not selling this for profit, unlike the copycats that took my design and were selling it for profit. This isn't illegal in anyway to do something similar for your own home and to show others how you did it.

    I have seen other people try to reproduce my designs for THEMSELVES, and I have no problem with that, it's the pure act of copying it, and selling it that is a problem for myself and MOST artists.

    Hope you get where i stand....

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  37. TONIA: You're right. Yea, I thought of that option, but unfortunately there weren't any LARGE, 31 inch ones...

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  38. how fun is this?! I'm going to have to give it a try.

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  39. CENTSATIONAL GIRL: Ha! thanks.....trust me Im crossing my fingers and hope it works out well. I cant imagine it won't , it just takes a lot of time to make.... :) I will check on the results a bit more closely tonight!

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  40. this is so awesome. been wanting to try it myself for years now, but never had the courage to. can't wait to see an updated post with the final look.

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  41. holy cow, this is crazy cool. I can't wait to see the end product!!!
    ;-D

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  42. This is so impressive. Can't wait to see the results!

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  43. well done this is great....very creative...LOVE IT!!!!!

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  44. Super cool! I love it. We did something like this with balloons when I was a kid. Did it turn out?!

    I'm totally doing this on a smaller scale...I can't wait to see it!

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  45. I cannot wait to see how it turns out - so far it looks oh so fabulous!

    I just redid a lamp shade in a faux bois style and turned it into a hanging lamp (http://www.thisfulllife.com/2010/08/faux-bois-your-way-into-fall.html).

    Now your project has me inspired to do something like this in the bedroom.

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  46. this sounds freaking awesome!! I can't wait to see the results!!

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  47. Great idea, Im currently searching something like this for my bedroom lamp, cant wait to see how it turns out!
    cheers,
    Katriin
    http://katriin.teemusk.com

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  48. Wow, I am so impressed Jen, what you created looks amazing! Nevermind the $2000 to buy one when you can create the same thing for much less! xx

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  49. THIS FULL LIFE:
    Wow...good job, just saw your lamp shade!

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  50. RACHEL: Ha! Yea that is why I decided to make it.

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  51. Such an awesome idea, really inventive! I just posted about making a feathered light fixture. I plan on trying to do it, and your post gave me some great ideas! If you could send me the information on the electrical's that would be really appreciated.

    Rai xo.
    http://www.beautifulambition.blogspot.com

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  52. Thank you! I will definitely keep you updated on it, what i'm picturing doesn't seem like it will be too difficult so i am hoping it turns out how i am expecting! I probably wont get it done nearly as quickly as you, haha, MAJOR procrastinator over here.

    My email is rai.s.h@hotmail.com - Thank you!!

    Rai xo.

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  53. This is incredible! What a fun idea.

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  54. I can't wait to see how this turns out! The exercise ball was brilliant....you are so creative!

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  55. Fabulous idea. Can't wait to see the reveal. I have a similar chandelier that I bought up in Montreal at Structube. Wish they had them in the States because they have a really nice selection of furniture and lighting at good prices!

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  56. This is SOOO GREAT! I love this idea - thanks for sharing! wish you a very creative and inspiring day today! greetings from germany, geisslein

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  57. I have two of the Moooi lamps, the big one costed 1000$ a few years ago, my smaller black one was a present from my mom! the texture of the lamp is epoxy! so you did it with yarn i see, I can hardly see the difference when the light is off! when the light is on, the effect is different! one of the best DIY projects i have seen

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