WOW CHANDELIER WITH WOODEN BEADS - DIY
In between racing against the clock, I sometimes take time out to do things that help me clear my head, and at the top of my list are long, super-simple DIY projects... So I spent last weekend stringing beads, literally! At the moment I'm also redecorating my home (as if at a moment's notice...) and scouring decor stores, and I can tell you that I'm eternally dissatisfied with lighting fixtures. Dissatisfied is a big word, I'd say I'm frustrated, because I have expensive tastes. But I'm sure you know what I mean, as soon as I walk into a store, I'm inexorably drawn to the most expensive products. It's chemical, I assure you, but the truth is that after the 10th of the month, it's a bit hot in my bank account...
So DIY and patience are my best friends! Yes, the patience to do meticulous things, but not to wait for the big things in life! I went to a decorating store and fell in love with a turquoise-green terracotta bead chandelier. It was gigantically expensive, and yet it was a big chain store, a friend of affordable prices... Same old story, I told you... But I told myself, never mind, I'll make one out of wooden beads! So after 1 full season of Homeland, and 2000 wooden beads later, I present to you my DIY chandelier for less than 50 euros!
You'll need :
-A nice spool of string,
- 3 lampshade frames from Rougié et Plé, 18cm for the bulb, 15cm and 40cm.
- clear varnish,
- 2000 wooden beads yes yes 2000 of 16 mm, found here,
- green glue,
- brass wire,
- and a pair of scissors.
Take the 18cm-diameter casing that will house the bulb. And hang the string right next to the 3 fittings, making triple knots, cutting each string at about 1m50. Take the clear varnish and dip the end of the string to stiffen it, making it much easier to string the beads.
Start stringing beads on the first 3 strands, 35 beads on each. Glue the knots at the base of the carcass and trim off any excess thread.
Between 2 pieces of furniture, or 2 bar stools, place a cleat, broom handle etc... And hang your carcass and your 3 strands of beads. Now hang the largest-diameter circle with the 3 strands of beads in a single knot, all spaced the same distance apart. Tighten your knots so that there's no gap on the string between the first beads and the bulb casing.
The most important thing to remember is to be regular, always use the same diameter of beads, and put the same number of beads on each string. Now thread 25 beads onto the 3 strings and hang them on the smallest of the carcasses with triple knots.
Continue in the same way. You'll need 30 strands of beads for this chandelier. And don't forget: when it's time to attach the next strands, I recommend you lay them all around the chandelier, next to your first 3 strands. When you've laid 7 strands next to the first 3 strands you've used as a base, string just 20 beads and attach to the smallest circle. This will give the chandelier a chubby, draped look!
Now take the brass wire and wrap it around the larger circle. Thread a bead and wrap it around the carcass, and every 3 beads, intersperse your brass loop with a strand of beads and do this all around your chandelier. You can add strings of pearls to your chandelier, by threading the brass wire through the pearls you've previously placed. It's up to you to decide on the rhythm and style you want to give your chandelier, but it's also a great idea to play with the diameters of the pearls!
Glue all the knots at the ends of the rows of pearls, leave to dry for a few minutes. Then cut and I want to say TADA!
