Easy Does It

I'm saving the chair and file cabinet for cooler weather (read: procrastinating). 

So I'm starting with a more manageable project--my lamp. Good thing, too. Because the lamp remodel hasn't gone as smoothly as I envisioned. I've had to work very hard not to get discouraged. 

I asked for this lamp a few years ago. Oddly, I didn't notice the rainbow nature of the coloring. I think it was due to an immunity built up from childhood. For many a young year, I was ardently passionate about rainbows. I'm quite certain that I inspired a toy executive skiing in the German Alps to create a doll called Rainbow Brite. The doll came out wearing my ski outfit in 1983. (Coincidence or wretched result of a young girl's affinity for rainbows and a mother's determination to be able to find said child anywhere?)


Our new house doesn't have a lot of red in it so the lamp sticks out like WarHeads Chewy Cubes in a room of ocean sighs. 



Time to bring it into the family.



First, I used clay to fill in a big crack. I'm a tiny bit cheap so I bought clay that doesn't have to be baked. And was on clearance. And designed for children. It kind of worked. 

Since the lamp was already fixed with super glue, I skipped special polymers. I feel this was wise or I might have glued my face to the table. As it was, I leaned into the wet gesso and painted my shirt. Oh yeah, I'm a messy person who can't be bothered to change my shirt, wear an apron, or generally take precautions. THIS IS WHY I DON'T CRAFT.

Deep breath. 
New things. 
Remember the office goal. 
(No, don't think about the Barbie doll mansion your 12 yo self made from a dog house. Just because Grampy had to ask you a question to save Barbie from crawling through the front door doesn't mean this project will be disproportionate. The lesson here is to slow down.)

I meant to test a spot with the gesso--make sure it would cover the red. Then I was going to tape off the areas like a good little crafter. As usual, I got sucked in and tried to do it all free hand. Nothing actually went wrong but I forgot to take pictures for this series and frankly, there were brush strokes drying on my lamp. None of the links I found on Pinterest had brush strokes.

I walked away, distracted myself by picking up two paint samples. I tested them (restraint!) and it's a good thing. They were horridly pale. 

So I walked away again and decided to change tactics. I will buy spray paint and start with one uniform color. Take that, you impatient little ... ummm ... self.

But wait, what about the lampshade? If it's white, the base can go many ways. But what if I buy this scrumptious option? 

Hello, lovely

Uh-oh. I feel the panic rising up again. What color should I do the base? Do I start white, then add color? Are there reverse stencils--as in paint over the shape not the cut-out? I don't know about you, but stencils and I aren't fond of each other. I always leak under their edges.

If this lamp can derail me, I'm going to be sobbing before the chair is finished. Me and my big ideas.