Chevron Chevwrong

I posted this last week not knowing about this link up,

so next time I'll post a new one.

Assuming I'd have some new readers here's my experience with a chevron lampshade. 

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Pinterest and I have a love-hate relationship.

I love the plethora of ideas.

I hate that I hardly do anything I pin.

I love the simplicity and the projects that spawn my imagination.

I hate that it "makes" me unhappy with our home and the decor we have.

Specifically in our bedroom.

So last weekend I decided I was going to whip up some chevron lamps.

I got these lamps last year at Goodwill, I had already painted the bases but the lampshades were just off-white and boring. 

I thought it would add a little modern touch to our room if I made them chevron.

I had the tape.

I had the paint.

I had some time.

Perfect. 

Adalyn went down for her nap, I got my supplies and it was time to transform the lamps. 

After about 30 minutes of trying to figure out how to even tape a point, I was getting really frustrated. 

Not only was I wasting nap time, I was annoyed with myself and my brain....why couldn't I figure this out?!?

Seriously.

I've seen a million and one DIY chevron projects.

Why am I not capable of taping a zigzag onto the lampshade?!

I'm annoyed again just thinking about it. 

I'm pretty sure another 15 minutes passed by and whenever I thought I finally "got it" the next one I tried wasn't lining up right.

Since Mr. B is much more of a perfectionist than I am he decided to give it a try.

I found online that if you put some tape as an ending point for your points it's easier to line up the points.

So we gave it a try.

Please note all the bunched tape on the ground...which may or may not be half of the pile from my trial and error.

We wasted more nap time.

And tape.

And happiness. 

Mr. B thought he got it and then, sure enough, the more he did it the more it wasn't looking right. 

Adalyn woke and it was a whole {at least} hour and a half hour nap completely wasted. 

Well... not completely.

We did get one point done.

Do you understand the value of a nap time and how detrimental it is for one to be wasted on trying to make a triangle with tape?!?!

So our day went on, we took some breathers until it was time for time for Nap #2. 

I had a new idea and used Adalyn's nesting box to make my points so they would be even and the same size.

This started out as a great idea until I pulled the tape off the box and ripped it multiple times. 

Awesome. 

I was almost finished with the top row and then I got to the end and there wasn't enough room for the rest.

Hmm, I guess this is why people measure these things....

I gave up and tried again at bedtime. 

Using a new wooden box toy this time for my angles, I was on a roll and it was finally working. 

I finished the top row and then it was time for the second row which then created it's own problems because this row really needs to be measured equally {aka way too much work}

Mr. B helped- we tried- we failed. 

It stayed like this in our room for a few days. 

Super classy.

I went to take the tape off and officially give up and decided to give it one more try.

This time all the zigzags were lining up. 

I was feeling relieved and happy.

I put it up, took a few steps back 

and realized it wasn't even.

At all.

And then the thought of making another lampshade and going through this process again made me want to cry. 

And punch it. 

And then throw it at the wall.

So the tape came off. 

I wasted hours of free-time.

Loads of tape.


I eventually measured it and the lampshade is smaller on top and slowly gets bigger towards the bottom. 

So I think {and hope} that this has something to do with my big fat failure of a chevron lampshade. 

And in the end I was left with this amazing transformation!!

I have a new respect for the people that do DIY chevron. 

Seriously.

It takes some patience.

And skill.

And major brains.

Ok, maybe not major brains...but it definitely takes a fully functioning brain.

Which these days is rare for me. 

I'm lucky if I can even remember how to spell or have an adult conversation.