Tuesday, September 11, 2012

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. 

--------------------



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. 

16 comments:

Unknown said...

I love this post! I love it when people post the fails. b/c let's face it--most of us have way more fails than we do raging successes!! great post and A for effort! Try something flat next time!!

joyfullgrace said...

OR....let's take a trip to the store...they sell lamp shades in all shapes and colors!! LOL :)

Amanda Justice said...

loved this and loved the title... I think the creative title made up for the failure definitely!!

Mallorie said...

You crack me up. I feel the SAME way about naptime! I hate wasting it! haha!

Rachel and John said...

Hilarious! I would be the same way...only I would paint it and then hate it and then have to buy new lamps.

Rachel and John said...

Hilarious! I would be the same way...only I would paint it and then hate it and then have to buy new lamps.

Anonymous said...

LOL Love this post. All my pins lately have been fails so I hear ya.

Modern Camelot said...

haha, kudos to you for at least trying, looks super complicated to me!

Stephanie said...

Oh no. I'm in the process of redecorating our living room, and I'm loving the chevron pattern but after reading this post I see how hard it really is. It was a great attempt though, and it is hard to work around nap schedules once you get in the groove of things.

Ashley Paige said...

So.... my project for next week was painting chevron stripes on a pumpkin... im SO glad you posted this and linked up because now I am seriously reconsidering. LOL. I love this post SO MUCH.

Movin Momma said...

This post seriously made my day! LOVE!!

Unknown said...

This post was hysterical! I cannot even begin to count the amount of projects I have started that went all wrong. I normally don't admit defeat until like 4 am when I'm an exhausted sobbing mess, so you're a much better woman than I!

www.mommymandymusings.com

Anonymous said...

As much as I'm sure this was not funny for you when it was happening, but this post made me smile :) And those before and after pictures made me LOL

Kudos to you for all that determination!!

Laur said...

I LOVE this post I was dying laughing!!! I refuse to measure anything when crafting an now I know I will also not be doing chevrons on anything!!!

Karen said...

This is the funniest post ever! That could have so easily been me!

fifa 14 xbox 360 coins said...

This particular publish had been hysterical! We can't actually start to depend the quantity of tasks I've began which proceeded to go just about all incorrect. We usually do not acknowledge beat till such as four 'm whenever I am a good worn out sobbing clutter, therefore you are a far greater lady compared to We!


fifa 14 ultimate team coins
Elder Scrolls Online Gold
fut coins