Tuesday, January 4, 2011

I want a Lit Giant Fluff Ball hanging from the ceiling

I hope everyone had a great New Year! I just read my Christmas post, and boy, I seemed all over the place.

It was a really relaxed Christmas, and even though I had guests over all that time, it was very stress-free. I must say that I did not actually get to do much sewing, since my sewing setup is in the basement, and I could not bring myself down there, away from other people.

However, this did happen three days after Christmas. As my sister, my husband and I stared at the fixtureless ceiling in the family room, we had this conversation

Me: I want a Lit Giant Fluff Ball hanging from the ceiling.

Sister: Huh? (Staring at me now)

Husband: Er... sure. (He knows better than to argue with me)

Me: Yeah, a Fluff Ball.

Husband: OK, where can we get this "fluff ball"?

Me: Well, I'm going to make it out of Ikea parts and coffee filters.

Sister: Um, are you sure that is going to work?

Me: Yeah, yeah.

I walked away then, but I was sure that they were exchanging puzzled looks behind my back.

So, that whole day, I infused the house with glue gun fumes. At one point, my sister even asked me if it was wrong to like the smell of glue gun. My sister cooked, my husband played with the kids, I glued. My sister helped to fold coffee filters, my kids helped, even the neighbour's 3 year old twins who popped over for a play date helped to separate the filters.

700 coffee filters, 6 1/2 hours of gluing, and 1/2 hour of the husband's electrical work later, we ended up with my Giant Fluff Ball.
What do you think? Pretty, huh?
Here's how it looks like when it's lit.


So, if nothing else, I can say that I made a light fixture during the Christmas break, and everyone who was at the house contributed.

11 comments:

Trisha said...

Wow, I'm impressed--it looks like a swirling sun! But how did you fold/attach the coffee filters? You definitely had a creative vision.

Angela Pea said...

OH! I saw the word Ikea...did you start with the ginormous dandelion looking light fixture from Ikea? My kids LOVE that lamp and want it for our kitchen. HA! It would bump on the tabletop!

I think your giang fluffball is wonderful, amazing, spectacular and it totally fits the space!

Myrnie said...

Ha- you have SO MUCH PATIENCE!! We picked up some $10 rice paper hanging lights over the holidays, much quicker...but not NEARLY as cool (and...didn't involve nearly so much bonding time :)

Callipygian said...

Very cool.

Molly said...

I think that is super cool! Excellent work!

Aunt LoLo said...

Ok, you just put my wreath to shame...or maybe you just built it a friend. ;-) Love it!!

Meream said...

That is gorgeous!
When I grow up, I want to be as ingenious as you. And as patient. :)

Nenette AM said...

OMG, that's amazing! I love that! :)

tales from an oc cottage said...

You are insane!!! I love it!!!!


m ^..^

becky said...

holy fuzzy ball light batman! i love it. lucky girl that everyone pitches in -even if they are questioning the whole thing. turned out lovely.

Issysue said...

oh wow! Thats fantastic! I love these kinds of projects. I saw one where someone had taken the bottoms of plastic water bottles and made a cool chandelier... I think my entry-way wants one!