Hunter's Bright Lights - covering a lampshade with fabric

Hunter has been busy assembling some more vintage mason jar lamps.  We've decided that cute/interesting lampshades really make the lamps look better overall.  But wow - they're too expensive for us and would really knock up the price of the lamps, making them less affordable to others.

So I had the idea of covering some plain lampshades with fabric.  We bought these lampshades at Walmart for just under $5.00 each.

Then I went "shopping" in my box of fabrics.  I pulled out some of my favorite fabrics, hoping that someone else might like them too.  Then we watched a couple of videos on YouTube on how to cover lampshades with fabric.  The people made it look so easy!!  (hahaha ...)

I started with the first step - making a paper pattern of the lampshade.  This turned out to be the hardest part!  I think that is because our shades were shaped a bit differently than the ones used in the videos.

I cut out the fabric, using the pattern.  Ironed each piece.  Then took them, one at a time, outside to spray adhesive onto the back of fabric.  Then rolled the lampshade across the material covered with the adhesive.  This part was a little tricky as sticky fabric can act like SaranWrap and get all stuck together.  Ugh!  But it stays sticky for quite awhile so I could keep repositioning it without problems. 

Finally I was done.  It really didn't take that long.

Next, Hunter assembled the light kits.  You can buy kits already put together, but they are about $13.00 each.  I found these on amazon.com and they were 3 for $21.85.  (Hunter didn't like the dark electrical cords as much, but at $7.28 each, they were just such a bargain.)

Hunter's completed lights!

My little business man will be selling these for only $28.00 each (or $33.00 for a base full of "gems") at an upcoming event.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12

Hunter's new business: Hunter's Bright Lights

For the past few years, I have been bitten by the "entrepreneurial bug."  I have all kinds of business ideas and think of things I could make and sell that might be useful to others.  I haven't acted on it very much though, other than maintaining a big folder of ideas.  (I have been making and selling a green salve and muscle salve though - I need to post about those soon.)  It's been fun to see my children take ideas, produce things, and sell them.

Tabby currently has an Etsy Shop called The Goat Chick where she sells our goat milk soap (available in the original eucalyptus and spearmint scent and in peppermint.  Four thieves coming next week!), an Herbal Mix for Majestic Poultry, a frostbite salve for chickens, ruffle scarves, tie dyed baby onsie sets, and a few other things.  She recently made several beaded necklace and earring sets, but still needs to post them.

The Goat Chick's Udderly Naturally PEPPERMINT Goat Milk Soap

Hunter made his business debut last fall when he sold cinnamon scented pine cones.  (This required collecting pine cones - our property has plenty! - rinsing them, and then spraying with a cinnamon and clove essential oil spray.  Then he bagged them, adding in cinnamon sticks.)  At this point, I don't think he ever wants to touch a pine cone again!  But he did well, making over $150.00.

Hunter's passion is building things and he loves electricity.  He frequently assembles night lights or small lamps in various ways, so I asked him if he would like to try having a lamp business.  He said "yes!"  He said he needed money to buy parts and things for his experiments.  :)

So "Hunter's Bright Lights" was born.  (He came up with the name himself.)  We bought some supplies, and this past Saturday, he went to work and put together two different lights.

For one, he put a light kit into an old half-gallon Atlas canning jar we found on the property.  Then topped it with a "Lilly-colored" rooster lamp shade.

For another, he put a string of battery powered white LED bud lights into canning jar, then poured in a blend of spices:  cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, and black peppercorns.

He topped the jar with a sprouting screen, screwed on the ring, and viola! a pretty and yummy smelling "spice light."

Then we staged the photos, something I have much to learn about.  (Is there a good book out about this?!) 

The mason jar lamp with the Lilly-colored rooster shade sold before we could even advertise it!

Then 2 days later, Hunter sold the Spice Light.  However, he has everything he needs to make more Spice Lights:

Spice Lights are for sale for $15.00

If you would like to buy a Spice Light, they are $15.00 each. (Most of the money is for supplies, and a few dollars for Hunter.)  Just contact me and let me know!

I really like my children learning these skills.  They are fun for now and bring in a little spending money.  But they are helping establish survival skills for later in life too.

It reminds me of the old proverb:  Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.