My obsession with a similar (and crazy expensive) designer lamp inspired me to make my own.
What you'll need:
Brown paper or plastic sheeting, 24" beach ball, small paper plate, masking tape, yarn or string, rubber gloves, Aleene's Fabric Stiffener & Draping Liquid ($7 for 16 oz.), bucket, scissors, Hemma cord set ($4; Ikea stores), craft stick
Make it:
1. Protect your work surface with paper or plastic.
2. Tape small paper plate over ball's air valve.
3. Roll yarn into a loose ball, if it does not come that way. Put your gloves on, and submerge yarn in fabric stiffener. Then, work liquid into the fibers of the yarn.
4. Place two strips of tape parallel across bucket, leaving a slim gap in between, and pull end of yarn through the slit. This creates a squeegee to remove excess liquid.
5. Starting on opposite end of ball from plate, begin wrapping yarn tightly so it does not slip. Avoid wrapping plate, as this will be hole in bottom where you will have access to lightbulb.
6. Continue wrapping to desired fullness. Let dry for 24 hours.
7. Remove plate and deflate ball; pull through bottom hole.
8. Cut Hemma cord to desired length, leaving room for bulb to hang in center of the ball. Insert end of cord through top and wire into ceiling (or hire an electrician to do this for you).
9. Tie a knot in cord and insert craft stick through knot as the stopper. Let shade rest on stick and screw in lightbulb.
