Nate Berkus Branch Lamps Dilemma

As you know, I have been updating my basement family room a little at a time.  

I found these lamps at Target.  The lamp base is from Nate Berkus' new line for Target.  

I love the tree branch design and I thought they picked up the bronze in the wallpaper perfectly.  

Before I found the lamp bases, I had found these flocked lampshades, also from Target. 

The lampshades brought out the gold in the drapes...

which I also picked up with the pillow on the chair.

So I'm sure you're wondering what the problem is...

The only lampshade that actually fits the Nate Berkus lamp base is the Nate Berkus lamp shade, only sold in the beige you see on the left.  It's a perfectly fine lampshade, but it just isn't what I want.  None of the other lampshades that Target sells fits the Nate Berkus lamp base.

This is the inside of the Nate Berkus lampshade.  The center of the circle is 1 3/4".

This is the inside of the gold flocked shade.  The center of the circle is 1 1/2" (as is all of the other Target lampshades).

This is how the lampshade is supposed to fit.  The O ring (not sure that's what it's called) fits over the threaded portion of the lamp.

Then after the shade is on the lamp, it gets locked in with this piece.

It looks like this when it's on correctly.  Then the lightbulb gets screwed into the top.   It's actually a great design, making the lampshade completely secure  .

Here's how the gold flocked lampshade fits.  See it teetering on top.  It's not wide enough to get over the threads.  It sits there, but not well.  It doesn't take much for it to move.  I've tried widening the circle with pliers, and couldn't get it to budge anywhere near enough.  I have searched the internet for replacement rings, but they don't seem to sell such a thing.  I'm out of ideas.  For now I am keeping the gold flocked shades and hoping I can figure out a way to make them actually fit the lamp.

So Nate...I love you and your gorgeous lamp base, but why did you have to make it only fit your lampshade??   I'm open to any suggestions (except returning the gold flocked shades...I have already considered that and I don't like that option LOL).

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Fall into Fall party.

The link opens at 8pm EST.  

Hope to see you then.

-Judy

Embellished Lamp Shade

Here's an example of how to take a plain Jane lamp shade and make her into the belle of the ball.

I was at my brother and sister-in-law's house for Thanksgiving and spotted this little beauty in the corner of their daughter's room.  I asked my sister-in-law where she bought such a gorgeous lamp shade.  She told me it was a plain lamp shade that she embellished using ribbons, trims and beads she bought from her local craft store.

This is how she did it.  First she applied the beaded trim at the bottom of the lamp shade using a hot glue gun.  Next she took ric rac trim in green and applied it to the top and bottom of the lamp shade.  She glued little flowers to the green ric rac trim.  Next she took a different ric rac trim and applied it down the center of each side of the lamp shade.  She glued individual ribbon flowers in white and lavender throughout the lamp shade.  Finally she finished it off with little lavender bows at the center of all four sides.

Look at how beautiful it looks in the corner of her daughter's room.   Once she told me how she made it I snapped some pictures and told her I would just have to share this with the blogging world.

Isn't that lamp gorgeous now.  Embellishing a lamp shade is such a great way of personalizing a room.  As you can see, it's so easy to do.  I also embellished a lamp shade for my daughter's room.  You can check out how I did it here.

Let me know what you think...I always love and appreciate your comments.

-Judy