The light is finally finished.

While I was away at girl's camp, I was surprised to come home to my paint stick pendant light making the rounds on the Internet. Jason Loper's write-up over at Apartment Therapy kind of got it noticed. Big thanks to him! He sent me a nice e-mail to let me know so then I couldn't wait to get home and read it and then get back to the business of finishing this project.

But before I get to the final product, let me share some details. (You can reference the beginning process here.)

At first I had planned on using the existing light fixture and just give it a new coat of paint. But after looking it over, it wasn't in good enough shape. So we bought a pendant with a downrod but it was not the right length- too long with three extensions and too short with two.

Knowing we had to customize it, we also purchased connectors and a decorative chain. I wanted the downrod but also wanted to give it some sway just in case a ball is launched around the house and hits the light. A scenario like that is inevitable, especially with a bunch of kids.

Because we couldn't find the exact type of connectors we needed to connect the rod to the chain, we took apart the existing fixture and used those. It worked like a charm.

After piecing it all together and with Jon's trusty wiring job, we stood back to admire our handiwork.

Using the "decorative" end of the paint stick on the bottom of the shade gives it more detail, and we knew the light would look cool coming through. Because of their slightly rounded edges it also gives more of a finished look than the other end of the paint sticks would have given.

Now it's in place and we love it.

linking to Just a Girl

The Lettered Cottage

Fingerprints on the Fridge

House of Hepworths

The Girl Creative

Funky Junk Interiors

Somewhat Simple

Between naps on the porch

Picnic and a paint stick pendant update

On the day before school ended, the third grade classes (2) held magic shows and a picnic for the parents. It was a perfect day - no humidity. The school provided a picnic lunch and we sat under a big shade tree enjoying all of the excited talk among the kids.

We played a game of kickball, parents vs kids and can you guess who won? The parents kicked farther but they have younger legs and can catch better!

I was all set to video Reese's magic trick but then he called me up to be his assistant so there's no footage. I'll have to videotape him and upload it because it's really a pretty good trick and he practiced so much.



Good-bye 3rd grade. We'll see you in a few years.

On a side note: the paint stick pendant light will soon be put into place. I've primed and painted the underside so it went from this

to this.

After testing 3 stain colors, I've found the one we could all agree on so that will be done today. Jon and the kids' input is important to me since we'll all be looking at this light everyday.

I already have another project in mind with the paint sticks so it's back to the paint desk I go...

**Stay tuned for Friday Finds tomorrow - total spent, $5 buckaroos!**

52 paint stick pick-up

The wall that I have been working on is coming along nicely. It's painted and retouched but I have a couple of other things to do before I show you the da da da daa daaah! "before and after." One of them has to do with a pile of this:

I've been collecting them forever! The paint desk clerks know I buy a lot of paint so they have been giving me extra sticks. I always ask if I can buy them but they said they're not inventoried so they can't and just hand me a bunch.

Any ideas on what I might be up to?

We'll see if it works or not. Sometimes it works in your head but doesn't translate very well after that. There's always a plan B at least. I have a lot of those.

Have a good day!