DIY Happy – Mason Jar Light Fixture Part 1

 

And then Sweet Man said, Let there be light!

Well, we have taken one minuscule, inconsequential step for mankind, but one huge step for the Greers. We have replaced the first of the many (many, many, many,) flourescent light fixtures in our house!

We installed a new (and working!) light fixture over the sink in the basement canning kitchen, which is currently serving as actual kitchen while we remodel the main kitchen upstairs. The light in the basement (like 90% of the lighting in the house) is flourescent, and two of the three lights are pretty much kaput. Which means we have been cooking and washing dishes in the dark. Or the almost-dark. Or the not-very-bright. Whatever.

Because this room will eventually be the craft room, I wanted to keep the lighting inexpensive, easy to change and creative.

So I went with the Mason Jar idea. Very Pinteresty of me, I know.

 

I took my inspiration from this combo – I love the wrapped jars and the variety of lengths.

 

And this is how far we got.

The lights are on and they work! Huzzah!

Here are the details of where we are now:

I bought the basic fixture online here and Sweet Man adjust each of the three pendant to the lengths I requested.

I used jars in three different sizes, hanging the smallest jar on the longest pendant.

I used 40 watt bulbs in each, they are utility bulbs of some sort.

I bought the mason jar lids and rings at Wal-Mart. Royal blue was the only color they had left, which I wasn’t thrilled about BUT it doesn’t really matter because I was going to paint them and the pendants all along.

Here is what is left to do:

Pint t the lids, rings and cap black,

Wrap the chord with black fabric tape, so that the chords look less plasticky.

Attempt to crochet colorful little cozies for each jar.

I chose this style of fixture because  of the flexibility it gives me to change my mind (always a good thing for me.) If I get tired of the jars ( or if I find jars I like better) I can easily change things up. WIth these sort of pendants I can use a host of other objects as “shades” – either baskets, or vintage globes or who knows.

There are still so many projects to finish, and I am confused about what direction I want to go 80% of the time, so just getting one little thing done (or almost done,) is a big step in the right direction. Now if only I could decide what I want to do for curtains upstairs….

 

much love my friends,

J

 

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