DIY Gradient Wood Tasting Spoon Pendant Light – Part 1 — Building The Frame For The Light
I should have spent yesterday finishing up the trim in the studio, but instead, I decided to work on the pendant light that will go over my desk. After considering several different options, including both ready-made and DIY lights, my mom suggested that I make a pendant light inspired by a piece of artwork that I made for our living room.
This gradient wood tasting spoon pinwheel that hangs in our living room is my favorite piece of art that I’ve ever made. I love everything about it, from the size of the wood tasting spoons, to the colors, to the gold accents. So when she suggested turning this idea into a pendant light for my studio, I was on board with that idea immediately.
I’ve been working on getting the spoons prepared for a couple of weeks now. It has been very time consuming, and I’m only about 1/3 of the way finished with prepping the spoons. I determined that I’ll need about 1000 spoons for the light, which means that I had to cut the handles off of 1000 wood spoons at the neck, and then sand the remaining bowls to round off each piece. Once I get all of those sanded, I can start priming and painting the spoon bowls.
But yesterday, I decided to work on the other part of the pendant light, which is the actual frame that the spoon bowls will eventually be attached to. In order to make the frame, I purchased one 22-inch lamp shade wire that has the frame that attaches to the light/lamp (i.e., the top lamp shade ring). (Sorry, but I don’t know the technical terms for these parts, and I can’t find my invoice from the place where I purchased these.) Using a make-your-own-pendant-light kit from Lowe’s, I attached the 22-inch lamp shade wire to the light kit and then installed the light.
Here’s a look at it from the top. Please excuse all of the mess in the background. 😀
In addition to that top ring, I also purchased 19 additional bottom lamp shade rings from 21″ to 3″, and every whole-inch size in between. I wasn’t sure how many I would end up using, but my pinwheel artwork has 20 rows of spoons, so I bought 20 rings in total.
After considering several different options for connecting the rings to each other, I finally decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to put my newly acquired jewelry-making skills to work on a non-jewelry project. So I purchased some beading wire…
And then I purchased these screw-tite crimp beads. When I make necklaces, I have quit using actual crimp beads because I had a necklace fail and come apart while I was wearing it. When that happened, I went in search of a better way to secure beads on beading wire, and I found these screw-tite crimp beads. Each bead has a tiny little screw on the side that tightens onto the beading wire to secure it. This is what I use on my necklaces now, so I purchased a package to use on my pendant light.
In order to unscrew and tighten the little screw on those beads, you have to purchase the tiny screwdriver that goes with it.
It’s so tiny that I had a very difficult time getting my camera to focus on the actual screwdriver.
Anyway, you can see how tiny it is. It’s like one of those small screwdrivers you would use to tighten screws on a pair of glasses.
And to cut the beading wire, I used my little jewelry-making wire cutters.
I cut pieces of the beading wire to 3 inches long…
And then I bent the pieces of wire in half.
I wrapped the bent wire around two lampshade rings, put the ends of the wire through a crimp bead, and then tightened the screw on the crimp bead. I used four pieces of wire to secure each lampshade ring to the previous ring.
I continued that process until I had 12 rings attached, with each ring attached to the previous ring using four pieces of wire and four crimp beads.
You can see in the photo below how I staggered the wires with every other ring.
I stopped at 12 rings, but I may add three more for a total of 15 rings. And then once I get all of the spoon bowls sanded, primed, and painted, I’ll drill a hole on each bowl and attach each one to the pendant light form using 10mm jump rings.
I’m still unsure about the color(s) that I’ll be using on the spoons. I don’t know if I’ll try to fit a rainbow of colors on the light like I did on the original pinwheel artwork, or if I’ll just do a subtle gradient from one color to another. Or I could even choose just one color, and do an ombre design from dark on the top and get gradually lighter towards the bottom. I’m not sure yet, but it’ll come to me. Stay tuned for the rest of this project
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I know it is tedious, but that looks like SO MUCH FUN! Enjoy yourself, this is where you get to ‘scratch’ that creative itch!
This is so creative! I don’t know how you come up with these ideas, but they are wondrous! Looking forward to seeing the progress, and the finished result!
So creative! Just love it! You give ppl something to think about. And new “tool” alot of ppl didn’t know existed. ♥️
Love this! Have you thought about using the purple door color for your ombré idea?
I was thinking the same thing. The eggplant gradient would be beautiful
You are definitely a glutton for punishment Kristi! LOL! Can’t wait to see the final project.
Wow. Love the plan…are those rings specifically for lampshades? I’ve been watching for rings of different sizes and seem to be limited in the craft department. Can you put a link? Thank you…loving all the color plans…can’t wait to see what you choose!
I suggest on one point if the four small wire loops attach to one ring for sanity. Use blue tack for now while you perfect spacing then use some sort of crimp bead or wrap the ring to stick the loop to the ring. So when you clean/ duct you don’t get unwanted avalanches of everything sliding around. Looks good so far!
Can hardly wait to see your light completed. Love the wall hanging so I’m sure the shade will be beautiful.
My one question is why is the shade circumference bigger on the top than the bottom? Every pendant light I’ve seen over a desk or work area is either larger on the bottom or has straight sides. I wonder if the light will be cast over a broad enough area. Maybe I missing something you mentioned in a previous post.
It will be amazing because it’s a Kristi original – I had the same thought of having it just opposite for a larger beam of lighta on her work service. Can’t wait to see it finished..
I was surprised to see its orientation as well until I pictured the final assembly. If it were hanging the other way up the spoons would be either hanging against each other or part of them would be hidden behind the rings. This way they will be hanging down independently and, if the jump ring is large enough, could even flutter in the breeze. I can’t wait to see it done, I hope it is as I imagine it.
Genius! Now, where on the bowl of the spoon will you drill the hole? I’m trying to imagine this in my brain; it’s going to look amazing regardless. Happy crafting!!
I’ll drill the hole on the end where the neck was cut off. The bowl on that end is a bit wider, and the other end is narrower and pointier. I want the jump ring to be on the wider end, and the pointier/narrower side to be hanging down.
I love the spoon pinwheel artwork and I am very excited about this light fixture. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
You make the most difficult, time consuming tasks sound so easy! You are absolutely meticulous and I can’t wait to see the finished pendant!!
I recall when you did the artwork and I thought that was genius. This my friend is beyond genius. It will be awesome regardless of how you color it.
Wow, just WOW!!! I can’t wait to see the finished product.
Are you planning to gold leaf the electrical wire and canopy as you did the back light?
I haven’t decided yet. I’m leaning towards painting the wire and canopy white, and painting the lampshade rings gold.
I can’t wait to see the finished product!
What if you used some or all of the colors from your swatch cabinet?
Wow, you sure have more patience than I have. I would go mad doing the same thing a thousand times. I’m sure it will be gorgeous when it is done.
You’re an excellent problem solver!