DWR's Random Light vs. DIY Whirl It Light

So, Laure wasn't too keen on my plea yesterday, which means I have to resort to Plan B on the whole pendant light thing. Plan B is yet another awesome craft project from Pickles, made sweeter by the fact that it's a dead ringer for DWR's Random Light (retails between $600-$1,127, depending on size), and it doesn't employ any knitting/crocheting skills.

Looking over the instructions, it looks like this project is best done outdoors (mess) and will probably require a few hours in the afternoon. Employing the same principles of a third-grade paper-mâche project, the base of the lampshade is a really, really large balloon and then laying glue-dipped strands of yarn around it.

Detailed instructions with a complete list of materials can be found over at Pickles; and in case you're wavering on the crafty quality of this pendant light, here's a few close-up shots of the finished project:

(Images: Pickles)

Comments (21)

i like the diy version better. I want to do this for my bedroom!

I made this exact same thing years ago. But I didn't use yarn...I went to the flower district where they had these gigantic wicker balls...I guess around 36" in circumference. The cost was $25 dollars. I took it home...spray painted it white...and Voila. ALOT less work I would imagine than this yarn method. Just saying...

Come on! DIY totally!!! The price at DWR is ridiculous! And, if done properly, the DIY can look amazing!

I would experiment with different balloons and shapes, maybe make a balloon animal and wrap the yarn around that.

I think this would look better if it was perfectly round, like the DWR light. Right now, it looks like a fat tear drop. But I like it :)

there have been a BUNCH of AT posts about this already within the past few months...

Courtachino, if you use a childs' bouncy-ball, which are made out of heavier/sturdier material than a balloon, then you wont get the 'fat tear drop'. follow all of the same directions , but instead of popping the balloon after, just deflate the ball.

I totally plan on using this idea, with twice instead of yarn :)

@ abc123 -- that would most definitely work :) Even though I am not a crafty/DIY person, I just may have to try this... seems easy enough, LOL

Hmmm. Maybe, after blowing up the balloon, you could blow a second balloon, the same size, inside the first. Doubling it might make it more sturdy.

My family used to use this technique for making our own Easter baskets every year (with much smaller balloons)! After the yarn is dry and you pop the balloon, you can cut a hole out of one side and then paint it with leftover Easter egg dye. I'm not sure how my mom got it flat on the bottom to sit up... Maybe she just kind of squished it down. Anyway, I remember having so much fun with this! Thanks for taking me back to my childhood!

I've made several of these now. A bouncy ball is a bit better than a punching balloon, but both work. (With the punching balloon, it'll deflate a little while the ball dries, usually leaving a couple of strands of string sticking out a bit further than the rest, but it's really only noticeable if you are very, very up close.)

All of the ones I've made have been made while sitting on a living room couch (either mine or a friends) and have resulted in nothing worse than sticky fingers.

I had better luck wrapping the balloon or ball, then using a sponge brush to cover the string.

this is RAD! I'd love to make a ton of these for weddings. or tiny ones to put around a string of globe lights...

http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/

I used to do the same thing MANY years ago with yarn soaked in plaster of paris. (Work fast!) It's a harder final project, but sometimes you have to flake off the thin layer of plaster that spreads onto the form.

Poison,

Do you think they still have something like that? I'll be visiting the LA area next week and would love something like that.

I made one of these recently, and I actually like it more than the Random Light. I used white crochet thread, clear acrylic glue, and fabric stiffener painted over the whole thing at the end. A kid's bouncy ball gave it the perfect round shape. It didn't take more than an hour or two - buying the ingredients around town was the more time consuming piece. Definitely don't buy the random - this is way better!!

At AppleDeco....Yes they have them at several different stores here in the floral district of NYC. I still see them hanging up outside the shops. I can't speak for L.A. though. It was an easy project...and very inexpensive....I wish I took pics! All you need is one of those wicker balls...and a few cans of white spray paint.

I actually think the DIY version looks better. Very impressive!