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The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Embroidery Hoop Pendant Lights

August 17, 2015 by Bethany Sy

Mondayyyyyy!

Wait don’t leave! I’m only so chipper because I’ve had many MANY cups of coffee already. Cypress thinks it’s super fun to get a jumpstart on each day by ‘rising’ bright and early (AKA 4:30am… give or take 5 seconds). It’s not a huge deal because Nick and I are early risers anyway, but 4:30 is pushing it, dear friends.

But! The good news is that I have a fun new project that I finally finished and photographed. Oh yes that’s right… just because a project is ‘finished’ doesn’t mean that it can be posted for the world. It’ needs to be PHOTOGRAPHED. And in this case it meant cleaning the entire kitchen.

Sawdust and Embryos' Kitchen

This post contains affiliate links.

I promised a couple months ago that I had devious plans to upgrade our pendant lights in the kitchen, and I’m fiiiinally able to deliver!

Here’s the story:

So we had these plain glass pendant lights (similar to these) above the island / breakfast bar. There’s nothing wrong with them, but they weren’t making a statement by any means.

Before pic of kitchen pendant lights {Sawdust and Embryos}

I know what you’re thinking:   ‘DOWN GIRL…YOUR CHARTREUSE CABINETS ARE STATEMENT ENOUGH!’

But I just wanted to find a way to bulk them up a bit and give them a little substance. I had an idea in my head and ordered a bunch of Oval 5×9” Embroidery Hoops to play with.

Oval Embroidery Hoops {Sawdust and Embryos}

I had originally planned to find a way to affix the embroidery hoops horizontally staggered around the perimeter of the glass of the pendant, but I ended up scratching that idea because I didn’t want to glue anything directly to the glass.. for two reasons: 1) although the glass only gets slightly warm after the light being on for hours, I was worried that the warmth would compromise the integrity of whatever glue I used and the whole thing would fall apart. And 2) I like the idea of keeping the glass nice in case I decide to do another little makeover to them in the future!

So my next idea was to cut them all in half and play around with a few different ideas. I just eye’d it and cut them with the band saw.

Cut oval embroidery hoops in half to update pendant lights! {Sawdust and Embryos} (2)

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I played around with a couple different ideas for placement for my hoop halves, but in the end I decided on a circular look similar to this West Elm Bentwood Pendant. (Only I wanted mine white since we have enough rustic and wooden elements in the kitchen already).

I needed two rings of wood for each pendant to affix the hoop halves to. I got all MacGyver and found a couple items in my kitchen that would work…one that’s slightly smaller than the circumference of the glass, and one that’s larger. Then traced them on a piece of poplar with a 1” thickness.

Making a pendant light with embroidery hoops {Sawdust and Embryos}

Then I cut the circles out with my Scroll Saw, and drilled a hole to string my blade through to cut out the inner circle.

Making DIY pendant lights for above kitchen island {Sawdust and Embryos}

At this point, it was time to paint everything white (I used this paint and primer in-one). But when I laid all the hoop halves out on their sides to paint, they would move around when I tried to spray paint them from the slight air flow that comes from the spray paint can. I was getting really frustrated, so I rigged up a board to use for weight, and stood up the hoop halves under the lip to hold them in place while I painted. It totally worked!

20150814_135921

After the first coat dried, I flipped them (including the circles) and painted the other sides… and I’m ready for assembly! Using my Air Strike stapler, I popped each one in one at a time. And, you know me… I was just eyeing things to keep them straight across from each other. I’m nothing if not imperfect.

Creating bentwood pendant lights out of embroidery hoops {Sawdust and Embryos}

Make your own Bendwood Pendant Light with Embroidery Hoops!! {Sawdust and Embryos}

Then! Once I had one side of hoops attached, I flipped it and set the glass from my existing pendants in place. Then, I put the other wooden circle on top, and began affixing the opposite sides of the hoop halves!

Make your own Bendwood Pendant Light with Embroidery Hoops!! {Sawdust and Embryos)

I was pretty intimidated about the assembly of these pendants, but when I finally made myself just DO it, they went together easily, and turned out better than I expected! Win!

West Elm inspired pendant lights... using embroidery hoops! {Sawdust and Embryos}

West Elm inspired pendant lights... using embroidery hoops! {Sawdust and Embryos)

All that’s left is to pop these onto the pendants in the kitchen! This was a two-person job, because one of us needed to hold the pendant in place while the other screwed in the little metal thingies.

Installing the new DIY pendants in the kitchen! {Sawdust and Embryos}

I love that they’re still lightweight, but they add a little personality and interest. They just seem to ‘fit’ better in my kitchen!

Sawdust and Embryos' Kitchen

I know this tutorial seems super specific to go with our exact existing pendants, but you could apply this concept to make your own pendant or chandy from scratch too! In fact, I just saw a similar tutorial for this yesterday from my friend Tasha at Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body! Great minds think alike!

DIY West Elm knock-off Bentwood Pendant lights! {Sawdust and Embryos}

And here they are in action at night!

DIY West Elm knock-off Bentwood Pendant lights at night!! {Sawdust and Embryos}

There are still a handful of things we still want to do with our kitchen (namely update the appliances… we’re saving our pennies!), but I’m loving how it’s coming together! There have been some haters that have unkind things to say about my brightly colored cabinets and my design taste in general… but here’s what I have to say to these nay-sayers: ‘IT’S MY KITCHEN!’

Sawdust and Embryos' Kitchen

I love to bring eclectic elements into my designs… combining modern, rustic, classic. It’s just my style! And I’m pretty confident about it, so I’m ok with you not loving the whole thing. My hope is that you will be inspired to pursue what YOU love instead of what Pinterest is telling you to love. That’s the takeaway here!

Group hugs!

Now… have you made any creative or unique design decisions that show your unique style? Did you end up loving it or hating it? OR are you at a crossroads trying to decide if you should pull the trigger on a bright color or unconventional design element? I SAY GO FOR IT! But you already knew that huh?

Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos

PS… check out my post on PAINTING your mixer! Who knew you could paint your small appliance?! It’s easier than you think!

PAINT your Kitchen Aid Mixer! {Sawdust and Embryos} FACEBOOK

 

About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

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Comments

  1. 17

    Christy Ray says

    May 2, 2018 at 7:32 am

    I am 100% jealous of the ideas you come up with! They’re amazing, unique and really work! Just wondering, are u gonna set up a YouTube page, not that u need too, your directions are THE easiest to follow. You could reach WAY more people who are missing out and I think your personality would really translate and shine thru amazingly!! I’m planning to steal most of ur kitchen re/up-dos!

    Reply
  2. 18

    Vanessa says

    January 30, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    Hello. I just found your blog through Pinterest. I agree, it is your kitchen!!
    Our house is 128 years old so I’m curious to follow you and see what all you remodel.
    I love the eclectic and personalization… making it your own!
    We remodeled my craft room and then I had all my family members sign their names on the ceiling in the joint compound while it was still wet. It is there permanently until someone decides to retexture the ceiling!!
    People may think I’m nuts for it but it’s my favorite!
    Good luck in your remodeling.

    Reply
    • 19

      Bethany Sy says

      January 31, 2018 at 12:35 am

      I love that! You should love your home and include personal touches, even if it isn’t trendy! <3

      Reply
  3. 20

    Dawn says

    September 4, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    I just found your page today. One of my FB friends posted one of your photos on my page, and I was instantly in love! Did you and Nick design your entire kitchen? I’ve never seen one anything like it. Those dark brown shelves for holding stuff are great. But tell me this, you design queen, do you actually cook food in that kitchen? It truly looks as though it’s never seen a dirty pot or grease spill. Beautiful room. Just beautiful.

    Reply
    • 21

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      September 10, 2015 at 6:13 pm

      You are so sweet! THANK YOU! We’ve gotten a lot of negative comments for our ‘brave’ choices in color… especially with our kitchen cabinets. But we love it… and it’s our kitchen! I’m glad you love it too. <3

      Reply
  4. 22

    Jonna LaRue says

    August 24, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    I LOVE ? bright colors!!!! I LOVE eclectic!!!! I LOVE your style, Beth!!!! I LOVE your kitchen!!!!! I would LOVE a kitchen like yours!!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!! 🙂

    Reply
    • 23

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      August 25, 2015 at 7:44 am

      THANK YOU! 🙂

      Reply
  5. 24

    Susan says

    August 18, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    Have you considered extending your back splash pattern over into your “mud room” section? I think that would look nice. I love that you are a go getter!

    Reply
    • 25

      Rhonda Cheney says

      August 20, 2015 at 12:24 pm

      Wahoo! I thought the very same thing!

      Reply
  6. 26

    Kelly says

    August 18, 2015 at 8:03 am

    Your kitchen is beautiful!! I love everything about it!

    Reply
  7. 27

    Heidi says

    August 18, 2015 at 3:23 am

    They look great! I’m very impressed you made them yourself!

    Reply
  8. 28

    Jenn says

    August 17, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    Love them!

    Reply
  9. 29

    bethannchiles says

    August 17, 2015 at 11:41 am

    No hater here! LOVE it and you entire kitchen is amazing. What a fun place to be !

    Reply
  10. 30

    dana dashoop says

    August 17, 2015 at 10:29 am

    oooooooooooooh EXCELLENT I LIKEY!!!!

    Reply
  11. 31

    Renee says

    August 17, 2015 at 9:44 am

    Well, I for one, love your kitchen! Going into that bright room would just make me, well, happy! (Even though it meant work going in there!) Amazing job on those lights – how do you come with your ideas??? Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  12. 32

    Tasha says

    August 17, 2015 at 9:24 am

    LOVE how these turned out, Bethany! So smart to use them in conjunction with the pendant lights you already had. They look AWESOME!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Friday Roundup: DIY Lighting | says:
    August 28, 2015 at 12:14 am

    […] Source: Sawdust and Embryos […]

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

 

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