How to Make an Ostrich Egg LAMP

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Ostrich Eggs; available at; http://www.ostrich.com/shop
Small, Thin round files and small flat files with grit on thin edge; available at; AC Moore, Lowes, and some hardware stores.
Glass drill bit; small
Bases available at; dollar stores, Walmart, AC Moore, Michaels, Target, K-Mart (many things can be a base, as long as the egg fits on it securely)
AC Moore or Michaels as they usually carry the lamp sockets with the wire, plug and switch all in one.
Small base 4 watt bulbs; available at; Lowes, Home Depot and Hardware stores
pencil with eraser
tracing paper
Acrylic paint (color?)
One fresh Beet, cooked
4 new tea bags, steeped
Small paint brush
Several Q-Tips

Step 1

*First find the designs you want to create on the egg...
*If you are not an artist...trace the designs you want...
*Cut out the patterns...
*Lay paper on top of egg and trace around the edges...
*Continue till you have the complete pattern you want...
Step 2

Hole for bulb

*Now make the hole where the bulb will go...
*Trace the circumference of the light socket that will be cut out...
[better to make it smaller and test to see if bulb socket fits snugly,
than to make it too large]
*Drill the small hole, then use round file to make hole to size needed.
(yes, it is very time consuming)

*Cut the areas you don't want or don't cut anything but the bulb hole...
Step 3

*Soak the tea bags for ½ an hour
*Cook beet in boiling water for 15 minutes...let stand till cool
Step 4

Several views of the same egg...without the stand

*Now you're ready to create your etched pattern with the files...
*A steady hand would be best, but if you squiggle you can just incorporate it
into your design.
*Use the flat edge of the file to cut into the lines you've drawn on the egg...
do not cut all the way through, just an etched line.
• With Q-tips, use the steeped tea and beet juice to 'paint' everything you want the light to shine through.
• When dry, use your paint brush to cover all areas of the egg that you do not want the light to shine through...
Step 5

Light on

Let dry...put bulb into socket, insert into egg bottom, switch on...

ENJOY your new lamp!
Step 6

Designed & Created by Maureen Bloesch, photo by same

This is an assortment of Ostrich eggs that are emblished with; Swaroviski crystals, femo flowers, semi-precious stones and metals. Some have several doors, some have one door but most all have music boxes inside with the key on the bottom.
Step 7

Photograph, Design & Creation by Maureen Bloesch

This Ostrich egg, American Flag, used 375 3mm Swarvoski crystals. There are 3 puter Eagles along the top of the Flag and one, center Top. God Bless America is also done in Swarvoski crystals. This egg was placed on a revolving mirrored base, before it was sold. The monies from the sale of this egg went to the Salvation Army for the victims of 9-11.
Step 8

Photograph, Design & Creation by Maureen Bloesch

With this Ostrich egg, I drew a design of leaves with the crystal as the moon. I removed layers of skin from the egg for the light to shine through in different amounts.
The base has color changing LED lights.
Step 9

Photograph, Design & Creation by Maureen Bloesch

This is what the egg looks like when the light is on...and the colors keep changing and on the ceiling the crystal casts its points.
Step 10

Photograph, Design & Creation by Maureen Bloesch

This egg has a painting on the outside,no skin is removed but I counter sunk holes in the shape of stars, all around the back and sides. On the top I made holes in the shape of a cross. When the light is on, a cross shines on the ceiling and stars on the walls(this one has a bulb INSIDE (but removable). I was very careful with my brush strokes so it would looks like an old oil painting with backlighting.
Step 11

Photograph, Design & Creation by Maureen Bloesch

On this egg, I carved a lotus blossom and it sits on the LED light changing base. The reason for openings is so the inside of the egg does not get hot.
Step 12

Photograph, Design & Creation by Maureen Bloesch

On this egg I painted a fantasy moon, cut open the top, and it holds a tea light in a glass holder. The base is a candlestick holder.
Step 13

Photograph, Design & Creation by Maureen Bloesch

This was a gift for a wedding. Inside the main egg, is a Duck egg and inside that is a Finch egg that was coated with gold leafing to represent the golden nest egg. Inside the bottom of the main egg, is a music box that is hidden by a fabric lining but the key extends out the bottom. On the back, I counter sunk holes in the shape of the last name of the bride and groom and set in each hole, rhinestones from the 1940's.
Step 14

Photograph by Maureen Bloesch

This is an Ostrich egg...a beautiful egg that has so many possibilities to look like anything but an egg....
Step 15

Print this out and give it with whatever egg you give as a gift, or sell.

Comments

goodselfme said

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on 12/22/2009 Lovely, artistic ostrich egg lamp. TX for the details.5*

missnye said

on 11/19/2009 This is just the lovliest thing I have ever seen! Excellent article!

on 11/10/2009 I have really been inspired by this e-how! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent with us and giving the guidance to get me excited to try this craft. I absolutely love all the photos of your beautiful work.