When some friends offered to teach me how to make my own lampshade there was no way I was going to decline the offer!

The chance to spend a day with friends, an opportunity to learn something new and an excuse to buy colourful fabric were just three good reasons I could think of to be there.

So, yesterday I first needed to get some fabric so off I headed to Liberty to browse their beautiful selection. As soon as I entered the shop I remembered why I don't allow myself through their door too often; I want just about everything they sell. I'm not sure if it's the range of items they stock, the quiet, sophisticated atmosphere of the shop, the inviting and uncluttered way they display items, the friendliness of the staff or if they simply spray some kind of 'spending pheromone' on you when you enter, but almost as soon as I walk in I can feel myself getting my purse out.

But I was determined to be good and only buy what I need so headed straight for the fabrics section. There was a tricky moment as I had to navigate the scarves department on the way to the lift, and then wait around for a while for it to come whilst looking at the room full of colourful, inviting items, but I managed to restrain myself.

Once there (after bravely walking through the liberty print department where they sell all manner of items I don't need, but dearly want, decorated with their famous prints) I was immediately overwhelmed with choice.

I had of course not really considered where I was going to put the lampshade once I had made it (I was refusing to let the thought that maybe I didn't even need one enter my head) so I had to find some way of narrowing down my choices. Not easy if you are fickle like me and loved each and every option you saw.

But I once again put my serious head on and got to work choosing. After much debate I ruled out fabrics with too small a print as I figured you wouldn't be able to see the detail when hung. I also ruled out fabric with too large a print as although they look great on the roll, when used in just 25cm high sections I worried they'd lose their effect.

But I was still left with many, many fabrics to choose from. So next up I began choosing by colour and realised that I could use the shade in the second bedroom/ bead room. storage/ dumping of items that have nowhere else to go room and remembered that I had used some lilac paint there, so that helped with the colour choice somewhat. Then it was just a matter of deciding between patterns. Overwhelmed by choice, and running out of time, I made the snap decision that as I adore dots I would always be happy with those and the lilac and bright green dotty fabric stood out as the one to go for.

Fabric selected it was just the small matter of leaving the premises without buying anything else. Somehow (who knows how these things happen) I found myself in the gift department where I nearly ended up leaving with a ceramic rhino head and a tray decorated with a paitning of a bird in full regency costume by iBride. But fortunately sense prevailed and I left with just my essential fabric.

Onwards to my friends house, but between leaving Liberty and walking the 2 minutes to the bus stop, I somehow manage to pick up a dress, a pair of shoes and two rings. I really need to wear blinkers when I leave the house. Fortunately I have a wedding to go to in 2 months so all the items I bought were essential for that...

Money all spent, news all caught up with, fabric 'oohed' and 'aahed' over, it was time for the serious job of making the lampshades.

I had imagined they would be very complicated and time-consuming but before I knew it mine was done and we went on to make two more. You can buy kits from here and make your own. Though I think you're better with two people, if you take it slow you might be ok with just one. I of course now just want to make thousands of lampshades in all the materials I saw today. I only need one more for my house, in a room where anything will go, so wish me luck narrowing down my fabric choice!