I have had such fun with my Lampshade Book over the past year. I started thinking about all my great fabric choices long before having a publisher or even really knowing how we would set forth to show some awesome new ideas on lighting. All I needed was an excuse to start the BEST, most beautiful collection of textiles. I always led with finding the coolest, greatest, most original fabrics. I have collected needlepoints, embroderies galore (my favorite, almost), cloth kids books, the prettiest French Fabrics, fun new designer fabrics, handsome crewel work, antique Redwork Embroidery and the list goes on. I had to squirrel away all my fabrics till it was time to start my book. And now we are down to the last 3 lampshades out of 41. WOW! Quite an accomplishment. Only a few more days of work.
It has taken some yankee stick to-it-ness.... and to bed early to stay on the program.
we have had a very short time to turn around material and photos. I seem to have been born with an organized mind.... don't think anyone could do this without one. Just preparing for a photo shoot. Okay, It's just me here, it would have been good to have a staff, but I do have a great helper in my shop, Deb. She has kept me from falling too far behind, thank you Deb!!!! And thanks to my husband Carson, he's a chef, lucky me. He has taken care of most of the shopping and dinners. Poor guy, he had dinner alone as we finished a late photo shoot today. And best of all, my cleaning ladies.... almost worth doing a book for..... yupp. I am the worst house cleaner. The dust makes me sneeze....maybe because I hate to do it..... thanks , I am starting to see why there are so many thank yous in making a book. It takes a village.
George and I have had 2 full days of how-to photo shoots this week, one more day tomorrow and a couple next week. And maybe done. It has been fun working together, we are starting to understand every little grunt and moan or enthusiastic, "oh it's so beautiful, from George." It's a give and take relationship, no George, it sucks or oh George, you got it perfect.... he puts up with me and visa versa. Basically, it takes lots of concentration on both parts and so much patience for both of us.
Ryan and Katie, the NYC photographers were in Pawlet last week during the HEAT Wave. Very nasty hot, so unbearable hot in a place that basically has no air conditioning. We had 2 days of misery and one perfect sunny day with a few clouds that did not please the photographers... oh dear. We trashed my shop and made even bigger mess of my house, but made beautiful pictures. I am still putting my house in order. They'll be back in 3 weeks to do it all again. I'm praying for nice clear weather.
Exciting news, a new addition to the lampshade shop. Judy is getting a new puppy July 1st. As you all know, I lost my best bud, Odie, last summer. I am still missing him more than ever; he will be always in my heart, my sweetie. Such a dear. But Maddie and Rocky need a playmate and I need a new shop girl. Kate. She too is a Red Tri Aussie, just like Odie. She is so pretty and I am sure will be such a fun pal for our family. Such timing it is, but she'll get me out walking again, back up my big Pawlet Mountain Road walk.
Just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, almost time to pass the book onto the next group of hands and hope they make a beautiful book. I am realizing what a control freak I am with all things visual. It's hard to create a project and then lose the chance to make choices on the end product. Everything I create in my shop I do from beginning to end; I am usually proud of the choices I make. It may not be something that fits into my house, but I like the fabric and design. I know my customers and know what they want to buy. It has a look that is my signature, fresh, creative, not status quo, push the materials and see how far they'll go. Go one or two steps beyond good. Push..... beyond. And I always wanted to be a graphic designer, too. Crossing my fingers that they take the high road.
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