The Lampshade Lady Blog

Hear's to a Happy Blue Full Moon Tonight

Happy New Year! What a wild year it has been. I can't imagine another year like this. This is the time of year I dread... shop is slow, chilly days, not many sales... but slowly but surely I start to love this time of year. It is beautiful out; snow topped houses and flower stocks poking through the snow. I slow down and take time to catch up. It's time to make plans to work on my website, get more product up on Etsy, get my book out farther afield in the world, tweeck my blog format, get a few more book events.... It's fun to search through design blogs around the world. Basically take it easy and catch up.

Here's a picture of my jewel tree. I recently told my son, when I'm not around don't you dare throw out this!!! I made it a few years ago. What a fun project. It weighs a ton and took hours to complete. I started with finding a big jar old junk jewelry at one of my antique stops. That was a big help and then started searching in my vintage button box, looking for beads and junk in bottoms of jars and baskets kicking around my bureau and shop.

I covered the Styrofoam cone with silk and started glue gunning and glue gunning and glue gunning. Below is a close up picture.
This is one of my favorite finds of the year. A mercury glass antique curtain pushpin. I epoxied it onto a finial base. I've never seen one, wicked handsome piece. A keeper.
Last picture of the year, vintage pushpin finial on a hanging drum lamp.

Winter in Pawlet, Vermont

The fresh fallen snow and almost full moon cleans up our crusty little village. The dusk Alpenglow brings such a magical light for the short time of day as the sun goes down and reflects it's light to the hills in The Mettowee Valley. Check out my new door into the shop. Wow. sure does let more light in and the best part is that I can't see any light through the cracks in the door. Still needs paint, but we are bound to have a warm up one of these El Nino January days.

Here's the view I see from my work desk. I love the old brick building that now houses McChesney Realestate. The building had been in a fire in the 70's and rebuilt to it's original state. Next door in the little red barn is Solon Gallery which seems to be open by chance or appointment.

Pawlet Town Hall, 0 Degrees and almost full moon. The town has been restoring this great old building. As in many rural towns there has been a clash of visions; some had wished this old place was pushed down the hill and rebuilt in the outskirts to look like a Rit Aid. I am happy we have chosen to save a treasure. Charm like this isn't recreated so easily.
Pawlet Library, just down from my shop. This had been our elementary school for K-2, but now recreated for the town library. A super resource and meeting place for our small community.
Looking left from my shop towards the general store, Mach's Market. It doesn't look too congested there right now, but this is one hell of an intersection. Usually pick up trucks are parked perpendicular to the store at times creating a one way exit out to the main road. Often at the busy times it is pretty hairy. Cars come around the corner way too fast; how no one has been hurt here I'll never know.
cold, cold almost full moon night.

Craft Workshops, Schedule for 2010 for Lake's Lampshades

My 2010 Schedule as of 12.28.09:

January 13th: Speaking at Equinox Hotel, WBON Annual Conference, How to Light up Your Life and evolution of Lake's Lampshades

January 30: workshop at Lake's Lampshades, Pawlet 11 am-5pm $150

February 13: ditto from above

February 17th: Book talk and Demo at Misty Valley Books, Chester, Vermont 5:30, free

March 13: workshop at Lake's Lampshades, Pawlet

April 17th: workshop at Lake's Lampshades, Pawlet

May 10-16: Brimfield Flea Market, Shelton's Antique Show, booth B53

May 29-30: Vermont Open Studio Tours, self-guided craft tours 10am-5pm

July 19-20: Workshop in Nantucket. Nantucket Historical Society.

Carson Lake Reflexolgy

I am happy to do some shameless family promotion today. It's Christmas Eve Day and Carson is gearing up to start his new career in Reflexology. At midlife he is excited to venture into a new life's direction. In the 25 years that Carson and I have been married he has always had a strong interest in Reflexology. When we were first together Carson would haul out these laminated reflexology cards from his wallet to see where the pressure points were for whatever ailment I might have had.

Just before the birth of my son Duncan, I said to Carson, let's check out that old reflexology book you have to see if there are any tips for childbirth. Sure enough, Childbirth: use 2 half moon combs in your hands and squeeze as the contractions come and ease off with the pressure as the contracts subside. I had a 5 hour labor! The book did say, DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO GIVE BIRTH, and went on to tell a story how this farm lady did it while her husband was out working on the field. She went into labor at home and had to go round him up to help delivery their baby.
Reflexology is an ancient art of healing going back 2345 BC. It is based on the premise that there are zones and reflex areas in our feet and hands that correspond to our body. It is a natural, drug free treatment options for a variety of health problems. It is used to reduce pain, ease pain over used hands and feet, helps promote balance and normalization of the body, reduces stress and brings on relaxation. It improves circulation and delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells.

Carson will be starting his practice at The Circle of Healing in Pawlet, Vermont on January 1, 2010. He is having an introductory offering of 3 sessions for $90. Give yourself a treat for the new year! This will be available through February 2010. Give him a call at 802.325.3641 or email him at woodfire@vermontel.net

good luck Carson!

I know you will be fabulous in your new career! I just hope you will have time for work on me, too!!!
love,
judy

What a Year and Mumbles on Writing a Book

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a special thanks to all my friends for keeping me going this year. It's been a crazy year.... it amazes me how many people keep making beautiful books. An anxious beginning of the year waiting for proofs of my Lampshade Lady Book. The proof arrived at my house one cold winter day, I was giving a workshop and had to run home to let the dogs out for a pee and there the Fed Ex box sat by the door. I beamed with joy as I headed back to the workshop with book in hand. The proof was a great help to me to get the idea of how the book would look, but with no color it was still hard to get the feel for the beauty of Ryan and George's beautiful images.

I have learned more about publishing in a tight economy than I probably should write here.... how many assistant editors did I have... 3, how many editors did I have...2, my marketing person left the week before the book was released... so, guess I wasn't the only one left high and dry. But then there were all the great people along the way, fantastic book designers, a super publicist and her assistant that always emailed very promptly and efficiently and I only wish I had her longer....

Being a first time author is such a funny place to be. Will people buy my book I worked so hard on? I had so many questions... Oh the confidence fluctuated by the hour. Up and down, up and down.... by the hour. An unanswered email... something in my little world was unheard of until this year. If it doesn't want to be answered it won't be.... hummm. okay, it did harden me up a little. Confidence is a funny thing; as an artist I did develop a certain amount crust in art school. I think back to the first day of drawing class with Frank Hewitt at UVM; we had to put up our work for the class and for Frank to critique, yikes that was pretty scary. Oh, do I remember that. Or putting work out at the first craft show- what will the public think??? It is putting yourself out to the world. And your first book has a similar feeling; will they like it? It is lampshades after all....I would wonder will Interior Designers respect my work?? would bloggers write about it?? I did get called a plump brunet... yes, only in LA... true I am a plump brunet.... too funny that they would write it. Duncan said what do you expect Mom, it's LA.. so, that was a first. And my bud Nelson said, that's what you get when you play with the big boys and wrote a very funny poem. (thanks Nelson).

One of the best parts of the year was my book release party here at the shop. I was the caterer, the tent company, the chef, the wine shopper, etc. A big job but I must say an awesome party. Carson and his band played, Bob handled the bar, 4 kd tents popped up on the shop lawn, the humid rain held off till the last guest left. I felt so honored to have so many wonderful, colorful friends. It must have been the hottest day of the summer; I was dripping wet setting up the food, bar, tents, etc. heading for a quick cold shower to take a little red out of my face and a deep breath walking back to the start of the party. It was to be a special night; so hard to be the one in the center, but by the time it started I was able to enjoy the moment.

The tight economy has actually helped the craft businesses, craft books, and how-to books. I found customers still wanted to spend money and wanted something special not the run of the mill mall items. It has been a busy year. And yes, I got through my first book signing/talk... nervous nelly.... but with sage words of advice from 6th grade Eadon, "Judy you'll love it once you get up there, you won't want to get down." Thank goodness for his young words. I kept them in my mind as I rambled on.

And trying to describe making a lampshade on Martha radio with Betsy and Kim... that's sort of hard to do, especially at 8 am. It was fun and went by way too fast. Always a first and there were many this year. But at 50 it is a good time to break out of the comfort zone of life. Guess menopause is good for something- what the hell, right??? Yup!

On to a new year. I've gotten a second wind and off and running with new marketing ideas for 2010. Workshops at Lake's Lampshades, a speaking event at The Equinox Hotel for the WBON... a Workshop in Nantucket at The Nantucket Historical Society, a few book signings and demos, back to Brimfield in May for selling and hopefully buying treasures.

thanks for a great year,
judy

Holiday Lampshade Making

Here's a redwork shade I made this week. I snuck away a little time from holiday orders to make a few holiday shades. I love the birds in this shade. It's got lots of different trims; a few scraps I had around of red damask for the sides, the bottom has a wonderful vintage paisley and the top has a vintage red trim. Just got a new door last week at my shop! You probably aren't too excited, but I am! yipee, maybe my feet might stay a little warmer in the cutest little drafty cape ever known. (no light shows through the door jam!!! near miracle, oh the little things that make our day.)
A few more redwork squares for future kids shades.
detail of the drum shade: 12" x 12" x 8", Susan Sargent Linen-Dot Fabric and trimmed with a vintage dot feed sack fabric. I'm loving the trim on this shade. I guess I can say that because trims are super hard to hit it right and I think this one does just the trick. Doesn't it just add the extra zing to make it different...??? I try.

The shade sits on a great wicker lamp I finally rewired from Brimfield. Speaking of Brimfield, jeez, May will be here sooner or later. I'll be back at The Shelton Show again with the designer gang in the back of the show; a great bunch well worth visiting.

Here's a nice vintage pair of pink depression glass paired with a scallop quilt top shade. Very sweet for a little girls bedroom.

My Official Assistant and Todays Work

My shop has been known in the kitty world has a good place to hang! Kitty has been here since April. He arrived half dead, skinny and who knows where from. His ears, tail and paws had been frost bitten. He was really dirty and stinky and really ratty looking. It was a Monday morning and there he was sitting on my couch as so many other stray kitty have done in the past. Oh boy, I say and a few *@*@*@* . He looked like he was going to die right here now my couch. Now he's gained lots of weight, very clean and has gotten lots of nice handsome thick fur.

I have tried to find a good home for him several times.... but looks like he just became the head lampshade assistant. He loves it here in Pawlet Village and most of the neighbors love him too. I have just ordered him the fanciest kitty door I could find ( hate kitty litter...yuck.)

He does like sitting on my work table- right in the middle of everything! Looking forward to the kitty door. If he had his way he would be a scarf; I've never had such a cuddly kitty. He also is very chatty; good for quiet days at the shop. So you'll probably be seeing more pictures of him as he likes to be right in the middle of everything. You should have seen him at my book release party in August. He was thrilled with all the people that came; he layed right in the middle of the cat mint outside my door and eventually everyone thought he was cute and he did the scarf thing with them. A Hay Day!



A needlepoint lampshade day. Here's two shades that are headed to my good friend Judy Pascal's Shop on Free Street in Portland, Maine. These were a blast to design. So many options. The size lampshade frame was limited by the size of the needlepoint. The first one was quite small and I went for the square bell. I used a vintage ticking fabric for the side trim and a Houles onion tassel for the bottom. The top I used the same trim and snipped off the tassels.


Here's the next shade and Kitty, too. The inspector making sure I've designed the prettiest lamp shade in all of New England. (although it looks like he's snoozing on the job). Another needlepoint, a French Ticking and a French Barkcloth for the trims. A cut -corner square shade. Nice for the holidays. Check of Judy Pascal's shop in Portland.

Lampshade Making: all the work on my desk....

I love when the day starts off with a good project. I am sneaking a day away from my orders to make a few shades for the shop. The constant battle, do I fill orders or get to play with my favorite flea market finds. Here's a super pretty french needlepoint. It's so arty and elegant which led me to use this cut corner rectangle bell which is 9" high and 12" across the bottom.
Here it is lite up. I've used a raw linen for the rest of the panels and a velvet braid for top and bottom. Cost $150. Such a special treat. My newest shop favorite.
Here;s a slightly fuzzy detail. Some interesting stiches.
Next up today was a finishing a pair of hex clip vintage French Ticking. It's a red time of year.... so getting a few made for the shop. 5" top x 10" bottom x 7" high. $75 each. They clip onto the light bulb.

The European grain sacks have had their day in the sun. And they do make nice shades, too. A bit thick to use for trimming, but works fine for the panels. I used a lighter weight for the self-trims.
This is a one of a kind. $75.00