The Lampshade Lady Blog

Making Your Own Awesome Drum Shades is Easy

I'm due for a new drum shade over my desk and today's the day. I've been working on a dull pair of shades and putting off finishing my tax stuff. So what better time to do something fun. 

Here's some very delicious fabric I found at the flea market this fall and it will be perfect for a drum shade. I have included lots of pictures and a few words. If you are visually creative this will be just for you and you will figure it out. Otherwise there are full instructions in my Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting up Your Life and also on this blog,,,, somewhere.

#1 make template                                 This shade is 15" top x 15" bottom x 10" high.  A good size for pendants as well as table or floor lamps.

#2 Laminate Styrene to fabric and cut out

Materials needed: glue, clothes pins, top washer and bottom wire. Pretty simple. Run bead of glue around top of shade. Set wire into place with clothes pins.

Turn shade upside down and set bottom wire in, 

securing with clothes pins.  Run bead of glue  against wire on bottom.To glue up the back seam: open the seam open and add a fair amount of glue, smooth out with glue bottle neck. Press together with hands. I like to press on the inside of shade. Check for any oozing glue.Add glue along edge of shade and set grosgrain onto shade.

And add glue to inside of grosgrain and fold over the wire.
Add top self trim by gluing a few inches at a time.
First I added this trim and ripped it off. It seemed too ordinary..... famous last words... right??  so off it came. Too bad the color was perfect.But better without.
This was the winning trim. Love it. It's fresh, fun and not too old lady like.....a tad funky in a country way...??? must be the end of the day.... our snow storm has just started, you can almost see it through my new shop door. A day off tomorrow to play in the snow and finish my taxes....

Saturday's Lampshade Project

       Feels like a spring day here in Southern Vermont, almost. But well worth noting. A few more customers are poking around, willing to venture out into the countryside for a holiday weekend.
      I started this shade late yesterday and just finished it up. Love it. I found this crewel on ebay and wasn't so sure  what the heck to do with it when it arrived in the mail last week. Oh dear, maybe I made an ebay mistake. In those cases, I leave the piece on my desk and take a peak at it every now and then and try to visualize it's best use: what shape would work? Should it be kept whole or cut up? Or should I stash in deep and forget about it.... All those design questions.

      I decided it fit this rectangle frame nicely. It was just a little smaller, but the trim hides what needs to be hidden.You can see below how the picture is a little smaller on top and bottom. No problem; it'll be covered up with trim.

I'm loving this trim added to the bottom.  I found a scrap of fabric to use on the vertical self trims. How cottagey, is that a word??? I added a trim to the top that I plied 2 strands of rayon Martha ribbon together.  To Ply 2 stands: cut 2 long strips of ribbon and knot at the end. Weight the ends of the ribbon on table and ply ribbons together by twisting clockwise together and letting them form one ribbon.  I like it when they look irregular, which happens naturally.... for better or worse.

Shade size: top(7'x12") x bottom (9"x14")  x high 10.5"   cost $175.

2 Day Lampshade Lady Workshop October 1 and 2, 2010

I am just announcing a 2 day workshop October 1 and 2  2010. This is my only workshop I will be doing this fall. My thoughts were that I know there are some of you that live quite a distance from Vermont and this will give you the double bang for your buck. Peak foliage and 2 days to come play with fabrics and create awesome lampshades. This is the weekend that usually the leaves are at their most beautiful.

The cost for the 2 day workshop will be $275. This will include all materials needed, you can bring your own fabrics if you choose. It will include lunch as well as a sip of wine and some Vermont goat cheese after a hard day's work!!!

My thoughts are that the first day we will learn many of the basic hardback lampshade making skills, learn best materials and make a mid size hex, hex bell or square shade. And Day 2 we will go on to more advanced, larger shade frames; this is something we do not usually have time for in a one day workshop. I will also go over making drum shades and empire shades.

Please try to plan ahead as this will fill up. I will need a deposit in advance of workshop as space is limited.

Dates and Time: Oct 1st. Friday 11am-5pm & Oct 2nd Saturday 9am-3pm.

Please email me or call me at the shop if you are interested in this workshop. The only other workshop I am doing is a one day workshop on Nantucket July 20th: contact Nantucket Historical Association's 1800 House for more info.

note: this is also the weekend of The Hildene Craft Show, which you could visit on Sunday. The show is quite a fun fall event, not the run of the mill craft show. I took my new book to the show last years and had forgotten what a nice show it is; I started my craft business going to this show so many years ago.  There are also several antique shows throughout Vermont this weekend.

Lampshade Lady's Favorite Antiquing Jaunts and Her List of Other Lampshade Ladys and Men

In the process of editing my Lampshade Lady Book many of my antique sources as well as "other lampshade ladies and men" had to be cut due to space limits. The fun part of my business is finding the great fabrics, lamps and postcards. Yesterday I  headed up to Chester, VT for a book demo/talk and of course I had to make a stop at The Stone House Antique Center just down the road from the book store. I found one lamp and a handful of well priced postcards; you just never know what you will find. As the say, the thrill of the hunt.  Also shopping yesterday were  two antique dealer ladies that had just "found" this antique center; they made many trips to the car with their purchases and no doubt will be back again.
I hope this list will be helpful to you. There are zillions more spots, but these are a few that I visit now and again. Feel free to suggest ones I may have missed. Enjoy.

Lampshade Lady's Sunday Shopping Spots:

east and south of my shop:

Stone House Antique Center
557 Rt. 103 South
Chester, VT 05143
(802) 875.4477
 Colony Mill Antiques
22 West St, Keene, NH 03431
(603) 358.6343
Red Chair Antiques 
14 Depot St.
Peterborough, NH. 03458
(603) 924.5953
 Le Depot/Maiden Lane
Shirley Maiden
Elm St. Manchester Depot, VT 05255
(802) 362.2004
The Country Gallery Antiques 
Janet Fram and Borge Hermansen
Rt. 315, Rupert, VT 05768
(802) 395.7753
Antique Center at Camelot Village 
Rt 9 West
Bennington, VT 05201
(802) 447.0039
Comollo Antiques and Fine Art 
Clark and Barbara Comollo
Rt.7A, Manchester Center, VT 05255
(802) 362.7189
East Arlington Antique Center
East Arlington Village
Arlington, VT 05252
(802)375.6144
Olde Antiques Market
Great Barrington, MA
(413) 637.4050


Sunday Antique Shops to my West

 Tow Path Antiques and Books
(to be reopening in Hebron, NY )
Rose Cottage Collectibles
250 Broadway
White Hall,NY
Memory Lane Antique Center
10120 Rt 4, White Hall, NY
(518) 499-2915
Roy Egg Shop and Brad's Antique Shop
West Pawlet, VT 05775
(No Phone, No Website, But you should make it a stop! And, only on weekends.)
Meeting House Gallery
Rt. 22 and 2
Petersburgh, NY 12138
Bournebrook Antique Center
172 River St.
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 273.3027


Shops to the east and north:
 1820 House Antiques
Carol Weher
82 South Main St,
Danby, VT 05739
(802) 293.2820
Vermont Wreath and Mt Tabor Antique Center 
Rt.7
Danby, VT. 05739
(866) 412.2281
New Face Furniture
Barbara and Larry Kaminski
159 South Main St.
Wallingford, VT 05773
(802) 446.2961
weekends open
Who is Sylvia?
Janet Eller
26 Central St.
Woodstock,VT 05059
(802) 457.1110
Quechee Gorge Antique Center 
5575 Woodstock Rd, RT 4
Quechee, Vt 05059
(800) 438.5565
Antiques Collaborative 
William Bradley
Rt 4, Quechee, VT 05040
(802) 296.5858
Champlain Valley Antique Center
4067 Shelburne Rd, VT 05482
(802) 985.8116
Middlebury Antique Center 
Rt 7 and 116
East Middlebury, VT 05740
(802) 388.6229
Cornish Trading 
Lisa Fulginiti
Rt 25, Cornish, Me 04020
(207) 625.8387
Judy Pascal Antiques 
6 Free St., Portland, Me 04101
(207) 347.5637
Cabot Mill Antiques and Collectibles 
14 Maine St. Brunswick, Me 04011
(207) 725.2855


 Other Lampshade Ladies and Men
 Shades of Fancy
Nancy Cotiaux
(631) 588-0355
 Gloria Lombard Designs  
Charlston, South Carolina
(843) 557.0891 
CM Shades
Cecilia McGuire
2951 Stage Rd.
Benson, VT 05743
(802) 537.3955
to the trade only
 Sassy Shades 
803 Melody Lane
Edmonds, WA 98020
(425) 712-3687
Shades of Excellance
Nancy Benjamin
P.O. Box130, Stratham, NH 
(603) 772.1423
Lampscapes 
Ken Blaisdel
77 Gates St.
White River Junction, VT 05001
(802) 295.8044
High Beams
Trenny Robb and Bob Michaud
Sutton, VT 05867
(802) 467.3943
Blanche P. Field
One Design Center Place
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 423.0715

Shandells
Susan Schneider
5916 N.Elm Ave
Millerton,NY 12546



  update on antique shops: I've just read in the new issue of the antique rag, Unravel the Gavel, that there is a new large group shop opening March 1st in the center of Laconia, N.H. Laconia Antiques Center. Many dealers and buyers in the area have felt the loss of the great Burlwood Shop in Meredith, NH and this shop is to be even larger by 2500 feet. Guess I will have to skip my shortcut on my way to Maine and go through Laconia. Check it out.



 


 
 

Lampshade Lady Book Talk and Demo at Misty Valley Book Store Tomorrow

Come Wednesday, February 17th @ 5:30 -6:30 for a Lampshade Demo and Book Talk at The Misty Valley Bookstore in Chester, Vermont

I will be sharing my story of starting Lake's Lampshades and also doing a lampshade demo. Come get lots of free tips and information on lampshade making. Once you get the basics you will be off and running. Misty Valley Book Store is one of the great Independent Bookstores in our area. I am looking forward to the evening, even though it might be the first snow storm that we have had in a long time... but thanks to 4 wheel drive I'll be all set getting up and over Bromley Mountain!

see you there.
judy

Valentines Book Give Away and Shades of Spring

Shades of Spring! I recently bought a new bird feeder at my house. It took no time for the birds to find it. I must say it is fun to watch all the activity. I don't even mind the squirrel, that I thought was a chipmunk..... my mom and dad have the hugest squirrels at their house and ours is an itty bitty one, surely a different variety.
Just finished this shade. I'm pretty happy with the finished results. It'll be a quick seller- it's got blue and white, it can blend into many styles of homes, everyone likes birds. It's a happy little thing and will let nice light out. This is a vintage needlepoint in the front panel, vintage pillow ticking on the sides and finished with an embroidery edging from a dresser scarf. Lots of interesting textiles. The shape is a cut-corner square; the size is 8"high and 10" across the bottom. It is $125 dollars. A sweetie.

     And doesn't this look like spring???? I'm just back from a quick walk at lunch; had to get out in sunshine and get my Vitamin D!  Vermont keeps missing all the snow storms, poor Washington, DC. They are to get hit hard again. It might as well warm up if it's not going to snow....I'll keep making spring shades till it warms up, Here's another pair that I finished yesterday: Made from a vintage embroidery tablecloth. The trim is from the edging; fun to use the scallop the un-scallop direction. It glues on pretty smoothly. I've actually had this embroidery several times. It must have been made in quantity. The size is 5" top x 10" bottom x 7.5" high, washer top (but can be adapted for a clip with clip adapter). Cost $75 each.

And don't forget to send me your worst lampshade nightmares: to enter the Lampshade Lady Book Give Away. I will be choosing one on Sunday the 14th!

Spring is coming, even Fini was out most of the day! Phew, he's hardly left my side all winter.... his favorite spot is about 2" from my hands... after awhile he's a little needy. Or sitting on my lap as I type.

Lampshade Lady's Valentines Day Book Give Away

I will be giving away an autographed copy of my Lampshade Lady Book just in time for Valentines Day. I want to hear your worst lampshade nightmares. How many times have you bought the wrong size, the wrong color. How much duck tape is holding your lampshade together.  Click on the link to get  my email;  email me  your stories. How many times did you have to go back to the Lighting Store??? Or send it back to Pottery Barn??? or Etsy??

I will be picking the winner on February 14th. Hope to hear from you.

Other shop news:

• I will be in Chester, Vermont at The Misty Valley Bookstore on February 17th at 5:30pm for a demo/book signing.
• I will be doing a one day workshop in Nantucket on July 20th. It will be affiliated with The Nantucket Historical Association's 1800 House Craft Workshops
• I will have a 2 day workshop Oct 1&2 Friday and Saturday at my shop in Vermont, more info to come. It is the peak foliage weekend.
• My shop will be featured in the May issue of Romantic Homes Magazine. Great timing to lead off the season!
• Winter/Spring Lampshade Workshop update:My February workshop is full, March has plenty of room and April is almost full. No summer workshops in Vermont (no air conditioning....yet)

Tea Rose Needlepoint Shade with Bling!

Check out this super pretty needlepoint. Now this is easy inspiration! I am trying to see if I have the same zen flow as Monday... pretty easy to design this shade, a little trickier. The needlepoint fits well into a large cut-corner frame I have and the green silk actually laminates well (silk doesn't always laminate). This is a good start.

 

I am gluing the panels to the wire frame. Quick glue and clothespins. I have trimmed up all my shade panels to fit the frames. Look at the edges where the 2 panels come together; they just meet and do not overlap. Super important.

All the panels have been added and I am using the ribbon as like a vice. It is quick glue so it will dry fast, but I've got other things to do and this method works well.

Isn't this a wonderful french cretonne. It has the softest color blending. I am a sucker for anything hydranga. I have used this fabric for the vertical self trims.


I've added a velvet braid on top. I love to mix trims, using one for the top and a different one for the bottom.

I've been dying to use this sequin trim. It's kind of funky on this shade. I think I like it. It's a little different than my style, but what the heck. Who knows maybe I'll pull it off in the am when I come in.
***Please excuse this post. I am still trying to figure out how Blogger has changed their their formatting...??? They have not made this easy for us old bitties...

I love hearing from you guys with calls and emails. Don't hesitate to make comments here. I don't think it's too hard. Everything is appreciated. Okay, back to work....I just got a wicked cool bluebird needlepoint. It has regular needlepoint and petipoint stitches. Does anyone know what that is called?? I love it best. The texture adds a great look.

xoxox,
judy

Sweet Vintage Embroidery Lampshade or Textile Collage of Sorts

Geez,  somedays I can really get carried  designing and not even know where the time goes to....my style of meditation. The Zen of Lampshade Design... Somehow a couple hours have slipped by and I'm in the zone. I'm sure you guys know what I mean.... I'd say it's not a rare thing, but it doesn't happen all the time. Or maybe I just have to let it happen more often. Today I've started a couple of fun projects.

I'll show you the first one. It is a square clip shade, 4" top x 7" bottom x 7" high. A nice size table/desk lamp shade. Here's the embroidery I am working with. It has tons of holes, but most of the embroidery part is fine; I will work around the bad parts. I have chosen the square shape because that is what works best with the amount of fabric and the pattern. It will keep most of " the good stuff" intact.

   

I cut out the 4 panels of styrene and laminated them to the fabric and cut out. Note: I trimmed the back of the embroidery; this can be tedious and you have to be careful not to nip the fabric.... done that before!!! I trim the threads because it looks better when lite up.
 

All was going swell till I had to figure out trims... nothing really matched for the trims- so I found something similar. Another embroidery scrap that blended really pretty. I am showing the pressure sensitive cloth tape. I comes on big rolls-sticky on one side. The Lampshop calls it "Bias Fold Trim Backer #322. It goes on the back of the fabric.
 

Next for the top and bottom trim. This took some searching. The grass green is not one of my colors, which can sometimes be a problem cause I don't have too many things in my shop that is that color and don't usually want to highlight it. I found these 2 scallop edgings from 2 different vintage pieces. It can be fun to use them by folding the edge back onto itself. I added the 5/8" grosgrain first and then the scallop edging.
 

I added the trims. It's funny how some of the coolest shades don't look so great in photographs... this one looks much better in my shop.... oh well. And here it is lit up on a vintage glass lamp.

Cost: $75.
 

I want to mention a blog:Textile Treasure Seeker

It's is a great blog for all of us fabric lovers. Katie is a freelance writer and very generously reviewed my book. Thank You Katie! I really appreciate the wonderful review. I loved her blog list;  it was such a treat to see some fresh new blogs from the UK. I recommend checking out her site. Blogging sure has made the world a little smaller once again. And now it's time for another cup of tea on this side of the ocean.