The Lampshade Lady Blog

Light Up Your Life: You'd be surprised what lampshades will do!

 

Yesterday called for some cheerful creating. Spring seems like a very long way away, so why not escape into color and light. I did harm to one of my favorite books...one of Tricia Guilds Design Books... shame on me. The book has these amazing color transparencies scattered throughout the book. I always go back to them when I need inspiration. I love, love how the textiles, textures and colors are blended in these luscious photos. When I was working on my book, I kept thinking, oh god, if I only had the money to make this kind of book....

I was looking at the book over lunch when this idea zipped into my head, cut the photo transparencies out of the book and make a shade for the purple and gold nook in my house. No I think! Terrible thought to cut out the pages of this book.... well, maybe I could. Okay, before I knew it, scissors were in hand. And out they came. I already had a drum shade panel cut for a 14 x 14 x 10 all cut. I set the pictures on my table and arranged them in the order I loved best and trimmed them up to fit. I over lapped the photos as I set them on the styrene by just enough, maybe 1/16". I glued up the shade and added my favorite trims. I added trim onto the seam of the photos to keep them in place. I have been wanting to play around with some decoupaging, so maybe modge-podge would have been a good solution. Gotta study up on this.

Kitty Girly Bob loves it, too. Look how the colors and textures are coming together in my purple and gold nook.

Roy Egg's Chicken is above one of the windows. You must visit the famous Roy Egg Shop if you come to Pawlet. He is on the other side of town. A pure delight. He brings me his used Vanity Fairs.... love him and his work. 

Roy Egg Asters. I finally found a great spot for these.

Color is inspiration, yummy. Keep lots of it around, please, please don't be a beige person....or even worse a beige house. Look below at the yarn I just picked up for a ski hat for Carson. The Garnet Hill catolog just happened to be on the table....I did buy the yarn before I picked up the catolog...but we are so influenced by the colors we love. I always remember that book, Color Me Beautiful, okay, this is dating me.... 

Garnet Hill's covers are the greatest. Those of us in the Manchester area are all crushed that we are losing THE BEST OUTLET EVER! Where will we get our clothes. It was just announced, I guess or word of mouth that they are leaving the end of the month... There are lots of outlets here in town, but this is the only one I almost always find something. Maybe they will change their minds. fingers crossed.

textures, colors, textures colors........... many years ago I had my craft booth set at a Craft Show in Weston, Vermont. My booth had lots of colors, fabrics, textures as I love to do. The woman that ran the show ungraciously said she thought my booth looked a little too busy...... Isn't it funny the things we remember. I was steaming, but everyone has their own taste, even if hers may have been a little too beige!!! 

thanks Tricia Guild for your beautiful book and inspiration! It sure made a devine lampshade.

Day to Day Running a Little Cottage Business

     Best part about having your own business is that you are the     boss!!!!

         Don't you think???? I am in charge of my own destiny at least on most days. I live pretty close to my shop; some months I can run my car on a tank of gas, as long as I don't go off on an antique jaunt. It's a pretty simple life. Head down the hill, pick up the mail, grab a local newspaper, sometimes a coffee and head over to my shop 2 doors down. We do get in routines..... I turn the heat down low at night in my drafty 1790's cottage. While the forced hot air to heats up my studio/shop I'll turn on my computer and heat up a cup of tea. Check emails and answer numerous queries from beginning lampshade makers; I don't mind and are happy to "spread the gospel of great lighting". Sometimes I hear from other lampshade makers from all over the world, a few in the UK, Indonesia, Australia, etc. Isn't that cool; one benefit of writing a book and this blog. It is a small but growing niche.

As my shop heats up, I usually will read the paper and check over my mail. Most  likely another cup of tea to ponder the start to the work day. Right about now, I'm looking forward to having my tea and paper on my porch in the morning sun. If I am smart, I have left projects ready to go in the am from the prior day. I try, try to prep orders the day before; I've learned what works best for me. That way... I'm all ready to dig in and start making. 

Yesterday I went to work in the blizzard. I needed to go down to shovel my walkway and try to keep my parking spots clear, anyway. It a was beautiful day. Heavy, warm snow hung on the branches of my favorite dolgo crab apple tree. We were getting a couple of inches per hour, dumping. I filled the bird feeder and left a handful of bird seed on the railing of the walkway. I knew there would be no customers, but it was nice to be tucked into the little cottage. The snow banks are getting higher and higher. Funny thing was my phone rang off the hook, a few were friends to see if I was actually at work... I made a couple of shades, finished 2 postcard shades, shipped out another shade UPS and started in on a big project I have been working on. All in all a pretty productive day and that feels good. It is nice to look back and see the progress and all that has been accomplished in a day. Must be that YANKEE thing, but believe me, I'm always happy for my day's off, too.

Today is Saturday and I am lingering over a big breakfast a home, making one more cup of PG Tips and pecking away at my husband's MacBook Pro. I'm thinking it's about time to head down the hill to the shop. If it's sunny a few brave customers may make the trek out to Pawlet. Winter is a little desolate in my shop. But I am busy as all get out and that is great. I have piles of work and there is always inventory to build up. Every year I try to encourage shops that buy from me to think ahead..... but that is relatively futile. I must figure out a way to make that work better. oh dear, always something new to learn.

I just received some very cool fixtures for hanging drum shades. Love them. Very easy if you already have a chandelier or light socket already installed. They come with one light, 2 or 3.I'll blog about them in the near future. 

note to self: I just arrived down at my shop. When I left yesterday I had shoveled and shoveled and thought I would be in good shape today on arrival. Well, some lovely person decided it would be funny and plow me out!!! The snow was waist high and harded from freezing over night. Really inconsiderate, can you believe it. a few beers and a plow..... makes some jerk feel pretty cool. tears..... let it go. Thanks, dear Janno for stopping. Time for a cup of tea.

April Lampshade Workshops: April 14th OR April 16th

April will be here before we know it.... I'm trying to fool myself as the snowbanks at my shop are many feet deep. But yes, it WILL be here before we know it. The days are getting longer.

I have decided to offer 2 separate classes in April. It is always the busiest time of year for workshops and never have enough room for all. Some people like mid-week and others Saturdays. If you were thinking about Saturday, don't delay; it is starting to fill. There is still lots of room on Thursday. Cost $175, all materials included except fabric. Usually students enjoy bringing their own fabrics, but if you don't have any........ there's lots here.

Classes start at 11am and run till about 4:30-5pm.
This is from my Valentine's Day workshop. Look at all the great shades they are making. I am amazed how different all our shades are from the workshops. There is something very special about working together as a group of women and sometimes guys, too. Lots of laughs and always best when no one takes it too seriously!!!! Just let the creativity flow.
This is the start of a workshop, before most students have arrived. I can fit only 6-8 students in my little shop. This is the calm before the storm. Oh, the mess that we made. Thanks for the photo, Tom.

To register, email me [email protected] or call the shop at 802-325-6308. Reservations are a must as you can see it is LOTS of work prepping for the class and if you don't show, someone else might have liked your spot. My last class I turned students away and then one didn't show up......Karma....oh well, breathe Judy.... giving workshops are a blast, but the organizational piece....deep breath.

This is the last Vermont workshop till October. I don't have airconditioning and summer gets too busy.

Fresh New Inventory February 18 2011

 

 
I will be showing some of the most recent shades in my shop. I will list the price, size and cost. If you see something you would like, email me or give me a call 802-32-6308. Due to the nature of one of a kind inventory this seems to be the easiest solution. Or come visit the shop. Open 5 days, generally 10-5, closed wed and sun.
#1) A pair of scallop clip hex shades. I am showing a pair, but it is not necessary to purchase both. Super pretty hydranga cotton trimmed with a sage green. size 5"top x 10" bottom x 7" high. cost $85.each 
The Hydranga shade lit up.
#2) A pair of hex bell vintage paisley wood block shades. Size 5"top x 8" bottom x 6" high. Cost $68 each. Trimmed with a vintage paisley and soustache.
detail
detail
shade lit.love this!

#3) I made a pair of these. Hex clip Vintage Mangle Cloth, 5"top x 10" bottom x7" high. $75 each.
nice for the beach.
shade lit. I also have 7 of these in a candleabra sq. 2x2x4 @45. w/ discount 4 or more.

#4) A pair of Vintage Grain Bag. Square Washer top. 5" top x 8.5"bottom x 8" high. cost $85 each. I also have a pair of camel Grain Bag Shades same size w/ 4 stripes 2 thin and 2 wide)
detail of shade

#5) A Pair of hex clip Vintage Ikat Floral Print. 5"top x 10" bottom x 7" high. Cost $75. each

Ikat detail.
Shade lit.

Next batch of pretty shades!

#6) A Pair of hex bell, 5" top x 10" bottom x 7" high. Washer top, can be converted to be clip top (often this size needs to clip on). $75 each. Vintage embroidery with gold treads running through parts of this. Trimmed with the edging of the vintage dresser scarf.
Detail of shade.
top detail
ooh la la, so warm when it's lit up!

#7) A pair of vintage ticking shades, 5" top x 10" bottom x 7" high, Hex Bell washer top. Rare ticking pattern. $75. each

 

#8) Hex Bell clip top, Vintage bird crewel trimmed with vintage fabric. One shade only, $68. 5" top x 8" bottom x 6" high.

#9) one of a kind, Vintage Pillow Ticking, sweet for a little girls room. 5"top x 8" bottom x 6"high. $68  I also have the size up from this, too.
detail of shade and trim on bottom
top detail.
warm light. 
#10) Looks like spring! 5" top x 8" bottom x 6" high, Hex bell clip top made from a vintage embroidery dresser scarf. Rick rack on top and vintage crochet on the bottom. So girly! Will give nice light, too. $68.

#11) This was today's fun project. Vintage needlepoint from Belgium. Ever so sweet for a little guy's room. So hard to find cool little boy things! Vintage French Ticking on rest of panels. Size 9" top x 14" bottom x 9" high. cost $95.
detail of the top trim and needlepoint
detail.

#12) last shade for today. Early French Toile, 5" top x 8" bottom x 6" high. One of a kind. Trim with ticking. $68. Clip on.

another panel of shade. beautiful fabric.

Happy Friday. We had almost 2 days of spring here in Pawlet. I heard from my friend Scott that the sap is starting to flow. Yipee! A sign that winter may be wrapping up, sort of.... cold again tomorrow and sunday.

If you see anything you need, I can  UPS it out to you. I do wholesale,too, but w/ significant first order.....shop tel. 802-325-6308. I accept most credit cards.

thanks for looking,

judy

My Valentines Day : DIY How to-Wicked Cool Drum Shade

Valentine's Day Project: Make new cheerful shade for over my desk!

That sounds easy enough. Right? Some projects sound so easy, but pull your hair out every step of the way. What size to do. I settled on a 13 x 13 x 11 Drum Shade. I usually don't do quite so deep a drum shade, but the pattern on this fabric worked best this way. After cutting my pattern of styrene out..... I realized I didn't have the 13" washer top... so it became a 12" x 12" x 11" high.
Iron fabric. Love this fabric. It's a Japanese fabric designed by Etsuko Furuya. I've seen it all over the web, I got mine at, Alewives Fabrics in Maine. They have a beautiful site that's easy to use. Check them out. 
Cut styrene and laminate to fabric. Sounds easy, but opps I cut the fabric the wrong way. This fabric has birds and yupp, they were sideways when I cut the fabric... try again. Good thing I didn't make a big shade; this fabric is not super wide and the design goes across the fabric.
This is how I cut the pattern. I am planning on using a hanging trim on the bottom and use a grosgrain ribbon, too. On the bottom I cut the fabric flush to the end of the styrene. On the top, I plan on wrapping the fabric around the top wire; I have left about 3/4" of fabric. On one end I cut the fabric flush to the styene and the other I left 1/4" to glue to inside of shade for clean edge.
Adding glue to the end.
Folding fabric on end to inside of styrene.

I like to start gluing the top first. It allows me to hold on to the middle of the wire washer top and walk it along the edge.
You can see the top fabric that will glue and wrap to the inside of the shade.
And another sort of boo boo... hum, look how the fabrics came together in the back. drats. Repeat of pattern. I used a contrasting self trim on the seam to break it up. To make lampshades is often being a problem solver.... It drives me slightly crazy how this worked out, but it will have to do. It is what it is....
Adding the grosgrain on the bottom.
Inside of shade. I used a 3/8" grosgrain on the inside seam, not necessary, but it looks more professional.

I also used a soutache on the inside top. I added this after I had folded the fabric to the inside of shade. It too is not necessary, but is a nice finish.
Last I added the bottom trim. And..... of course there was a hang up there, too. As I was gluing the trim on, I noticed as I got to the end there was one without the little turquoise ball....wouldn't you know it. To save the day, I cut the end on a diagonal and glued it down and then started another piece and overlapped just a little. You can hardly notice it...

Some days go smooth and others............the lampshade lady just might be saying the f word.....( I always threaten that will be my next book, ha! much to my mother's horrors) (and I can hear Shirley laughing, Shirley is a very fine seamstress and designer that occasionally might use those words:))

On that note: here's my belated Valentine.
Happy Belated Valentine's Day!!!

xoxo,

judy

My Saturday Project: Quilt Top Hex Scallop Shade

 

Hex Scallop Quilt Top Shade w/ sweet vintage french trim.

I was a energized from my roof shoveling and ready to settle down for a fun project. This shade is similar to the cover of my Lampshade Lady Book, but the next size up. 5" top x 10" bottom x 7" high, clip top.

Somewhere along the way I purchased a whole stack of vintage quilt squares that hadn't been sewn together. A pretty good find. This is not a beginner project, although you are welcome to give it a go. I won't be doing all the steps here as I assume if you are to this point you got those down. You can go back to some earlier posts if needed.

Basically I needed, quick glue and bottle, hex scallop frame, cloth tape to make self trims-aka bias trim fold backer, scissors, trim for the bottom, fabric for the top trim, 1/4' of pressure  sensitive styrene and a couple of quilt squares. Pretty basic.
part of one of the quilt squares
Panels glued to frame.
Making self-trims for vertical edges. This is tricky. Parts of the fabric were bulky due to seams, but just wing it. It is what it is....:) You could use a different fabric that had a similar feel to your quilt squares. I like the authenticity of the uneveness, but sure it would bug some people... You can see the top strip I have adhered the cloth tape to the back side of the fabric.  I also cut away some of the quilt backing where I could. Some of the others had double layers to glue down, but worked out fine.
Adding the vertical strip. You can see it's a little bumpy, but the whole shade is abit bumpy. Just go with it....it'll be sweet.

Bottom trim. I used the grosgrain first and then added this vintage shirred jaquard trim. Give the trim a little tug as you add them to the scallop bottoms. Same with the grosgrain; they both have a little give and will stretch to fit the curve. Use clothes pins to hold in place.
I used a vintage cotton calico for the top trim. A sweet shade for a little girls room or your sewing room. Very fun project.

Digging my Shop out in Pawlet Vermont

Look how deep the snow is here at my shop! I spent yesterday morning getting the heavy snow off the roof. Many thanks to Keith for stopping by with the roof rake; I could have sold a dozen to passers by. And thanks to Carson for helping out when my arms and shoulders had done their share. Checkout the snow in this picture. When I arrived to work Thursday, the town had left me snow up to my shoulders in front of my walkway..... not very sweet of them.

Our view from a ski last week.
Thank goodness for the snowmobile tracks. They made it beautiful xc skiing.
Almost home. Ziggy is ready to go out for more. I'm ready for lunch. The snow has been beautiful this winter. Last night we had sleet, rain, thunder and lightening. Just incredible. I can't remember a storm like this; the lightening was spectacular relecting on the snow. The storm was a little close for comfort hitting our neighbors farmhouse. Wish I'd grabbed my camera.