I have had an interesting couple of weeks. My workshops finished up and I started in designing and making a few lampshades for The Holly Hill Designer Show House coming up in Red Bank, NJ. My friend Ellen Adler asked me to be a part of her room with Decorative Painter and Designer Judith Luke. The wall in the above photo is Judith's amazing work. It has been such fun to see her work evolve.... over email that is...Working from afar is a bit tricky. Judith has been updating me as the room evolves and furnishings and colors come together.
I shipped out the pair of wall sconces in the photo above. Then we hashed out what fabrics should be. jpeg after jpeg we finally decided on the vintage silk embroidery show in the photo. It went back and forth till all parties agreed on the best choice; which had been my first choice... Sometimes decisions get side tracked and it's my job to bring designers or clients back on track.
After much back and forth another lamp and shade was chosen for the room. I shipped the small lamp and shade, but then it was decided it was perhaps too small. Maybe they'll find a little spot for it.
Then another taller lamp was created to fill the need. What to use.... I swear this is when I need to escape my shop and "see" all the parts of a room. Ellen found a great looking classic mid sized lamp in her closet that I had actually used in my Lampshade Lady Book. For the book I had done a very cool European Monogram on a cut corner square shade. My thoughts were that if it worked once, give it a try again. As with vintage fabrics..... they are not always in perfect shape. I brought the fabric home to give it a wash and get out the creases that had been set in deeply over all the years of being folded.... The monogram part worked great, but the rest of the towel was not pressing out. Starch after starch, steam, steam= noway where they coming out. Okay, Judy, what to do now.??? I must have pulled 20 pieces of linen out onto my porch to check for the right shade of linen... a couple worked but not enough fabric... finally, got IT and I was under the time gun. It went together great; very smooth. Then to trim it up. We had talked about a small gold trim; I found a nice classic thin trim I'd picked up at Tinsel Trading in NYC. It was too small... drats. okay. You can probably see me whipping around my shop in a panic. I have hard thinking quick under pressure. Several tries later and I found a khaki and cream ticking, great. I think it made a nice self trim; I cut in on the bias. It finished up the shade beautifully. Wish I had a picture, but I got it picked up by UPS with only a couple of minutes to spare. Phew. Breathe. Time for a cup of tea on the porch in the sunshine. I hope the shade worked... who knows; it's a challenge working in this manner, but it was fun, too.
Another piece of Judith' s decorative painting work. It's been fun to see the room evolve from week to week. I had my own stress but can only imagine the time deadline Judith is under! Love the ceiling.
Judith added a poem Ellen had recently finished.
If you are near the in the area check out the show. It opens May 3rd - June 12th. More information is on their website at http://www.StatelyHomesbytheSea.com
And I'm back to filling orders and prepping for Brimfield. I'll be setting up on May10th for The New England Motel Show opening Wednesday the 11th at day break. Hope you'll make it down for the serious flea marketing at Brimfield. 20 or so shows in a mile. Shop till you drop.