The Lampshade Lady Blog

Jeez Louise, It's a Book not a baby, Book Arrival

Judy's new book, The Lampshade Lady's Guide to
Lighting up Your Life. available at fine books stores near you or the all to easy alternative... But remember to support your local bookstore or lampshade maker:)


Over the past two years I have been told writing a book is like birthing a baby. Yes, they were all right. At many times it was as frustrating as a 2 year old child, maybe worse. I think the hardest piece of the puzzle was The WAITING for others to do their thing. And the best part was THE DOING. I loved the photo shots, even the how-to-shoots. I was dreading the details, getting everything perfectly straight and tidy. But had such a fun time with photographer George Bouret ;we had lots of laughs and a few hair pulling moments trying to get the perfect shot. Everyone in town poked their heads in to check out the excitement. Sure looked like something big was happening with lights flashing all day long. And it went on for days.

I even enjoyed the writing of my book. Fortunately my rambles were finely edited by freelance writer Kathleen Hackett. Especially fortunate for my editors at Potter Crafts. My blog has actually been a great venue for putting words to paper or perhaps screen. The last time I had really written anything had been college. How truly humbling to let my dear friend Angela Miller read my first book proposals... I felt like going to the principals office... I got over it pretty quick.'

So buy my book, check out the great photography and order some lampshade making supplies on- line. The book has lots of sources to find supplies which can be hard to find at a bricks and mortar store. There are tons of wicked cool trims online. I just found a new one before I started this entry.

I have a few events planned and hope to have more in the coming days. See prior blog for dates.

Next up: Northshire Bookstore Aug 27th 7pm, the greatest bookstore ever!!! Those of us that live here would be up a creek without them. More tomorrow on the event.

Best Laid Plans... but a few good finds

I did manage to headed south to Brimfield on Mothers day. I made my first stop at the Stone Antique Center in Chester, VT. (Can't go by without stopping.) Didn't find anything that grabbed me, hopped back in my car and my nose started running... and running. oh, no. my first time away, it's mothers day and I am getting a cold..... sh.t..... how can it be. I pressed on, slowly keeping my wits about me..... shucks. I hate to be sick and I was so excited to get a few days away from home and work.... I only managed one night and a couple quick go rounds at The Textile Show. My bank account is very happy..... but of course managed to spend every dollar on my wallet...Here are a few pretty treasures I found.
I am making a large rectangle shade today with the turquoise, green and white fabric today. I am doing it next after today's blogging blabs. I love the big polka dots. My shop always does well with the Vermonty Grandma Moses Prints. I splurged on the vintage William Morris fabric. Also got a big stack of animal redwork, a few birds, Dumbo the Elephant, even a very sweet mouse one.
The Sturbridge Textile Show is 2 big rooms and several hall spaces and other small rooms. You never know what you will find. Sometimes I go looking for a few things in particular, but often I go with an open mind. Searching for fabrics that call out to me and screams, you must buy me!! I make my way around the show buying only those must have things first and then the 2nd time around rethinking the other fabric possibilities.

Yesterday I made this sweet small rectangle clip on shade. It is made with an embroidery I found on Ebay recently. It had a perfect small scallop edging on the cloth. Just the right touch for finishing up the shade. The shade size is: 3.5"x5"top by 6.5"x9"bottom by 6.5" high. $75.

Vintage Embroidery Candleabra Shades

As you all probably know by now, I love to use vintage embroideries on my lampshades. This is the sweetest little pair ever. I picked them up for a book photo prop. It shows that they had been framed at one time. They are small, maybe 3"x4". They were just one of those things that I had to have..... and they were maybe 8 dollars each.
After using these for our photo shoot, I had them around my shop and eventually figured how to use them best. This is a square bell candle clip shade. They are 2" across the top by 4"high by 4" across the bottom. They fit the best into this shape and then I found a neutral linen for the rest of the panels. And trimmed them with some left over fabric I had in the shop; I picked out the stripe in the fabric to make self-trims.
p.s. this is fake forsythia I twisted around my butterfly bush in my shop flower garden.... worked perfect.... yikes, everyone thought it was real. No one thought I would ever use plastic flowers in my garden!!! We get pretty desperate in early spring up here!