The Lampshade Lady Blog

A Drum Lampshade Making Day! if you make one you might as well make a dozen!

I've been known to make a rose hip wreath or 2 a year. This year I made one for my shop! It's a bit of an ouchy job! Rose hips were huge this year out in the fields. I grabbed a plastic grocery bag and my clippers and started cutting away. I have learned it best to cut long stems. I don't cut off thorns until I make the wreath. I grabbed a few grape vines and wind them together for the base. Then start adding the hip stems cutting away the thorns as I go. Be prepared for a few jabs..... yikes. I had my glue gun ready but decided my stems were long enough to wind them into the grape vines.
Today my shop finally got an outside light! It was long over due and much procrastinated. I found this cool barn light on Ebay and at last my porch isn't so dark! And I painted my door a new color.

I've realized many of the colors I like are layered colors. So--- I mixed up some colors last week but they didn't quite work. Then I went down to my paint shop in Manchester and he suggested a glaze to mix with my new color. I gave it a try... hum, not quite right either. Then I remembered my paint marbling class I'd taken many years ago and that we had used this same glaze. We painted it on and rubbed it off. It worked great creating the layered colors I was wanting and looks nice with my new barn light!
Today I was inspired to make drum shades today. I don't make too many but when I do I make a bunch! They are fast to put together but then the trimming takes a bit a time. That will have to wait till the end of the week.

Detail of drum shade fabrics. A little bit of everything- grain sack fabric, quilt fabric, Guatemalan fabric, black and white vintage mod fabric and vintage fruit fabric. Drum shades definitely need the right fabric with a larger motif; a little print gets lost in the expanse of the shade.

Pretty, pretty periwinkle toile hex bell lampshades @75. I was so happy to find this amazing early French Toile. Just one of those to die for fabrics. Distinctive fabric---- standout beautiful! I've made a few other shades with this fabric and also have another pair of hex bells to come. The fabric is super old but good strong color.
I just listed a pair of crewel white on white hex bell lampshades on my Etsy lampshadelady shop. Hex bell 5"x10"x7.5" high. Nice thick crewel and so hard to find.
A fun experiment! I had this small scrap of crochet kicking around my desk; just enough for a night light. Love it. $24. shop only.
I just finished a large pair of lampshades from this crochet! Very awesome they were! And very time consuming to make. It's a light weight layer under the crochet and then the crochet needs to be glued on ..... but the end product was sensational. I think my client will be thrilled when she picks them up this week.... meanwhile I'm savoring them the next couple of days.

The last good news is that the little restaurant next to my shop has reopened. I'm super happy to welcome Amber and the crew @  The West Side Station. I know they worked their butts off to open last Friday! Congrats. I know the community will be happy to have a meeting place this winter and I am thrilled to have neighbors. It could have been a lone cold winter as our general store is still closed.

All for now,

xoxox

judy

Many Lampshades Have Crossed my Work Desk

Happy almost end of summer! wow, I've almost forgotten how to work my blog! yikes. It's been a super busy summer.... a good one that is! I've been a happy girl. The Station Restaurant next to my shop opened this fall after a long hiatus. Sherrie and Jamie and gang have been busy, busy. They've made the place look super pretty and serving up great breakfasts and lunches; one of my favorite spots for breakfasts!
oh what a busy desk! Lots gets done on my Danish work table! Actually it is a little cleaned up for the photo...a stylized mess.... I laugh at how my desk starts the day all tidied up and ends up totally in chaos. Usually I start the morning checking emails, FB, etc and multitasking by starting clearing off my desk with a cup of hot Tea in hand! Always! You should see how I left it tonight... no photo, just imagine. I am realizing as I age that I have a pretty good case of attention deficit-- good for accomplishing many tasks in a sort of haphazard way, but am super organized and don't mind hard work. humm. Really, so much gets done in a day. Amazing it is.

Just posted these lampshades today up on my Etsy Page. Cuties. Vintage but contemporary... really lovely antique linen and rest contemporary cotton fabric. fun to make.

I've just adopted my son's outgrown camera. I've had fun seeing if I can improve my photos for my Etsy Shop. Just been experimenting a tad, oh--- so much to learn. The best thing Duncan said was,  "Mom, don't go back to your old camera!" I'm glad he challenged me as it's so easy to go back to what we know. I'd had all the settings down, I knew what worked "good enough" but also knew the photos could be a lot better. So, here we go. On the next learning curve. It is endless isn't it. I'm happy I've gotten to the point that it's fun to keep learning on this dear silver macbook and my new/old Nikon.
Hey, hey, just finished this Ticking Shade today. I swear it's been sitting on my desk since June... swear. Hard to find blue ticking happily perched on a nice stack of fabrics.

Finished this shade, too. It's a one of a kind. One for the kitchen.  Just found this nice vintage trim.

Flowers, flowers in downtown Pawlet Village! Lake's Lampshades and The Pawlet Station are on the Flower Brook after all.
Fun new favorite fabric. Blending the new with the old works great. Don't worry about using a great vintage lamp with a contemporary drum shade.
French paisley fabric with a vintage metallic gold trim. Rich French reds.
Inspiration. Ikats, Dots, French FloralToile, Vintage Floral, Grainsacks, Aboriginal Fabric, French Bird Toile---- never enough fabrics....ever!
look, look. how special is this vintage find! sweetest little cardboard holder. I've never seen one like it. And these little pom poms and that checkerboard pink and white trim. So darn cute. That's what's fun about heading out to antique- You never know what will be around the corner. I haven't had too many adventures out this summer- made it to The Washington Country Flea Market beginning of the month; it was superb, much better than in past years, certainly a surprise. I've had a trip up to Chester, Vermont to The Old Stone House Antique Center, a must visit if you are in the area. There's a newish place in White Hall, NY called The Flea Market, Sunday Am.-- only made it over once. As I said it's been busy, I've been working 6 day weeks and even 7 here and there. It's been a fun summer and my little shop has been on a roll. Happy, happy.

My shop will be closed for about 10 days starting next Monday, Aug 26th - Sept 6th or so. Mom is getting a new knee and I'll be cooking up a storm and hopefully sitting by the pool with my book enjoying my family in Maine. My hands will be happy for a little R & R. I will be keeping my Lampshadelady Etsy Store open and will be shipping when I return to Vermont. I'll be all ready to go into full gear for a Fall Foliage.

I'll be checking in while I'm away. It's easy to email me or message Lake's Lampshades Face Book Page.

It's a Happy 4th Birthday this month for my Lampshade Lady Book! A good thing to have behind me.  I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to have worked on such a great project. 4 years and nothing better has come along...lampshade books that is. Not exactly a big money maker for the publishers, but still one of the best lampshade diy books around!

Happy End of Summer and may it last just a little longer!

My Lamp Shop in Deep Winter

Snow has just started, again. The days are starting get longer and customers are waking up a little. How hard is it to keep making our inventories when things are slow? Sometimes I have to keep reminding myself to keep MAKING and DESIGNING because the busy days will be back. The Brimfield Flea Market will be here before I know it! I know my other craft friends that do shows have a few events in the deep winter, but mostly slim pickings. oooh how to survive the deep winter as an artist...??? recharging our design batteries is not a bad idea.
Painting my shop! I went to pick up a quart of paint in Rutland and the dear little man that mixed my paint gave me a gallon instead of a quart. I have been redoing my son's crudy bathroom and this is the wall color. LOVE it. Soooo. It's time for a new color at my shop and most likely I have almost enough. It's called Cool Aqua Semi Gloss from Benjamin Moore. It is super happy and time to say goodbye to the California Lilac!
I have a pair of these ticking shades. One of the most beautiful vintage tickings I have seen. Size 7" x 12" x 8" high, hex washer. Also just started a pair of 5" x 10" x 7" clip on, too. Fabrics like this don't last long in here!




New wall color! Everything looks so pretty against it. And the cobwebs are gone, for a while.
Pretty Paisley. One of the best ever!





One gray day this week I pulled every crazy bright color off the shelf and started in and made springlike shades! It turned into a really fun day. Color is such a vital element in our lives. Remember to USE it. I was recently in a friend's house and beige and gray were her main colors... even a little of this magenta would light a spark of light.

oooh and look at this! Do you remember these cloth kids books? I just sold one yesterday, but still have this one. Can't wait to make more. Just love the idea. So cute for a baby present or for the farm house.
here was another from the dark, winter day this week. THINK SPRING.
Well, it's time to do the other side of my shop!

Here's to hoping the snow drops come up sooner than later.

xo

judy

How-To Make a Grainsack Drum Shade

A how-to Drum Shade tutorial with mostly photos and a few words. I made this shade on Monday and photographed it as I made it. I will share the photos but not all the details for Drum Shades as they are done several times here on my blog and in the book. This was a very tricky project. Many variables to be taken into consideration. It didn't end perfect but the best job I could do. Vintage textiles often have flaws or wear and tear but sure do have that sought after authenticity. They "got it"! So here goes, hope you enjoy it and give it a try or order one on my Etsy page; there's a few posted there.
This grainsack fabric is a little lighter weight than many. It is also yardage which was helpful not to worry about the seam. The shade was 14 top x 14 bottom by 11" high.
peeling the back of the styrene; lining up the bottom lines. tad tricky.
just laminated the  styrene to back side of grainsack fabric. ooh, always hard to get the lines straight, even with this stiff stuff.
pulling the paper off as I go along the edge. I don't usually go right to edge like this, but this fabric has some nice stripes at the edge.
trying to get lines as straight as possible....yikes

I left 1/2" or so at the back seam. I will glue it to the inside to make a tidy back seam. Most of the grainsacks are way to thick to do this.
glue for back seam. quick glue available at thelampshop.com                 I recommend using this glue. Students have tried other glues but report they like this best.
hand pressing the heck out of the back seam.
adding the top wire with clothes pins. Note: they work best when pushed all the way down.

I like to do the top first. The washer prongs give me something to hold onto as I walk the rectangle onto the wires.
setting in bottom wire.
setting glue for bottom wire
glueing up the back seam.
lining up the stripes...
hand press inside of seam

making self trims for top and bottom
pressure sensitive cloth tape used. available at lampshop.com
I tried to glue the self trim up, but to no luck. humm... what to do? when in doubt hit the iron with it.


f
adding grosgrain, important to use 40%cotton and 60 rayon. you'll know if you didn't!!!!

llooking good. glueing well.
trims are matching up pretty good.
done. a hard job that I didn't charge enough for.... but a good challenge and a blog post. This vertical line isn't as straight as I wish, but all things considered; it's as straight as it was going to be.

Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed the UPS guys deliver it in one piece. Drum shades are very hard to pack.

If you need more details on drum shade making, flip through my blog; you will find many more instructions.

Shop summer hours: Mon-Sat. 10-5, although a call is suggested if coming. Hot days like this can make for a sweat shop and just might head for the hills.

thanks

judy

           

HAPPY new year: new projects in progress.

       Happy New Year. It's time for a fresh start. I can barely read the Vermont Newspapers with all the Flood Irene Photos. Vermont has never been hit with a disaster like Irene. Many of my neighbors are both still waiting for major work on their properties. I was the lucky girl in the middle. How my cute little shop wasn't knocked off it's foundation I'll never know BUT thank goodness. A hellish fall for sure.

       Time for so new ideas for kicking off the year. I just picked up this delightful, sweet English embroidery. It's a square tablecloth that called out to  keep the pretty flowers together without getting chopped up by panels. The biggest drum shade I could fit across the width of the fabric was only 9 inches. So be it and I went with it. These are 9" x 9" x 9" with a washer top. Dresser scarves would be the perfect length for a drum shade, but usually all the good stuff, ie. embroidery is on the ends... so that doesn't work so great.
detail of embroidery. oooh, look at the purples, oranges. I always admire the handiwork of the ladies of the UK. Why, why do they do it so much better than here in the States??? The whip must have been cracked in their early days when they slipped up.

Now to figure out how the heck to trim these babies.... I put these together at the end of the day yesterday. There was lots of thread trimming on the backside of the linen. What a mess with threads everywhere that needed to be snipped. I'll leave them close by to ruminate on their trimming...
And another pair put together yesterday. These still need trimming also. I guess I have the hard work for today. Also squeaked out an uno hex bell with this same embroidery.
Here's a new shape from The Lamp Shop. Not sure if it was a test frame or one they are introducing, but I got a sample from them and love it. It's a clip and think it might be popular. Doesn't hurt that this shade is made from  a beauty of a antique French Knotted tablecloth and trimmed with a scrap of handsome blue Vintage Fabric.

Visit my Lake's Lampshades Face Book page and hit the "LIKE" button if you get a chance. When I'm out straight crazy and the blog is being neglected I do manage to post a few current shades on the Lake's Lampshades page. It's growing on me....  Post a photo of one of your  lampshades. I'd love to see what YOU are making.

Best Wishes for a new Year!

xo

judy

One Heck of a Crazy Fall at Lake's Lampshades & Workshop Dates for 2012

Okay, Okay, I know I have been way behind in blog posting. My days this fall have been full to over flowing. The Flood, The fundraising for the flood, 2 workshops and loads of custom orders have kept me crazy busy. This week has begun to feel like a regular work week and look what the shop floor looked like yesterday:

Some are orders and some are for shop inventory. I find if I'm making drum shades it's easiest to make a bunch at a time. I'd been stock piling a few projects and orders to do them all in one shot. Good thing I have LOTS of clothes pins from my workshop.
I found this vintage Japanese Fabric last Sunday in Woodstock Vermont at Who's Sylvia's. What a find! There's lots of yardage and so contemporary. It is super narrow, but perfect for drum shades. As well as the size of the motif is just right for drum shades as well.

Just Announcing Workshop Dates for 2012:

April: 2 Day Workshop: Friday 13th and Saturday 14th. Cost $265.

April: 1 Day Workshop: Wednesday 18th, Cost $150

Sept: 2 Day Workshop: Friday 28th and 29th Cost $265

Oct: 1 Day Workshop: Friday Oct 19th, Cost $150

Workshop info: The cost of the workshop includes all materials except fabric. You will need 1/2 yard of cotton or linen per shade. The one day workshops we will make a midsize shade- the shape of your choice. The 2 day workshop will start also with a midsize shade and the next day you will be able to choose the frame you wish to use and therefore perhaps needing up to a yard of fabric. Students usually bring several fabric options to choose from. We will learn which fabrics work best as well as many lighting tips and tricks.

I will post more info in the next few weeks, but just wanted to get a schedule posted. The cost of the classes is  NON-REFUNDABLE  (due to past experience). The size of my shop/studio is small limiting the size of the group. If you are interested, please call or email me.

We have a great time and if you want a creative day or think you would like to start a business these workshops will give you a super heads up in getting your feet off the ground. My line is: I can teach you to make lampshades in a day but it has taken me years to learn all there is to know about lighting!!! But thank goodness that has kept me interested for over 25 years. Always a new challenge and always trying to be a better designer.

In the past I have done a February Workshop. This year I decided to only do April, Sept and Oct. But if YOU would like to organize a group of friends or co-workers, 6 minimum 8 max. I would be happy to work with you to put a day workshop together. The cost would be $150 per student. I am pretty flexible Jan, Feb and first 2 weeks of March. I find it is most fun to use my shop rather than me come to you. The shop is loaded to the brim with fabrics and supplies and is the ultimate inspiration experience.

Here's a few fun pictures from October's Workshops:

Jan's Shade back at her antique shop in Missouri! Hope there will be many more.
Debbie's Bird Shade, Elizabeth's Blue Shade and my little White Embroidery Scallop Shade
Cyndy and her beautiful shade.
Elizabeth is putting her shade together.
Debbie and Jennifer finishing details on their shades.
Joyce finishing up her shade!
New friends were made and skills were learned. I try the best I can to keep everyone happy and on the right road to making good choices. Teaching was never something I thought would be my "thing" but I have enjoyed it more and more as I get more experience. It is nice to share my knowledge and pass it on to others. I am proud my students have come from all over the country. It is fun to hear everyone's stories and share our own.

Last news of the day: Molly has been to the vet, needless to say many hundreds of dollars later....has been spade and is almost back to her perky sweet self! Must say, she is the best climber I know.

Made in the Shade, lighting up your life with fabulous lampshades, Times Union's Life @ Home, July 2011

Many thanks to Editor Janet Reynolds of the Albany Times Union, Life @ Home Magazine for the wonderful piece on my shop and Lampshade Lady Book.

Click on the link below to see the full article:

Made in the Shade, lighting up your life with fabulous lampshades

 
Love this Ricotta Lamp, old tin I found in my travels. I've been fighting with this lamp trying to find the perfect shade... it happens. My friend Krissy was visiting the shop last week and said, " give this shade a try." Yes, a nice match.

Just found this sweet toille lamp and thought it fun with the polka dot shade.
Recently made this Hex Bell Floral.  Tradition rules here, opps, but shown on a funky jadite stick lamp. Also sweet kitty redwork embroidery. Pair of blue applique shades in the back. 
Fun affordable quilt fabrics. Play with color and trims.
SAIL barkcloth. Hex Bell with favorite shop trim. 8.5" high

Cabin Craft Chenille Shade, 16" bottom, 12" high
It's horse time around here with the big Equestrian Event in Dorset. Vintage Hex Bell trimmed with French Ticking self-trim. Pair of unfinished Hex bell Red Ticking behind.
14" Drum shade made from vintage 50's tablecloth. This shade is making me happy even though I'm working on these beautiful summer days. 
Vintage dish towel, Square Bell Shade, 12" across the bottom & 10" high. A favorite pattern.Turquoise and Orange. Love the colors.

 ***WORKSHOP UPDATE: ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT IN OCTOBER PAWLET WORKSHOP IF YOU WERE CONSIDERING I.(COST $250 NONREFUNDABLE DEPOSIT)

p.s.s  I won't be at Brimfield in July. Hanging in Vermont all summer. come visit.

 

Spruce up Your House: New Inventory at Lake's Lampshades

Sweet Vintage Fabric Scallop Shade, 5" x 10" x 7" clip top $85

Antique Redwork Embrodiery, Darling little Hex Bell Clip Shade. 5"x 8" x 6"  $68.

You know summer is here when my fabrics are out on the walkway railing. Of course I'm trying to lure tourists into my shop. My shop is tucked down the road a little and the fabrics catch people eye, but also insprire me, too. Or perhaps they are drying from my washing machine at home.

All the rain has made for some beautiful flowers in my cluttered artists garden. I made my way to the middle of this full garden to start pulling violets.... where do they all come from. Yesterday I forced myself to thin out the wildly spreading pink perennial geranium; it was time to do the duty. As well as hauling a few of the ever happy Lambs Ears. Someday this garden is bound to take over the lawn!

This week I helped come up with a fun Grandmother gift for her grandson, Benjamin. Boy lampshades can sometimes stump me, but this was a great idea.  Benjamin is obviously a very talented artist and we brainstormed this idea to use his artwork on a lampshade. With a little reducing with the copy machine I was able to fit most of the chosen drawings onto a square clip lampshade.
I hope Benjamin liked our idea. I think it would be fun if he wanted to color it later, but it's fun just as it is. I thought if felt like a cartoon strip. Great teamwork Irene!
Oh a Saturday Project. I recently found this handpainted floral lamp. I put lots of different fabrics next to it, but went with this crazy, fun mix. I loved adding chandelier crystals sewn into the corners as well as the floral trim. Must have had something to do with the timing of working with designer John Loecke on some chandelier shades. John and his partner Jason just had a big spread in New York Magazine. Photographed was their wild townhouse in Brooklyn; they have mixed all kinds of fun fabric patterns and wall papers, must have been a fun project!!! Something tells me their country house might be quietly done???

These have sold, but Iove them! I promise to do more.  12" drums. great look.

Funky Drum for sure! 12" x 12" x 8"   $89.

This is sold, too, but will be making more. Just got a couple blue grain bags this week. Nice cut corner rectangle shape.
New shade made last week. Cut corner rectangle, 16" bottom and 13" high. Lovely vintage floral shade shown on an iron antique cast lamp. Nice hard to find tall lamp. Won't last long! (nice unstyled photo.... note my messy desk!)

Society silk Scallop Hex Clip Shade: 5" x 10" x 7" high. $85.

Happy Solstice!

May summer begin.

The shop will be open 6 days through the summer, hours 10am-5pm, closed Sundays. Hope you'll make a trek out to Pawlet Village. I am 2 doors down from the famous Machs General Store on School St, where they have the best cookies in town. (they are next to the cash register) Pawlet is 25 minutes north of Manchester, out RT 30 North.

A easy scoot out to the countryside; a straight shot out to a fabric lovers delight!

Feel free to give a call if you are coming a distance. 802-325-6308, fair warning, cell phones aren't very useful quite yet out here.  iphone = pawlet paperweight.

I promise to try to keep writing. I am home in Vermont for the whole summer, no trips. It has been a busy spring and I'm thrilled to be here at the shop. NO shows! Yay. But you have to come for a visit.

ps. new Pawlet Village Farmers Market starts this Friday, 3-6pm down by the Libray.

How to Hang a Drum Shade or Pendant Shade

At long last I have solved the pendant drum shade hanging problem. This is the perfect set up! So happy to have gotten some into the shop,because I know so many of you have asked this question. How to hang a drum shade???? This does have to be hard wired into your ceiling, but if you already have a fixture installed it would not be too big a deal to switch them out. The best part is that a standard washer top shade will work with this fixture. It is such a smart design. Great looking,too.
The fixture comes with one light, two lights or 3 lights. The more light bulbs = a larger shade. They recommend a 19" shade with the 3 light set up. The single square frame in the first picture is 8" high and 8" across the bottom.
This is such a great set up. I had a hard time visualizing this until I saw it. To install a shade turn the screw where my hand is and set the lampshade in place and screw the bolt back in! Easy, Easy!

These come in Brushed Nickel (shown), Oil Rubbed Bronze, Antique Brass and Satin Black. To order, give me a call at the shop. 802-325-6308

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.