The Lampshade Lady Blog

Lampshades Made Today - It's Crunch Time Ho Ho Ho!

I just finished the first part of my week, tomorrow Wednesday is my break day. It's incredible how much work got started and finished. It's crunch time. Fill orders, inventory, prepping orders, shipping orders. Phew. It is fun to be this busy. Finished up this pair of blue ticking lampshades. The shades measure 5" across the top by 8" bottom and 6" high, Clip top.They are $75. per shade. I'd say the ticking isn't super old but vintage. Finding blue ticking is the hardest color to find.

Also got these marble paper shades finished today, too. Just love this graceful marble paper. Just that pretty touch of aqua. And a simple stripe cotton ribbon trim. These shades are 6" across the top by 10" bottom and 7" high and easy clip top. A handy size shade. They are also $75 per shade. So cute.

And lastly, I haven't had a chance to list this cool vintage Marimekko alphabet fabric. I have never seen this print before. And man, I see a lot of vintage fabric. I'll have to get back with the info but just wanted to share it. It was lots of fun to make. It could also make a small pendant shade, too. That would be fun for a play room or kids room.

All for now,

xo

judy

September 2015 Brimfield Flea Market

Yes, it's time for September Brimfield. I haven't done the September show in a very long time but in order to get my great spot I had to do 2 shows... The promoters sort of have you wrapped around their fingers... but I do have a fantastic spot! I'm booth 104 on the main entrance road into The New England Motel Show. Sounds like warm weather to set up but cooling down as the week goes on. Having a good spot is important - for one the electricity stays on in this spot which is all important for a person selling lampshades, it's close to the potties, looks like it will drain well for wet weather and is on the main entrance road into the show- sometimes you get folks coming in and going out. And it's easier for buyers to remember where the heck you are in an all confusing barrage of antique sellers. 

Just finished this pair of scallop embroidery shades. Sweet for a little girls bedroom. They are made from vintage embroidery. They measure 4 tx 8b x 6 high.

And another vintage embroidery to bring to Brimfield. It's been a busy summer working mostly 6 day weeks... phew. It's been hard to keep up with orders on Etsy and in my shop as well as make great inventory. But does feel rewarding putting out great new lampshades and seeing customers come back season after season. It's been a 7 day week this week and was just about to work all day tomorrow until my husband brought home some fresh Maine crabmeat for sandwiches to go out sailing tomorrow... so how could I say no!!! a compromise was had- I'll work 8:30 -10:30 and finish up my last minute additional projects! And then a sail on Lake Champlain and Carson's famous crab sandwiches! And maybe a cold beer! Gotta get the last out of the summer. Monday is a pack up day for Brimfield.....a tactical feat to squeeze into my CRV!
More new inventory! French vintage ticking rectangle bell and amazing Fortuny square bells. These will never make it to Etsy....for sure. finished these all up today and looking good. I think this fabric has spoiled me for life! A wax resist Italian fabric- just to die for.

Finished this pair of barkcloth cut corner rectangle bell shades today, too. The chicken is almost done- cute repro grainsack, but loved the chicken. I usually try to stick with vintage but couldn't resist the chicken.

I hope you'll venture out to The Brimfield Flea Market. I'm booth 104 at The New England Motel Show. It's a tad overwhelming, bring sneakers, water, money, a cart and a camera! It's great people watching- you never know who you'll see! My favorite times are usually that glass of wine and some cheese after a long show. Just dreading that 4:30 am wake up call for the early opening on Wednesday. Hope I don't sleep thru it.... 

Happy Labor Day!

xo

judy lake

A Few New Lampshades for the Thanksgiving Clean Up

Yikes, The family is coming for Thanksgiving! Dog hair, cat hair, ooh the upholstery is dirty, the silverware needs polishing, oooh the windows need to be cleaned, the kitchen cupboards need a fresh coat of paint.... boy I could quit my job to finish all these projects at home!  It is good to entertain now and then to deal with all these issues....I'm pretty crazy busy with work and need to squeeze a little in at a time.

 Sunday we got out the screens and the house brightened up immediately, Yay, that was easy and checked off the list. There is the annual process of getting the dirt out of the wide cracks in the floor; I usually save that for Thanksgiving time. So here I sit at the car dealer in Rutland for the morning thinking of my to do list and watching my day off free time tick away. I did mention a few "honey do" things on the way out the door.

I've listed a few great new shades on my Lampshade Lady Etsy Shop recently.This is a hard to find UNO Lampshade. Uno lampshades are used on the old bridge/iron floor lamps. The are super hard to find these lampshades or at least decorative lampshades, ie other than white.
I recently found this fab vintage barkcloth- birds and turquoise all in one lampshade. A great find. I was able to squeak out 2 shades out of the vintage fabric. I was hoping to get two this size, but just wasn't enough of it. Par for the course with vintage fabric, but that's what makes it special--all your neighbors won't have the same lampshade. I like that anyway!!! Let your personality shine... ohh there's a new line!

Vintage Barkcloth Scallop Hex Clip Lampshade, 4" top x 8" bottom x 6" high. This was such fun to make!  I found the trims this fall on one of my antiquing jaunts. I've never seen such sweet little mini poms as well as the checker board trim-- just enough for one shade! Surely one of a kind!

Vintage Swan Needlepoint Square Bell Lampshade 4"top x 7" bottom x 7" high. Interesting vintage needlepoint- it has silver seed beads on the swan.

I'm loving this French Floral Lampshade and yes amazingly so there is a pair!

There has been some difficult days in the press for Etsy lately; you may have seen the latest editorial in The New York Times, authored by Elizabeth Wayland Barber. She says,

"Yet Etsy’s latest move is entirely in line with the history of handmade goods, a history that is more complicated than the simple term “handmade” implies. The artisans have run head-on into the problem that led to the Industrial Revolution: Making things by hand is slow. Really slow."  

What a crazy statement!!! so far the post has received 195 comments- comments that she really missed the point. Etsy is still a great place to sell and buy, but we are all scratching our heads why a wonderful company would make such profound changes to risk their high reputation. We'll see what happens--- venture capitalists and tech geeks try to make more $$ and pre IPO. The irony of it is that what makes ETSY so special is "the handmade" unusal cool things that our customers find. Customers love to buy directly from the artist whether at a craft show or on etsy. 

bye for now, hopefully my car is almost finished!

judy

 

 

Brimfield is just around the corner...deep breath

 

May is the BEST time to head to Brimfield Flea Market!  It's the only one that works for me, but summer is hot and fall can be fickle weather. Fingers crossed we haven't used up all our sunny days by the 15th!!!
New England Motel Show opens on Wednesday. Some shows open on Tuesday and run till Sunday. I usually am packed up by Sat PM. The Vintage Textile Show is on Monday in Sturbridge, MA. I head down on Tuesday for set up and settle in for the week. (My Vermont shop will be closed)

I'm sharing a big 20x20 tent with my friend Philippa this year! Dear friend Mary is just around the corner, Tex and family are across the row, Wendy and her beautiful textiles are just down the way.... friends are made, fun is had, sales are made, lobster rolls eaten, procecco opened, red wine sipped, cheese nibbled on, new connections are made and hopefully the economy is a little rosier. We do make it fun as well as the hard work to pull it all together!

The lists of "must bring things" starts soon. The bag with the duck tape, electric tea pot, pens, receipts, business cards, omgoodness, the list is long, but years of experience makes it easier, oh ya, the cork screw...can't forget that. I find most important piece is that if I am organized I don't have to rush and can just enjoy the process.

Today's project: I didn't have a room for Tuesday night and thought I'd wing it... but today I  had a better thought and found a room online... yipee. Cross that off the worry list. Nothing like a good night sleep, hopefully, especially for the early morning start of day break. Last year my alarm/radio had been turned down in my hotel----sooooo I couldn't hear the alarm and over slept, phew and couldn't park at my show as we have to be there by 5am; a little early for the lampshade lady. I had to park way down the row and pay for parking and scamper all the way to New England Motel Show. I figured those early dealers aren't really my customer anyway and just not fret about being late. I grabbed a breakfast sandwich and finally got to my booth. No biggie.

Hope you come visit the shows. My booth is #65; if you are facing the show it is on the left side middle row, near the back. A great spot! Bring money, water, sneakers!  New England Motel Show is in the middle of all the shows on RT 20, BY THE FOOD Court! One of the perks of the location!

There's lots of info on line about times and show openings - check out this link. There are 20 shows and they open at different times, staggering them so dealers can race from show to show to find  the best stuff or others like to run the other way and hit the fields that aren't busy.....(that's me:)!  Most of the shows have parking; it isn't a big deal, usually no problem and cost 5-10 dollars.

xo

judy

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.