The Lampshade Lady Blog

Lampshade Designing over the Internet: Destination Holly Hill Designer Show House

 

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.

How-To Vintage Monogram Lampshade

Vintage Monograms make great shades. They are a little hard to make up for inventory in my shop; it's best to use common letters and then take orders. B's, S's, T's, are good choices. I love this one; it's so nice and thick. I took pictures today as I was making it. No fancy photography, but hands on how-to. It's always interesting taking a picture and holding a glue bottle and a trim at the same time.... not quite like book production, but I think you'll get the idea.
I cut 6 panels out of styrene for the hex bell frame, 5" top x 8" bottom x 6" high. I thought it would fit the monogram nicely. I had considered using the fabric behind the panels for the trim, but decided to save it for a couple big shades, it's a hard to find pretty barkcloth.
Panels are glued onto the galvanized frame.
Run a bead of glue around the 4 sides of the panel opening and set styrene/fabric panel and clip into place with clothespins.
I like to use a long piece of grosgrain ribbon to hold panels in place. A good time to adjust and then let them dry, about 20 minutes. Vertical trim goes on next.
Next step is to choose the trim fabric. I thought this one might look nice, but decided against it.This cloth tape is what I use to make the self trims. It is pressure sensitive on one side. The Lampshop carries it and it is called Bias Trim Fold Backer. I usually just call it pressure sensitive cloth tape.
Trim decision: believe me, this can be the hardest decision of the project or maybe I am just too fussy, but I know my customers can be as fussy as I am.  I love, love this hydrangea vintage fabric. The colors are subtle and will go with a variety of decors. I wish I had more of this hydrangea fabric..... keep your eyes out for me. It is a Vintage French Cretonne Fabric; it has a mini cord to it.
I have used the cloth tape to make self-trims. 6 6" vertical strips and cut grosgrain for the top and bottom. I use the grosgrain to measure out the length of the self trim. I have used the Vintage Hyranga for both sides and top and bottom. Grosgrain MUST have at least 40% cotton- or else....
To glue the self-trim. Glue one side at a time. Hand press to make a nice crisp edge. I like to do the edge away from me and fold towards me. You'll probably find your own ways you like to do things.
Fold over the other side. I use Quick Glue that comes from The Lamp Shop in Concord, N.H. It is transfered into these reuseable squeeze bottles.
Add the strips to finish the vertical edges. I make a valley on the backside of the strip and add a fair amount of glue. Pick up any excess glue with your fingernails. It is easiest to do this with the shade on it's side.
When all vertical self-trims are added, trim up excess fabric. Trim up any extra styrene, too. The smoother it is the smoother the grosgrain will look.
Add grosgrain to the bottom. Half will go on the outside of shade and rest will turn and glue to the inside of the shade. Start in the back of the shade if there is a back. Cut on diagonal, adding glue, one panel at a time.
glue detail
Add glue to inside of grosgrain and turn around wire and tuck inside wire. Make 1/8th snips by wire clip to allow ribbon to go on either side of wire. (blogger, me.... multitasking.... small budget, must take photo, hold glue bottle and type at night!) Ha.
To Make top and bottom self-trims. Make them the same way as the vertical trims without the valley on the back.
Add glue onto the back of the self-trim and set onto the edge of the bottom of shade. Do a few inches at a time. Use one clothespin and walk it around the shade. If you leave it on too long it will leave an indent.
Smile, this is the easiest part and so rewarding. You are almost finished. Yes, it will look great. The trim will cover up most boo boos. You could also use a decorative trim or tassel here.
Over lap the self-trim. Cut on a diagonal and overlap a smidgen. Do the same for the top trim.

A personalized gift. Search your linen closets and antique shops for linen tea towels. They are so nice and soft, washed over and over again. Vintage linen makes up beautiful, much easier than new fabrics.

And if you think this is fun, Please pick up my book, The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting up Your Life, (Potter Craft, 2009) and give it as a gift to your crafty friends. It's little growing niche. Start a cottage industry in your neck of the woods or just get inspired.

Happy Holidays,

judy lake

 

ps only one spot left in the Feb.12th workshop. I could add another date if there is enough interest.