The Lampshade Lady Blog

Spring Workshops: time to clean up the shop

Cookies have just come out of the oven for my workshops. Oooh, they look so good. Tomorrow is the first workshop and the other is on Saturday. I have found April is always the busiest time for my workshops; it is usually safe from snow and ice. And yes the grass is starting to green up and daffadils are out. We have students coming from all over the country! What fun it will be.  The recipe came from one of my favorite cookie cookbooks, Maida Heatter's Book of Great Cookies. It is the first recipe in the book, Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies. I did, of course, embellish it a little with a couple tablespoons of Grand Marnier instead of the cream.....:) Hey, we'll have deserved it by mid afternoon tomorrow. 

We have 7 students coming on Thursday and Saturday. That's as many as I can squeeze into my charming little cottage. And it's tight at that. I'm off in a few minutes to organize, make name tags, clean up, prep materials, and finish all the misc. projects on my desk. 

I almost had a major crisis yesterday. I started tackling my front messy, shipping & custom order room. (always the one where stuff ends up where I don't know where to put it room, yikes) A big mess. I started pulling this big pile of fabric strips and odd ball trims into one of my baskets. Well, off toppled a glass lamp from my display window and wacked my hand just above my wrist and below my thumb. A scream was heard.... ouch. I must say I sort of baby my hands; they are all I got and if they go that's the end of my career... I tried finishing up a few odds and ends at the end of the day, oh, scissors were hurting a little. I headed home for a few rounds ice and arnica. It could have been much worse, but a scare for sure! 

Speaking of hands. A lampshade maker or any of us artisans have to be careful of repetive motions. Our shoulders take a beating as well as lower back.... I always pass on my advice, get a copper bracelet or 2. I just got a couple of new ones on ebay. They have loads, one I got is brand new about 20 dollars and the other is vintage. I find they are best when they are all copper. Both my husband I and swear by them.   I can't recommend the copper highly enough. I have so abused my hands by all the hard cutting and glueing. I do try to mix up my work projects during the day and have a wonderfully proper ergonomic chair.

You can see also one of the next books I am reading... The Bells, it is suppose to be great. But it will have to wait until I finish Unexpectedly Milo by Matthew Dicks. Saturday night I dragged a few friends to The Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT. to listen to an event they were hosting. It was in conjunction with a weekend long event for readers and followers of the blog, Books on the Night Stand written by Ann Klingman and Michael Kindness, both Random House Reps, but they write about all of their favorite books not just Random House. I have only just come across this blog and to be honest we had no idea what to expect on Saturday night. But we were treated to an amazing night and most likely the best one I have ever seen at the bookstore! Ann and Michael introduced 9 authors and they were all allowed to speak for about 20 minutes or so. Vermont's own Chris Bohjalian was one of the authors to speak as was my new book's author of Unexpectedly Milo.  It was a great way to hear a group of novelists speak about their work and then have a chance to meet them over a glass of wine and handsome hors d'oeuvres. Many thanks to The Northshire Bookstore for taking a chance on a great night and obviously Ann and Michael's fans love them. I am looking forward to listening to their podcasts. I must say I did sneak the opportunity to introduce myself and say that I was a author of a book they they rep.... and please try to sell more books- I know it's a hard sell. This night was all about the love of PAPER, as in the real book not electronic! Which is just fine by me.

off to tidy up my shop! (and sneak a cookie)

xoxo,

judy

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.

A Delightful Surprise, Gift of a Hand Bound Lampshade Lady Book

This Saturday I had a wonderful surprise. My good friend Karl is a book binder that specializes in Book Art and Book Conservation. When my book came out almost a year ago he had promised me a hand -bound book by taking my book apart and re-working it. I left all of the details up to him as this is where his expertise lies. And how fun to be surprised!
Karl  Eberth is presenting my book and explaining the design. He has used a wonderful marbled paper that has been block printed on top of the marbling. You can see the shape of a lampshade when the book is opened up. Carl did 2 books, one for me and one for my folks. He only does one or 2 books like this a year. I have always loved marbled paper; even the time I tried doing it in my kitchen and it all ended up on my floor and gave it a green tint..... The spin is my most favorite part. He has use Chinese Tea Paper and hand lettered my name and Title of the book; very chic!!!! The silver spine of the book is over the top elegant. I love it. When I was a kid my family moved into this big old farm house in Maine and the front hallway had been wall papered in garish gold and silver tea paper. I remember seeing some in the attic.
Detail of the paper and spine. Oh, that hand letter press... If all the books looked this great. I love my book, but as an artist this is beautiful!  You can't really see it in my photo here, but there is an alphabet paper used between the spin and the marbled paper. Karl Eberth of West Pawlet, VT specializes in conserving rare books for collectors and library collections of Williams, Middlebury, Yale, Harvard, etc. I hope I have this right. No website, but his number is 802-645-0222. I highly recommend Karl. He's not only super talented but a nice guy to boot.
a peak inside, embroidery cut corner cottage shade on right w/ chenille how to on the left.
I love looking back at some of my book photos, especially ones like this that fell together like magic. This shot was our first one on a cool morning after unbearable heat and humidity. One of my favorites.

I love this shot too. It was one of the first I did with photographer Ryan Benyi. Lucky for me I just found a lovely candlewicking spread and sham. I've used it for one large shade and have another lined up on my worktable.

EVENTS NOTE:   I'll be up in Middlebury, Vermont on Friday for there Friday Night Art Stroll. I am bring up a clutch of new work and a pile of books. If your in the area come visit at the darling shop, The Guilded Cage. 5-7PM. It is on the main street across from The Alpine Shop.