The Lampshade Lady Blog

Happy Holiday Shop Schedule

Time sure flies when your busy. Tonight is the Solstice, Dec. 21. It was a beautiful day here in Vermont. I take Wednesdays off and checked off my to-do list. Yikes, today it was long. I needed an oil change for my car so I tied it in with errands in town. First I prepped dinner, I'm the Wednesday dinner person....so knew it would be a good call to make dinner before a crazy day, yes it surely was a great plan. Homemade Calzones. YUM. Then boxed up an etsy order to ship out, dropped off 2 shades on the way to town and then filled in all my holes on my holiday list. It was fun. I ran into my good friend Elizabeth buying candy at our great shop Mother Myricks, found fun stuff at our super bookstore, The Northshire Bookstore, found a few goodies at The Mountain Goat and then headed down to The Orvis Store for a couple more great gifts. I love the fishing department there; the sales guys there are always so nice and very helpful. They always come up with great ideas. On my way out of town I stopped at my friend Janno's shop Flower Brook Pottery in Dorset and topped off my list. She's got lots of beautiful gifts and her pottery. It's nice living in a small town where you know the shop keepers and see other friends out and about on a sunny day.

Tomorrow, Dec 22nd is my last day in my shop till after the holiday. 10-5pm

I will be closed until next week. I am planning to be in the shop on Wednesday, Dec. 28th. My Lampshadelady Etsy shop will remain open and shipping will start again on the 28th.

 An article was published on Tuesday this week in our area newspapers, The Manchester Journal, Bennington Banner, and Brattleboro Reformer. Manchester Journal. It's a bit of a quirky article. I've had many an article written over the years but this is not my most favorite. If you read it you'll see. But all press is good. Definitely need to get my hair done....that will be a January project. I might be getting old but happy to get rid of all those gray hairs.

Hope everyone has a nice holiday, eats great food and enjoys their break.

xo

judy

 

Save our General Store: Mach's Market, My Neighbor in Pawlet Village

If you have followed my blog over the years I am sure you have heard me talk of my little village, Pawlet, Vermont. Population of 1,477. 1 big peeling paint brick general store Mach's Store, 1 restaurant, 1 diner, 2 real estate guys, 1 post office, 1 lampshade maker, a holistic center, lots of dairy farms, a goat's cheese farm,several companies that move a lot of dirt around, builders, masons,bread makers, loggers, massage therapists and lots of other small home based businesses. As I type this I realize how many entrepreneurs there are in these hills of Southern Vermont.

The "down turn" of the economy has hit Vermont hard as well as Flood Irene coming though the center of this little, quaint and sort of authentically beat up village. Granted most of us don't want it too fancy like some of our neighboring towns, but a little paint on many buildings, mine included wouldn't hurt. New pavement came to town last summer--- a big darn deal and can't imagine the last time that happened. Cell service is sparce at best and fiber optic is just days away, maybe.

I was approached by JJ the general store owner mid March; he said the store was in troubled waters and concerned that it may not be able to stay open. Rumor flew around town, as happens in any small town. Put it this way, I can tell who some customers are just by the sound of their car... ha, ha. Especially those noisy diesel pick ups!

We had a meeting of local friends and brainstormed ideas and solutions. We all came with great ideas, many in the down the road category. We had to keep coming back to the immediate issue. How to raise capital for The General Store to remain open!

Again and again we had to keep coming back to this main concern in the immediate. Wow, somehow we landed on the front page of The Rutland Herald- a hard "get" on the best of days! Thank you, thank you!

We accomplished our first goal by having customers put $$ onto their local accounts to help get instant cash flow and by selling some inventory that had been collecting dust. Phew, onto goal #2, to fill up some of the bare shelves- the store isn't by any means bare, but the inventory of "general foods" had been depleted and not replaced. Bit by bit the store is making headway to more solid ground by re-evaluating to business practices and so on.

For phase #2 fundraising efforts we will be having several events in June, TBA soon.  Yesterday we kicked off a crowd sourcing fund, Go Fund Me -This is the link to the site if you would like to help the cause! This site is super easy to use with your credit card; you don't need a paypal account and you can also donate without using your name if you wish.

I LOVE this old post card! There is a huge photo of these old fellas by the deli in the store! That was a few years ago!!!

You may wonder why one would donate to save a general store? A general store has a sense of place. It is where the kids picked up their green up day bags today, where the hunters came to weigh their turkeys today, where one would pick up their trash tickets--- these are things that DO NOT make them money or hardly any, but a SERVICE to US! Where the UPS guy can drop off your package if he can't make it up your icy road or where one finds out who's house burned down or god knows what.... jeez lousie, it the place we all to easy take for granted and would sure as hell be mad if a Dollar Store took over(no links...) Can you imagine the revolt!

Since I have had my shop in our village there has been, many owners of the store. Gib and Doreen, Steve and Kallie, Mike and Marilyn and now JJ and his daughters. It's a big job, long hours, little pay and the times of the general store are NOT over but are changing. Nothing worse than listening to a past owner of a business say... when I owned it I made a profit... thanks for that...as I recall all of them hovering over the books trying to figure out which bill to pay first in January!

Retail in general is changing, just ask me that! Almost 50% of my sales are online now! That's pretty amazing. Folks are particular how they eat... some don't eat wheat, some only eat organic, some eat local, some eat anything.... We hope to try to solve some of those issues to change to a new food world of LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL!

Thanks for reading about real life in a small village! If you wish to help the cause here is the link: Save The General Store.

almost packing time for Brimfield!

xo

judy

 

 

The Time just after Labor Day and before The Leaf Peekers Arrive

    I am super happy to announce that The Station Restaurant is making a come back. It is expected to open in the next couple of weeks. No one is happier than me! The restaurant has been closed for the past 3 years and had been looking pretty ratty. I give huge credit to the owners of the property for their hard work repairing the septic and retaining wall after Flood Irene.
You may have remembered that the last restaurant here was MIOS, a French Bistro. We are all very happy that it will once again become The Station- to be open for breakfast and lunch. The building had been a train station in Wallingford, Vermont and then moved to Pawlet Village. The man that brought it to town also owned my building. One of the highlights of the past Station is coming back; all the locals have their own mugs!
This week I have been dusting off my shop with a new coat of paint. I can't rave enough about the luxurious quality of the paints from the fancy Fine Paints of Europe in Woodstock. omg, it doesn't drip and goes on thick and creamy!  I sort of enjoy painting; instant gratification. I was too impaitient to wait for a crew to come paint and the weather last week was perfect. It was much too nice to stay inside. I swear there was more paint on the building than me, except to the new streaks in my sunbleached hair.
I went as high as my ladder would take me... no way I was headed any higher.
New retaining wall and new siding at Machs. Great job Gib and Deanna and crew!
The view from between my shop and the restaurant to The Barn Shop. Marion Waldo McChesney and Dona Friedman will be opening The Barn Shop for a pop up Gallery during the foliage season. Marion had Pawlet Potter in the village for over 30 years! Welcome back.
And a little work on this sad sight. Town is sprucing up and dusting off after the flood but something tells me it will always be a little rough around the edges which might not be a bad thing. Dorset we ain't!

I've been having a great time selling from my Etsy Store: Lampshade Lady! Now that the shop painting is behind me  I am back to making new shades for the shop and getting them listed on Etsy. Fun to play at being a photo stylist!

so I must admit....I did this blog yesterday, just finished.... blah, blah, do- do brain, the power/internet kicked off and blog post gone. WHAT....shit. I hadn't named the post and it was .... gone. I had done this once before.... what a bummer. GONE,  drats. dumbo. NOTE to self- always name a blog something.......first. Here's a post it I keep by my desk!

I hope you'll make it up to Vermont for the beautiful foliage. It's bound to be great this year.... hope so.

xo

judy lake

May Day Hike up Haystack Mountain in Pawlet, VT.

 
May Day Hike up Haystack Mt.

We hiked up Haystack Mountain today, our special little mountain in town. It was a group of Australian Shepherd owners Meet Up group. I have missed all the other meet ups, but today begged me out for a hike. Oh, am in such horrible shape... too much work at my desk. Way too much... Maybe this will get me out walking; some days aren't long enough. 

A view from the top. Only about an hour hike up and a beautiful view of the Mettowee Valley. I've never seen so many wild flowers. About half way up they were carpets of wild flowers. I figured out most of them, but think I'll get my Audubon Wild Flower Book out.

Even the dogs were tired at the top. Ziggy is our doggie, the one in front and Vito is my friend Anita's dog. This is their first meeting which was really fun because they came from the same breeder, but different litter. They loved each other at first sight. 

Here's the whole gang. One dog of each color! They all got on so well together; guess they talk the same language. 

It's back to work Monday. My little shop had a structural set back. The porch retaining wall gave way on Thursday... I have been waiting for it to happen, but definitely found ways to put it off; considering it was going to cost $$$$.... fortunately the local foundation guy wasn't busy and starts this week. omg, what a project and distraction just before Brimfield. Fingers crossed there are no big surprises.  Wish me luck.

Handmade Holidays, The Making of a Rose Hip Wreath and Garland

This was today's project. I'm lucky I can still type with all the rose pricks to my fingers! Before I had my lampshade business I was always up to some crafty project. Now, they seem to be few and far between. Being creative ALL day on my work days (how lucky) does often mean I do other things on my day off, besides antiquing and flea marketing. It's been a bunch of years since I have made these wreaths. I used to sell them, but now I'd only ever make one for my mom. I think I'd have to sell them for at least $300.... many hours but so beautiful.

Best laid plans. Last Wednesday was my day off and I was to make my rosehip wreath, but the power went out. No glue gun, no computer, no refrigerator noise, no hot tub noise. It was delightful. Earlier in the morning Ziggy and I headed out to the fields with clippers and big bag in hand in search of the wild rose hips. I had an early massage to work the kinks out of my overworked shoulders and home to make the wreath. NO such luck. Wind was howling, trees down, things flying around the yard. Off the power went. Nice I think. Okay, a little reading and a nap! perfect chill day.

I was between books. What to read after the Swedish Thrillers, my book group was taking December off. So I picked up Phillip Ackerman-Leist's new book, Up Tunket Road, the education of a modern homesteader, pub. by Chelsea Green, 2010. How appropriate to read right after the power clicked off. Phillip is a beautiful writer and an super nice guy, but gosh, I could never live up there w/o all the things we take for granted. It was a a blast for one day, but....... Tunket Road is a beautiful piece of Pawlet, VT. where I live. I haven't finished his book, but learned so many cool tidbits of knowlege of the land. I read as long as my eyes could take the candles.

To make the wreath: I gathered as many rose hips as I could find, grabbed a couple of strands of wild grape vines and grabbed my glue gun from the shop. This ISN'T an easy project but it is lots of fun especially if you like tedious, long projects like me. Crazy, huh? You could always buy a base, either grape vine or a wire base. I've done that before. I wound the vines around into a small wreath. Then I started weaving the rose hips into the vines. I did have a glue gun on hand for stubborn vines that needed a little extra hold.

Keep working around the wreath building up the berries. I'd say the more the better. I stripped back the thorns with my hands. Yikes you'll get jabbed a few times..... sorry to say. A little acupuncture. Keep turning and finding spots to add more. I'd say it probably took 4 hours.... A cup of tea and a little food channel..... I never watch daytime tv, but was sort of fun today. Wouldn't be doing that at Up Tunket....

 
now the hard part will be to ship it....
And what to do with the extra berries. I enjoy making garlands at Christmas. I usually make either boxwood or princess pine garlands to decorate the mantel or around the table. So I figured it might work with the rest of the berries. I had some green floral wire, my clippers and started in by wrapping a few together and adding more berries and ouch, I scream as my husband is snoozing watching golf... more acupuncture, must be good for the circulation.


A new holiday tradition is born.
A start to my holiday decorating. And the only cost was one glue stick! The rest came for my yard!

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.

Blueberry Picking Time at Wildwood Farm

I stole an hour away from a crazy day off to head up to Wildwood Farm in East Dorset,VT. Blueberry Time!

My friend Elizabeth used to live at the farm, but I had never been up to pick berries except once with a glass of wine in one hand..... surely not a serious picking mode. Yesterday was sweltering hot with a nice breeze. I lasted for one bucket full. 

Wildwood Farm is a special place. It is owned by a very creative guy, Scott Mackenzie. Go up for picking berries, but enjoy the view. They have 2000 bushes of Raspberries and Blueberries. Raspberries have just finished up but blueberries are plentiful.

Wildwood is open from Mid-July to Mid-Aug. 9am-5:30pm    802-362-4519  6 miles up Mad Tom Rd. It's just off RT 7 and follow signs.
Wildwood Farm says, "Our sweet and juicy berries are due to the unique growing conditions in the Vermont mountain air."

Last night I made a simple almond cake and added a little whipped cream and blackberries I'd picked up on my way home as well as huge handful of just picked berries. Delightful.

time to get back to work,

xoxo,

judy