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

 

Ukrainian Vintage Textile Lampshades on Easter Weekend 2022

I finished this rectangle bell lampshade a couple of days ago. If you want to see this lampshade in my etsy shop, click on the high lighted text above. I love the bold colors of this vintage cross stitch fabric. I've used the fabric in all the panels.  It's trimmed with grosgrain and a floral braid.

Before the war in Ukraine I wanted to help one Etsy seller with a nice large sale for her to have some extra money. We have stayed in contact thru the war. My heart goes out to them. We all feel like we need to do something. Here is the link to Yulia's site if you wish to purchase a digital download to support her; she is helping her neighbors and the animals: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackpearltreasureIT.

 

This lampshade is 14" bottom and 10" high. It's loaded with cross stitch. I'm not a huge lover of American Cross Stitch but love the Ukrainian style which seems to be lots of layered stitches that are set close together. I think it looks more like a needlepoint.

This lampshade is crazy bright in color. I'm a bit smitten with it. Go for the color! It would definitely be a highlight in a room.

This is the first one I did. Of course, the kitty one had to come first. It's quirky and fun. I love the embroidery trim I added in the end; it was some scrap kicking around my shop for just this moment. Trims are always the hardest piece of making a lampshade. The trims can make a shade POP,  if you get it right.

This lampshade is a cut corner rectangle bell, 12" bottom by 9.5 high. I find these rectangle shapes are great to highlight a featured textile. They are unusual and a handy shape for many desk/table lamps.

I can't end without showing you my shop garden. This is my most favorite time of year in this garden. All those little bulbs are starting to spread quite nicely. A treat after a long cold winter.

Have a nice feast tomorrow.

xo

judy lake

Getting Work Ready for The Brimfield Flea Market and My 30th Year of Lampshade Making!

It's that time of year again! At last. What a LONG winter and chilly spring. I'm prepping lots of new projects for The Brimfield Flea Market. I was going to take a break this year, but decided to try a new spot at The New England Motel Show. And I think it's a winner! Great spot in the center of the show on the main road into the place. I'm at booth #103. And my good friend Judy Pascal and her daughter are setting up right behind me!  I'm thrilled they will be so close by.

Just finished this vintage bird needlepoint. 6" top x 8" bottom x 6" high. I've taken a break listing on my Etsy Shop, Lampshadelady as I'm in showtime prep! So if you see anything here you love, just email me and I'll pop it in the mail. The show is celebrating it's 30th year and having a early preview on Tuesday May 12th, 3-6pm. $20 early entrance fee which is also good for Wednesday, too. Opens Wed. 13th at 6am daybreak.

Basket full of Grain Sack Drum Shades to be finished for the show! Using up my scraps @ $20.

Finished up this pair of rectangle bell shades done in the wonderful Fortuny Italian Fabric. Pretty sweet.

Vintage French Cotton Hex Bell @75.

Pretty vintage needlepoint violet with cream dotted swiss fabric.

I'm pretty fond of this pair. Just had the fabric arrive from France! So pretty and rare. I find that I tend to do my favorite work just before shows; it's a pattern I've watched over the years. I think it has to do with the fact that time is limited and I have had projects I've wanted to do for months and finally get time to do them.

Just finished this pair of rectangle bell grain sack lampshades. Loving this shape. Grain Sack fabric is pretty hard on the hands but looks so great and popular.
A pair of vintage crewel shades in progress for this week to finish.

Panels of a Fortuny Fabric Shade, amazing color! Will be to die for!

This year marks my 30th year of making lampshades. I started making shades when we moved to Southern Vermont in 1985. How could it possibly be that long. I haven't had my business that whole time, but it got it's start all those years ago. The first 5 years was a slow start experimenting with the craft as I was a young mom grabbing bits of time to be creative. It's been a fun ride and finally feel like I'm at the top of my game as long as my little hands hold out, they sure do take some abuse cutting styrene and heavy fabrics.

Hope you make it down to Brimfield! New England Motel Show is in the middle of the fields on RT 20 in Brimfield, just west of Sturbridge, MA. There's 20 plus shows opening Tues-Sunday. Don't forget the comfy shoes, water and money!

xo

judy lake

Springtime News

Easter has come and gone but I can hardly bare to take down my eggs! I'd almost forgotten I had them and popped them up in the nick of time. I'd made them last year for an Easter Fund-raising event. A good use of some odds and end scraps. And I seem to have lots of them! It has been a LONG Cold winter and I'm home today, Sunday. I just tried to put my peas in but it was just too cold! drats. I'll have to wait a few more days.

Just sold this sweet shade, but had to pop it up here. Easter pretty! After our long winters the spring season does bring out all the colors! This lampshade was made with a vintage embroidery and trims to match or in my own quirky mismatch style! Hey, it can't be too matchy! What fun would that be....the fun part about designing anthing is picking out the fabrics, figuring out the trims and seeing what size and shape shade would work best for the fabric. If this shade was much larger it would loose it's sweetness.
Just finished this shade last week. The monogram suits this shape shade as well as the size of the frame. Monograms make great bedroom lampshades and this size hex bell 5 x 10 x 7.5, fits the mid size glass boudoir style lamps very well. I make custom monogram lampshades with my clients on linens; it is a fun way to use some of the treasures in your attic that you have NO idea what to do with. It doesn't even have to be your own initials; there are some beautiful ornate monograms to be found at the flea market or antique shops.

Speaking of Flea Markets, Brimfield is just around the corner! yikes. I have a great inventory thanks to keeping my head down this winter....I will be set up at The New England Motel Antique Show.

The New England Motel Show opens Wednesday, May 14th at daybreak..... darn, that's 6 am. Sorta early for me to arise....that means 4:15 am... sure makes for a long day! We are all excited; it's fun to get out and see all the spring treasures that the dealers have found as well as make some nice sales and connections with old friends and new. There are lots of hotels and motels in Sturbridge, Ma.  if you need a place to stay and a little less $$ if you stay further away.

I am booth #67 if you want to come and say hi! It's left side facing the show. New England Motel Show is by the food court..... ALWAYS a good place to be!

Crazy for birds! Anything bird is good. Especially nice quality vintage needlepoints! This shade is similar to one I did a while back and happy to do another. It's trimmed with some hand marbled fabrics my student Cat gave me! I have been hoarding them for the perfect moments.
I bet some of you wonder if I ever make plain lampshades....YES, often. I made a pair of these square bell shades recently. They are clean, simple and really quite lovely in their simpleness. Made with homespun vintage linen that when lit show the lovely texture of the slubby linen. I do not always have many plain shades in my shop but make many for custom work. Some lamps just call out for something simple and then again.... I do love to mix patterns and trims the most! Much more fun to make!!!!

Lastly today,  Machs General Store, our general store in Pawlet has been having some hard times.  Many a general stores around the state have also found themselves in similar situations  and have had to re-evaluate the changing retail times, poor local economies and business practices.

A group of local friends and business owners have come together to brainstorm and try to help salvage a wonderful old store. Our general store is the HUB of our community and an easy place to take for granted. But, boy we sure would miss it if it closed.  It's the place to grab a cup of coffee and visit with friends or pick up a box of eggs and butter to finish making cookies.

I will do a longer post in the near future on the store. We are about to launch a "kickstarter like fund"  and have a couple of events for June in the works. They are almost ready to announce. It actually is an exciting time in town! Sometimes bad things bring good things....it certainly brings the town together to solve the issues of the time. We have had a HUGE amount of interest in this new project...... as I say.... oh dear, how do I get myself into these things....yup, guess it's cause we care!

xoxo

judy

ps still no sunshine to plant my peas.... maybe it's time for a sunday nap!

Crafty Girl 1975-2013

I am visiting my folks in Falmouth, Maine where I grew up. My mom has just gotten a new knee and am around to keep the pieces together. All around the house are many of my old lampshades. It's fun to see the progress of my work. Yes, our work does get better the longer we stay with it. But some of my early work was also really beautiful. I'll post a few of them as well as a few of my early fiber art.

Okay, here's one of the first! Sort of sweet in a folky way. I did cut and pierced shades for about 10 years until my good friend Judy Pascal urged me to try making fabric shades with her vintage fabrics. Thank goodness for Judy! Most lampshade makers that continue making the cut shades end up with carpel tunnel, not to mention lower back pain. Ironically I studied textiles in college... sometimes it just takes longer to end where we are suppose to be.
Here's a sweet embroidery I did before my lampshades. Mom dated it on the back; I think it was 1975. Embroideries are still my favorite to work with in my lampshades.
This must be around 1976. I had a great weaving teacher, Rosalie Smith at North Yarmouth Academy. I hope Rosalie knows how much us crafty ones loved having her share her art with us. Not many high school kids had this level of teaching.

A little more tapestry weaving...
Detail of an early cut lampshade. I loved making up my own patterns from fabric designs or vintage prints.
Here is the full shot. My shade on a Flower Brook Pottery Lamp Base.
More cut and pierced. This one was very popular in it's day. Oh, how easy it was to screw up. Any little fleck of coffee or pen mark or slip of the #11 exacto blade and it was done for!!! This one has seen better days!
detail of shade. These are all hand cut. Many cut and pierced shades these days are die cut, ie cut but machine. You can tell the difference if the cuts look flat they are die cut.  If they are hand cut they are cut on an angle. Big difference!!! I ventured into it once, but just didn't want to sacrifice the look.
a variation on the paneled shade. These were pretty time consuming as I recall, but I liked the overall pattern.

This is the grand finale of my lampshade history tour! This is the crown jewel! I love loved this pattern. A HUGE challenge. I found the pattern in a victorian pattern book. It was the size of a postage stamp; I blew it up and reworked it to fit the shade. Tons of work. Only did a few of these!!! Of course Mom got one!


Today. Favorite fabric/embroidery/coronation work Lampshade. This is a shade I did last summer for Mom. Love this fabric!

detail of the beautiful vintage textile work.

I guess we never know paths our life will go or where it will continue. At least I don't and kind of like it that way. It's like antiquing or flea marketing--- you never know what treasure might be around the corner or WHO might walk into your shop! Speaking of shops, I am missing my dear shop while I'm here in Maine, but a little sabbatical will only spur the creativity for foliage. My hands are really happy to take a break from work.

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

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

A Smidgen of Holiday Decor

Happy Holidays from  Pawlet Village. Snow has come and it's time to get in the spirit. This is a sweet shade I just finished. It is made from a vintage Society Silk round. I've had it forever and could barely cut into it. There it would sit every Christmas getting buried after the holidays with the new fabric that would arrive with thoughts of spring. Today was it's day to come alive!

I have trouble using anything tooooooo holiday like, if you know what I mean. But this is elegant and could easily be used throughout the year.
As I have often said, trimming a shade is absolutely the hardest design decision to be made. And this shade put me to task!! I left the shop yesterday after thinking I'd found the right trim. NOPE, back this am and ripped it off... but found this odd ball trim in my trim basket. It's a initial tape from Europe. I used it instead of grosgrain, gluing it onto the shade and wrapping it to the inside. SWEET, I was a couple inches short, but managed to add a tid bit of something similar. Do you think customers know what we go through?
And lit. It's 4" x 8" x 6" (top x bottom x high) and is $75.
Yellow Toille Hex Scallop trimmed in cotton quilting fabric. $75       5"x 10" x 7" high on a vintage glass base $45.

A view from where I sit. There a few inches of snow and George Frederic Handel is my Pandora Radio Choice this afternoon for me and Molly, but she seems to be snoozing through it. It's a sleepy day in the shop, must be time for another cup of tea and finish the next project in line. You can see the bark cloth red one on my table. Behind that are 2 candlewick hex shades and behind that is a pair of bark cloth winter farm scenes and lastly a beautiful white on white embroidery in a cut corner square AND  guess what? It's been on my desk for a week, waiting for the right trim to hit me over the head. Over 25 years of making shades and finding the perfect trim is STILL hard. Holey Moley....but it does get better with age, I swear.

This beauty is similar to the one I was describing above, maybe I should trim it the same. This is a treat. Quite a nice textile find, yes, there was a hole in it....trapunto, I believe it's called, wrapping of the cord and tacking it onto the linen. And used candlewicking edge for the trim. $150. 14" bottom and 8.5" high.
and with the light on.
Last one, had to show off this big drum made with a grain bag. It's sold but has a great look. It's 18 x 18 x 11.

Time for tea!

Enjoy the holiday decorating, take it easy and have a little holiday cheer.

xo,

judy

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.

Fresh New Inventory February 18 2011

 

 
I will be showing some of the most recent shades in my shop. I will list the price, size and cost. If you see something you would like, email me or give me a call 802-32-6308. Due to the nature of one of a kind inventory this seems to be the easiest solution. Or come visit the shop. Open 5 days, generally 10-5, closed wed and sun.
#1) A pair of scallop clip hex shades. I am showing a pair, but it is not necessary to purchase both. Super pretty hydranga cotton trimmed with a sage green. size 5"top x 10" bottom x 7" high. cost $85.each 
The Hydranga shade lit up.
#2) A pair of hex bell vintage paisley wood block shades. Size 5"top x 8" bottom x 6" high. Cost $68 each. Trimmed with a vintage paisley and soustache.
detail
detail
shade lit.love this!

#3) I made a pair of these. Hex clip Vintage Mangle Cloth, 5"top x 10" bottom x7" high. $75 each.
nice for the beach.
shade lit. I also have 7 of these in a candleabra sq. 2x2x4 @45. w/ discount 4 or more.

#4) A pair of Vintage Grain Bag. Square Washer top. 5" top x 8.5"bottom x 8" high. cost $85 each. I also have a pair of camel Grain Bag Shades same size w/ 4 stripes 2 thin and 2 wide)
detail of shade

#5) A Pair of hex clip Vintage Ikat Floral Print. 5"top x 10" bottom x 7" high. Cost $75. each

Ikat detail.
Shade lit.

Next batch of pretty shades!

#6) A Pair of hex bell, 5" top x 10" bottom x 7" high. Washer top, can be converted to be clip top (often this size needs to clip on). $75 each. Vintage embroidery with gold treads running through parts of this. Trimmed with the edging of the vintage dresser scarf.
Detail of shade.
top detail
ooh la la, so warm when it's lit up!

#7) A pair of vintage ticking shades, 5" top x 10" bottom x 7" high, Hex Bell washer top. Rare ticking pattern. $75. each

 

#8) Hex Bell clip top, Vintage bird crewel trimmed with vintage fabric. One shade only, $68. 5" top x 8" bottom x 6" high.

#9) one of a kind, Vintage Pillow Ticking, sweet for a little girls room. 5"top x 8" bottom x 6"high. $68  I also have the size up from this, too.
detail of shade and trim on bottom
top detail.
warm light. 
#10) Looks like spring! 5" top x 8" bottom x 6" high, Hex bell clip top made from a vintage embroidery dresser scarf. Rick rack on top and vintage crochet on the bottom. So girly! Will give nice light, too. $68.

#11) This was today's fun project. Vintage needlepoint from Belgium. Ever so sweet for a little guy's room. So hard to find cool little boy things! Vintage French Ticking on rest of panels. Size 9" top x 14" bottom x 9" high. cost $95.
detail of the top trim and needlepoint
detail.

#12) last shade for today. Early French Toile, 5" top x 8" bottom x 6" high. One of a kind. Trim with ticking. $68. Clip on.

another panel of shade. beautiful fabric.

Happy Friday. We had almost 2 days of spring here in Pawlet. I heard from my friend Scott that the sap is starting to flow. Yipee! A sign that winter may be wrapping up, sort of.... cold again tomorrow and sunday.

If you see anything you need, I can  UPS it out to you. I do wholesale,too, but w/ significant first order.....shop tel. 802-325-6308. I accept most credit cards.

thanks for looking,

judy