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

 

Classic Navy Toile Lampshades

I just finished up this pair of cut corner rectangle lampshades. (click on link, it will take you to my etsy shop) They are made up in an antique French toile I purchased from one of my favorite textile dealers in Europe. Fabric is a pretty good addiction. At least it's easy to ship.

There is a pair of these shades at time of listing. I do not have anymore fabric right now but do have a little more coming soon. As with vintage fabric it often comes in small bits. Enough for a few lampshades. It becomes a very clever jigsaw puzzle.

This shape is called an inverted cut corner rectangle. It is 6" across the top by 11" bottom and 8.5" high. I find this size works well on tall thin lamps like mine and also medium alabaster lamps, too. It's a pretty shape.

The background is a nice creamy off white. The blue is a good strong navy, nice solid fabric, no wear and tear.

The weekend is almost over. Today I started my holiday baking, no photos.... but 4 loaves of stollen and a batch of biscotti. We tested the stollen with tea to make sure it was okay! passed with flying colors.

And it snowed all day. Only an inch, maybe. It's white out and so bright.

I had an interview for our local newspaper on Saturday, The Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal. It was fun. We have a lot of new people in our area and ought to be good for rounding up some new customers. The video we worked on this summer will also be coming out in the next weeks.

All for now,

xo

judy

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

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

Lampshadelady's Shop is OPEN

My little shop has been humming along since news of the Covid pandemic. April, May and June is usually when my Etsy Shop starts to dwindle. Folks usually start to hit the road, go on vacation and work in their yards. What a surprise this spring was for most online sellers. I think this year we all needed to pamper ourselves a LOT! All those little extra things to help us get thru a scary time.

Fortunately I had a bit of time to figure out how I would handle customers at my shop. What to do? I thought about working with clients on my porch for the summer - Yes! So I started moving out some of my cupboards and display props. One by one they made their way to the porch. It started with this big heavy one above. It's almost 6' and would hold lots of lampshades and be a nice height to greet customers and hang out. Then I found some fancy stools on Ebay from DWR, my splurge! I decided to go big and eventually they'll make their way to my house. Might as well get some comfy ones!!!

The tall counter has made a great surface to take photos on for Etsy! A bonus. Bit by bit the other businesses have been opening up. Mach's Market is now officially open which is wonderful news! As well as The Station Restaurant. Nice to see lots of cars in town again. I have worked steadily thru this whole nightmare and so fortunate to have creativity to lessen the fear factor. And lots of fabric to make my family face masks. The first week I thought, heck why not take the weekend off and work a regular week.... oh no, that was a very bad mistake. I usually work Mon. and Tuesday and take Wednesday off and then work the next 3 days and take Sunday off---- to give my hands a rest period! So I went back to my regular schedule with a walk in the middle of the day...which I am missing now but trying to do it in the am before work....up that Pawlet Mountain Rd - UP UP! LINK to above lampshades:  7" high, Vintage French Pink and Loden lampshades.

a pretty shot from my porch couch. The rose is stunning this year or maybe we just appreciate all the blooms even more.

This is a pretty pair of vintage French rectangle bell lampshades. I've sold a couple pairs and have one more pair made. Just love them. @ $150 per shade. These guys take a bit of time to make and a fair amount of fabric, but so worth it.

And another vintage French cotton hex clip pair of lampshades @ 75. per shade

I've just finished this Antique French Toile Rectangle Cut corner bell lampshade. Isn't it lovely. The antique toile fabrics I've found lately are delightful. I shipped a nice one out today with chickens. It didn't last long in my inventory. I remember meeting this nice man from Waverly years ago and he said they would never let him spend the time it would take to recreate these beauties. So much for corporate finance and the design world....the details in this are a treat. Only one of these. Just enough fabric for this shade.

Hope you will venture out and poke around the countryside. Come visit my shop. I am trying to figure out how to get to visit my folks, maybe around the beginning of July, so if you are coming a distance make sure to reach out to me and make sure I'll be around. Shop landline, ie no texts.... 802-325-6308.

Masks are a must, no exceptions. T.Y.

Bring lamps and fabrics if you wish.

Plan to have lunch at The Pawlet Station or Mach's Market!

Hope you follow me on my Lampshadelady Instagram account. It's the best place to see my new inventory.

Thanks and stay healthy,

Judy

 

 

DIY Lampshades, The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting up Your Life

It's been eons since I've posted a DIY Lampshade Project! I thought I'd share one today with you. I found this sweet cotton vintage French fabric recently and thought it was a good one to demo. It's a medium light weight 100% cotton. Hope you enjoy the process. I am not doing workshops these days....too busy trying to keep up! My book, The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting up Your Life is out of print and I am out of copies but is available used on Amazon. I have bought the rights to it and may get it re-printed. Fortunately, it's not too dated except some of the resources. Here are the instructions.

Materials:

1/2 yd cotton or linen

1 galvanized wire frame- my demo is a hex bell 5" top x 8" bottom x 6" high

quick glue and squeeze bottle or similar craft glue that dries clear

a bunch of good quality clothes pins

1/4' pressure sensitive styrene

scissors

ultra thin sharpie

pressure sensitive cloth tape ~3/8" or so. The Lamp Shop calls this Bias Fold Trim Backer.

5/8" cotton/rayon grosgrain.

NOTE: start with a small size lampshade. You'll thank me! They are MUCH easier and faster. Don't expect your first one to be perfect. It will be good but they keep getting better. I generally get most of my materials at The Lamp Shop in Concord, NH. Make sure NOT to buy poly ribbon. It will not glue for the life of you!!! Also you will find more tips my my archives here on my blog. There's lots to learn...it's been 30 plus years since my kitchen table lampshade start and I'm still learning new things. Have fun!

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STEP 1- Make pattern. Use thin sharpie and mark around the outside of the wire. Then cut out.

 

STEP 2 - Use pattern and make 5 more panels. I'm making a pair so I'll make 12 total.

STEP 3- Iron fabric. Pull paper backing off the styrene panel and set onto back of fabric. Cut out right along the styrene edge.

STEP 4 Trim panel to fit exactly. I usually have to go back several times to get it to fit perfect. You want the panels to abut and not overlap as they are set onto the frame. See step 8

STEP 5 - run bead of glue around the 4 edges of the first panel. Less is more!

STEP 7 set panel on top of glue and secure with clothes pins.


STEP 8 - finish putting all styrene / fabric panels onto wire. You can see here how the panels should fit. Takes practice to get them this smooth. Trim up if needed. Easiest to do now that later.

STEP 9 - I like to use a long ribbon to hold everything in place while drying. It takes 20 minutes at the most.

STEP 10 Make vertical trims. Cut 6 stripes from the cloth tape also known as pressure sensitive cloth tape or bias  trim fold backer. Make them same height as the shade and set onto the back of the fabric. Cut out saving about 1/3" on either side of the tape.

STEP 11- Add glue and fold back onto the tape.

STEP 12- Continue adding glue to the other side and fold back onto the tape.

STEP 13- hand press to make sharp edges.

Step 14- fold in half with the back side inside the fold. This will help the trim glue onto the shade.

STEP 15- add glue to back side of the trim

STEP 16- set onto the shade rib. Hand press to secure. Remove any excess glue with fingernail.

STEP 17-Cut grosgrain for top and bottom; measure around top and add one inch. Same for bottom. Must be 40% cotton to stick!!! VERY IMPORTANT. To make fabric trims for top and bottom use the grosgrain ribbon as your yard stick. Cut the same length as ribbon and make similar to the sides/ribs trims.

STEP 18 adding glue for the grosgrain ribbon. Half of the ribbon will glue to the front of the shade and the other half will glue inside the lamp shade.

STEP 19- Cut excess ribbon on diagonal. Over lap 1/2" and glue down onto where it started.


STEP 20 detail of above

STEP 21 another detail, adding glue

STEP 22 - Adding glue to the inside of the ribbon. This takes practice to know how much glue to use. I use enough to secure it smoothly but you do not want so much that it bleeds.

STEP 23- trick for the corners, gather them 3 or 4 times with your thumb to make a nice corner. This takes practice, too. I know I make it look easy.

STEP 24 - Use your nail to tuck the grosgrain under the wire for a neat edge.

STEP 25 - Try to make the edge straight... the lucky part is I almost always add another trim on top if it's not perfectly straight. The finishing trim conceals any flaws!

STEP 26- Add grosgrain onto the top just like the bottom.

STEP 27 - adding the glue to the inside of the ribbon. Note: also make a small snippet where the ribbon will go over the clip top. Only about 1/4". One on each side. I do not show the snippet here, sorry.

STEP 28- You can see where I make the snippet here around the clip top. This photo shows getting the grosgrain snug under the wire for a professional finish.

STEP 29- To make the top and bottom self trims. Glue the same as the vertical trims.

STEP 30- add glue and fold onto the tape

STEP 31- folding onto the tape, detail

STEP 32 - Top self trim is ready to add. Do a few inches at a time. I start adding at the same spot the grosgrain started.

STEP 33- Sometimes it helps to work on your lap. The hardest part about starting a new craft is how to handle the items. I've learned to work lower than higher. Every step has it's own tricks that you will find work best for you. I have so many that I don't even realize that I do:)

STEP 34-  When adding the self trims I give them a tug on the corners to help them go on smooth. If you use clothes pins to help secure the trim make sure not to leave them on long or they will leave marks on the trim.

STEP 35- adding the fabric trim to the bottom.

STEP 36 FINISHED! PUT ON LAMP!!! Congrats.


Feel free to ask questions. There is lots of info on DIY in the archives here on my blog. Don't worry too much about your first shade; they get better. It's a fun craft!

Thanks and good luck,

Judy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

Memorial Day Weekend at Lake's Lampshades

Here's a funky toille lamp I found this winter. I cleaned it up a little with some linen paint and added a new base. I'm still working on the shade, next photo. I am going to use the needle point, but still need to source the linen for the sides.
Needlepoint front panel for the shade and ??? for the sides. Sometimes things are a slow process!
Just finished this funky lamp and shade. Love the Japanese Gauze fabric with this wacky lamp.
Just made this shade this week. Lovely hand embroidered antique linen. Quite exquisite.
Vintage Grainsack Rectangle in the back and Uno Scallop Shade in front. All shades are available at my Etsy Store, Lampshade Lady.
a table full of shades
loving this combo. Lamp is a new arrival. I do have a pair of these right now.
front porch at the shop
flag reflection in the front window, Happy Memorial Day.
it's reflecting in this window, too. looks watercolory.
sweet cottage chenille shade
vintage grainsacks......never have enough.
last shade made today! persimmon vintage floral hex bell. Made from a small piece of choice vintage cotton, only enough for ONE shade... the story of my business. But then your neighbors won't have one:)

Enjoy the weekend.

I'll take Monday off, but here tomorrow, Sunday.

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