The Lampshade Lady Blog

Made in the Shade, lighting up your life with fabulous lampshades, Times Union's Life @ Home, July 2011

Many thanks to Editor Janet Reynolds of the Albany Times Union, Life @ Home Magazine for the wonderful piece on my shop and Lampshade Lady Book.

Click on the link below to see the full article:

Made in the Shade, lighting up your life with fabulous lampshades

 
Love this Ricotta Lamp, old tin I found in my travels. I've been fighting with this lamp trying to find the perfect shade... it happens. My friend Krissy was visiting the shop last week and said, " give this shade a try." Yes, a nice match.

Just found this sweet toille lamp and thought it fun with the polka dot shade.
Recently made this Hex Bell Floral.  Tradition rules here, opps, but shown on a funky jadite stick lamp. Also sweet kitty redwork embroidery. Pair of blue applique shades in the back. 
Fun affordable quilt fabrics. Play with color and trims.
SAIL barkcloth. Hex Bell with favorite shop trim. 8.5" high

Cabin Craft Chenille Shade, 16" bottom, 12" high
It's horse time around here with the big Equestrian Event in Dorset. Vintage Hex Bell trimmed with French Ticking self-trim. Pair of unfinished Hex bell Red Ticking behind.
14" Drum shade made from vintage 50's tablecloth. This shade is making me happy even though I'm working on these beautiful summer days. 
Vintage dish towel, Square Bell Shade, 12" across the bottom & 10" high. A favorite pattern.Turquoise and Orange. Love the colors.

 ***WORKSHOP UPDATE: ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT IN OCTOBER PAWLET WORKSHOP IF YOU WERE CONSIDERING I.(COST $250 NONREFUNDABLE DEPOSIT)

p.s.s  I won't be at Brimfield in July. Hanging in Vermont all summer. come visit.

 

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

Recycle Cut Velvet Shirt + Styrene+ wire= Lovely Drum Shade For Me!

 
                                        Merry Christmas!

This time of year I usually try to bang out a few shades for my house. Clearly last minute plans... Cheerful light is invaluable this time of year. I love having a few new lampshades in my house. So, what to do. I am probably my most fussy customer!!!
Recently my most favorite cut velvet shirt had it's last mending. Oh, how sad I was to loose it. This shirt was just one of those handy, throw it on, great color casual or dressy. Drats, I hated to part with it. I had recently been asked to try to make a cut-velvet for my friend Cindy. I wasn't sure how it would work out but gave it a try. Everyone that stopped into my shop wanted to buy it. This gave me the idea to recycle my purple shirt.
It couldn't have been easier. I cut the bottom part of the shirt off below the sleeves, ironed it and laminated it to a rectangle for a 9" x 9" x 6" drum. I made it so the top and bottom would roll around the shade wires. Yes there is a shirt side -seam, but it's for me and I don't care. Cool. That took a matter of minutes to execute!!! really. I was smiling from ear to ear! On a roll, another 1/2 hour till closing, okay, one more shade for the house from my most expensive fabric of the year. I'll probably never make a profit on the shades made from it, so I might as well enjoy a little my self.
The first shade here is the one with the uber -expensive French Vintage Fabric. It is one of the most beautiful colors I have seen. Love it, too.
I needed a baby present for my friend Sam. I'd been eying this dresser scarf for days thinking it might be just the right one. I began this one after lunch on Tuesday. Perfect cheerful little baby shade, none of those way too commercial motifs!
I've taken the past 2 days off to pull my house together. A little baking and getting the pet hairs up from everywhere... I love to bake over the holidays. Yesterday I got my Stollen recipe out; years ago it had fallen out of my Blueberry Hill Cookbook. Today I made cheese bread; the recipe had fallen out of my old Bakery Lane Cookbook. And then there are all the old Gourmet recipes that are saved. Does your recipe file look like this? Lots of love and mess. Guess Martha's probably doesn't....

It is so easy to pop open the computer and search out great recipes. I do that too. Yesterday I was making Black Bean Soup from some local beans I'd gotten at The Dorset Farmers Market. I pulled up on a super food blog, can't remember which one, but gave me a few new ideas for the soup. Yum. lots of ground cumin, chipolte and lime plus the veggies. I'm thinking the local beans made the best black bean soup ever! I'll have to search out for that blog again.

It's white as anything here in Pawlet, maybe 6 inches of fluffy new snow. I was suppose to head to the airport to pick up my son, but my sweet husband knew I was nervous nilly on the highway with snow... so nice of him to offer to head off to Albany. Guess that leaves me with some more baking time. I've checked off the list Pistachio, Cranberry and Apricot Biscott's. The figs might be in line next. 

Thanks for following my blog this year. It was a busy year keeping up with orders, workshops and book events. Guess we survived the crummy economy crisis; not too hard when I'm the only employee and once in a while I pay myself! The joys of owning my little cottage business is a pretty big pay day. Who knows where our life takes us. I don't. I am encouraged reading about 20 somethings starting their own creative businesses. When the chips are down creative people will aways figure it out. It's a pleasure to work dog gone long hours when it's your baby.

Hope there is a Lampshade Lady Book under your tree or a new shade in your house, too.

 

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.

Antiquing My Way to Maine

It takes most people only 4-5 hours to make their way to Maine from Southern Vermont. I like going the back roads in search of not too fancy lamps with lots of character. I stroll home with about an 8 hour trip; best ever scones and coffee in Woodstock, flea market,  late lunch savoring my first Maine Italian Sandwich and lots of antiquing.

Here is the grouping of lamps I found on my trip. All in all, it was a productive trip. I was also on the hunt for fabrics and embroideries, but only found a few nice pieces. The lamps are sitting on a nice big cotton hunt scene I found at Cornish Trading, my all time favorite antique shop. Cornish Trading is on  RT 25, close to the Me/Nh Border. The Hunt Scene has a nice hand to it and ought to make up well into lampshades. I picked up 5 more lamps there, too...... yipee. Time to get out the clear cords and start rewiring.

A new shade in my shop. A vintage crewel piece. Good colors w/ gold braid. Square Bell washer top. This one won't last long. Shade is $150.
Detail of crewel work. 

 2 cut corner rectangle w/ antique linen grain sacks. $135 each. Very chic and wonderful. These guys are the real deal; I can barely keep them in stock.

Scallop Hex Clip, vintage apron fabric w/ mini pom poms and embroidery insert fabric used for self trim. 7 inches high and 10 inch bottom. $85.

Another hex scallop w/ vintage European cottons and mini poms. I have a pair of these lamps and shades. Give a call to the shop if interested. 802-325-6308 or email.
one more scallop hex. Vintage French knots, 4 top x 8 bottom and 6 inch high. $75. Vintage pink lamp, rewired $58.

Just finished this beauty before heading to Maine. It's funny how the design process works. Mostly by the seat of my pants.... not really, but sometimes it feels that way. This is a super sweet crewel. As usual, I knew it would go together great, but WHAT to trim it with??? to make it or break it. I've used this new fabric before to make self trims. I think it "made it", certainly not always so easy.
Detail of crewel. Shade is $150. Love it.

Just had to slip Fini in today's blog. He seems to find the sweetest places to snuggle. This is on a rainy day last week and he's keeping warm under the heat of this little lamp.

last shot of the day. I know you guys are super interested in more drum shades. YES, I PROMISE I will show more HOW TOS and info on hanging drum shades. I go in spurts making drum shades. I have them all over my house, but they can be a slow to sell in my shop as my clients are a little more conservative, sometimes.

This is a lime dot from Susan Sargent's fabric with a trim I found at MJ Trim (although not on their website). I've used the trim lots of times; one of those handy, perfect finishes for a lively shade. This shade is $95. It is 12 x 12 x 8. (top x bottom x high= how to write lampshade measurements) the trim adds another inch or so.

Promises of more drum shades soon!

xoxo,

judy lake

Lampshade Making: all the work on my desk....

I love when the day starts off with a good project. I am sneaking a day away from my orders to make a few shades for the shop. The constant battle, do I fill orders or get to play with my favorite flea market finds. Here's a super pretty french needlepoint. It's so arty and elegant which led me to use this cut corner rectangle bell which is 9" high and 12" across the bottom.
Here it is lite up. I've used a raw linen for the rest of the panels and a velvet braid for top and bottom. Cost $150. Such a special treat. My newest shop favorite.
Here;s a slightly fuzzy detail. Some interesting stiches.
Next up today was a finishing a pair of hex clip vintage French Ticking. It's a red time of year.... so getting a few made for the shop. 5" top x 10" bottom x 7" high. $75 each. They clip onto the light bulb.

The European grain sacks have had their day in the sun. And they do make nice shades, too. A bit thick to use for trimming, but works fine for the panels. I used a lighter weight for the self-trims.
This is a one of a kind. $75.00