Come Make a Happy Shade Like this! May 16th 11am in Pawlet, Vermont

Come join me for a small workshop on May 16th. 11am-5pm $150 includes everything but fabric. Use a favorite old skirt, Grandma's embroidery dresser scarf, a needlepoint found in the attic or a mod piece of new fabric. Or head to the flea market to find your favorite treasure. This is the last workshop till fall. It's a full day to learn a new skill and leave with a great lampshade for your house. Some students just want to make one and others continue on to start a business. You will receive instructions and sources to find materials, retail and wholesale.

Here's a wild shade I made last week. I love when the designing process falls together so effortlessly. I'm sure you know what I mean. Sometimes I will be designing a shade or lamp and it is so painfully difficult; nothing seems to work. The shape seems wrong for the fabric, the trim is too fussy and over worked and on and on. BUT, it is such a high when you hit it right on the money. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it must let out all those endorphins!!!
This shade went together so fast, I dare tell you how fast..... nothing was going to interrupt the progress. I guess I visualized the idea on Tuesday and needed to hunter/gather cool beads on Wednesday and made it on Thursday. So, clearly there is planning, but bet it took me less than an hour to make it!!! Guess I shouldn't give this away, but the fabric is easy to work with, the shade wasn't too big and the plan was in place, sort of.

I picked up this fabric about 10 years ago at the great vintage shop,Who's Sylvia in Woodstock, Vermont. I had used part of it for my office chair covering up the ugly seat. It was one of those fabrics that wasn't very "IN" at the time, but interesting. It was a vintage house dress; I'd dare say it was so ugly it was beautiful. Re-cycled into this happy little shade. I just may have to keep it, maybe it won't sell!!!!