A Moment of Summer and Ragweed Season is Here, fortunately late

I just had my first public speaking adventure last night at The wonderful Northshire Book Store. I was tickled so many friends so up. I was all to happy to share the billing with old friend and author Jane Davies. Jane has done 3 books, her last Collage Journeys with Watson Guptil.
I was nervous Nelly all day yesterday, felt horrid from the darn ragweed and thought I would never rally for the evening. Well, it was really fun and words actually came out of my mouth in a more or less orderly manner. People laughed and asked questions and phew.... I didn't pass out.

And feel much better today. A bit wiped out, but the day has a feel of fall and just looking over my summer pictures and wanted to post this one to show I actually did get home to Maine for a couple of days. This picture was our foggy morning heading out sailing. Just as we arrived on the boat the pea soup for lifted and the wind picked up for a great day on Casco Bay and lunch of lobster rolls out on Little Diamond Island.

Summer has flown by with all my book excitement. I've been crossing off events that have been out of the usual comfort zone... building character I tell myself. phew.... and can hardly believe September is almost here. With nose runny... maybe it'll be an early frost. The tomatoes haven't all shriveled up quite yet and thank goodness for the sungolds, lots of butternut squashes coming, a few delicatas, zinnias are spectacular, nasturtiums the best of the lot, lettuce has faded and need to get more going, basil is happy and the shop flowers are still kind of pretty. I get to fuss with the flower garden here, but at home it's gone to the birds.

My next out of comfort zone is I will be on Martha Radio on Monday, somewhere in the 8am time slot with Kim and Betsy. It seems pretty chatty, but out to lots of fun. It can be found on xm radio/sirius. Just had a nice article in Vermont's Seven Days Magazine by Pamela Polston. Nice to have something my favorite Vermont paper! Also to have a nice piece in The Portland Press Herald this Sunday in The Home Section. Onward ho!

I have a book signing here at the shop a week from Sunday, Labor Day Sunday, Sept 6th. I'll have to get some biscotti's made in spare time... maybe. Pawlet has an event scheduled the same day here in the village- Art On the Green, it's an affordable way to purchase art from our local artists. Some of the artists here will be Brian Sweetland, Arthur Jones, Matt Solon and many more. They have a great eclectic mix. One of my favorite days of the year. NOTE: They have changed the date to Sunday this year, previously on Saturday.

Northshire Bookstore Event with Judy Lake and Jane Davies

Artists and authors Judy Lake and Jane Davies will be sharing their stories and craft at the Northshire Bookstore next Thursday August 27th 7pm. Booksigning and Demo. Come join us for a fun night. Hope to see you there.

I will take a deep breath and do my best. I love chatting in my shop, but phew.... yes I will get over the public speaking thing one of these days. BUT, it is super fun to be sharing the night with Jane Davies. She has done 3 books and is an old pro at this by now. Her latest book is Collage Journeys. A great book.

Jane and I started our careers on the craft show path by hitting the road for many weekends away at various venues in New England. We did many of the same shows and have many stories to tell. I'll never forget one we did in Westport, CT. and were set up side by side. We were a couple of booths away from someone that did Holiday Folk Art of some sort and the line to their booth stretched way past both of our booths.... too funny. Guess they had a big following....

Bit by bit we both weaned ourselves off the road and into our studios for concentrated business work. I can only speak for myself here, but by staying put I was able to be much more creative with out expending huge amounts of energy and stress on the road. I have loved my studio/shop. That being said, I have actually just signed on to do The Brimfield Flea Market!!! I must be crazy, but figure I will help get my new book out there..... I will be set up w/ friends at The Shelton Antique Show, booth B53. It starts Tuesday, Sept 8th at daybreak, whenever that is... I will have more in the coming days.

Jeez Louise, It's a Book not a baby, Book Arrival

Judy's new book, The Lampshade Lady's Guide to
Lighting up Your Life. available at fine books stores near you or the all to easy alternative... But remember to support your local bookstore or lampshade maker:)


Over the past two years I have been told writing a book is like birthing a baby. Yes, they were all right. At many times it was as frustrating as a 2 year old child, maybe worse. I think the hardest piece of the puzzle was The WAITING for others to do their thing. And the best part was THE DOING. I loved the photo shots, even the how-to-shoots. I was dreading the details, getting everything perfectly straight and tidy. But had such a fun time with photographer George Bouret ;we had lots of laughs and a few hair pulling moments trying to get the perfect shot. Everyone in town poked their heads in to check out the excitement. Sure looked like something big was happening with lights flashing all day long. And it went on for days.

I even enjoyed the writing of my book. Fortunately my rambles were finely edited by freelance writer Kathleen Hackett. Especially fortunate for my editors at Potter Crafts. My blog has actually been a great venue for putting words to paper or perhaps screen. The last time I had really written anything had been college. How truly humbling to let my dear friend Angela Miller read my first book proposals... I felt like going to the principals office... I got over it pretty quick.'

So buy my book, check out the great photography and order some lampshade making supplies on- line. The book has lots of sources to find supplies which can be hard to find at a bricks and mortar store. There are tons of wicked cool trims online. I just found a new one before I started this entry.

I have a few events planned and hope to have more in the coming days. See prior blog for dates.

Next up: Northshire Bookstore Aug 27th 7pm, the greatest bookstore ever!!! Those of us that live here would be up a creek without them. More tomorrow on the event.

At long last, my new book The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting up Your Life, is almost in bookstores near you. What a fun project it has been. A wild ride of a year. Turning 50 and learning the in's and outs of publishing, a few more computer skills, lots of photo styling and learning to ask for help.

I am forever thankful that I was encouraged to start this project by my friend Angela Miller. Angela said many years ago when we first met, "You should do a book" and I did think it might be fun, but wasn't ready at that point in my life. Four years later, Angela called again and YES, it was the right time. I guess turning 50 helped make me realize that I have been a lampshade maker and designer for over 20 years and I had skill and creativity and that I was actually at the right place at the right time. The CRAFT DYI movement is only in it's infancy of course which I had no idea when I started my book. I had thought it much more interesting to share all my tidbits of starting a business.

As you can tell by my blogging, my writing could use big help!!! Although I do enjoy rattling on about fabrics and lighting!!! So to the rescue was my co-writer, Kathleen Hackett from Brooklyn and grew up right up here in Rutland, Vermont. Kathleen was an immense help in editing my scribbles and DYI instructions. She's had lots of prior experience and was the perfect gal for the job. Kathleen was a pro in the HOME DESIGN department. Photographer, Ryan Benji and George Bouret keep me busy finding props and homes for photo shoots. I love looking back at all our photos and remembering all the stories of how we created each shot.... They were both pros on the job. I knew the key to putting out a great book was the photos. I had concerns early on that it would be "too crafty" and hoped to take the high road creating a book that reached out to a craft/decor audience.

Schedule as of 8.11.09: Aug. 27 Demo/Book Signing at Northshire Bookstore, Manchester,VT
w/ Jane Davies, 7pm
Aug 31, Martha Radio, Am with Betsy and Kim. Sirius Radio

Sun. Sept. 6th 10-5 at Lake's Lampshades, Pawlet, VT Book Signing, also
Pawlet Art On The Green
Wed. Sept 30- Fabric Lampshade Workshop at Shop 11-5, $150, reserve

Fri-Sun Oct 2-4 Hildene Craft Show, Book Signing/Demo, Manchester,Vt

Wed. Oct 14, 11-5 Fabric Lampshade Workshop at Shop,$150 reserve spot

Tues. Oct 27, 11-5pm same as Oct 14th.

Hope you will check out my book. It should be available at fine book stores near you. Give the shop a call if you are interested in a class. 802-325-6306 www.lakeslampshades.com and don't forget to hit the BLOG button, too.

Happy August
xoxo,
judy lake

My Lampshade Lady Books Have Arrived

My author copies of The Lampshade Lady arrived on Friday. A milestone for sure. I've been putting in long days to try to stay ahead of the fray. Local press, radio interviews, advertising, book launch, it's been fun. It feels like the oddest time ever. I think the book is beautiful, but have no idea how it will sell or all that. Buying books is one of my most cherished things besides buying pretty fabrics and lamps. I think of all the spontaneous books purchases I have made over the years. Like the attractive and creative, The Alabama Chanin Stitch Book
or the beautiful pink and black flocked cover of Tricia Guilds Pattern Book,
or the colorful design books of Susan Sargent,
or the design books of Jane Davies.

Speaking of Jane Davies, we are doing a book signing and Demo at The Northshire Book Store on August 27th at 7pm. (oh I wished I hadn't skipped out on that public speaking class in college...) Hope you all will come. I'll mention it again as it gets closer.

It's Sunday, Yay. My day to see how many errands I can cram into one day. Laundry, just made a peach tart, off to the farmers market, weed garden, a baby shower and then another party. phew, might be easier making lampshades. But always good to have a day away from the shop. That's the best way to love being there!!!!