The Lampshade Lady Blog

Please Excuse My Blog, She is Undergoing a Makeover!

2010-04-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

French Ticking has been popular for the past few years and continues to be popular. I can't go wrong with Blue and White Tickings in my shop. The vintage ticking is getting harder to find in large quantities.

Fini, short for Finial is snuggling close by after all the snow we had yesterday.

Note to readers. My blog is undergoing some design changes the next few weeks. Please bear with me and sooner or later this will be completed. Oh, the pain of learning new things... but in the end it might, possibly, probably be better. For sure, eventually.

Thanks for the patience. Spread the gospel of groovy lampshades, buy my book and give it a try.

Angela Miller At Northshire Bookstore, April 30th 7 pm

2010-04-27T17:50:00.001-07:00

About 9 years ago Angela Miller came into my lampshade shop in Pawlet Village. She and her husband Russell Glover had just bought a farm in West Pawlet. She told me that she was a literary agent ( I had no clue what a literary agent was.... famous last words) and that she represented many chefs. That was cool as my husband went to The Culinary Institute of America and we were sort of foodies.
Angela mentioned to me that she thought it would be fun to make cheese since now they had this big farm. I love people that actually DO what they say and somehow I felt that Angela would follow through with her dream. Sure enough, Russell and Angela have made incredible cheeses and resurrected the farm and cheese making operation.

Come hear Angela's story at the Northshire Book Store, Friday April 30th, Friday 7pm, Manchester, Vermont. Quoted from the Northshire's website:
Local Vermont author and cheesemaker Angela Miller will present her new memoir Hay Fever: How Chasing a Dream on a Vermont Farm Changed My Life. Miller’s new book tells the inspiring, informative, and funny story about changing your life when you're already more than halfway through it. After Miller’s marriage became strained, her job too stressful, and the social whirl on Shelter Island unsatisfying, she and her husband decided to buy Consider Bardwell Farm in Vermont and become cheesemakers (all while maintaining their New York jobs and lives). But what started as a part time “project” turned into a full-blown obsession and culinary passion that not only changed their lives forever, but also resulted in some of America’s best cheeses, prestigious awards, and media fame. Hay Fever is an inspiring and entertaining memoir that will whet the appetite of food lovers and would-be farmers from coast to coast, and includes recipes from the author and top food personalities like Mark Bittman and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Angela Miller is a prominent literary agent in New York City. Miller and her farm have been written up in the Boston Globe, the New York Times, the Daily News, Travel and Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Martha Stewart Living, and many other national publications. Consider Bardwell cheeses are featured on the menus of some of the finest restaurants in the country, including The French Laundry, Per Se, Daniel, and Jean Georges.

Hope you will put this on the calendar. We are all lucky to have this yummy cheese so close to home as well as wonderful, dear friends. Northshire Bookstore, April 30th, 7 pm. Maybe she'll bring some cheese!

Saturday's Lampshade Workshop and Beyond

2010-04-19T08:54:00.001-07:00

                 Here's a great group of my students from this past Saturday's workshop. Sorry Donna, you were at the ironing board and missed out in the photo. It was a little tight in my shop with 7, but I think everyone had a fun time.

A highlight for many, was wandering down to Machs, our General Store, for lunch. If you don't live in a rural area this general store is quite unusual. The local farmers usually hangout around the coffee pot and lunch bench. One of the store's claim to fame is it's big hole in the floor that looks down to the river passing swiftly under the building; I gotta admit it is pretty cool, especially when the river is running so fast. It's a classic old general store and probably most of us that live here take it for granted. A little town is so, so lucky to have a meeting place where most of the town's business is taken care of! No joke.
This was my last workshop in my shop until Oct 1 and 2. A 2 day intensive in peak foliage, Cost $275. We will get a chance to do more complex hard-back shade frames. And have a Vermont Goat Cheese w/ wine for celebrate our first day's hard work. Call or email for more info.
         I will also be on Nantucket Island for a one day workshop with The Nantucket Historical Association's 1800 House Craft Workshops on Tuesday July 20th. Contact them for more info. Take a vacation and learn a new skill. I hope to get a bike ride out to the beach!
         Also coming up Memorial Day weekend is The Vermont Open Studio Tours. This is a self guided craft tour throughout the state. I have done it on and off over the years and decided to get involved again. Our area has organized a local group called Artisans of Southern Vermont to help market our area. We have a very talented group, although I must say Vermont is lucky to have so many incredibly talented artisans. I also just started a twitter page for us, check it out. Our twitter name is, ArtisansOfSoVt Hope you will follow us and see our virtual tour! And even better, put in on our calendar for a trip to Vermont. My shop is always open but many of these artisans only open their studios once a year.
         Lastly, My friend, Angela Miller of Consider Bardwell Farm has just released a new book called Hay Fever, How Chasing a Dream on a Vermont Farm Changed My Life .You may have seen Angela's farm was featured in the November Martha Stewart Magazine and on Martha Radio last Thursday. She will be at The Northshire Bookstore on April 30th in Manchester, Vermont. I will put more up next post. Gotta get back to work. Good luck Angela and Russell.

xoxo,
judy

Are You Ready to hit the Flea Markets????

2010-04-13T17:32:00.000-07:00

Flea Market season is just around the corner. I just mailed in the balance for my Brimfield Booth today. Yipee, As it is said, "it's a good thing". I've only sold at Brimfield once and it sure was a fun time. I hear May is even better, great weather and everyone is so happy to be outside and looking for great finds. It takes a fair amount of organization to be ready for any event. (The best thing I brought with me was my electric tea pot, saved the day.) The first of the year is the hardest, gathering all the STUFF you need. The pile starts to build, inventory starts to grow, booth plans start to come together. I used to be on the the road every weekend..... in my early years of my business. It's much more fun now that I only do it once in a while.

photos:Bouret

Yes, It's a flea market economy! Don't you think!

It feels like it. Everyone wants a deal and expects one, too.

Brimfield starts May 11th, put it on your calendar.

Don't forget to check out my interview with Crafternews blog. Lampshades are slowly making a come back. Gosh, there are times I wish I had a bigger niche like quilting or knitting. But other times it's a fun challenge trying to spread the gospel of great lampshades.... We've got a full workshop on Saturday, my shop is pretty tiny and 8 students is a bit tight and sorry to those on the wait list. There's always the Nantucket workshop on July 20th with Nantucket Historical Association's 1800 House Craft Workshops.

On Pricing our Work or perhaps, did we make a profit?

2010-04-06T17:56:00.000-07:00

         Pricing our craft/art work...this is a question I have been asked lately.
        Is lampshade making a profitable business? another question asked.

            These are 2 questions I have been answering lately. My answer is never quite clear and most likely usually sort of vague. There are so many variables to both these questions. I have found pricing to be on of the hardest of all questions in my early years.
            WHEN do we get the confidence to charge the price we should really get for our work??? It took me years to have the courage to really get the $$$ for my lampshades. Really, YEARS... Granted, I live in a rural area, but that said, it is an area with relative wealth in nearby towns. Always a good thing...my early years I made many a trek down to the gold coast in Conn.
            Money was loose and the wives we all too happy to spend and spend to deck their homes. I always remember a particular customer at one show; I had to tell her she'd bought enough.... can you imagine... I must have been stupid. But it was the time of great excess and 13 lampshades was enough.... I love my Conn. customers; they were my perfect customer demographics and many had 2nd homes in Vermont. The good part was that they thought my prices were CHEAP... and my Vermont customers thought my prices were expensive. But all in all I thought the prices were fair.
                               HOW DO I PRICE MY WORK???? or yours   ???
           I consider the price of my materials + my time (free, not...anymore) + expenses= lampshade
When I find my choice vintage fabrics I need to consider if I am able to make a profit. I know.... that IS the point, but at times I don't. Once in a blue moon I find a fabric or embroidery that is dynamite and damn expensive, but being the fabric lover I HAVE TO BUY IT. Sometimes it's more than a blue moon, but what the heck: it was pure joy to work with. Think of it, would you rather work with some cruddy fabric from the chain fabric store down at the mall or a beautiful piece of linen or vintage fabric.
        I'm just thinking of the red, white and blue stars fabric.... gives me goose bumps to think of the terrible quality and needless to say terrible job on my part. I didn't laminate well, looked all too patriotic. Lets see, where am I going here. I guess what I am trying to say is that we all work harder on things we love. In my business I strive to go BEYOND just good. I usually try for that place just over the top. Why would I make lampshades that you could buy in a lighting store. I can't compete price wise with China or India. SO, do something they DO NOT DO and do it BETTER. Somewhat brilliantly I figured this out very early in my lampshade making. I worked in The Store in Waitsfield, VT. My boss, friend and owner of the shop,Jackie Rose always said if she had unique products that were hard to find and really special, customers would buy them no matter what the cost; if the LOVED them, they HAD to have them. This was pretty valuable advise for a 21 year old, just college graduate that had no idea where the heck she was headed, BUT I heard it and remembered it.
          This brings me back to pricing and GOOD or GREAT DESIGN. Are we designing something super great or just so so. Yes, sometimes I hit so so, but I shoot for GREAT.... and the GREAT work can be priced accordingly. Not sure this was helpful, but I think you get my drift.
          The question of profit. I'm sure my successful businessman dad is squirming in his seat now, but even he knows there are LOST Leaders...is that the word? I think so. I think of a few things in my shop that are over the top awesome and are just about break even on profit. When I find fabrics I need to consider how many shades can be made out of the piece of fabric. Usually vintage fabric is found in odd lots, maybe a small piece 24" x 30", not too big, but maybe I can make 3 small shades out of it. Sometimes I'll find a whole vintage curtain panel, that can be a better deal. My other favorites are a vintage crewel piece, I will have to round up other fabrics to match or also vintage needlepoints. Vintage Needlepoints are relatively expensive to buy... so I need to make a shade that is more expensive, ie a more complex frame that will garner a higher price.My other favorites are vintage French fabrics are usually small, choice cotton treasures.
            Today I was on a designing roll, which is my MOST favorite kind of day. I'd pulled a bunch of fabrics and embroideries off the shelf a few days ago; they were to be my next projects. It is fun to design. I love to design, if everyday could be a designing day, I'd be happy as a clam. My day flew by... FAST, FAST. I was steaming along, making great shades.... a very good day. I probably put 4-5 shades together today and finished a few of them and prepped a few more, 5 pm arrived before I knew it. So basically today was a profitable day or at least if I sell all the great stuff I made today. And I think everything I made today will sell in the next month or 2.
           Both of these 2 issues are ones that all creative people need to grapple with. With time and practice we find our target audience and what the market will bare. The times we are currently living in make us all try a little harder to please our customers and make the sale.

P.S. May you find that customer that you need to tell her that she has bought enough!!! and I hope I find her again....
xoxo,
judy

Thanks so much to Potter Craft and Crafter News

2010-04-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

A big huge hug of appreciation to Potter Craft and Crafternews

        I was featured in The April issue of Crafternews, the newish blog for Potter Craft and Watson Guptil. Check out their blog for all things fresh and crafty.
         I'm just back from a week away. All geared up and rested to jump back into a busy spring. I have loved this early spring here in Vermont. Lettuce, arugula, and cilantro seeds have sprouted. Early lettuce starts survived my trip away and flowers are coming up fast and furious.
         Isn't the time of year that you just don't know what direction to turn. Okay, I'll rake for a bit, then run around to pull a few weeds, and then start painting the windows, then a little hula hoop, ...... pure joy of spring. I wish it would always be spring. Now it's time to focus back to my business and tidy up the shop and dig in for some fresh new lampshades and filling orders.
       The April 17 workshop is full up! And reservations are coming in for the 2 day workshop Oct. 1 and 2.
         The best thing of my first day back is to change my OPEN sign. I have one of the rainbow ones and have never liked it... so I cut off the rainbow part... kept the OPEN part and glued on turquoise pom poms. Yipee, now it's very cool and the ugly rainbow part gone for good. Good design wins the day.
now its time to get moving and hit the ironing board and start in after a week away and make good stuff.
          Check out the Potter Craft blog and make a nice comment to them
           And the last note, my son Duncan (proud mom) is headed to Sweden today to take part in the JOSS Supersessions in Are, Sweden. I am very proud of Dunc. He was invited to take part in the great event way up there in Northern Sweden. It is a pretty wild event with freeski teams from many countries. They'll be filming their team's skiing for the week and ending up with a 5 minute film. A great opportunity for a talented group of skiers and videographers.
go for it Dunc!

okay, now it's back to work
xoxo,
judy

How-to Vintage French Fabric Hex Bell

2010-03-29T09:21:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased a nice grouping of French Cottons. Here's a nice early polished cotton. Often working with with vintage fabrics I find small pieces of fabric. In this case there was just enough for these 2 shades. It can be like a jigsaw puzzle to fit all styrene pieces onto the remnant of fabric. I tried to squeak one more smaller shade, too.... no luck.

I am ironing the fabric before it is cut out. (this is not an advertisement for Rowenta.... all my Rowenta irons are leaking... but hate to go get a new one.) My friend says her favorite is an old one she found at a tag sale.

Styrene is laminated to the back of the fabric. The paper backing is peeled off of the styrene. As my students know, getting the paper off can be one of the hardest parts! The panels are then cut out.

Skipping ahead a few steps... here is the pair of shades with the self-trims added to the sides.

Making self-trims. I've used a contrasting floral fabric, definitely newer vintage fabric but best of the stack. I tried lots of different options and this seemed to work the best. It is French too, but probably 1950's. The cloth trim or bias trim backer is set onto the back of fabric and cut out.

Here is a close up of the technique. Quick glue onto one side and folded onto tape. The the other side.

The best part is adding the finishing trim. Run glue onto self-trim a few inches at a time and set onto shade.

NOTE: Shop is closed till April 5th. Gone Spring Skiing.... but it is pouring rain out today. Good day to catch up on this belated blog post and start my new book by the fire. Crossing fingers sun comes out by Wednesday for some corn snow and sunshine.

Keep an eye out for the April issue of World of Interiors and April's Crafter News, Random House's
New Craft Blog. I've loved hearing from so many of you from The May issue of Romantic Home. Gosh, It all happens at once but not complaining. Shall we say, on a roll.

A Big Thanks to Romantic Homes

2010-03-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Lake's Lampshades and The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting up Your Life featured in Romantic Homes, May 2010 issue.
How exciting to have my shop featured in the May issue of Romantic Homes. It's great timing with spring arriving and we are all thinking about sprucing up our homes or at least I am. I just bought an arm load of paint to spruce up my living room, tulips to bring spring closer and I'm itching to get out and search for vintage fabrics to inspire my lampshade creativity.

The loyal followers of this magazine are already starting to call my shop and email. I love hearing from you and love the exposure it is bringing my new Lampshade Lady book. It's a tricky time for book sellers and all these little boosts are super helpful.

Go buy a May issue of Romantic Homes and get psyched to spruce up for spring!

Pretty Vintage Crewel Cut-Corner Rectangle Bell Lampshade

2010-03-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

                            A Vintage Crewel on Homespun Linen
                                          transformed into:
                  Cut-Corner Rectangle Bell Lampshade with new braid

A tip on making lampshades with vintage embroideries and crewel is to trim up the threads on the back. This particular piece had tons of loose threads and long carries. It's a good job to do when your talking on the phone or chatting with friends. Kind of brainless, although you sure don't want to snip through the piece and YES, I have done that.

On top of the grosgrain ribbon I added this gold braid. I think it came from Flights of Fancy Boutique.
This frame was one carried by Fogg Lighting. I hear they are winding down their lampshade supply part of their business. Too bad, they've been around forever. As far as I know, The Lampshop is not carrying this particular frame, maybe they will in the future. I decided to order a couple dozen of them if anyone is interested in a few. I do not generally ship supplies, but in this case I would be glad to do it if anyone is looking for a fun challenge. I'm home right now, but think it's 9 or 9.5" high and 12 across the bottom. Very handy size for desk lamps; I find it handsome on old alabaster desk lamps.

Detail of bottom and needlework. It reminds me of crewel work my Grammy Gulian used to do. She did lots and lots of crewel and I remember she liked to do a similar shading to this piece. Isn't the light pretty coming through the flowers?

Finished Shade. Sorry this photo looks dark. My yankee thriftiness limits me to 40 watt light bulbs in the shop.... heck there is a load of lamps in my shop. Maybe I will try to add a better photo tomorrow when I get back to the shop.
Today I headed down to the Garden Show in Manchester, Vermont. It was a blast of spring with all the smells of summer. I was looking for a some early lettuce starts to give it a try in my garden with a hoop row cover. My friend Paul had really nice mixed lettuces all started, Yay, so happy. This year spring has come early to Vermont and lettuce is pretty hardy under a cover. (I hope) I also picked up a delicious purple primrose. As I was leaving the primrose lady, she said, "they spread like crazy", and I said "I can't wait!" Then we treated ourselves to lunch at Depot 62: the restaurant within the furniture store in Manchester Depot. They have a beautiful brick oven. We split a wild mushroom pizza and a glass of Kris Pino Grigio. Great Pizza! Nice way to enjoy a Sunday.

Finial Friday

2010-03-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

Finials = find cool vintage stuff + jb weld + let set overnight

You've seen me use these vintage curtain pushpins before. They come in a variety of patterns and motifs. These are some of my favorites. The pins have a metal post that makes a nice anchor to be epoxied into the finial bases. I made a dozen finials yesterday right after I got a nice delivery of final bases. It's instant fun and a good excuse to sour your favorite flea or antique center for little bits.

You may need to make a base to set your finds onto the finial base. The duck finial has a button and a crystal chandelier part as a footing for the cast metal duck. Just give them all a dab or 2 of epoxy.

I love the texture of this pushpin below. Not sure it this one is rare, but had not seen it before. Isn't the pattern on top contemporary? It feels like it could have been designed in 2010 instead of 1910 or whatever it dates back to. The were originally patented back at the turn of the century.

P.S. Glue guns don't work well with finial making... been there, tried that. One year I made a cool finial with all the odd ball beads I had kicking around. I hot glued them onto a finial I had in my kitchen. One by one they dropped off.... good thing I tested it out before selling them... might have had some unhappy campers.

A Few Days without my Blog and Website

2010-03-10T14:00:00.000-08:00

Today was my first gardening day! It's going to be a while till the beautiful delphiniums are out like this. Snow drops are up and out. Weeded around my daffodils. Isn't the yard such a mess after winter. Today was my day off and had been planning to head to Stratton Mountain for some spring skiing, but woke up feeling crummy... shucks. It was the perfect blue bird spring ski day. As my friends know, I am a wicked fair weather skier. Pulling a few weeds and reading outside in the sunshine are a few of my favorite things.

This weekend was a big reality check for me. My blog and website had totally disappeared. Gone. But where had they gone.... The host company had closed up shop with little or no notice... crap. I was so pissed. How could they just close the doors. Then I goggled them and they had lots of bad press... The internet spreads good news fast and bad news even faster.

I don't love my website and my blog needs desperate help, but they are my connection to the world. I really do live in the middle of a few cow fields and a quaint, but sleepy slightly beat-up looking village. I stubbornly continue loving making one of a kind lampshades which is super hard and time consuming to put up online, but generally if customers are interested they email me or give a call. Life without the internet... hard to remember back, already. It is such a huge asset to little guys like me.

I've just realized how much blogging has meant getting my message of Lampshade Design out and into the world. I enjoy sharing my design ideas and inspiring people to follow their path, their passion and start their own business. My blog has been an invaluable resource since my Lampshade Lady Book has come out. And yes, people besides my mother do find even if they don't make comments. I've realized that my demographics are perhaps a little bit older than many of the uber cool design blogs, just as I am too....

It does feel like the arrival of spring is bringing an excitement in the air. Keep an eye out for the April Issue of The World of Interiors. I haven't seen it yet, but word has it there are a couple of lampshades from The Lampshade Lady Book. In April I am to be on my publisher's blog, Crafter News, May brings a great article in Romantic Homes. In July/August I will be sharing a project in Yankee Magazine. Busy, busy girl.

I am sure you love Home Magazines as much as I do or maybe you don't have the magazine addiction quite like I do. Jeez, I've got piles of them; I can barely go past the supermarket checkout without at least one or even better my local bookstore, The Northshire Bookstore . I can definitely throw out the crummy ones, but think back to some of the old Victoria Magazines, or some of those great covers of Country Living UK, or Country Home. I still have a cover from Houses and Gardens on my bulletin board.

Happy Spring. My car clock will be correct soon....and the Hollyhocks will be coming up, too.

A Few Shades in My Shop

2010-03-01T18:07:00.000-08:00

I battle the questions: do you have a catolog.... and the answer is always, no I do one of a kind work...which is a great thing, but always hard to share for the customer that

can't make it up to Vermont. I will try putting up some fresh work on my blog ( a little at a time and a little more often), so stay posted and email if you see something you love. so here goes and bare with me, I am still working through the changes at Blogger.
Early Vintage French Fabric Lampshade
cut corner square
top right without light bulb on
left with light
$125.

Cut Corner Rectangle, Raw Vintage Linen trimmed in cream linen. great designer look.
$125.

Square Bell Raw Grain Linen Grain Sack Shade with Blue Navy Stripe $85.

Vintage Embroidery Hex Bell Dogwood with shirred Jacquard trim on bottom and decorative trim on top. 5" top x 8" bottom x 6" high. Clip Top. Cost: $75. (light on)

one of a kind...

Light off, Vintage Embroidery Shade Hex Bell

A Vintage treasure found at the flea. Isn't it pretty? I bought it to use for my book projects, but didn't end up using it.

Rectangle Clip Shade with Early Linen, not embroidered, one of a kind.

$75.

A pair of Hex Clip 5"top x 10" across the bottom x 7" high made from a vintage embroidery tablecloth. Trimmed with vintage insert embroidery.

$75 each.

detail of shade

Square Candle Clip Shades
Vintage Mangle Cloth

2"top x 4" bottom x 4" high

6 shades available $45 each

Vintage Grandma Moses Winter Scene

5" top x 10" bottom x 7" high Clip Top

Hard to find Winter scene.Trimmed in vintage red paisley.

only 2 available $75 each

If you would like any of these shades, email me with any questions. We'll see how this works... or give me a call at the shop, 802.325.6308

thanks, judy lake

Making Your Own Awesome Drum Shades is Easy

2010-02-23T14:16:00.000-08:00

I'm due for a new drum shade over my desk and today's the day. I've been working on a dull pair of shades and putting off finishing my tax stuff. So what better time to do something fun.

Here's some very delicious fabric I found at the flea market this fall and it will be perfect for a drum shade. I have included lots of pictures and a few words. If you are visually creative this will be just for you and you will figure it out. Otherwise there are full instructions in my Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting up Your Life and also on this blog,,,, somewhere.

#1 make template This shade is 15" top x 15" bottom x 10" high. A good size for pendants as well as table or floor lamps.

#2 Laminate Styrene to fabric and cut out

Materials needed: glue, clothes pins, top washer and bottom wire. Pretty simple. Run bead of glue around top of shade. Set wire into place with clothes pins.

Turn shade upside down and set bottom wire in,

securing with clothes pins. Run bead of glue against wire on bottom.To glue up the back seam: open the seam open and add a fair amount of glue, smooth out with glue bottle neck. Press together with hands. I like to press on the inside of shade. Check for any oozing glue.Add glue along edge of shade and set grosgrain onto shade.

And add glue to inside of grosgrain and fold over the wire.
Add top self trim by gluing a few inches at a time.
First I added this trim and ripped it off. It seemed too ordinary..... famous last words... right?? so off it came. Too bad the color was perfect.But better without.
This was the winning trim. Love it. It's fresh, fun and not too old lady like.....a tad funky in a country way...??? must be the end of the day.... our snow storm has just started, you can almost see it through my new shop door. A day off tomorrow to play in the snow and finish my taxes....

Saturday's Lampshade Project

2010-02-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

Feels like a spring day here in Southern Vermont, almost. But well worth noting. A few more customers are poking around, willing to venture out into the countryside for a holiday weekend.
I started this shade late yesterday and just finished it up. Love it. I found this crewel on ebay and wasn't so sure what the heck to do with it when it arrived in the mail last week. Oh dear, maybe I made an ebay mistake. In those cases, I leave the piece on my desk and take a peak at it every now and then and try to visualize it's best use: what shape would work? Should it be kept whole or cut up? Or should I stash in deep and forget about it.... All those design questions.

I decided it fit this rectangle frame nicely. It was just a little smaller, but the trim hides what needs to be hidden.You can see below how the picture is a little smaller on top and bottom. No problem; it'll be covered up with trim.

I'm loving this trim added to the bottom. I found a scrap of fabric to use on the vertical self trims. How cottagey, is that a word??? I added a trim to the top that I plied 2 strands of rayon Martha ribbon together. To Ply 2 stands: cut 2 long strips of ribbon and knot at the end. Weight the ends of the ribbon on table and ply ribbons together by twisting clockwise together and letting them form one ribbon. I like it when they look irregular, which happens naturally.... for better or worse.

Shade size: top(7'x12") x bottom (9"x14") x high 10.5" cost $175.

2 Day Lampshade Lady Workshop October 1 and 2, 2010

2010-02-19T07:04:00.000-08:00

I am just announcing a 2 day workshop October 1 and 2 2010. This is my only workshop I will be doing this fall. My thoughts were that I know there are some of you that live quite a distance from Vermont and this will give you the double bang for your buck. Peak foliage and 2 days to come play with fabrics and create awesome lampshades. This is the weekend that usually the leaves are at their most beautiful.

The cost for the 2 day workshop will be $275. This will include all materials needed, you can bring your own fabrics if you choose. It will include lunch as well as a sip of wine and some Vermont goat cheese after a hard day's work!!!

My thoughts are that the first day we will learn many of the basic hardback lampshade making skills, learn best materials and make a mid size hex, hex bell or square shade. And Day 2 we will go on to more advanced, larger shade frames; this is something we do not usually have time for in a one day workshop. I will also go over making drum shades and empire shades.

Please try to plan ahead as this will fill up. I will need a deposit in advance of workshop as space is limited.

Dates and Time: Oct 1st. Friday 11am-5pm & Oct 2nd Saturday 9am-3pm.

Please email me or call me at the shop if you are interested in this workshop. The only other workshop I am doing is a one day workshop on Nantucket July 20th: contact Nantucket Historical Association's 1800 House for more info.

note: this is also the weekend of The Hildene Craft Show, which you could visit on Sunday. The show is quite a fun fall event, not the run of the mill craft show. I took my new book to the show last years and had forgotten what a nice show it is; I started my craft business going to this show so many years ago. There are also several antique shows throughout Vermont this weekend.

Lampshade Lady's Favorite Antiquing Jaunts and Her List of Other Lampshade Ladys and Men

2010-02-18T09:03:00.000-08:00

In the process of editing my Lampshade Lady Book many of my antique sources as well as "other lampshade ladies and men" had to be cut due to space limits. The fun part of my business is finding the great fabrics, lamps and postcards. Yesterday I headed up to Chester, VT for a book demo/talk and of course I had to make a stop at The Stone House Antique Center just down the road from the book store. I found one lamp and a handful of well priced postcards; you just never know what you will find. As the say, the thrill of the hunt. Also shopping yesterday were two antique dealer ladies that had just "found" this antique center; they made many trips to the car with their purchases and no doubt will be back again.
I hope this list will be helpful to you. There are zillions more spots, but these are a few that I visit now and again. Feel free to suggest ones I may have missed. Enjoy.

Lampshade Lady's Sunday Shopping Spots:

east and south of my shop:

Stone House Antique Center
557 Rt. 103 South
Chester, VT 05143
(802) 875.4477
Colony Mill Antiques
22 West St, Keene, NH 03431
(603) 358.6343
Red Chair Antiques
14 Depot St.
Peterborough, NH. 03458
(603) 924.5953
Le Depot/Maiden Lane
Shirley Maiden
Elm St. Manchester Depot, VT 05255
(802) 362.2004
The Country Gallery Antiques
Janet Fram and Borge Hermansen
Rt. 315, Rupert, VT 05768
(802) 395.7753
Antique Center at Camelot Village
Rt 9 West
Bennington, VT 05201
(802) 447.0039
Comollo Antiques and Fine Art
Clark and Barbara Comollo
Rt.7A, Manchester Center, VT 05255
(802) 362.7189
East Arlington Antique Center
East Arlington Village
Arlington, VT 05252
(802)375.6144
Olde Antiques Market
Great Barrington, MA
(413) 637.4050

Sunday Antique Shops to my West

Tow Path Antiques and Books
(to be reopening in Hebron, NY )
Rose Cottage Collectibles
250 Broadway
White Hall,NY
Memory Lane Antique Center
10120 Rt 4, White Hall, NY
(518) 499-2915
Roy Egg Shop and Brad's Antique Shop
West Pawlet, VT 05775
(No Phone, No Website, But you should make it a stop! And, only on weekends.)
Meeting House Gallery
Rt. 22 and 2
Petersburgh, NY 12138
Bournebrook Antique Center
172 River St.
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 273.3027

Shops to the east and north:
1820 House Antiques
Carol Weher
82 South Main St,
Danby, VT 05739
(802) 293.2820
Vermont Wreath and Mt Tabor Antique Center
Rt.7
Danby, VT. 05739
(866) 412.2281
New Face Furniture
Barbara and Larry Kaminski
159 South Main St.
Wallingford, VT 05773
(802) 446.2961
weekends open
Who is Sylvia?
Janet Eller
26 Central St.
Woodstock,VT 05059
(802) 457.1110
Quechee Gorge Antique Center
5575 Woodstock Rd, RT 4
Quechee, Vt 05059
(800) 438.5565
Antiques Collaborative
William Bradley
Rt 4, Quechee, VT 05040
(802) 296.5858
Champlain Valley Antique Center
4067 Shelburne Rd, VT 05482
(802) 985.8116
Middlebury Antique Center
Rt 7 and 116
East Middlebury, VT 05740
(802) 388.6229
Cornish Trading
Lisa Fulginiti
Rt 25, Cornish, Me 04020
(207) 625.8387
Judy Pascal Antiques
6 Free St., Portland, Me 04101
(207) 347.5637
Cabot Mill Antiques and Collectibles
14 Maine St. Brunswick, Me 04011
(207) 725.2855

Other Lampshade Ladies and Men
Shades of Fancy
Nancy Cotiaux
(631) 588-0355
Gloria Lombard Designs
Charlston, South Carolina
(843) 557.0891
CM Shades
Cecilia McGuire
2951 Stage Rd.
Benson, VT 05743
(802) 537.3955
to the trade only
Sassy Shades
803 Melody Lane
Edmonds, WA 98020
(425) 712-3687
Shades of Excellance
Nancy Benjamin
P.O. Box130, Stratham, NH
(603) 772.1423
Lampscapes
Ken Blaisdel
77 Gates St.
White River Junction, VT 05001
(802) 295.8044
High Beams
Trenny Robb and Bob Michaud
Sutton, VT 05867
(802) 467.3943
Blanche P. Field
One Design Center Place
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 423.0715

Shandells
Susan Schneider
5916 N.Elm Ave
Millerton,NY 12546

update on antique shops: I've just read in the new issue of the antique rag, Unravel the Gavel, that there is a new large group shop opening March 1st in the center of Laconia, N.H. Laconia Antiques Center. Many dealers and buyers in the area have felt the loss of the great Burlwood Shop in Meredith, NH and this shop is to be even larger by 2500 feet. Guess I will have to skip my shortcut on my way to Maine and go through Laconia. Check it out.

Lampshade Lady Book Talk and Demo at Misty Valley Book Store Tomorrow

2010-02-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

Come Wednesday, February 17th @ 5:30 -6:30 for a Lampshade Demo and Book Talk at The Misty Valley Bookstore in Chester, Vermont

I will be sharing my story of starting Lake's Lampshades and also doing a lampshade demo. Come get lots of free tips and information on lampshade making. Once you get the basics you will be off and running. Misty Valley Book Store is one of the great Independent Bookstores in our area. I am looking forward to the evening, even though it might be the first snow storm that we have had in a long time... but thanks to 4 wheel drive I'll be all set getting up and over Bromley Mountain!

see you there.
judy

Valentines Book Give Away and Shades of Spring

2010-02-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

Shades of Spring! I recently bought a new bird feeder at my house. It took no time for the birds to find it. I must say it is fun to watch all the activity. I don't even mind the squirrel, that I thought was a chipmunk..... my mom and dad have the hugest squirrels at their house and ours is an itty bitty one, surely a different variety.
Just finished this shade. I'm pretty happy with the finished results. It'll be a quick seller- it's got blue and white, it can blend into many styles of homes, everyone likes birds. It's a happy little thing and will let nice light out. This is a vintage needlepoint in the front panel, vintage pillow ticking on the sides and finished with an embroidery edging from a dresser scarf. Lots of interesting textiles. The shape is a cut-corner square; the size is 8"high and 10" across the bottom. It is $125 dollars. A sweetie.

And doesn't this look like spring???? I'm just back from a quick walk at lunch; had to get out in sunshine and get my Vitamin D! Vermont keeps missing all the snow storms, poor Washington, DC. They are to get hit hard again. It might as well warm up if it's not going to snow....I'll keep making spring shades till it warms up, Here's another pair that I finished yesterday: Made from a vintage embroidery tablecloth. The trim is from the edging; fun to use the scallop the un-scallop direction. It glues on pretty smoothly. I've actually had this embroidery several times. It must have been made in quantity. The size is 5" top x 10" bottom x 7.5" high, washer top (but can be adapted for a clip with clip adapter). Cost $75 each.

And don't forget to send me your worst lampshade nightmares: to enter the Lampshade Lady Book Give Away. I will be choosing one on Sunday the 14th!

Spring is coming, even Fini was out most of the day! Phew, he's hardly left my side all winter.... his favorite spot is about 2" from my hands... after awhile he's a little needy. Or sitting on my lap as I type.

Lampshade Lady's Valentines Day Book Give Away

2010-02-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

I will be giving away an autographed copy of my Lampshade Lady Book just in time for Valentines Day. I want to hear your worst lampshade nightmares. How many times have you bought the wrong size, the wrong color. How much duck tape is holding your lampshade together. Click on the link to get my email; email me your stories. How many times did you have to go back to the Lighting Store??? Or send it back to Pottery Barn??? or Etsy??

I will be picking the winner on February 14th. Hope to hear from you.

Other shop news:

I will be in Chester, Vermont at The Misty Valley Bookstore on February 17th at 5:30pm for a demo/book signing.
I will be doing a one day workshop in Nantucket on July 20th. It will be affiliated with The Nantucket Historical Association's 1800 House Craft Workshops
I will have a 2 day workshop Oct 1&2 Friday and Saturday at my shop in Vermont, more info to come. It is the peak foliage weekend.
My shop will be featured in the May issue of Romantic Homes Magazine. Great timing to lead off the season!
Winter/Spring Lampshade Workshop update:My February workshop is full, March has plenty of room and April is almost full. No summer workshops in Vermont (no air conditioning....yet)

Tea Rose Needlepoint Shade with Bling!

2010-02-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

Check out this super pretty needlepoint. Now this is easy inspiration! I am trying to see if I have the same zen flow as Monday... pretty easy to design this shade, a little trickier. The needlepoint fits well into a large cut-corner frame I have and the green silk actually laminates well (silk doesn't always laminate). This is a good start.

I am gluing the panels to the wire frame. Quick glue and clothespins. I have trimmed up all my shade panels to fit the frames. Look at the edges where the 2 panels come together; they just meet and do not overlap. Super important.

All the panels have been added and I am using the ribbon as like a vice. It is quick glue so it will dry fast, but I've got other things to do and this method works well.

Isn't this a wonderful french cretonne. It has the softest color blending. I am a sucker for anything hydranga. I have used this fabric for the vertical self trims.

I've added a velvet braid on top. I love to mix trims, using one for the top and a different one for the bottom.

I've been dying to use this sequin trim. It's kind of funky on this shade. I think I like it. It's a little different than my style, but what the heck. Who knows maybe I'll pull it off in the am when I come in.
***Please excuse this post. I am still trying to figure out how Blogger has changed their their formatting...??? They have not made this easy for us old bitties...

I love hearing from you guys with calls and emails. Don't hesitate to make comments here. I don't think it's too hard. Everything is appreciated. Okay, back to work....I just got a wicked cool bluebird needlepoint. It has regular needlepoint and petipoint stitches. Does anyone know what that is called?? I love it best. The texture adds a great look.

xoxox,
judy

Sweet Vintage Embroidery Lampshade or Textile Collage of Sorts

2010-02-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

Geez, somedays I can really get carried designing and not even know where the time goes to....my style of meditation. The Zen of Lampshade Design... Somehow a couple hours have slipped by and I'm in the zone. I'm sure you guys know what I mean.... I'd say it's not a rare thing, but it doesn't happen all the time. Or maybe I just have to let it happen more often. Today I've started a couple of fun projects.

I'll show you the first one. It is a square clip shade, 4" top x 7" bottom x 7" high. A nice size table/desk lamp shade. Here's the embroidery I am working with. It has tons of holes, but most of the embroidery part is fine; I will work around the bad parts. I have chosen the square shape because that is what works best with the amount of fabric and the pattern. It will keep most of " the good stuff" intact.

I cut out the 4 panels of styrene and laminated them to the fabric and cut out. Note: I trimmed the back of the embroidery; this can be tedious and you have to be careful not to nip the fabric.... done that before!!! I trim the threads because it looks better when lite up.

All was going swell till I had to figure out trims... nothing really matched for the trims- so I found something similar. Another embroidery scrap that blended really pretty. I am showing the pressure sensitive cloth tape. I comes on big rolls-sticky on one side. The Lampshop calls it "Bias Fold Trim Backer #322. It goes on the back of the fabric.

Next for the top and bottom trim. This took some searching. The grass green is not one of my colors, which can sometimes be a problem cause I don't have too many things in my shop that is that color and don't usually want to highlight it. I found these 2 scallop edgings from 2 different vintage pieces. It can be fun to use them by folding the edge back onto itself. I added the 5/8" grosgrain first and then the scallop edging.

I added the trims. It's funny how some of the coolest shades don't look so great in photographs... this one looks much better in my shop.... oh well. And here it is lit up on a vintage glass lamp.

Cost: $75.

I want to mention a blog:Textile Treasure Seeker

It's is a great blog for all of us fabric lovers. Katie is a freelance writer and very generously reviewed my book. Thank You Katie! I really appreciate the wonderful review. I loved her blog list; it was such a treat to see some fresh new blogs from the UK. I recommend checking out her site. Blogging sure has made the world a little smaller once again. And now it's time for another cup of tea on this side of the ocean.

Monday's Lampshade How-to Project

2010-01-25T10:56:00.000-08:00

Today's project. Might as well start the week with a fun project. This is a very sweet vintage kitty applique tablecloth. The image fits well into this scallop clip frame (7" high x 10" across the bottom).

This is pretty miserable, whatever blogger has done...used to be so easy. Probably it is obviously easy, just clueless.Okay, so I was able to load the next picture in...again.... Here is the front panel of the kitty.

I am tracing around the outside of the lampshade frame with a thin marker. I will cut it out next. Fabric is laminated to styrene.
My assistant, Fini is inspecting my progress. He likes to be as close as possible.... I am thinking about trims. I've used the green polka dots on the vertical self-trims. They are from a vintage apron. I thought they would add some interest as there was only one applique to use. I learned today that I like the polka dot pattern off center, ie dots not going straight down the center strip.

Also using these other finds. The crochet edging is something I stowed away for a rainy day. yup! That's today, rainy, rainy. The other trim is an embroidery insert strip that I found at the flea market; it's been super handy for projects. Hope I find more someday.

Close up of trims.

Here it's finished. Trims have been added. Might be cute for a little girls room.

I hope to have the new blogger format figured out.... I'm sure it is improved, but ...... giving me more gray hairs.

Tomorrow I am off to jury duty..... and will be wishing I was back in my shop. There is still spots for my Saturday workshop. Feel free to leave any messages for me about the workshop on the shop answering machine. I'll be checking in. No idea how many days this jury duty will be.... wish me luck.
sold

January 30th Lampshade Workshop

2010-01-18T12:44:00.000-08:00

January 30th Lampshade Workshop in Pawlet, Vermont at Lake's Lampshades
is just around the corner. 11am- 5ish. $150 includes all materials except fabric. I have several students signed up but have room for a couple more. If you are worried about the weather this time of year.... it's sunny today, but if the weather is bad I can slip you into a class at another time.
If cabin fever is settling in:
come play with fabrics and glue. Everyone gets to leave with a finished lampshade, an instant satisfaction or at least a well earned one! My students are always super proud of themselves after they finish their shades. I love to see everyone's finished product.
Often Students will pick up supplies for a couple of shades after the class:
this is handy to go home with enough to make a shade right away.... and remember how the heck you did it.
Some students come to start a business, some come for a day of creativity and others come to learn to remake all their own lampshades...
who knows maybe it will turn into a business, just like mine obsession did. I didn't start making lampshades to turn it into a business, but look 20 plus years later!!
It's a nice way to use a vintage treasure from your attic.
I always encourage recycling stained tablecloths, an unframed needlepoint, an old crewel pillow who knows what you might have stowed away. I had a Pierre Deux skirt that turned into 3 lampshades!

hope you can come,
judy

ps give the shop a call for a reservation: 802-325-6308 or email me at judylake@vermontel.net

Vintage Embroidery Scallop Lampshade

2010-01-15T10:32:00.000-08:00

I'm just back after a delightful day at The Equinox Hotel in Manchester, Vermont. I was asked to tell my Lampshade Lady Story to The Winter Conference of The WBON. Of course I have been fretting about public speaking since Sept... but one more time getting out of the comfort zone of life. I decided to do a demo making up a big Drum Shade made out of vintage chenille; a pretty large and cumbersome project to do in front of a large crowd, but good for a few laughs.

The group was a diverse group of woman business owners. I enjoyed meeting new people and hearing their stories. The hotel had significant meaning for me. The old hotel had been shuttered for 15 plus years and reopened in 1985. My husband Carson was hired as the Sous Chef at the time of it's reopening and we moved from The Mad River Valley down to Southern Vermont. And I had also help start a juried craft show at the hotel many years ago at the beginning of my lampshade business.
The big decision: Which trim to use. This shade stumped me 2 times, but like the final product. First I added a crochet trim and ripped it off... and also tried a sweet pink and white trim. Also thought of this green and yellow floral trim (above). And ended up with the vintage lavender trim. That the one! It works the best, doesn't look forced and adds the finishing touch. I am always saying how hard the trim can be and this was a great example of it. Some shades it is a no brainer; it's clearly obvious what to choose, others aren't so easy.

I tried it onto this sweet vintage boudoir lamp. Fits it just right. Okay, now it's back to finishing customers orders.... no more procrastinating. This shade did make it feel a bit like springtime.

A Blog is a blog is a Blog

2010-01-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays I have had enjoyed some downtime from my usual work routine. I love spending time traveling the world in search of really great new design ideas and of course fabrics. At an ants pace I am learning bits of technology; my biggest excitement was figuring our how to make my website link on my email signature. And, yes it was so easy.... if I'd only known...that I actually needed that HTTP:// part....simple.

From my blog research, some of the most popular blogs are created as catchalls of content from other designers; the blog owners are more of an Editorial Magazine Role, picking and choosing their favorite finds of the blog world and beyond. And then there is the design oriented blogs that are full of original content choosing to show their unique products, share their travels, their favorite recipes or whatever their forte. And then there are those that are a little of both. It's not easy to come up with original ideas everyday. Some days it's a piece of cake and others the words and ideas are hiding deep.

One of my favorite tools when researching blogs is to go through the "favorite blogs lists". Isn't it amazing where the time goes, traveling from one blog onto the next and then onto the next blog favorites list. You can whip around the world in no time flat. For me it's great. I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, but I don't get much of a chance to get the heck out of here to poke in city shops or wander through Europe or head to Iceland. I have traveled lots and long to hit the road again, but day to day business keeps me going 1.5 miles to work and back on most days.

Another fun way to kill an hour is to keep hitting the NEXT button on Blogger. Have you ever tried that? It's pot luck; sometimes great and sometimes it's about one's lastest illness or family pets.... but sometimes it's great. One day I found a great blog in Finland. Having lived in Sweden for a year I enjoy seeing what the design trends are up in Scandinavia. Great new stuff, new ideas and all at my fingertips. It amazes me all the languages that pop up; I sometimes forget English isn't the only one; you know living up here in Vermont.... it's pretty white bread.

I am in the process of updating my own blog list. My web guy has moved my blog to my website, sooooooo.... technology challenges me to figure out how to change my blog list. Yikes.

I always suggest my business friends start a blog... they are free (at least for the basics)! It is handy to look back and have a record of some of my work. It makes me write which is always a good exercise. It makes me pull my camera out of it's case now and then. And it makes the world feel a little smaller, even from the couch.
And hopefully more than my mom is reading this.... enjoy the rest of the weekend
xoxo,
judy