Holiday Lampshade Making

Here's a redwork shade I made this week. I snuck away a little time from holiday orders to make a few holiday shades. I love the birds in this shade. It's got lots of different trims; a few scraps I had around of red damask for the sides, the bottom has a wonderful vintage paisley and the top has a vintage red trim. Just got a new door last week at my shop! You probably aren't too excited, but I am! yipee, maybe my feet might stay a little warmer in the cutest little drafty cape ever known. (no light shows through the door jam!!! near miracle, oh the little things that make our day.)
A few more redwork squares for future kids shades.
detail of the drum shade: 12" x 12" x 8", Susan Sargent Linen-Dot Fabric and trimmed with a vintage dot feed sack fabric. I'm loving the trim on this shade. I guess I can say that because trims are super hard to hit it right and I think this one does just the trick. Doesn't it just add the extra zing to make it different...??? I try.

The shade sits on a great wicker lamp I finally rewired from Brimfield. Speaking of Brimfield, jeez, May will be here sooner or later. I'll be back at The Shelton Show again with the designer gang in the back of the show; a great bunch well worth visiting.

Here's a nice vintage pair of pink depression glass paired with a scallop quilt top shade. Very sweet for a little girls bedroom.

Brimfield Pictures

Here's my booth at Brimfield. Everyone wanted to buy my white table! I thought this might be a problem, but it was such a great prop. It is pretty. And so sturdy.
I brought lots of my new Lampshade Lady Books.
Inside my little booth. It's been a few years since doing shows, but it comes right back quick. I've already signed on to doing May Brimfield!
I love this quirky shade on the custard glass lamp. It's pretty spunky, especially when lit up.
Melissa and Cary's booth. The gals from Concord were set up
across the way.
Philippa and Mary's booth. Such laughs we had. Did we eat!!
Lobster rolls all around.

Brimfield Days

We've had great weather at Brimfield the past 2 days. I'm just back from dinner after a busy day at The Flea Market. I am set up with friends at the back end of the Shelton Antique Show. Our end of the show has a great stretch of higher end booths with a nice array of antiques and collectibles. Next to me is Philippa and Mary with antique prints, across the way is Sharon with vintage textiles and lavender pillows, her friend with silk jackets and down the row is Melissa and Carrie from Concord and many more friendly folks nearby.

I've run into lots of folks from home in Vermont. It is sweet to see familiar faces when away. I am trying to figure out how long to stay at the show. Looks like a little moisture coming.... not always fun. We'll see how tomorrow goes. I'm bushed! I have forgotten how much energy it takes to be out in the public eye all day. The key is to pace yourself.... and eat healthy. We had the yummiest lobster rolls for lunch. Super fresh.

It has been great to bring my new book down to Brimfield. Customers come from all over the world to visit the show. I enjoyed chatting with a nice young woman from Japan. She hopes to move to Boston. There are lots of Japanese customers in attendance. They love the country look as well as the vintage fashions.

The flea market life is new to me. I have done many craft shows over the years, but this is really a different experience. I really have to say the group near me is incredibly wonderful. Everyone is helpful and friendly. My first night I stayed in my car..... we had to be set up by 6 am... and figured it didn't make much sense to stay in a hotel if only for such a short time. It was okay, I felt entirely safe. Most of the folks in the surrounding booths also stayed the night. It was okay... but happy to be in my hotel tonight and looking forward to putting head to pillow and nice hot shower...things we take for granted. Better sign off for now, morning will be here soon. I loved writing the date today, 9.9.09 pretty cool. I kept hoping for more sales so I could write the date!
signing off from Brimfield. Hope I get to shop myself tomorrow.

Brimfield Bound

It's always fun to do shows when you don't do them very often. Those are words spoken from one that has put many years on the road and now many years off the road. And now I am organizing my lists and piles of stuff needed to fill my little Honda Element. First things first, I cleaned the Element... I don't think it has been this clean since I got the it.


I am stacking shades, unplugging lamps, trying to figure out how many books to bring, what clothes to pack, food to bring, sunscreen, hats, sneaks, raincoat.... you get the picture. Pretty soon the old car will be looking like the Hillbilly's. Back on the road. I must say I get pretty spoiled here in my shop.
I've never shown my shades at Brimfield, only shopped till I dropped. This will be a new adventure. Hope I get a chance to shop, too. I am going to try hit The Textile Show on Monday in Sturbridge before set up. I won't be there for early buying as usual, but would be nice to hit the highway before the Labor Day traffic gets to bad heading south.
Things to remember at the Flea Market: water, cash,manners, sunscreen and hat, granny cart or backpack, write down where you park your car, a smile and more cash. Look for me, I'll be The Lampshade Lady at Shelton's Antique Show. I am set up at B53, way in the back, I think.

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.

A Mothers Day Treat, Go Flea Marketing

Mother's Day Treat. A little get away, a break from day to day duties. What could be better than running into new friends and old at the flea market. Well, that is if this is your thing. I rate it even better than going to TJ Maxx, which is pretty high up there on the fun search list.

This photo is me and my old friend Judy Pascal of Judy Pascal Antiques on Free St. in Portland, Maine. Judy was an early supporter of mine, guiding me in the direction of Vintage Fabrics. I started my lampshade career making cut and pierced lampshades. Judy didn't really love them and tried to get me to make fabric lampshades. I told her I didn't know how and she responded, figure it out or something like that. Lampshade by lampshade I improved. Lordy some of the early ones weren't so great. Judy has fantastic taste and had a lot to teach me. Hope to see her Monday down at the Textile Show in Sturbridge. But, we can't shop together.... because we love the same stuff.....this photo is last year at the Heart of the Mart.(photo George Bouret)


And here are new friends. This is my new friend Lynn in Clark's booth at The Heart of the Mart Textile Tent.(Bouret,photo) Lynn and I met after seeing each other in the similar textile booths along the Rt 20 stretch of flea markets. I find when shopping at big flea markets you have to learn the flea market stroll. Cruising along at a good pace till you see your treasures of choice. My god, if you looked at everything you would never get outta there..... I look for unusual lamps at good prices or very unusual lamps that I love that are too expensive. Also, vintage fabric, embroideries, polka dot aprons and other interesting textiles, vintage trims, sometimes postcards and an occasional purple transferware plate for my "Martha mix and match plates". And that is usually all...... Isn't that good. One of my nameless friends looks at EVERYTHING..... and I am always waiting for her. I love her, but hate waiting when there's shopping to be done.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY AND HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE FIELDS. Let's hope there are bargains to be found. And hears a cheer to old friends and new.