A Little January R & R

I've been taking a short break this week. A good time to curl and with a book and just catch up stuff that has been falling in the cracks. My to do list was far longer than my time off. Top on list was watching snow fall while reading book. How's that for chilling out. I sort of finished my book group book, City of Dinns... didn't love it. And now back to what I was reading before, Chronic City, Jonathan Lethem and enjoying his quirkiness.

Girly Bob is curled up too. She was happy to have me around the house. When she isn't sleeping she stalks the kitchen for food; once a stray....always out hunting for food opportunities. I'm back in the shop now and Fini is very happy to see me and am pretty sure he'll be clinging on for dear life most of the day....(he is sitting on my lap as I try to type).

Wednesday I have been asked to tell my story at The Womans Business Owners Network annual meeting to be held at The Equinox Hotel. Yikes, looking forward to having this behind me... I guess it will be okay. One more step out of the comfort zone, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Thought that was 2009's motto.

okay, back to my winter workshops... lots of room left. The first workshop is Jan 30th at 11 am.
These are one shot deals not a series. Everyone leaves a wonderful finished lampshade. Let me know asap if you are interested. I'll post tomorrow more on workshops.

Craft Workshops, Schedule for 2010 for Lake's Lampshades

My 2010 Schedule as of 12.28.09:

January 13th: Speaking at Equinox Hotel, WBON Annual Conference, How to Light up Your Life and evolution of Lake's Lampshades

January 30: workshop at Lake's Lampshades, Pawlet 11 am-5pm $150

February 13: ditto from above

February 17th: Book talk and Demo at Misty Valley Books, Chester, Vermont 5:30, free

March 13: workshop at Lake's Lampshades, Pawlet

April 17th: workshop at Lake's Lampshades, Pawlet

May 10-16: Brimfield Flea Market, Shelton's Antique Show, booth B53

May 29-30: Vermont Open Studio Tours, self-guided craft tours 10am-5pm

July 19-20: Workshop in Nantucket. Nantucket Historical Society.

September 30th Lampshade Workshop is Coming Up

My first fall workshop is just around the corner. September 30th, Wednesday 11am-4pm or so. I've heard from many of you, but need confirmations, please. I have room for several more students, but space is limited so don't be disappointed. We make a mid-size shade using either a hex 6-sided or square frame. Everything is included except students bring their own fabrics. It is fun to find a vintage treasure at the flea market or perhaps you have something stashed away in your attic.

I teach lots of lighting tricks to help get the perfect shade fit. I find that most people, even interior designers are petrified of lampshades. It can be hard to find a funky decorative lampshade that suits your taste and fits your lamp. Find your favorite fabric and you are off!
Workshops are $150 and reservations are a must due to limited space.

Some of my students will start out making one shade and before they know it they have redone their whole house! That's how I started my business. I started making lampshades as a hobby; we had our first house and needed lamps and shades. What better way to save money than by making it yourself. And then I needed Christmas gifts.... and then by then I realized it was a fun craft and turned it into an art. As Malcolm Gladwell says, 20,000 hours makes us an expert or was it 10,000... I think I needed the 20,000 hours. The more you do it the better you get. The faster you get and the better your eye becomes. And the better fabric choices you make. I can generally shop very fast. I can cruise around the flea market pretty speedy, keeping an eye out for textiles. Usually the only thing that can slow me down is the price; can I make a profit from this expensive piece of beautiful fabric? And at times that can be debatable, but I'll get it anyway for one of those to die for shades.

I hope you'll come up to Vermont for a workshop. We have a great time and everyone leaves with a finished lampshade. After the class students are welcome to purchase materials for another lampshade or 2. I recommend that you do one not too long after the first one so that you will remember the steps, but now you can look back into my new Lampshade Lady Book and get lots of great ideas.

Fall 09 Vermont Fabric Lampshade Workshops

Fall Foliage Fabric Lampshade Workshops in Pawlet,
Vermont at my shop
I have finally put pen to calendar and set 3 fall workshop dates. Things will be busy this fall with book being released August 18th. Oh, I am so excited for everyone to see it. Most of my friends are flabbergasted how long it takes to get a book on the shelves. They've seen me trudging around town carrying a heavy load and trying to keep it all together. There were times last summer my friend Elizabeth would say, "Judy you should really take a day off.... ", and I would say, "I know, but..." putting the book together was an amazing experience. I have been truly humbled and continue to be so. All the things one learns in a year on book making and probably did wrong the first time...

Okay, back to the fall workshops. THESE ARE SINGLE CLASSES NOT A SERIES and you will come away with all the basics for making a paneled, hardback lampshade.

Dates:
September 30th, Wednesday 11am-4pm cost $150 at Lake's Lampshades

October 14th, Wednesday 11am-4pm cost $150 at Lake's Lampshades

October 27th, Tuesday 11am-4pm cost $150 at Lake's Lampshades

Workshop notes: You will learn all the basics and lots of tips on making hard back paneled lampshades. I share lots of sources, wholesale and retail. Though out the class I will show lots of ideas on making shades as well as tips on fitting the right shade, all the tricks of the trade. The class is a fun day to roll up your selves and unravel your creativity. Some students will go on to start a business and others have fun making one shade. Many go on to fill their home with all new lampshades and think how much money they saved!

Bring your grannies old dresser scarves or needlepoint and make a new shade for your home or office. All supplies are included in class except fabric. Bring vintage or new fabric, funky or classic.

Reservations are a must due to limited class size. Please email me or call the shop with any questions. judylake@vermontel.net or 802-325-6308.


And check out my new book, Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting up your Life, due out August 18th.

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!!!!