Happiness message in every tub…

September 9, 2013February 16, 2025 Julie GardnerLeave a comment

Last week I opened an ice-cream tub to discover a message inside the lid that kind of summed up my first week back making lampshades after a long summer break.

So there I was, eating my ice-cream and apple and blackberry pie with the family, when I read:

“The three grand essentials to happiness in this life are: something to do, something to love and something to hope for” (by Joseph Addison, born in 1672)

Okay, so it’s not just making lampshades that makes me happy but after a glorious summer holiday my first week back couldn’t have been better. In amongst catching up with friends, I made and posted off a lampshade at the beginning of the week for a company who make kids curtains (Kids Curtain Company). Then, after making the most of the last day of summer, I made two beautiful silk drum lampshades for a client in Maidenhead. It’s always nice to hand lampshades over in person and Gill was thrilled with her lampshades as she had struggled to find some to match her newly decorated lounge. The butterscotch coloured 100% silk she chose matched the curtains and finished off the room a treat (the photo doesn’t do them justice, they were gorgeous!)

So, I’m really looking forward to more lampshade making and I know I’m incredibly lucky to do something that makes me happy. Oh, and I’m wondering when I can buy another tub of ice-cream to discover another happiness message inside! 🙂

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Lampshade upcycling …

January 28, 2013February 16, 2025 Julie GardnerLeave a comment

I’m all for upcycling so when I was asked by a client to remake two large cone shaped lampshades I said yes, of course, no problem. You see, my client was really happy with the dimensions of the old lampshades so didn’t want to have new ones made.

So instead, I stripped down the lampshades and used the panels as templates so that I could reuse the rings. Luckily they were made out of two panels each as the biggest lampshade ring measures 56cm in diameter. They worked out incredibly well, recovered in her choice of Harlequin brown silk fabric to match the newly designed living room. I think she’ll be pleased and I have a great sense of satisfaction knowing I’ve restored something that will now take pride of place for many years to come.

The method is the same as making drum lampshades by the way, you just have to roll at an angle and make very precise templates so that you don’t end up with a wonky shade!

Here is one of the lampshades before:

And here they are afterwards, it wasn’t a quick process by any means, but worth it in the end!

Lampshades

Lampshade commissions…

July 19, 2012February 8, 2025 Julie Gardner2 Comments

I have a feeling I won’t be posting many updates over the summer so I thought I’d better get one in quick before the schools break up and the holidays begin. I’m looking forward to spending some quality time with the family but I’m sure I’ll find time to sneak away and make something at some point. Here are some shots I took at home last week of a lampshade commission for an Interior Designer. I’m hoping to get some photos of it in situ soon so I’ll add those separately.

This large lampshade is for a floor lamp; the bottom ring measures 22″. The exterior is a woven plain fabric from Designers Guild called ‘Shima’ in a rose colour. It’s thicker than the dress-making cottons I would usually use so I fitted it on the bias. The interior is a balloon lining in 100% silk. The trim is a looped rouche from Osborne & Little called ‘Kediri’.

That was last week… this week has been equally busy, with two birthday parties to organise, along with all the other end of school activities. However, in between making a birthday cake and running errands I managed to make this lampshade today for a client. It’s made from wallpaper, with bias binding trim and has a clear backing giving it a translucent quality when lit.

stripy wallpaper lampshade — Wallpaper lampshade

stripy wallpaper lampshade closeup — All important careful packaging and gilhoolie tag

Well, hopefully it won’t be too long before I post something on here again. Have a brilliant summer everyone, the sun is going to shine soon I’m sure of it!…