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Hand made papers lighting up vintage lamps.

May 5, 2010 3 Comments

dana shades and lamps

Recently I had an artist, Dana Curtis approach me with her hand made papers. They are reminiscent to the style of Jackson Pollock with her own twist of color and texture.

I fell in love with these and put them together with some of my vintage lamp collection.

We spent some time picking out lamps and talking about colors.  The results are pictured above.

Thrilled how they came out, hope you enjoy them just as much as I do. To see them all visit my online shop.

I will be added more of Dana’s work to my lamps, so check back often.

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Workshops

April 23, 2010 Leave a Comment

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Since the launch of my new website I have been increasingly getting emails and walk-in visitors asking about how to pick the right size lampshade for a lamp, and how long does it take to make a shade, and can I make “this” (whatever “this” is!) into a lamp.

Starting in May I will be extending my hours (Thurs. – Sat. 11-5 and Sun. 11-3), and will also kick off FREE monthly workshops on the second Saturday of each month, to help answer some of those questions, and more.

May 8 and June 12 are the first two workshops, from 9-11 AM each of those days.

Topics we’ll cover include: how to fit a lamp with a lampshade, revamping a dated lamp with a new shade, basic construction of a shade, and different things you can make into a lamp.

I have limited space so reservations will be needed; please email me at thingsthatmakeyousmile [at] gmail [dot] com, or call the studio at 518.789.6603.

The workshop will also include an inside look to “the Lampshade Lady’s” world. Come see my vintage paper and fittings and trimmings collections, and learn about how I got into this, etc.–and have a cup of tea!

Hopefully those who attend will be inspired to spruce up their decors with a new shade or a new lamp fashioned from some treasure they own.

Look forward to meeting you,

Susan

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Spring flowers from the 1920′s to the 1950′s

April 9, 2010 3 Comments

tower of shades spring

When I started making lampshades in the 90′s, vintage wallpaper was the main material that I used.  I have a huge collection of papers that spans from the 1800′s to the 1950′s.

Wallpaper from that time period was made on real paper not vinyl, and every color of the paper had a roller to roll that color on it.  Giving the wallpaper a hand painted look. When the light comes through the shade, it has a wonderful glow.

I was down in my basement where I keep all of my wallpapers, looking through them for inspiration.  Outside all of the leaves and buds are all coming out, I thought to make a fun series of shades using floral wallpaper from the 1920′s to the 1950′s.

Each paper different in time, but all have flowers on them. From romantic roses to flowers with silver stenciling from the 1950′s, how retro is that.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did making.  There will more added soon, so check back often.

HAPPY SPRING.

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Vintage Seed and Plant Catalogs inspired me this winter.

March 18, 2010 2 Comments

Vintage Seed Catalog Collection

Vintage Seed Catalog Collection

This winter, as I was organizing my flat files, I came across a wonderful bunch if vintage seed and plant catalogs.

The graphics intrigued me, they are an artistic travel through time.  Each tell a story of what was happening in this country when the catalogs were printed. I just could not resist putting these images on everything I make.  The winter months went by much faster as I was dreaming about my garden.

I think Sweet Peas were a very popular flower, there are so many catalog covers with them on it, one of my favorite I put on a night light.  This one was on a Burpee catalog from 1898.

David Landreth was the first person to produce a mail order seed catalog in the USA.  The art of hand drawn catalog covers have been replace by the camera.  The photos are beautiful, but pen and ink are my preference.

I love to garden, having my hands in the earth is a pleasure I share with millions. My dogs like to help me with it as well, they dig and I plant. How perfect.

Seed catalogs start arriving in early fall and are all in a basket waiting for the long winter days.

My friend Margaret, from A Way to Garden has been talking about them for a while.

This year I have decided to order only Nasturtiums and Morning Glories in as many colors and types I can find.  The white picket fence in front of my yard will be filled with lots of color.

Enjoy your journey through my seed catalog collection.

Hope they make you smile.

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Toot Your Own Horn

February 26, 2010 11 Comments

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“Toot your own horn” an interesting expression, when I found a large lot of 19th century tin party horns in an amazing array of colors, that is what first came to my mind and second, what fabulous lamps they would make.

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These are tin horns that were made in the USA around the turn of the 19th century. Some even have Made in the USA stamped right on it.  They were used on New Years Eve and many other joyous occasions.

Vintage decorative tin is highly collectible, true American Folk Art. What a wonderful way to show off part of a collection.

The colors and patterns on each of them are as beautiful as their shape.

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Bloomingdale’s last Thursday Night

February 3, 2010 7 Comments

eddie and me bloomies

Last Thursday night, there was a wonderful Party for the Big Window Challenge at Bloomingdale’s New York City store.  A lively competition, between Eddie Ross for Elle Decor, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy and Eileen Joyce for Bloomingdale’s. If you did not get a chance to read about it, take a couple of minutes and see all three fabulous windows.  The detail that went into these windows was amazing.  Each of the competitors made you feel like you wanted to sit down and enjoy their creations.

Eddie had asked me to make some lampshades for him, I was thrilled. I was able to make these shades from gold leaf wallpaper, the glow is incredible. A thank you to Phillip Jeffries for the wallpaper.

As I was walking down Lexington Avenue to go to this party, I was greeted by Eddie & Jaithan in front of their window.

As a true New Yorker (I was born in NYC), my heart pounded with excitement to see my lampshades and lamps in this magnificent window.  Thank you Eddie for including me.

I got to meet some wonderful people that evening, Margaret Russell from Elle Decor, Maxwell & Sara Kate from Apartment Therapy and Mrs. Blandings.

Let’s hope that the Groundhog was incorrect and spring arrives sooner.

Susan

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Eddie Ross + Elle Decor = EE

January 21, 2010 6 Comments

BigRoomShot2

A little over a week ago, I received a phone call from my friend Eddie Ross.  He needed some lampshades and lamps for Bloomingdale’s Big Window Challenge. He brought in a pair of wonderful peacock blue, mid century lamps that he got from Deborah at Buck House.

We had a wonderful time designing the shades for these, going through 100′s of papers, fabrics and trims.  Settling on Gold Leaf wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries. The lamps had so much to offer in the way of design and color, the shade for them needed to be just as strong, but not overpowering.  I think they came out fantastic.

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I was also lucky enough to have a small pair of peacock blue lamps to coordinate, I made matching shades for them as well.  These lamps sit tucked away on a book shelf filled with eye candy.

The display for this room setting in in the window of Bloomingdale’s in New York City.  There is a contest between three very talented people, each very different and each with style.  I have a bias for Eddie’s window, (it does help that I did the lampshades for him)I just love it.

Head on over to Bloomingdale’s Big Window Challenge , read all about each room, the people who designed them and cast your vote.  I won’t tell you who I have voted for I will let you guess.

Thank you Eddie for including me in this fabulous project, I am looking forward to seeing it next week in person.

Susan

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Nothing Better than a Good Scrap Yard, Part 3

January 15, 2010 2 Comments

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The scrap yard, as you know is one of my favorite destinations when I travel. This pair of lamps I have pictured are from a wonderful piece of 19th century fencing with a great silver paint. So, off to the welders they went.

When I got them back from him, I was searching for a great paper to pair them with.  As I was looking through my vintage papers, I came across a stack of Topography Maps, dating 1905 that I had purchased years ago.  To make it even better, I had some from areas near to where I am located.  Saugerties, Ulster and Catskill are some of the towns that are on these maps.

I wonder, these fence pieces came from upstate New York, could they have come from one of the towns that I have pictured.

Check out Good Scrap Yard Part 1 & Part 2 to see what other fabulous finds I created into to lamps.  I seem to be drawn to orange as a color to include for the shade making, the rust pairs so nicely with that color.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Susan

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