Welcome to the Shandell’s world! My name is Susan Schneider, and I have been a mad collector of vintage goods in many mediums for the last 20 years. I’ve since amassed quite the collection of wallpaper, old prints, books, and lamps of all types, which I transform into custom lampshades, night lights, unique tissue box covers, delightful matchboxes, and holiday ornaments—in short, all sorts of fanciful things that I’ve designed to make you smile.
I stumbled into making lampshades, my Shandell’s specialty, 15 years ago. At that time I had an antique and decorative-arts store that focused on vintage textiles, and I found myself on a constant search for decent lampshades to go with my fabulous vintage lighting finds.
A lampshade-crafting customer, Liz Courtney, convinced me to try my own creative luck. She sold me her barn full of supplies and took off for her Caribbean winter home. In the beginning, my studio space was just an eight-by-ten bedroom, where I crafted in a frenzy. My earliest lampshades, made from collaged vintage wallpapers, were featured in Country Home and Victoria.
My collection of vintage lighting had grown through the years. I am lucky to have four friends send me wonderful finds from around the country on a regular basis. I make my own lamps out of antique and unusual findings, even bits of nature.
Pairing my lamps with a wonderful shade is like putting icing on a cake—the best part. My styles and vary often: sporting art, horses, dogs, bugs, and nature. Most of all, I just like to create.
Pansy, my first Jack Russell passed away on Easter Sunday this year. She is missed every day, especially by her bud Tonto. There is a new little girl, Matilda, she keeps Tonto young and happy. They are here with me in my studio watching everything I do and greeting customers as they come in. They have there own fan club, people come just to visit with them!
Pansy & Tonto
Come and explore my world of fanciful treasures. All handmade by me in Shandell’s working studio, using parts of my adored collections that I love sharing with you.
Tonto & Matilda
Shandell’s Press
ABC World News “Made in America Map”
Country Living Best Under $50.00, May 2011
Hudson Valley Magazine, Lamps: Lost and found at Shandell’s, April 2011
Hammertown, February 2011
Hudson Valley Magazine, On the Home Front, February 2011
House Beautiful, “The Best”, November 2010 Amaryllis Matches
Lonnymag Chandelier shades for Eddie Ross and Malachite Matches
abcddesign Do you know? Shandell’s – handmade by Susan Schneider, September 2010
sfgirlbybay, Lamp of the party, March 2010
Eddie Ross, Big Window Challenge January 2010
Hudson Valley Magazine, December 2009, Holiday Gift Guide
Eddie Ross, Before and after lamp, November 2009
House Beautiful, best gifts under $25.00, October 2009
Simply Stated, a Real Simple Blog, September 2009
Nest August 2009
MadeByGirl August 2009
Annecovie August 2009
New York Times July 2009
PVE July 2009
Emily Evans Eerdmans July 2009
Inventing Weddings July 2009
Emily Evans Eerdmans July 2009
Wishing True June 2009
- A Way to Garden November 2008
- Rural Inelligence November 2008
- New York Times July 2008
- Rural Intelligence April 2008
- Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel September 2007
Shandell's is the creative home of me, Susan Schneider, a longtime collector of things vintage with a passion for recycling them into things that make you smile. Shandell's, a working lampshade and vintage lighting studio, has just relocated to 2976 Church Street, Pine Plains, NY 12567. I draw on a collection of thousands of unique handmade papers, antique wallpapers and other very special materials in my work. We will be open by chance or appointment. 
