I get a call, House Beautiful is putting one of Shandell’s matchboxes in their magazine.
All I can think about is how grateful I am.
A big thank you for putting Shandell’s matchbox in the pages of “The Best”.
Susan
3 chances to win and a brand new online shop!!
October 7, 2010 6 Comments
September was very busy here a Shandell’s. There is a new shop online, hope you enjoy it. I have been working hard filling it and getting ready for the holiday season. You will find new items: vintage wallpaper tags, vintage dictionary tissue boxes and wastebaskets and matchbox candle gift sets.
I am excited about the matchbox gift sets, they are this seasons perfect gift. You can have a chance to win one of three I am giving away at my friend’s Amy blog ABCDDesign to help her celebrate her 3rd Blog-I-Versary. I met Amy when she came into the studio and picked out the most amazing set of vintage lamps. Her blog is wonderful, so head over and leave a comment and you will get a chance to win.
Happy FALL
Grow It Your Self
August 17, 2010 1 Comment
One of my daily reads, A Way To Garden did a story on WPA posters. The graphics alone make you want to plant your own garden. Well this year I was unable to plant a garden (but have big plans for next year).
The garden I have been growing has been Shandell’s, rearranging and planting new seeds in all different area’s. In the next few weeks I will be adding a great new online store and my website get updated with lots to make you smile.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, see you in September.
Susan
15% OFF, Shandell’s yearly THANK YOU SALE.
July 29, 2010 1 Comment
Horses and Shopping, doesn’t get any better.
July 11, 2010 2 Comments
Shandell’s will be joining The Market at Fitch’s Corner Horse Trials this year,July 24 & 25. The horse trials are a yearly event, beside the glorious horses that come from all over, there is a tent full of fabulous finds. There will be over 40 shops for you to enjoy.
Shandell’s will be bringing wonderful array of one of a kind pieces for the weekend, lots to make you smile.
The Spectator Luncheon benefits the the Millbrook Rescue Squad, which is held on Saturday. As well as horses there is also a Collector Car Parade is an exhibition of antique and vintage automobiles.
If you are a horse lover, as I am or just want a wonderful event to support, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Located in the center of Millbrook hunt country in Dutchess County, 2 hours north of New York City.
Hope to see you.
Susan
Hand made papers light up any corner of a room.
June 8, 2010 Leave a Comment
Anything but a white lampshade, is what you find here at Shandell’s. Yes I do make them (white lampshades), but with all of the amazing choices of hand made papers from around the world and as well as in my backyard here in the Hudson Valley I try to put a little color into everyone’s world.
I am always intrigued with paper artists, screen printing, marbling, paste paper and free hand. All make my work so much fun. The choices of decorative papers is so large there is something for everyone. Each paper lends itself to brighten up any corner of a room.
If you are thinking about adding a colorful lampshade to your home, maybe these will inspire you to look past the old standard of a white shade.
Summer is around the corner, so are the parties.
May 20, 2010 1 Comment
I cannot believe that the summer season is just around the corner. Parties, events and plenty of barbecues are being put on the calender. As the invitations are being received, thoughts of hostess gifts will come to mind.
The editors of House Beautiful had Shandell’s matchboxes on their 2009 best “Holiday Gifts for under $25.”
Vintage Greek Key wallpaper patterns, perfect for any party, cowboy boots for the summer barbecue, a polo themed matchbox for a day of watching games, a barnyard of chicken for a country picnic, vintage New York images for your out of town guests, 19th century shells for a weekend at the beach. The list goes on, along with the choices.
As a hostess gift, they will last longer than a bottle of wine or a box of cookies, and our large collection of styles—each drawn from our unrivaled 30-year collection of vintage imagery—would match any décor.
Let these light up your summer season.
Susan
Hand made papers lighting up vintage lamps.
May 5, 2010 3 Comments
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.
Workshops
April 23, 2010 Leave a Comment
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
Spring flowers from the 1920′s to the 1950′s
April 9, 2010 3 Comments
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.
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. 
