15% OFF, Shandell’s yearly THANK YOU SALE.

Horses and Shopping, doesn’t get any better.

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 lighting up vintage 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.

Workshops

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.

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

Toot Your Own Horn

“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.

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.

A project with Eddie Ross

I am very fortunate to live in a small town, Millerton, NY 100 miles north of New York City,  also to have a great neighbor and friend, Eddie Ross and his partner Jaithan Kochar.  Eddie called one day saying he had found an amazing 19th century apothecary jar and would like to have it made into a lamp.  I so love to get interesting pieces to make into lamps.  Most days I look at just about anything for a lamp, a bottle, carved table leg. old pieces of metal in any form.  I get so excited when I get these type of projects, Eddie had the same enthusiasm about it.

Once the lamp is done, we were only half way there.  The next part is the shade, picking the right shape and material to accent the lamp.  Eddie wanted a barrel shaped shade, I suggested we use a wonderful seagrass paper to offset the sleek glass. Visit Eddie’s blog to read all about this great project.

I hope this inspires you to look at every day objects, treasures you find and family heirlooms  in a whole new way.  The simple gracefulness of this bottle will be enjoyed for years and surely make Eddie and Jaithan smile.

Pumpkins are everywhere this time of year

The potters of the Mid 19th century experimented in the most amazing shapes and glazes.

Lucky for us so many examples survived the changing times.

I wonder what the artist’s of that time would think of how I transform them.

I could not resist this pair,  perfect for this time of year. There shape, chunky and round,

just like the pumpkins we have been decorating our homes with.

I paired them with a great paper made with leaves running throughout.

Bring a bit of nature indoors to make you smile.

Nothing Better than a Good Scrap Yard, Part 2

This summer I was on a hunting trip in upstate New York, stumbled on a great organized junk/scrap yard.  There was a section for everything.  I could not contain myself, all I thought was how I was going to get all of my treasures home.  There was a 19th century iron garden gate, I love these.  They have a history, I use my imagination to wonder who were the people who walked through the gate.  The center pieces was the only thing left to salvage, the iron scroll work was beautiful.

On my way home I stopped at my welders and dropped them off.  These are the lamps, vintage industrial with style.

The fun part about what I do, is I get to find incredible hand made papers form all over the world new and old to make lampshades for the lamps that get created from my hunting trips.  This paper I found this spring in New York.  The paper is a light version of Kraft paper with scrolls of espresso and bronzes screened on it. A perfect match for these lamps.

If you are in the area stop by to see works in progress or visit my online shop.

Have a great weekend.

Susan

Sleek, modern, simple and elegant.

I could not think of just one description for these lamps, so sleek, modern, simple and elegant it is.

A wonderful source I have that makes wood veneer pliable and sturdy for lampshades. Cherry wood is my favorite, the glow is so beautiful, amazing that it is real wood.

I was making a large pair of square shades, cutting the cherry wood from the sheets I get and there was scrap pieces left.  I just cannot toss scrap of any kind, you never know what I can make with them.  Then I was cutting a pair of tall slender lampshades for a customer and the pattern fit the cherry wood scrap perfectly.

If you are in the area stop by and see what I have created with the scraps I save or visit my online store.

Bring the Ocean Indoors

I do not get to the ocean much any more, July 4th weekend was always an ocean trip when I was a kid.  My Mom loves the beach, there is something about the healing qualities of the ocean.

The way walking along the beach and listening to the waves seems to lower ones heart rate.  When I do get a chance to go, one of my favorite things to do is collect shells. There are so many different types, in the 19th century they were documented in amazing detail.

I have put together a group of seashell inspired hand made  items for the home, a lamp, tissue box, night light and a box of matches so no matter where you live, the ocean can be with you.  If you have a friend in need of a ocean fix, one of these will surely make them smile.

Have a safe and happy 4th.

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