"Things that make you smile" ~ handmade by Susan Schneider
The Country Living Fair will be at the Dutchess County fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY., June 7-8-9, 213. I could not miss the opportunity to join in the fun. I was reading the editors letter in the March issue of CL and Sarah Gray Miller was talking about The Country Living Fair coming to the Hudson Valley. How exciting!!!
Come and join me and 150 other fabulous artisans for three days of pure Country Living. Lots of lamps, lampshades, pendants, and more…..
Hope to see you.
Susan
Upcycled Vintage Battery Jars, I found a box of them as I am still unpacking from my move last year. The color and shape are fabulous. Some battery jars date back to the mid 1860′s. I had thought when I first found them I would make them into table lamps, but that idea left as I opened the box. All I could think about is hanging them with a small light bulb, the color and shape would just shine. Each of the jars has “Made in the USA” embossed on the bottom. Also in unpacking I found a box of vintage chain, all different types. I have used them to create these one of a kind pendants.
Spring time always has me opening up draws in my studio that have not been opened for a long time. The past couple of weeks have been so warm, the door has been open and so have all of my studio draws. I came across a box of 19th century tin horns I had purchased a while ago. As I pulled them out to take a good look at them, I envisioned hanging pendants. So the cord and sockets came out, wired some up and they made me smile. I hope they make you smile and jar those creative juices, to see what you have to make wonderful swags or pendants with. Hand one alone or cluster a group, like a bouquet of flowers
These are tin horns that were made in the USA around the turn of the 20th 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.
Enjoy,
Susan
Spring time = treasure hunting!!!! with the winter (hopefully behind us) I went treasure hunting this weekend and found this bunch of farming hooks, they are about 6 inches tall. Not really sure of what their original purpose was, the person who I got them from said they were for the back of tractors to hook machinery on. I fell in love with the shape and the pitted surface. My mind has been spinning with all sorts of things to do with them, a chandelier, hanging pendants, a pair of sconces. Not sure what they will end up to be, what ever they become, I will post so you can see them.
Happy Spring,
Susan
Here in the Hudson Valley of New York State, we have been very luck this year with a mild winter.
Bring your own one-of-a-kind creations — to light
Express your creativity
– create your own, one-of-a-kind light fixture – and enjoy it every day –
with The Original Cloth Cord Swag and Pendant Light Kits from Shandells.com.
For my Cloth Cord Light Kits I’ve chosen the same high-quality materials and components that I use in my own high-end creations. This delicious cloth cord is Made in the U.S., and all the kits are assembled-to-order here in my workshop studio in Millerton, N.Y.
Put a Bulb In It
The idea for these light kits surfaced after my friend Pam Kueber of RetroRenovation.com and I taped a video sharing ideas to create upcycled pendant light shades.
After doing the video, we discovered that the only DIY swag and pendant light kits on the market today are plastic. Can you believe it: No one was making kits using gorgeous, vintage-style cloth cord. So, building on my longtime lamp-making experience – I decided to create these kits for everyone interested in working with this wonderful art form.
My kits including everything you need to string your light, including instructions. You can choose from:
This Little Light of Mine — I’m Gonna Let It Shine
Whether you are into upcycling, crafting, vintage, collage, scrapbooking, or some other art form – and want to use your skills to create a work-of art lighting fixture…. Or whether you simply want to hang a special lampshade in a special place – my Cloth Cord Swag & Pendant Light Kits are designed to help.
Truly: Your imagination has no limits when it comes to what you can do to create a pendant or swag light of your very own. What will you create?
Make Pendant Lights Out of Thrifty Vintage Finds — Put A Bulb In It! from RetroRenovation.com on Vimeo.
I got a call from my friend Pam at Retro Renovation a couple of weeks ago. She talked to me about making a video for her readers. “Put a bulb in it” was the theme. Taking thrifty finds, treasures or what ever you have in mind and making a hanging pendant out of it. What a great idea. So here is my first video. We had such fun making this one, there are more to come. Enjoy, and get creative.
Susan
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. Sign up to receive new product updates as well as specials!
The Country Living Fair will be at the Dutchess County fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY., June 7-8-9, 213. I could not miss the opportunity to join in the fun. …
Lots of fall colors on my current One Kings Lane Sale. Fall is a time for change, add a splash of color in an unexpected place with a …
It has been a little over a year since the launch of “The Original Cloth Cord Swag & Pendant Light Kits” A wonderful year of growth, thank you …
WE ARE MUCH MORE THAN JUST readymade lamps and shades. Our list of custom services and products (including ideal ones for use in group fundraisers) goes way beyond just shade-making. We even make house calls!