Looking back

2014 was a challenging but every positive year.  We were confronted with styles,  which were way above the average. We ran out of storage space from time to time, as some orders were bulker than others.  We did interesting,  creative lamps for once-off projects. Our new lampbase division took off with a big BANG. And we are looking forward to 2015. Herewith a little peak of what happened behind the scenes...

Being creative 

A glims at our new lamp base collection

Ready, steady, go....

Plan & create

Pleated pendant shades

With a Fringe

Today, the girls made lovely pendant lampshades in a crisp white light woven fabric. It wad finished off by fringing the bottom. A beautiful look to compliment any room!

Knitted lampshade

Sweater covered lampshade. Tutorial in English and Swedish - http://pinterest.com/pin/120471358754537749/

Just use the frame

Do you want a different look?  This shop used lampshade frames for a clear clean look.

Ping pong lampshade

We are glueing hundreds of ping pong balls together to make a lampshade. The staff feels like kids again. Its lots of fun!

Water lily lampshade

Sometime ago I saved a lampshade from getting demolished. It is such a pretty shape, I just had to keep it.  This week one of me clients, who's home has a retro feel and look, decided that this shade is a" must have". Well, as lampshade making is always a challenge, off we go.  Herewith the old shade, and the frames of our new shades. Must say, it is a challenge. As soon as we have covered it, I will post the final result.

Old French lampshade shapes

I found this sample of old french lampshades shades - long forgotten.  My 2 favourites are the first one in the second row and the last one in the same row.  What's yours?

Lampshade making

Often people ask me on the "how to" of lampshades. I have found this wonderful book in Wordsworth Books Store - The Liberty of Home Sewing by Kirsten Perers. One of the chapters decribes an easy method the cover a lampshade.  From cutting the fabric, to covering the frame and to finish it off with a self fold in the same fabric. So if you want to make a DIY lampshade - find the instructions in this book.

Saturday

Today is a very cold and wet day in the Cape.  Before I feel sorry for myself to be working all on my own, in this weather, I would rather like to share some of the beautiful lampshades we made-up this week.  What a privilege to be creative for my lampshade lover clients:

Jean shades completed

So here they are

French Antique

A client brought this old lampbase so that we can strip and pleat the shades. The story behind the base is that it came from a French Cathedral, where it was used as candle holders. Somebody changed it to electricity and eventually sold it to an antique dealer. My clients mother then bought it. See the beautiful angel head in the middle and the lovely finishes around the light holder.

What's this

Any very old lampshade makes my day. This shade is very very old.  It was made with parchment which was hand sewn to the frame. Here the old and the newly restored shade.

Lampshade Bases

Watch our blog the following few days, for the latest lampshade bases available. Tall one's, short ones, big one's and small one's!!  We will be selling directly to the public as well as the hospitality industry, hotels, guesthouse.  If you are looking for new lampshade bases, this is the place to favourite!

Old and new

We are recovering this beautiful empress style lampshade and will finish it off with this lovely, beaded trim.  To match the decor in the room, we also make a Big bell shape lampshade.  I am so excided as it will be stunning once completed.

A little trim

Sometimes a plain shade, just needs something

A different colour self fold
or a

trim.....

And sometimes we are a factory

Most of the time I do a posting of an interesting shade/shape/style that we are working on in the Studio, but real life is not about the one-off shades that we style or restore.  No - behind the Studio walls, we are actually a little factory, producing lots of little shades, big shades, and lots of middle size shades for hotels, lodges, guest houses and B & B's.  Where-with just a little peep of 30 shades we did for a local hotel....

3 Hanging Shades

Custom made 3 frames
Client provided the most beautiful fabric
and now
It,s  ready to be hanged ...