Lately all my creative energy has been transmuted to organizing energy, trying to get the basement cleared out and finding a home for everything that was down there. That includes a handful of lamps, which have nice bases but cheap, cheap shades.
Years of reading home decor mags means I know about handmade fabric lampshades–they give a really traditional, lush look but you can make them in a cool print, too. Of course, their prices reflect all that hand labor:
Moving lamps around last night, I thought, “I wonder if you find a tutorial to make your own fancy lampshades?” and reader, YOU CAN.
Turns out you can make a “soft” shade (with the pleats) or a “hard” one that’s smooth and covered in, say, Liberty fabric or even Japanese paper–THINGS I HAVE!
There’s an entire website with supplies and articles … but it’s based out of the UK and tariffs would make a kit as much as a ready-made designer one, I’m sure. But! There’s also a book that’s available for FREE at the library, so that’s where I’ll start.
Aw, thank you! <3 Happy to have you visit. Fancy lampshades for all!
I love this whole idea and have an aging lamp from my grandparents house I have been hoping to re-habilitate one day. Thank you for this fun-filled and enthusiastic push in that direction. I make it to your blog about once every month or so, I found it while looking for samples of clothing made out of Green Pepper patterns. It is always fun to read what you have been up to. Tally-ho!