Lampshades 101

Everyone loves the lampshades we have in the store and so Sonya is sharing how she recovers a lampshade.  We are hoping to feature a "how to" each month until we run out of ideas!  If you want to know how we do certain things at the shop, just leave us a comment and we'll see what we can do.

Starting at the lamp shade seam, clip or mark with a pin a starting point on the fabric.  Then roll the shade (see next picture) on the fabric to be sure you have enough fabric and to position a particular part of the fabric you may want for the front of the shade.  A cone shape shade will take more fabric than a drum shape.



I have used a narrow piece of fabric to illustrate why you need to position shade on fabric before glueing.  Mark your starting point on the fabric with a pin at the top and bottom of shade seam.



My "spray booth" is a sheet of plastic over a chair and coffee can.

Roll the glued shade onto the fabric and smooth into place as you roll.  Then do a generous rough trim at the top and bottom.  Follow the side seam of the shade to trim fabric leaving a 1/2" edge to glue down.

LikeUnlike


Now, carefully trim again with just enough fabric to completely cover rim of shade.  Then run a good bead of glue (I use Tacky glue) on the fabric and then smooth glue with your finger to be sure the outside edge of fabric is covered with glue.  Do a section at a time and then clip down with binder clips.





Voila!!   Two finished lampshades (I did another one when you weren't looking).

A Unique Style

We are in the unending role of finding our own style.  I guess it is kind of unique... mix of industrial, shabby chic, classic, traditional.  It's so fun not to be pigeon-holed into one era/style.  I worked at the shop today and already lots of the things in the pictures have sold.  It makes me sort of sad in one way and happy in another.  I have to keep reminding myself that there is more of this stuff out there and a lot of the the thrill of having our own shop is in the hunt.

More and More and More Good Stuff!!!

So here are more pictures of the shop.  We are getting such great comments at the shop on the displays.  What fun it is that???  It's great!!!

We went auction-ing and have brought in a great selection of old books to add to our selection.  In this basket are a bunch of fun old school theme books.  Such cute covers and great ephemera for crafting.



Sonya has created a fun frame out of an old wheel cover.  I think it's from a Model-T.



Only one santos is left and she is standing guard over the table.



Check out the fun industrial chic (our new "favorite" term).  It's like you can combine a few different words and come up with a new design.



Our signature crows are all over the place!



And even a trombone for those of you who want to pick up a new hobby...but not invest a lot!



We have several sweet vintage purses including beaded ones.

Also, our friend, Sue, from bella is offering a giveaway...a wonderful magazine that we covet...Jeanne d'Arc Living.  Check it out!

Also, did you know if you like us, you can share us with all your friends?  Just click the logos right below this....Twitter, Facebook, Buzz, Blog This, and even just email it. 

Awaiting Inspiration

So, I like to have a catchy title and a theme for the blog entry but couldn't think of one so just decided to put on pictures.  Here it goes:



The old newspaper canisters are fun to use for dried flowers.  They will add height to a display in an unexpected way.  We actually have two of them in the shop right now, The Oregonian and The Reporter.



How about finding your way around with a miner's lamp?



Valentine's Day is coming up and she is wondering what he's getting her and he's wondering what she's holding her stomach for...is she trying to tell him something?  She thinks that he thinks she's fat and he thinks he better not say that dress makes her behind look big!



He might have to get on that donkey and ride it out of town!





Here's a really neat industrial lamp that Sonya put together.  Really "in" right now!