ArtShades

The First of Three Christmas Shows

As I mentioned here, The GreenStage Gallery in Bishops Frome commissioned map shades for their Christmas exhibition and they are nearly complete.

 

They asked for one large pendant shade to hang above the reception desk and so I managed to lay my hands on two consecutively numbered OS maps from the 1970s which were still in sheet form and unfolded.  I have joined the two together to make a whopper 20" diameter by 24" high.  This is the only lampshade of the collection that uses a non-local map and is left un-appliqued.  Its is of Edinburgh and its environs.

All the others feature Herefordshire and Worcestershire and are appliqued with plant fibre paper to add definition and to hide the major fold lines.

My young son astutely pointed out that they are not my usual style and of course he is right.  They are a diversion from my normal colourful stitched-and-cut patterns, but the next two shows will see a return to my signature style.

The show runs until 10 January 2010 and is at  

GreenStage Gallery,
Hop Pocket Craft Centre,
Bishops Frome,
Worcester WR6 5BT

WGDC New Website Goes Live

The second project was the redesign and upgrade of the Worcestershire Guild of Designer Craftsmen Website which has just gone live.  Yippee!

 

It was ideal timing for it to follow on from the printing of the new Directory as it meant much of the hard work of collating information had been done and the content already created.  Again all the designers are grouped by medium Ceramics, Glass, Jewellery and Silver, Metalwork, Textiles and Leather, and Wood.

 

 Over the coming month more images will be added to each member's own page and their text expanded. 

  

Our previous site used a WordPress platform which enabled every Guild member to update and amend their own page.  This is a great way to share the workload among a membership of 58 craftspeople, however, despite a user-friendly 'how to' sheet, it proved a nightmare for a large proportion of members.  Many never managed to pluck up the courage to update their page in 3 years!

This time I have gathered a willing admin team of members who are comfortable with computers and we are going to share responsibility for keeping pages up-to-date on behalf of our fellow designer-makers.

The design and creation of the site is by local Worcester company Top Spin Web Design.  Matt did a brilliant job of interpreting our brief and was a pleasure to work with.

WGDC has kept me busy

Over the past few months a large chunk of my time has been devoted to marketing projects for the Worcestershire Guild of Designer Craftsmen, of which I am a member. 

 

The first was the 30-page Directory - a mammoth task involving co-ordinating information from 58 members, writing copy, taking photos, briefing the designer and then the dreaded proof-reading. 

It helped having worked on the previous issue, but this one was even bigger and better.  There was space for a 'behind the scenes' look at our shows which I think brings out a little more of the Guild's personality.

 

Once again the Directory is divided by medium - Ceramics, Glass, Jewellery & Silver, Metalwork, Textiles & Leather and Wood.

This time we used no library shots at all - each section is fronted by a photograph taken by Chris Smart in the artist's studio.

 

The design and artwork was by Box-3 and they did a great job.

If you would like a copy just drop me an email.
 
 
 

Making lampshades for home

One of the interesting things about visiting open studios is seeing the artists in action.  However, for the artist or maker it can prove to be a serious distraction; for those of us used to working on our own it can be difficult to concentrate and a challenge to make any worthwhile work while demonstrating our craft.

That's why during h.Art this year I decided to work on some pieces that were more involved than just small samples, but not so vital as to be a disaster if I messed them up while chatting to a visitor.  They were for my own home.

Working on this one I received mixed responses - either people looked aghast that I should be creating something so far removed from my usual style, or they smiled knowingly as only an indulgent mother would!

My sons are delighted. There are three panels to the shade, each appliqued with a skull and crossbones.  One can be seen as you enter the room, one from their cabin bed and the other from their chair by the window.  I've really enjoyed decorating their room with their chosen black and white theme.

The second lampshade I have been meaning to make for over a year.  Yes, lampshade makers also have bare bulbs hanging from their ceilings!  I combined panels of plant-fibre paper with a map of France which I chose purely for its decorative potential.

The panels of colour are those I have used in the table lampshades (made many years ago) and the colours in the map echo my favourite Paris map cushion.

 

My husband gets back from Paris today - I wonder how long he'll take to notice the bare bulb is no more!

Paris: Made by Hand and Flea Markets of France

I've recently treated myself to two newly published books on France.  The first, Paris: Made by Hand is by stylist and blogger Pia Jane Bijkerk who reveals 50 of her favourite craft studios and boutiques all featuring works made by hand.

If you have come across Pia's work before you will know she is also an accomplished photographer and has taken all the shots herself, as well as researching the book and writing the text.  It is a beautiful handbag-sized book and I can't wait to visit Paris again and start exploring its hidden corners.

My latest copies of Selvedge magazine and BBC Homes & Antiques have both featured the book, so I sent a quick email and images to Pia to let her know.  I was very excited to see my photos on her lovely blog.

The second is The Flea Markets of France by Sandy Price which features thirty of the best markets, along with inspiring photographs.  I have been to France on holiday many times over the years and can't think of a time I have returned without something vintage wedged into the boot of the car or squeezed into my hand baggage.

  

Isn't the front cover design great?  In case you were wondering it is also by Pia Jane Bijkerk.

They are both published by The Little Bookroom, New York which specialises in travel books that take readers off the beaten track.

I'm delighted with both!

Wall Shades are in demand

June has been the month for wall shades here in the ArtShades' studio.  My last four orders have been for customised shades. This pair

 

were inspired by these drum shades.

 

This Caramel and Toffee Swirl design is a favourite

 

I am asked to recreate on a regular basis.

Often as a set of three

 

 

and sometimes as a single wall light.

 

And this set of little wall shields

 

that I was working on last week

 

was inspired by this set the customer saw on my website.

 

They are to sit atop pewter light fittings by Jim Lawrence, so I painted the frames with metallic pewter.

I posted them off yesterday and just as I'm writing this my customer has emailed to say 'we love them'.

I love that!

ArtShades New Online Shop

I have sold my lamps and lampshades online via my website for many years.  Sometimes customers choose 'straight from the screen', but more often than not they email me to discuss their particular requirements. 

 

I have found it works well - I can offer a personalised service, tailoring methods of choosing designs, colours, sizes and payment to each individual.  Some people like a lot attention, others very little.  Some are more than happy to wait a few weeks while I make them a customised shade, others want one now!

In light of this I have added a Shop Page to my website featuring the one-off table lamps that are currently in stock.  Secure payment can be made using a credit card or your PayPal account.  Each lamp is available for immediate despatch, so using Royal Mail's Special Delivery next day service means the impatient among you could be switching on your favourite lamp within 24 hours!

 

It's another wet, grey day here in Malvern and lamp light is most definitely needed.

PS The Shop is set-up for UK use, so if you are overseas and interested in buying one of the lamps listed please email me at sarah(at)artshades.co.uk and I can reserve it for you.  I can have it wired up for US use and confirm alternative methods of payment and delivery.

Malvern Spring Gardening Show in Full Swing

It is turning out to be a very successful show for us all, despite what the papers say about consumer spending!

There is still one more day to go, so why not head to the Malvern Hills?

  

 

Colourways for Malvern Show

Here are some of my layered, stitched and cut paper panels ready to be made into half-shades for display and sale at the Spring Gardening Show. 

I like to create more than one design in each colourway so that my display has more impact, but I find it's better not to limit the choice of colours too much as invariably the missing ones will be those that visitors are looking for in a lampshade to go with their latest decorating scheme.

However, often it's the idea that they can choose a shade 'in this design, but in that colour' that tempts people to place an order.  There is something special about having an item made-to-order isn't there?

 

As the frames I use are handmade they all vary slightly, so the 'first fitting' is always fiddly and involves lots of little pegs.

 

Here goes!

Square shades are complete

At last the second big square shade is finished.

I am really pleased with the result.  The client chose the colours and I have to admit the combination of the green, claret and caramel works better than I expected.

It is off to Fine Furniture in Bartestree and I can't wait to see it partnered with Tim Hawkins' square sectioned oak floor lampbase.

You may remember I was making a striped version of this square shade recently, here's the photo of it completed

 

and one showing the detail of the lovely petals and seedheads in the paper.

The shades measure 14" high x 15" wide x 15" deep and will be in the showroom sitting atop Tim's bases early next week.

Fine Furniture showrooms are at Ledbury Road, Bartestree, Hereford HR1 4BX.  Telephone 01432 850455 for opening times.

Have a great weekend.