My First Bespoke, Handmade Lampshade

As this is my first Blog post, what better place to start other than with the background to my first bespoke, handmade, traditional lampshade. My first lampshade, which by the way still has pride of place in my bedroom, features on my website, in my marketing material and at my workshops. I think this lampshade will always be one of my favs as it set me on a creative road that I continue to enjoy today.

Well I headed straight for the charity shops. York, where I live, has oodles of them and I soon had a boot full of vintage shades. Vintage shades are so much better than new ones. There is an amazing abundance of frame shapes in need of a new makeover, they are as cheap as chips and some of the trims are really worth an up cycle too.

Well, two of my favorite things are vintage blue and white crockery, and vintage Wedgewood. Some of my best pieces were presents from my mother. At the time, I had recently set up JSInteriorsUK and was in the process of selecting fabric suppliers. Totally romanced by James Hare silks and wanting a little luxury I chose their silk dupion in Wedgewood as the fabric for my first shade. By coincidence it was the lovely Katie, who used to be James Hare’s local Yorkshire rep, who first suggested I should start making lampshades.

Once I had decided on the face fabric I searched through my trim collection and decided on this rather chic Troynorth beaded trim. The lining is a fine cotton similar to a lawn, from my India days when I used to rummage through the fabric street markets on my days off from teaching.

I chose a workshop near Bath run by the vibrant Joanne Heptinstall. If you live down that way I can highly recommend her courses. She is fun, patient and very experienced. Joanne has recently published a book devoted to various handmade lampshade projects which is easy to read and full of amazing ideas. She also does upholstery courses!

This was a nonresidential course and I live in York, however I have a dear, dear friend from my Berlin days called Vanessa who lives in Bath. So my lampshade workshop weekend also turned into a girlie catch up, perfect! Vanessa also watched darling little Dezzy dog who was a high maintenance puppy at the time and being an interior designer, Vanessa was very interested in my lampshades. We chatted into the night and Googled some amazing bespoke lampshade makers. By the time I left Bath I was totally hooked and over flowing with enthusiasm.

I love my workshop experience. I found disappearing into my creative bubble and creating something beautiful uplifting. This was just another step into my transition from service provider to workshop leader. I have thouroughly enjoyed creating glamourous spaces for clients but I miss teaching. ‘Once a teacher always a teacher’, I was told when I left my last International School several years ago. So I have designed a number of soft furnishing workshops with the crafty DIY enthusiast in mind.

Whether you are a beginner or a veteran sewing enthusiast, wanting to beautify your own home or start on your own professional soft furnishings road I invite you to join a workshop. There are several ways to learn. From small group 2 day scheduled workshops to 1-2-1 individual days, 2 or 3 day master classes. Come and escape into your own creative bubble. Learn a new skill and create something truely beautiful.

Jacqueline runs 2-day, bespoke handmade lampshade workshops at scheduled times throughout the year. You can also join a 1-2-1, 2 or 3 day master class by special arrangment. Do come and join us!