From the beach to the grocery store to a busy restaurant, Judy Lake is better known as “The Lampshade Lady.” It’s a strange moniker, but one that suits her just fine. Since 1998, Judy has owned Lake’s Lampshades in Pawlet, Vermont, where she’s built a business around her love of lampshades and their ability to light up any room.

Last year, Judy put her passion to the page with her first book, The Lampshade Lady’s Guide to Lighting Up Your Life, with ideas and templates for 50 custom lampshades and lamps. CrafterNews talked with Judy about how she got her start in lampshade-making, the most unusual shade she’s ever made (think BIG), and why she’ll always love being in business for herself.

CrafterNews: How did you get started in the lampshade making business?

Judy Lake: In 1985, my husband bought me a cut and pierced lampshade for Christmas. I loved it, and thought it would be fun to learn to make them. We were just about to move to Southern Vermont, and I was between jobs. I knew I wanted my own business, but hadn’t nailed down what it might be. I had thought of a knitting or quilting business, but the key ingredient was that lampshade materials were very inexpensive and I had lots of free time!

I had been a studio art major in college and leaned towards anything fiber. Knitting, sewing, paper making, quilting, batik, collage, spinning wool, tapestry weaving—I loved them all. A friend suggested, “Judy, do one thing and do it well!” I took this advice and often pass it on to other creative friends. I taught myself to make the cut and pierced lampshades, and each time, I got a little bit better. I am still learning something new about lighting almost every day. Colors change, styles evolve. Good design is a life’s lesson, and I am continually getting stronger as a designer.

CN: Why did you decide to write a book about lampshade making?

JL: My friend, Susan Sargent, had done three great design books, and I had assisted with many of the lampshades for her books. I got a taste of the bookmaking process at that time and thought it looked intriguing. I was later encouraged and assisted by a good friend who was a book agent—and what a learning curve it has been! I have always loved great book design, and was interested in the process of getting a book to market.

I have been making lampshades for over 20 years and realized how much knowledge I have acquired over this time. Lampshade making can be learned in a day, but all the little details of sizing, adapting, and fitting shades takes much longer. I love sharing my knowledge and passing on the art of lampshade making. Contemporary lampshades are very popular right now in home design, but they are expensive to buy and hard to find! Just another great reason for me to encourage DIY lampshade making.

CN: What is it about lampshade making that appeals to you so much?

JL: Instant gratification! Don’t we all love a useful finished product? A lampshade can be started and finished in a few hours (granted, the longer you do it the faster you get).

I also love the way a new lampshade can change the atmosphere of a room. At Christmas, I sneaked a few new shades home to perk up my house, and they really added a new, fresh feel to my decor. It’s much harder to change your upholstery than your lampshades.

I do lots of custom lampshade work for my designer friend, Judy. There are times when I will make almost all of the lampshades on one of her interior design jobs. She likes to have the client arrive at night when all the lamps are lit, and says that the shades make her work look great. Couches and rugs can be found in all stores, but custom lampshades add the finishing signature for her work. When clients arrive, they are wowed by the atmospheric touches that the lighting creates.

CN: What is the craziest or most unusual lampshade you’ve ever created?

JL: One of my favorite special projects was making two lampshades for a grandmother to give to her granddaughters. She sent me vintage hankies and linens that had been handed down to her from her family, and she prepared a letter for each granddaughter referencing the provenance of each textile. I thought this was one of the sweetest ideas—how special it will be for the girls to look back at the letters when they grow up.

One of the most unusual lampshades I’ve ever made was my Halloween costume a few years ago! I went as this crazy three-tiered drum lampshade with lots of dangling trims. It wiggled really nicely. I used chandelier crystals for earrings and a vintage shade for a hat, with more sweet crystals hanging around the edge. Maybe I’ll dig it out again someday—it was a great way to use up some odd materials that I might never use. [Ed.—Unfortunately, we don’t have a picture of the Lampshade Lady dressed up as a lampshade!]

CN: Describe your creative process. Where you find inspiration for new lampshades?

JL: The creative process changes depending on the project. For custom work, it will depend on the fabric or the lamp to define the direction. My business consists of custom work as well as making inventory for my shop—guess which one I like best? It’s always more fun to do what your heart desires, but a business is all about finding a happy medium between the two.

I guess I could say when I am filling orders, I look around my shop for the next project I want to do when I get the chance. Sometimes it might be a really cool needlepoint that I have been dying to get my hands on, or maybe a great piece of crewel to design a shade around. I have chosen to keep my business small, as I love the process of “the making.” I like to follow the process from start to finish. There are times that it would make life easier if I had A LINE, but selfishly I don’t, and chose the harder road of making one—or two—of-a-kind products.

CN: What are your favorite materials to use for lampshades? Are there any materials that you’ve tried to use for lampshades that just haven’t worked out?

JL: Vintage fabrics are my favorite! I love it when I can find them at a reasonable price, but I am usually willing to spend the money to get the great finds. Those of you that are fabric hounds like me know you never know when you will find your next favorite fabric. The thrill of the hunt… sometimes I’ll find lots of great stuff, while other times it’s slim pickings.

One of the reasons I love to use vintage fabric is the authenticity it carries with it. It feels real. It is something that will stand out as unique and won’t be the same as all the shades in your neighborhood. Another reason I love working with vintage fabrics is that they laminate to styrene really well; they have usually been washed so many times that they are free of sizing and easy to work with.

What hasn’t worked? I’ve had lots of disasters over my time. Silky fabrics or fabrics that have a super smooth back can bubble and look terrible. Stripes can be hard to line up straight. Handmade papers can be hard to laminate well. I’ve had glue that separates due to humidity, a bad 50 yard roll of styrene that wasn’t tacky enough, rusty wires, and wires that come unsoldered just as I’ve finished a shade. There have been lots of experiments that did not work out, but on the other hand, there have been some wonderful experiments that were awesome surprises.

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• Read The Lampshade Lady blog

• Visit the Lake’s Lampshades web site

Categories: Crafts-General |

Tags: interview, Judy Lake, Lake's Lampshades, lampshades, The Lampshade Lady

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