My little shop has been humming along since news of the Covid pandemic. April, May and June is usually when my Etsy Shop starts to dwindle. Folks usually start to hit the road, go on vacation and work in their yards. What a surprise this spring was for most online sellers. I think this year we all needed to pamper ourselves a LOT! All those little extra things to help us get thru a scary time.
Fortunately I had a bit of time to figure out how I would handle customers at my shop. What to do? I thought about working with clients on my porch for the summer - Yes! So I started moving out some of my cupboards and display props. One by one they made their way to the porch. It started with this big heavy one above. It's almost 6' and would hold lots of lampshades and be a nice height to greet customers and hang out. Then I found some fancy stools on Ebay from DWR, my splurge! I decided to go big and eventually they'll make their way to my house. Might as well get some comfy ones!!!
The tall counter has made a great surface to take photos on for Etsy! A bonus. Bit by bit the other businesses have been opening up. Mach's Market is now officially open which is wonderful news! As well as The Station Restaurant. Nice to see lots of cars in town again. I have worked steadily thru this whole nightmare and so fortunate to have creativity to lessen the fear factor. And lots of fabric to make my family face masks. The first week I thought, heck why not take the weekend off and work a regular week.... oh no, that was a very bad mistake. I usually work Mon. and Tuesday and take Wednesday off and then work the next 3 days and take Sunday off---- to give my hands a rest period! So I went back to my regular schedule with a walk in the middle of the day...which I am missing now but trying to do it in the am before work....up that Pawlet Mountain Rd - UP UP! LINK to above lampshades: 7" high, Vintage French Pink and Loden lampshades.
a pretty shot from my porch couch. The rose is stunning this year or maybe we just appreciate all the blooms even more.
This is a pretty pair of vintage French rectangle bell lampshades. I've sold a couple pairs and have one more pair made. Just love them. @ $150 per shade. These guys take a bit of time to make and a fair amount of fabric, but so worth it.
And another vintage French cotton hex clip pair of lampshades @ 75. per shade
I've just finished this Antique French Toile Rectangle Cut corner bell lampshade. Isn't it lovely. The antique toile fabrics I've found lately are delightful. I shipped a nice one out today with chickens. It didn't last long in my inventory. I remember meeting this nice man from Waverly years ago and he said they would never let him spend the time it would take to recreate these beauties. So much for corporate finance and the design world....the details in this are a treat. Only one of these. Just enough fabric for this shade.
Hope you will venture out and poke around the countryside. Come visit my shop. I am trying to figure out how to get to visit my folks, maybe around the beginning of July, so if you are coming a distance make sure to reach out to me and make sure I'll be around. Shop landline, ie no texts.... 802-325-6308.
Masks are a must, no exceptions. T.Y.
Bring lamps and fabrics if you wish.
Plan to have lunch at The Pawlet Station or Mach's Market!
Hope you follow me on my Lampshadelady Instagram account. It's the best place to see my new inventory.
Thanks and stay healthy,
Judy