Lampshade making parties
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 01/06/2012
This week I travelled to a darling Methodist Chapel in Oldbury-on-Severn to teach five lovely ladies how to make handmade lampshades. Organised by Elly for herself and her friends, this was an opportunity to spend a quiet Monday night doing something really sociable and crafty, with the brilliant bonus of learning a new skill and going away with a lampshade made by their own fair hand with which to decorate their homes. All that was needed was me and my materials, some pushed-together tables, a plug (for that all-important iron) and for the ladies to each bring general purpose scissors, a tape measure, a pencil and half a metre of their favourite fabric. There was lots of laughter and gentle teasing over who was Teacher’s Pet…
If you are interested in organising a lampshade making party for you and your friends please contact me.
Gloriously British
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 16/05/2012
Can you see it? Away in the distance? That wave of red, white and blue coming towards us? Slowly at first, then gathering momentum as people rush to celebrate the Jubilee and the London Olympics. Soon it will crash upon us in a burst of energy. But how quickly will it dissipate and recede?
Ensuring that all things great about Britain are not washed out to sea is a new online shop selling and supporting British design and manufacturing. I’m proud to be selling with Gloriously British – and buyers should feel proud in purchasing high quality British-made goods. Founder of GB, Sophia Armitage, says:
‘GB was born from a belief that us Brits are a supportive bunch who want to purchase British made, UK economy boosting products … this is a gathering place for the quiet heroes; those artists, designers and manufacturers who help to make up the backbone of Britain’s economy … if you buy something made in the UK the money you spend remains in the British economy. Our suppliers are not faceless businesses they’re genuine skilled workers whose ability, passion and expertise is part of what makes Britain great.’
International Lampshades
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 10/05/2012
Errors. I make them. My mistakes make my heart clang, my face burn red and my knees go wobbly. Thus my state when I discovered that shipping a shade to Canada was going to leave me quite a bit out of pocket. In the early days I haphazardly guessed International Shipping Rates on Bouf thinking I would never be shipping abroad. Wrong. Shipping to Canada/USA, Rest of World and Australia/New Zealand is not cheap, especially when boxes have to be generous to allow all that protective packaging. Of course, I honoured the postage and Pink Lace Butterfly is currently making its long journey to Edmonton, Canada. With Bouf’s commission and my mistake I am effectively giving this shade away for free… Hey ho. Lesson learned. Onwards!
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Love Local
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 19/04/2012
Live Local, Love Local, Buy Local – should we endeavour to embrace this concept? Can it be done?
It’s difficult. I know. Our village has a monthly market selling local produce and crafts. Aside from selling at it, I rarely visit. Why? I am lured into the convenient world of online grocery shopping offered by the big supermarkets and I loll there. I can shop on my phone from the comfort of my bed for goodness sake! But, it is possible to get the best of both worlds. Popping along to the village market, picking up a few bits and bobs for dinner, buying the freshest of bread and chatting to friends really can’t be beaten. It might be a tad more expensive and a bit bothersome, but as your shopping bag bumps against your leg on the walk home you feel a connection to your community that can’t be had from an app on your phone.
This Christmas past I attempted to buy gifts from small companies or direct from designer-makers in the UK. It was a challenge. Amazon won out, especially when it came to compiling wish lists for the children. But, if you know where to look (and therein lies the challenge) you can find the most marvellous things. I am proud to say that I sell my lampshades with Love-Local – an online retailer specialising in gifts made in Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. Here’s some of the best from the sunny South West -
Sherrington Baker Boy Cap
Leather Mini Satchel
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Mustaches
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 04/04/2012
I currently sport the "modified lampshade," which I also call the "big Little Richard" or "G. Thomson Caddingham."
A well-groomed mustache instantly ages a modern gentleman by about four years — which is not insignificant when he is baby-faced.
It also gives him an aura of mystery. Women who meet a mustachioed modern gentleman wonder: Will he sweep me off my feet or steal my purse?
Quincy in Exeter
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 29/03/2012
Ice cream colours, duck-egg blue birdies, white cherry blossom, cherry-lipped Russian dolls and rose-laden romantic postcards all peek out of the wide window of Exeter’s Insideout store, catching the bright eyes of passers-by. (D’you know? If I didn’t make them, I’d buy them.)
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InsideOut
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 26/03/2012
- In: devon | Lampshades by Quincy | Stockists | Wholesale
- 4 Comments
In my head I am singing ’99 Red Balloons’… do you remember that song? For a while now I have beavering away making this awesome clutch of shades for Insideout – an award winning gift retailer with shops in Exeter, Dartmouth and Tavistock. Having crunched some very crunchy numbers in February, I was more than ready to supply Nicky with wholesale unit prices and was dead excited when she placed an order for 49 of my most marvellous shades. The order includes the new Fly A Kite Ice Cream by Riley Blake, Vintage Yellow Aviary by Joel Dewberry, Trefle Matroyshkas Cream, French Post by Michael Miller and the favourite, June Song Tea by Alexander Henry. The car is packed and I’m ready to deliver tomorrow. I simply cannot wait to see them in the window of the Exeter store, which can be found in the swanky Princesshay area of the city. It’s not often you can buy handmade lampshades like this in a high-street store, and at a very reasonable price. So support Handmade and British and let your friends know!
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Bristol lampshade making courses
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 13/03/2012
Whilst I adore going over to Bath to teach lampshade-making at The Makery and here at my home, I really wanted to bring the course here to my home town of Bristol. Et voila! I will be teaching at the Bristol Folk House on Sat 30th June, 10-1. Be quick – there are 10 places only and it’s extremely good value at just £28.25.
Vintage
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 08/03/2012
Last November I had the most spiffing time at Crikey! It’s Vintage in Exeter. The Thistle Hotel is a sublime venue, with huge picture windows, high ornate ceilings and golden chandeliers that make all the marvellous stalls glitter and glint. It’s an Aladdin’s Cave – bursting with treasures and treats. Fabulously organised and supporting a brilliant charity – The Women’s Land Army Tribute. Check out the extensive list of things you can do during the day. And don’t forget to come and say hi – I’ll be there with a beautiful array of specially made shades.
- 30 Vintage traders selling everything from vintage home-wares, kitchenalia items, china, decorative items and collectables.
- 15 Handmade crafters selling vintage inspired hair accessories, jewellery, fabric items, brooches, crochet pieces, origami mobiles, retro/vintage style paintings and lots lots more!
- Two vintage fashion shows, with vintage and vintage inspired clothes sellers.
- The vintage wedding emporium.
- A retro style photo-shoot, from Jennie Hill Photography.
- A pop up beauty parlour complete with hair stylist Lucy Milton, vintage nail artist Vanessa, and Vintage make over from Jane.
- A pop up tattoo parlour from the lovely ladies of INK, Exeter.
- A bookable burlesque ‘stocking removal’ workshop, hosted by Lady Lace.
- Jive dance performances.
- A pop up cinema, showing popular retro TV shows. Complete with retro popcorn cart!
- A mini Tupperware party, hosted by The Vintage Cream.
- Super cakes from Kiss and Bake up.
- The Sewing Sanctuary will be providing make and take sessions, whereby you can make a pair of frilly knickers or a vintage style corsage, what fun!
- J W Bardgett Guitars, performances, and a bookable workshop to ‘make yourself an upright bass’.
- Make and take sessions; Make your own frilly knickers (priced at £5) and make your own vintage insipred rosette (priced at £3) These sessions will be running all day throughout the day, on a turn up and start basis. Suitable for beginners with a small amount of sewing knowledge, all materials will be provided
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The Green Connection
Posted by: quincylampshades on: 06/03/2012
I’m a lean, mean, lampshade-making machine. Record number of shades made today – I have a big order to fill. Can’t wait to line them all up to show you – they are so, so good. And when I’m not making, I’m on the laptop. My youngest son took these pics of me working – I really like them. My favourite colour? Green.
