April 07, 2015
We’re delighted to not only help hobbyist crafters and makers learn how
Heather Wood from Red Door Shades had a hunch that she might enjoy lampshade making, so she ordered one of our DIY Lampshade Making Supplies to give it a try. A few months later, Heather has launched an online business selling her handmade creations! We were lucky enough to catch up and find out a bit more about her journey.
Tell me about how you got into the business - what
I had several basic builder grade light fixtures in my kitchen and dining room and I was on a DIY mission to make them more beautiful. I found a great tutorial to make drum shades using giant quilting hoops. Boy it was a lot of work, but they turned out great. Then I realized there was no way to hang them. A few fishing hooks and some fishing line solved that problem, but it always bugged me that after all my efforts, the shades still looked DIY. That is when I dug into the world of lamp shade making and found the lampshade making kit on your site. I told myself if it was easy to do and I had fun making the shade, then I would move forward with starting a
How are you currently selling your products?
I spent several weeks getting my Etsy shop up and running and didn’t open it until every shade I created was listed. I did this because I use my Etsy site like my own personal website to share my work with shops and designers as I approach them. I sent personal
Tell me about how you collaborate with other makers and why that's important to you.
I am collaborating with a number of companies, which makes my designs even more original. The quest for fabric that is on trend, yet one-of-a-kind, and also feels rich, led me to learn more about the art of screen printing. That is when I found two textile designers who hand-make prints for their handbags and scarves they sell in their Etsy shops.
I also found a wonderful vinyl decal designer on Etsy who turns any image I send to her, into a vinyl decal that I can iron onto the fabric that goes on a shade.
All the collaborations help with advertising as well, because we cross post our work on social media.
What tips & tricks do you have for beginners regarding lampshade-making techniques?
Wow - such great practical tips from Heather. And we love the fact that she's collaborating with other small-scale Makers to create unique lampshades for her customers. You can purchase Red Door Lampshades and Finials on Etsy.
Thank you, Heather for sharing your journey with us - as well as some inspiration for unique lampshade designs!
Are you interested in building a business around your love of lampshades? Check out our Professional Lampshade Makers e-course which teaches you how to get started selling your lampshades online (and offline), advanced techniques, finding suppliers, and how to market your products.
Meet The Shade Maker: Heather Wood
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