Transform Your Wardrobe at a Cascade Lampshade Making Workshop

I'm very excited to be running the first of several brand new lampshade making workshops for Cascade next weekend. 

You may well have read about Cascade as they were Mollie Makes "website to watch" in Issue 20 and declared the "new style saviours".

Cashmere Jumper Roses on a Velvet Skirt Lampshade

 Cascade is about sustainable style – helping you make more of what you already have in your wardrobe and offers stylish and practical ways to Restore, Revive and Remake clothes and accessories.They run creative craft workshops in and around Brighton and Sussex using vintage or preloved materials, offer wardrobe surgeries and hold regular pop-up shops selling beautiful, handmade, upcycled products. If you love beautiful things, and want to make more of what you already have, then you’ll love Cascade.

Cashmere Jumper Roses on a Velvet Skirt Lampshade

 What a great concept. Obviously FollyandGlee Lampshades are made with upcycled fabric as the vast majority of Barkcloth I hunt out had a former life as a curtain, bedspread or tablecloth. Inspired by Cascade's concept I'm really keen to explore the options for  making lampshades from clothing. 

Man's Party Shirt Lampshade

 

Nothing in the wardrobe has been safe. A cashmere jumper I had shrunk on too hot a wash was a wonderful mustard colour and made up as rolled roses made the perfect partner to an old velvet skirt repurposed into a shade. My man's former party shirt quickly became a panelled patchwork shade complete with butons covered with fabric from the cuffs.

Wool Skirt Lampshade

A wooly winter skirt had languished unworn for ages but yielded enough fabric for 4 tall shades embelished with a few pinking sheer roses.

Wrapping Paper Lampshade

 Why stop with clothing? I had a stack of off-cuts of Rie Elise Larsen wrapping paper left over from another project. Laminated to fire retardant lampshade PVC paper is perfectly safe and is great to work with.

So if you'd like to make more of what you've already got and can do with lighting up these winter evenings come and join us on a lampshade making workshop. The first Cascade workshop on Sunday 18 November will be to make the pannelled patchwork shades from repurposed fabrics and paper. The second on December 6th  will be to make a lampshade again from repurposed fabrics but trimmed with handmade flowers. Both are no-sew workshops and you need absolutely no previous experience or skills. 

You can get all the details and book one of the last remaining places with Cascade online or by emailing hello@cascadestyle.co.uk or phoning 07799 071919.

Selvedge Winter Fair November 10

I am absolutely chuffed beyond chuffedness to have been invited to exhibit at this years Selvedge Winter Fair on November 10th at Chelsea Town Hall.

Selvedge Winter Fair 2012

I am in complete awe of this magazine and the folk that are featured in it. Some of the most creative textile artists EVER. I thought that maybe I could write a blog post featuring some of my favourites but to be honest the more I look at who will be there the more I fall in love with.....and if I'm honest the more I panic that I'm not worthy!

So instead....go take a peep at the Selvedge website and blog there is much to make the heart quicken. And when you think you've finished pop over to the Fair's Pinterest gallery - you'll be there some time.

What will I be taking? Well I'm hoping to finish off lots a handsewn traditional lampshades in some of my finest wintery vintage barkcloths. This sort of thing... 

 For supporting me at FollyandGlee here's a little thank you - a voucher for 2 for 1 entry - just print and present on admission.