Many people are arriving at my blog by way of Google when they are searching for “custom lamp shades”.   I’m seeing the need now for me to clarify what I do and what I can do for you!

In 1997, when Romie was in high school, after being a stay at home mom for 20 years I was ready for a major change.  I found a small retail space in the Fremont neighborhood in Seattle and moved in my sewing room.  I went to the swap meet and bought whatever I could find that was cheap and filling.  I had a store!!

I’ve always supported myself with my sewing work.  I’ve made all kinds of things with fabric and textiles and often bringing in other mediums to continue to expand my repertoire.

I didn’t really have a plan when I opened my first store, it was all new for me and it was a blank canvas.  I took an upholstery class and bought some old chairs to recover.  Then I found a box of broken lamp parts and the lightbulb clicked on in my head.  It was so much fun to re-stack old parts and make new lamps and of course, those cool lamps needed lamp shades.

At first I bought old lamp shade frames and stripped them but soon realized that I wanted them to be more unique and also, perfectly sized for each lamp.  I found that Aro Wire in Los Angeles could make any design I could sketch.

I taught myself how to make a perfect pattern right on the frame and how to stretch it tight and sew it in with a beautiful lining.  For lots of years trimming was important, not so much these days………….the trends in lamp shades are definitely more sleek and clean now.

So………..what do I do and what can I do for you?

The answer is we can do anything…………….anything you can think up we can design and create together.  I’m finding as the years are going by and I’m meeting new people, friends and clients, that everyone has an idea of something they would like to make or have made, custom, just for them.

And for me the real joy of my work is the process, the involvement of my client in the designing and sometimes even in the actual work of making the piece.

When I started to write this blog, as with everything else I’ve done in my life, I didn’t have any idea where it was going.  I see the path now and it’s taking me to some very interesting places.  The projects are just getting better all the time!

I’ve included some photos here old and new.  I have hundreds of pictures of my projects through the years, here are just a few.

If you have an idea or if you want to ask questions………………………call or email…………….206 721 0137  or  km@kathleenmullaney.com

Pair of wood balausters that I painted with metallic paint and then rust finished.  The lamp shades are Fortuny.

I made the tree lamp bases in ceramic with driftwood bases.  They are also finished with metallic paint and rust.  Pindler linen on the lamps shades and Samuel & Sons trim.

I made this lamp shade for my clients’ lamp with silk dupioni from Fabricut and trim from Samuel & Sons.

Silk from Fabricut and trim from Janet Yonaty.

Vintage silk and antique trim on an antique hibachi that is built into a lamp.  Kevin bought all these old coral beads that I sewed on the bottom edge.

This 3-armed sconce is beautiful in Joni’s kitchen.

Antique pink alabaster lamps with pink silk shades and antique metallic trim.

Stephen at Landbridge Lighting designed and built these wrought iron lamp bases.  I sketched my idea with my finger in the air and this is his interpretation.  I sold this pair to a client for his cabin in Aspen.  Pindler linen on the shades.

Detail of trim that I did around the top of a plain white silk lampshade.  The antique beaded flowers are from the Paris flea market.

I embroidered the floral motif on this linen lamp shade.

There are a pair of these flanking the couch my clients’ living room.  The linen is from Great Plains and the trim is Janet Yonaty.

Embroidered silk from Stroheim and antique trim on this pair of lamps in the entry.

This thrift shop lamp was made extra special with the vintage trim on the border of the silk shade.

Pillows I made for Amanda.

These vintage lamps are in the blue toile bedroom in my clients’ guest bedroom.  The silk is Colfax and Fowler.

Beautiful silk from Cowtan & Tout with linen flanges.

This is a cozy spot with pillows and a lamp.

I actually painted this chair and dyed and quilted the antique linen for the cushions.

I made this stack of floor cushions with Clarence House cotton corduroy which I quilted and washed.

More pillows in Amanda’s media room.

I made the bas relief panel in ceramic.  Stephen at Landbridge Lighting built the framework and the double arms.  This is hanging in my sewing room.

Chris turned the lamp base with driftwood and Stephen at Landbridge Lighting built the decorative steel band.  I embroidered the linen on the lamp shade.

Decorative bed pillow.

I made the two repousse copper panels on these lamps and they were built at Landbridge Lighting.

This pair of lamp shades were shipped to California.  The embroidered cotton is from Chelsea Editions and the trim is Samuel & Sons.

My client bought this chair for her sons’ bedroom from “Design Within Reach” and I made a new slipcover for it with this nubby silk from Bergamo.

I used the motif from the rug to inspire the design of the pillows made with linen from Pierre Frey.  The blue squares on the long pillow are made with memo samples of the couch fabric!

 

 

 

I have to make more scallops on pillow edges………I really like the way this turned out.  I also like the cotton and linen bird print from “Classic Cloth”.

Experimental crocheted trim on this pillow.  I like it………..I have to try this again too.

My ceramic camel built into a lamp.  I fired him in the firepit out in the yard.

One of my all time favorites at Jill’s house.  I built this with old parts and I found the drops at the flea market in Paris.  Antique trim on the shade.

This is one of my recent ceramic horses.  He might be built onto a base and made into a lamp……………..but for now he’s sitting on my desk.

Another ceramic animal, a rhino…………he was also fired out in the firepit.

I built this lamp with old metal pieces found in Paris and I embroidered the Travers linen on the shade.

My ceramic lamp, the boy and dog on a driftwood base.  Rose Tarlow linen on the shade and vintage linen trim.

My ceramic lamp built as a candlestick.  The textural fabric on the shade is from Larsen.

I did the embroidery with raffia on linen to make the pillows on this loveseat.

More raffia embroidery to make this blue and white pillow.  The yellow linen print from Vervain was quilted and washed before I made the pillow.

Another of my ceramic lamps.  I sent this to my niece in San Francisco when she got married a few years ago.  She just sent me this photo last week.

Experimental, horizontal shirring in linen on this lampshade.  The carved wood angel is from the flea market in Paris.