Since my last post, I had a minor setback with a week of mild flu. For a couple of days, I thought it was soreness brought on by the turning, and perhaps that contributed. Anyway, now that has passed and today I completed a large shade for a floor base. That is exciting, surely a function of both the drama of a larger shade as well as the somewhat macho pleasure of accomplishment. Large shades are more demanding physcially, and technically they are more finicky. The size adds to the flexibility of the wood, and taming that is a challenge.
On another front, I am psyched up about a new commission in collaboration with blacksmith David Little (Meredith, NH). Last summer we made a chandelier for the Living With Crafts exhibition, and it won an nice award. Now we have a new project to make for a wonderful long-time client for both of us. This will include a two-shade chandelier and a single pendant lamp, each with David's "grapevine motif" iron work and my smaller shades.
All of that means that things are back in order in my work life, and that is important to me. As you have heard me say elsewhere, making lampshades is much more than a business for me, it is very much a part of how I identify myself, and I love the whole thing. As I gradually get into better shape, I will be able to spend more hours each week making shaving fly. But today was an important milestone, being able to make a really large shade. More to come.
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