Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Featured Friday Wednesday! {and a giveaway ;-}

Spring time is one of the best times of year for a fresh, new and exciting change in your home. With our economy on seriously shaky ground, it might be difficult to buy new furniture, bedding or remodel the kitchen to get the feeling of 'new' -- This is where my sister-in-law {aka, SIL} can help...

She called me about 4 months ago and said Check your email, look what I made! -- I did and was totally blown away... I called her right back and asked So when are you going to start selling them? She was really taken aback and explained that the idea stemmed from having seen one at her favorite store and then she saw the price tag and thought "I can make my own for way less" -- Once made, she realized by simply changing this one feature in her home, she'd created a whole new feel... so she made one for every room of her house --

What? You ask is this one incredibly simple, inexpensive, but couture way of changing the entire look of your home? Lampshades. Yeah, I know. I really didn't fully believe her, either, until she made one for my office and then one for D and my home and it did. Having a blog, it was the only avenue I knew to get her started... having 3 children, she didn't have the time to figure out how to build a blog, so I stepped and did it -- 3 days later, we had a blog -- I wrote her first post and helped her launch by doing a giveaway --

Within a couple months she started getting some custom orders and really felt like she could make a business out of it -- She came across Etsy and learned the ins and outs of it, made 30 lampshades and launched -- Within a couple weeks she had more orders and could hardly contain herself that people were really wanting what she had to offer {of course I wasn't surprised, but isn't that just how it goes?} In the mean time, she came across a local art shop that sells "All things locally made" by local artists how many times can you say local in one sentence? -- She dropped in and took a chance by asking if they might be interested in showing her lampshades... The owner immediately looked at her blog/Etsy store and asked When can you come back and set up shop!? Of course Tory flipped out and that next weekend, she and her husband took their date night and set up all her shades --











I thought that took the cake until she called me yesterday and announced A Boutique Hotel in California saw my Etsy store and want 30 custom lampshades! I almost lost it {if you haven't gathered by now, I really give into my emotions} -- The thrill of having watched my SIL simply want to change the look of her home using a limited budget, to becoming a full-blown business woman, doing what she loves and making money doing it... I. love. it. more than I can express on this blog -- Here are a few things she says about lampshades:

  • Lampshades are a way to completely change the look of a room for very little money
  • Can't figure out what color to paint your walls? buy a lampshade and let the colors from the fabric inspire you.
  • Afraid of color? A lampshade is a subtle and beautiful way to add color
  • Love color? Perfect... add more with a lampshade
  • Who wants to be like everybody else? Buy a lampshade that nobody else has. You can't buy these at Target :-) I have never made the same lampshade twice
  • I have made over 65 shades now and am a mom of a 4 year old, 2 1/2 year old, and 9 month old, God is good that they all still nap
  • You can buy already made lampshades at my Etsy Store
  • You can order custom made lampshades through my blog, Shade That Lamp
IF YOU LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE, FL: Works of Art, where Tory will be selling her Lampshades, is having their Grand Opening this Saturday at 7999 Philips Hwy, Suite 100 Jacksonville, FL -- She would LOVE to meet you and help you recreate your home using lampshades -- This is non-for-profit organization, selling hand-crafted items made by local artisans

Tory said to me I'm realizing dreams really can come true. Thank you for encouraging me to start my blog and sell my lampshades. Now I have an Etsy shop, I'm selling them in our local Art Shop and I'm getting orders from hotels!

I've said it before and I'll say it a thousand times... there's no greater joy I have than seeing that someone has a dream, encouraging that dream in any way I can and watching it really come to life. Love it.

Now... for a giveaway -- Tory is giving away one 6x6x7 drum shade -- YOU describe the room and she'll pick the fabric -- Drum shades are perfect for any floor lamp or hanging lamp {like above your dining table} -- Here are a few examples of drum shades she's made {and some sold} already --


Rules:
  • Comment, one entry
  • Comment and follow TORY, two entries
  • Comment, follow Tory and post about the giveaway, 3 entries
Giveaway will be closed SUNDAY AT MIDNIGHT and winner will be announced Monday!

P.S. Just as you may have figured because sometimes I'm so d#@*! fickle, a new name came to me this morning in the shower {where all inspiration flows... hee hee} -- It will officially be called "Featured Friday" because, well, I'm featuring a new blogger's dream every Friday! So there.

26 comments:

Chic Runner said...

These are amazing! how incredible is the SIL! I'm going to comment here and follow her! this would be great for my new room in my new house. Thanks so much for a great giveaway and posting about someone being so inspiring! :)

Sara said...

Wow! How pretty. It's crazy to think that sheer boredom could turn into such a fun business. I want one for every room!

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

Wow, that is so amazing! Her lamp shades are awesome!

Sarah said...

Wow that is so great! You have a very talented SIL. I would totally be interested in this, but alas I have NO lamps. Actually, I have just about nothing in my new apartment (moving halfway across the country and being a college student with limited funds does that to you) but I loved reading about this!

Lindsey said...

WOW! These are all gorgeous!! What a fun post, thanks for the fun idea!

Kate in Austin said...

Hi there. My husband thinks I'm crazy b/c I love lamps. New lamp shades really do make a difference and Tory's are beautiful. I've already done the clicking to follow her and I'll do a post on my blog for the giveaway that links to her blog. Thanks.

Sara said...

These are so cute and classy! I am going to her blog now! Thanks for sharing for us to see these.

With Love from New Orleans said...

I am in love with that first paisley one! I follow her blog--YAY!

Ms. Salti said...

I read that first blog where you introduced her blog blooming business. I'm so excited to hear it's taken off. That is so wonderful! Definitely enter me to win. I'd love a fabulous lampshade!

Victoria said...

THANK YOU ANNA, You are SO thoughtful and sweet and incredible, and lovely, and funny and .....a million other tings :-) Love you, I really appreciate you doing this for me. Thanks too everyone who is choosing to follow me :-) SO fun!

The Pink Chick said...

These are so beautiful! She is so talented!

Amy said...

very cool!! I am trying to follow but it must be a blogger hiccup day I can't click on anything! But I am about to do a post because I am that 30 year old newlywed still in an apartment we cannot paint so I am in love with these types of decorating fixes!

Katrina said...

Thats so awesome for her! =)

Brooke said...

I'm now a follower :) and Left a comment. Check out my site tomorrow for the entry. that's three chances for me! We JUST redid our dining room so I'd LOVE to win this one!

Melissa said...

OMG...I LOVE LOVE LOVE these. Please sign me up for this give away.

I've tried to sign up to follow Tory, but it won't let me?? I want to and will if you two can figure out the problem and I did post about.
http://tinyurl.com/amjovz

Thanks.

Kristen said...

I love them! And woo hoo! She did it! You go girl! (And yes every sentence had an exclamation mark, sorry.)

Janine / Being Brazen said...

Love the lampshades - so pretty

Anonymous said...

These are GREAT! Who wouldnt l♥ve to have one of these! I will follow her and post about it on my blog.

What an awesome idea and congrats on all your luck, I hope you have much much more success!

:)

Jillene said...

They are gorgeous. PICK ME!!

Willo said...

How perfect! I have been looking for the perfect way to spice up a few rooms!

Saskia said...

Wow, the lampshades are really gorgeous!! I'd love to win.

x

Jonathan, Jennifer, Christian, Scarlett and Chloe said...

What an inspirational story - I am so happy to have read it!

I have a very busy (an often stressful job) that I do out of a home office, and a 15 month old who just started daycare this week because it became too much to have him at home with me while I work.

I have recently been thinking, "There's got to be a way to make a living with a job that isn't so stressful, let's me be creative ... and something I absolutely love doing."

And so the lampshade story is incredibly inspiring!

I've be come a follower of her blog, made this comment and will post it on my own blog. Yah, three entries for me! :)

Jennifer

Brandy said...

The lampshades are GORGEOUS, which is why I popped over from the post that Melissa did but wow. The story is so inspirational...it's *almost* better than the product.

SweetTeaOnTheRiver said...

Fabulous story, love the gorgeous shades and guess what? I live in Jax! I will definitely be heading over. Small world, definitely!

Mrs. Not-so-Domesticated said...

Beautiful lamp shades! Love them...its making me rethink the shades I have now.

Eva Casillas said...

Feature Fridays are a great idea. I know you love inspiring people. You inspire me, sis. :D

Btw, I'm not entering the contest. I already have a lampshade (not that I don't need more). Can't wait to see who wins. :D