Here is a picture of two table lamps, made from custom frames that I ordered in:
Which one do you think was made from special, expensive, adhesive backed card specifically designed for making lampshades?
Which one was made using plain white polyproylene?
It's hard to see here (taking photos of lighting is haaaard), but the one on the left glows a hideous orange colour, no matter what the fabric or bulb is. The one on the right is perfect. You'd be forgiven for thinking the perfect one was made with the fancy card. But oh no - that would be the ugly orange one.
I think I've had it up to my ears with H***works now. Not only are they badly located and the staff are often rude, but they also sell an expensive and inferior product. I spent $70 on this stuff only to find it was really crap.
Lesson learnt - stick to what you know works well, even if it is a bit more fiddly.
That all said, I'm really happy with how the good one turned out. Exactly how I pictured it in my mind. I'm going to make a few more to sell ... somewhere.
26 comments:
I drool over these frames you get. Nothing even remotely close in the US. I was told pressure sensitive styrene works well. The gold would be a major disappointment- the lamp in the foreground is so nice and clean and bright. I love it!
I agree lamps are really hard to photograph but I can see exactly what you mean about the colour difference - how frustrating. For my drum shades I use a product called Selapar which isn't cheap but is self-adhesive and almost clear. It is ideal because like you I want my colours to remain true. I buy mine from a fellow lampshade maker here in the UK, but it is manufactured in Germany - I wonder if anyone imports it into Australia?
I am sure they will sell well - they are lovely.
*flashbacks to last minute desperate trips to handworks during Uni* (Thanks Lara, i thought i'd repressed that place) :P lamp looks hot - isn't it really hard to print on polyprop tho?
Bummer! But I agree - the lamp with the warm white light is definitely superior to the other one.
Handworks is awful. They just have so much stuff you can't find anywhere else though...
I also can relate to your feelings on hand*****. You can buy that pressure senstive styrene here:
http://www.lampshop.com/
and i have also heard it works really well. Also there is a place in Melbourne called Mayfield Lamps which will custom make a lamp shade frame for you although i'm not sure what the prices are like.
arggh i share bamakko's pain... *dreaded h***works nightmares from uni are flooding back* 'whyyy!?!?'
..anyway, your good lamp turned real pretty, the fiddliness was more than worth it!
lovely lamps and print
Bettina
ha! craft project disappointment is obviously catching...i've been dying to make some little zipped pouches out of my gocco printed fabric and after finding a great tute on the internet i got started...only to finish the pouch and have it end up looking, well, shit, quite frankly. so i'm sharing your pain. however, the lamp looks fabulous as and i'm loving the twill tape :) i'm going to cheer myself up with a box of jaffacakes.
I love your "good" lampshade! It definitely casts a nicer light than the other one!
Oh, but you're so good to keep going. I have the inevitable crap crafting moments and end up packing stuff away and forgetting about it rather than unpicking my sewing or having a second go. When I do I have found new ways to do things or learned from my mistakes and the end result is good. You are so, so, sooo good to keep at it.
I really love these lamps, your print looks great on them! Either way i would totally take one!!
Oh how disappointing for you .... but the one on the right looks great - I look forward to seeing the new ones (and I've earmarked some of my anticipated tax return to buy a couple if possible!).
Lara- I do understand the frustration of experimentation, but you're perseverance is admirable and inspiring.
HINT on the photography: I learned that if one wanted to take great photos of jack o-lantern's after they're carved and lit, take the photos of them outside during dusk. This will allow you to have a bit of back lighting and allow your lights to glow.
HTH!
Do you think the difference in the effects of the material is something to do with heat-proofing, or being fire-retardent, something like that? You have to be confident it's going to be ok when it gets hot... (Sorry to sound like my mum!)
What you've discovered is:
'I can make lamps out of cheap stuff that are better than lamps made from expensive stuff!'
Good news, non?
Hi I am wondering where you buy the white polypropylene in Australia? I am have a lot of trouble finding it?
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Hi there
Can you please tell me where you buy the polypropylene? I am planning on making some lamps as christmas presents, and I am not sure where to buy it from!
With thanks
Em
Hi Em! You can get the polyprop from art stores - I get mine from Melbourne Artist's Supplies. Hope that helps :)
Hello. I know that this is an old blog post, but I was hoping you can offer some advice.
What exactly is plain white polypropylene? Is it adhesive? Does it come in a roll or sheets? How did you make your lamps? Do you know of any DIY tutorials using this material? How is it different from pressure sensitive styrene?
Any information is greatly appreciated! Thank you!!
Hi Bianca!
I found the plain white polypropylene from the art supply store, it comes in sheets in amongst all the large format papers. It's not adhesive which is why I used spray adhesive. I've never actually used pressure sensitive styrene before but I've heard it talked about a lot and sounds like it could be better. Something that has adhesive on it already sounds like a lot less hassle!
It's been a very long time since I've made my own lamps and there's definitely better ways of doing it these days I reckon!
Lara.
Hi,
I'm sure this blog was from a long time ago but it's about the most useful thing I have found in terms of how/where to find materials for making lampshades in Aus! So thank you!
I'm just wondering how you use the polypropylene sheets as surely the A3 sheets are not long enough to wrap around the frame and you may have to double up? Does this create annoying lines on the shade?
Hi Sal!
Yes doubling up would cause extra seams which would be no good! I source much larger sheets than A3 from our art store - Melbourne Artists Supplies - which solve that problem :)
Lara.
I know this is an old post but I was just wondering how you joined the polypropylene to make a cylinder?
Thanks!
Rachel
Hi Rachel, I used a really high strength spray adhesive. 3M make some good ones :)
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