There is something deeply beautiful about a Victorian style lampshade, often too beautiful to put into words. The rich pleating of the silk, the exquisite handmade rosettes, the custom dye of the fabric and the beautiful light that shines through it – all the Victorian style lampshades are hand made, not mass produced, so they look as though they have been made by someone with a lifetime of experience in lampshade making. However, with the right instructions anyone can learn how to make Victorian style lampshades from scratch.
Mary Maxwell, the Lamp Shade Lady, has spent decades mastering and teaching the art of making Victorian Style Lamps and Shades. Her instructional DVD, “How to Make Victorian Style Lampshades” takes you by the hand and teaches you how to make Victorian Style Lampshades from scratch. This comprehensive and easy-to-follow DVD is a step-by-step guide to creating beautiful handmade Victorian Style Lampshades using silk pleating and handmade rosettes. The DVD is ideal for the complete beginner as Mary walks you through every step of the process and will have you creating your own beautiful Victorian Style Lampshades in no time.
Why Victorian Style Lampshades Are Worth Learning to Make?
There are some crafts that make things of long-term value; things you can keep for decades; things that you can pass on; things that you give as presents and which will be treasured and not mislaid. Making Victorian style lampshades is such a craft. A well made Victorian style lampshade is a warm and beautiful item for your home, with lots of character. No two Victorian lampshades are ever identical because each one has been handmade by the person who made it.
Making Victorian style lampshades is based on skilled textile work of the same kind that was used for the finest domestic interiors in the 19th century. The craft of making Victorian lampshades is a beautiful heritage and an object of art, which can be learned by anyone who wants to make something useful and beautiful for their home or as a gift for someone special. The craft requires patience and attention, but it is within reach of absolute beginners.
What the DVD Teaches: A Full, Beginning-to-End Process
Here’s an overview of what you can expect from the How to Make Victorian Style Lampshades DVD and support materials. Please note that this is a complete step by step course and not a quick fix of a video. Each section of the DVD is covered in as much detail as possible and Mary guides you through every stage from start to finish, including making a decision on materials right through to the completed lampshade, trimmed and ready to use.
The Custom Dyeing Process
The most unique characteristic of the Victorian style lampshades are their colors – rich, complex, deep and often many layered. Here on the DVD Mary teaches the custom dyeing process in full detail so that you will know how to create your own fabric in the exact colors that you need for each individual shade that you make. There is nothing quite like making your own lampshades when it comes to satisfaction. No off the shelf fabric can ever compare to the warmth and feeling of hand made items and the Victorian style is no exception. The ability to create your own unique colored fabric for your Victorian style lampshades is perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of learning this craft.
One of the aspects of this Victorian style of shade making that people find the most satisfying is the custom dyeing of the fabric. As most lampshade makers can tell you, finding the perfect shade of pre-dyed fabric can be very difficult, and once you have found it, you can never be sure if they will make it again. Creating your own custom dye is one of the most creative and unique aspects of Victorian style lampshade making and allows the lampshade maker to have complete control over the color and to create something truly one of a kind and of high quality.
Making the Rosettes
The rosettes, the final decorative feature of the Victorian style lampshades, are a beautifully intricate feature that when mastered look so easy to make. The DVD shows step by step how to make rosettes, giving the student all the information they need to replicate rosettes of all sizes that can be used in a variety of ways on the finished lampshades. Once a student has grasped this basic construction, they can then go on to use this skill in making rosettes, in their own individual way, to decorate their own creations. Rosettes can be of various sizes and are an ideal way to add that extra finishing touch to any lampshade.The DVD Instructional programs are also available as downloads for quick access.
A lampshade can contain many rosettes of varying sizes. Often they are distributed randomly around the shade or in lines down the lower section. The method for making a rosette is shown in detail on the DVD. Once you have learned to make a rosette you will enjoy making them. The rosettes can be used in a very creative way, often as a finishing touch to a lampshade.
The Fan Pleating Technique
The Fan Pleating Technique – The hallmark of Victorian Style Lampshades. Mary teaches you the intricate method of making the pleats that give the Victorian lampshade its unique look. Fan Pleating is a technique that looks very difficult but is in reality very easy to learn and to do once you have learned it. The technique is very precise and does require a lot of patience and consistency but Mary has broken it down into very simple steps that are easy to follow. Once you have mastered this technique you will be able to make even the most beautiful Victorian Style Lampshades with even, perfectly made pleats.
Learning to do the Fan Pleating correctly is a skill that will stay with you once you have learned it. Our DVD will teach you how to make Victorian style lampshades with even, beautiful, and professionally finished pleats.
The Wire Frames: Over 180 Custom-Built Shapes
The Victorian lampshades are all made up of a number of parts and every one of them begins with a wire frame. The wire frames for the Victorian style lampshades are available in over 180 custom-built shapes, all made to order from the Lamp Shade Lady website. From the classic bell and empire styles through to the most unusual and the most ornate of Victorian profiles, the range of wire frames available to use as the basis for your own creations is second to none. In fact, the range of silhouettes offered by the Lamp Shade Lady is so vast that it is unlikely that you will ever find yourself limited for choice when it comes to selecting the perfect frame for your next shade.
The catalog has 180 Vintage wire frame Styles So when you start to plan your lampshades you can look through all the different possibilities that you have available to you. She has a huge range of different styles and shapes of lampshade frames that you can use as the base for your Victorian style lampshades.
Learning with Support: Mary Is Always Available
Many have commented on the difference between watching a video on how to make a Victorian style lampshade and working with a DVD program that contains hours of information that can be played and replayed as often as necessary. The biggest difference of all, however, is the personal support that Mary is always more than happy to offer to anyone using the DVD programs, regardless of how simple or complex the question may be. Contact Mary through the contact form on this website and she will respond to your query.The DVD Instructional programs are also available as downloads for quick access.
Mary is always available to answer any questions that her students may have. There is a contact form on the website where you can post your questions and Mary will respond as soon as possible. Many of her students have said that they found the DVD program easy to follow, but occasionally needed a little more information on a particular technique. The fact that Mary is available to answer any questions is a huge part of her program and makes her classes so much more than just a video. She has a huge amount of patience and has helped hundreds of students through the many stages of her craft.
Where to Begin
If you have ever thought of trying your hand at making a Victorian style lampshade then the answer is yes! You can learn how to make Victorian Style Lampshades with Mary Maxwell’s instructional DVD, a thorough, patient and comprehensive tutorial covering the craft of making a Victorian Style Lampshade from start to finish.
You can go to lampshadelady.com to purchase the DVD’s, download a free copy of the wire frame catalogue and find out about all the other materials and how they can aid your learning. The advanced instructional DVD “How to Make Victorian Sugar Shades and Other Advanced Techniques” is also available for purchase and for those who purchase both the beginner and advanced DVD’s a discount is applied.The DVD Instructional programs are also available as downloads for quick access.
FAQs
Here are 10 basic FAQs for the topic:
1. Do I need prior crafting experience to make a Victorian style lampshade?
No prior experience is needed. As Mary Maxwell says, "If you can sew on a button, you can learn to make a Victorian lampshade." The instructional DVD is designed for complete beginners and walks you through every step from start to finish.
2. What materials do I need to get started?
The basic materials include a wire lampshade frame, fabric suitable for dyeing, dyes for the custom colouring process, and the notions and trims used for finishing. All materials needed are available through the Lamp Shade Lady website alongside the instructional DVD.
3. What techniques are taught in the beginner DVD?
The beginner DVD covers the full process including the custom fabric dyeing process, making decorative rosettes, and the fan pleating technique. Every stage is taught from beginning to end with nothing skipped or assumed.
4. What is fan pleating and why does it matter?
Fan pleating is the technique used to create the structured, elegant fullness that is one of the most recognisable features of a Victorian style lampshade. It requires precision and consistency, but Mary's step-by-step instruction makes it achievable for any beginner.
5. What is the custom dyeing process?
The custom dyeing process involves dyeing your own fabric to achieve the rich, layered tones that give Victorian lampshades their distinctive warmth and depth. It gives you complete creative control over the colour of each shade you make, producing results that off-the-shelf fabrics simply cannot match.
6. What are wire lampshade frames and where do I get them?
Wire lampshade frames are the structural foundation of every Victorian lampshade. The Lamp Shade Lady offers over 180 unique frame shapes, each custom built to order. A free catalogue of all available shapes can be downloaded directly from lampshadelady.com.
7. Is there an advanced DVD for when I have completed the beginner program?
Yes. Once you have completed the beginner DVD, the advanced program — "How to Make Victorian Sugar Shades and Other Advanced Techniques" — is the natural next step. It builds on the beginner skills without repeating them, and a discount is available when both DVDs are purchased together.
8. Can I get help if I get stuck on a technique?
Yes. Mary Maxwell is personally available to answer questions from anyone working through her DVDs. Simply reach out through the contact form on the Lamp Shade Lady website and she will respond with guidance and encouragement.
9. How long does it take to make a Victorian style lampshade?
The time varies depending on the style and complexity of the shade, as well as your familiarity with the techniques. Beginners naturally take longer as they work through each step carefully, but with practice the process becomes more fluent. The DVD is designed to be worked through at your own pace.
10. Where can I buy the instructional DVD?
The beginner DVD, "How to Make Victorian Style Lampshades," is available to order directly from lampshadelady.com. The website also carries the advanced DVD, all required materials, and the free downloadable wire frame catalogue.