Shadez of Michelle

The Putity of Innocence on the Behance Network

2010-12-09T04:51:00.000-06:00

The Putity of Innocence on the Behance Network

How to Make Paper Roses

2010-12-06T15:31:00.000-06:00

View my new article on Squidoo on How to Make Paper Roses. It is loaded with videos and tutorials on paper rose crafting as well as links to examples, supplies and more.

Featured Artist : Michelle Cox Photography

2010-12-05T10:25:00.000-06:00

This striking photo is just one of the dramatic art pieces produced by Michelle Cox of "Michelle Cox Photography" Chicago Illinois. As you will see in her interview, Michelle's view of life in America today is nothing but " up front ", combining what is happening in our world and economy today with dramatic still shots of our history. Her work is purely surreal. Please visit her sites, it will remind you of who you are and where you came from. ( It seems that Michelle has a playful side as well, take note of her very interesting hobbies.)

Name of Business: Michelle Cox Photograhy

* Link to my shop: www.etsy.com/people/michellecoxphoto

* About me: I am fun-loving happy blond little miss that, if seen in the wrong light, can take some of the most depressing pictures in the world. :) I do enjoy a subject matter that is not too often understood, however my passion is to show people things about the world that they might never see.
I grew up and still reside in Midwest America, specifically the Chicago-land area. So much of this area is dead now, outgrown by the world's technological age. My goal is to shed some light that. I want to make the "walls" of a place talk, one last time before they are gone for gone.

* My craft or talent: I am a photographer. I guess i would call a lot of my work... journalist artwork. All of the images are left untouched, meaning that I find the natural composition when I arrive at an abandoned area. I never feel that it is my place to disturb anything when I am there. I merely look for the proper lighting and adjust my position to that. Then the fun begins...

* How I do my craft: I primarily work with digital imagery but I work with film and digital. Capturing an image, I feel, is one of the most amazing things to do, so whatever medium i have to accomplish that, i will use.

* What lead me to my craft: I have always been interested in art however when I was one class shy of graduating college I pulled up an easy "A" that happened to be intro to photography, and I fell in love. Since then I have made it my goal to create, in my photography, the way that I see the world, the way that life looks in my mind.

* My other interests or hobbies: I enjoy any kind of art or design. I love to go on adventures, I love to travel. I adore classic holiday. Not just an acknowledgment of the time but an "I am obsessed with the time period and know everything about it" adoration. My heart truly belongs in the 1940s. I enjoy to sing and tap dance... I love cooking and baking. AND I love coffee, and couldn't do the girl I am without it. :)

* My other links, blogs, websites:
michellecoxphotography.zenfolio.com/
www.flickr.com/people/lonelydove36
www.flickr.com/people/michellecoxphotography

Victorian Lamp Shade Preview

2010-10-24T23:12:00.001-05:00

Shadez of Michelle Victorian Lampshade Gallery

2010-10-24T23:11:00.001-05:00

Shadez of Michelle Handcrafted Lamp Finials

2010-10-24T23:02:00.001-05:00

Another new Headboard lamp

2010-09-22T05:34:00.000-05:00

The Essence of Royalty BL21

Delicate handcrafted gold and black rosebuds drop softly from the rich black and gold hand beaded fringe that accents this lovely Victorian style headboard bed lamp. It's fan shaped shade is dressed in gold and black paisley brocade, rose satin and heavy antique gold metallic lace. Handcrafted rose clusters highlight the side panels while 8 inch champagne chainette fringe and champagne french gimp finish her trimmings.

The fixture operates with a pull chain socket and uses no more than a 25 watt candelabra shaped bulb.

www.shadezofmichelle.com

New Bed Headboard lamp

2010-09-05T05:29:00.000-05:00

BL20 Dreaming of Nectar

This beautiful Headboard lamp was created using a couple of moire prints that have been out of production for many years. I have been holding on to the fabric because it was one of my very favorite prints for making Victorian style lamp shades.

www.shadezofmichelle.com

Recycled Lamp

2010-06-09T13:24:00.005-05:00

This is what happens when you take an old lamp out of the garage, clean
it up, rewire it and create a new lamp shade for it.

Lamp shade recover

2010-06-09T05:12:00.005-05:00

I can see why Early American lamp shades are hard to find these days. I had fits recovering this one, but it was worth the effort.

I started by stripping the frame taking care to keep the fabric in tack as much as possible so I could use it as a pattern. Come to find out, to make the top and bottom ruffles, you take two complete fabric circles, put a cut from the edge to the center of the circle on both pieces and sew the two pieces together. This gives you twice the diameter which creates the ruffle. A wire sewn in a channel to the outside edge of the ruffle allowed you to form the finished ruffles. The rest was normal shade recovering 101.

I had an interesting adventure creating the netted and lace trim as well. I had dyed the lace trim, cut 2" strips of netting and folded it in half and stitched the lace to the netting. I then cut 2" strips of chocolate satin, made bias tape and stitched the netting and lace to it.

Total hours 43, which is why Early American lamp shades are pretty rare these days.

Jennifer Renehan's baby lamp

2010-01-11T06:57:00.003-06:00

New handcrafted finials $19.95

2010-01-06T05:51:00.010-06:00

http://www.shadezofmichelle2.etsy.com/

Etsy Artist: Beaded Art Jewelry

2009-07-30T10:45:00.004-05:00

Susan from Beaded Art Jewelry, goes beyond conventional jewelry crafting with her stunningly detailed beaded art pieces. Her rich choice of color and intricate design remind me of a royal Egyptian or Indian headdress. I would love to have one of her bangles!

Name of business: Beaded Art Jewelry by Susan A. Pierle
Links to my shop: www.beadedartjewelry.etsy.com
About You: I have been beading for over 15 years and have loved every minute of it.
I am mostly self taught from wonderful books and magazines for learning technique and inspiration.
I have taken classes in drawing, watercolor painting, silkscreen, etching, photography,
basket weaving, and glass fusing.
I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida and spent all my time on the beaches there painting sunsets and collecting shells to make jewelry and wind chimes.
I moved to Tennesse where I met my husband of 31 years and lived in the Smokey Mountains.
That was an inspiring place to be, I met some amazing young artist selling thier work and I knew I had to do the same someday.
We moved to Wyoming, another inspiring place, the mountains and landscape, I had to draw and paint it.
We came to Colorado Springs in 1984 and have been here ever since. This is where I started beading and selling my work. Every thing I had learned along the way came together and I found what I wanted to do.
My craft or talent: Creating wearable art jewelry with seed beads, fused glass, crystals and natural stones.
How I do my craft: When I make a one of a kind piece it starts with a focal piece of glass, one I might of made or a vintage button, a crystal, or a stone.
It is glued down and I start searching my seed beads for all the colors coming out of it. Then I just start beading and we'll see what happens.
I do have a sketchbook and draw my designs too.
I love to do bead embroidery the most, but there are so many wonderful bead weaves to learn and create with, so I am always being pulled in different directions. It's never boring.
What lead me to my craft: The desire to sell what I love to do.
My other interst or hobbies: Photographing flowers, camping and hiking, music festivals and having fun with good friends.

Other links or sites: www.myheartglass.etsy.com

New Victorian lampshade

2009-07-25T09:19:00.003-05:00

Large Victorian lamp shade for floor lamp or large table lamp.

Etsy Artist: JLWoodturning

2009-07-24T10:44:00.004-05:00

This is Jerry from J & L Woodturning. After reading his interview, I can just imagine his journey from the beginning and relate to it in my own life and my journey into handcrafting. His work is spectacular!

Name of Business: J & L Woodturning
Link to my shop: http://jlwoodturning.etsy.com
About you: I am a carpenter, by trade. I have worked in the field of construction since graduating from high school. There is not much that I haven’t done or attempted to do in this line of work. I have lived in the beautiful hills of West Virginia all my life. I am married and have two children that are in college.
My craft or talent: I turn wooden bowls and cowboy hats on a lathe.
How I do my craft: The art of woodturning is using a lathe to mount a piece of wood and with the use of gouges, removing anything that you don’t want there. I work in the corner of my garage, but I have hopes of somday building a shop to work in. I like to work with green wood – wood that has recently been cut and not dried out. Most of the wood I use is local wood from trees that have fallen from a storm or someone has cut down. I look for unusual pieces – diseased wood, spalted (almost rotting) wood, burls (abnormal growths on trees) or crotches where two limbs meet. These have the most character and will produce the prettiest bowls. I sand the bowls while they are on the lathe and finish the drying process in the microwave. The cowboy hats are also turned from green wood and using rubber bands are bent into their shape.
What led me to my craft: I started woodturning when my brother, also a wood turner, gave me his old lathe and said, “See what you can do.” With his help in showing me how to sharpen my tools and the basics, it wasn’t long until I was hooked. I spent every spare moment at the lathe, just trying to see what I could do. After turning for three months, I juried for and was accepted at Tamarack, WV – an arts and craft showcase of the best of West Virginia. With the help of my wife, I started selling on my etsy site last year and I love it.
My other interests or hobbies: Other things I like are hunting and fishing, riding a 4-wheeler and watching sports on tv.
My other links, blogs:
http://etsylounge.blogspot.com
http://hintjewelry.blogspot.com

How to rewire a lamp

2009-07-22T06:12:00.004-05:00

Refresh your decor by rewiring your vintage lamp and adding a new lampshade.

How to Combine Patterns in Decor | eHow.com

2009-07-22T05:34:00.004-05:00

Just a short decorating snippet.

How to Combine Patterns in Decor | eHow.com

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FEATURED ARTIST: DraconianRain

2009-07-08T12:03:00.005-05:00

This amazingly detailed drawing is from Laura at DraconianRain. She is new to Etsy, but this is my very favorite of her drawings.

* Name of Business : Draconian Rain
* Link to my shop:
http://draconianrain.etsy.com
http://stores.lulu.com/draconianrain (will be a short while till I add some items, this is where I will sell my graphic novels)
* About you:
I am an Australian artist with a great interest in Japanese manga and pop art. I spend what ever spare time I have on my art and working on my graphic novels. I am now teaching others to draw manga. In some countries this may not be much but for Australia it is for those wanting to learn. There aren’t as many resources here and it is hard to learn much about it, which is why I offer lessons. I have taught people of all kinds of ages and some are better than me now which makes me really happy to know that I helped them to get where they are today.
* My craft or talent:
Drawing or just about anything art related.
* How I do my craft:
I make my art in various ways. So far I am working on my digital art and airbrushing skills. I am best at pencil/graphite drawings and giving them soft textures which is particularly effective when drawing children and babies. I love working in charcoal and making detailed work with them and when I use it I tend to use hard charcoal to get the most detail possible. I always listen to music when I draw or have a specific song playing over and over that relates to my art. I prefer to work in large areas. Usually on the floor or under a tree.
* What lead me to my craft:
I have been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil so I guess you could say that I was born with it. I am only 20 now and still haven’t stopped drawing and I doubt I ever will.
* My other interests or hobbies:
Manga, Anime, Ice skating, giving gift art and doing art trades, teaching others to draw and writing
* My other links, blogs, websites:
http://draconianrain.livejournal.com/
http://draconianrain.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/draconian_rain
http://www.mangabullet.com/visit/Saphira
http://saphira.paperdemon.com/
http://www.ratemydrawings.com/user/Saph/ (on this site you can watch how I made my work as a flash)

How to: Choose a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb

2009-06-29T11:16:00.004-05:00

Here is a short video on choosing a CFL.

I can expand on this video with the thought that there are now an ever changing variety of CFLs coming on the market, for every kind of lighting application. You may now choose CFLs for ceiling fans, (which are totally different than ones you would choose for a standard lamp or light fixture) they need to be able to withstand the vibration a fan puts out. There are also may new shapes of CFL's coming out to match almost every incandescent version on the market, such as vanity bulbs(globe shaped)and candleabras for chandeliers (flame tip). Also, be VERY aware that not all CFLs can be used outdoors in extreme temperatures or with dimmers or timers.

FEATURED ARTIST: MATTSART

2009-06-26T12:28:00.005-05:00

I am in awe, just viewing this artists site. Some day maybe, I can own one if his paintings!!!

* Name of Business: Mattsart Fine Art Paintings - The Art of Matthew Hamblen
* Link to my shop: http://www.mattsart.etsy.com/
* About you: I love painting more than breathing. I'm self-taught and have been at it for more than a decade now. I'm very happy that my work touches so many people.
* My craft or talent: Painting
* How I do my craft: Painting (funny Matt!)
* What lead me to my craft: Instinct - being an artist is in my blood, and it found me and owned me before I even knew what happened!
* My other interests or hobbies: TV, friends, the usual.
* My other links, blogs, websites: I may have the website www.matthewhamblen.com actually functional with more than just a directory soon. I'm not sure yet if I'll develop it, or just keep plugging away on Etsy (which is fun too!)
*Be sure to tell us about you, your location, history, interesting facts:
I'm in beautiful North Carolina in the Piedmont. Right in the middle of the state so I can visit the mountains or the ocean without going too far.
I love it here - one way I spend time is just driving around in the hills here. It's like driving around in a landscape painting it's all so beautiful. I can just get lost down here all day, and love every minute of it!

Then I come home and try to put those adventures on canvas for you!

How to: Make a box out of paper

2009-06-26T12:23:00.006-05:00

This is a very cute "How to video" I wanted to share with you.

FEATURED ARTIST: StudioHaus

2009-06-26T11:48:00.006-05:00

StudioHaus Is pretty new to Etsy, but her vivacious photos speak volumes!

* Name of Business: StudioHaus
* Link to my shop: http://studiohaus.etsy.com/
* About you: From a very young age, I have been in love with arts and crafts. I use to spend summers with my grandparents: my Grannie would teach me how to crochet and do creative projects while my Papa would take me in his wood shop and help me make things. Those are some of my fondest childhood memories. I think this is why I feel happiest when I am creating or doing something artist.
* My craft or talent: My main passion is photography. I love knowing that I’m capturing a moment that will never be the exactly that same way ever again and getting to share that with other people makes my day.
* How I do my craft: Outdoors and nature inspire almost all of my photography. Often some of my best pictures come from little mini adventures with my husband throughout the Midwest. I also do a lot of fireworks and life photography.
* What lead me to my craft: I’ve always loved the arts and began working in a photo studio several years ago but soon realized that my passion was more in capturing things in nature.
* My other interests or hobbies: I love going out to coffee shops and hanging out with friends. I also enjoy making envelopes and cards just for fun.
* My other links, blogs, websites:
http://studiohaus.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/studiohaus/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Studio-Haus/216333265373

How to: Make plastic bag earrings

2009-06-25T13:54:00.004-05:00

Danielle is from Etsy and Indie5. I think she is so cute in her video's! She does have more videos available on YouTube, and be sure to check out her Etsy shop @ www.daniellesdesigns.etsy.com.

FEATURED ARTIST: Blue Far Down

2009-06-25T13:14:00.014-05:00

This is a very special artist, he is my younger brother. Don't be alarmed, I might be older, but I really love rock and alternative music. My favorite song of his is called "Problem". It just makes me laugh! Daryl is really a very talented pencil artist as well.

* Name of Business : Blue Far Down
* Link to your business: http://www.bluefardown.com/
* About you: My name is Daryl Schreiber. I am from the Chicago land area and I am the lead vocalist and writer for Blue Far Down.
* My craft or talent: I am a vocalist / lead singer for the band Blue Far Down and I have been into music since I was just a boy. I can remember singing along to some of the rock songs my brother listened to.

* What lead me to my craft: The feeling that I have every time I sing. It's an almost indescribable feeling of joy.
* My other interests or hobbies: I like to paint and draw as well as write my own songs.
* My other links, blogs or web-sites: You can check out Blue Far Down at myspace and Facebook
* My favorite Books, Movies,websites: Grandmas boy, Web sites,http://www.bluefardown.com/ , http://www.streetfire.net/ and http://www.examiner.com/.

Dirtvictim at work

2009-06-25T11:10:00.000-05:00

David at Dirtvictim and his newest invention.

New oriental shade.

2009-06-24T09:40:00.002-05:00

I had so much fun creating this!

How to: Make Recycled Paper Beads

2009-06-23T11:38:00.001-05:00

This project can be really fun for the whole family.

FEATURED ARTIST: Baboom

2009-06-23T10:31:00.000-05:00

Olga is so charming and her work is impeccable!

Name of business - My etsy name is baboom, it was a first word my son said, it must be something good on baby language.

Link to my shop - www.baboom.etsy.com

About me - my name is Olga, I am from Far East Russia ( where I was a building engineer) but live in Australia for the last 5 years and really love this beautiful country. I have two little boys, husband and dog and they keeping me busy every day and night. I still miss cold Russian winters and maybe this is a reason why I making warm knits.

My craft and ( I hope) talent - I knit and crochet. A lot. I can not just sit and watching TV, I always keep my hands busy with my knitting needles or crochet hook. I have strong yarn addiction and my stashes are growing and growing, I love to work with Australian wool, it is so warm and soft, especially hand spun wool. I always positive while knit, I believe you actually knit your energy in every piece you making, and person who will wear it will 100% feel this positive energy.

How I do it - My inspiration is usually coming from yarn itself, nature of course, I love to stare on people wearing knits and watching fashion channel sometimes. And I just taking my needles and create, most of my knits are one of a kind, it's a bit boring to "mass produce", it's more like an art for me.

What lead me to my craft - I was born at Soviet Union and we had our "labor and craft" lessons at school every week, this is why every Russian woman knows how to knit, crochet, sew and cook delicatesses from nothing, ha ha. Seriously, it was a pretty tough time back to my childhood, I had "perestroyka" childhood, everything was limited - food, clothes. Also my grandma is a great knitter, and I still using some old knitting books from her house. And I started to knit again for my older son, who is almost 4 years old , now etsy is a big part of my everyday life, I love to have opportunity to show and sell my creations here!

My other hobbies - I also enjoying to spend time doing embroidery, felt and sewing. At the moment I don't have enough time with my kids, lil one is only 14 months old. I also dreaming about weaving...

My website is http://olgaasonova.weebly.com/

Silver grey floor or table lampshade

2009-06-23T06:18:00.004-05:00

I have been trying to put a few larger shades in my shop. It seems that they are expensive to ship and generally only available in white or ivory. I have been trying to use some of the current popular decorating colors. Here is the latest.

How to Use Books in Decor | eHow.com

2009-06-22T05:23:00.001-05:00

I love how to videos and tutorials, and eHow is a great place to find them.

How to Use Books in Decor | eHow.com

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FEATURED ARTIST: ChingTeoh Textured Art

2009-06-13T07:24:00.004-05:00

ChingTeoh, is another wonderful unique artist. I love texture in art,and Ching does it so magnificently.

Name of Business:
ChingTeoh Textured Art
Link to your business:
http://chingteoh.etsy.com/
Tell us about yourself:
I am a Chinese born on a small island to the north of Malaysia, called Penang Island. This is a beautiful tropical island where multi-races living together for decades. I love the different cultures living environment here. Where each culture influences each other to become a unique beautiful Malaysian style. Hence, my paintings and work are of the beauty of the surroundings. I am a self-taught painters, live with my husband in a heritage building. Which we turned it into a unique art gallery and also a friendly frame shop. My husband is a framer, ha.. so we are a pretty good match .. I paint and he frames. to check out our place, please go to my Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ching-teoh/sets/72157613309151811/
Name:
My full name is Ching Ching Teoh. most friend call me Ching.
Location:
Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.
Profession:
Was a computer system analyst, but now a full-time painter
Family:
My husband and I
What is your Craft or Talent and how long have you been doing it:
I paint acrylic textured painting .. started to love drawing when I know how to hold a pencil .hahah
Give us a description of how you do your craft:
I first craft the canvas with acrylic texture medium .. then follows with layers of colors .. gloss medium .. then final varnishing.
What are your other interests or hobbies:
Oh.. there is plenty .. I love travel, I love different culture, food and arts, I love going to gym ... join in training groups ... and.. I love cooking too. especially hot and spicy food.!
Do you have other e-mail, blogs or web-sites of yours that you would like to share:
email: ching at ching-teoh dot com
website: http://www.ching-teoh.com/
blog: http://ching-teoh.blogspot.com/
photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ching-teoh

Another shade

2009-06-12T19:07:00.005-05:00

Here is the second.

How to Use Mirrors in Decor | eHow.com

2009-06-12T05:56:00.000-05:00

How to Use Mirrors in Decor | eHow.com

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FEATURED ARTIST: BBusbyarts

2009-06-11T21:38:00.006-05:00

A short interview with BBusbyarts................................

I can't say enough about this talented artist!!! You MUST visit her Etsy shop.

* Name of Business : BBusbyarts

* Link to your business:
http://home.comcast.net/~bbusbyarts/site/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8322956@N04/show/

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5204998

* About me:
I believe that art is a vital part of what it is to be a human being.
Extensive teaching experience has shown me how important learning basic drawing skills and art appreciation is even to the youngest children.
My entire life has been spent making things, I received my fine arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design and was lucky enough to make it my career during my 18 years running my ceramic tile manufacturing company.
To me, each piece is about communication. I want to express an idea, emotion, or tell a story. I judge the success of each by the effectiveness with which they communicate their message.
Much of my work is technique driven, I enjoy discovering new abilities to construct an image in different ways. I never set out to make something "pretty", the appearance of each project is determined by the idea behind it. Creating my own raw materials is also important, I have been dyeing my own fabric since I began quilting over 30 years ago, and I am familiar with fabric construction form the raw fiber on up.
*My craft or talent:
I have been making quilts since the 1970's.
I lived in Venice, California, and began dyeing old curtains and picking clothes out of trash cans to sew.
* How I do my craft:
I like to work in every aspect of my art. I begin with dyeing or painting material to suit the original designs I have in mind.
Many construction techniques are used, and a wide variety of materials, from the usual cottons to silk, metallic, and non wovens.

* What lead me to my craft:
I have sewn since I was a child. While majoring in ceramics in college, I also took fiber design classes. It was a great alternative to ceramics- light, colorful, and non dusty!

* My other interests or hobbies:
We have dogs, chickens and fish......
I love to take the dogs for walks in the mountains to enjoy the high desert scenery we have here.

*Favorite links or sites:
The APOD website is one I check every day, it is a NASA site that posts a new picture of the skies every day.
I have also become addicted to the Nikon and Olymput microphotography sites, there are amazing things we can't see with the naked eye!

*Betty Busby
Albuquerque New Mexico
Fbusby3@comcast.net

New shade for shop

2009-06-10T19:04:00.001-05:00

In an effort to add some lover priced items to my shop, I am creating some simple handsewn shades. Here is the first.

FEATURED ARTIST : Dirtvictim

2009-05-01T19:55:00.002-05:00

A short interview with Dirtvictim.................................

This artist's personality is quite as interesting as his creations.

* Name of Business : Dirtvictim Enterprises

* My craft or talent: Entrepreneur, Life long. Handcrafted knives, swords, Pool cues, T shirts and Biking gear.

*Link to your business: http://dirtvictim.com/

* About me : Self made quadrillionaire! and comedian.

* Name: David L. Schreiber

* Location: Las Vegas, NV

* Profession: Business Owner, Dirtvictim

* Family: Single, just siblings.

* Give us a description of how you do your craft: Well right now I am designing my website , working on a couple of new projects I am patenting and creating new t shirts.

* What lead you to your specific craft: Mainly my interest in mountain biking and web design.

* What are your other interests or hobbies: Martial arts, knife making computer tech.

* My favorites: Books: Tom Robbins , Movies: ActionWeb sites, Other: Biking sites, Music: Rock, Modern, Hard core metal, it is the best for serious trail riding.

Another Location

2009-04-30T10:16:00.008-05:00

I apologize for not working on my blog for a while. I am currently working on my regular custom orders and I am adding two new locations. One is in the Lake County Court House in Crown Point IN. It is the perfect location for my vintage lamps. I will be back posting soon.

I have also been restructuring my business into two divisions.

Cheers to all!!!

Michelle Tomlinson
Suzanne Michelle Illuminations.
www.shadezofmichelle.com

Shadez of Michelle is now also known as Suzanne Michelle Illuminations. www.shadezofmichelle.com

2009-04-17T09:50:00.001-05:00

A link to my Etsy favorite items

2009-04-02T12:20:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to some of my Etsy favorite items and sellers. I hope you enjoy them.

GIVE AWAYS

2009-03-23T11:16:00.000-05:00

*********************************************

How to Accessorize a Kitchen | eHow.com

2009-03-22T06:03:00.000-05:00

How to Accessorize a Kitchen | eHow.com

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How to Decorate With Color | eHow.com

2009-02-22T06:06:00.000-06:00

How to Decorate With Color | eHow.com

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My Facebook page

2009-02-19T12:59:00.001-06:00

Become a fan on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shadez-of-Michelle/49116089588

Coming soon: Lamp rewiring video

2009-02-07T14:03:00.007-06:00

Hello all,

I am working on a short video on lamp rewiring. I believe it is a great way to help the environment as well as bring new life to some wonderful vintage lamps.
It is my opinion, that the lamps produced today are embarrassing in quality and workmanship compared to older lamps manufactured before the 1960's, even the 1970's. So many lamps these days are made of resin, the lampshade frames break down to fit in the shipping box, and the lampshade fitter just sits on the socket body instead of a harp. Some floor lamps also break down for shipping, and are made with a very thin pot metal that breaks easily. I am sorry to say that even though they can make them look nice, these lamps just don't last. Hopefully you will consider rewiring your old lamp and maybe even adding a new lampshade before destroying a wonderful antique.

Ask Michelle Lighting tips

2009-01-21T11:52:00.000-06:00

Lighting solutions for your home. Are you remodeling or just trying to update your decor? Post your question in Shadez of Michelle Forums@ http://shadezofmichelle.com/shadezofmichelleforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2

LIGHTING TIPS, Dimmer switches

2009-01-19T12:42:00.002-06:00

Dimmer switches are a wonderful and easy solution to many lighting problems. They can create exotic ambiance as well as conserve energy. They come in an array of different styles from sliders, dials, and even remote operation, and are very easy to install. Just remember, not all light bulbs can be used with dimmers, many fluorescent are incompatible with dimmers and timers.

Winter safety tips for your home

2009-01-12T22:45:00.000-06:00

Reminding everyone to be extra careful with gas, propane and electric heaters during this cold snap. Be aware of carbon monoxide dangers.

HOME LIGHTING TIPS, Lampshade care

2009-01-06T15:01:00.000-06:00

Keep your paper and fabric lampshades out of direct sunlight to help prevent them from discoloring and premature ageing.
Use no more than the recommended wattage bulbs in your lamps to keep the shades from scorching or burning.
Dust your lampshades lightly for cleaning. Lampshade cleaning sponges are available at your local DYI center. Some silk shades can be washed, but beware, it is a tricky task. You can end up with water spots or a rusted frame.

HOME LIGHTING TIPS, light bulbs

2009-01-06T15:00:00.001-06:00

Use colored light bulbs in your lamps to create a variety of wonderful ambiances in your home. I have seen incandescent party bulbs in 25 and 40watt as well as fluorescent twisty bulbs in 14watt (40w incandescent comparison). Several different colors are available and you will be pleasantly surprised at how dramatically they can change the look of your area. Be sure to use a wattage no more than the recommended wattage of your lamp and lampshade.

About Me

2009-01-05T21:20:00.017-06:00

My name is Michelle Tomlinson, and I have been creating custom lighting solutions since 1990. I have created custom lamp shades for literally thousands of marvelous vintage lamps, chandeliers, oil lights, and sconces, and I have repaired as well as re-finished many of those pieces. A large part of my work has been in creating custom lamp shades for my clients, specifically to match their decor, but my real passion is in taking a beautifully detailed vintage lighting piece and creating just the right Victorian style lamp shade to bring it to life. You will see that I can create a lamp and shade for any decor, but I will offer a variety of other things on my site as well. I hope you enjoy viewing my work as much as I enjoy creating it.

FEATURED ARTIST: Aikuzzura Titanium Flutes

2008-10-15T15:34:00.000-05:00

This unique artist is as spiritually talented as he is creative.

* Name of Business: Aikuzzura Titanium Flutes
* Link to my shop: www.aikuzzuraflutes.etsy.com
* About you: My name is Kudos Aikuzzura. That means, "the Holy Temple of Love, Light, and Spirit. Passion is the word I most often use to express who I am. What ever I am doing, it is my desire to be fully present in the experience, be it love, music,exercise, food or even stillness. I am a multi-faceted being and I do not believe in "Can't". I have spent a large majority of my life in self discovery. Always, I have wanted to alleviate the suffering of those I see everywhere, and so I have pursued knowledge and abilities toward that end. My Flutes are an important aspect in that self discovery. I have also studied the healing arts and in particular. I have been trained by my Vietnamese Master Luong Minh Dang for many years. As I have said, I am passionate and I love people, so as a teacher, I am passionate toward helping others. Now, as for music, there is a saying; " Music in the soul can be heard by the universe". It is very often that I experience music in my heart and mind. How wonderful is it that we have this gift of music!!!
* My craft or talent: Handcrafting titanium flutes.
* How I do my craft: As I begin to create a new flute, I start by sketching the outline shape, or profile image. The most significant aspect of the process is visualization. What is the feeling which the imagined form invokes? For me personally, the flute is inescapably somewhat of a spiritual instrument. By this, I mean that due to the fact that the very air which sustains life is what one uses to express themselves in music. Now that I have the basic form in mind, it will be translated intuitively through my hands as I form the parts. A number of processes take place in order to ensure that the finished product is both aesthetically pleasing and acoustically accurate. I feel that science and spirit come together in the making of a musical instrument. Much emphasis is placed on the head of the flute, especially the crown. Throughout history mankind has built temples as sacred places where by he could learn of his spiritual being. Many of the crowns I create are inspired by these temples. As man himself is a temple, it is my desire that as one plays my flute, that he will be drawn to his temple within. The flute in its form and function is very much like the human body with its portals which interface the inner and outer worlds. Much about ourselves can be discovered thru music and like the flute, it is the openings which allows the awakening to unfold.
* What lead me to my craft: Since an early age, I have had an interest in energy, pyramids, crystals, healing, and the like. In particular, the areas of light and music and the ways in which they impact our emotional states and well being. As a child, I grew up watching the T-V show Kung Fu with David Carridine playing Kwai Chang Cain. As Kwai Chang went about his many adventures, he would find peace in meditating while playing his bamboo flute. This resonated with some deep part of my being and I knew that one day I too would make a flute and enjoy the companionship of music. I was aware of the problems associated with bamboo cracking and so I went about finding a material which was light, strong, and not affected by the elements. At the time, titanium was starting to be used in various applications, most notably in the bicycle industry. I decided to test my theory and purchased a titanium handle bar for mountain bikes. Although it looked a lit strange, the sound was so mellow and resonant, perfect for a flute, but the shape wasn't the ideal for most players. Once I found a supplier of titanium, the process of getting tools which were capable of working with this metal became a most intense process. Titanium requires some very specific tooling to work with due to certain physical properties inherent in the metal. This equaled a few broken tools in the beginning. Titanium is fairly expensive as well, but all things considered, the final result is an instrument of superior quality in every aspect. Used very often for weapons of war, I am very thankful to use this awesome material for creating an instrument of peace.
* Tell us about you, your history, interesting facts: I am a bit of a precision freak in that I admire precision craftsmanship. I have a great appreciation for time pieces and fine jewelry work. Any craft which uses skill such as bead work, sculpting, metalwork, painting, you name it. from the most sophisticated micro-chip to the most grand architecture, the human creativity seems limitless. From age thirteen, I began taking an interest in physical fitness and so in a way I enjoy creating my own body, and I admire the beauty and strength in others as they endeavor to create their own bodies. I remember something Yanni said some years ago, "life is precious, all of life and one must try to take in as much of it as possible, until the last moment". I also remember in my younger years something said by the flamboyant Liberace, "Enough is good, more is better, and too much is just right". Certainly in the realm of creative life these words would be aptly applied. So much can be said about my interests, but it is all best shared with good friends over music with a cup of jasmine tea or a good red wine.
*Additional notes about the flutes: All are completely hand crafted by Kudos Aikuzzura. Both my flutes and piccolos are made in the key of D at this time. I offset the holes a bit to accommodate different hand sizes. All of my flutes are open hole Folk flute style and require no mechanical parts or maintenance. They can be cleaned using common dish soap, preferably the non-abrasive type, as that would scratch the material. Titanium is impervious to nearly all chemicals and is Hypo-allergenic (does not cause reactions to the human body). Titanium is acoustically comparable to the precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum, and in certain aspects, it is superior. Titanium metal has its visual counterpart in the gemstone world as Titania with an extremely high refractive index, I.E. it creates lots of "fire". Titanium is stronger and lighter than stainless steel and is thereby less likely to incur serious damage as would be experienced with wood or precious metals. And, as I have mentioned, that it sounds great and looks great too.

FEATURED ARTIST: LuxArt

2008-10-15T12:26:00.000-05:00

I love interviewing artists such as Natasha from LuxArt, she is an extraordinary person with a very interesting history. Natasha uses a very unique process to create her amazing photos with a tool that she invented to create her process.

* Name of Business: Lux Art
* Link to my shop: www.luxart.etsy.com
* About you: I began art studies at a young age, and have been experimenting with art processes and media ever since. My artistic endeavors continued throughout my university years while I obtained an Associate’s Degree in Photography, a Bachelor’s Degree in Art, and a Master’s Degree in Education with Art Credential. Spending summers in Portland, Oregon and winters in Bend, Oregon, I live with my husband, Tony, and our dog, Syan. I own and operate Lux Art LLC and teach photography at Central Oregon Community College. I am a member of the renowned dance troupe Sahara’s Dream. I enjoy traveling and living abroad. Having spent extensive time in Asia and South America, I have been influenced by the archaic in the jungles of Brazil and by the avant-garde in the jungles of Tokyo.
* My craft or talent: I create light paintings.
* How I do my craft: Working in complete darkness, I create using beams of light with a tool I invented. By manipulating the color and the intensity of the light onto light sensitive paper, I literally paint with light. After photo-chemical processing, the painting is revealed. All pieces produced are unique works. (No camera or computer is used in the making of this art.)
* What lead me to my craft: During the time I was pursuing my photography based art degree I witnessed meteoric changes within the photographic world. While the once commanding darkroom was being replaced by the newest computer lab, prosperous photography businesses were closing their doors forever. I both embraced and questioned the digital world photography was being assimilated into. I delved further into the basic concepts of photography; where it came from, what it meant, and where it was going. Pondering the root words photo meaning light and graph meaning to write, I began exploring the concept of literally writing with light. I developed various methods of painting using light on photosensitive paper, and designed a tool for this purpose. A US patent is pending for both the tool and process by which I create.
* My other website: www.luxartwork.com

2008-10-07T12:45:00.000-05:00