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Papershades

Papershades studio

Discover how to use paper collage to create your own Papershade -a unique paper lampshade which will brighten up your home whether the lights are on or off!

This workshop is relaxed, fun and super-creative and something everyone can do.  All the materials are provided - tissue paper, gift wrap, wallpaper, magazine pages - anything which can be torn or cut out and stuck down onto a template.  With expert guidance from Ros Freeborn, founder of Papershades, you'll discover how to create a beautiful design on a card template which, when it's finished, will be printed onto five panels of Papershades translucent paper.  

You'll find out how to interpret a creative idea you might have been nurturing for ages, or be inspired by the huge variety of paper and materials on offer which can be used to create a totally unique design.  There's plenty of time to think about what you would like to make, a bit of advice where needed but basically you will create a lampshade like no other in the world.  Once the design has been printed onto five A4 pages of paper it is cut out and the panels are fixed to the Papershades wheels which fit comfortably and safely onto any average lamp or light fitting.  Everyone will go home with a lampshade which might have been designed specifically for a room, makes a highly original present or simply ensures that your lampshade is not boring.... it is art!

Make a Paper Lampshade

*It's amazing what you can do with paper.  It's the most versatile, fascinating and beautiful material and is absolutely perfect for lampshades.  It's also extremely satisfying to spend time sticking down paper with glue stick or PVA glue. Once the paper has been selected and the design is pretty much in place, that moment of 'commitment' is thrilling. You are making an artistic mark, fixing an idea which has never been done before.*

You don't need to bring anything to a Papershades workshop. Everything is provided. However, if you do have a favourite paper - wrapping paper, wallpaper, photos or printed materials which you'd like to incorporate into the design, bring it along.  Sometimes people come with a firm idea of what they'd like to make and find a way to bring their vision to life. Others might have an idea but become fascinated by the potential of all the material, inspiration and stimulation on offer and decide to go for something completely different.

Some people have a specific lamp-stand in mind - perhaps an antique or an heirloom or one where the old shade has disintegrated or is too old-fashioned.  It's great to create a paper lampshade which complements the colour or shape of a specific lamp and brings something which might have been consigned to a cupboard or even cast out back to life.

Papershades workshops last about three hours and can be scheduled into the morning, afternoon or evening.  They are great for small groups of up to six around Ros's studio table or larger groups will fit around a long table in a bigger space.  The Papershades studio is very easy to reach by public transport.  

There will always be Papershades cake to help fuel the creativity and encourage artistic endeavour. Workshops are always very enjoyable and chatty and everyone takes delight in seeing what everyone else has created. Several people like the shade they've created so much that they order further copies (perhaps for lamps on either side of a spare bed) or can't wait to come back to have another go.

Loved it is the easiest way to describe it.  I went with a few friend and it was so much fun being creative together.  Ross is the perfect host and the tea and biscuits were lovely too  ;)  Best, Toni

I've actually done this class twice it was so much fun! Ros is a warm and friendly host who begins the class in her Edwardian studio with a background of her paper art and what got her into lampshades. Then you can find the perfect pieces to make your very own custom lampshade using the plethora of tissue paper, wallpaper, wrapping paper, etc. in her collection. She'll guide you through creating your art and assembling the lampshade. And I can't leave out the delicious tea and cake she serves! It's an all around unique and delightful experience that I'd recommend to anyone who likes arts, crafts, or simply good conversation (and cake).

Great fun. Had lots of ideas, difficult settling for one, but Rosalind was very good at giving you space to play around and then hone in on one idea to get that personalised lampshade.

Ros inspired, supported and encouraged us, and very soon we were all working on our own ideas, absorbed and happy. The atmosphere was so positive, we all came away with really beautiful Christmas lampshades. Mine has been on display ever since. I feel proud to have achieved such an attractive piece, and grateful to Ros’ patience and nurturing, let alone creative flair. A thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Book as a group of friends ? I’m definitely going back with some of mine!

Great afternoon. Ros is an excellent tutor and very encouraging. She is also a wonderful host, and serves delicious cake!

Sarah o

Ros is a wonderful and fantastic teacher and  she makes the atmosphere very  social.  She will guide you every step of the way and  you will soon discover that the possibilities are endless with paper.
I would highly recommend this course and anyone can do it.
Loved the delicious cake and coffee:)

Discover how to use paper collage to create your own Papershade -a unique paper lampshade which will brighten up your home whether the lights are on or off!

Papershades was set up by artist Rosalind Freeborn who specialises in paper collage.  She wanted to find a way to make her art available beyond a work on canvas.

Ros found a way to 'reinvent the wheel' - to create two sizes of wheels which can grip panels of paper and make a lampshade which fits comfortably and safely on the average lamp stand or room light. She launched Papershades with a range of floral designed based on her own paper collage work. She's developing new ranges all the time, including festive Papershades for Christmas.

Ros has developed a way for everyone to create their own, stunning and totally unique paper lampshades.  She set up Papershades workshops in her studio in north London to enable anyone to have a go. All the materials are provided - loads of tissue paper, wrapping paper, wallpaper, pages torn from magazines - and she offers guidance so that everyone can do it and everyone goes home with an amazing paper lampshade like no other in the world!

There's listening time, thinking time, experimenting time, making time and then sticking time! Once each person's template is ready Ros will print it onto five panels of Papershades translucent paper. The template is then cut out and fixed onto the wheels and....voila! a lampshade has been produced. 
 
And, most importantly,  there is cake!  The Papershades cake, complete with lettering, has become an essential ingredient to fuel creativity and chatter throughout the workshop.

Papershades

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