The lamp frames I use are recycled vintage lamp shades and old lamp parts and are the core inpiration for each lamp. In other words, after stripping the lamp shade of the worn and torn cloth, I let the skeletal frame inspire me to create its new life. I often find there isn’t enough time (and rejuvenated hands!) to keep up and bring to life all the ideas that are brought to me and stored in my head. This fact keeps me inspired and excited for the next generation of shag lamps to come.
Although different light bulbs can be used, the light bulbs I use are replicas of the old incandescent filament bulbs that Thomas Edison made during the late 1800′s to early 1900′s. Their light is soft and sets a beautiful mood for a night of romance, thus the name shag lamps.
I am sometimes asked why I like making mail and I think a great deal has to due with the amazing history it holds. That aspect of it fascinates me and holds my interest and imagination while I am working on a piece. The thought that my chainmaille, although in a very small way, has become a part of that long history, pleases me.
Today there are many different weaves or patterns that have been invented by artists for uses in jewelry and sculptures. The most common and oldest pattern is the four-in-one pattern, which is what I use in my lamps and costumes and jewelry.
The links I use are of aluminum, titanium, brass, bronze, coppe and silver nickel. Anodizing aluminum or titanium gives the metal color, which is what was used with Patience to give her the beautiful scarlet color.
Mostly I use links that are already made, but occasionally I will hand make my own links, which makes and already time consuming art even more time intensive. The actual making of the weave is really quite simple once you learn it and is much like knitting in that the weave pattern is simply repeated (for what sometimes seems like a lifetime as in Patience, which took a year and a half to complete). Each link is individually opened and closed to weave the mesh of metal.
I hope you enjoy looking at them.