Need a Unique Lamp?

Lamps are a great way to add character and warmth to any room in your home. I noticed that most shades available in the shops are beige, grey, or cream. Yes, they do let out more light, but they are easy to mark and stain, requiring you to buy a new, clean one. Surprise surprise. It's called Planned Obsolescence. Or am I being too cynical?

So if you want a non-beige bespoke drum shade, come to Whimsy. I have a range of shade sizes and a variety of bases that you can try out. I source pre-loved lamp bases and get McArthur and Symons Electrical to tag test each one. As a second-hand trader, each electrical item I sell needs to be up to current electrical standards.

When I can I recycle the metal rings from old shades, this helps keep the price down and is better for the planet to re-use what is already made. So if you have any old drum shades, feel free to drop them at the shop.

With fabric selection I enjoy utilising vintage barkcloth and retro patterns. New fabrics are sourced from The Fabric Store as they source dead stock. Their sustainability page reads...

"Of the fabrics we purchase, around 85% are sourced as designer deadstock. The remaining 15% of our fabrics are those that we mill exclusively, and these are manufactured under strict code of conduct adherence in collaboration with mills we have trusted, long-standing partnerships with. Our aim is to provide transparent information about what we sell, and to educate our community as to the pros and cons for deadstock vs new fabrics, to help us all make informed decisions about our creative endeavours!"

I pride myself in having a plastic-free shop unfortunately all the drum lampshades these days are lined with PVC . The self adhesive lining allows you to make shades without any sewing required thereby making them easier and quicker to make. If anyone knows of an a more eco-friendly solution please share.