A little bit about Mono Handmade…
The name Mono Handmade relates to my hometown of Monmouth, in the Wye Valley, which has the river Monnow running through it as well as the river Wye. As the name also suggests Mono Handmade bespoke lampshades and home accessories are one-off items which are made by hand using traditional skills. I do not make my bespoke lampshades in bulk or in multiples unless this is the request of one client. Each lampshade I make is unique.
I am fortunate to live in this beautiful area of South Wales and within easy access of the equally lovely counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, as well as being a frequent visitor to the Cotswolds.
I have been making soft furnishings since gaining three City & Guilds soft furnishings qualifications over eighteen years ago and although I still make blinds, curtains and cushions for myself, my real passion is designing bespoke handmade lampshades for my clients and in collaboration with interior designers.
The soft tailored lampshades I make are labour intensive, the fabric and lining being stretched, pinned in place and then hand stitched. The firm lampshades have hand rolled edges and both types of shade can have a choice of trims added as required.
Owning a bespoke lampshade adds the perfect finishing touch to your home, whether your existing frames are restored and re-covered or whether something completely new is created.
I believe that a lampshade does not need to be purely functional. It should be an important addition to the room whether lit or unlit; it has the power to create an instant impact. By day the true colour of the shade has its own part to play in complementing your existing interior design. By night your lighting plays a key role in providing an ambience of its own. Each handmade lampshade is tailored to my clients’ requirements to complement their existing interior design.
The beauty of designing your own lampshade with me is that there are very few rules. Let your imagination run wild!
A little bit about me…
Hi, my name is Jan. Mono Handmade is my bespoke lampshade and home accessories business.
I have lived and worked in Monmouth, South Wales in the beautiful Wye Valley for most of my life.
How I started out
In 2002 I enrolled onto several City & Guilds soft furnishings courses where I learnt the traditional hand-sewn methods of lampshade making. The courses taught me all aspects of soft furnishings including the making of curtains, blinds, bedding, loose covers and cushions, but by far the most interesting for me was lampshade making. Who knew that this was even a thing? I now produce bespoke lampshades and other home accessories to order.
Many of my customers have old, worn-out lampshades that they just don’t want to part with and often the reason for this is because they hold some sentimental value or because they simply love the shape or style; hence my entry into bespoke lampshade restoration and lampshade re-covering.
Upcycling
More and more people are now realising the value of restoring and re-using old items. I offer the service of stripping down and upcycling vintage lampshades giving them a new lease of life. This service gives my customers the chance to have a bespoke lampshade using an existing frame and maybe even some fabric of their own that would otherwise be thrown away.
I find this aspect of my work particularly rewarding as I love to see the transformation. In these days of trying to minimise waste why not just give your old lampshade a makeover?
Quite often there is a history attached to my clients’ old lampshades and they are always so pleased to see their shades given a new lease of life. Old lampshades can be instantly updated by simply changing the fabric or design. As long as the frame is in good condition any lampshade can be restored and re-covered.
Traditional style shades can be remade in a more contemporary style and vice versa. The choices are endless.
Alongside the traditional methods of hand sewing, I also offer more contemporary styles of bespoke lampshades and I am constantly keeping up to date and exploring new techniques.
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful,
or believe to be beautiful.”
William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was an English textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist. Associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement, he was a major contributor to the revival of traditional British textile arts and methods of production.
What my customers say about me…
I was looking for something very special when I needed two lampshades re-covered and I was fortunate enough to be recommended to Jan. Her interpretation of my requirement was perfect and my two beautiful bespoke shades are exactly what I had in mind. Perfect service, perfect quality. It was a pleasure to deal with her.
A very personal service.
I was extremely pleased with the work done on two very antique lampshades that now look like new. Many thanks.
We were fortunate enough to have Jan recommended to us by our interior designer. Our old dilapidated lampshade that used to belong to my grandparents was brought back to life.
I almost threw away my tatty old lampshade as the silk was so filthy and falling apart – it is around 40 years old. So pleased that we found Jan’s name in a local magazine.
The lampshade workshop I attended was in an inspirational setting surrounded by every fabric combination imaginable. Jan showed enthusiasm and great skill in directing the group to achieve a lovely finished shade we proudly were happy to have photographed once complete. Here friendly relaxed manner, not to mention the flow of refreshments was a bonus for a most enjoyable creative morning. (This class was held in a local haberdashery shop).
Jan has restored and re-covered three lampshades for us and made a totally new one for us too. Her advice and guidance on shape and fabric choice were extremely helpful. We would have no hesitation in recommending her.
Jan’s lampshade course was informative, and all the ladies on the course were very friendly. I really enjoyed the morning and learnt so much! My lampshade has pride of place in my guest bedroom.
Get in touch…
If you would like to contact me with any questions about a bespoke lampshade, please use this form – I will get back to you as soon as possible. Please check your email junk folders if you think you haven’t heard from me – I ALWAYS reply to friendly enquiries! Alternatively, you can send an email to jan@monohandmade.co.uk
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