Visit us and enjoy the Ministry of Handmade advantage! We use the same techniques that the professional lampshade makers use . . . no sewing, no glueing !

Create your own professional standard drum or empire lampshade from scratch. Using fabric of your choice, make a new décor item that will be the hero of a room at your place or co-ordinate with existing furnishings.

Instructor: Julie

Time: 3 hours

Cost: $110 includes your choice of one of the following lampshade sizes:

• 20cm diameter drum shade
• 25 cm diameter drum shade
• 13cm/18cm empire shade
• 15cm/20cm empire shade
• 10cm/20cm rectangular shade

Optional extras: All extras (including fabric) are payable at the workshop

• Increase to 30cm shade – $5 extra
• Increase to 35cm shade – $9 extra
• Increase to 40cm shade – $13 extra
• Increase to 43cm shade – $17 extra
• Increase to 50cm shade – $27 extra
• Add a diffuser* for 40cm shade – $34
• Add a diffuser* for 50cm shade – $46
• Change to empire shade 20cm/25cm – $10 extra
• Change to empire shade 20cm/30cm – $13 extra
• Change to empire shade 25cm/35cm – $17 extra
• Change to empire shade 30cm/40cm – $27 extra
• Change to 15cm/30cm rectangular shade – $10 extra
• Change to 20cm/40cm rectangular shade – $20 extra
• Change to Hero Lamp – $89 extra

*Diffuser – An optional extra for when the 40cm or 50cm shade is being used as a pendant, to help spread the light from the bulb evenly. Can be easily removed for cleaning.

Minimum fabric requirements for drum lampshades:

• 20cm – 0.5m high x 70cm wide
• 25cm – 0.5m high x 90cm wide
• 30cm – 0.5m high x 110cm wide
• 35cm – 0.5m high x 120cm wide
• 40cm – 0.5m high x 135cm wide
• 50cm – 0.5m high x 1.8m wide*
• Hero lampshade – 0.7m high x 0.7m wide

*The long length of the fabric for a 50cm (or larger) lampshade is cut parallel to the selvedge (running down the roll), therefore, please choose a fabric with a design that works well in this orientation.

Minimum fabric requirements for empire shades:

• 13cm/18cm: 0.5m of fabric
• 15cm/20cm: 0.5m of fabric
• 20cm/25cm: 0.5m of fabric
• 20cm/30cm: 0.5m of fabric
• 25cm/35cm: 0.5m of fabric
• 30cm/40cm: Please email Julie

Minimum fabric requirements for rectangular shades:

• 10cm/20cm: 0.4m of fabric
• 15cm/30cm: 0.4m of fabric
• 20cm/40cm: 0.4m of fabric

Fabric selection: Light to medium weight cotton, linen, cotton drill, polyester cotton. Fabrics with very loose weave or coarse or uneven grain or texture are not really suitable. Fabric may be purchased from Ministry of Handmade.
For empire shades, fabrics with designs that run obviously horizontally or vertically are not suitable as the shade curves. If you have any questions about this please contact Julie create@ministryofhandmade.com.au

Provided: All other lampshade making equipment and tools for all lampshades.

Lampshade kits: A variety of kits for Drum Shades, Empire Shades, Hero Lamps, Rocket Lamps and Rectangular Shades are available for purchase on the day so you can keep creating at home.

Lamp bases: If you have a base in mind for the shade you are making, please bring the base with you so we can help you select the best size.

Note: Please do not bring old lampshades for rejuvenating. It takes more time to restore an old shade than the time we have available at the workshop.

Can’t make this workshop?

If this workshop is full or the listed date is unsuitable for you, please check our newsletter for advanced notice of our next available workshop, or you can send me an email to arrange a private lesson for a time that suits you.

Email us
about a private lessonWant us to stay in touch?
Subscribe to our Newsletter

Buying your ticket

Please enter a number (e.g. 1) into the ticket quantity field. You can use the “+” and “-” buttons if you wish. Then click the “Get Tickets” button.

Ticket Button Help