| The correct looking rawhide lamp shade can | | | | pattern the size of the shade out of paper or |
| make nearly any lamp look perfect. But the | | | | cardboard. For example, use the lower edge of |
| wrong size lampshade can make a normal lamp | | | | the cardboard for the base line. Measure up |
| look unbalanced. And ordering the wrong size | | | | the height of the shade and draw a horizontal |
| lampshade is inconvenient and expensive. Make | | | | line parallel to the base line which will |
| the right choice the first time. | | | | represent the top edge of the shade. Now draw |
| | | | a vertical line straight up and down from |
| Our specialty is rustic lighting and | | | | base line or to the top edge line. If you |
| southwest rawhide lamp shades but the | | | | imagine the base line, vertical line and top |
| technique we use will work with any lamp | | | | edge line as the capital letter "I" you are |
| shade, rawhide or otherwise. Give it a try to | | | | on the right track. |
| help choose the right shade for your lamp | | | | |
| even before you order. Follow this simple | | | | The next step is to mark the top and bottom |
| procedure to help make the right choice the | | | | dimensions of the shade on your pattern so |
| first time. | | | | that you get the correct slant for the edge |
| | | | of the shade. From the center line measure |
| First, we need to understand how lampshades | | | | and mark the top diameter of the shade. |
| are measured. You will need three | | | | |
| measurements, bottom diameter, top diameter | | | | An example would be, if the top diameter is |
| and height. The height of a shade should be | | | | 5" then measure to the left and right of the |
| measured straight up and down | | | | center line along the top edge line 2.5" on |
| vertically...not along the slant. | | | | both sides and make a mark. Those points are |
| | | | the top corners of your pattern. Repeat along |
| Measuring Tip #1: The reason we measure | | | | the baseline using the shade's bottom |
| height up and down, "vertically" is that the | | | | diameter. If it seems confusing, it's really |
| height measurement of you lamp from bulb | | | | not, but very simple and quick. See our full |
| socket base to top of harp is probably the | | | | color shade measuring diagram for a visual |
| minimum vertical height you will want to | | | | aid. |
| cover with your shade. | | | | |
| | | | After that, cut out the pattern and have |
| Measuring Tip #2: The height of your lamp can | | | | someone hold it in place over the lamp, while |
| be adjusted with a shorter or taller harp to | | | | you step back and look. Even though it is |
| be able to use a standard shade rather than | | | | flat, you will be able to get a feel for how |
| ordering a custom lampshade in many cases. | | | | the shade will look on your lamp and order |
| | | | with confidence. |
| Now, here is the trick to ordering the right | | | | |
| shade. You probably have an idea of the | | | | It is a quick and easy system to make sure |
| approximate size, so simply consult a list of | | | | that you are on the right track in your shade |
| rawhide lamp shades and select the one you | | | | size selection. This simple idea has helped |
| are considering. Each shade's measurements | | | | our clients save a lot of aggravation and |
| should be listed as described above. | | | | money over the years and we trust it will |
| | | | help you too. |
| Next, make a simple two-dimensional "flat" | | | | |