. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Lucent Lampworks. In Brad's words:
"Lucent Lampworks is a small custom & handmade lighting shop. I source and find wonderful vintage glass and industrial pieces to remake into classic lighting. I also have a wide range of new glass and fabric shades that expand my shop to all areas of home décor and design."
SouleMama: Tell us about the beginnings of your business.
Brad: You will likely find it strange that the beginnings of my lighting business stem from a children’s ride-on toy. In 2009 I designed & built a children’s ride-on toy for my daughter Lia. I found myself in my shop totally engulfed in ride-on toy prototypes and often went running in the house (covered in sawdust) with all the prototype’s and hastily plopping my barely walking daughter on it saying “go ahead sweetie…have fun”. Well after MANY prototypes, lots of sawdust and lots of feedback from my R&D team (Melissa & Lia), I had a final design and a fun little toy. I called it the Wee Boogie. It was a fun little eco-friendly wooden toy design that I decided to sell on Etsy. It was with this endeavor that I started to learn about the Etsy culture and all the unbelievable offerings on there. After about 6 months on Etsy and after realizing that I didn’t really want to spend all my creative downtime covered in sawdust I chose to take the Wee Boogie to a broader audience and sell the design to a toy manufacturer. You can actually see the toy now sold on the Nova Natural website under the name “Roly Poly”. As happy as I was to see my design being produced on a larger scale, it was bittersweet as it also ended my creative outlet. So now I needed something new…
You see…Melissa and I are both creative in our own ways. That added with us both being Sagittarius, gives us the uncanny ability to shift gears rather quickly and take on multiple creative endeavors at one time. This also gives us the uncanny ability to have a home that looks like a bomb hit it most days. From fabric scraps, kids toys, saw dust and tools…we can make a good mess.
It was around Christmas in 2010 after realizing we had little money left to buy gifts I decided to make some one-of-a-kind table lamps for our family as gifts. I made them using old barn pulleys and great old found objects. I learned all about the electrical end of the lighting and bought all the supplies I needed, and crafted those I couldn’t buy. I had more fun making these lamps than anything I had done in years. And there was the spark…or shall I say torch! I had tons of compliments on the pieces I made over the holidays, and that got the gears turning full speed. As soon as we returned home from the holidays I was on a mission. I loved the thought of custom lighting and the endless creativity was the catalyst for lots of daydreaming and business development.
By late January 2011 Melissa and I decided to take $500 of our savings (which was most of it) and take a leap of faith. From there we started what would soon become Lucent Lampworks. By July 2011 I had officially opened my shop on Etsy with 20 listings and within 4 days I had my first sale…to Paris! I was blown away! The feeling that someone wanted to buy something that “I” made was the best feeling ever. And to be honest I get that same feeling every time I have a sale still today! I just love this. Its funny when people say “Do what you love”…I get it now. …I am doing what I love!
SouleMama: What's the product or offering you're most excited about right now? Tell us about it.
Brad: I am so excited about the new pieces I have been blessed to get from the long abandoned Scranton Lace Company. Dating back to the late 1800’s the Scranton Lace Company was quite a high end facility supplying the world with the finest Nottingham lace among other fine products. The Scranton Lace factory was more than just a factory, this place was truly a gem of its day and I can only assume a real pleasure to work in. For a factory of its era I was astounded to learn the building had bowling lanes (yes inside the factory) and even a full size gymnasium and theatre! This must have been a special place to work and be a part of.
The giant looms (larger than buses) that created all the lace were imported from England as they were the best made in that era. This company and factory was a treasure in its day and a sad loss for Scranton when it closed. A few months ago I learned of a local company who were allowed to save and caringly salvage the remains of the factory and actually are being filmed as part of a new series on the History Channel called “Abandoned”. These guys are truly saving the remains of this rare old gem and have allowed me the first look at the lighting pieces from that space. To me, this is a huge honor! These are truly beautiful pieces of history and I am utterly proud to offer them as finished pieces again. The Scranton Lace Company will always live in the history of the classic American Industrial Age and pieces from these great places are getting harder and harder to find.
For today's giveaway, Lucent Lampworks is generously offering the following to TWO winners:
~ a $150 gift certificate to the Lucent Lampworks shop!
(These can be used for any item(s) in my shop. Feel free to contact me with any questions or customization.)
In addition, Lucent Lampworks is offering SouleMama readers 5% off all orders placed by April 30th, 2012. Use discount code "SouleMama" at checkout.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8am EST on Monday, and announce the winner(s), chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed!
Thank you to Lucent Lampworks! The winners are....
so beautiful and unique!
Posted by: leslie in me
I would treasure one of these lamps in my home! Thank you for the opportunity to win! xo
Posted by: Kyndale
