A book shelf Lamp Shade for the bibliophile in you

Blog lampshades Shop

WOODOOZ is SOON opening its own brick and mortar showroom here in OMR, the IT highway of Chennai and we are working on a range of new products to stock in our store. The first in the series that we are launching is the book shelf lampshade that is a perfect bedroom companion, an ideal living room consort and a gorgeous decor element to woo your guests away.

While it may seem like a book lover's paradise, it is also a perfect space to for you to place plant holders, quaint urlis, pen holders or any function item that you would want to highlight under the light.

Does the idea interest you ? While we are going to exclusively stock and sell them from our physical store, this lampshade is available now on pre-order for at a pre-launch price of only Rs.3500. Shipping though, for the moment is limited to Chennai ?

Specifications

Length : 13 inches

Width : 7 inches

Height from bottom to top of shade :23 inches

Shade width : 10 inches

Shade height : 8 inches

The shade can also be chosen from the list of drum shaped lampshades we offer in our online shop.

All pre-orders will take a minimum of 10 days for delivery.

Work is currently underway to get our showroom up and running for the launch date. The launch, will be in the first week of June and the date will be announced soon. Meanwhile, if you indeed like this lampshade, do help spread the word. Am you someone from your friends or family list would surely want to lay their hands on it. More coming up, SOOOON.

P,S. For pre-orders, mail me at somu@woodooz.com or Whatsapp me at 9884070470

Hand painted fabric lampshade - When art meets craft

art Blog lampshades Shop

Before anything, have you checked out our new SPOTLIGHT series lampshades we launched on Valentine's day ? Please do.

Working with hand painted fabric for our lampshades is something we have not tried before. Though we had extensively worked worked with digital print of hand painted art, this was something entirely new.

It started as a regular conversation with the founder of TROVE (Nayantara Sarkar) who sells very gorgeous hand painted goodies. The paintings add a touch of elegance and class to ordinary products like milk cans and enamelwares and trays and others that she works on. It was an invitation to make a pendant lampshade with one of her pretty hand painted fabrics.

I did not make much of it until the fabric landed up in my house the very next day. To say it was beautiful was an understatement. After lot of deliberation, we decided that we will do table lamps to do more justice to the painting. I would rather have such a wonderful piece of art sitting right beside me than hanging somewhere up there. And thus started one of our best works ever.

So far we have been working on printed fabrics, kalamkaris, Ikats and the likes of it for our lampshades. This was the first time we were using handpainted fabric and we were really not sure how the result is going to be. And that made it a lot more exciting for us.

Everytime I take a break in the making process, I would put the fabric around the light just to get a feel of the look. And everytime it only upped my curiosity. And here is how it turned out to be after completion. One square shaped and one cylindrical shaped lampshades. We instantly fell in love with it. How about you ?

For more of our lampshade collections, do visit our online shop or our Facebook page.

Meanwhile, remember the Facebook contest we were running for Valentine's day. The winner was Mahalakshmi Rao who recommended the name "SPOTLIGHT" for our new series of lampshades. Here's what she had to say about the prize she received from us.

Win a lampshade - A valentine's day giveaway

Blog giveaway Lamp Shade Shop

Launching this Valentine's day

First things first:

• We are launching our new range of table lamps on Valentine’s day
• There is a contest in there for you (scroll down) and you can win one of our petite dainty lampshades. 

Now read on.

Loads of exploration has been going in the Woodooz studio and we have been working on getting newer versions of our table lamp into the market. After having worked with metal shades, and shades with a combination of wood and stainless steel, we have been wanting to do something traditional with wood and thus came about the idea for this version of table top lamps. Nothing new. Yet, a completely original Woodooz masterpiece that we are launching on the 14th of Feb, 2017.

Premium quality wooden lampshades

We have been seeing lot of bases with MDF and artificial wood and other materials with faux wood finish. We wanted something authentic. Something that is made of first quality wood. Something that is durable and adorable at the same time. And so for our new table lamps, we use best quality pine and teak wood. The wood we use comes directly from the timber store which allows us to pick only the finest degree pieces.

Impeccable finish and wide range of shades

The finish is pristine with walnut, rosewood, teakwood and natural colors. The grains on the wood surface combined with our workmanship gives a spectacular look to the finished product. It is indeed a statement piece that you would love to own and be proud to show off. We are keeping in mind your sensibilities and tastes and are one hundred percent sure that this would be a show stopper and a conversation starter in your living room. You most certainly will have a wide range of shades to choose from. Know what we are calling this range of lampshades ? This is where we need your help. Read on.

Contest / Giveaway details (Ends 13th Feb)

we are looking to YOU to come out with a nice name for this range of tablelamps. Something unique, original and uber cool. The winning entry would win a brand new petite table lamp. Game ? Here are the rules and eligibility criteria (You can directly jump to the embeded post on FB).

1. You should have liked our woodooz.com FB page
2. Share this post in your timeline (Ensure you change the setting to public view)
3. Suggest a name for this range of table lamps in the FB post comment. (Click here to go to the post comment)

All the above three criteria needs to be fulfilled for eligibility. The winning entry (To be decided by a neutral judge would win this lovely dainty lampshade.

You can leave as many name suggestions as you want. If two of you have commented the same name, the one who had commented first would be considered. The contest is open for anyone around the world. However, the winning lampshade will only be shipped to an Indian address (We havent started shipping internationally yet). GAME ? Help us will ya in giving us a really cool name for this range. 

Looking forward. Wear your thinking hats and let the creativity out. The contest closes on the 13th of Feb, midnight..  

Five Simple Ways to have an Interior Make Over

Blog curtains cushion covers decor Floor lamp home decor interiors Lamp Shade make over

 Five Ways to have an Interior Make Over

A makeover needn’t mean pulling down the roof or buying a room full of new furniture. Sometimes tiny changes or additions will make a room feel new and fresh. Here you can explore some easy ways to do up with your home. These will fit within a small budget and are perfect to welcome your guests this festive season

1

      A Place for everything and everything in Place- Organize your space

In our home we often find things that do not belong in a space- either because it belongs elsewhere in our home or it doesn’t belong in our home any longer. Old newspapers, clothes, wire, toys and so on. We have the tendency to hold on to things either because we think we may need them in the future or if we hold an emotional attachment to it.  If you find stuff lying around idle for over 6 months, you probably won’t find a use for it ever. Dispose them, donate them, swap them with friends. Things that are close to your heart could be neatly organized and packed in cartons to be put in the attic or loft. Either ways, clutter is the culprit. According to Feng Shui, clutter disrupts a smooth flow of energy in your space. So clear them, organize them, find a space for everything in the house.

2    Choose the color theme

Half of your tidying up is done once everything finds a place in your home. Second comes the choice of color that plays a vital role in setting the mood. Color needn’t mean repainting the wall or changing your furniture. Add accents to your room in the form of upholstery- cushions, throw away pillows, curtains, sofa covers could all be used to get the desired look and feel. These will also not leave a hole in your pocket and would fit within a small budget

      Decide on the lighting

The other day we were speaking to the CEO of Max Retail. He mentioned that he is wanting to change the interiors of all stores in the town and the first thing he was looking at changing was lighting. Lighting plays a pivotal role in any interior make over. Lamps and lamp shades are always a mood setter for those lovely dinners with friends and relatives. They also could make for a statement piece or a conversation starter. Choose the lighting as per your space and need. You could also match them with the color theme and style you choose

      Mix and match your bedding with curtains

Be bold and mix and match bedding and curtain- colors, prints, style. Whatever style your room may be- be it contemporary, eclectic or ethnic, be open to putting different pieces together to get that desired look. Especially in India, we have such beautiful collection of handloom material- each with its own unique style and finesse. While floral prints go very well in a contemporary space, shiboris, ikats, kanchis and kalamkaris work beautifully well in a typical Indian ethnic home. Watch them transform your home into a dreamy one.

5.       Wall hangings, antiques and stuff

      Add wall hangings, antiques and other shoe pieces that add further life to the space and bind everything together. Make sure they are matched with the theme and style of your space. You could also choose them depending on the room. You could hang a piece of art in foyers or focus wall. Bring in some indoor plants to add life to your interiors. 

Dremel Micro - My experience working with the tool

Blog power tools Tools

It was a great feeling to unwarp the package and find a nice swanky Dremel in it. I have never had the opportunity to use one, though the closest I came to using a rotary tool was the Bosch Engraver. So I was excited. Given that it is such a versatile tool with so many purposeful attachments, I wanted to see how best I can use it for my day to day work. Nothing like getting to review a product by using it for my own daily work, right ? And so I had to take my own sweet time until now.

Before looking at the application, here’s a little something about the Dremel Micro. It is a very compact, rotary multi-tool that comes with various modular attachments that you can use based on your requirement. The Demel tool works by rotating at high speeds and by using the appropriate attachments one can drill, grind, sharpen, cut, clean, polish, sand, route, carve, engrave and more. It is a very handy tool that one can hold like a pen and perform the required activity . The 5 different speeds allow the user to gain more control over the tool depending on the application.

Dremel Micro comes with a sleek charging pad and a 7.2 V lithium ion battery that lasts for more than 4 hours. It has no cords and that is an added plus. The LED lights in the nosecap make it easier to work on intricate surfaces Now for the attachments that it came with. While I had use for some of them, I tried using few and I could not find means to use the rest. Each of the accessory is attached to a mandrel that can be easily removed and replaced. Here’s the list of attachments and the application. 

Drum Sander

Earlier last month, we were participating in an exhibition and I struggled to make the base for my HALO series lampshades. I managed to make two. But I still needed to make 8 more and that is where I thought I would put the Dremel Micro to good use. My biggest challenge was to slightly round the edge of the base which was taking me time with hand. The drum sander attachment came in handy and I was able to complete the other 8 much quicker.  

Metal cutting wheel

The other issue I had was to cut the SS pipes using hack saw blade. While it did work, it took me lot of time to cut through from one end to the other. The metal cutting wheel, that comes with an easy, quick change system called EZ SpeedClic, came to the rescue. It took me some time to get the knack of it, but it certainly helped. With sparks flying around, one should be cautious and ensure safety masks are worn.

Aluminium oxide grinding stone

Something I have long been looking for. Finally used it to sharpen my carving knife and chisel. The rotating stone rubbing on the metal sends sparks flying around, so make sure you cover your eyes up. Wear gloves if you must.

Silicon Carbide Grinding Stone

This one was pretty exciting for me to use. I have always wanted to try etching on glass and have been exploring options. I did not have real purpose for it at that moment, and so I went about trying it out in a bottle of pickle. And look what I ended up with. I could have done a better job had I used a template or did an outline before trying to etch. This is what my free hand expertise could manage. Nonetheless, I was quite happy with how easy it was for me to etch the W. Caution : Wear safety goggles and a mask.

High speed cutter

Given that I had worked with the Bosch engraver earlier, this attachment excited me. It is in my vision to start either engraving or etch the WOODOOZ logo in all my products and so these two attachments have been of special interest to me. Again, I went about randomly trying out on a piece of pine wood. I had trouble moving the tool against the grain, but I feel a trained hand would be able to do this with ease. A handy tool for someone who is into carving too. Some of my clay carving friends might find use for it. Works well on metal too.

Cut off wheels

The cut off wheels are made of hard abrasives and are ideal for cutting metals, wood and ceramics. This is particularly useful if you want to cut off a portion of a screw, bolt or a nail from your WIP projects. 

Nylon bristles and polishing wheel

The Dremel Micro comes with a polishing compound that is ideal for polishing metals and plastics. I had few silverwares on whiich I tested it and it did wonders. You can either use the nylon bristles or the polishing wheel, take a bit of the polishing compound and run it along your silverware and watch it do wonders. I was surprised at the luster that it added to the spoon that I tested it on. Surely a winner attachment at home given that there is lot of metal polishing that is waiting to be done.

On the whole, the Dremel Micro is a very functional tool for a DIYer. Priced at a little less than 17K, I strongly believe only serious DIYers would give it a due consideration. The one and off DIYers would still want to manage with low cost options like hand sanding, using hack saw, and other means to getting their work done. With routing and saw attachments being available, the Dremel Micro can truly be a tool that can replace most other tools. I am falling in love with it and finding it extremely useful for my needs as I keep working more on it. Happy that I could lay my hands on it. 

You can buy the Dremel Micro from Amazon

P.S. This is a sponsored post. However, the views expressed are my own and based on my use of the tool.

Our first exhibition - Lampshades for the festive season

Blog exhibition Lamp Shade Shop

It was only 3 weeks before that I received a call asking me if I would be interested in doing a stall in the 19th Edition of the “By Hand, from the Heart” event. Without much thought and despite not having an inventory, I gave a positive response. And thus, started the roller coaster ride.

Diwali is only round the corner and it was a perfect opportunity for us to showcase our gifting solution for the festive season. We decided to not use the existing inventory that we had put up online and started work on a completely new set of lampshades for the season. From block printed fabrics, to hand woven to IKAT and Kalamkari to handmade papers we carefully handpicked the fabrics to reflect the Indianess to go well with the festival.

Burning the midnight oil, we thought, was a thing of the past when we used to prepare, on the previous night, for the final exams. But then, it turned out that we had to forego a lot of sleep in preparing for the event.

60 Lampshades is what we had in mind to showcase and we started working towards that. With a toddler to manage at home, and Navratri parallely going on, it was a challenge to find time during the day for the work we needed to do. And so, the after dark because our companion.

Though we did have a checklist (That requires a separate post by itself) , like always, it boiled down to getting things done in the last minute and in the process, had to suffer 11th hour nervous breakdown (:P). Everyone pitched in and we managed to do 40 shades, a good 20 short of our original target.

We had as awesome experience exhibiting our work to the general public for the first time. And it was such a pleasure to meet so many people and strike interesting conversations with them. It was two days of sheer fun for us and is something we would certainly love to go through another time. Only, this time we would be better prepared.

Here’s a snapshot of the stall. The Diwali collection is getting uploaded on our shop site and will be up in a day or two’s time. Do subscribe to our Facebook Page to stay updated of all that is going to be happening with Woodooz.

Sepcial Gift for this Golu - A Dasavataram Lampshade

Blog Golu Lamp Shade Painting Shop

Do you keep Golu at your home ? We do. It was a tradition that was once (I don’t even know when) started by my mother and for the last few years Preethi has been ardently keeping up with the tradition. In fact, I got to participate too last time when she wanted a 5 step Golu padi to be DIYed to be used every year. It was a fun project and I had fun making the flat pack Navratri steps. If you have not read the post or seen the video, you should do it now.

For this year, given that I was already making loads of lampshades, I wanted to do something unique for display. And that is how the Dasavataram Lampshade idea came about. Knowing that lifting off a design from Google is criminal, I approached Raji Madhu to help me with a design. After dabbling between Durga and Dasavatharam, she finally decided to do one on Dasavataram. While Raji Madhu warrants a full post, I want to just mention that she is a very talented fabric designer who is passionate about art. And it reflects in the interest she shows in imparting that talent to kids and youngsters through her art class.

Less than a week is all that it took and the design was ready on paper. She was so pepped up and the excitement rubbed off on me too. And so, here’s the final outcome. She loved it. I loved it.

Now, I am looking forward to show this off to all my guests. No one really noticed my golu padi last year. So this time, I am gonna make them notice this. And guess what ? You too can own this unique lampshade. All you need to do is, go to the Woodooz Shop and book it online. We are also coming up with a digitally enhanced version of the original design which am sure you would love. You will have to wait for our first exhibition announcement for that :)

And guess what ? The lampshade has garnered amazing response and we have been shipping it to all parts of the country. Want to buy this interesting and unique lampshade ? Click here and make your booking NOW.

P.S. This painting is original work of art by Raji Madhu. Use of this image on your website / blog whether for commercial / non-commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.

Photo Lampshades - An exquisite way to personalize your space

Blog Lamp Shade Shop

We are always looking to personalize our ambiance so much so that we want it to reflect our tastes. This is the reason why some of us take our own time browsing though aisles in a mall or a shop on the internet. You always have an individuality that you want reverberating through the choice of items that you pick for your home. And if you are that type of person who adds value to his / her space by carefully handpicking everything to give a custom feel to your room, you would love this - A Photo Lampshade.

There is no better way to personalize anything than by using one's own photos. Lampshades are no exceptions. You create memories of the times gone by and use this simple, yet beautiful statement piece to relive your most precious moments. You can dwell upon your treasured occasions by placing this by the corner of your bedroom or in the middle of your living room for that much needed accent. Imagine how much this would excite the kids.

Photo Lampshade - A table lamp for your personal corner

Create memories from your best cherished moments

Any which way you look at it, the lampshade will have every bit of your signature and will be a sure shot conversation starter. In a world where we are mostly storing photos digitally, this is a great way to get those memories out of your pen drives and clouds and DVDs. All you would need to get this going is a lovely collection of your most cherished photos. Ideal for photographers who want to highlight their best work like the pendant lamp you see below.

If you are a DIY person you can make your own lampshade. There are loads of software like Picasa to help you with getting the images together. Am sure you can find inspiration on the internet for this. Or better, you can be done with choosing the photos and have someone worry about making you a wonderful lampshade. There are online shops from where you can buy photo lampshades. 

Showcase your best work - Let everyone see your awesomeness

Either way, you will end up with something gorgeous, one of a kind and completely personalized. Am working on making one for my family with pictures of my wife and I with the little toddler. And am excited. Will certainly share it here once am done with it. In the meantime, do let me know what you think of this. Your comment will certainly mean a lot.

You can order for your personalized photo lampshade at Shop Woodooz. CLICK HERE for the details.

The images used in the first two photos above are free stock images that require no attribution. 

Different Materials Used in Furniture Making and Their Care Tips

Blog Furniture design How tos

Furniture forms the major part of the entire home décor. There are many other decorative pieces and furnishing that add to the look, but the furniture pieces always dominate them all. The design of furniture has evolved over years. The bulky furniture is slowly replaced by sleek designs. Similarly, many replacements for wood are also entering the market. Though there are many new entrants in the furniture designing, the one on the top is definitely “WOOD”! Wood is graceful, durable, and easy on maintenance, hence it is mostly found in furniture designing. However, designing experts have also explored more options to complement the popular wooden furniture with style. 

Here are the 5 popular materials usually used in furniture making and the ways to care for them.

1.Wood 

As already mentioned, wood is one of the majorly used materials in furniture making. Wood has been the primary material in furniture making from the royal times. The main advantage of using wood in furniture manufacturing is that it can be used in creating different designs by using it alone or in combination with other materials. It is neutral and goes well with all other colors and décor. There are different types of wood like Redwood, Teakwood, Mahogany, Cane, Mango wood, and various other varieties used in manufacturing durable furniture. 

Care Tips 

1. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture contact. 
2. Apply wax coating to keep the surface scratch proof and shiny. 
3. Carry out regular cleaning with dry cloth.

2.Plastic

Plastic furniture is the best option for outdoors. It is lightweight and can be moved as required without any hassles. It is quite durable and can be used even in rain. Plastic furniture is available in various colors to get the vibrant décor, but over exposure to sunlight and other weather conditions would result into fading of color. Continuous sunlight would also make plastic furniture brittle. 

Care Tips

1. Can be cleaned with water and mild cleaning agent. Dry it completely after cleaning to avoid water marks.
2. Avoid constant sunlight to increase the life of the piece of furniture.
3. Indulge into frequent cleaning as more you let the dust to accumulate, more it would be tough to clean.

3.Stainless Steel or Other Metal

Metal furniture is slowly taking the front stage due to its cost effective nature, malleability and durability. Stainless steel has found a major place in outdoor furniture designs as it withstands all weather impacts well. Steel furniture stays new even when exposed to sunlight and rain. Other metal furniture types include wrought iron and aluminum furniture. Aluminum is again quite durable as steel, while wrought iron furniture may undergo corrosion if its paint coating is damaged. 

Care Tips

1. Wash with mild soap and water. Dry it properly to avoid water marks on steel and aluminum, while corrosion in case of wrought iron furniture.
2. Apply automotive wax and mineral oils on wrought iron furniture pieces.

4.Glass

It is rare to find a furniture piece made of only glass, but it is very natural to find glass in combination with other materials. The transparency of the glass is main reason for using this material more in wardrobes, showcase, book shelf and crockery unit. Glass can be cut in any shape and size, which makes it ideal for shelves in cupboards. Use of glass is also found in tables and other decorative furniture pieces, as glass is not bulky and may not obstruct the vision due to its transparent nature.

Care Tips

1. Glass is fragile, so handle it with care.
2. It can be cleaned with mild soap solution and water. Use paper to wipe the glass for keeping it free of stains.
3. Don’t put very heavy, hot, or sharp objects on glass table. You can use a mat to stay safe.

5.Cane

Looking for the furniture that takes you near to nature then cane is the solution. This is one of the most durable and natural form of furniture materials. The main advantage of cane is that it can be used to make varied designs due to easy bending into different shapes. Cane is affordable, easy to maintain, and good on looks. It will offer an instant makeover to your interiors and exteriors both.

Care Tips

1. Clean regularly with dry cloth.
2. For cane seats, put a cushion over it for even load distribution.
3. Use glass top on cane tables.

Decorate your home with furniture made out of different materials and ensure that you take proper care of the same to have longer life and better utility.

Author Bio

Worldcraft Industries is a furniture manufacturing company based in United States. They are known for distinct Indian designs and styles. They have different collections of products like bedroom furniture, curtains, pillows and decorative artifacts.

Buy Lampshades online in India

Announcement Blog Shop

Finally, after 6 months of working on this, we managed to unveil the shop on our Facebook page yesterday.

Shop.woodooz.com is an online shopping portal that sells one of a kind Lampshades in India that are hand made by skilled artisans. These lampshades are unique and made of wooden beadings including the frames. The 12mm thick frames provide a beautiful borderline to the lampshade when lit.

E-store for buying Lampshades online

The fabrics used are carefully hand-picked by us to offer a medley of colors and designs that would suit the distinct taste of our potential customers. While the launch was done with limited stock, we are working continuously in the backend to replenish the stock so that likely buyers who visit the shop do not have to go back disappointed.

This is currently a home run business and we work from the confines of our abode. The ghastly sight of our unkempt guest room would tell you what has been going on here for the last few months. That said, we hope to expand and move out at some point to address scalability and quicker turnaround times.

Here are some things that you should know about Shop Woodooz :

Handmade lampshades - Buy Online

• We currently are shipping to all major cities in India. Please read the terms and conditions for more information on this.
• Almost all modes of payment are supported on the Shop.
• We have launched the Shop with two lampshade variants - KURIL (Table Lamps) and NEDIL (Tall lamps)
• The price of KURILs range from Rs.1400 - 2100 and that of NEDILS from Rs.3400-4100
• You can subscribe to E-mail updates to stay updated of the articles and products we post
• We are also on all the Social Media Channels (Just look for Woodooz)
• We are working on more variants and designs to be able to provide multiple options to the users.
  

So, if you are looking to add a pop of boldness to your living space or if you want to gift someone on a special occasion, turn to Woodooz before you consider anything else. Drop in a Hi and hey, we can even work on making something based on your own inputs to suit your personal tastes.

Do take a moment to visit Shop Woodooz and drop us your feedback at contact@woodooz.com. Nothing pleases us more than someone caring enough to tell us what we lack or where we are doing good. Thanks.

Introducing NEDIL - Our tall, colorful and gorgeous floor lamps

Announcement Blog Shop

Meet NEDIL, our next range of lampshades that we are introducing in the soon to be launched Woodooz shop. These towering lampshades are vibrant and intense much like their shorter counterparts KURIL. If you love pop of bold colors, then you would most certainly enjoy the visual splendor these shades have to offer.

Whether it is a quiet dinner date with your loved one, a game of checkers with the kids or the movie of the month with the entire family, the NEDILs perfectly set the tone and mood to enliven the ambiance and illuminate those magical moments. 

You can have the NEDILs complement your monochromatic interior schemes or blend in with your eclectic, intense color induced space. Its towering height and vivid hues make it a statement piece and a conversation starter.

Hand made floor lamps - India

Specifications 

Height : 3 Ft 7 Inches

Width : 7 inches on all sides

The base is designed to allow light to fall on the floor that casts a beautiful effect on the space beneath.

The base of the floor lamp

We need your support

And so, while we are giving the shop a kickstart with our two ranges (KURIL and NEDIL), we are not stopping with that. More variants, as we are writing this, are being worked upon that we soon intend to release. In the meanwhile, we are excited and hope to present to you a very user friendly and visually appealing shopping interface that you will want to share with your friends and family. Meet you again on the 25th of July when we unveil the shop URL. Remember to wish us luck. And shower us with your blessings.