Lamp Making

Part 1

Our lamp making process is deceptively simple.

In fact lamp makers from age 3 to 104 - some with significant disabilities and cognitive challenges - have successfully created individualized, uniquely beautiful lamps without stress or pressure. We’ve yet to have anyone fail to successfully make a lamp.

But why do we describe the process as “deceptively simple”? Because behind the scenes a heckuva lot of thought, testing and development went into this!

You can be assured that every TIP lamp is a custom creation, considering the variety of papers participants can choose from and an almost infinite variety of decorative touches using raffia, torn paper, branches, sticks, and other natural materials. Our participants continue to surprise and delight us with their creative approaches. Each lamp takes on its own special meaning and symbolism, infused by the intentions of its maker.

TIP lamps are designed to be beautiful whether lit or unlit. Unlit, the combination of handmade paper with natural materials provides a sculptural beauty. Lit, there is an instant and magical transformation. One object….two states of beauty.

Of course, it’s not just about beauty. These are fully functional lamps. Safety is paramount. Each lamp utilizes UL (Underwriter Laboratory) listed materials for its electrical components. We use LED or CFL bulbs to maximize efficiency, conserve energy and minimize generated heat.

Whether it’s a simple lamp made in less than an hour or a more complicated lamp made over weeks to months, we enjoy seeing the smiles on participants’ faces and the pride in their eyes. Our goal for our participants when it comes to lamp making? They’ll walk away saying, “I can’t believe I actually made this lamp, I can’t believe how beautiful it is and I can’t believe how much I enjoyed myself!” As important, they’ll walk away with a long-lasting reminder of the intentions and meanings they brought to the lamp making through the workshop process.

The lamps - beautiful to look at and laden with meaning - will be a long lasting treasure and source of inspiration for each of their makers.

Part 2

Our lamp making is part art, part craft, part play and part intention. While participants bring thoughtfulness and intention to the lamp making process, it’s an activity that feels “light” rather than heavy; an enjoyable respite with ample time for creativity, play and laughter.

Paper is the heart and soul of our lamps and it is anything but ordinary! Our pre-cut papers are from beautiful, handmade papers originating from countries where paper making is still a respected, valued craft. For example, our floral papers are made from the bark of mulberry trees in Thailand, a sustainable process and tradition that is almost 2000 years old.

So the first step in lamp making is selecting paper from an array of alluring selections.

It’s always exciting for participants to wrap potential paper selections around a lighted cylinder to witness its miraculous transformation from the light within.

After selecting their paper, participants then select additional optional decorations, such as raffia or cut-outs that they can apply to their paper.

The next step is attaching the paper to a sheet of plastic using a water-based acrylic gel...then coating the exposed outer surface of the paper with that same gel.

Finally, our participants attach optional decorative items and the papers are set aside to dry.

In our second session, we usually dive right into the lamp-making process as everyone is anxious to create their finished lamps!

Participants fashion their flat lampshade into a cylinder…..

and then fit a base into the cylinder…...

….which accommodates a pre-manufactured electric cord set.

There are a couple of finishing steps including hot-gluing the back seam of the paper cylinder and using a glue gun to attach additional optional decorative items…