The Story Behind the Wren Lampshade
A golden, late-summer design, inspired by warm breezes and bird song.
This design began in late summer — that time of year when the fields start to turn gold, and you catch small signs of the season changing. Around our home, poppies were still blooming along the edges of cornfields, and the air had that soft, dry quality that only seems to happen in August.
At the same time, I’d been noticing the wrens again. They’re such small, expressive birds, always flicking and darting through the hedgerows. I’ve always liked their shape — especially those upright tails — and I’d been thinking for a while that I’d like to include them in a new piece.
A Lampshade Full of Light and Quiet Colour
The feeling I wanted to capture was one of warmth and stillness — the kind of softness you get as summer fades into autumn. It’s a season that always feels like a pause to me: a chance to take stock, settle in, and look for beauty in small things.
I began with the colours. Golden yellow was at the heart of the palette — chosen because of how it glows when lit from within, like a late-afternoon sunbeam. I added soft greens, rich browns, and just a touch of red from the poppies. Behind it all, a hint of distant light green-blue hills and a faded cream sky to hold it in place.
Unlike some of my more detailed woodland designs, this one is simpler in composition — a few birds, a scattering of corn and wildflowers — but it’s still full of texture and care. I spent time on the feather markings, the texture of the poppy petals, the gentle movement of the plants. It reminded me how much I enjoy painting flowers, and I think I’ll return to them in another piece soon.
A Piece Made to Glow
Like all my lampshades, this one is printed on certified organic cotton, chosen not only for its softer environmental impact but for the way it holds colour and texture. Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, and supports better farming practices for the planet and the people who grow it. If you’re curious, you can read more about why I choose it in this blog post.
Each shade is handmade in my UK studio, one at a time, with slow and careful steps — no factories, no rush. Just the rhythm of craft, light, and story.
A Light for Nature-Loving Homes
Although this design works beautifully in a child’s room or nursery, it’s not just for little ones. Like the Red Squirrel or Swallow lampshades, it has a quiet, timeless quality that suits grown-up spaces too — a hallway, a family living room, or a calm reading corner.
In our home, it’s the kind of piece I’d place somewhere we spend time together — maybe a quiet corner of the living room or beside a favourite reading spot. The warm tones make the space feel settled and soft in the evenings, especially as the days start to draw in.
From My Studio to Your Home
If you choose this design, I hope it brings a little warmth into your space — a pause, a deep breath, a memory of poppies in the cornfield and birdsong in the hedge. It's a lampshade rooted in small, beautiful moments — made to glow softly and last for years.
Thank you for supporting slow making, thoughtful materials, and art that tells a quiet story.
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