Samantha Bullock made three lampshades from her collection of vintage textiles after a flood devastated her family’s retail business.
“…to cheer the shop and our customers up more than anything, we lost everything, we had no insurance for this one, so you’ve just got to crack on and use what you’ve got…. People wanted to buy the lampshades, I had a lot on my plate and was still battling for business survival but I couldn’t secure a supplier for stock, so I built it myself.
Turned out to be a smart move, to create something by your own hands is so calming, to repurpose something, give it new life, and then have people take it into their homes and treasure it is hugely rewarding, and it played it’s part in saving the business before growing to become a separate entity in it’s own right…. I’m still pinching myself that art.illuminated’s very first corporate contract was consultation and supply to AMEX/Manchester Airport Group…”