Margaret Dowling has been lighting houses for nearly three decades with her Unique Antique Lamp Shades and Bases company.
“I like to look inside the homes the lamp shades are going into and get a feel for the style, colour and how they will fit in,” said Dowling.
Dowling makes custom lamp shades by hand outside of her work with Interior Health as a housekeeper.
She moved to Vernon for work 35 years ago from Chester, England. Eight years later, she started the lamp shade business.
Dowling’s lamp shades have been sold all over North America. Mainly selling locally in town, tourists will get in touch with her on their vacation and have their lamp shade shipped to their home upon completion.
“The lamp shades take anywhere from one to nine months to make,” said Dowling. “It all depends on what type of lamp shade I am making.”
Each lamp shade is made by hand, one bead at a time and contains her signature butterfly.
“Lamp selling is my life,” said Dowling, who was born in the same hospital as Agent 007, Daniel Craig. “I love the freedom and the spirit of making each lamp shade for a specific room.”
Dowling makes trips to England and France about once a year and brings back all kinds of fabrics. While most of her work is done through custom order, she does have a few lamp shades on stock that are available for purchase.
