Who would have ever thought that one of the most high-end lighting companies in the country could be found right here in our own backyard? The Shade Above, although intentionally so, is one of Searcy's best-kept secrets.

"I doubt chamber of commerces even know about us," owners Scott and Robin Morris jokingly said.

But that's probably because less than five percent of their business is from Searcy. Most of their clients are high-end interior designers from across the country. More than 50 percent of their business is from out-of-state designers. The Morrises estimate that 40 percent of their business is from Little Rock.

And just exactly what is the product that all these designers are calling Searcy to order? Well, it's hard to describe in words, but suffice it to say that Robin creates custom lampshades that are truly works of art.

These could never pass as ordinary lampshades. Made entirely by hand out of imported silks, the shades are hand-plated, hand-stitched, and then intricately hand-smocked with a variety of smocking styles and patterns. The finishing touch comes when trims, imported from mills in France and throughout Europe are applied to the lampshades.

"It's hard to describe for people who have never seen our product to visualize what it looks like, much less understand the time and craftsmanship that goes into each shade," Robin said.

And Robin certainly can't make them all herself. In fact, she rarely has time any more to make many of the shades. So that responsibility is now in the hands - literally - of eight Searcy ladies who Robin has trained herself.

These eight seamstresses - or in this case perhaps they should be called artisans - undergo an intense week-long training session under Robin's guidance.

"The week is pretty overwhelming," Robin says, "and even after that week is done they've still only learned how to make one shape of shade and only one style of smocking.

With countless shade shapes and more than a dozen smocking styles, the shade makers may feel as if they've only begun the shade-making process.

"But most of them catch on fairly quickly, and after three to six months I feel very confident in their ability to tackle almost any order we receive," said Robin.

The craftsmanship of their product is one major selling point.

"When someone is paying $400-$500 for a custom lampshade, they expect a perfect work of art," Robin said. "So, if it's not perfect, it's not shipped to the client."

Speaking of clients, just where are the people who pay hundreds of dollars for one lampshade? All over the country, actually. The Morrises work with clients and designers primarily in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and Palm Beach. but with recent orders to California and North Carolina, they can actually boast of clients from coast to coast.

"It has afforded us the oppportunity to travel to some amazingly beautiful homes. It's so unbelievable to see how wealthy people live," Robin said.

"We also get the opportunity to tell these people about our business and our location," Scott said.

The Morrises said people are always amazed and impressed that their product comes from Arkansas. When clients fly in and come to them, they are always amazed by the area's beauty, as well as the quality of talent, art and antiques (especially in Little Rock) in Arkansas.

"They can't belive the quality of craftmanship, and that it's from Searcy, Arkansas," Scott said. "One client from Chicago recently told us she has seen nothing comparable to our product - even in Paris. So that was a compliment to the work of Robin and her girls.

Although they don't want to publicly divulge names (they're too modest!), Scott and Robin's clients have included a professional golfer, an Oscar-winning actress, and a well-known actor.

"But we treat all client alike, no matter who they are or where they may live," Scott said.

As clients from across the country place orders, Robin has learned the different styles and tastes that vary by region across the country. For instance clients from Florida primarily want all white shades, simple pleating and no trim.

"We've found a great handkerchief linen in Czechoslovakia that has been very popular for our Florida clients," Robin said.

But the farther north the orders originate, the more people are willing to experiment with colored silks and heavier fringe-like trims.

The work of Robin and her shade makers has been in Southern Accents, Architectural Digest and Elle Decor magazines. Elle Decor referred to the shades as "couture level."

And The Shade Above will soon be receving even more exposure. they were asked to participate in Southern Living magazine's Idea House, which opened in June in Hot Springs.

"We did nearly 40 custom shades and almost a dozen custom lamps for that project," Robin said.

The project is tentatively set to be featured in the August issue of Southern Living. Additionally, a special supplement on the Idea House project will be mailed by Souther Living to 1.3 million people.

Who knows what kind of response, if any, we'll receive from it," Scott said. "But they've told us we might want to install another phone line."

The couple started the company three years ago this summer after their former Little Rock employer, for whom they did the same line of work, phased out that division of his company and laid them both off.

"We ended up buying him out and creating our own company," Scott said.

"We took a major leap of faith," Scott says, "and we've been humbled by the blessings we've send God send our way.

The company's orders are filled during production cycles that each run two weeks. Depending on shape and size, between 20 to 30 lampshades can be made in each of the two week long production periods.

"The production periods stay full. Right now we're staying backed up about six weeks," Scott said.

That, too, is another testament to god's blessings, the couple says.

Scott and Robin who met in college while attending Harding, are proud to have called Searcy home for 18 years.

"It's been a great community to raise our kids and make wonderful friends," Robin said.

Searcy is their home, and as a result, the home of a growin gbusiness that has presented Searcy to the rest of the country in the best "light" possible. Consider it a secret no more.