New Studio

Here are a few photos of my new studio/office. Its small, and somewhat cramped (especially right now because there are still more art supplied to find proper put-away places for), but it makes me so happy! I have a window that opens to the back yard and our neighbors' terrific sunflower garden, I have a closet, and best of all, the room has a proper ceiling* and is right off the dining room. It feels real.

It is a bit small, and it does double as a guest room, but I have put that to my advantage, using a stack of twin mattresses for a table. I think its a rather ingenious solution, thank you! They can be spread out for a makeshift guest bed (takes up the whole entire room!), and when they are stacked they are the perfect height!


And the walls still need that coat of white paint. That will feel good.


My cds are in here because they are too embarrassing to have out in public (mid 90's alt-rock hits anyone? Remember the Calling?)


And yes, I already need to tidy! That's what having a studio is all about though: it's totally being used. So much in the works already.


*I have read that ceiling height has been linked with creativity, with higher ceilings being more inspirational. At my old house, my studio was spread out over the upstairs, and I really do think the low, slanted, dormer ceilings were somewhat a stifling. So a proper, square ceiling has been my dream for quite some time. And it came true! How lucky am I?!

Treasure hunt

In perusing around blogland, it seems that many people are on a search for one particular piece of furniture - that perfect piece that has all the individual aspects of design and function personal to the searcher. I am always looking for something, and I have to admit that it changes often. Perhaps I am still defining my taste (in which case I probably should really think carefully about some of the big purchases I am ever so tempted to make!). I love the idea of having a single item that is the epitome of perfection and being able to search around the world for it if necessary. Wouldn't the feeling be incredible when it was actually found?

Truth is, I don't have that kind of patience. Either that or I have incredible luck. I decided to search for a loom and found one almost immediately. And the same with the letterpress. Craigslist and I get along well. But that dear friend has not come through for me (immediately) on my newest quest: the Perfect Buffet.

My perfect buffet actually comes in a few different completely different shapes and sizes. First is what I am going to call 1950s Dutch, although I actually haven't the slightest idea if that is correct:


Its a beaut. Its actually $6800 worth of beauty, which I am sure it is completely worth, but which is also so out of my price range.

Buffet #2 would be thrilling to find. It is inspired by the one in the background in this amazing apartment. What got me with that one is the old wood - do you think I could find an antique workbench hidden and forgotten in the back of someone's barn? That would be ideal.


These are a couple I found on Overstock.com, nice but missing... something...

Room Transformation

C. has been out of town for the majority of the past couple weeks, so this weekend I took the opportunity to start a transformation of his house, with the help of the trusty paint can and roller brush! The house is a sweet little 40s or 50s dream home, pretty wood floors (need to be refinished, they had carpet on them until recently), paneled glass windows, and neat little scalloped boxes around the tops of the windows (the name for those is escaping me at the moment, but you will see what I mean). Very cute. But painted a horribly unfortunate shade of green-tinged off white throughout, with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom which are pink. Very bad. But none of us have had the impetus to get this huge repainting job to a start until now. I am quite proud of myself!



I would like to state here that I love color. I love paint. And I love to pick paint colors. But, sometimes it gets overwhelming, in part because I do like all those colors so much, that I can't narrow down the choices. That is one reason why I love the "Oops" cart at Home Depot or Lowes. I get a gallon of paint for $5, and I don't have to choose. The only decision I have to make is where to put it. I have stockpiled a nice selection of oops paint, so now my decision process for painting a room is to choose a color or two from the collection. Much simpler! I have had these two cans for quite some time, a peachy rusty orange and a dark greenish grey brown, specifically intended for C.'s living room. And I really like how they look. It is amazing what a coat of paint can do.



And yeah, I can't help it. I have to put pictures up. Sometimes before the paint is dry.