Corners of the studio: Tour

Just wanted to share some a few more details of the new studio space:
First is the area where I cut stacks of paper and the storage holder for some of my finished stationery and invitation samples.
Here's the little cafe table and chairs that now serve as my desk area where I can sit and brainstorm, paint, sketch, and draw. I like a clean desk surface for that and this fits the bill...especially when the mood seems to strike in an unplanned manner.
A collection of things on the window ledge...a chicken figure with a head that bobbles when you tap it (my friend Jim gave it to me as a souvenir from Cozumel, Mexico) ...an orange i-pod case...my favorite packaging which happens to be for a gourmet chocolate bar...a weird piece of wood where I practiced carving flowers with a wood burner...
A pulled-out version of the above picture. So far there's just a photo on the bulletin board...of my second-grade class in 1985. If you see the large version of the photo, you might be able to make out that board behind us says "Handsome Turkeys" since it was almost Thanksgiving at that time. My print apron is to the right. The yellow paper is Paper-Source solid wrapping paper. The white silk paper is flocked...I liked the fuzzy yellow pattern. (mentioned in an earlier post)
Here's where the edge of my studio meets the rest of the basement. The weather man is on the tv back there. The cabinet in the left/front holds all my letterpress materials.
This is a vintage drafting table with a built-in light box I got from a man nearby who is retiring from printing in his late 70s. He's incredibly interesting and so nice. I bought my wood type from him.
Here's the view of the covered insulation...it used to be ugly metal and now this is how it looks. The black/purple item to the left of the window is a Mardis Gras mask given to me by my grandmother many years ago. The left cabinet holds all of my oil painting and watercolor supplies.
Here's the green vintage chair I got almost 6 years ago at the Salvation Army for 8 bucks. It was perfectly clean and brand-new looking and I liked the color. I finally have somewhere for it to live now! The ottoman is a touch my husband added...it goes with his grandfather's leather chair (which is upstairs in the office) The clock above the doors is from Ikea...it looks like the classic schoolhouse clock. The bookcases aren't finished being filled...my old license plate from Maine is on the bottom left bookcase. It was a surprise from my Dad...but that's a story for another day.

Done! (pretty much)

The art studio is pretty much completed! I still have to finish decorating and moving in, but all my supplies and materials are put away and I'm ready to get back to it. Thought I would post some before and after photos to show the difference. The studio is in a part of our basement...and it would be huge money to have it finished by adding walls, ceiling, etc. since it's so huge and all kinds of other issues...so we decided to fix it up as best we could despite all that. We sealed/primed and painted the cement walls and I covered up the insulation with pretty wrapping paper (as noted in the earlier post). We got all new furniture (thanks Ikea!!) and I'm so thrilled with the outcome. We decided we were sick of "making do" in an ugly basement and realized we could do something about it. It's not perfect, but much better than the pit of destruction that was once there. I have to make it my own now. Next... to print all my holiday cards! I'll post more photos of the studio tomorrow here and on my flickr site. Have a great night!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

My flock

Well, it's hard finding the exact paper I wanted to cover the insulation panels in my studio. Everything was either over the moon expensive or out of stock. ARG! I was in Paper-Source last night and found this silk paper that is flocked with this curry yellow pattern. I didn't see it on the online shop though. I bought a sheet to test it out and see if it could be seen through when placed on our silver insulation (and you can't...Yay!) so I think I will go ahead and buy several sheets. Since we aren't putting up walls (i.e. "finishing" the basement) I need a way to make it look more inviting and cozy in my work space down there. We need one more coat of paint and then I'll install the sheets of paper over the silver panels on either side of the window...the silver reflective surface is not my idea of inviting. I also bought some curry-colored solid wrapping paper to layer in if needed...which I think it will. Well, off to get back to work! Have a great day!
P.S. The show "Wicked" was really good! It got a little too shmaltzy during some parts which made me want to poke my eye out, but other than that I enjoyed it.

Tuesday Inspiration

Chris and I went for a walk this morning and it was so nice to enjoy the weather and just be outside. There were pretty little blooms falling off the trees everywhere so I grabbed one and put it in a glass to float. I also love this page from the latest issue of Elle Decor magazine...I love the different fabrics on the couch and I also love the grass wallpaper on the wall. You can click on the image to see it larger. I would love to do a small part of a room in that paper... Busy day; I'm off to continue to check items off my "to do" list, including printing my next stationery set design. Happy Tuesday!

Untitled

Good morning all! I was so excited last night. I was watching "Bones" which is a favorite TV show of ours and the "victim" in the show had Nail Patella Sydrome (otherwise known as Fong Disease). They discussed it a bit on the show and my husband and I looked at each other in amazement because that's the affliction I have (as do other members of my family). It's very little known to the public and occurs 2.2 of every 100,000 people. You can learn more about it here. Anyway, it was a "wow" factor to actually see it on television since most people have never heard of it. Kind of cool. (in its own way) I'm enjoying working in my newly clean office. Now, I'm inspired to tackle my part of the bedroom where I've managed to pile clothes, magazines, books, and doodads. Time to pick up! The image posted today is of a cool pen cup that used to be my Grandfather's (Bumpa). He died around 17 years ago and my parents took in his desk. This cup was in it and contained old elastic bands, a compass (the kind you use in geometry), a magnifying glass, old pens, a rubber thumb, and some other odds and ends. I have since taken the cup and it sits on my desk now. I still have the original compass and magnifying glass in the cup. There are still the little odds & ends at the bottom as well. I like mixing in my current collection with his; it feels like family. And the cup has a great vintage look to it that has a lot of character on my desk. Have a great day everyone!

Spring

Happy first day of Spring! It's still very snowy here, but I'm thinking springy thoughts. I cleaned out my office today since I had piles of things everywhere and it became too unmanageable. It's back to "working" state now and I'm happy! I bought some fabric from Purl Soho and put it behind my computer screen/desk for a shot of color and interest without having to paint. It's bright and cheery and just what I needed. I hope you all have a fabulous start to spring. New beginnings are on the way!

One Year!

Hello everyone! I've officially been freelancing/working for myself for a year now. The time has flown by! I've loved every second of it. I'm much more relaxed in my life now and I don't have that tight/angry feeling in my chest I used to have when I worked my 8:30-5:30 job. My goals have been evolving over the year and I'm feverishly working on wedding invitation designs and birth announcement designs for the new "launch" of my business. I'm doing a few different projects for clients right now that will serve as great portfolio items to show my design styles and capabilities. I'm having so much fun! On another note, I have attached a photo in this post of a blank wall in the upstairs of our house. It's a huge wall and it's screaming for some design action. But I have so many thoughts that they are running together. I'm overwhelmed! I'd love ideas if anyone has them for this wall. The aesthetic I'm going for is transitional...I'm open to something "different" and I'm trying to avoid just hanging a bunch of photos there. Some ideas I've thought of are using wall decals, a big giant painting, a "mosaic" of small photos, one huge photo, blown up and tiled...see what I mean? But the wall is so big that I feel like one idea won't fill the space well. An ongoing battle I think. I feel defeated before even beginning. I've also attached a pic or two of part of my design studio space where I keep some books and inspiration . I like eye candy. I have some decorating work to do in the office, but I'm gathering ideas. Slowly but surely. I hope everyone is well and has a great week ahead! I'd like to start posting more frequently...but I can't make promises (as I've learned.) Be well!