I saw this great light at a thrift and thought I wanted it. Ron usually trusts me but he turned up his nose. You know…the look! I walked away but couldn’t forget about it. I really really really wanted that light to hang in the gallery window. So a week later it was still there and I snagged it. Of course he had to hang it and guess what….he likes it! He really really likes it! And I do too!
Last month a storm ripped the awning off the studio. Thank goodness we hadn’t spent dollars on putting our name on it! The good thing about it was the chance to choose our new awning so we could put our best face forward. After the awning was up, we were thankful for 2 days of warm weather so we could paint the window ledge and front door. Come spring time urns of flowers will complete our makeover. It was just in time. Ice is predicted for us this week!
I love it. Everything is within easy reach, the fur kids can come in without getting lost in the clutter.
The new to me Singer 431G is at counter height so I can sit on the stool or stand up to stitch. It may be easier on my arthritic hips and knees.
The Sunshine 16 mid-arm has a new adjustable stool seat with back support. The mid-century modern table was purchased at a thrift sale and is also adjustable height. The new goose neck lamps on either side of the machine are wonderful mid-century pieces I found at the Salvation Army. Ron mounted them on the back so I have perfect lighting.
My Koala cutting table and design walls are across from the mid-arm. I am using my portable design wall I made out of a projection screen for now. We are planning on using ceiling tiles covered with flannel, mounted to the bi-fold closet doors as the permanent wall.
Let me know how you like it!
All packed up and waiting. Holes patched and painted.
The cabinets came today and I love them! Now we wait for our handyman Andy, to come next Saturday to install them. Yep, you really did read that right. Our handyman is really named Handy Andy! The art quilts on the wall are waiting for backings. I stuck them up to get them out of harms way.
These are photos of the cabinetry I’m considering for a studio redo. When I added the mid-arm machine it got really cramped and its driving me nuts. I can’t get into my shelves of ethnic fabrics or art supplies without moving my Koala Cutting station. And I can’t roll that away without first moving bins of vintage fabrics…and I can’t move those until I move an extra machine or two. It was unexpected that adding one simple little piece of equipment would cause so much chaos.
Ron and I looked at outside studio spaces yesterday. Yikes!! Many of them have sat empty for a few years and the owners still think they are treasures that are worth a king’s ransom. Then even if I found one that was the right size, the right location and the right price, I would have to pack it all up, move it and still probably have to do some space customizing. So after a lot of thought and angst I decided it was much better to spend the cash in my little home studio.
There are an awful lot of artists who create masterpieces on the kitchen table or in a cold garage or basement. Having a studio that others would envy doesn’t make my art better. Its sort of like saying that when I’m thinner and prettier I will be rich and famous. With all the magazines published with great studios filled with light and custom storage, it is easy to envy the spaces of others and wish upon a star. This is like lots of things in life, we should be thankful for what we have and where we live and where we create. With this studio redo that’s just what I’m planning on doing.
PS: This is the counter top we picked out for the sewing surface. It should go with which ever of the cabinets we decide to use.
Janice Paine Dawes, Artist 