Studio storage

I've been desperately needing to address some organization issues that were holding back my efficiency and comfort in my studio.  I haven't spent too much money on my studio, preferring to solve my needs creatively, meaning...I used what I already had. The amount of time I'm now spending in this room made me realize that its time to make it all work better.

I purchased some antique wooden boxes because I already was using some for storage, they are modular in that they stack, they aren't that expensive (for me, in rural Pennsylvania anyway) and no matter which ones I buy  they will give me a visually cohesive look. I have some modern/new/plastic storage but I know when they start to fall apart (and they will) I won't be able to replace them and will have to be concerned with how to recycle them.  (I have IKEA boxes that I really love but what happens when one cracks? Will IKEA still make those boxes?)

Now, I'm not going to completely clean up because according to Austin Kleon it will mess with my mojo.

I was gifted these hollow boxes. They make cool shelf like space. 

Airbnb/artist's retreat

I've had several people ask about the Airbnb/artist's retreat we stayed at while in Maine and I enjoyed it so much I feel it deserves more than just a link.

The owner (truly a SuperHost) was ahead of her time, renting out this amazing space before Airbnb even came on the scene I believe. This is one room living (plus bath) at its best, atop a large two car garage that the renter is welcome to use. The cathedral ceiling currently holds a (I think) mylar sculpture that sways every so slightly, and silently, when the ceiling fan is running and artwork adorns most walls.

 

Every need is considered and questions are answered before they are even asked by signs placed strategically around the studio (at the stove, washing machine, tv...). Skylights and windows allow for plenty of natural light even on a foggy day and well into the evening. Because the space is on the second floor and surround by woods, it feels a lot like a tree house. Although not directly on the water, a 2 min. walk on a charming woodland path takes you to a double adirondack chair with a view of the Damariscotta River.

 The studio area blends right into the main living space and is stocked with well organized tools, drawing, painting and collage supplies. There is a utility tub for cleaning up and two six foot, well lit work tables. I spent one evening playing with water soluble chalks until 10:30 pm.  The whole place is completely conducive to creativity and my husband and I both found ourselves saying "I could live here. I could live here".

Hey, look who that is! 

Joy, the owner lives in a house through the trees behind the studio and while she's available, she also allowed us all the privacy we wanted.

She has some open dates at the end of September (hint, hint) and Maine should be glorious then with comfortable days and chilly nights. Businesses and restaurants will still be open but the bulk of the tourist crowd will have left. Put it this way, if our lives did not revolve around the public school year, I would be renting that last week in September for sure.

Should I share the skeletons in my closet?

Or how about just the beads in my drawers? This is embarrassing enough really, the amount of parts and bits and components that are sitting around just waiting to "be" something.

Seaglass inspired beads

There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do all the things, make all the things, try all the things, experiment with all the things. Better than to be stuck for ideas I guess, right?

School is almost finished for the year though and  I'm looking forward to lots of studio days this summer  - the one bright side of not traveling.

Bright tube beads

Faux River Rocks

Paper jewelry supplies. 

Recycled Paper Jewelry

Its now been over a month since we left home and it will be another month until we return. I have to resist the temptation to fret over all the things we'd like to do but might not have time for on this trip. 

I've been getting up early in the morning, when there is less competing for my attention,

to work on some of my own paper jewelry using SHAPE's recycled paper. I don't typically work this early at home but I'm considering starting to try getting into the studio at 5:30 – 6:00am every day. Will I be able to do it or will obligations, distractions and old habits creep back in?

At any rate...here I am now. I spread everything across the kitchen table and watch through the open door as the sun comes up over the house and hits the ocean. 

I'll be selling one of the pieces I've created while here with all money going to SHAPE. It will most likely be a necklace but I'm working on some brooches as well. My shops are closed so I'm trying to work out a way the funds will go right to SHAPE's account. Hope to have that sorted by next week.

Happy Monday!

I brought a small box of simple tools with me - a small paper cutter would have been nice too. Maybe next time....

Its about time

I finally got around to the hard work of completing my "About" page on Etsy. Why do I drag my feet on things like this? I don't know - uncomfortableness with talking about myself?  Its like exercise, writing about oneself. I don't necessarily enjoy it at the beginning but when its done I realize it was good for me because for some reason writing words about what I make helps me better understand what I make and why I make it.

Realizing that I could take bits of information from my website and elsewhere on my Etsy shop and just reconfigure, helped me get the job done because I didn't have to start from scratch.

I just finally started hanging artwork I've been collecting specifically for my studio. From left to right: print by Belinda Marshall, vintage map of one of my favorite parts of the world, photo by Merl Strunk taken of my husband while we were in college. I have some more prints, sitting in the foreground with the hammer, that need to be hung.

Needing to take the accompanying photos prompted a good clean up for my polymer work table too. So I guess its a win-win.

You can go here in my Etsy shop if you'd like to read a little more about me.

My husband made the earring storage/display piece for me by running wire around an antique wooden box. I have most of my finished work stored out of sight but I feel like I'd like to have my work out where I can see it. 

Home

No, I have not dropped off the face of the earth. Five days at sea, 24 hours in Cape Town, 23 hours by air...and we arrived home from Saint Helena, safe, sound if not exhausted on August 13. The gap from then to now is as a result of the re-settling needed...right now home feels a bit foreign. (Photos of the end of the trip coming soon - it was an emotional goodbye and we spent a good bit of the homebound journey talking about how soon we can go back.)

My studio got a new, even bigger, skylight while I was away (thanks Dad) so I'm doing some cleaning and re-organizing since things were moved and covered for the construction process and I am back to work with a big project on the horizon.

While looking for ways to better organize my time especially during the school year, I discovered a good way to leave things out while protecting them from dust and bugs and bits.  I covered my whole work area with cling film/plastic wrap. I sometimes work 1 hour here, 2 hours there and this will be so much better than cleaning up all the time. Anyone already do this? Sorry to sound so dippy but this was quite a eureka moment for me!

A very special book and postcards arrived not long before we got home. My mom carries a stash of the postcards in her purse to give out to people.  Its like putting the painting from K-garten on the frig times a million for her, I think.

Yes, the book! There are a couple pages of polymer history and solid polymer basics, 13 projects and lots of images of polymer work. (Its heavy on images - only the contents page and the page with basic polymer directions are all text.) But the things I like most about Cynthia's book is its focus on the artists (even though I hated having my picture taken) and the section titled "Assessing your work" (page 18). I love the "what are you doing and why?" being addressed by people working in polymer. Lets have more of that!

I'll be donating a copy of the book to our library (our library currently has NO polymer clay books!) and teaching a 2 hr. class there on the morning of October 6. Details forthcoming.