The Birth of a Studio, Part 3

May8

I worked most of the day yesterday organizing and finding a place for everything in my new studio space. I am feasting my eyes on this new creation as often as I can because a) I can’t believe that one of my dreams has finally come true and b) I don’t think it’s ever going to be this clean again. There’s even vacuum marks on the rug! The rug…..which is probably the one thing about the space I don’t like. I have visions of spilling a tray of beads and……..oh dear…….well, you can imagine the rest. Maybe someday we can install a ceramic floor or even a hardwood floor down here.

The space in front of the heater on the far wall is where I want to put my metalworking table. I have a few options I’m looking at, including an offer to have a table made for me!

Here is the beadworking area. I was able to fit all of my beads on the shelves and portable storage units for easy access.

My good friend Amy, who has a fabulous studio BTW, told me about this nifty cube storage unit that’s perfect for organizing polymer clay. I just loved sorting the little squares by color and lining them all up in neat rows. Thank you, Amy!

My light tent has found its home on a drafting desk in the corner. The box under the table contains the lights, waiting to be set up. The pegboard leaning against the left side of the table will eventually be screwed into the wall above the heater, I think. So, my tools will be hanging behind me. I’m not sure how that will work out but I’m going to try it out because I can’t place the table against the heater. My sewing machine is also waiting for a home somewhere in my studio. I have been very drawn to quilting books lately so it might come in handy for some future pieces.

Here is the beading command center. My mosaicon hangs in a place of honor above my table. I enjoyed creating that piece so much! Resting on the portable storage units are a couple of beautiful Native American design needlepoint pieces created by my Mom.

I store most of my seed beads in the Tic Tac style storage containers. They’re sorted by color and placed into clear rectangular storage units, fitting quite nicely together. I also have a lot of tubes that I store in a pen caddy. Each 3-sided unit is standing up on the table next to the wall.

This weekend I will be looking for a task chair and some lights! Stay tuned for more studio stories…

The Birth of a Studio Part 2

May7

I purchased 2 six foot tables at Lowe’s this past weekend. Everything needed to shift over to the other side of the space to make room for them and the shelves I installed. I actually had these shelves in my bedroom in my apartment and that’s where I stored all of my art supplies. I slept surrounded by all of my beads and polymer clay and tools. Good energy but very crowded!

Both Home Depot and Lowes have all sorts of nifty storage shelving and products. I bought the coated wire shelves which attach to the wall by way of slats that screw into the studs. Then there are metal pieces that fit into the slats and the shelves rest on them. There are little hooks on the metal pieces and the shelves fit right into them for security. It’s important to plan out item placement so the weight is well balanced since the shelves aren’t super heavy duty. I placed them up high so I wouldn’t be hitting my head all the time.

Now that my structures are in place, today will be spent finding a place for everything. This weekend I’m hoping to purchase a task chair and some drafting lights to fit on the tables. I also need to purchase a metalworking table which will be placed perpendicular to the existing tables. That way I can swing around from station to station with my chair placed in the middle. My command center. How exciting is this?!!

A Tulip

May4

When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment.

I want to give that world to someone else.

Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower.

I want them to see it whether they want to or not.

-Georgia O’Keefe

Saturday Morning Tea

May3

I’m gazing out my window on another cloudy damp day. We’ve had quite a few of those this past week. The tops of the trees are swaying in a gentle breeze. It is so quiet here save for the occasional bird call and the hum of my computer. This is the type of quiet that allows me to access my inner space, a nice balance to the busyness of my life lately.

This morning’s tea is a China black tea called Pu-ehr Tuo Cha. The leaves are compressed into small bowls or what I like to think of as tiny birds’ nests. Pu-ehr tea is divided into 2 classifications, raw and cooked, depending upon the processing method. This particular tea falls into the cooked category. It undergoes a double fermentation not unlike what happens in a compost pile. The leaves actually begin to decompose, giving them a strong earthy taste when steeped.

There have been numerous studies done on Pu-ehr tea with results that it appears to lower cholesterol. The Chinese have long enjoyed its medicinal benefits for aiding digestion, especially with fatty foods.

The leaf is so dark after steeping. I usually break up the tuo cha a little bit to help the leaves unfurl from their compressed state. I steeped them for 7 minutes in boiling water. The strong earthy fragrance was mirrored in the taste. I find that I enjoy its rich, dark flavor much more with milk and a little honey added.

This afternoon I am going out to purchase some tables for my studio. A big thank you to all who offered suggestions on tables and lighting and set up!