building a dream (under renovation 2006-2007)

i used to create wedding invitations and enclosures for clients anywhere i could spread
out...bedroom floor, kitchen table, etc. in 2006 my partner and i undertook an attic renovation
that we hoped would eventually become something that kinda sorta resembled an art studio.

the original space had been partially & poorly finished out so we gutted it down to the original
roof rafters and hardwood floors. the only work we hired was electrical and heating/cooling.

we struggled but persevered. we read lots of d.i.y. manuals, built kneewalls, enclosed a
defunct chimney, insulated the entire upstairs, replaced flooring, drywalled (never ever ever
again), set cabinets (still not finished), hung trim and blinds, and painted...and it's an art
studio dream come true!
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art studio tour
inspirational creative space (2008)

my father built the art bench nearly 15 years ago. he has deconstructed and reconstructed it
every time i've moved! i also spread my work out on a contemporary computer desk that i got
for a steal from a local office furniture annual warehouse sale. i purchased the cabinets
($15-30 each & already assembled!) the same way.

i rely on a dahle rotary papercutter, a toshiba satellite laptop, an hp color laserjet, a cordless
dremel, a craft robo plotter, an epic six and a singer sewing machine to tackle the easy stuff.
but i simply could not get my creative ideas out into the world without cutter bee scissors,
provo terrifically tacky tape, scotch transparent tape, blick acrylic gel medium, uhu glue
sticks, pilot g-2s, music by sarah mclachlan, and a webster's new world dictionary/
thesaurus.

all the other goodies add color and sentimental delight.
creating to my hearts content (2009 to present)

what seemed like such a huge space took no time to fill! i know it looks like total chaos to
the casual observer but a place for everything and everything in its place. it may be stacked
floor to ceiling but i know where to find it...usually.

i am so fortunate. thanks in large part to my family for their respect and generosity, i truly do
have a room of my own! and a pretty freakin' fantastic art studio too!
we are given one life and the decision is ours whether to wait for circumstances to make up our minds,
or whether to act, and in acting, live. -omar n bradley
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