Onward and Upward

I just love it when my husband asks for tools for Christmas. This happens every year during the holidays and on his birthday. And when he gets tools AND gifts cards for Lowes or Home Depot, you just KNOW there is a project in the works.


In a very short period of time right after Christmas, John took the measurements for the wall outside my studio in the basement and framed it out on the floor. Then we lifted this framework into place under the ventwork and he took a sledgehammer and put it into place. I admire a man that can build things! Granted our basement is unfinished but this is progress! I am hoping that by the time we retire we'll have the basement finished while we can still walk down the basement steps!


I am really excited to see that the project has started and realize that we'll only be able to do small things, a little at a time, as the budget allows. But still!

Ta Da!! Check it Out!

Bam!
How's this for a blast of brightness?? How could you be sleepy or bored with these colors to keep you alert?

This is still a work in progress, but I am pleased to show you these pictures. I finally have a place to create again, after waiting for the past couple months! It's seemed like a lifetime. I should share with you that I am pretty organized and anal about some things, so it really bugged me that my stuff was scattered throughout the basement and I didn't know where anything was for about 8 weeks.

This weekend my husband shared with me the alarming news that all art related items *must* fit inside this room. That was after I planned to leave my big tub with wheels that I use at craft shows outside the door, among other things. So if it all must fit, then I must get rid of some of the art supplies I've been hoarding half my life. I am not sure why I had a big bag of turquoise blue and red scraps of suede, but they have to go. And I know I probably don't "need" 25 cigar boxes, but hey, each one is unique and a different shape. Those get to stay. I threw out a laminator from Big Lots that did not work when I bought it. Moving it across town when we bought this house and storing it for 5 more years did not make it work any better. Out it goes! See, I can do this. It's just hard because some day I might need it. While hubs was working on the room, he discovered my two big boxes of shells and rocks which I moved from my previous house. They were not marked "shells and rocks" which is why they were undiscovered for five years in the storage space below the steps. (I am blonde, but not dumb). I think I will now have to downsize my collection.

So here are some pics after I have tried to reorganize. The brown table is my jewelry work space and the laminated table is for paper arts and other crafts I may become infatuated with in the future. (I want to learn felting and I really need to make those soldered glass slide necklaces). I like that the outlets are all at table level.



At some point down the road, we'll finish the other two walls (maybe in lime green & or pink to complete the "citrus" look). We'll wait for now as we need access to the pipes in case we add a bathroom. And we'll put down hardwood flooring and a drop ceiling someday. But for now, I have what I need to get working!

What do you think? Want to come over and create something with me? If you do, you have to promise to take some rocks and shells with you when you leave.

Studio Update

Here's the latest work on the studio. John is making great progress! The two walls shown are primed and ready to paint. Didn't he do an outstanding job on the drywall?



My color choices seemed good at the time. I love the citrus combination of yellow/pink/orange/coral/lime. We bought mini cans of the coral-red and a bright but dark orange. Applied to the wall and it was way too dark for a room in the basement without windows. Ack! Back to the drawing board. Good thing we bought small cans.


I have seen so many paint chips from Lowes that my head is swimming.


Here we go! The gallons of paint are purchased. My two choices are taped to the wall and painting begins. One is an orange with a lot of yellow and the other is a really bright yellow. The lady at Lowes was shocked at how much tint went into the can and said "now that's yellow!" I hope I like the end result!! Too late to turn back now...

More to come. You may need to be wearin' shades.

Studio Walls are Going Up!

My husband is the greatest. When my grandmother would hear all the projects he was working on around the house, she would say "he is so handy!" And Grandma was right! His gift to me for Christmas was to finish my studio in the basement. I had been complaining (okay whining) that it was too cold to work down there and when I try to heat my area, it never works as the space is open & the heat travels up the stairs. Also, I need doors to keep my two cats out of my workspace, even though I have dubbed them artcatz. They are so curious about what I am doing and want to hang out with me. Which is okay most of the time. However, when I have everything set up for a photo shoot of my jewelry that is the time that they jump on the table and I get a picture of a paw instead of a bracelet. Or the bracelet being dragged away by a paw. You get the picture.

Here is phase 1. My husband has framed in the space where the walls will be.
In phase 2 he ran the wire to the multiple outlets that I'll have. And he put in a phone jack so if the phone rings I won't have to leave the studio. Although I may not answer the phone, I am still excited about this!!



Drywall is going up now. Our friend Tom came over and helped as it's tough for one person to handle. When I am out of town this week, the mudding and sanding of the drywall happens. Sorta glad I will be out of town for that work. Right now everything is covered in dropcloths and I can't get to anything. I know I will be uneasy until I get everything reorganized and put away where it goes.


So I need to think of what color to paint the walls. This IS an art room, so I am thinking something bright and colorful. Two walls will be drywall and the other two, for the interim are still painted white concrete walls. If/when we can finish the basement, the other two walls will be finished. The cool part is that I will have two doors, multiple electrical outlets and a phone jack. And eventually upper cabinets and a wash tub for cleaning up paint, rubberstamps, brushes, etc. But that's down the road.


So what color(s) should I paint the walls? I mentioned a splatter of colors a la Jackson Pollack and my husband looked horrified. I am thinking one bright yellow and one red. Or maybe one orange and one pink/coral. I LOVE those colors together. I don't want to go too dark as it will make the room look small. And once I get all my junk back in there, it will probably look small. Another thing is that I will want to write on the walls ("Oh, Good Lord" my husband said when he read this). Quotes and words and any inspiration. Maybe I should just get a huge bulletin board. Let me know if you have suggestions for me! I'm all ears!