A Bright Day!

The day finally came when the new light system for my home studio was going to be installed. It was so very exciting watching the transformation take place in just a couple of hours!

First, the heavy looking and so-very-not-attractive fan light that I burnt out (I accidentally overheated the system with higher than ideal wattage - I was just trying to get more light!) had to come down.

Next came the assembly of the parts.

The curve of the rail was created next 

(I wanted a very soft organic like "s").

Requiring 4 hands the system was then put into place.

Final tweaks,

additions,

and then, there was light!

I absolutely love the end result. 

All the waiting was definitely well worth it!   :)

Changing up the Studio

It's been a whirlwind this last month - Art Attack, Costa Rica, Thanksgiving and the move of my studio from NE Minneapolis to my home.  The latter event started a couple of months ago when I decided (with the help of the following): 

1. No decision is a permanent one (who knows what the future will bring!),
2.  "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."(one of my favorite quotes), 
3. and deciding what I didn't want in my life anymore (a studio outside of my home (studio)), 

to take the leap out of the commitment of having a studio outside of my home and gave notice. Yes, it was nerve-racking leading up to the decision, and at times I couldn't help but second-guess it all after my verbal notice. But now I'm thrilled with this new direction (and so inspired by it!) and am in the happy midst of consolidating, organizing and going through all that I brought home.

Glorious drawers waiting for attention

Somewhat in place and ready

Remember when?

My home studio office was originally my dear husband's office. When I moved in with him 8 years ago, I also slowly moved into (t)his space and have plugged away at making more room for my ideas while gently moving his various photography-office-y stuff out. (Though it may sound like it - fret not - I did not kick him out! and besides he now has an even better office space that wouldn't be if it hadn't been for this slow progression of process.)       :)

There have been 2 very large pieces of furniture in this room that I have been itching to move out. The moons must have been alined the other day because I approached him with the idea (again!) and lo and behold! the so very long cabinet (though awkward, was surprisingly workable in weight) was moved!

And with the movement came the reminder of what the room was colored in awhile ago (as my sister and weren't able to move the cabinet we just painted around it). So this morning I applied the first coat of "Berries and Beans"over the unappealing grey-green and can hardly wait 4 hours to apply the second coat.

I have a plan as the last and final extremely large piece of furniture (my desk) --though it will not leave the room-- will have at least a new position due to the purchase of furniture sliders. I'm excited to move things around making room for more surface space for me to work upon......

Midsummer Light in Midwinter Grey

I'm thrilled to have received this Midsummer Light as a holiday gift this year. I was first introduced to Tord Boontje at MOMA a few years ago. I absolutely fell in love with his work  :)  and took  his studio book home where I fall in love all over again.

I installed my new light in the corner of my home studio where it's absolutely perfect! I'm going to enjoy viewing and being inspired by the delicate layers of paper leaves and flowers....

Home studio facelift

For my birthday present this year, my dear sister gave me the gift of time. She assisted me with a very ambitious project - one that involved moving tons of ideas, stuff, furniture, artwork and more around and out of my home studio. We tackled 2 walls at a time over the course of a couple of days and the process was instantly gratifying! The original color I've lived with for a number of years had an overall grey feel - certainly uninspiring! Grey-ish beige was on one wall and the other 3 had a grey-ish green (the image to the left shows 'the before').

My cat, Gabe, supervised the process. He wasn't at all concerned about getting paint on his beautiful furry body.

 

The end result was one that we were both very happy with: