Showing posts with label studio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label studio. Show all posts

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Adorned Atelier

This could be a "before" and "after" post had I not been too lazy to photograph my desk in its previous state, but I'll just have to go with a "ta-da!" approach instead. 

My new workstation and I first crossed paths at a secondhand store in town. It started life with a school-desk hue (you know, like an orange stain that resembles someone who's indulged in too much spray tan). During the last two summers, I stripped and sanded the piece until it was back to its natural color. It was carried up and down a flight of stairs a million times so I could work on it little by little outside with adequate ventilation. The desk even spent a winter in our hallway, waiting for the day when it would be finished and put to use.

Finally, the weather perked up few weeks ago and I spray painted the desk with a couple of cans of Krylon. 

I'm thinking it'll have to be sealed at some point. I also bought a porcelain accent knob that will one day replace the original wooden one. In my mind, though, I consider the desk done and ready for use. I'm ecstatic with the results of my first "stray" furniture revamp but I learned that my artistic leanings require way more instant gratification. Taking more than a year to complete this recycling process took more time than I initially anticipated. All in all, however, I'm very proud of my project. I'm glad this desk gets a second chance, and I can't wait to make good use of it.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Setting Summer Goals



::Taps mic:: "Is this thing on?"

Yes, I need to post more frequently. Perhaps that could be a summer goal? We'll see.

The mate, birds and I just moved into a new apartment in Astoria for space reasons. As a result, I now have my very first art studio!

For the first time since we moved to Astoria three years ago, Mark and I also have a bit of "land," a.k.a. a porch-type area (not elevated) of which we have sole use. This has opened the door to a variety of previously unattainable artistic possibilities, which leads to the topic at hand: summer crafting-related goals:

-Practice soldering.
-Experiment with resin.
-Go bead hunting in Rhode Island.
-Finally put that silk screen to use.
-Host an Astoria indie arts and crafts show (in the preliminary works)!
-Build a wholesale market for Adorned.

Some people like to make New Year's resolutions, however, I find that with the extra hours off from my day job in the warmer months and the extra motivation given to me by sunshine, summer goals are more realistic.

The winter puts me into hibernation mode. I stay inside during lunch breaks rather than explore the city. I decline invitations to hang out because of the inclement weather. I shiver and hunch for months. My mood shifts all over the place. If I were indeed a bird, I'd have flown south in November. All winter, I feel like I'm waiting with bated breath for the spring. Soon, I must remind myself: It is coming soon.

And one day, I hope to live in a state with a much higher level of warmth and sunshine: California. But for right now, I'll await my three months as patiently as possible.

(Pictured above: A custom necklace made for a friend out of hand-sawed and stamped copper.)