November22nd
So you’ve been waiting for the final studio shots – we’ve almost finished the last of the trim so maybe for a thanksgiving treat on Thursday I’ll be able to post it. For now we’ve got detail shots of some of my favorite areas of the studio, enjoy and have a wonderful Monday! Did I mention we are doing thanksgiving specials in the shop all weekend to officially kick off holiday buying season? Stop by Friday-Monday for some new product and special deals for your gift giving.
August20th
As my husband said after it was all over with, “From the day that press went in the basement, I was dreading the day it would come back out.”
In order of appearance: (L-R).
Brian drilling a hole in our front room wall and harnessing the pulley strap around that section of wall and the kids bedroom door-frame ::: Press at the bottom of the stairs, nailed to 2x8s ::: pulley system ::: front room, looking at the stairwell ::: David checking the progress ::: hardwood 6″x12′ boards to ramp up the press ::: Getting going ::: slowly creeping it’s way up ::: Brian putting boulders from the garden under the boards so they don’t snap off when the press gets to the top ::: View from the banister looking at the stairwell.
Photographing from over the banister with rapid-fire set on my camera ::: Men sweating bullets while pulling the press up. Classic 45 degree angle shot of the press ::: Press almost to the top, starts to topple (almost snapping off our railing) ::: Thanks Brian for all the slave labor!
August19th
It’s way too late for me so if this post is not a cohesive whole of good grammar please forgive my half working brain!! Following the drywall and texturing, we got to painting and the kids were more than excited to be joining in on the fun!
Right before this, Evelyn was flinging her paint brush and dancing like a maniac to Green Day.
My one and only sweetheart! He even rolled the ceiling. bleh.
Lastly, we got to move the press into it’s new spot. And to get it out of the basement, we had to anchor it to the wall and door jamb. My poor living room wall ;)
The mess before it got cleaned – unloading the boxes!
August18th
Seeing that I’m partially claustrophobic it was important with the move to be meticulously organized and since we now have space, everything could have its own home. Over the years I’ve acquired skinny folding tables which are great as work stations because they are narrow, but still long enough to give ample workroom.
A few Christmas’ ago, Brian built me a replica of the Pottery Barn craft table, however you can get one on Target for 1/2 the price – OR have your hubby build you one for practically nothing and maybe a little bribery ;)
I added to my already growing supply of wire shelving. The main purchase was the EXPEDIT bookshelf and desk station. Time for a real desk, so that I didn’t stay up all night on the couch working on my laptop and start filling normal work hours again. This will also be the home for my ready-made goods.
While looking through the EXPEDIT collection I saw the EXPEDIT side tables and thought they’d be perfect as an ink mixing station for each press. With glass and a dark color, they fit in well with the decor and I thought they’d provide close proximity to the pressman for quick and easy usage.
Lastly, I think it was Craft, Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco that was the inspiration behind a children’s station. I believe Meg was interviewing another artist about studio spaces to which the artist responded that the best studio is one where your children can have their own designated space. After reading that, I was determined to set aside a little corner for them. To compliment their work station, I couldn’t pass up the KRITTER chairs in yellow from IKEA.
Stay tuned for painting tomorrow!
August17th
So as soon as it was decided, I have been dreaming about IKEA, the new studio, and SPACE with high ceilings. Sorry to shout, but I really was! Now, no project can be started without good measure of neglected children. One day while hanging drywall, this was the status of Brian’s missing Coke.
Baby Charlie, knows his logos, and when he sees that red Coke can he starts screaming hysterically until he gets it in his paws. Thankfully, there was only one can of Coke available that day.
Here is the west wall of the garage, and the north (right). Where the wall is, there used to be a garage door.
After trying to photoshop this all together, I’ve decided I need to invest in a wide-angle lens for my Canon xSi. That west window was put in when we built the house, and the north windows were ordered to match the rest of our house, wood interior/steel exterior with grids. Click on the photo to zoom if you are so inclined.
I’m lucky enough to have one sexy husband who not only is the best fly fishing guide ever, but he also is quite the handy-man. He framed it out, insulated, and set the drywall. Saving me a ton of cash on labor! My sister-in-law’s brother (that’s a run-on for sure) did the electrical, and a handsome young man Jeff who is dating one of my employees Kenz, did the drywall seaming and taping.
August16th
I just had to show you this to kick off Studio Week here at Dingbat Press. For those of you who don’t know much about me, I am a mother, and work from home.
For the last 5 years, my studio has been in my basement. We had a designated room, which my first press and love went barely down a flight of stairs to what we thought would be it’s final resting place.
Cleopatra : Manufactured by Challenge Machinery Co., model 15MA (manual, knockoff of the Vandercook SP-15). I’m partial to this press, because it doesn’t have those stupid springs that the Vandy has. This baby locks in place ;) But then again I’m a biased mother.
Then, the business grew, and the product grew, and the raw goods that I needed on-hand grew, and then I hired employees. Interns became part of the team, suddenly I realized that I had all but outgrown my basement. It was time for a real “bigger” studio. (And I bought a Windmill, and there was NO way a 3,500 lb Heidelberg press was going to even make it into our house – let alone the basement.)
Henrietta : Heidelberg Windmill with lockouts, red-ball. This is genius German engineering. They just don’t make things like they used to. CAST IRON BABY!
So I decided that the windmill was worth more money than my crap 2000 Honda Accord that smells like child barf, so the car got kicked to the curb. And I shopped, and ordered windows and drywall, and I moved the studio in! Come join the fun in seeing the progress that was/is the garage/studio for the week and get a peek into our new and improved space!
What To Expect...EDGE PAINTING (click the image below to be directed to the post)!
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