Sunday, July 1, 2018

Studio re-jig

After teaching our letterpress workshop a few weekends ago, Barry and I decided that we could sort the studio space out even a bit better and so on Monday we went for a trip to IKEA.

We purchased six more storage units and a table top, and so it came to pass that on Tuesday, we spent the whole day building furniture.






The idea is that downstairs will be given over to letterpress printing. And other presses.  But the main focus is on making the letterpress machinery and type and equipment easily accessible and easily found.

So it was out from under the kitchen bench for the furniture; disappearing from the centre of the kitchen for the etching press; moving upstairs for the calligraphy bits and pieces. Transferring some of the books to the bookshelf upstairs. Getting quoins off the window sill; removing quoin keys form a tray; retrieving the pica rulers from a kitchen bench. And so on...

Two new filing cabinets with Adana presses on them - ready to go wherever they are needed.


And behind them in a space which is rarely used, lies the etching press - also ready to be moved to wherever we need it, when we need it. Note the pumpkin crop outside the window!


 I can't believe how open the kitchen looks! We removed the defunct dishwasher and put in place more storage, and new bins for cleaning cloths. And built a wee shelf not for the corner space where the furniture both wooden and metal now sits in clear tubs.


 Upstairs, the beginnings of a new desk for calligraphy.


Setting up.


Getting down to work.


21 swing tags for Barry at the end of a misty and rainy afternoon.


I adore the new space and can't work out why it took so long to set up a desk up there!  It is way up in the air; I look out over the mountains, I can see up the driveway and across to the house. I feel like the Queen of the world...

And may I say, that after all the rain, the valley and the mountains were spectacular on Friday morning - deep deep sigh...


10 comments:

  1. Wish we could come and visit. That last photo is amazing.

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    1. It was pretty special Penny - I gazed and gazed all day...

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  2. Ikea really is quite amazing ... as is your new calligraphic space

    and I love how mountains might be islands

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    1. IKEA has become a true friend for us...we get ho wit works and work well together making. That mountains might be islands, and clouds might be puddles...it was special.

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  3. Wow (((Fiona & Barry))) you two are so organized!

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    1. We have our moments Mo - usually after reaching a point of utter chaos!

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  4. It is so satisfying to re-order one's working space. Your new calligraphy station makes me want to sit right down and write, only distracted by your other-worldly view. I know you will enjoy it very much.

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    1. So true Dana - I would love to bottle that feeling of utter happiness and potential that exists in the moments before I get in and mess it all up again. And yes that view...I hope it inspires as much as it distracts! We deliberately built our office in the house facing the opposite direction so as not to get distracted when work-work was needed! Go well.

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  5. Wow! May it lead to a lot of new inspiration and creativity !

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    1. I hope so too Annick - and if it doesn't it will be all down to me, not the space or the mountains! Go well.

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