Tombstone Provincial Park in Canada

 I was thrilled for a brief moment of sunshine while we were stopped at a scenic overlook in Tombstone Provincial Park.  We ate lunch here and soaked in the views.

Tombstone Provincial Park, Yukon, Canada

We could not resist the opportunity to visit this stunning Provincial Park in Yukon, Canada. 

There are some good hikes here, and we hoped for a break in the weather as we drove the long gravel road to get there.

Alas, cloudy, rainy and quite cold the day of our visit.

 The scenery at Tombstone Provincial Park was stunning in spite of the weather.  We felt it was well worth the extra driving.

Dawson City, Yukon

 All the buildings in Dawson City have been restored to their former glory and this place is pretty much a living museum.  Very fun to walk through the town and step into some of the buildings.

Dawson City Paddle Boat

 This old paddle boat used to make the trip up and down the Yukon River.  It is now a floating museum.

Dawson City Ferry

 When you get to Dawson City, Yukon - the highway crosses over the Yukon River - except there is no bridge.  Instead, there is a ferry.  No charge to ride it, but you have to wait your turn.  We used the ferry three times, since we camped across the river from the town.

You just drive right on and park where they tell you to.  You sit inside your vehicle for the 5 minutes or less that it takes to cross over to the other side.

Hybrid Fox?

 Well, I am in Mexico this week, so am returning to posting about the Alaska - Canada Roadtrip we took last July.  I am continuing where I left off - the border between Alaska and Canada.  One of the first things we saw as we approached Dawson City, Yukon - a pair of unusually colored foxes.  With a bit of research - I believe they may be a hybrid between an Arctic Fox and a Red Fox or possibly a Gray Fox. 

Monday Mail Art - February 29

Eating rice cakes is like chewing on a foam coffee cup, only less filling.     -Dave Barry

Too Many Pillows?

My daughter says I went a little overboard on the pillows.  All the fabrics are hand painted, dyed or printed by me - years ago.  I dug through boxes to find fabrics that coordinated with my paint colors.  Once I got started on this - I had a hard time stopping.  I know it is more pillows than I need, but I love them all and it was fun making them!  I mean, which one would you take away?  I can't discard any of them, so I will just enjoy them!

Lunch Table

I wanted to add a little table for eating lunch or sitting with my laptop.  The furniture is all scavenged from other places.   Most of it stored in my husband's shop.  I love the size and shape of this long narrow table.  It is perfect here with this old captain's chair.  The entryway on the far left of the picture is the passage into the wet studio / kitchen area (which is still a work in progress - trying to get organized in there and figure out how it needs to be set up).

This piece, "Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire" is heavily beaded.  I made it 2004 - 2006 (took a long time to bead) I just love sitting at this table looking at the intricacies of the beading.  I would / could never do that kind of work now.  I have to wear reading glasses!  I don't do much hand sewing any more as it is such a strain on the eyes and also - my hands hurt!

Work Table Again

 This office suite has two smaller offices (doors closed above).  The one on the right is the sewing room I showed earlier.  The one on the left is a work in progress - a big mess cluttered with tools and supplies, the vacuum cleaner, paint cans, etc., currently - I think it may end up as storage for finished quilts.  I am thinking of creating some kind of custom quilt storage for all my work that is currently scattered among multiple closets in my home......  But I could put a long arm in there! ...... Or a bed - and I could move in (or at least stay for longer periods of time)!  Hah!

This space just makes me feel so good!  It really is my happy place right now.

Cutting Table and Design Wall

Here is a view of the design wall and cutting table /  work surface.  I designed the work table base so that there would be sufficient leg room for people to be comfortable while sitting here on bar stools.  I have one bar stool that I purchased to test my theory and I will eventually add more.  The bar stools come from Target and I am hoping for either a sale or I will pick one up now and then to add to the space.  At this point - I don't need more than the one for myself.

Eventually, I think I may be teaching in this space or facilitating the Artists Way group here.  This work table was designed and built with multiple purposes in mind.  I could even entertain in this studio!  Come for coffee?   I am very happy with the way the work table turned out.  It measures 49 x 97" and is 36" high.

The design wall is 14 ft x 8 ft.  I built a framework of 2 x 4s behind it and the Styrofoam insulation panels are covered in black flannel with Velcro strips on the back to hold them in place on the 2x4s.  The wall here slants at a sharp angle behind the design wall and I built a shelf out of 2 x 4s for stability and storage.  It is a large area and I could store a great amount of bulky stuff behind the design panels.  I thought it would be easy to remove the panels to access things behind the design wall.  However, I am not sure how well the velcro and panels are going to hold up to repeated removal and replacement.  I will have to reinforce them if I am going to be accessing the storage behind frequently.  At this point, I don't need the space, though - so there is nothing stored behind and the panels are going to stay put.

Black design wall?  The one at my home studio is white.  But I have it covered with a black sheet!  I realized I like working and photographing with a black background, so that is what I installed here.  I only hope the light doesn't cause it to fade too quickly.  Time will tell!

Sewing Room New Studio

 The main components of the sewing room are now in place.  Design wall, ironing table and sewing table are all built in.  2x4 construction on the sewing table and ironing table.

 

Eventually, the sewing machine will be dropped down into the table so it is a giant level sewing surface (49 x 97).  I brought my old Janome 6500 in to see if I can be content with it.  So far I have only been reminded of how much I dislike sewing on it.  In my home studio, I primarily use a Juki 98Q.  In fact, I have pretty much worn the Juki out and was already considering purchasing another one.  They run about $700, so very affordable.  I still contemplate a sit down quilter, as well, though.....so not yet sure what will become permanent in this sewing area.  I don't want to cut into the work table until I am certain.  Once the hole is cut - it is a long term commitment.

I am thrilled with my giant ironing table that is built into this window nook.  It measures 73 x 42"  I covered plywood with aluminum foil, then a couple of layers of batting and finally wrapped on some upholstery twill that I've had for a decade or so.  Staple gun was my tool of choice for this project.  I will eventually build a giant shelf or two under the ironing table to store rolls of fabric and batting.  I am not doing that until I decide exactly what supplies will be taking up residence in this space so I can customize the storage dimensions.

By the way - I did all this construction 100% by myself.  Nobody else - except I did pay someone to carry the 49 x 79" sheets of melamine up two flights of stairs.  So heavy and way too big and awkward.

Monday Mail Art - February 22

 

The age of a woman doesn't mean a thing. 

The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles.

                            -Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

World Market Clearance Sofa

 I looked and looked for a proper sofa for this space.  Needed to be something comfortable, something not too heavy or bulky (had to carry it up three flights of stairs).  I happened upon just the thing at World Market.  Last one on clearance!  Perfect!  The 100% cotton cover is removable and washable.  I could dye it if it starts looking shabby.

Ottoman Made By Me

 I wanted just the right thing for putting up my achy feet,  so I built my own pair of ottomans.  The bases are made of 2 x 4s.  Painted.  The tops are framed of 2 x 4s and covered in plywood, then foam and batting - wrapped in fabric.  Then a hand painted cotton fabric - I did this fabric years ago - Setacolor paints dripped onto cotton broadcloth.  Had just enough fabric stashed away for these two ottomans.  Barely.  So pleased with them.  They measure 22 x 22 x 16".  Super soft and cushy.  I found ideas for their construction online and adapted to my desires.  I even found the instructions for the painting process for the legs and base (rubbing vaseline on the edges of the undercoating so the top layers of paint would rub away easily.)

Slipper Chairs for New Studio

I wanted to create a conversation area in my new studio space.  I don't have any such space in my home studio, which is a solitary work space with lots of storage and work surfaces but only room for me. 

I was beginning to regret my wall color choices....."Wet Coral", "Yukon Gold", "Mermaid's Tail" and "Majestic Grape" - bright vivid colors that are not exactly popular decorating colors.  As I searched for furnishings - I was discouraged by the prices as well as the limited color options. I shopped every furniture store in town as well as all the thrift stores.   I thought I might have to resort to black, but I was resisting black for the furnishings since the design wall is black (pictures to come).  I felt it would be too much black.  So I kept looking - expanding my search to the Internet.  I was delighted to discover these chairs at Target Online in Clearance.  A bargain with free shipping - a bit of a gamble - since it is difficult to really read colors online, but I thought they would be close!  I love these chairs and the colors are perfect for my wall colors!  What a stroke of luck!

Wet Studio / Kitchen

I am gradually getting the wet studio set up.  I am happy to have a sink.  Have added a small fridge and microwave.  I added the built in shelving, too.  This is going to be another messy space.  Paint flinging will be happening here.

Sewing Room Set Up - The Beginning

I decided this smaller office with good light will be the best location for my sewing machine and ironing table.  Again, I looked for furniture for my sewing machine.  There are lots of sewing machine cabinets on the market, but none of them really seemed right.  I was especially dismayed by the price tag.  So - I decided to build in my sewing machine table.  Just a few screws into the stud wall (can be easily filled and painted over when I move out).  I believe this will be a very stable and comfortable sewing surface.

New Studio Paint Progress

I've been working steadily at creating an inspiring work environment in a commercial office building (which I am co-managing with my daughter).  This space was left trashed by the previous tenant and I spent a lot of time cleaning, repainting, etc.  I chose bright cheerful colors for the walls.  This seemed like a big leap of faith.  I tried to just listen to my internal voice and ended up with some pretty random wall colors.  These are not colors I have in my home or any other space......

Window treatments (above) are made from cheesecloth.  I purchased a huge bolt of 60" wide cheesecloth years ago.  I have not been using it in my work, so was glad to have it available for the window treatments.  Who knew it could be so effective?

After shopping around and not finding what I wanted as a work table, I decided to build one myself using 2x4 lumber.  It turned out very sturdy.  I put wheels on it and painted it purple.  Stay tuned to see how it looks with the top added.

Monday Mail Art - February 15

We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.

              -Nelson Mandela-