My new 'studio' is taking shape

Over the last 6 weeks, at the weekends, I have been working on creating my new 'studio' space at the end of the our garage. I have
- painted the ceiling walls and woodwork
- put screen blinds up over the back door and window
- laid vinyl plank flooring
- assembled two units with cupboards/drawers
- cut and fixed the bench top in place

All I need to do now is to find a comfortable stool (although I often end up standing when I work) and bring all my tools, equipment, etc. down from Auckland and find a home for it all in my new set up. Then I can get back to creating properly - can't wait!

Creative Block

Now that we are settled in our new home, and most of my studio stuff is unpacked, I thought it would be easy to get back into the creative flow – but it is not. I keep chopping and changing my mind about what I am going to do next, even though I have several half started projects waiting to be finished. I am finding it really hard to get started on anything serious.

I just cannot understand this creative block. For months I could not do anything because all my gear was packed up waiting to move and I was getting frustrated that I could not put my ideas into action. Now that is past, and I have some time, I cannot decide what to do. Or am I just too scared that I have lost my creative Mojo?

The end of the year

My studio all boxed up

Last night I finished boxing up the last things in my studio, ready for the big move on 23 January into the new apartment we are buying. This is so exciting as it has been over eight years since we have lived in our own home, due to our move from the UK to New Zealand

 

Normally I like to do a review at the end of each year, looking back at what I have achieved and how that compares to the goals I set myself at the beginning of the year. However, this year I do not feel like I have achieved very much as other events, including work but mostly the pending property move, have taken up much of my spare time.

 

This year I set myself the goal of keeping my intentions simple and "just do what inspires me". I said I would try not to commit to too many events and concentrate on developing my dot mosaic technique and creating some great artwork I can be proud of. When I look back, I have done this but just not as much as I would have liked. 

 

I have created a few dot mosaic pieces, some of which I have not yet shown here as they are entries in the 2015 International Polymer Clay Awards. The deadline for this competition was extended from 31 October to 31 December 2015, so the judging has not yet taken place.

 

Originally we were hoping to have moved into our new place before Christmas but this has now been delayed until January (fingers crossed). I am finding it very frustrating at the moment, everything is packed (as we have family visiting for several weeks in the New Year, just before we move) so I cannot do anything creative, yet I have so many ideas going round in my head.

 

I will just have to be patient. Once we have moved and get settled in, my new studio space should be so much better. For this reason, I am not setting myself any goals for 2016. It will be a year of transition, settling into our new home and getting familiar with new surroundings and hopefully finding new opportunities. I am hoping 2016 will be a positive turning point in both my home and creative life. 

 

Moving next door

Today we have signed to take the apartment next door. Why move you may say? Well, it is bigger with a better layout and an extra little room that I can have as a dedicated 'studio'. I can't wait - we will be moving over the weekend of 18/19 August. Although it is literally only next door, it is still a bit of an upheaval and will mean postponing some of my workshop promotions until we are settled. However, it will be so much better in the long run. 

Compact studio - now complete

I showed this photo at the beginning of the year, when I
started to convert a large bookcase into a 'compact studio'

Here is the finished look with roller blind attached to the front -
it can be rolled down at the end of the day, to hide all the clutter

New Year, New Look Studio

'Studio' is used with 'artistic licence'. I have been working on my folding craft table in the apartment - a far cry from the custom built studio at the end of the garden that I once had in the UK. Several house moves later and then the decision to emigrate to New Zealand meant my whole art and craft set up, including tools and materials, was greatly condensed down to a few large cardboard shipping boxes and my trusty folding craft table.

As we are currently living in a rented apartment, any furniture has to be free-standing so, in an attempt to improve my creative working space and make the apartment look more tidy, I have invested in a new desk and a large bookcase, which will become my very 'compact studio'. The photo shows this transformation in progress. The idea is to eventually have some sort of drop down covering on the front, to hide all the clutter when it is not in use.

The immediate advantage I have noticed so far is having my pasta machine at a height suited for use when standing up.  It also means that I can screw the machine down to the shelf it is on, rather than relying on the clamp to hold it in place, which tends to work loose.

I am not sure when this project will get completed, as I am busy preparing teaching aids and advertising material for my 2012 schedule of workshops, but I will eventually post a photo of the finished look.