I enjoy the outdoors so in the summer it is really hard for me to spend time inside my studio. My studio is a great little space, but the weather is so beautiful right now I like to take my work outside.
My favorite place to sit is by the Cook Shack. I love to sit in a chair facing the morning sun with my wire work. I usually go to my studio, gather up supplies, then take up residence at the Cook Shack for a day of creating. I have discovered my lap top works out there so I can also blog and post on my sites which makes life even grander. There is a nice little sound of running water that comes from this pond that adds to the ambiance of the garden as a place to create. When I need a break, I move the sprinkler, pull a few weed, get some iced tea from the fridge in the shack then back to work.
However there are times when I need to work in the studio. I can do wire working outside but if I am creating something with metal or drilling holes in beach rocks I need to move inside the studio. I call my studio the Shiva Shop because a statute of Shiva is on top of the building. Shiva is a creator and destroyer god so it seems appropriate since I am consuming natural resources to create pieces of adornment When the days are blazing hot, the Shiva Shop stays cool so if I have to work in the shop I go there in the late afternoon.
Here's my bench with my bead boxes, wire, gems, and books. My bench is 8 feet long but that still doesn't seem like enough space. I have it divided into sections and tend to do metal work at one end of the bench, art clay at the other and wire wrapping in the middle. I have a chair in the studio at the moment but will soon be moving it out to get another bench put in there. Funny because I started with a few beads in a box, moved to a cart, then a shelf and now I am outgrowing my 12 by 12 studio. Luckily we have lots of little cabins on our place so I have moved my rock tumbler into another small building next door.
Here is my kiln for metal clay and enameling. You can also see some metal working tools, my flex shaft, a vise, torches and a basket with more supplies. I have a fire extinguisher hooked to the side of the cart so it will be handy, but I don't ever want to have to use it. This cart is on wheels so I can move it around the room if need be. I usually move it away from the wall when I am using the kiln. Of course the basket of dog treats has to be taken off the top before I fire it up. During the winter, my two dogs insist on sharing this space with me. All I have to do is say "Shiva Shop" and they run for the door. I am pretty sure that "Shiva Shop" and "Wanna a Biscuit " are synonymous in dog speak.
Thanks for visiting my studio. Be sure to leave a comment so I know you stopped by. If you want to visit other studios, you can click on this link and see all 300 plus blogger's creative spaces compliments of Karen Valentine's efforts.
Art focused on the natural world is my passion. I care about the planet, our Mother, and instead of buying materials like gemstones and precious metals I try to upcycle and recycle as much as possible. For years, I have been making one of a kind jewelry pieces from recycled materials. Like these tin pendants and talisman in this picture.
