Studio build is happening!!

Dedicated workspace is on its way!!! Yay!!

Found a contractor, and tonight we went into town and got the permit for the work to begin. Woody will be here Monday to start and expects to be finished in about 3 weeks. I'm jumping out of my skin excited. Can't wait to have a dedicated workspace where I can leave everything up and walk in and out and not have to clean up every second or worry about spilling on my hardwood floors.

Before pics and the initial teardown - stay tuned for after pics!!

Spring has SPRUNG

Spring is in full tilt here in Massachusetts. Beautifully blossomed trees everywhere I turn.

This week I started sanding on my front porch again :) - and I am actually looking forward to tackling the many stored pieces picked up over the colder months. I have chairs, tables, storage boxes etc....just waiting for me!

This sweet little table was purchased on the opening day of the Olde Hadley flea market for $6 (Yes, that's right!!) and it is now ready for painting. It is bound for glory as I'm preparing for a 5 minute spot on MassAppeal on May 15th. A producer from the show found my shop on etsy and invited me to do a painting demo on the show. That should be FUN! Just have to figure out how many bright colors to include.

In the meantime, I have found a contractor!!! whoopie - who will be coming next week to walk me through the beginnings of my new art studio. I can't wait to have dedicated space. What a dream come true....

more to follow...stay tuned :)

I'm in LOVE with sunflowers lately - How much fun is it to paint them? A lot! I sanded this little chair down and loved the feel and color of the original wood - so, left it except for a bright sunflower smack in the middle of the seat.

Still have to put a finish on it - which will be water based poly-crylic hard finish since little kids often have dirty hands :) It will be fun someday to have a grandchild to make one of these for!

Update from my new home in Massachusetts!

Can't believe its been 9 months since the BIG move up to Massachusetts and I am just now getting around to writing down some thoughts about it :)

I began this journey in a small apartment in NYC painting furniture in my kitchen. I've graduated to painting in the dining room of my beautiful 1855 Victorian home in the little village of Huntington, MA and am now working on re-inventing storage space in the back of the house into a proper studio. Can't wait for that reality.

In the meantime, I've been selling some furniture and paintings on etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/friskyfurnishings - sending chairs to Michigan and shelving to Texas, and have signed up for several local craft shows this spring and summer PLUS a full solo exhibition in the Westhampton, MA library for the month of July. I am living my working artist dream! and, am fully committed to making this work.

Since I've moved I've begun some new work - the secret garden series and now playing with some assemblage. More furniture on the way as soon as the snow melts and I can get back to work outside where I do all my sanding :) - ahhhhh yes, can't wait for spring to come!!!

Upholstery Boot Camp

Started my upholstery class last week - and it was fast and tough and geez... I think I'm going to need some real equipment if I'm going to get serious here. But I am learning how to FINISH a piece and having some fun with something new for a change and that is ALL good!!

Challenging myself and learning to stick with one project until its finished are hurdles to jump over and I am reaching for the high bar now.

Learning lessons

Yes - I am still painting in my Bronx apartment. I've been working on these mirrors and am struggling with how best to finish and photograph them. I learned two painful lessons recently - 1) don't carry unfinished artwork into the rain - it gets ruined!!! and 2) make sure your work surface is steady - unfinished pieces also get ruined when they end up upside-down on the garage floor (or as one friend so kindly put it - "You've added some texture!") - still learning....

Finally took some pics

Finally took some pics of my beginning creations. I found the baby rocker at a thrift store and the Henri Matisse was salvaged from Izzy's basement. Still working out some of the kinks on the proper finishing but I'm happy with the design and the colors too. Working on my first chair with an upholstered seat.

Just Be Big Hearted baby rocker

Merci Henri Matisse