My new studio

It occurred to me that I haven’t written about my new studio now it is up and running.

My previous studio was an insulated shed and served me well for over 5 years. It was warm and cosy in the winter, and also warm and cosy in the summer too! It was perfectly adequate when I started, was functional and over lockdown I gave it a bit of a “glow” up, repainting it, reorganising it to make it a bit easier to work in, and making myself a new bench. Well, I say I made it, I instructed my dad to make it. He has now given me the nickname “the foreman” because I’m good at giving orders!

However, the space was no longer “quite” big enough as my tool and equipment collection grows, and while it is ok for me it was a bit tight when teaching sessions in there. Then last summer the floor decided to start rotting, so that made it a bit more of a pressing issue.

SO… My lovely dad offered a solution. He was to give up half the garage and convert it into a studio for me. So he partitioned it, put a ceiling in it, electrics, a window, the lot. I am very lucky to have such a handy dad. I supplied plentiful cups of tea and helped out here and there, and it felt like we went to B and Q at least once a week every week for a few months. I got used to following him around with the trolley then handing over my card at the till - it was a good partnership! Mum also got involved when she could, helping with painting and laying the floor. It was a family effort.

The new space is so much bigger. It isn’t a huge space still but still much larger meaning there is generous floor space in the middle of the room, and my tools and equipment line the walls and are in a much easier way for me to work with them. So much was stored in another shed when I was in the first studio as there just wasn’t room, now everything - including my many silversmithing and design reference books - is all under the same roof.

The first few people who came to workshops in the new studio with me were very patient as I no longer knew exactly where everything was as everything had a new place, but over the last couple of months I have definitely settled in. And I love it!