To Chrystel with Love

In 2013 HR gave me this box of screws.

   with this note    

 

Two years later, here is my gift. (During this period he also built a screened porch while working full time and doing all the other things on my perpetual to-do list.)

Let’s begin with the area where I do a lot of planning and blog posting.

In the photo below, notice the slat wall, designed by HR himself.

All of the boxes and shelves can be moved and rearranged on a whim as demonstrated my by lovely assistant (and granddaughter,) Camille. Certainly that is a plus for a crafter with serious AADD!

HR did not make the colorful box collection but did put a cleat on the back so it too can be moved. It was the inspiration for my color choices. 

This is where I can get down and dirty with charcoal, paint, glue, you name it. 

A somewhat clean area where I can work with paper.

Another HR exclusive design provides three times the space for my stamps.

Love, love, love it!!!!

Let's move over to where the sewing takes place.

Directly across from the sewing machine is a cutting, laundry folding, and gift wrapping table,

that conveniently folds down when not in use (that rarely happens.)

So there you have it, a Christmas gift that was created with love by a very talented husband. 

And the work goes on.

We are making progress. If the weather cooperates, new counters will be installed this weekend. Why is the weather a factor? The entrance to the studio, which once was a garage below our 1930-something home, has a significant slope. It has been covered with snow and ice for the past two weeks, until I was able to scrape in clean yesterday. This is the only way to get large items (like the cabinet below and the 6 and10-ft counter tops into the studio.) As I write this post, there is a steady downpour of rain which is predicted to turn into ice and up to 8-inches of snow. My optimistic friends assure me this accumulation will melt in a day or two. Fingers are crossed!

About this cabinet;

I asked HR to build something to hold my portfolios and large drawing pads and with a shelf to store my drawing box. This is what he came up with; a 72-inch cabinet with four shelves, three are adjustable. His rationale; “I knew you would want more storage space and I would just as soon build it now than later.” Does this man know me or what? 

Studio Upgrade Progressing!

Crafting in The Underground has nearly come to a halt as work progresses on the update. I have cleared the counter space enough to make some cards which I will show you later this week.

I wanted to share with you this neat slatwall designed by HR (Handy Randy.)

He will make custom shelves, bins, boxes or whatever I think I need to store my paints, tools, mediums, pens, etc.

A cleat, like this one, will be attached which will allow me to move them around on the wall as my needs change; a big plus for someone with AADD! 

After spending the afternoon painting, the slatwall is now a soft yellow. Soon the entire studio will be ready for “show and tell!”

By the way, premade slatwall systems that use metal hooks are available, but HR thinks they are not as sturdy or as flexible. I think the wood cleats will look classier than the metal hooks.