creating a space for nuanced living
Making the Studio
I moved to Colorado last year. These are my new (yellow) walls. My office is in our beautiful basement. I moved 10 months ago. I spent 10 months setting up life for the collective. This is how I am organized, and this is how I begin. Its been a massive project, not done, but most/enough underway or settled, to feel into here.
This space combines 3 former physical spaces I used before the move:
i) My...
This is how I get back and forth between home and studio, with multiple projects, with travel file box in tow. It helps to work in both spaces. I don’t have to pre-decide. It depends on the day. I can just adapt. Somedays it just doesn’t make sense to drive, need the time, need the synergies w/ home, or I just need to be close or away, maximum connections, comfort. This is how I scale up or down,...
I love my new piece of artwork for my studio. Its by Hadley Williams. I love her work: peaceful, tactile, organic. The detailed and playful combo speaks to me. Makes me want to be friends with her – and want to sit down and create too! ...
I am ‘sensorizing’ more of a practice. I work with the room, as an external reflection, metaphor, process showing how things are reorganizing. Its just happens.
Today, I do 2 things – neither on my To do “Tasks” lists. I sit in my yellow chair, and I sketch, I sit from your spot, and I take in.. what is it like to sit here as you? What does the room look like? What is your...
It is such a great thing to get something that means something… something that fits… something with a reason… something that has relationships built into it that you value.
Did I say, I heart etsy (www.etsy.com)?
Old office equipment is the perfect thing to get there. Hardy, hefty, 60s/70s/maybe even 50s. This beautiful thing, it ain’t going nowhere. It cuts like a dream. Why buy a...
I have been setting up a simple spot in the studio or tea service. My space is small, but aims to welcome. This little tray is what I came up with: room for 2 cups, a few good teas, a little vessel for tea bags, a few napkins.
Clean, simple, peaceful is the intention…
Attention to what you may need. A non-verbal invite. I want to convey detail in people’s experience. To me, it is what...
(5/3/12, Berkeley, CA, USA) A bathroom key with (M)en’s and (Wm)omen’s labels:
A big improvement over my former set-up, esp. for male visitors:
One small improvement making workflow & my male colleagues happier, one visit to the bathroom at a time.
Yes, everything starts with a mess. Doesn’t it? Everything has to get worse, before it can get better.
On my studio rearrange #2 project…
I took down the storage shelves.
I took down the art holders from the wall
I moved the big desk next to the other one
I wrapped up that giant desk in bubble wrap and shrink wrap (a wrestling match)
I found someone to help me paint
That person didn’t come...
Funny how space works. It is a reflection of us, changing as we do.
I came home from my training, needing to rearrange my space. Working like an auto-pilot. I got home from the four days, and drew this sketch, even before I put my bag down.
I wasn’t planning, instead just knowing I needed changes. I needed a sitting spot. Things needed to be lower (a lot felt ‘high’); it needed to solicit...
Yes, I have a bachelor’s in Chemistry. This my lab (now studio) stool. The best use of my degree so far!
I think its interesting how we develop from all different places. We use our knowledge and experiences in different ways, often in ways that are unforeseen, that we could not pre-imagine. Who knew that what I/we gained in one realm could be incorporated into another?! Fascinating, how we take in...
The walls in my studio are painted a color called “Pencil”.
Pencil: A small little wooden tool you use to sketch, draw, doodle initial ideas. Its noteworthy for having an eraser. Unlike the pen, its a good choice for the beginning of a project, when we take the risk of creating something from scratch the first time. It connects a spark, something that won’t go away, in our head, gut,...
Dear friends,
I’ve recently started a small studio space in Berkeley. I’m in the midst of transforming myself into a writer, an artist, and a counselor; the form of each to be determined over time. I’m thrilled; but it’s a lot of untethering too!
I’m launching my blog as a space to highlight everyday fascinations, things, and stuff I see and do. I am starting the studio to let myself create something...
Apr 4th, 2016
My New Home, CO – Distilling a 3rd Space
May 12th, 2015
Green bookshelf
Getting rid of the green bookshelf was difficult and painful. As it drives off in the back of a white and black Mini-Cooper, I feel the need for breath. Long and deep breaths, as I walk up the grassy driveway where the green metal bookshelf last sat. Chipped paint, with a two tone light and dark green, inside and outside. It was Studio Lamienne before there was SLM. So much hope, dreams, creativity… my...
Sep 16th, 2014
Scaling up and down, now
Feb 28th, 2014
Formatting changes
I finally have time to do the little things. – figure out how to move column widths individually (+ shift) – how to change the date format in Lion (system preferences, and re-set the same defaults) – how to set the default font, so I don’t do it every time (select default in the font dialogue). I can learn the basics. Set up & be in my life. I see the role of safety. I’m slowing...
Feb 27th, 2014
Art Containers
I am noticing that I am starting to make places for my art projects. The little white roller drawers from IKEA, at home, now with supplies in them. My dining room corner, piled with artsy projects & crafty repair jobs I do with my little one. My back room, a set of plastic bins I am getting: i) my paper note cards and pencils, for my card drawings, ii) embroidery thread, needles, paper, for my paper...
Sep 3rd, 2013
Demons in my calendar?
I have a new framework for guiding my weekly scheduling. ** Here are the 6 things I check in on to make sure I know what am doing: 1. Do my practice – I am my practice. This is my day. It is the foundation of what guides me. It starts from here. It requires no knowing or analysis. 2. Step up into creating and making – How I know what I am doing and where I am going. Creating using my...
Jan 21st, 2013
Getting a new front page…. Arriving at enjoying (in-joy)
When I started making the website, I knew wanted a “Making the Studio Tab”, but who knew it would take 1.5 yr to get back to what inspired me: representing the joy of things that spark quiet beauty, a place for calm excitement. In the last year and a half, I budded off many categories I wanted: a place for funky photographs (today’s photo), a spot for deep learnings (thought and blog), a spot for...
Jan 15th, 2013
Bubbles
Oct 29th, 2012
“Sensorizing” More of a Practice
Sep 25th, 2012
Do I need a PO Box?
I think so… This gets complicated, what matters is how it fits together: A physical address. A place to meet. Where to get mail. How will people most want to contact me? What online. What in print. My goal is EASY: finding me, interacting, planning, scheduling, payment. I want to make this all in the background, as much as possible. to keep the main, real, face-to-face work up front. But...
Jun 12th, 2012
I Heart Etsy (I love my new paper punch)
May 9th, 2012
Mini Tea Service
May 7th, 2012
Small Improvements No. 2
Yipee! I now have a phone. Its not really for calls — just to buzz people in from the elevator and downstairs. Yes, the little things make something work better and its the little things that make us feel welcome. Here’s my name on the Elevator buzzer. pic 1 So far, people have had to call me so I can come down and get them. Its a hassle. Awkward, unnatural too. Don’t you feel better...
May 3rd, 2012
Very small improvements…
Feb 13th, 2012
Now for the mess, and more mess
Dec 1st, 2011
Rearranging the Space
Jul 14th, 2011
The best use of a BS in Chemistry
Jun 16th, 2011
A BIG purple hang-up wall
So, I have this great big purple wall that’s magnetic! Yes, that’s right, magnetic primer – it’s amazing! You put on your wall, and (in my case, after thee coats of primer and one coat of eggplant color paint) voila!, I have a BIG purple magnetic wall. I love my wall. It helps me think, and see the big picture of not-yet-visible things, and not lose sight of my intentions. My brain, esp....
May 24th, 2011
These Pencil Walls
May 12th, 2011
This is the launching of StudioLamienne
