Workspace Wednesday: Cody's Creations

by Kerrie Beck of Cody's Creations

"I moved into my new studio in June of this year in Natick Center.  I love having a space to create, and have customers drop in and visit.  But, the part I love most?  I love watching the hustle and bustle out my window as I am sewing.  It is such a contrast from my home studio where all I would be able to watch is the occasional squirrel scurrying along the yard."

Check out Cody's Creations at: www.codyscreations.com

Workspace Wednesday: Linkouture

"I don't have my own studio space (and when I work from home, my supplies are all over the house...you will often find tiny jump rings and beads scattered on my kitchen and living room floor). However, once a week I have the luxury of being in the jewelry metalsmithing studio at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, where I work on the pendants for my beach stone jewelry. Here is where I do all the heavy-duty metal work I cannot do at home, such as sawing and soldering metal. In this picture I am working on cutting at the back of a bezel for what will be a beach stone ring, a new product I will be selling in the upcoming months."

To see and purchase work by Linkouture visit: http://www.etsy.com/shop/linkouture

Workspace Wednesday: Jessica Burko

"This is a very unusual view of my South End studio space. My studio, where I have worked for the past seven years, is currently arranged more like a gallery than the mess it usually is because it is way, way too hot in the summer to get much work done. I've most recently been creating encaustic collages (encaustic is a wax-based artist medium) and hovering over a 250 degree hot plate when the outside temps are teetering close to 90 is not my idea of an enjoyable workday. However, the summer is a great time for me to organize my space, update my inventory database, and show my work to collectors, curators, and friends. In this photo you can see large encaustic collages on the wall and framed paper quilts on the table."

Jessica Burko's mixed-media artwork can be found online and in-person at exhibitions around New England as well as in her South End studio.

Workspace Wednesday: Enchanted Hue

"Workspace Wednesday" is a feature on the Boston Handmade blog where we get a rare glimpse into the creative space of artists and craftspeople. This week, the workspace of enchantedhue...

"I work mainly in my kitchen for preparing dyes and applying them to silk. It is a bit of a messy process, and I need running water and lots of space. Sometimes I move from counter top to floor when preparing a piece."

"The pot on the left is reserved for extracting dyes from plant material. It is just the right size and non-reactive, which is important. At the moment, it holds a good amount of onion skins that are almost done soaking before I can start straining the skins and boiling the dye... The bowl on the right holds chopped up red cabbage. I just set it up this morning and it will have to soak for a few days until it yields the right shade of purple I am hoping to achieve... My elder son said to a friend once: 'There is always something cooking in my mom's kitchen - but rarely is it food' "


To see Susanne's finished silk scarves and home accessories visit her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/enchantedhue

Workspace Wednesday: Abigail Leigh Handbags

"Workspace Wednesday" is a semi-weekly feature on the Boston Handmade blog where we get a rare glimpse into the creative space of artists and craftspeople...

"Here is a shot of my sewing space in my apartment. It's where I cut the fabric, pin the pieces together and sew all of my handbags and accessories. I set up my ironing board when needed and am able to see the TV while doing it all. It's the perfect set up for me until I can have an actual sewing room. Go to www.abigailleigh.etsy.com to see my handmade handbags and accessories."

To check out past articles featuring the workspaces of our group members visit: http://bostonhandmade.blogspot.com/search/label/workspace.

Workspace Wednesday: The Patterned Peacock

"This photo is of my studio which overlooks a cherry willow tree in the backyard. I'm working on my line of wooden serving trays. Each tray is sanded, painted, and sealed before I add my artwork to the bottom of the tray. Then I apply a clear resin to protect it."

To see finished work by The Patterned Peacock visit: http://www.patternedpeacock.com/

Tune in next week for another peek into the artist workspace!

My very own ceramic studio

by Karen Mahoney of City by the Sea Ceramics

This June I moved from Needham to North Grafton with my husband to better our lives in many ways. One of the biggest ways was that I got my own studio space to work in, meaning I was no longer a staff member at the studio I had been working at. I was finally on my own and beginning to build my own home studio. While the ultimate goal is to buy a home, have a large garage or barn for my studio, and set up various kilns on the property, this was the first step of making that progress.

I am working at home, but as a renter I can't fire kilns. But hurrah for me! In Worcester is a great studio I'm super excited to become a part of, The Fire Works. I will be transporting my work over there to fire, which isn't ideal but thankfully my work isn't terribly fragile in style. In addition to being able to continue my current style and temperature firings, I will be able to fire gas and soda kilns, two types of firing I really love and am super excited to get to dig in and try my hand at.

The home studio is very much a work in progress. Many things need to be bought, built, adjusted, and replaced, but it is functioning right now, allowing me to throw pots in my own space. Any frustrations or inconveniences will be worth it for me to finally have my own space, something I've always wanted since I first began working with clay.

Below is the studio home base, my wheel area. Another shelving unit will be on the right side of my wheel too, giving me lots of shelf space for pots in progress.

My table with buckets of glaze underneath and tools on top. The table needs a serious upgrade, but it's working for the moment.

While this looks like a pile of junk it is organized, it just needs to be put on shelves I haven't gotten yet. This corner is for finished work in boxes, items I need for my craft fairs (see the giant tent?), and some larger bins of tools.

Once I get things more organized and prettied up I'll share more pics. There's so much to do and still so many pots to make!

Mudflat Entryway

By Arthur of Arthur Halvorsen Ceramics

As you may or may not know the studio that I work at Mudflat Studios moved, if you follow the blog you know that we have moved because I posted about how great the new building is in a previous post here on the Boston Handmade blog. Well anyway we are almost totally set up for classes that start on Monday and the Gala event on Friday and the FREE open house on Saturday... the staff has been really busy getting ready installing the tiles that students, staff, teachers, students and resident artists made a few months ago. Here are some of the shots! Hope you enjoy!

Here Moriah and I are installing tiles, I learned A LOT on the process of how to make and install tiles. It was fun to see the range of variety in the tiles themselves.

That blue wavy tile is mine, and was the last tile to be installed in the long stretch of the entryway, I'm calling it the corner stone.

Some of the tiles are a collaboration piece. The white one in the middle was made by Debra Fleury and I made the seed pod that's in the middle of it. FUN! I also really like the Mudflat T-shirt that's to the left of it.

There are some bigger tiles that made it into the wall of clay tools made by Ruchika Madan. I love seeing some of the tools that I use when I'm in the studio made into a tile and contributing to the work of art!

CAF & Gallery 9

by Nancy of nancyrosetta

Every Monday, I work for my sister at her frame shop/art gallery.

There is so much inspiration all around the building. It's impossible not to notice something beautiful, even if you don't want to or are not looking for it. I took these pictures with my phone.

New Tool Review : Knew Concept Saw Frame

by Nancy of nancyrosetta

Last Christmas, I asked for this saw frame from Knew Concepts, and I got it from Santa (ok, Scott) I have been using it ever since, and I thought I would write a review about it.

Firstly, here is a picture of the frames I have been using for years. Very generic, 5" throat and 3" throat.

I wanted to try the Knew Concept saw frame mostly because I do break a lot of blades and the company claims that by using their frames, you will break less blades. This claim is spot on.

This saw frame, at first, was a bit intimidating. It looks like something from outer space. I got a 5" frame which is much larger than the 5" frame I am used to using. The way I saw and pierce is very fluid, so it was inevitable that I would bump into bench related things as I was first getting used to using it, because it's so much bigger (if you can imagine a saw pumping up and down and turning constantly). I almost gave up and went back to my tried and true, but I persevered.

The Knew Concept saw frame is made of lightweight aluminum which resists bending and warping and is only a few ounces.The weight (or lack of) also took some getting used to. The way it first felt in my hand almost defied gravity. I was afraid I would break it! But much to the contrary, I have not yet broken a blade while using it, and I have been using it since January. It feels good to throw a saw blade away because it's dull (not because it broke) I also have less arm strain after a long sawing/piercing session...bonus!

Another reason this frame took so long to get used to using is the tension setting spring. Tension of the saw blade is of utmost importance if you don't want to constantly break blades. Traditional saw frames take brutal human force to achieve the ping of a high E guitar string. My new frame has a knob to tighten the tension (missing out on some exercise there). There is a trial and error period to figure out the right combination of tightening the knob and lowering the 'top of the blade' holder, which bizarrely are the same motion. But I've figured it out, so I'm happy.

The key to smooth sawing and piercing is letting the saw do the work while you guide it along. This saw frame is perfect if you can 'let go' like that. After an initial 'break in' period (mine was about 2 months) this could end up being your favorite saw frame. It is my favorite saw frame now. I really love it, and I also love the fact that it saves me hoards of broken saw blades.

If you are a jewelry maker and have a need for a new jewelers saw, I would recommend getting this one. It is more expensive than traditional saw frames, but you will save money in the long run (on blades). After getting used to it, you will love it!

Studio Furniture

By Arthur or Arthur Halvorsen Ceramics

SO next month is the big move in day down to the new building at Mudflat. I have been looking at studio furniture since I got the word that I was going to be one of the new resident artists. I can't wait I am so excited and I want my space to reflect this.

I want the space to look inviting enough to have studio visitors, and to have a nurturing studio life too. I'm thinking about everything including the kitchen sink literally! I want the shelving for my work to look good enough to show on for the sale that I don't have to cover it with anything because I think its a waste of time. I just want to wipe it down with a sponge and be done with it. The other thing I'm thinking about is seating.

IKEA is really going to be my new best friend in the coming months and I can't wait to move into my space!

Good News!

By Arthur of Arthur Halvorsen Ceramics

As you may or may not know, I make my work at Mudflat Studios in Somerville. You may or may not know as well that we are renovating the old Somerville Theatre that is closer to Sullivan Square. (You can check out the progress down at the new building HERE) Well I put out my application in hopes of getting a space at the new building. The running joke has been that in order to get a studio space at Mudflat someone has to die because there are studio artists there that have been there since 1985 and that is the year that I was born in!

Well I am THRILLED to announce that my application was accepted the other day and I am going to be sharing a studio with three other women! I am PSYCHED! I can't wait to have my own space, and I'm also excited to see how my work changes if at all in the new space. Very exciting time in my professional career. Attached are some photos of the progress down at the new building.

This is the outside of the *NEW* Mudflat with new colors!

This is looking towards the Multi-Purpose room before the walls went up.

And the cardboard mock up of what the building will look like after the scaffolding comes down.

Well I hope that many of you are able to come out and see the new building at our Spring Show and Sale. I'll be posting more blog posts about what is happening down at Mudflat, and what progress I have made in prep for the studio... just today I went to IKEA to measure and look at shelving units! I can;t wait... can you tell??

My Messy Bench

by Cristina Hurley of Cristina Hurley Jewelry Design

OK so this is really kind of embarrassing but here goes...

I was inspired by a project on a website where you had to take a picture of your workspace without cleaning it up or anything, it had to be as is...
I know it looks so messy...
But its an organized mess I swear!
I work on many projects at once so I don't idle, or get distracted too much. It helps me keep my flow. I feel like regardless of my self induced chaos, I get a lot more done.
Enjoy my mess.
And in my defense, I think it has gotten a lot better since I took these pictures.
Really!

:)

Play Date

by Nancy of nancyrosetta

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours with Cristina Hurley at her studio/retail space. We chatted and made jewelry.

Cristina is on the left, and I am on the right.

Cristina was soldering some rings in this pic.

I am piercing out a cherry blossom pendant.

I really have to make some time to work along side her again. It's quite a different experience when you are not all by yourself working on your craft. I had a lot of fun!