we're baacccck!

wow.  i'm absolutely sucking in the blogging department, aren't I?  Much to report over the last three (?!!) months... including (but not limited to) a trip back home to Missouri.  Despite the fact that I was in classes most of the four weeks, I enjoyed getting a chance to catch up with family and friends.  Additionally, I'm extremely pumped about the new crop of Art Ed graduate students.  I had the pleasure of being in their company in both the academic and social contexts and all I can say is that they definitely ROCK both worlds simultaneously.

Speaking of academia, I am pleased to announce that I have finished my coursework for my phd program - woo hoo!  Well, small caveat, I will be finished after I submit this final paper tomorrow (which I'm supposed to be working on right now, lol).  Now on to a late committee building, pinning down that research design, and comps.  Its sad that I still have a long way to go, but I can't discount how far I've come.

So, anyway, without further ado, a much-requested update on my new home.  After an incredible two day drive across country Zoe and I are finally getting settled into St. Pete.  Here are a few shots from our journey as well as the studio updates.

dog as my copilot - literally.  photo taken someplace in georgia (i think).

her incessant panting almost looks like a smile here.

one of z's inaugural naps in the apartment.  this is how you know she's truly accepted a place.

then again, she may just be taking a cue from mom after research overload.

sleeping around... again...

new and improved living "room" - the couch was a great craiglist find dad helped me to score before going back to missouri.  grandpa's grey metal cabinet and tiered atomic lampshade traveled all the way from missouri to be with me.

another view of the living area.  noticeably absent is a tv, which i never watch anyway.  i'm hoping this will be the go to place for art making, snuggling up with a book (and pup), and some cozy conversation.

have i mentioned how obsessed i am with this vintage afghan - bring on the granny blankets!

dappled downtown light - oooh ahhh oooh ahhh...

a paired down version of my library - more books to be coming soon.  i found that these were  one of the hardest things to part with.

the bed"room" area

i'd like to hang some of my vintage starburst clocks above the bed here, but neglected to pack any on the drive down.  perhaps i can convince mom and dad to send a few?  then again, maybe you need that blank wall for some visual "breathing room"?

my dad constructed these awesome ledges for me to hang pictures (as the concrete walls are not that forgiving in terms of decorating whims).  I still have to figure how I want to finish them.  Stain?  Paint?  Suggestions?

here's a close up - I want this set to form a rotating "gallery wall"

this is the view from the bed into the rest of the studio.   Here you can see the additional ledges/shelves dad put together along with a peek at my "office."  The wall with the clocks the entry/"foyer" into the apartment.

here's zoe showing off her very best "cribs" pose

its kind of fun being nestled amongst books when I'm lying in bed.  I also like that using the shelf as a room divider still allows bits of light to peek through this area.

another shot of the desk area.  one shelf is home to my vintage camera collection.  the other is host to a variety of vintage art supplies.

and here's the kitchen.  still totally in love with the light fixture.

its kind of ironic that the objects i seemed to have treasured the most (at least to make the move) were the most breakable.

my beatles glassware makes me happy.

bluebirds for a blue kitchen.

what's left of my orchids after a month away. 

i may have to invest in some realistic looking silk flowers to poke in amongst these greens for a few months until they bloom again.  these two may have to make a visit to auntie marilyn's orchid corner for some rehabilitation ;)

the kind of place mike and frank would love

an avid collector of what some might refer to as "old junk" or "rusted crap" myself you can imagine how absolutely elated i was to discover that sarasota has an architectural salvage store.  walking into its doors was nothing short of a "junk-gasm" (pardon my crudeness).  take a look at some of the treasures to be found within...

damn i can't wait to have my own place again.

collection of old frames and many circus-themed stuff (sarasota is the home of the ringling bros if you didn't know)

rusty mermaid = love

miscellaneous outdoor fantasticalness

incredible options for restoring or "decor"-ing an old (or old-at-heart) home

that's right, its an voting booth - and it was part of the "hanging chad" debacle

AHHHHHH!!!!  guess which section elicited the most screams from me?

my heart continued to race...

i will take them all thank you very much :)

and these too!

look at this incredible door!  and the patina!  you can't fake this funk.

assemblage of old woodwork

brackets, all kinds of brackets!  take that anthropology and restoration hardware!

vintage lighting throughout

if someone would have given me $100 to burn this would have been mine on the spot

cool old lecture hall chairs

many ceramic sculptures with missing heads - i found this amusing

... especially when they were holding their own heads.

beautiful ironwork - how cool would this be to have in your home?

lobster or crab traps? 

and last but not least... my purchase!  its a good thing my cousin is so tolerable and wonderful :)

desk finished!

my goodness, lots of updates to report.  this will be a record posting evening i think :)

first of all, i finished my desk.  behold its tiffany blue awesome-ness...

eat your heart out martha

I've been busy the last week or so preparing my teaching and art plans of the new year and feel (guardedly) optimistic.  Always a "feather-the-nester" I had to take stock of my small space and see how I could make it both more aesthetic (and productive).  with a little switcheroo of brinx's crate (thank-you paul!) i feel like my living/working space has doubled!

to celebrate, i'm refinishing this small desk i purchased at goodwill ($25!!) to refurbish and use as additional working space.  it will either become a sewing/art table or i will move my computer there (as my current expedit shelf/table combo has a lot more surface area on which to work).  hmmm... either way, here are pics of the process.

the original desk (minus some of the veneer i stripped off)

note the peeling veneer here - thought it would be better taken care of now than later!

strippin' away (lol)

anyone who's even snagged their arm on one of these dang things knows how much it hurts

and now onto primer...

it bit arduous - but worth the extra step i'm sure.

this morning i painted the first coat of paint - woo hoo!  the color looks  a little tidy-bowl blue in the picture, but its actually an almost exact replica of tiffany blue (called "day at the jewelers" by allen & roth)

first coat done... i'll keep you updated on the process...