Exciting news for me to share today.... I've moved into my new workshop.
This is the part where you say, "New workshop? I don't remember hearing anything about a new workshop? Did I miss a blog post or tweet that would have prepared me for such exciting news? "
No, you didn't. I kept this one pretty well underwraps. In part because I've never been good at talking about things in progress but also because the domino of things that had to happen to get here was longer than I wanted to explain mid-stream. In a nutshell, byrd & belle out-grew our previous live/work space on Nicollet Island; it was no longer something that could be lived alongside. We needed a new situation and we found what seems to have been the perfect situation a little farther up river in northeast Minneapolis: a house with good bones, a big yard for our big dog and a new (but unfinished) space for byrd & belle.
Construction took 6 months of nights and weekends starting in January which is likely the least fun time to start a project in an unheated space in Minnesota. My brother Scott and my Dad were very generous with their time, their advice and their tools. I got to do things I'd drawn a million times when I used to work in architecture but hadn't actaully done (like electrical wiring... my inspector said I did a very good job for my first time). And there is still more to be done. I have plans to add more storage so I can bring in all my non-essential tools and materials but for now, I'm just happy to be here and I'm grateful to have had the oppurtunity to do this. I feel very connected the space and I suppose it feels appropriate that as a maker, I also made the space I work in.
Ok, I've got to get to work but follow me on twitter if you'd like to see more of the new space.
Congrats!
Way to represent NE MPLS!
Posted by: dana | June 16, 2011 at 12:58 PM
Ooh. A mansard roof!
That's a really good looking studio.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Iro | June 16, 2011 at 01:37 PM
Awesome sauce!
Posted by: Tommy | June 16, 2011 at 09:58 PM
wow, what a spectacular space!!! congrats on the move =)
Posted by: pawling print studio | June 16, 2011 at 10:01 PM
Thank you so much friends! I love it! Oh, and technically... it's a gambrel roof because it's only two-sided but a mansard would have been lovely.
Posted by: Angie Davis - Byrd & Belle | June 16, 2011 at 10:34 PM
Your studio is gorgeous - I love how you did so much of the work yourself.
Posted by: Kate (Knits in Class) | June 17, 2011 at 09:21 PM
That looks like a lovely workspace. I love it, I just love it.
Posted by: Chance Peters | June 26, 2011 at 11:25 PM
Thanks for all the kind words, friends. I'm LOVING my new digs.
Posted by: Angie Davis - Byrd & Belle | June 30, 2011 at 02:02 PM