SHIM + SONS

studio corner

// corner of my studio // can you tell i love white + wood? // an old walnut veneer + linen mobile i made a few years ago // been tinkering with more mobile making lately // more white + wood love here and here // 

white: outside + inside

On Monday morning we woke up to a blanket of fresh snow. This was the view from our front door. I think I might have been more excited than Big J when I discovered it was a snow day. 

I've been enjoying taking time to really think about how to best utilize the space in my studio. I'm very fortunate that Appah has graciously allowed me to convert our former bedroom + sitting room into my studio [don't worry, I gave him a "small" corner for his laptop]. As you can see, there is quite of bit of white in my studio. I love white, I find it so refreshing. If I wasn't lazy I would paint the walls a bright white [they're a soft white right now], but the height of the ceiling is a good deterence. And I would rip out the carpet and install hardwood floors from here, but what can I say, I'm lazy when it comes to home improvement projects. I am thinking of recovering those pin boards with a light natural linen. But I do love the contrast of my stationery samples against the charcoal grey linen. Now that I'm slowly getting my studio in order I'm trying to make a conscious effort of tidying up my workspace every few days. It feels good to walk into the studio when everything is in its place. And it also doesn't hurt that the lighting is really wonderful due to windows on three of the four "walls".

But of course the reality of it all is my workdesk cannot stay tidy for long. This is what it usually looks like, overflowing with various projects and craft supplies. Last week I packaged up some new stationery collateral for one of my favorite clothing designers, framed prints from the very talented Ah-yi [her newest prints make me so happy!], tinkered with my stationery designs and printed out some photographs [I need to start doing this on a weekly basis].

Right now I'm working on a little shoppe update for Thursday morning. I've been contemplating some big changes in the shoppe, so stay tuned. Oh, and while we're on the subject of white, I recently discovered Emma's Designblogg which is chalk full of white inspiration. Take a look at some of my favorite posts here and here. Other sites which make me want to become a photostylist or photographer: Sweet Paul + Con Poulos Photography [via Joyce].

if my life was a series of books

My Husband, My Hero: My computer whiz hubby was able to recover all my files from my severely damaged hard drive. Hooray! [Thank you, my dear!] Have I told you that my marriage is a match made in heaven? I break computers and he fixes them.

Hello, I Still Sew: You might have thought from the last few posts that I had given up sewing. Have no fear, I've been putting my sewing machine to good use lately. Realizing that studio craft is four weeks away has been a huge motivator! I don't want to be the only designer there with an empty table. A few weeks ago I made some patchwork coasters, but wanted a "pocket" to store the coasters. It turned out a bit wonky so I'll be tweaking the design on my second attempt.

Sprucing Up The Studio: I finally put up my linen covered inspiration board + wallpocket in my studio. I picked up the beautiful charcoal linen in the remnants section at Britex. For the board on the left, I stretched the linen over some homasote. For the other board, I sewed a band of pockets on the bottom, stretched ribbon across the top and hung some Ikea hooks on the ribbon. [See my favorite little drawing by Eireann + letterpressed card designed by Lisa + Maria?] The boards are both 30"x42" and take up one wall of my studio. I still have a long way to go before my studio looks "just right", but things are on hold until next month.

My Son, The Library Director: After our weekly trip to the local farmer's market, we went across the street to the library. We spent some time reading books under this beautiful American sycamore. Have I told you how much Big J loves "reading" books. Loves, loves, loves to read. His favorite "genre" would be dinosaur books. This morning he set up his dinosaur books along the wall of the playroom and announced, "I'm a library director!" He keeps telling Baby J, "You can pick any book you want."

I *Heart* Wallpaper: I really love all the modern + vintage wallpaper prints out there. I've been wanting to use wallpaper to make a "mural" in the children's playroom, something like this [the tree]or this. [side note: Why don't we have any cool children's magazines in the states?]

Coming + Going: Our dear friends from California [6 of them] will be flying in later this week. I'm so excited! I foresee lots of late-night talks, laughing + BBQ'ing. Appah will be leaving this weekend for a one-week business trip to Japan. Is it bad that I'm excited he's leaving? Well, only because he will be in Japan. This Japanophile is hoping some cute Japanese fabric will find its way into my husband's suitcase [hint hint]. [If any of you have recommendations for fabric shops in Tokyo, please let me know.]

Something Has Got To Give: As you may have noticed, I've been a little quiet over here. Although I love writing in my weblog and connecting with so many of you on a regular basis, I'm feeling the need to achieve some balance in my life. Raising my boys is my number one priority. I am grateful to be at home full-time with Big J + Baby J, as well as to fill my need to live a creative life via my crafting + little business. But I also need to devote more time to taking care of myself--physically and spiritually. Those areas of my life have been neglected lately and I have decided to make them a bigger priority. So, if I'm a little quiet at times, hopefully it is because I'm out running or doing some yoga or meditating + praying.

Thanks for reading this mega post. Have a wonderful week!