Creating Space(s) for Creativity
NOTE: This is a repost from last year. We're getting ready to trek toward the studio, and this post just reminds me of exactly how far we've come in this journey! So, here's a flashback!
Happy Pride Month!
The weather in this neck of the woods varies wildly from moment to moment. At any given moment can bring rain, sun, or a mix of the two. A few days ago we were on the way “into town” - headed to the lovely town of West Jefferson, NC, when we spotted this lovely Pride Eve beauty… We took a moment just to enjoy the incredible beauty inherent in a world full of variety and connectedness! If you haven’t been to West Jefferson, GO! It’s such a delightful town with lots of shopping, a number of breweries and restaurants, and some incredible murals. They also have a hoppin’ little art scene!
HVAC Adventure Begins
This week we’re beginning our HVAC Adventure! Shoutout to Carolina Comfort - a company in Sheri’s hometown, not far from the cabin. They have been so professional, responsive, and easy to work with.
The studio cabin has never had whole house HVAC. While it’s definitely much cooler up here in “The Coolest Corner of NC” as Ashe County is called, it is also humid. The cabin’s location in a rainforest, and next to a creek can definitely amp up the moisture in the air! In prep for dyeing, hosting folks, and teaching, we’re getting this whole house system put in. It’ll make the dye studio space - and the rest of the cabin MUCH more comfortable!
If you’re old enough to remember Murphy Brown, we’re beginning to feel sort of like Murphy - the people working on the cabin are becoming so familiar as to feel like fixtures in our lives.
Yesterday brought the cutting of holes in the floor - and the installation of the metal things called “boots” that connect the holes with the duct work.
The ductwork in our lower level studio space kind of reminds me of the “worms” in the Dune movie series. We preferred the Dune: Part Two, by the way…
Chillin’ on the Sleeper
We ordered a really cool sleeper sofa from Carolina Chair Co. In our quest to create spaces in the cabin that are welcoming, interesting, engaging, and as thoughtfully designed as possible, we found Carolina Chair Co. they are a decades old company that makes furniture on demand - and their process allows for customization of many elements of the pieces you order. We chose the Henley sleeper sofa, to give us an additional sleeping space if needed, and we opted to cover it in a dark blue denim. It’s a fairly timeless shape - but with plenty cushion to make it super comfortable. You and I both know that when you’re lying on a sofa, completely chilled out, you can get some pretty great ideas! Or sleep. Either one is great.
Here’s their product pic:
That’s the dark blue denim. I love it because it’s not “brand new mom jean blue.” I also love it because…denim is our jam. Custom throw pillows are also on our order. The backs will be made from the couch denim, and the fronts will be made from denim patchworks I’ve created from up-cycled denim. Here’s one of the front panels:
And…We’re in Spin Off Magazine!
I wrote an article for Spin Off Magazine’s current issue - Summer 2025. The article is all about how to take “ugly” braids and spin them into something beautiful! Here’s a link to Spin Off. It’s published by the amazing team at Long Thread Media. I’ll leave you with some yarny eye candy… To learn about the process I used to create this palette, visit spinoffmagazine.com and read the current issue!
