Studio Update

Good day, Everyone! Well, today marks what was to be the deadline for finishing up the studio. Typical of most renovation projects I'm past due and over budget. Eh, what are you gonna do? Keep on movin'! So past the myriad of physical issues that seemed to come up over the last few weeks (tweaked knee, cold (still sniffling), tweaked knee...again!) that inhibited my progress, I've carefully gotten back in the saddle.

So, once again, I give to you our last leave-off point....



And what followed....

The beginnings of "wallage." Actual drywall simply wasn't an option for me as I was working by myself (that stuff is heavy!) and if you could see behind the photos you'd realize that I'd have had no place to put it anyway. So I went with what I was able to work with on my own. And, sometimes "good enough" is just that.

So that's where I am at the moment...literally. If you walked out there right now this is exactly what you'd find. Well, that and a shabbily dressed "handyman" with just a bit of a smile on his face.

As always....stay tuned.

Seattle Sunday

Went into the city (Seattle) on Sunday to meet up with my friend Jenna. Just a leisurely day...cold but sunny...perfect for a cup of coffee and a sit down. I thought I'd take you along.

Overlooking Eagle Harbor from the ferry which travels between Bainbridge Island & Seattle.


Leaving Bainbridge Island and heading out into Puget Sound.




Seattle skyline in the distance. I love this view.


That's West Seattle to the left. Small children and seagulls ride the ferry for free.


The Space Needle


Coming into downtown Seattle.


Waiting to get off the boat.


This is at the north end of Pioneer Square. The only part of the city not to suffer under the general malaise of "tear it down and build a beige box" answer to older architecture. Oh well, history is totally overrated anyway. Don't you think? (Um, kidding.)

The Pergola in Pioneer Square. This always felt to me like a little bit of Paris. That is, until I went to Paris. But I still love it. The structure was original up until several years ago when a truck driver didn't make the turn and brought the whole thing down. I bet that was a really bad day for him.

Looking south into Pioneer Square.


My FAVORITE bookstore! Elliott Bay Book Co. Old creaky wood floors, miles of books, abuzz with people, coffee and noshes downstairs in the basement...albeit along with some rather unsavory restrooms. But what are ya' gonna do? You can't always have everything.


Just a pretty building.


Ornamo. An amazingly cool shop with lots of goodies that I can't really afford.


Occidental Square. Home to a number of art galleries including favorite Davidson Galleries.


Zeitgeist. A wonderful respite. I love all the warm woods and ironwork. Large street-side windows are perfect for people watching and getting whatever light might happen to appear. And the coffee ain't too bad either.


A Seattle-style fika (for a wannabe Swede). Okay, okay, okay...the sandwich & salad was Jenna's! I had a Top Pot doughnut off to the side. But if you can't see it I cannot be held responsible.


Smith Tower. An historical building that I imagine will likely house yet another branch of the Starbuck's world headquarters someday.


Walking up 1st Avenue toward the ferry terminal. The sign advertising "rooms .75" is old. And if it wasn't...would you really want to stay there?


The beginning of nighttime lights on the city.


Heading back home to Bainbridge.

(And now into the studio.......)

(Smith Tower, downtown Seattle, as seen from the ferry terminal)

Putting together a little walking tour of my Sunday in the city. Then off to the studio! I've got to get cracking as my 31st deadline will now escape me. But I wanna show y'all some progress for heaven's sake!

Resolutions 2008 - The Art of Asian Cooking

Thanks in larger part to my friend Devon, I managed to keep one aspect of the New Year's resolutions by cooking up some Asian food over the weekend. Devon took care of the Indonesian style satays, coconut-ginger rice, and some incredible mixed vegetable salad with coconut and more spices than is probably legal. My end of the bargain? Coconut milk custards (tasty but not so photogenic), bok choy with fried shallots and copious amounts of garlic, and, just for true authenticity, fresh ginger-steeped vodka (you can see it in the back). Clearly I am a heavyweight or much too well-versed in the art of vodka as I was the only one who didn't feel the need for a mixer. The others were trying to find the wind that got knocked out of 'em. Hmm?

Thanks, Merci, Gracias, Domo Arigato....

Just wanted to take a moment and say "THANK YOU." Over the weekend The Bedlam of Beefy was recognized by Laurie over at Tip Junkie and Kim and Jo over at Desire to Inspire. I truly appreciate the recognition and support given by other blogs (e.g., Orange Beautiful) and also, you, my readers. Blogging certainly doesn't happen in a vacuum and we're all in this together in whatever extent that manifests itself. So thanks for giving some of your time for the stop-by's, the comments, the emails, and the props. It really means a lot to me.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home....(Do I have to give the shoes back?)

So this morning I thought I'd just take you around to some places that I call home. I thought we'd drive over to a town called Poulsbo. (I don't live in Poulsbo, but it's close by.) It's a Norwegian themed town (Hooray Scandinavia!) and while I know it smacks of "Hey Tourist! Over here!", I just love going down there and toddling around. It's a sweet place with some wonderful shops and great people who own them and that's why it's nice to call it home. Hope you enjoy.

Sluys' Bakery...like going back in time to the 1960's.

The inside of Sluys'...the lighting is not at all flattering but no one's paying attention with all the sugar and crumbs in their eyes. Bags rarely remain unopened before leaving the store.

One of my favorite local restaurants, Mor Mor. Owned by John & Laura Nesby, a young couple in their 20's (!), they put out some top notch meals. The fried chicken? Don't get me started or the drool might short out my keyboard.

Coco is everything one would expect from the name - warm, rich, and comforting. (Okay, I know the spelling isn't quite the same but isn't that what you'd think of?) Kay does an incredible job of stocking Coco with new and vintage finds - and not just for the ladies. This is dangerous territory for me as there always seems to be a good reason to find bankruptcy a rational option.

So I was tagged the other day by Pia of Pia Jane Bijkerk. I'm to list 7 things about myself that others may not know about moi. So here is a little peak into my ever fascinating life (Hey, you in the back, can you please not yawn...at least not right now? Oh, and wake up that guy beside you.) Anyhoo.......

1) One of the first mediums I ever worked in was paint remover. Long story short...I'm a tiny wee baby, my parents come to get me from my crib, I'm not there, they search frantically, find me in garage, Mom has been stripping a rocking chair, I make it through baby-gate, grab can and brush, proceed to paint with said paint remover...on the side of my Dad's brand new Volvo. It's a miracle I'm even here to write this.

2) I LOVE mayonnaise. Sadly, the United States doesn't permit me to marry my mayo...even if it's a consenting condiment. The atrocity of it all!

3) I'm half Canadian. And proud of it, eh! Shout out to Nova Scotia...holla!

4) To put it mildly, I do not like acronyms. I like words. Acronyms are exclusionary and the linguistic form of a couch potato.

5) I detested the person who is now my best friend. (Oh, don't worry, he knows ALL about it.)

6) In my dreams I am a baker. (In reality I couldn't take the hours!)

7) I have two cats, Winston & Riley. They're were born blind but cute. Oh, and I have a dog named Fergus. He's was born small and French.


Mmmm, riveting isn't it. Well, I hope it was a bit entertaining at the least, if not altogether illuminating.

Now, based on the rules, I'm supposed to "tag" seven others. I do have some reservations about this part. (I'm not always a big rule follower. Uh oh, that's 8 things about me! See...what did I just say?) However, there are a few folks out there in the blogosphere that I'd genuinely like to know a bit more about. But, as with Pia's qualification, I have no issues if they do not wish to participate. I mean tag can be fun but after so many times of being "it" even kids wanna take a snack break. Y'know? So with that said.....

...my tagging "victims" shall be:

Rachel @ BlackEiffel
Dana @ Blush & Flax Hues
Denise @ d. Sharp Journal
Jess @ Lobster & Swan
Cheryl @ Stash Studios
Paul @ Sweet Paul

First of all, I'd like to thank the academy....

Arriving home late last night I came to find the delightful announcement from Emily at Orange Beautiful's blog the SCOOP that she had chosen The Bedlam of Beefy as one of her new favorite blogs. To say the least, I am both humbled and honored, Emily. The SCOOP is always a daily peruse for me as Emily and Laura always have some little interesting tidbit to add a bit of joy to the day. So for those of you new to the Bedlam...welcome! Can I get you a cup of tea?

(Hey, wait a minute...why's my dressing room so small? No star on the door?! Call my agent! Where' my bottled water? This label isn't in my requested color scheme! And, it's certainly colder than the requested 42.7 degrees! Get Emily on the phone....NOW!) Oooh...smile for the camera!

Seriously...thanks muchly for the mention, Emily! :)

Studio update....yes really.

Well, I told you I would try to do some type of studio update for Monday. Given my compromised health...(hey, you in the back, not my mental health...my physical health!)...there have not been any massive transformations but I did what I could. So here's where things are for the moment. We last left off with....

So once the floors dried...I started the painting process. I love the idea of a white floor and now I've got it! I'm sure it says somewhere on the can not to paint below 50F or something but I was not about to be that patient. It did take a while to dry but it is, in fact, dry.

And now I have this. It needs one more coat but it is a joy to walk in and see this floor! So another coat and the walls will start to go up. Don't even get me started on trying to decide what to do there.

Stay tuned.....

Man Cold

Okay, honestly, I am not this bad! But this morning, Beefy woke up with his face falling off. See...right there...if I am referring to myself in the third person...things are bad. Very, very, bad.

I'll be back with some more posting shortly!

Oh, Frosty the bored-man...

This is the pattern in the ice that froze on my outdoor table. Like coral or gnarled trees...beautiful. Yeah, even if no snow.

Ho, hum. Woke up to find this delightful frostiness but, alas, no snow. They've been talking about it but I haven't seen a stitch! I whacked my knee out o' joint last Friday and have been hobbling and gimping around like an 80 year old. Needless to say, it has slowed my studio construction. Isn't that always the way...off schedule and over budget? Well, I still have time to make up for things. But if I have to be trapped inside it would be nice to have something snowy to look at, wouldn't you say?

I spent yesterday sitting around on my keaster popping ibuprofen, icing my knee, and searching desperately for something other than HGTV reruns and court shows. Basically it turned into a day of channel surfing and frozen limbs. But the knee is feeling quite a bit better now so after one more day of "relaxation" I'm hoping to get back at things in the studio tomorrow. Please!

I was here for a couple of hours (until the neighbors found me) after falling with my bum knee. Kidding! I just put the camera on the ground and hoped for the best. Kinda pretty, huh?

As good as it gets.

Last week I finally got to spend some time with friends, Kristine & Bob. It was long overdue (as it is with many friends) and nice to feel a bit less isolated on this little island of mine. Kristine and I tootled around Ikea for some studio accoutrement and then went back to their house to relax before catching the ferry back home. They showed me the phenomenal results of finishing their basement where they created an amazing in-house workspace. I envy Bob's carpentry skills.

Anywho...then we retired to the living room, chatted over some wine, cheese, and fruit and I received presents! Kristine had gotten me It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be. by Paul Arden. Um, yeah...get it. Now. Written technically regarding the advertising industry, its information and wisdom has multiple translations into both business and life. But its not like its going to find a permanent place on my bookcase anytime soon...you know, since I will be carrying it around with me everywhere. (Thanks, Kristine!)

It's gonna take a Lotta love...

This serves as great inspiration on a number of levels. It's amazing what Lotta Jansdotter has done in developing a business and brand and she is one of many who has inspired and fueled my artistic and entrepreneurial drive. Getting to see her studio just adds a touch more focus to my own studio-constructing efforts which cannot hurt.

(UPDATE: Well didn't she up and go move to a new studio! But while no longer an accurate representation of her studio I'll take what I can get.)

In the studio...whoa-oa-oa-oa...in the studio...

Okay, I know the official results of the poll aren't exactly in but it does appear that the front runner is showing photos of the studio along the way. Not exactly democratic, I admit, and veering dangerously close to a dictatorship (but the uniforms are spectacular!)...here are a few images of my studio progress. (Note: This week has SO not been the week of decent or consistent photo-taking. My inner Diane Arbus has left the building. My apologies, gentle reader.)

For the purpose of refreshing your memory, I present to you....
(Mmmm, delightful...isn't it?)

The makeshift ceiling before...

and after! I cannot even tell you how many cobwebs got vaccumed out of here! Okay, not like a long lost Egyptian tomb or anything but quite a formidable foe. This was a sort of attic-type space which creates a "ceiling" above where I'm putting together the studio.


The beginnings of something akin to warmth. Piece by piece, I'm getting the insulation put up. On the other side of that plywood is coldness. Brrrr. Those poor lil' space heaters.


Getting warmer.


Not exactly hot...but , well, warm.

So there you have it for the moment. Insulated walls
and "ceiling", and a "clean" floor.

Oh, I have such plans! A tight budget too, but such plans!

What I think I will do is post photos of the studio's progress every Friday. That way it isn't too often for those of you who wish to see the grande finale and yet more than nothing for those who'd like to see the progress. Sound fair? And what better motivation as you head into weekend projects!