More Eye Candy for Window Shoppers

All my finishing touches at the shop are taking longer than I had anticipated, throw this weekend's art fair in Kansas City into the mix and another in Chicago the following weekend and I wonder if I'll ever get ahead. Trying to be grateful for getting the little things done, I finally put hooks up over the window shades so I can hang artwork in front of them when the shop is closed - much better exposure for drive by traffic. Also found a sandwich board for the sidewalk (in an alley - but it's in good shape!) and have yet to finish my sign. Okay, back to packing...and re-arranging things so it doesn't look like I had a fire sale...do you think I'll get my Newsletter out before I leave town? Not likely at this point, but I'm going to let myself off the hook, it was more important to spend time with family the last 2 days.

Life as a sign painter...

Signs, Canines and Settling In...

Still settling in, finishing projects: working on the sign here, this is the middle section. It's been fun having surprise visits from many friends and customers and getting to know my new neighbors here.

I brought some of my 'soft' dogs to the shop, this is Izzy & Alice...I hope to offer these for sale soon!

Soft Alice w/Real Alice..

A Flash Cab parked in front of the shop the other day, had to snap a photo..this was the blue I was going for in my space, I think I got it..!

 
This is Riley, one of the many dogs I've met in my first week here...

and Wallace...

and Moon, who I painted with his feline siblings a few years ago, fun to meet him in person after all this time!

I'm in a conundrum about imagery to use on the 2 four foot sections on either side of the sign. I may ask your help in choosing...time is running out though, I need to get this up on the building and get to the real painting. 

...added later: I think this is going to be it for the design of the top sign...too busy? maybe, but I can always change it down the road. Hanging one looks to frilly.

If you like the smell of fresh paint...

We are OPEN! I can't believe it...so excited and grateful for thisopportunity to share my work and connect with the community in a muchbigger way. Still working on signs for over the storefront and lots ofother little details but that will all happen in good time. I hope you can come by and say hello if you are in Chicago this weekend! Grand opening party will be in July...

 

My sweet Mother sent me this gorgeous bouquet of sunflowers.

A serendipitous visit from Cathi (corn) Bouzide & Danny Mansmith

 

View back to my office area

Rich installed my window track lighting...we are completely compact flourescent-ly lit!

earlier in the day....so much to do.

Natalie & baby Marlowe...these 2 saved the day, couldn't have gotten everything hung, cleaned up and ready by 5pm without them!
 

Now Open!

We are officially OPEN! Today was a whirlwind...couldn't have done it without my pal Natalie...pictures coming soon! Exhausted but smiling BIG...! I didn't even do an e-blast, wasn't sure I would pull it off...Grand Opening will be later this summer.

Phase III Moving...

 

My home office before dismantling Saturday morning...Okay, I really am sentimental. Here's the video tour of all my favorite art treasures, some I made, many are from trades with other artists, photos and momentos..and yes a little bit of a mess:

Do you like the black door? I'm going to spray paint the fixtures metallic silver.
My new privacy shades! (too many days and nights on display, I had a dream the other night I was invisible)

My new office set-up - that's my hard drive in my hands, I can take it home with me...modern technology..gotta love it. I'm very lucky to be married to my own personal IT man.

 

Rich putting my work table back together, we had quite a time getting this thing out of my basement studio. (I purchased this in the ikea scratch and dent room many years ago..love this table)

 

 Hors douvres dinner...perfect late night ending to a long day of work.

This is Tuesday...one of my current pet portrait clients, she came for a meet & greet on Sunday. As you can see she's adorable.

Almost everything is here now so I'm setting up shop...hope to be open this weekend!

Phase II...the exterior

Fabulous painter and drummer Flint, of Chiovari Painting, worked wonders on the facade yesterday (Rich & Flint have been collaborating musically for almost 17 years). Stay tuned to see if I paint the door blue or black - we were considering white, but too hard to keep clean. 

The window trim was originally going to be black but seeing it withwhite primer we decided to go with white, opens the space up.

 

When I get around to painting the sign it will be attached to the brick above the blue section. Okay, this is my last blog post from Washtenaw...unhooking and moving my mac and all my other office and studio stuff today...hope you have a great weekend!

Transformations

I'm a huge fan of the before & after photo...

 

Rich trips the light fantastic...
 

ahh..clean blue & shiny white..do you see 4 funny little faces?
 

I even get excited about new register covers!

Bought my sign board today...MDO. We start moving my studio on Saturday!