A contest for 10-square buildings!

And they mean meters, not feet...that would be about 107 square feet (I think!)

http://shelter.inthekoots.com/10-square-entries/

I won't enter the shed since it's meant to be about actual living spaces, but it is FUN to look at the entries!  Check it out...

The Shed gets around!

Take a peek! http://relaxshax.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/cathy-johnsons-art-shedshedworking-studio/

Relaxshax' Derek "Deek" Diedricksen featured our little shed studio today--Deek's working on a new book on sheds and little houses, and we may be included.  Bookmark his site, if you like, and check back often, I know I will...

Shed Prezzies!

 

Godchild Ann Brown gave me this wonderful velvet pumpkin for my birthday--she said it was for the shed, and she was right, it looks great!  Just the perfect combination of elegance and nature (that's a real stem...)  Thank you, Miss Ann, I love it.

And Joseph put up my new birdfeeder, right outside the work window--PERFECT.  This isn't where I'd imagined it, it's infinitely better.  I'll be able to watch the birds and maybe even get some decent sketches and photos as they get used to me...

It looks cool, too!  It should be safer from raccoons and squirrels (yes, resourceful little acrobats as they are!), it's easy to get at to fill...perfect.  Thanks, babe!

...and there was light!

The new lamp came already!  You can see what a huge difference it's going to make.  It's not really that bright--I won't get a sunburn--but it will be wonderful for making art, especially at night.  (You can see the shelves are filling up too...looks homey, and it is VERY functional.)

We had thought maybe we could bring my ancient one home from the cabin, but it only works halfway, and half the time...so REALLY glad this one came today. 

 You can use just fluorescent (but who would want to!?!)  Kind of cold and blue...

Or just incandescent for warm light if you want to read...

Or both, if you want balanced light for judging color and value in artwork.  It's wonderful!  This one is an ALVIN Combination Swing-arm Task Light, and it was the least expensive model we found. 

And the answer is YES...

My old studio lamp gave up the ghost when we were in the middle of shed-building, and J. asked if I needed one for out there.  Hey, I've got windows, a sunny day, white ceiling, a hanging Japanese lantern, and the cool little antique desk lamp...I said "I don't know...let's wait and see."

I waited.  I see.  The answer is YES.  Please.

I'm working on an illustration for Watercolor Artist, and the existing light just isn't sufficient for artwork.  Working in the journal, yes, sure.  Reading, no problem.  REAL work, um, no.

So he ordered me this one, which looked as close as we could get to what I've always liked, and it's more affordable than the more futuristic "studio lighting."

You can see more about it here..it's the ALVIN Combination Task Light   Looks like it will do exactly what I'm used to, with warm and cool light combined.  And y'know, I just like that drafting-lamp look!