(This is the studio after the carpet had been ripped out and the wallpaper removed.)Sorry I have been bad about posting to my blog the last couple of weeks, but there are some good reasons why and one of them is because I've been busy working on getting my design studio fully functional. There are still a few things that need to be worked on, but for the most part the studio is complete!
(Walls had been painted and tables moved back in.) I always said I wanted to have my own studio one day and I'm so happy that I have one and it's beautiful! Now my students and my clients walk into a bright and spacious design studio to take class or do consultations. I have tons of room to work and I love the decor.
(The main studio wall with my 18x24 prints, photography by Debbie Friedrich, custom wall logo by Single Stone Studios.)I'm so very fortunate to have zenatona prints and canvas art throughout my studio as it really compliments my clay flowers. I am also very fortunate that my friend was able to print me poster prints of my work (photography courtesy of Debbie Friedrich Photography). I had envisioned for my main studio wall initially shelves with my arrangements on them, but since it's an area where my students walk to get to their work tables, I decided that it should be filled with pictures and my own logo! I couldn't be happier with the logo. I amazed myself and actually created a working vector file for Single Stone Studios who I found through Etsy (thanks to Debbie). OMG, Billy at Single Stone Studios answered my emails in the middle of the night his time and got the listing and the design done for me. Literally I ordered it last Wednesday and got it today! I highly recommend their company if you're looking for custom logo vinyl decals! They have some really great designs already, but if you want to brand your company, they do awesome work and their customer service is fabulous! 
(Canvas art by zenatona and a shelf with my clay flowers to match the pieces above.)
(My storage cabinets with my clay flowers on top and another large print of my flowers courtesy of Debbie Friedrich.)Gone are the days of teaching on my kitchen table, gone are the days of not being able to color match my clay because the room is so dark and the lighting is affected by the nasty green carpets. Now it's a beautiful studio that I absolutely love.
(The right side of the window with more zenatona prints and my clay flowers on the shelf below.)I'm very excited because the studio is complete before Yukiko and Miyai-sensei come to teach classes here next month. I'm excited for them to see it since this will be the first time they have seen the place since I moved back to California and to meet many of my students who have become part of the DECO family in the last 2 years!
(Perfection - my company logo with 18x24 posters of my work!)
I wanted to share a couple of creative theme projects that have been finished by my students. This first one is from my student, Jennifer who has been taking classes with me for almost 2 years. She decided to create her theme project as a gift to her grandmother who is turning 90 and they are all going back in November to celebrate. Her idea came from spending vacations on the beach with her cousins (all the grandchildren) playing cards, eating bento (box lunch), and having fun on the beach. The plumeria tree represents the tree in her grandmother's yard. The monkey in the tree has significance to her grandmother and grandfather who shared a love for monkeys and she explained that every birthday they would find each other cards with a monkey on them. She even has Diamond Head and a ship in the ocean in the background. Her base is a bamboo steamer! When she brought it in last night I was floored. Each of the grandchildren has a symbol on their shirt to represent what they do as a profession (football, veterinarian, dentist, pediatrician, and anesthesiologist). Jennifer is close to finishing. She isn't sure if she wants to teach, but seeing her creativity, I hope she'll teach others as I think she would be fabulous. Her techniques with her flowers continually improves and she puts a lot of thought into her projects. :) Needless to say, her grandmother is going to be so touched when she opens this one of a kind, handmade gift!
My other student Tracey recently got certified and is now an instructor. She is in Ontario, Canada. She got her inspiration from my other student's theme project (remember the oh so creative wine basket with the french bread and grapes made out of clay?). Tracey had originally decided to do an Easter theme project, but after seeing Irene's wine basket project she decided to rethink her project. She decided to do a cornucopia of all things fall and with Thanksgiving coming up she thought it would be festive.
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