WCS Woodworking: Heidi's new studio, pt 2, The Timber Frame

Isaac just wrote the second phase of his story about building the studio; it has lots of interesting pictures !

WCS Woodworking: Heidi's new studio, pt 2, The Timber Frame

Isaac has a new blog

Isaac started his own blog about his woodworking! He will also be writing about the studio construction; here is his first post. There are lots of interesting photos of the construction, our draft horse Noki, etc...

I'd also like to add that he has gotten a haircut since; if you see the picture I'm referring to, you'll know what I mean!

prices reduced in our Etsy shop

We've reduced the prices on a number of original paintings and also Isaac's 2 and 3 drawer chests in our Etsy shop. Isaac's shop is full and our walls are at capacity!

Paintings on sale

Harry is on sale

So are the Five Cats, and lots of others!

Woodworking on sale

This box is on sale

And so is this one!

Paintings in progress

It's been a busy couple of weeks with the extreme cold and all the problems it brings!

I have been enjoying getting to know my new walnut oil paints; they are more vibrant and beautiful than my old alkyds, but they do take longer to dry, so there is a bit of a learning process in working with them. I'm thrilled with the bright color that I'm getting in my glazes!

I thought I would share a couple of paintings that I'm very excited about, in progress.

First is a painting of Charlie teaching his first How to Train your Human seminar; here he is teaching the boys, their friend and Bea their first lesson: Humans, the most useful primate.

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This painting is called The Treasure; Charlie and the boys Harry and Willy have found a pirate's treasure in a cave. But there are eyes watching them in the deeper recesses of the cave, and Harry left his bow at the boat!

I can't believe how long I've been working on this painting. At least 6 months...but probably closer to 9. But I've got to keep working on it until every detail is correct...I can't help it!

I've started using my best friend Bea in some paintings as well; she's in How to Train your Human and now the above Wolf in Sheep's clothing. Doesn't she look like a scary wolf?

New Facebook page

After a very slow start, I've been becoming more and more attracted to the possibilities of facebook. I already have a personal page, but I also just created a business page for my paintings, where i will be able to post new paintings, announce sales, and post other news.

So, you can become a fan and receive my latest news if you have a Facebook profile.
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Heidi-Shaulis/108485365503?created
I can't wait to see you there!

2 new lovely additions

I added 2 beautiful new functional items to my studio this weekend.

The first is this adorable little girl clock from Sandy Mastroni:

I've loved Sandy's work ever since I first saw it in her Etsy shop, so when I needed a clock,

I knew just where to go. If you haven't seen Sandy's work before (and yes, she does cats!), you can check out her blog here. I find her work ever so charming!

Here she is, watching over me and keeping me on time.

The little painting is "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing", in progress.

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I also needed a coatrack for my mudroom, so Isaac surprised me on Christmas day by

putting this beautiful peg rack together in a couple of hours. It is maple, with flame maple

pegs. he says he couldn't use the wood for anything else because of the big knot,

but I love that the knot adds so much character.

My jacket finally has a place...

the perfect attic find

Yesterday we were moving the boys' old toys up to the attic, and I spied the most perfect old pine table in the back, under a pile of antique radios (our house previously belonged to a radio and tv guy who had lived in the house with his family since 1943, so lots of radios.....). How we've been here for 5 years, and I never saw this table before, I'm not sure, though I do avoid the attic as much as possible...it seems treacherous, somehow, as it is over the woodshed/mudroom and is not very substantially built. and in the summer, when it is finally warm enough to adventure there, there are always hornets.

Anyway, the table will be perfect as a worksurface for my studio; it is just the right height and is the exact country style that I love. the surface has thousands of tiny cut marks from kitchen work, which I find so comforting and charming.

The light over the table is also a good ecofriendly find; I got 4 of them! the globe is blue which puts out a lovely glow, and the lights are energy star flourescent lights from Lithonia Lighting....and they only cost about $25 from Home Depot, including the bulbs (and you know how much bulbs cost!)