The windows have arrived and we are on track for having every thing closed up by Fall.

Now the fun starts. We have been playing around with a combination of Sil-Leed cement board panels, strong and cost-effective sheets that not only exhibit a unique beauty, but they also help protect against fluctuating temperatures helping to reduce energy costs as well as any maintenance.   They are attached with rivets and you can cut them to any size so our plan is to use some interesting patterns in two colors. We are exploring two reclaimed woods, one is a redwood originally used as wine barrels and the other cypress from pickle barrels.  I think I should get some credit back for all of the wine I’ve probably tapped from those barrels and Gregg eats pickles everyday for lunch. What I love about the redwood is its warmer red tone with some irregular staining.   Both are from the Duluth Timber Company.

We thought about using a reddish orange cement board color as accent and then tabled it.  We’re boring, I know.  Has anyone every taken that what primary color are you test?  Seriously, from the bazillion colors I ended up as no color–snow.  I guess that says something about me and my artwork too!  Test yourself.

Bronze trim, two grey tones of cement board and cypress

Bronze trim, sand blasted window for shop, redwood and cement board

Barn swallows have made a nest in the corner of my future studio.  They have been so busy gathering sticks for their new home that I hate to break it to them that they will eventually have to move outside.   We also have a wood chuck that is enjoying the sandy surface with his paw prints tracking the interior.  Things are moving fast in spite of the torrential rains.  All of Gregg’s earth moving last week slid down the hill.

Barn Swallows Nest

Gregg and I visited our work in progress, creative getaway this weekend.  Gregg is there everyday but I haven’t seen it since it was a hole in the ground.  I will have to say I was in awe, scared, not sure we deserve it, thrilled and excited all at the same time.  When you actually execute on a dream it can be a bit surreal.  Literally we will be perched in the tree tops.  Amazing light, views and peacefulness will surround us. I’d say from the photos we look pretty darn happy.

Marilyn in front of future studio window

Gregg in awe of the view and cool breeze

Guys at work

View as you walk in the front entrance

View from my studio

Studio view looking towards the East

It’s been a long week but things are moving forward on our creative space.  It’s been raining on and off again for two weeks which has slowed things down.  I’m very exciting to see the framed walls going up.

We visited our Wisconsin creative space building site this weekend.  Although both Gregg and I are very excited, our reasons are very different.  Gregg wanted me to see the rocks he had collected for later landscaping,  where he planned to store the wood and how he was going to use his bobcat to clear out a nice landing.  I on the other hand wanted to stop and take pictures of the hundred plus horses in the pasture across from our land and take photos of what my art studio view will look like from above!  It’s all good.

Gregg's Man Toy

Rocks Collected from Site

Horse Farm Across From Us

Future View From My Art Studio

It’s finally happening.  The heavy equipment has arrived and we are starting to move the earth. We are in the infancy stages of building our dream creative space.  I know these photos are probably not that exciting but they represent a monumental step in this journey.  The beginning…

Diamond Bluff, WI, 2010

We haven’t broke ground yet and Gregg and I have already started discussions on “what if we build this creative space and don’t have any new ideas?”  “Or money?”  Nothing like two Virgos getting together to worry and obsess about stupid things we can’t control.  Then we snapped out of it and started talking about all of the possibilities.  My dreams include events featuring local chefs, musicians, artisans and artists.  Gregg has visions of more equipment, tools and things that require more storage.  This is part 2 of what I’m certain will be many interesting twist and turns in the unfolding of our dream creative space.

We worked with the Minneapolis, architectural firm, Altus to create our new space. We have followed Tim Alt on several building projects over the last several years and have always admired his firms modern aesthetic, use of materials and ability to integrate design naturally with the land and individuals who live there.

Our land site has some very challenging issues given it sits on the side of a hill.  Altus was able to guide us with thoughtful placement of the home fitting it into the landscape and taking advantage of the best views and optimum light.  Our goal was an emphasis on natural light, easy movement from indoors to outdoors and from creative space to living space.  We are so excited with the results which features loft like flexible spaces, high ceiling and lots of windows.  Our favorite is a huge rooftop deck over a portion of the shop in the back.

East, front view

First floor, wood shop and art studio

Gregg with land permit

Well, it’s finally going to happen.  My husband Gregg and I are going to take the plunge and build our dream creative space and apartment studio in Wisconsin.   Almost three years ago, we sold our cabin up north (pre-recession, thank God) so that we could build a modern, country studio space with a wood workshop, art studio and weekend apartment.

My husband had his shop in the warehouse district of Minneapolis for over twenty years when it was sold to condominium developers.  Not ready to make a commitment to a new space, his equipment has been sitting in storage for four years.  In the mean time we bought an apartment building, I left my job and we dove head first into hiring an architect and creating our dream studio design that cost about five times what we expected.  Then the recession hit and we stopped everything.

Now two years later, I have a new job, we hired a new architect and have a design that we think is doable.  All still very scary but something we feel is worth the risk.  And my husband needs his power tools.  We are hoping to break ground in two weeks however that’s city time, not Wisconsin time.

View over the Trimbelle river valley

New road

Clearing the land

Trimbelle River