Studio Delievery Day
Made by J & J Mini Barns. Delivered by Jansen Transport.
Birch Haven Studio sits nestled among a stand of birch trees, within view of my flower gardens. I grow vegetables in galvanized steel pots in front of its porch in summertime. And adorn the porch with pumpkins and cornstalks in the autumn. It’s an extension of my artistry.
The conception.
I agonized the for months about what I wanted. What size, shape, features? What could I actually afford? When I finally pulled into the driveway at J & J Mini barns, an Amish shed builder in Easton, Maine, I was so excited. Yet still a little nervous. It was a lot of money to spend on myself. Something I am not used to doing. I wanted to make sure I did it right. At 144 square feet it is small but mighty. Windows on all sides and skylights in the ceiling ensure natural light floods in all day long at all angles. I could have had a larger space but sacrificed it to add a 4×12 foot porch.
After the ordering came the waiting.
The anticipation was almost too much to bear. And that is all I am going to say about that. In reality it took a month. Not long at all.
Delivery Day
Hard to believe that was 4 years ago.
Studio Delivery Day
In its place.
Delivery happened during a workday. I was sure I was going to miss it and was mildly bummed. Only mildly though, because whether I was there or not…my she-shed would be waiting. It just made concentrating on my job a little harder. My S.O. called me just minutes before my scheduled lunch time. Jansen Transport was pulling in the driveway as we spoke. I was able to sneak out for lunch a little early. Luckily, I don’t live far from where I worked and made it home to see the studio rolling off the truck. It was like watching a miraculous birth for me, a dream come true. It was the best day! With that little building came so much potential for growth in my art life.
It was hard to go back to my job because all I wanted to do was get started setting up the studio.
For now, it is a summer studio only. It is uninsulated and un-electrified. I run a small kerosene heater in spring and fall to extend my season as much as possible. It remains in its natural wood colored state because as of yet, I have so many ideas of how I want to paint it that I can not decide on a final plan.
It’s my favorite place to spend my time.
