Shop Renovation 2020 Project Part 2 – Walls and Windows and Floors oh my!

 

Okay, I wrote this post months ago, and took the photos - it was one of those 5am writing things.  And then I have let it sit, unpublished for far too long.  

The world is an upside down place these days and I'm struggling to make myself do the things I want to do.  I love making for Elfworks, but I'm lousy at the marketing and promo stuff.  Lately I've even been lousy at the making.  But I'm still here, and here is some kind of update on what's been happening over the past months.... 

Yes, here it is months later and I've written nothing more about my Very Exciting Shop Renovation. I confess, I've had my hands firmly in the dirt trying to grow things, and lay groundwork for other projects for almost all the intervening time. In my defense, this is all part of the larger Elfworks picture, but has not gotten me far in the shop.

I mentioned that my partner Darrell had done all the actual building of the space. While it is hard for me to let go, it was a wise decision. He is a much better builder than I am, and has a lot more experience. The result being that my shop is very awesome. Not fancy, not shiny, but awesome. Much of the wood that was used was recycled from other projects, so it is a patchwork in many ways, but that had its advantages too (besides lowering the cost.)

Darrell started by framing in the walls, then the floor. The floorboards were laid, but not attached while he worked on walls and insulation and wiring (yes, that's right, insulation!!) The ceiling was framed in – we are dropping the ceiling to make it easier to heat...not like I need head room! The window on the northwest wall was framed in – positioned to allow light in from the window in the outside wall of the building. And then it got even more exciting.

Once the walls were up, the floor got finished – Darrell put a little bit of insulation under the floor and the boards got screwed down. The larger pieces had been loosely placed on the boards for layout and positioning and got moved back into their homes. I made measurements and did chalkmark layout of the rest of the space.

We had talked about bench space, something I've never had much of with the result of always having to shift tools and projects, well, off of other tools and projects frankly. Never having had it, I wasn't sure how much of it I would need. I listened to the voice of experience, and opted for more rather than less. There was a scrounged steel counter that was laying around, but when I looked at it it seemed extremely imposing and space consuming. I mentioned that I am small, looking at the counter what I saw was wasted space where I would inevitably pile things and continue my bad habits.

Solution? Rip it in half and make 2 narrow sections rather than 2 large sections. I love that we are metal people. Deciding on its height was also a big challenge. I am so used to having everything the wrong size that this was a big learning curve. Once the height was settled, sturdy framing set it firmly in place, and a leg vise, appropriately adjusted for height, was attached. (The attachment bracket of the leg vise was a partial decider on the height.)

 

 

I went outside one day and found Darrell atop a ladder, pulling boards from the outside of the building. One of the things we had talked about was light – natural light. While it is true that natural light can be difficult in a smith's shop – the colours always changing depending on how the light falls, I knew I needed it. I find it too hard to work in a dark space and light where there are no windows is always somehow, inadequate (for me.)

 

  Solution? The original solution was that window I talked about on the north wall. On further discussion, Darrell suggested we could put windows on the top of the south wall of the building and put a clear panel into my ceiling to allow for more light.

 Again, there were a number of scrounged windows waiting for use, so they got put into play. While it was a big job, I cannot tell you the difference it has made, not just in my shop but in the shop as a whole.

 Suddenly the world is lit up with those 2 windows in that wall. And my shop in particular practically gleams when you enter. Although we did install a ceiling fan overhead light, as well as making provisions for other lights where needed, during the day they have become almost redundant. Suddenly the shop that was already so exciting became a real joy. Working there will be an easy task, and I know that I can adjust to changing light, though there will be some tasks that will be more challenging with it.

 

 

 

The boards for the walls were chosen and placed with thought to texture (or lack thereof.) This meant that I could turn one full panel and one of the panels above my fantastic new benches into chalkboard. They are already covered in lists of “to do” - largely custom hooks to give my stakes permanent storage places under my benches...off the floor.

The wheeled metal frame that used to hold my propane forge was customized and given new life as a stand for my swage block and bench plate. The casters allow me to leave it stored against the wall or move it into closer proximity to the forge on my lovely wooden floor.

The propane forge now sits on a plate covering the firebox of the coal forge – allowing for me to switch to coal on larger or more curved objects (though the ventilation is not in yet.) The coal forge – a portable table style sits atop a metal plate, which gives me extra space for cooling pieces, still on the floor as is my longtime habit, but well out of the way of my feet.

The forge itself is positioned so that I can either use my anvil, my leg vise or step down and use my BAAT Hammer with ease. It will take a bit of getting used to that it isn't in the corner, but the placement is much better, especially with the changes in equipment.

An old freestanding wire basket style shelf has been repurposed as my hammer rack, also holding many spare sets of tongs and a few other pieces, nestled in the corner where my forge used to be. And steel is now stored in a rack on the west wall, neatly sorted (well, mostly) rather than a mass of buckets with random odds everywhere. Longer pieces are stored just outside the new shop space against a wall. Everything is safely chained off – and I can actually see what stock I have. Not surprisingly I have more than I realized. And now I'll be able to find it rather than assuming I don't have any and buying more. It will also serve as a reminder of the projects I'm supposed to be doing...things I bought stock for, stored it and then forgot about it, project and all.

There are still things to be done – a stack for the woodstove has to be installed, ventilation for the coal forge put in, doors to the space to be built an attached, but the place is a joy to work in. I haven't gotten very far just yet. There is a lot of new to get used to, everything has new homes – shelves and racks and a level of organization that will take some fine tuning and a lot more familiarity before it achieves the efficiency it promises. And I have been mostly trying to “make hay while the sun shines” and all that...true enough.

But I can tell you that I've had inspiration for 3 new large projects since this adventure began – larger than any of the things I've attempted yet. This is a space where I can see things happening, and keep track of what I'm doing. Not that the previous spaces were to blame for that lack – that was all on me. This space though, and the time ahead where I am here and not travelling to and fro to that other life that is on hold for the forseeable future...well, I have much hope for the undertaking of great adventures.

Discipline and Self-Care in an Extended Period of Self-Isolation

So, here we are...here I am. I try very hard to limit my exposure to the news and social media – particularly during times of crisis. I get overwhelmed much too easily. Dragged into the mire and the muck of everything I can't control, or change or help. We are into a time of pandemic – but it is a time when there is a global tint to everything...for good, or for ill, we know more now about what goes on across the world than we ever have.

My theatre contract got cancelled on the 13^th of March, so we are a little more than a month into the self-isolation routine. In all honesty, in many ways this is barely a blip in our routine. And yet. There is a profound difference to it, even so. It brings challenges even to us in so very many ways. And not unlike everyone else, it messes with our heads.

Living rurally, we generally keep a good stock of supplies, and often don't leave the property for about 10 days at a time – typically by that time we need more cream, or milk, or cat food (or for me, more mushrooms.) So for us to extend that to leaving only once every fourteen days or more is not such a hardship. Our incomes are usually low, so our expenses are low – we work hard to keep them that way. We are not used to going out for our entertainment. We don't tend to go out much at all. We read a lot, and our artistic work tends to keep us busy. When we can we do repairs on our home or work on the yard – which we do ourselves. For me, I am happy to be quiet when I get to be home – I get more than my fill of socializing during my theatre work periods, and staying home is a welcome gift.

However, it is different when it is not a choice. While we are much better equipped mentally, emotionally, and in terms of habits and preparation to deal with this than the average city dweller, it still takes a toll. I honestly feel very much for those who have been pushed into this situation with little preparation. I feel for all of you, with all of your varied challenges and reasons why this is an (almost, I hope only almost) unbearable situation for you. If it takes a toll on us, it must be hellish for some of you. Not just the enforced changes, but the playing up of all the fears and doubts that we try to drown with our routines and our habits and our busy-ness and our noise.

For the first two weeks of the month that I've been home I stayed very busy. I was finishing up an online course I'd been taking. I got the corner where the bookcases are painted, and we installed the new heater. Along with that I rearranged the books on those two shelves and got a lot of material scanned and input into our personal library. I got a bunch of house stuff done that had been waiting for too long. I was working on updating my website (still am), and moving it to a Canadian provider. We were working on my forge space in the shop, which we are building into a more permanent and better set up space. Lots to do – there is always lots to do.

Since that two week period things have slowed down. While I've felt since the initial announcement that this was likely to go at very least into the fall, if not into next year, that first two week period was filled with a sense of urgency. As if I had to get it done, it could be a mistake. I could be called back to work at anytime. What if my next contract actually went ahead? (They went down to the wire before they decided to pull the plug on the next contract I had.) But now, well, now this is the norm for the long haul. That doesn't really distress me, for the most part. There will certainly be challenges, and worries and problems. I know that for many it is a source of extreme uncertainty and distress. Again, I feel for you, and I know how lucky I am in all this.

It has, however, begun to sink in. Staying disciplined is hard. Motivation is hard. The stuff that messes with your head is hard. A lot of people I know – a lot of self-employed artists and others are having a hard time working with the time that they have. The feeling for many is “what's the point?” No one will have any disposable income. Festivals and shows are cancelled. Why make stuff just to have stuff? There are no deadlines, no goals, no sense of urgency.

Some of that has permeated here too. One of my goals this year is to be making at least 3 days a week, whenever possible. Well, now I have the time to make that a habit. To meet that goal. I can't say I'm doing very well with it. I have been trying to give myself some leeway with that. Making can include writing, baking – any out of the norm, ambitious undertaking. Making dinner doesn't count, but in the beginning, making muffins might. I hope to work up to it gradually, this new habit. Even with that leeway, I don't think I've managed 3 days any week except this one. But I forgive myself. And I will keep trying, keep working toward it. And keep forgiving myself for my failings. This is a strange new world (well, every day is a strange new world, but admittedly, this period is stranger than most.) The landscapes shift every day...sometimes more than once per day.

The weather, of course, hasn't helped. In the last week we've had snow all but two days. Now, that is not unheard of up here, even for the middle of April. And I love winter. However, I am ready for it to move on. Snow in the middle of April is not inspiring. It doesn't make me want to work. It doesn't make me want to do anything other than sit by the fire where it is relatively warm. So, I try to have patience with myself for that.

Said weather has pretty much put a hold on the work toward my new shop. It is getting close to the infrastructure being done, but when it is cold and snowy in April, we just don't want to work out there. Now, that is not sensible. Neither the temperatures, nor the conditions are much different than they were in mid to late March. And yet. The fact that it is April now and it is dragging on is what is stopping it (mostly. There are also other things that need to get done...)

So, the point of this post is to remind myself, and anyone who might be choosing to read it that discipline is a practice. When you don't do the thing, look at what happened, what threw you off course, forgive yourself and try again.

The realization that it is okay not to be a superhero is part of the self-care. The knowledge that this is hard and whatever you do or don't do, don't dwell on it, and don't beat yourself up for it, is also self-care. Allowing for rest, replenishment and relaxation that you don't usually get is self-care. It is a lot of hard work, and a lot of scary work to process the fears that this situation brings up for most people. And the changes. Just because it is internal work doesn't mean it isn't exhausting, or any less valuable for being invisible to the naked eye. We all need to allow ourselves room to just be for a bit. It will be a process....as all of life is. But in the quiet it is magnified. So when you need to back away for a little while, allow yourself that respite. Do what you can, that is all we can ask of ourselves.

I believe that for all those self-employed artists who are struggling to keep working in this time of weirdness, that they need to have patience with themselves. Whatever it is that you do, somewhere down the line you will remember that “the point” is that you can't not create. Your need to create will overwhelm the apathy some days, and you can seize those moments and build on them. We all can, whatever our calling is.

Moving Along...

Well!
The last month has been as busy as the weather has been crazy! Elfworks finally has a roof to work under...well, a tarp, but it is on a sturdy frame that will develop into a beautiful home for the forge. And although the original design changed a bit and it is a heavier construction than was originally imagined, it is a fantastic workspace that can break down to be setup as a booth if the length of the show warranted it...Thanks so much to Colin for all his help, skill and HEIGHT - which is my biggest challenge as we all know!

Within the next week the dates for the summer show will be posted. There is a lot to work around, so I'm not as set on them as I'd like to be, but the show will be great...it always is.

The barest of bones of a site for Not Just A One Trick Pony is up and running and will be updated and recreated as time goes by. Our list of artists is very inspiring and still growing and changing...it will be an exciting show! Remember to mark your calendars for September and come check it out!

Elfworks is also looking at hosting an online art auction to raise funds for Not Just A One Trick Pony, as well as a "pick-a-prize" auction at the Elfworks Summer Show. If you are interested in contributing goods to the online auction (you can specify a minimum bid and the proceeds will be 50% to the contributing artist, 50% to the art show) or know someone who is interested please contact Kelly at elfworks@sympatico.ca. Anyone interested in being involved in the show or looking for more details should also drop me a line. Thanks to Darrell for the fantastic idea and to David for nudging me in the direction of auctions while we were at GLII.

Gearing up for the Grave Goods show is also underway...the objects being contributed by Elfworks are going to be a big focus of the next two months, and the list of contributors to that show is incredible. For anyone who didn't make it to Out of the Firey Furnace, I seriously suggest going to the Wareham Forge site and taking a look at the objects that were part of Firey Furnace. Some of the most incredible pieces, really. And a number of the artists from Firey Furnace are taking part in Grave Goods...it promises to be an amazing show. Again, mark your calendars for September and take a daytrip out to Woodstock to check out the show!

If all that is outlined above isn't enough to get you excited about what's up and coming, keep checking back for info as things start to gel. Be sure to drop a line to notjustaonetrickpony@gmail.com to get on the mailing list for that show and check out our websites regularly, or find us on facebook under Elfworks Studios or Not Just A One Trick Pony.

Enjoy the sunshine and revel in the rain! Happy summer all.