from dream to reality: a glimpse inside my new creative studio space

I'm thrilled to finally give you a sneak peek into my brand new studio space! As a creative entrepreneur working on a surface pattern design career this studio is a dream come true – a space where creativity knows no bounds!

Let me take you back to last November when my husband, Jamie, and I embarked on an exciting journey to make our long-held dream a reality. We've been living in our home for 16 wonderful years, but with four growing boys and both of us working from home, it was clear that we needed more space. Yet, moving wasn't an option we were willing to consider. We've truly fallen in love with our location – just beyond our backyard fence is an incredible walking and biking trail. Being surrounded by family is another joy; in fact, walking to my in-laws' place often proves faster than hopping into the car. Our home is more than just walls and a roof; it's where we've built memories, where our kids go to amazing schools, and where our hearts are rooted.

The journey to this new studio space was riddled with creative problem-solving. We brainstormed numerous options – oh, the ideas we had! – but as life would have it, they didn't quite fit the bill. Isn't it funny how sometimes the best solutions arise when you're least anticipating them? Our final plan was born from a casual conversation during a road trip. As ideas bounced back and forth, the potential "could work" scenarios gradually morphed into a solid option.

So, what did we do? We shifted our old garage to align seamlessly with the front of our house. This ingenious maneuver converted our former garage into practical indoor space, allowing for an entirely new level to be constructed above it. Our home now includes an indoor laundry and storage room (it was in the garage before!), a dedicated space for self-care workouts, a generously sized master bedroom with a beautifully spacious bathroom (complete with two sinks, because let's face it, that's luxury!), a designated office for Jamie, and of course, my favorite space – a wonderfully spacious studio, tailor-made for me.

Below are a few photos from right after construction before we filled the space up.

Can you believe the wild ride this journey has been? Picture this: starting off with a desk in an office that I shared with Jamie, to stitching away on the dining room table to avoid interrupting his work calls – and now, stepping into this oasis! The studio is bathed in natural light streaming through four generous windows, it's a photographer's dream!! I have multiple work surfaces that I can spread out on. And guess what?! There's even a door!!

I can't help but pinch myself as I stand in this space that embodies both my journey as an artist and the unwavering support of my family. It's a tribute to how far I've come and a promise of the colorful horizons that lie ahead.