Books and Flowers

Snap shots from around my studio this month

One Year On!

It has been a year to the day that I upped sticks and moved from London to the South Coast. I'd always wanted a live/work space, with a studio to meet my needs, and to call my very own, 

rather than paying landlord's extortionate rent for studios with leaky roofs, too chilly to work in winter, as my hands would become numb with cold.

But this was not an option for me in London. So like a lot of artists, I had to move out, to up-size.

I do miss London. I miss the diversity, the buzz of the place, and I miss the fact that in 20 minutes I could be in Central London or Richmond Park, or (my favourite place), Kew Gardens.

It took a year to sell and buy a property, and another year renovating the property we are in, a 4 bedroom Victorian terrace in East Sussex.

The house was in need of modernising, and in desperate need of some tender loving care. 

After a year of doing renovations, and renting a temporary studio, it is now (more or less) complete.

The two upstairs bedrooms were knocked through to make one large room for the studio. The ceilings were removed to expose the roof, and velux windows fitted for extra day light. A kitchen area was also installed.

Elsewhere in the house, there has been major works undertaken.

It has been an all-encompassing year. 

But the New Year, marks a 'new start'.

Not that living and working from home doesn't have it’s drawbacks. 

But I think the space that we've created (for now) far outweighs these.

Before the renovations, 

from this...

 
to this...

Studio

For those who follow my blog, you'll know that I've relocated, and am now working from my home studio. The move and the renovations have been exhaustive, but things are starting to come together. We recently got our things out of storage, which means for the past few weeks, I've been finding homes for my belongings, of which there are many. 

I am a collector, and I find it hard to let go of things. 

Mostly I collect old books, but also dolls houses, model boats, and the odd conserving jar or glass bottle, which I'm currently filling with shells, pebbles and amazing air plants! 

Here are some photos I've taken recently... 

  

Studio

Finally moving into my new studio this weekend!

 (Below) as it was before the renovations...  

New Studio, Under Construction

From this... 

to this...

 

Studio - Work in Progress

 This will be my studio

(We've taken out ceilings and internal wall)

and the view

As you can see, we are in process of renovating our house and studio, 

I'll be adding more photos to my blog as the project develops

Su Blackwell Studio is relocating from the City to the Sea

Bye, bye London x

Hello Sea!