Wednesday 5 October 2011

Studio news

I know that this post is very long overdue. I promised some weeks ago that I would show you how the interior of my studio is coming along. Well, here I am today to shown you the first project, which was the installation of my work bench. I cannot believe how much I love my new outdoor space. It means that I no longer need to tidy away my current project indoors just to lay the table for dinner.

We have fully weatherproofed the outside of my studio with a very durable exterior stain which actually shows off the natural grain of the wood very well. I do not like painting  wood unless I have to. I love the grain of all woods and I don't like covering them over with paint.
Just after the studio was installed my Dad came over and installed my work bench with my dear Hb as his assistant.  My Dad is quite amazing with the skills he possesses. Before his retirement 14 years ago he was an Chemist in Industry but his handyman skills are to be envied.Since I was a little girl I have watched him make guinea pig hutches, build walls, make fish ponds, re plumb and much much more.

 He already had some pieces of teak in his shed at home, which many years ago were his work benches. When his firm relocated from South London in the early 1980s the old labs were knocked down and he thought at the time that the wood could be useful ,so he brought some home. Everything else at his old workplace was thrown away. I already have a shelf he made for our television in the front room and he thought my workbench could also be made in the same teak.



He took several measurement inside my studio and set to in his own workshop to create my tailor made workbench.

Here is the top of my workbench, you can see that it is a really hefty piece of teak. He cut it to size and bevelled the front edge.

















He also put in very strong supports as I need to sometimes need to hammer on my bench with my jewellery making













Here you can see how substantial the support is...this just shows the front support under the window. It is also made of teak.







and after a day at my house with my Hb helping...












 here is the ta-dah moment!

Just look..................





What I love about my work bench is that it has a "history" and a previous useful life, complete with scorch marks, scratches, bottle marks where chemicals were used etc. It was part of my dad's working life many year's ago. I absolutely treasure it. It is the very best type of recycling.







A couple of coats of teak oil and just look at this beauty.

 I have a swivel working chair on order until then I  have made do with a folding chair. I was just too excited to wait. I wanted to get out there to work immediately.




And my very first project I have been working on...................





Yes I have been making bag charms!










So that is the story of my wonderful work bench, designed, made and installed by my dearest Dad....
My Dad hates fuss so I sneaked a photo of him hard at work here .....he has since been back and has partially installed the lighting and power in my studio at the weekend. He celebrated his 79th Birthday a few weeks ago, unbelievable isn't it....I am just amazed that  he just never ever seems to age, nor his skills diminish.  Bless you Dad, I am one very very happy daughter and thank you for my unique, one of a kind, very much loved, work bench.

I shall be back with more Studio news really soon!

Bye for now,

Jane x

23 comments:

  1. I just loved this post. You're so lucky to have a nice healthy helpful loving father. And since I'm a sailor, I adore teak and it's wonderful properties. Your desk is a beauty!! I'm so excited to be a recipient of one of your beautiful bag charms, I will put it on my beloved CK bag! As a fellow crafter I do so appreciate what you've got there. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. I know how lucky I am Teresa...it is a joy to still have healthy parents and I know that this life we have is all so very short so I seize every day I am blessed with! I hope your bag charm arrives really soon..it is sent to you with much love from one crafter to another:0)
    Jane x

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  3. Awe what a lovely post, as much about your lovely dad as it is about your work bench.
    I love that your bench has history and not just any history but family history.
    Your dad looks great for his age he certainly does not look 79!!
    Vivienne x

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  4. Jane, what a lovely post. I just love the story about the teak and your dad and how you now have a part of your dad's life with you always. My dad was also so much like your dad, he could do anything and was very unassuming about all that he could do. I adore your beautiful place and it will be so special to create in this little cottage studio. I'm really happy for you!! Thanks for sharing. xoRobin❤

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  5. Thanks so much Vivienne, my Dad is pretty amazing isn't he. My bench is very special indeed to me :0)
    It's turned so windy here, very autumnal. Enjoy your day,
    Jane x

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  6. Thanks so much Robin :0) it's a very special work bench isn't it, I will always have my Dad with me whilst I am creating away in my dear little Studio...bliss!
    Jane x

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  7. Dear Jane,

    What a lovely bench you have, and with its history AND the loveliest working man ;) installing it it's precious! I am sure the things you'll make on that table will have that extra little something in them! Your dad is simply amazing!

    Happy moments in your new carfting-haven (or should I say heaven?)!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  8. ...and CRAFTING that was supposed to be :)

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  9. Haha Mia, I did'nt even notice that spelling mistake first of all...you could have got away with it! Your English always blows me away, you are word perfect. Yes my Dad is quite the star eh..and a very unassuming one he is too.I am indeed in Crafting Heaven,
    Enjoy your day my Finnish friend,
    Jane x

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  10. What a lovely story of how your clever dad made you such a special work bench. You will so enjoy using it with its family associations, and you will also have lots of wonderful light to work in beside the windows too. Have a happy day, Jane.
    Helen x

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  11. Thank you Helen, it is one very special work bench for me ;0)
    Nearly the end of another week, enjoy your weekend,
    Jane x

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  12. Your new studio space really is wonderful Jane...such a special place for you to carry out your craft, working on your beautiful teak bench made by your dad....aren't you lucky?....It looks so bright by the window too...
    Have fun creating my friend!
    Susan x

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  13. Thanks, it is a perfect work area Susan, I love being "amongst" my little garden....very inspiring.
    Good to see you back after your summer break,
    Jane x

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  14. Dear Jane, I'm so happy for you to have your own special studio! You will be even more creative there! Enjoy and have a wonderful time!
    I love your bag charms!
    xxx Teje

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  15. Thanks Teje, yes I am very happy. Have a wonderful weekend,
    Jane c

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  16. How nice to have a handy Dad, isn't it? So much tlc is going into the development of your craft studio. I can only imagine the projects that will be inspired there! :o)

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  17. It is indeed Michele :0) I am loving working out there, my chair is due to be delivered today too.
    Have a great weekend,
    Jane x

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  18. Jane it's great, lucky you having such a great carpenter for a Dad and I love the idea that the bench has such a meaningful history. I work on an old Victorian trestle table, I also love the irregularities in the wood and signs of it's previous life. Here's wishing you many happy and creative moments in your new shed. Bethx

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  19. Oh Jane, this just brings me to tears. It's sooooo so very wonderful that your father has given you this lovely gift to treasure for years to come. I would imagine that this studio will always be blessed with good things..lovingly built by your husband and father and carefully tended to by you. I hope that it passes down from generation to generation as the teak has done from your father to you. I'm wishing you many, many days full of magic as you work upon that wonderful bench. Thank you for stealing a pic of dad..he looks as sweet as can be (and so dapper!).

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  20. Beth, my Dad is quite incredible with his skills, he learnt them through necessity as a young man as he and my Mum had little money when they married in the 1950s. 60 years later here he is, still creating wonderful things. Your table also sounds wonderful, things with a history cannot be beaten can they? Have a creative week,
    Jane x

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  21. Ahhh Shirley, bless you for that. I really do treasure my work bench and my little studio is slowly becoming the most perfect creative working place for me.. I have been out there again today. I love it.
    Have a wonderful week my friend,
    Jane x

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  22. I am reading this with a tear in my eye. My Dad passed away a year ago and seeing your Dad lovingly doing this handiwork for you, makes me miss mine even more. His trade was woodwork and he made me some beautiful items as well.. a gorgeous big craft-cum-sewing table is just one. Love your little Studio. Am going to hop around your blog some more to see if there's a Part 2 to this story. hugs Sharon

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  23. Have just found you Jane, via Crafty Little Fairies. You are a naughty lady for distracting me so long from my domestic duties...but what a lovely way to be distracted!!

    I have had a lovely wander through your blog, and came across the post about your fabulous craft-haven. You are so lucky to have such a wonderful Dad (mine was a monster), but I have been happily married to a beautiful man for almost 42 years.

    My DH sounds a lot like your Dad...he can 'turn his hand' to any handyman task, and a few years ago turned an old unused stable into a lovely crafting-haven for me. He also used lots of recycled items, mainly from our house when he did renovations. I too love the fact that much of my 'haven' has a history.

    Love your teak desk, and that piccie of your Dad - candid shots are almost always the best!

    Hugs,
    Jennifer. x

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Jane x