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May, 11{studio sunday} Alexz of Bird Trouble
I’m so excited for today’s {studio sunday} feature!! I’d like you to meet Alexz from Bird Trouble. Today we get to peek into her fabulous studio space and learn a bit more about her. So, read on…
Where did Bird Trouble come from?
The word Bird Trouble came to me from one of my favorite songs in high school from a British band. The word bird is a British slang for girl but after doing a little more research, I learned that it meant ‘Sweetheart’ more than just an ordinary girl. Combining that with trouble just reminded me so much of myself, haha. I feel that my personality and my products give a little “trouble” but still remain sweet. Not that I’m trouble! Well…… that’s not true… haha!
1. Who are you and what do you create?
Hello friends and friends to be! I’m Alexz. I’m 24 years old and I live in a very full apartment in Chicago, Illinois. I’m obsessed with squirrels and I need to be creative 95% of my daily time. That being said, I am the lady behind Bird Trouble handmade shop and blog. I create [mostly one of kind] shoulder bags and accessories out of fabric and leather goods [new material and vintage materials] with my sturdy vintage Kenmore sewing machine. I also like to paint, play with clay, and sketch.
2. Where is your studio located? (in your home or somewhere else?)
Currently, I enjoy being creative in a cramped style. In my apartment. Well, in mine and my boyfriend’s room to be exact, so that my other roommates don’t have to deal with my craft mess all the time. I do leave my fabrics and any other notions around the apartment’s living, though.
3. How long have you had your current studio space?
I moved my desk to our bedroom [from the living room] before this past winter. I’ve been living in this current apartment since last August. Yikes, I’m such a wanderer that I’ve probably had over 7 different craft spaces in a few different homes in the past 2 and half years! I do love it though, for now.
4. What is your favorite part of your studio?
I can’t choose! I mean, I know it’s my bedroom and all… and I love everything in here. If I had to choose a few different things though: 1] my desk from Ikea. My boyfriend, James, drilled a hole in one of the drawers and put this sweet door knob that I purchased from Anthropologie a few years back. I’ve been wanting to use it ever since but wanted to save it for something special. It’s definitely meant for my desk and I think it’s awesome that my boyfriend put it on. 2] my vintage magicians suit case. YES! A magicians suit case! Not only does it look fricken’ awesome but it’s practical for me to stash all the fabric and leather scraps that I’m using constantly. 3] my inspiration cork board. My boyfriend also made this for me. Randomly came home one day and it was on the wall. It’s perfect for hanging my design sketches, inspirational color schemes, and some small drafting patterns.
5. Approximately how many hours per day do you spend in your studio?
HAHA, way too many. I honestly think I’ve sat in the living room 1 time in the past 2 months. I just really like my room and the privacy I have in it. It’s also right next to the kitchen… so that may be why. I don’t watch cable TV so there’s no point in being in the living room unless we have guests. I normally go to my day job, work long hours, and come straight into my room to creative and watch Netflix. When I get my own place, that will change.
6. Do you have any future plans for your studio space? (i.e. revamp, new location, etc.)
When our lease is up in August… myself, James, Ty [our dog], and Detective Bacon Cheeseburger [our cat] plan on finding a vintage space here in Chicago with 1 bedroom and hopefully an outdoor back deck area. We plan on sleeping in the living room with some sort of curtain room divider so that we can utilize the only bedroom for work space to share. It’s so funny how it’s all planned out in my head already.
7. Is there anything else that you’d like to share?
This was fun! I hope everyone enjoyed reading a tad bit about myself and reading about my work space. I want to encourage everyone to check out my blog and if anyone wants to network, please contact me because I’d love to chit chat!
That was fun! Thank you Alexz for allowing us to peek into your creative space! Check her out and spread the love. As always, if you’d like to be featured and share your creative studio space (no matter how big or small) shoot me an email at robbielee {at} chickiedee {dot} com!
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Apr, 11Calling All Creatives for {studio sunday}
Hey all! It’s that time again for {studio sundays}, yay! If you’re interested in being featured, let me know, because I’m looking to do some again in May.
If you don’t know how it works, it’s really easy. All you do is snap about 5-10 photos of your lovely studio space or workspace and email them to me along with the answers to a few questions (below). That’s it! There is no catch. Email the requested items to me at robbielee {at} chickiedee {dot} com by April 29th to be featured in May.
The idea of {studio sundays} is to showcase each of our creative spaces to inspire others. We all have a space, big or small, where we create lovely things. The beauty is that each space looks, functions and feels very different from everyone else’s. We are always showing off our handmade goodies, but what about giving some credit to the lovely and creative space that you’ve also created!
Along with sending in your 5-10 photos, please tell us about yourself:
1. Who are you and what do you create?
2. Where is your studio located? (in your home or somewhere else?)
3. How long have you had your current studio space?
4. What is your favorite part of your studio?
5. Approximately how many hours per day do you spend in your studio?
6. Do you have any future plans for your studio space? (i.e. revamp, new location, etc.)
7. Is there anything else that you’d like to share?
It’s about time that we put the spotlight on our creative spaces, and I can’t wait to see yours!
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Apr, 10{studio sunday} Kellie Coughlin | Photographer
I am so excited for this weeks {studio sunday} feature for two reasons: a) It’s Easter and b) Kellie Coughlin was the photographer that helped me give my husband the best one-year wedding anniversary gift ever! With the help of make-up artist, Kaytelyn Simkins, they transformed me into a pin-up and we created a pin-up calendar for Ron. The make-up and photos came out better than you could have imagined! Kellie is an amazingly talented photographer with an eye for excellence. She’s ridiculously kind and fun to work with, so I would recommend her to anyone, and she does it all. She captures weddings, boudoir, head shots, maternity, and lifestyle moments. Kellie’s studio is located in Denver, CO and I highly recommend that you contact her for your next big moment! Below the beautiful images of Kellie’s studio are a few questions and answers… enjoy!
1. Where is your studio located? (In your home or somewhere else?)
“I have a studio at 3152 Walnut Street, just a couple minutes north of Downtown Denver.”
2. What is your favorite part of your workspace?
“The natural light that pours in through the front windows.”
3. How long have you been a professional photographer?
“I’ve been shooting professionally for 10 years.”
4. How many hours per week do you usually spend in your studio?
“Anywhere from 40 to 60 hours per week.”
I am so happy that Kellie allowed us to take a peek into her studio! Her space is so clean and inspiring! Thanks Kellie!
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Mar, 10{studio sunday} Shimelle in London
Good morning Sunday! I just love looking at other people’s studios, because they can be so inspiring! I appreciate that everyone has their own space that works best for them and they are all unique. Some are small and some are big, some are organized and some are chaotic, but all are great. That’s why I decided to start {studio sunday}. I want to have a whole collection of different spaces to inspire others and perhaps give you ideas on making your studio space more exciting! If you would like to take some photos of your studio/workstation, please do and send them to us at info {at} chickiedee.com!
This week for {studio sunday} we’re taking a peek into Shimelle’s workspace. Shimelle lives and works in London for ScrapBook Inspirations Magazine and she also designs for Banana Frog Stamps and Two Peas in a Bucket. Scroll down for a little Q&A with her.
1. What got you into scrapbooking?
I discovered scrapbooking by complete accident in 1998 — a million years ago it seems! I was performing in a play about a family of women who keep an album of news clippings and photos, even when the clippings were tragic things. As a cast, we wanted to make a photo album about the play as a gift for our director, but none of us knew about scrapbooking at all. We went to a discount store to find a cheap photo album we could dress up with Crayola pens and such and instead found one of those kits that has a binder, page protectors, a few pieces of paper and stickers and a template or two. We made that album in our dressing rooms backstage and by the end of the play, I’d discovered the scrapbooking aisle at a nearby craft store and was totally in awe — and totally aware of how I had just broken every rule in making that first album! I’ve been scrapbooking ever since.
2. Where is your studio? (In your home or somewhere else?)
My studio is a room in our home – we live in a postwar flat in London and it has a room that works just perfectly for me.
3. How many hours per week would you say that you spend in your studio?
This is my full-time job so I’m here a great deal. My desk and computer are just out of sight in these pictures, and it varies week to week whether I spend more time at my crafting desk or my computer desk. Between the two I am in this room at least fifty hours a week, so it has to be a space I love!
4. What’s your favorite part of your studio?
This may be very cliched, but it’s the window. We’ve lived here about three years and prior to that we had only very small windows in every room. Everything was very beige-toned from the lack of sunlight. Here the light is relatively light even on a grey London day, and that helps a great deal! The view is very peaceful and quiet as it’s not open to any streets so if I need to pretend I live in the countryside rather than a big city, I can! We built the work desk out of kitchen units to stand alone in the middle of the room so when I am working I am standing up and constantly looking through that window. There is always something I wish I could change about this space but the window is just perfect.
Thanks so much Shimelle, we loved taking a peek inside your studio! {Images via Shimelle}
