The Birth of a Studio

This is going to be a blog of pictures. I just realized that I keep directing people to my blog to see the the renovation process of my studio, but I never posted the finished product here...just on Facebook.

So, here goes...the renovation blogs in order and the finished product pics.

#1        #2        #3        #4

(drum roll........)

My mom was having a little too much fun when we started painting. I had to include this beatiful artwork.

My dad and mom spent a massive amount of time helping me. I am SUPER proud of this space and I hope that seeing the pics from beginning to end always reminds me of what is possible with a little hard work and support from family and friends.

Sucky Blogger...Open House

Oh good grief! I stink at keeping up with this blog thing. Hopefully, I will learn from Kate and Crystal and become better sooner or later.

So, Open House for my Voice Studio was Tuesday night. If you haven't read Kate's blog of the event, check it out. It was a great evening. There were quite a few people who showed up. I was able to see some of my former students and some long-time friends that I hadn't see in quite some time. I was also able to make a few new friends.

I feel very blessed to have this opportunity. I LOVE to teach voice! I feel like this is what I was born to do. This studio was just the icing on an already delicious cake.

So, here are a list of presents I got that night....WOO HOO...PRESENTS!

1. A beautiful clip board and pen from Julie...LOVE her!

2. And it came with this gorgeous bow, which now hangs on my memo board

3. Kate got me a cool zebra box...not sure what I'm gonna put in it yet, but I'll figure it out!

4. Ronnie bought me this beautiful Willow Tree Angel. Her name is Irish Charm.

5. Aunt Sandy found an oh-so-perfect green vase! And the yellow flowers really stand out against all of my green.

6. Sarah and Megan came bearing this beautiful plant! Kate and Ronnie are taking bets on how long it takes the poor thing to die, but I've made my mom promise not to even look at it! I really DON'T have a black thumb!

7.  Crystal gave me this frame (which matches my light switch plates)...and a gift certificate to Hobby Lobby with which I purchase the other 2 items.

8. And my mom bought me this beautiful clock (don't hate...you can get your own at Bed, Bath, & Beyond!)

It was a good night. My studio was full of life. It is, after all, the most awesome place on Main Street! Holla!

Success - One Day At a Time

Yes, I have STILL been renovating - so much so that I haven't had a lot of time to blog (well, at least that's what I am blaming it on...truth probably is closer to the fact that I am a terrible blogger!).

So, the trash is gone thanks to Ben and Jason! How many bags does it take to hold a plaster wall? Apparently so many that the man who came to pick up the dumpster couldn't lift it. His wife called complaining that he had to get someone to help him unload it a little before he could empty it.

In my defense, I told her EXACTLY what I was planning to use the dumpster for. Shall I be held responsible because I made good on what I had said and because I hired to geniuses to pack it? I THINK NOT!

The brick wall is repaired and sealed.

Things are getting painted. Here's my cute table. It WAS olive green and not that pretty olive green, but that ugly, "OMG who thought this was a good idea?" color. I am also working on my bookshelf.

The bathroom is well on it's way to functional. It went from this...

(That is Melanie's bathroom...check out that beautiful wall! You would NOT believe the mess that we found in that corner of the building! Sheesh! Rotting floors, tin cans to patch the wall, a door covered with plaster, and some other unidentifiable metal garbage on the wall. Can we say HOT MESS?)

to this...

to this.

Dad thinks we will be operational by this weekend. Super pumped about having a functional bathroom since I have to pee so often!

Still have a LOT to do (as you can see from the supplies that are left.

Slowly but surely. AND we figure out how to operate the display lights last night! Success - one day at a time!

Stress Relief

Sunday afternoon/evening was spent creating one big, fat mess! My not-so-little little brother and his friend Anthony joined my parents and I as we tore plaster off of the brick wall and removed all of the ceiling tiles. It seems that beating the tar out of plaster is great stress relief!

Dad worked on the bathroom...it needs ALOT of help! ICK!  See for yourself.

Behold the sink...

The toilet - bluh!

The ceiling...pretty, right?

and...the door that has a lock, but won't lock...because the door won't shut!!

I am SO glad that someone other than me thought that the bathroom needed help! I'm a girly-girl when it comes to stuff like that, but when my dad said, "That bathroom is gross!" it made me feel so much better...mostly because that meant that he also thought it needed to be fixed and then it became his first project!

Now, here is what I am most excited about:

BEAUTIFUL BRICK!!!! YAY!

And the ceiling tiles are down.

But we left quite the mess. However, that pile was cleaned up yesterday.

The rest of this week will be spent cleaning up plaster, sealing the brick and painting. And dad is taking off on Friday to fix the bathroom. Totally pumped about how everything is progressing. More to come soon....

Ghetto-Rigged

So, Friday was "Menard's Day" for the studio. My dad decided that we would go and get everything and take it back to the studio. One problem: He failed to account for exactly how much stuff we were getting! We had one of his trailers and the back of his truck, but we still have to go back and pick up stuff because there wasn't enough room!

I wish that I would've had my camera because we ghetto-rigged the trailer to make it home. It was so loaded down that the fenders were starting to rub the wheels. My dad's solution? Tie straps...we already had 4 on the trailer, but he added 2 more - one running from each fender well to the back of the trailer and he tightened them so much that it pulled the fender away from the wheel. We had prayer...ALL THE WAY TO ANNA! It was SO ghetto! However, most of the supplies are there so it's time to get to work!

This week's agenda: demolition and painting (shelves, ceiling strips, frames). And I'm sure my dad has his own agenda...he wants the studio done. I'm still trying to decide if it's because he is excited for me or because he wants his life back. Just kidding.  He's acutally been volunteering. I haven't even really asked - except for help at Menards...that's is OVERWHELMING!

So, hopefully I will have some progress to report by week's end and next time, I'll remember my camera because I am really sad I missed that shot yesterday!

Renovation Project - Day 1 --- We Would Rather...

So, Kate and I spent the day together. She came to my studio and helped me get started on the work it's gonna take to get this thing up and running...thank God for people who are willing to help. Otherwise, it woudl NEVER happen!

This is the store front....gonna have to get those down. Anyone have a REALLY tall ladder?

This is the inside...

We made a mess trying to tear the shelves apart...

320 South Main Street. My beautiful mailbox that I hung myself (well, with Kate assisting...she is as smart as me when it comes to this stuff! HA!)

So, after Anna, we ended up going to Cape...thought it was a good reason as any to procrastinate and put off things that neither of us wanted to do. While we were eating we created the following list:

Things we would rather do that go to our church in the morning:

1. Get a root canal.

2. Walk barefoot across broken glass.

3. Have someone expose our real weights.

4. Listen to a Gilbert & Sullivan musical.

5. Eat octopus.

6. Work out with the real Jillian Michaels.

7. Learn to square dance in costume.

8. Go to a nude beach.
9. Drink a gallon of prune juice.
10. Sit in the front row of a German opera.
11. Listen to the Gaither's greatest hits -- on repeat.
12. Lick the floor of Wal-Mart's bathroom.
13. (kate) Clean her closet.
14. (sheena) Clean Kate's floor.

Finally...My Website Lives!

So, THIS is what I have been working on this week. Feedback would be GREAT!

Versatile Vocalists

The Official Versatile Vocalists Studio

So much has happened since I last blogged...I am going to have to get better at this!

I had lasik. It is CRAZY! Best money I have ever spent, I do believe! After all, you only get one set of eyes and mine were complete crap!

I have just been really busy. It always amazes me exactly how many things I can find to fill my time and how many things still do not get done!

Ok, so for the REALLY exciting news:

I am finally opening my own voice studio! I will still teach through SCC (providing they get themselves together) and Cairo will still be my full-time job, but I will actually have space to teach students outside of SCC! I am totally pumped! I will try to post pics and update everyone on the process. Pass the word along. I am hoping to begin teaching in that space this summer. YAY!!!!

Here's the new logo:

What do you think?