Where the magic happens!

Working from home can be a challenge in many ways but the one thing I am lucky to have is space! I talk to so many people who have to work off their kitchen tables or take over a dining room with supplies! It used to be this way for me, but last year we were able to build me my very own room! I also have a corner of the garage all to myself for doing all my letter and shape cutting. What more could a girl ask for? I thought I'd give you a little peak at my workspace so you can see where it all takes place!

Tracing out the letter design

At work cutting the letter out of the wood with my scroll saw

And this is my studio inside the house. I went bright and funky with this room as it is in the basement with a small window! We put in laminate floors for easy clean up and fluorescent lights for brightness. Along the top of the walls I put one of my favorite quotes to help with inspiration! “Nothing comes from nothing…Dare mighty things!” Believe it or not I still don’t have enough space some days when my worker is here and we’ve both got things spread out all over the place! When we originally built this room I had planned to have a corner set aside for the kids to have a craft area and I even painted a funky chalk board on the wall with chalk board paint for them, but I don’t see that happening now!

Some New Designs

It's always nice when I get orders for designs that I've never done before. I love taking people's ideas and working them into a piece of art that they are proud to hang on their walls! Here are some of the newest letter designs that I've completed lately.

Fly Away Home Lady Bug Letters

Transportation Letters

Vintage Roses Letters

The Chest

My husband just recently graduated after a long, hard application, selection and training process for a career that he has always dreamed of. As the proud wife I wanted to find him a gift that would not only be meaningful, but also unique. I wanted a "WOW" factor!

Boy did I get it! For a guy my hubby is pretty sentimental and he has been saving a lot of little momentos throughout the course of the last year and I thought he should have a special place to put it all. So I turned to my favorite woodworker. Serguei has done previous work for me in the form of toy boxes, waste baskets and tissue box covers and I've been very happy with what I've seen so far.

Considering I'm an artist who specializes in custom work you would think that I would know exactly what I wanted and I'd be able to give Serguei exact details for him to work with. So not the case! As an artist I also know that those that specialize have unlimited capablilities which makes it harder to decide what you like best! So, armed with as few details as "a dark stain, about the size of the toy boxes and some sort of artistic carving on it," he created a masterpiece!

I went and picked up the keepsake chest today and it honestly made my heart skip a beat. I LOVE it. It is so much more than even I could have imagined! Made from maple and stained in an espresso finish Serguei let his artistic side show with the beautiful, intricate hand carving on the front. He even thought to make an air space for safety knowing I have small kids that could possible climb inside!

My husband also loves it and couldn't stop looking at it all afternoon! I believe his first words were, "we should have him make all our furniture!"

So thank you Serguei! For those looking for ANY custom made piece, please contact Serguei or his wife Irina at Khorin Custom Woodworking. You won't regret it!

Close up of the carving. The pictures honestly don't do it justice!