cheyenne barton
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blog: looking at studio spaces!!! AHHHH
🕑 Added 2020-10-17 22:24:26 +0000 UTCHI Y'ALL!! Happy Saturday!! The title is correct, yes, I am indeed finally looking at studio spaces to rent╰(*´︶`*)╯My shop has finally outgrown our dining room and since I'm taking it easy this winter, I'd figured it's the perfect time to find and set up a studio space and fill it with all kinds of goodies to sell in the springtime. :D
Sidebar: I want to say it feels really weird to be excited about things right now, what with the bleakness of the political and social landscape in America, and I almost feel guilty for finding things to be joyous about...it gets all twisted in my brain, and I almost think that my being excited about something means I don't really care about what's going on in the world, and I'm trying to just forget it all and detach from reality.
But the truth of the matter is, I do care! I care deeply! And my finding joy in things does not detract from that. AOC recently made a reference to the quote that "Joy is a radical act." And it is — there are a lot of forces at play right now that are trying their damndest to tear you down, make you feel numb, etc. to strip you of your righteous anger and momentum. But by relishing in joy (video games, exciting career things, even just a really good cup of coffee, whatever), you can be further fueled to fight for and champion the good you want to see in the world. ALSO there's an amazing Gertrude Stein quote that I've been thinking about a lot lately:
“The artist’s job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote to the emptiness of existence.”
So, I'm trying really hard to say FUCK YOU to the powers at play that want me to give up and wallow in despair and instead am working on the antidote!! Radical joy!!
OKAY PHEW onward with some studio talk~
I looked at a space yesterday, and a couple more today — I've also sent a couple more emails with tour inquiries, but I won't be seeing those till next week. (I've got all the images in the gallery above, with captions, as I know viewing in-line images on text posts is basically impossible on mobile.)
Here are the main things I'm looking for:
- around 250 sq. ft
- price ~$700-$800
- decent number of outlets
- wired internet hookup
- easy commute
- good vibes (aka I can see myself happily spending 8 hours a day there)
So! First place I went to was sort of this very rectangular warehouse-y type joint? It was clean and secure, but it felt super stale and completely lacking in charm. The spaces were fine, but again, no charm!! No flavor!!! The price point was good (the most expensive unit she showed me was $635), but the spaces they had available weren't quite big enough. And again, the vibe was really weird and stiff and it didn't feel like a place I wanted to spend my days. :•( So, this whole place is a no for me.
The second place I went to was a little bit more expensive, but the building was lovely!! Essentially felt like a quiet little, very tidy office building — I wish I had taken pictures of the hallways hahah. It seems like mostly therapists, estheticians, stylists and stuff seem to take up the offices here — I didn't see too many artist business cards out on the tables in the hall. I could be wrong, of course!! This place had three studios for me to look at:
- $595/mo, 144 sq. ft — definitely too small
- $795/mo, 168 sq. ft — loved the view out the window, still a bit too small
- $995/mo, 255 sq. ft — literally gorgeous and lovely but outta my budget
To be frank, I loved the last unit so much. It's a corner space, with two big lovely windows, and even though the office building is a bit stuffy, I could see myself transforming this space into somewhere I would love to spend my time. Again, the fact that it's outta budget and they require a one-year lease is not ideal, but I'm keeping it high on my list.
At this point in the day, I chilled out at a cafe between appointments and called my mom — she could tell I was very excited about the too-expensive unit and told me to "keep some ice in my tummy" (a Swedish idiom), and chill out and not jump on anything right away. Since it's a "buyer's market" rn, meaning that not lots of ppl are renting, I have some time to make a decision.
The last space I viewed today was at this dope kind of worn-in warehouse type building down by Lake Union — I LOOOOVED the vibe of this spot (I described it as "crunchy", it had these little winding staircases and exposed rafters, it was awesome) and the pricing was rad ($625 for a 225 sq. ft space). However, the studio that was available had no windows and no wired internet. :( And, tbh, the space was still a bit small. I really think that 250 sq. ft is ideal for my budding business needs.
I've sent an email to one more leasing company that rents out some really lovely older office spaces — like, with arched windows and exposed brick and things. They're almost definitely too expensive but I wanted to have a look anyway cause the listings look so pretty ◕3◕ I'd show you, but all the images are very small and I can't download them >:0
So, the hunt continues!!! I ideally wanna find a studio space like Fran's or Natali Koromoto's ;o; I don't have pics of the latter but it's GORGEOUS (and is also in Brooklyn, naturally)
I'll be sure to keep you posted! And I also want to say that I couldn't even think about getting a studio space if it weren't for y'all's support on here ;u; I'm so overwhelmed and so grateful, and I'm so excited to have a little dedicated space for my work! And also not have my dining room be covered in cardboard boxes anymore, hahah
Love you lots!! Talk soon xx
— Chey
Comments
Mahiah
so very happy and excited for you 💕💕💕
india jane
so excited for u omg!!! pls never feel guilty about joy - totally agree w that quote about joy as a radical act. really hope you find the perfect space for you soon!!! the brick and arched windows space sounds gorgeous 🥺🥺if only beauty weren't so expensive
Kaela See
Hello Chey never feel guilty about feeling good. The better you feel the more love and positivity goes out into the world. Your videos have that effect on people I'm sure. Your videos always put me in a relaxed and happy mood. So go out and find that perfect office space and create and be your awesome self. Wishing you and Connor and little Sophie a wonder day!
maria teresa
this is so exciting!! i hope you find your perfect studio space soon :) tbh I'm so surprised that studios without windows even exist?? I feel like that would by highest on my list if I ever looked for a studio!
Lisa Isabelle
P.S. Love the space with the hardwood floor, makes it so much more cozy... but if you're to work in front of a window, make sure you have a nice and inspiring view above everything. A floor can be covered with a rug, a neighborhood not so much! hihi!
Lisa Isabelle
Why would you feel guilty? :) You worked hard to get there and in a world where everything seems to fall apart, it's refreshing to see someone blooming! My friend who has the same type of business as you (but in calligraphy) had her best year ever thanks to everyone staying home and wanting to start a new hobby. She took the opportunity to create online classes and boom! Huge success! I wish you the same. Using this time to get prepared for what's to come is a smart business move. Nothing to feel ashamed for! ♥ Can't wait to see the new space!
Natalie Newman
By scale I‘m referring to the Hawkins Scale of emotions. Look it up. It referrs to the fact that you can’t go from the bottom right to the top, but see it as a sort of staircase, where you take the next better option. (Anger is better than apathy, as it gives you a wider range of motion and possibilities to cope. Shame is at the very bottom and basically means that you’re frozen, without seeing any options.)
Natalie Newman
Feeling bad about feeling good really doesn’t benefit anyone. Gladly hop up the emotional scale to something higher and you automatically take others with you. How are we ever going to be happy, if we only allow ourselves to feel good when others are fine as well? There will always be reasons to feel like shit. Might as well do the opposite. And that is where the positivity rebellion starts. :)
Nadia
So so so excited for you! Hope you find the perfect space!
Jo Stockdale
so so excited to see more of your studio hunting journey and then all the studio cute-ifying content !!! thank you for a lovely post and stream today chey!!!
Tay Ashleigh
What an exciting new chapter!! 🥳🥳
Janine
Oh I love this so much! Please be excited and enjoy it fully! I also love the way you can express your feelings in you little drawings! I don’t know if a video like that already exists but maybe, when you found a place, you could talk about how everything started. How you started drawing, how your drawings looked like, tips you have and so on. That might be really helpful as I, for example, am still at the very beginning of being able to draw my thoughts and feelings. I wish you all the best. ✨💕
Darlyn
Oh my goodness how exciting! I’m so proud to see you grow and now the next big step! We can’t always be gloomy about the world or else there would never be any joy. I think the joy is what pulls us through and helps us push for change. Good luck with everything and hopefully you find the perfect place!
delphadae
Ooo I'm so excited for you! <3 I hope you find the perfect studio space for you. C: Also, thank you for sharing with us the radical joy bit.
Toní Villaseñor-Marchal
How exciting!!!!! I feel like this will be such an awesome move for you and may even help some things be a little less stressful? It’s been really nice for me to have a space outside my my home for creating/work. Happy for youuuuu!!!
Mindy
Thank you for sharing this exciting moment with us!!
Ria Wallet
oh, chey!!! I‘m so happy for you!! you can be so damn proud of yourself for everything you‘ve already achieved! <33 can’t wait to see what your future unfolds! you‘re amazing. ly
veronica porlier
So excited for you! Such an exciting next step to take!
Courtney Pratt
So amazing!! Can’t wait to see you embark on this journey!! I understand that reading the news every day is totally heart wrenching. Thank you for being a light surrounded by darkness. Also thanks for including that AOC quote! I haven’t seen that one and it honestly made me smile...and so did your exciting news!💖
Åshild
Ha litt is i magen ja, your mother is right, but I hope you find a good place real soon anyway ❤
Allison Worth
So exciting for you!!! I totally get what you're saying about feeling weird about being excited about things with the state of the world, I have been feeling that too. This post helped me deal with that as well! It's ok to be happy with things and also sad about things at the same time. Thanks for all the positivity you put into the world ♥️
