Melissa’s SLC Studio Remodel October 2021

The moment we bought our 1950s house and I saw that run down use-to-be sauna space I knew  that was MY space. In LA I dreamed of the space I would one day work in. Back then I was in our 2 bedroom apartment using our dining table (still in my studio) and living room floor while my boys slept, studio hours were very limited back then. But back to the sauna, the space was hectic and a mess but I saw myself in it. I surely didn’t have a clear plan but I knew one way or another I wanted a space where I could work, my kids could play and create beside me.  Our house ended up being a complete gut and the studio was last on the list.  While on my trip to Spring at the Silos 2020 I came back to a demoed Sauna. My dreams had just began to come true. It took some time but little by little my studio came together. We tiled the floor, painted the walls, put up a swing chair (my only true request since the beginning ) and I put it together with what I had. After 2 years of working with what I had and using the floor as my workspace most days, I knew I needed some help with functionality and fun. Enter Ms. Mary. Mary being as savvy as every with her tools and skills flew down to get the studio in tip top shape to make my space, functional, efficient , and most important, a space where my boys  could be and create with me.

 We had a $600 budget. Mary headed home to her family’s greenhouse farm and created some magic. When she got back we hit some thrift stores and ikea to find some of the finishing touches. Here are some pictures of our remodel project and Mary’s adventure finding, building and making pieces for the studio.

Things look great now, but they for sure took a while. The kiln on a. cement floor was what I did for a bit. Once the. tile went down the rest came together. little by little.

You can see things got a bit crowded sometimes with lack of shelfs and storage, but I always made it work… Even though it looked like pure chaos most days.

-Melissa

The Finding and Making of Melissa’s Ceramic Ware Cart

(Mary writing) Melissa needed a storage cart for all the kiln shelves, and product being produced. She formerly had put everything on the floor. I asked my dad if he could help me weld a cart together and he said i actually might be able to find something in the farm and greenhouse boneyard. I thought, really? I took my kids, and two of my nephews and we went on a treasure hunt in the boneyard. It’s always fun to see the old tractors and cars and see what treasures are around. We found exactly what we needed. It was an old cart used for seed trays in the greenhouses. Wheels still worked, and all it needed was wooden shelves cut. Jeff, my brother cut the shelves in his wood shop and we were able to strap it to the back of the jeep on a bike rack. The height and size was perfect for the spot Melissa wanted it. Ceramic cart done. And while home, we picked up some plants for her studio too.

The Making of Melissa’s Studio Table

In the boneyard, we found an old greenhouse shovel display. We flipped it over, removed the pallet and Robert, my brother reinforced it with welding metal square tubing. I cut the pieces on the metal chop saw, David, another awesome brother (I have 6 rough and tumble industrious brothers) he cut the shelf and table top in his cabinet shop. My family helped load it into the jeep… amazing what will fit in a jeep! And at Melissa’s place, Melissa spray painted it, and then we screwed the table top onto it. Melissa wanted an industrial ceramic table that was tall so she could look out the window, and that fit custom into her window space, she wanted a shelf to store tools and clay. With a little creativity, low budget, family willing to help. Done.

Melissa wanted to say thanks to my family for all their help, so we went to her families chocolate factory in SLC to grab some sweets. I was finally able to meet all her family and see what I’d heard so much about! It was a fun half hour talking with her dad, brothers, Aunt from Mexico and staff. I can see where Melissa gets her hard working streak from! Her mom wasn’t able to see us there, but came over later and helped us organize and clean Meli’s studio.

My family felt like they hit the jackpot with all the gourmet treats that Melissa and family gave them. I also feel like I hit the jackpot having a business partner who also helps run a family chocolate and confectionary factory! Their coconut cashew brittle is my fav!

One thing about life, is that with a hard work and time, things happen. We didn’t start out with the fanciest places, just kitchen tables and floors. And now, an old sauna into a beautiful studio. We honor our past, our upbringings, and have learned that we can make anywhere a creative space. We hope we’ve inspired you to use what you have, to pull from your background, get creative, and ask for help from family when you need it, and…….some chocolates. :).