Summer Tapestry, and studio windows!

A new command I give you: Love one another. 

As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, 

if you love one another.

JOHN 13:35

Summer Tapestry  © 2016 Karen Mathison Schmidt

12 x 12 x 1 ½ inches • oil on 1½" deep cradled Ampersand (archival) GessobordTM

SOLD • private collection • Shreveport, Louisiana

Last week I was busy installing two very generously donated air conditioners (procured by a loving friend and donated by total strangers) in our house as a much needed temporary cooling measure to help us make it through the Louisiana summer. One went in our bedroom and one went in my studio. Getting the latter framed into the wall inspired me to finally install proper windows in my studio (antique casement windows which my husband and I bought on eBay and drove to Atlanta to pick up MONTHS ago). 

I put photos of the whole project on my Facebook Page.

BEFORE:

The project involved removing an extremely crooked stud right where I wanted to put the mullion, and replacing it, lowering the position of the air conditioner, enlarging the window openings and putting them a bit higher in the wall (which meant removing and replacing original shiplap). Whew!

DURING:

Ready for windows!

AFTER:

Studio windows in! We don't have the hinges yet so they're not mounted but secured into place for the time being. You can't really see the A/C unit well in this photo; it’s right behind the cane chair, so cool air blowing on my back while I paint: delicious! After hinges will come facing and painting, but for now I’m back to the easel. And I did a little trimming outside, too. Still lush but not quite as shambolic.

Oh, and just an encouragement to all you 50-something (fast approaching 60-ish) women out there who may be faced with a project like this: It took me almost four whole days start to finish, but I did this!! My husband uses a wheelchair and was unable to come in and see my progress because of all the construction mess, but I would show him progress pics every so often and he’s my biggest encourager to keep on going. 

And I was super-inspired by my friend Jane, who built her own quilting studio in her and her husband's back yard. She had some good friends’ help with foundation, windows, roof, and siding but she did most of the building herself. 

So, from me and Jane: you can do it!!