Building towards a dream

I am definitely going to have as much storage space as I can - and some day a generator, but for now a concentrator. As to a lazy susan - around here we use alternative names for such a thing but a turntable does sound like a good idea! Thanks Karen

susan in canada

Excellent idea. There is an organization called Women in the Trades (the very phrase you used, so you may already know about it) that might be able to help you out with referrals in your area -- if the carpenter you met doesn't know enough people with other skills and expertise.

Deirdre

Benches at 2 or 3 different heights. To work standing or sitting, close or at arms length. Ventilation. With vents for every station that uses a torch or kiln. Vents to be set low, where the fumes are created, not above me, where they have to travel past my face to get exhausted. A 10 ft. ceiling. An area set up for photographing the finished work And dedicated to that alone, so that it is always ready for use. A minimum of 2 220 outlets for kilns. And enough electrical to handle both of them running at the same time. Storage racks for glass of all sizes, shapes and lengths. and 1/3 more room than I think I will need, because in the end I will need 1/3 more than I thought....... Barbara Dream Master

"We've got two lives, one we're given, the other one we make." Mary Chapin Carpenter

Small point, but I'd be very sure to have a mud room, wanagan because of the climate and the sensitivity of glass. I personally would also insist on havin a window. And you need some sort of big door that will accomodate bringing in large equipment.

Tina

Perfect for tools or beads would be a old printer's cabinette with all the big shallow compartmented drawers for the different characters and cases and sizes for different fonts.

Tina

> OH - and some of you who have taken up bench made jewelry - check this ebay> Item I stumbled upon...>

Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS > Flameworked beads and glass>

Yep - the woman I'm in touch with is part of this, does lots of workshops with them, etc. And Louis - normally I'd normally have little chance of having even one woman on a building crew, as women as distinctly under-represented in the trades, so this is my attempt to balance things out a bit!

susan in canada

I would have a bakers rolling rack, or a butchers rack. Lots of trays to fit so that I could have all kinds of projects "out" but put away at the same time. It probably is more useful to a fuser or a jewelry desinger than thinking of it for just a hot glass studio. It would be very helpful to you for sorting and packaging bead sets and for your own designing.

I would have a catalog holder, they look like a big Bible stand, a wide V, that has rods that fit in the center of your catalogs and hold them into this stand so that all your catalogs are in one place and you can thumb back and forth easily. I would have it on a rolling cart so that I could take it to where I was sitting.

I would have a round table so that when friends came over we would have a chatting/working space.

Susan W

> OH - and some of you who have taken up bench made jewelry - check this ebay> Item I stumbled upon...>

Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS > Flameworked beads and glass>

Steve changed from PVC pipe to plastic guttering and likes it better. Susan

Butcher rack sounds very good.

Tina

Thanks Susan W - I'm really enjoying the ideas/suggestions everyone has contributed. Even though we all do slightly different work, there are lots of things that are just plain "good ideas" regardless.

Hey, that's what I'm doing! LOL!

OK, my dreams are pretty modest. I want shelving for my jars of frit, a magnetic rack with my tools, a rack for my rods, and a rack for my sheet glass. I'll have three dedicated circuits so I can fuse, anneal, and run two concentrators (and a radio), and a gas line for my Midrange. I'll have a lampworking table and a cutting/layout table. Maybe down the road I'll get a mini-fridge, and a cupboard for my snacks!

Louis, I won't call you names but I will point out that I support men in lampworking to the same degree as I support women in the trades... because there is an imbalance that needs to be equalled out for the good of the trade. If there were far more women than men in, say, carpentry, I would probably look for a male carpenter to try to help support people working toward a balanced trade.

As it stands, it does my heart good to see more men interested in lampwork, and my electrician is a woman. I'll see a doctor of either sex.

As far as your other suggestions, I have filed them away for later use! I'm building a Barley box for ventilation, though.

So are mine (for me!), but I want a 1/2 bath (sink and toilet) in my next studio. I'm soooo tired of being right in the middle of a great idea or a tricky piece of work, and having to stop to go into the house and pee. I've actually considered keeping a chamber pot out there!

Barbara Dream Master

"We've got two lives, one we're given, the other one we make." Mary Chapin Carpenter

I have a toilet in my basement. Right out in the open. No walls. No screen. Nuthin'. Weird, eh? But it sure does come in handy when I have to heed nature's call. The other option is the bathroom on the 2nd floor.

If this is a significant problem, you might consider Depends or something similar while you're working. My partner swears by them for cons where he may not be able to get away from the table for a potty break!

Celine

How about one of those folding chair-cum-bedpans that they use in sickrooms? Cheaper than installing a bathroom, and you could have it

*now*?

Deirdre

LOL! Not a bad idea, actually. I often hold it waaaay longer than I should because when I go into the house I get "swarmed" by my family. A half-bath would help reinforce the separation of Artist from Mommy.

LOL the solitary toilet image cracks me up!