Migration

This weekend I'm going to pack up my studio. This is going to be a challenge. When we "decluttered" Anchovy World Headquarters in preparation for selling it, we boxed a lot of stuff and loaded it into my studio. Tomorrow, I'll have to take all those boxes out in order to get at everything inside to pack up. My studio contains all kinds of art-making materials, finished paintings, unfinished paintings, scraps of ideas, junk, a little beer fridge (don't tell David Suzuki), tools, paper, panels, odd and ends, my banjo-dulcimer, books, shelving units, a bicycle, my tai chi swords, and who knows what else.

This all reminds me that if ever there was a time to get a spectacular deal on paintings, old and new, this is the time. If you're interested, let's talk. So you don't forget, order before midnight tomorrow. Operators on duty now. I'd love to find homes for a bunch of paintings!

Glimpse into the future

Here's a glimpse at the future location of Anchovy World Headquarters. We were able to visit today, to take some measurements and plan some work that has to be done early on.

Migration

Anchovy World Headquarters will be moving to new digs at the end of the month. The ugly specter called packing has begun. Once we move and get settled, I'll tell you all about the new place. In the meantime, please cut me a little slack if my posts become a bit sporadic between now and then. Don't worry though, there will always be time enough to post a few accordion videos along the way, like this one:

I want their hats!

On House Hunting

House hunting is such a peculiar activity. You have to figure out your requirements and then test those requirements. Then there are the listings. They show pictures, but pictures can be deceptive. There are room measurements and some brief comments at the bottom, like renovators special or ready to move right in or all new appliances or desirable street or big basement for this area.

We know the ins and outs of our neighbourhood because we've been here for seven years. We drive through and walk around in other areas we don't know so well, but how much can you learn with a few quick visits?

Buying a house is just about the biggest investment we'll ever make. It scares me a little to consider just how little time we'll really spend in the place we end up buying before we make a decision. Good thing humans are pretty good at situational analysis.

I hear there are people who make a living "staging" houses for sale. When we bought Anchovy World Headquarters, it sure wasn't staged at all (unless they thought the plastic chandelier hanging five feet down from the ceiling was a good thing).

The whole business draws out a wide range of emotions, from anxiety to excitement. The right place is out there somewhere, or hopefully will be soon. I think tomorrow I'll drop over at that Open House, the one with the really big basement. Maybe we could make a couple painting studios down there?

A new Anchovy World Headquarters?

After deciding that the prices we received for our proposed renovation were simply too outrageous for us to consider, we've shifted to plan B, which is to try to find a bigger and better Anchovy World Headquarters. We think we can find what we need in terms of space and other requirements for way fewer canadianos that it would have cost to do the reno. We're a bit sad to not be able to create the custom-made Anchovy Can we had hoped for, but it is amazing how easily your focus can shift in the face of impossible prices.

So, we're narrowing down our requirements, talking about neighbourhoods, figuring out a budget and so on. It will be a shame to leave our back garden, especially since I did so much work on it last year, but on the other hand, that work can only enhance the value of our house.

I'll keep you posted on our progress

Planning a renovation? Looking for a new house?

This one is up for auction down in Tennessee. It's a tasteful older home, built back in the 20th Century, after the cancellation of the original Star Trek.
Thanks JW