Tradition and Change...all in the same sentence...2013 here we come!

Well, another wild Lauden Christmas happened...with lutefisk filling the air (yum!) and a night of family traditions -it was a fun night had by all (BTW my amazing mother handled 54 people in her house this year...she goes above and beyond and I know most know the work that goes into making this special night happen, so kudos mom! I will be including some pictures of the special lutefisk that I "slurped" down with pure utter love..melted butter followed of course. Like one of my cousins said..."now that would be a great Top Chef challenge...give them a lutefisk and see what they can do with it!".

 Anyway, this post is full of thanks and gratitude: for lutefisk (of course), that tradition continues, that my brother continues on the road to recovery with full amazing health (love you bro) and his loving family stays strong, that my amazing mother and father stay healthy (and maybe next year if our house is finished I can lighten the load a bit, and have the second christmas at our new pad), that I love my hubby more than ever (even though we can fight like no other, but in the end know that our core values are stronger than ever and he's my BFF (yes, I used that in one sentence), that I love my kitties, that I'm filled with amazing gratitude for my residency last year (and hoping for one this year) and the capacity to make art. I believe 2013 will be an AMAZING and transformative year. 

We are putting our house on the market in February and hope to sell in 4-5 months (or sooner). I'm without a studio, so all my creative energy is being put into makimg this a place that somebody will fall in love with, as we did 12 years ago when it was a complete mess. So, here's to our home that we love with all our heart and that it finds a family that will love it as much as we do.

So, here's to 2013 that will offer us a home that is a better "methaphorical" fit. A fit that will allow Paul to be in a studio that isn't a bunker, but with real natural light, an art studio for me that will be another natural extension to my life (not that it isn't now)..but some day I will come home drop my "baggage" from the day and walk into my studio on the same level (no deadly stairs to climb, and no more.." I'll work on the weekends") - but a part of may every day life. So,while scared, excited, and sad to leave -t's time. I remember my Graduate professor Gail Kendall saying to me..."the real test is to see if you are still making art after graduate school..well, I made the cut, still making art, but now  I will have a space that make it happen more often. 

Fear doesn't work anymore, and what I've learned more than ever is really life is too short. So wish us well and if you know anybody who is looking for a cute charmer of house that has been lovingly been taken care for let us know (more pictures to come).

Happy NEW year to you and yours. 

Love Paul and Karla 

 Oak Floors throughout the first floor!

 Studio is gone (let's have moment of silence) and in it's place a new modern bedroom.

 Still in the works...but the second downstairs room will be an office with day bed..this is a chalk board painting..

 Bedroom scene above and the AMAZING lutefisk below...having some tomorrow...thanks Mom.

 Night time pic of our living room....all wood floors and lots of windows.

 view of couch to eating area...yes, open concept, but it works!

 Our kitchen...gutted by our own hands. Hardwood floors, Corian countertops, and comes with all of our appliances!

 Original back wall to the 1877 house this was exposed in demolition. It's brick with layers of paint, but cool conversation piece! Kitchen was added in 1910.

 We went crazy on counter tops...all Corian!

 Another view of the kitchen...open..and airy.

 View of our Danish modern set in our living area...again open and airy...all wood floors. Jill Birschbach where would I be without you? All ceramic art is by my amazing friend, Jill

 Converted bedroom...all floors painted high gloss black.

 Back view.

 High gloss black can make anything look sexy...even old 100 year old floors (that once was a studio)

 Custom oak steps that leads to the living area from the kitchen.

No skimping on the doors....solid oak doors to the bathroom.

More Photos Of House Demolition,. Music provided by?

Last week Wednesday Nov. 14th the "walls came tumblin down" J. Melloncamp

                                  "Is there anybody in there?"  The Wall

"Our house is a very very very nice house, with two cats in the yard ... "  CSN&Y                                                         

                                   " Oh no there goes Toyko, Godzilla!

                                    Reminded me of Blue Oyster Cult

House Un-House

Here is the beginning of making the un-house. I'll add more tomorrow.

PARIS WAS BURNING; TODAY IT'S FALLING!

video 1: Paris is coming down!

What a great way to spend your personal day...watching demolition! Whoever "thunk-it" that it would be so much fun! Van Handel Excavating did a marvelous job. So hats off to them....the whole process was worth taking a day off for..I did a lot of video today to capture the moments, but unfortunately they are taking forever to download so check out my FB page. This company has been around, since 1947 and is family run...true professionals and kind to the core. They told some interesting stories: found locked safes with stocks and bonds, super rich that buy beautiful homes just to tear them down "because they can" or the "trash parties" of a rich doctor couple that had a beautiful home and invited friends over to wreck everything in their house....strange ways I say.
The guy doing the demo said I understand why you bought this lot...(as he points to the water!).

 Van Handel (no not Van Halen) Rocks...or as their motto is..."THEY DIG DIRT!"

 The monster crane doing what it does best...

 Just look at the teeth on this thing! The guy said they run 300,000 bucks..and $500 in gas to fill!

 Paulie in action!

 Two funny photos...no that guy is not being squished.....he's holding a pipe....and as from the looks of it...(see below)

 ..he's either holding on for dear life or looks like he is flying.

Things are coming to an end!

WARNING...TEASER...MORE TO COME!

IT'S COMING DOWN!

We got confirmation from Van Handel! Finally, that "D"construction is under way this WEEK! Comes down the bad mo-jo. I know the neighbors will be very happy to have this wreck come tumbling down....so this is yet confirmation that this happening. I have to take baby steps, but big girl steps knowing that we will have to sell our lovely brick home, but knowing that this new place will be a better fit. So, hats off to Van Handel....wait for video to come soon. Demo should happen Wednesday or Thursday. I'm sure this new house project will provide great imagery for new work to come! While, the price is crazy for knocking down the house it has to happen....

Here's a plug for company that has been around for a very long time: http://www.vanhandels.com/

STUDIO SPACE(S)...SOMEDAY... WITH a little sweet Ella to make you smile!

I've included a closer view of our house plans, but someday it will be a reality (I still don't believe it). What you are looking at to the upper right is my art studio...with a 12-12 pitch...what does that mean? It means really high ceiling height...no artist I know would complain about that.  I will have mostly southern exposure..with eastern light in the morning. I don't mind I'm not a plein air painter, so this will suffice, just fine. I will be able to walk out in the evening from my french doors onto our back patio (not shown, but in the new plans) to take a breather and look at the water (and sailboats..there is a private boat dock and park across the channel). We have to talk materials yet for my studio..but, I need paper/art storage and maybe a partial wall to pin work up in progress...Paul's studio is directly behind mine. We are thinking of making his a little bit larger, since I will have the tall ceiling height, and his will be lower due to the loft running the length of his studio. I said he can display his "dead fish" or as he likes to call it "taxidermy" to his hearts delight. The easy access to our studios will call for us to be in their more than less of the time.

I end with Sweet Ella Lauden! A smile that melts your heart. 

DEMO Gods we NEED you!

While, we wait...progress was made tied in with a visit from my bro, Kurt and his wife Sarah, and my lovely niece, Ella. It was great weekend. They came over to see my show and then today our land we purchased to build, hopefullly, as planned summer 2013! Made some progress on the garage today that was purchased it was looking pretty sad, so Paul and I hauled some (you know what) and threw what was left in the house. Made quick progress in 45 minutes, and then went home to clean off the grime, and back again to meet Kurt, Sarah, and Ella for a quick tour. After they left I did a final sweep through and it was a nice relief to have it looking somewhat "respectable". 

 Before...there was more than you realize...and AFTER...see below

Kurt and Paul talking about something...probably fishing from the dock. (There is a public access fishing dock 55 steps from our house...someday Kurt will have beer in hand (not Paul) and they will be outdoing each other on how many walleyes they can catch..can hardly wait!)



...SOOOOOO, we wait. Hopefully, our first, excavator will pull through and the house will come "tumbling down" this or next week. It was fun today mapping out how LARGE the house would be (note sarcasm on the word large, since it will be a modest 1500 sq. ft by todays standards)...envisioning my art studio with very tall ceilings (I benefit from our 12 -12 pitch) with a skylight and patio doors that lead to the water. I use my studio now (must be I still make work regularly), but it will be a nice extension to come home from work hang out and walk right into my studio on the main floor. When this all comes together I know I'll cry like one grateful baby....we then put markers for the future open concept kitchen/dining area, Paul's studio....I can hardly wait!

So stay tuned, and keep those fingers crossed that the demo people come through this week!

I told Sarah and Kurt today that I envision one big slumber party upstairs in our loft....it will come with a ships ladder.

Later gators off to feed the masses,

Karla 

FRUSTRATION WITH A CAPITAL F!

Frustrating! 

I guess, Paul and I, better start getting use to this....home construction and home selling will be wrought with frustration.
Well, first we contacted a company this summer about demo on our lot we bought and it seemed right...but they never called back until weeks later saying they could do the job. In the meantime we thought it would be a good idea to give business to one of Paul's childhood friends' brother....well....weeks later of false promises it fell through, yesterday. I knew it! I saw many red flags, but Paul, at time, is more trusting than I. I guess intuition is right!

So, here we are back to contacting demo companies. We got an estimate today 3 grand above the first estimate. So, we wait. I have faith it will work out, but in the meantime we hope there are no tsunamis in the area, because we have many holes in the roof, because of the fire practice.

It's kind of funny...this new adventure makes you look at how you think about things. I came from a family where my Dad and Mom built TWO new homes, and Paul never had a stable home his entire life, until now, and he's the one who has the faith this will all work out.

I guess it's time to reevaluate. 

Gotta have faith! House on Paris is real, just have to believe it to be so. 

Until next time...keep those fingers and toes crossed we find the RIGHT demo company!

Firemen Training On The House

                            Here are some photos the fire dept. gave to me.