There were a few new twists in the story of the studio. Two weeks ago I handed off to a very nice young woman at the city's permit office all the paperwork for the setback adjustment (or "variance") so that I could build the studio on the property line. She looked over the drawings, complemented me on the design and asked, "Why are you applying for a setback adjustment for a garage?" (a garage under 24' can be built within the setback without requiring a variance).

I confidently replied, "Because it doesn't qualify as a garage due to its shape. Or so I was told by this office more than several times over the past months."

Squinting quizzically, she answered, "Hmm...that doesn't make much sense", pulled a binder off the shelf, flipped to a page, and showed me their definition of a garage, a definition that easily fit my studio. To be safe, she took the application back to one of her bosses to confirm our conclusion.

After some well deserved apologies, some additional days and work to get more drawings together, and a not so small pile of money, I have my permits. I was so jubilant as I exited the permit office yesterday that I didn't care about the parking ticket waiting for me on my bike (I didn't anticipate 3 hours pouring over the plans with the permit office minions). Construction can commence. I've made the first calls to the inspectors and am lining up a long list of materials. By summer, I should have a working, if unfinished, studio.

For this good reason there has been a noted absence of new pieces here on this blog and on the easel. An old misshapen hammer was the obvious choice for my return.

Old Hammer (Hammer 4), 6" x 5", sold

For more information about and an inventory of the Small Works, click here.
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