Alex and I drove over the escarpment and back down again to get to her old barn studio, tucked into a country property near Collingwood.  As we arrived, she apologized for the state of the place (as all creative types with inspiration everywhere must do), but I stepped inside and immediately fell in love.  Two studio cats ran around my feet and into the back room, a horse walked by the window (and later stuck her head into the studio through the horse door on the side), and we immediately turned on space heaters to warm the old wooden floors.  Plants fill the corners, little paintings and stitches of inspiration cover the walls, and the whole room has the beautiful smell of paper and old books, courtesy of her enviable collection of antique books in the back room. 

As with all of my favorite spaces, Alex's studio is made up of bits and pieces put together over time.  She and her dad re-did the inside of an old barn building, ripped up the grimy old flooring, and white washed the walls, hence the horse-entry door.  The room is furnished with old pieces of furniture picked up at estate sales, found, and accepted as payment for work.  Everything is refurbished by hand, from pain jobs to shelving overhauls, and the little plants, books, and sheets of inspiration scattered around are fascinating to look at.  Everything has a story and a meaning to her.  It's truly a creative's space. 

Alex and I were styling and shooting vignettes of her custom designed paper goods for her website, and I couldn't resist snapping shot after shot of her studio while we worked.  We spent the rest of the afternoon taking photos of beautiful paper goods, dancing to old music (and I mean true oldie goldies.  I loved it.), playing with greenery, and hunting for the cats.  It was arguably one of my favorite ways ever to spend an afternoon. :)

Take a look through below, and be sure to checkout her company Honour Bright next time you need cards, letterheads, or any custom paper work done.  Her wedding stationary is beautiful and was also part of our last shoot at the Tremont Cafe!

I absolutely love doing studio shoots and tours, and am hoping to turn this into a series over time.  So, if you or any creatives you know are interested in taking part please send me a message!

Enjoy the beautiful studio tour below, thank you so much for sharing Alex!

xo
- c