Color Story Studio

Best thing about storing work for a client? We get to hang it in our house!
________
This BIG moss panel is 72” wide by 54” tall and it fits PERFECTLY above our pew. I love it so much that we’re going to make another one to replace it after we hand this off to our client. 😍
________

Slowly but surely, spring is on its way! 🤞🌱

For now, let’s travel back in time to this whimsical window install we did for circa 2017!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The earthy tones and pops of pink make me so eager for spring blooms to make their arrival for good.
(No more snow please!)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We worked with custom-dyed rope and fabric to create a leafy backdrop for new product. The rope display is welcoming with warm tones, giving that corner cozy vibes ✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Swipe to see the beginning stages of this display✏️🎨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What are you most looking forward to as we enter Spring?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Happy March madness! Or should we say…🌿MOSS madness🌿
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We are throwing it back to three years ago (almost to the day!) when we installed this stunner for .
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This was just days before the city (and the world) locked down. It’s surreal to look back, and encouraging to see what has happened in the last 3 years. It leaves me feeling thankful for this business we’ve built.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This 4 foot tall x 10 foot wide frame demands attention as soon as you step into this real estate developer’s office. The 4 cut-outs not only create the Holladay logo, but highlight the depth of the moss panel and the plethora of surrounding green.💚
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Thank you to the writers of for the shoutout in your March/April 2023 issue!

“Two large abstract installations by Sheena Birt of Color Story Studio further break up the expanse of white, but at no point does the décor draw attention to itself, allowing diners to enjoy the food and each others'
company without undue distraction.”

Still swooning over these circle and pill-shaped pieces✨
In fact, we worked closely with owner to make sure the artwork complimented the architecture of the space while using the brand’s signature color palette.

Projects like this are an absolute dream to work on. We’re so proud to see other local businesses grow and flourish.

And remember, if you want to take customer EXPERIENCE to the next level, we’re ready to help! Let’s go 😉

Our final post…Day 24.
________
On this Christmas Eve, Ezra and I are thankful to be celebrating with family…our first as a family of three. 🥹 We are grateful to our dedicated team, and we are appreciative of our wonderful clients.
________
This installation shows the Library of the Lilly House for Winterlights.
________

Throwback to last year’s holiday window. We made several large scale snowflakes using my FAVORITE surface treatment of paint, wax, and spray paint. Plus we added those large decorative sequins for an extra dose of holiday sparkle. ✨
________
Who’s a fan of a non-traditional holiday color palette? 🙋🏼‍♀️
________
Day 23
________

Hopefully everyone is staying warm out there. And I hope your table is as abundant as this display.
________
Day 22
________

Attention last minute shoppers…for Day 20, I’m sharing our most recent project, a little collection of moss panels! And we’re making them available for purchase!!
________
We repurposed framed panels that were hanging out in the studio…and because of this, we can offer everything at a bit of a discount! 😆
________
All moss panels are ready to hang with a picture wire on the back. Moss panels are for local pickup to the Indianapolis area only. We will not be shipping at this time.
________
If you’re interested in making a purchase, please DM me asap.
🌿Panels 1, 2, and 3 are $450 each.
🌿Panels 4 and 5 are $225 each.
________

🚨 Podcast Feature 🚨
________
Recently I talked to on an episode of her podcast, Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs. Danielle makes it SOOO easy for her guests. The conversation flowed, and before I knew it, time was up!
________
Listen in to hear me dodge compliments 😂, talk about my incredible team and the amazing businesses we get to work with.
________
Day 19
________

Throwing it back to when we did this “paint swatch” installation in an Airbnb dining room. It is composed of thickened paint applied to hundreds of fabric swatches. All swatches were nailed to the walls in a grid pattern.
________
Fun fact - This room was featured in an issue of .
________
Photos by the Airbnb owners: .co
________
Day 18
________

One of the updates we made to this year’s Lilly House installation was to add ribbon to the Stair Hall wreaths.
________
The ribbons are made of fabric that was painted ballet pink and wine. It matches the painted pine cone “flowers” on the wreaths. We also added wire to the ribbons so they could be sculpted.
________
The result is an elegant gesture that leads your eye up and down the staircase.
________
Day 17
________

Some of our favorite projects have come to us via interior designers. They, of course, have a vision for the space, but are always excited to collaborate with a fellow creative.
________
This pair of moss panels was commissioned by for a residential client. Tiffany asked for rocks to be integrated into the panels as focal points (which we’d never done before) and it turned out so cool.
________
Day 16
________

We’ve been sharing a lot of finished installations recently, but we don’t have an install every day. Or even every week!
Most of the time we’re just working away in the studio.
________
Here’s a behind-the-scenes photo of when we worked on the cardboard houses, seen in the Lilly House at . The houses were designed to scale on graph paper. Then, using the color palette, a sketch was made for each house. I love the simplicity of the sketch. It gives just enough info to communicate what the finished look will be. But it’s definitely a bit wonky.
________
Day 13
________

What’s better than a moss panel? A moss panel with an Indiana cut out on top!
________
Day 12
________

It’s important to differentiate your business from the competition. There are MANY ways to do this: product, pricing, hours, level of service, etc.
________
Of course, our favorite way is through the design of the physical space. The custom wall treatment we created for is made of hundreds of hand cut wooden tiles. Not only is it a great backdrop for the product, it creates a memorable focal point.
________
Fun fact - A marriage proposal happened right in front of this wall! How’s that for memorable design? 😉
________
Day 11
________

The Game Room of the Lilly House is equal parts nostalgic and magical. Filled with oversized game pieces and a precarious card tower, this small space is packed with details.
________
This image is from the 2021 installation. Check out in person to see what we’ve added this year.
________
Day 10
________

Last year, we got the chance to reimagine how we work with moss. The moss installation for was designed to look like it organically grew on the walls.
________
I’m still amazed at the versatility of this humble material.
________
Day 9
________

Shopping in person is still one of my favorite things to do. I love going to stores and being inspired by the presentations.
________
And it’s a joy to get to create those presentations.
________
Day 8
________

Sometimes we get to dip our toes into the world of luxury fashion. That was the case with this window.
________
For this project, we were only involved with the installation, meaning we had no hand in the design or fabrication. (Still, it’s Dior. 💁🏼‍♀️)
________
The glamorous part?
✅ Getting paid to travel to Chicago for the weekend!
✅ Staying in a fancy hotel downtown! (because you need to be within walking distance of the job site)
The not-so-glamorous part?
✅ An overnight install that didn’t wrap up until after 3am…
✅ The stress of running into a problem that you can’t solve, without running to a hardware store, but it’s after midnight so nothing’s open…
________
It’s always 50/50 🙂🙃
________
Day 7
________

This installation was such a nail-biter. Not only was the moss panel 9 x 9 feet, it was installed over a staircase. 🤯
________
Let me tell ya, we were GLAD to get this out of the studio so we could finally move around again!
________
Day 5
________

Throwback holiday window from 2020.
________
Proof that a successful holiday window doesn’t need to scream “Christmas” or even look overly “wintery”. Sometimes all you need is an oversized wreath of illustrated greens.
________
Day 4
________

Custom art doesn’t need to be 2-dimensional. This tassel composition was made for a private residence to serve as the focal point of the living room.
________
I still love the modern, symmetrical composition…and now that I’m looking at it again, considering something similar for my own home. 🤔
________
Day 3
________

It’s day 2! (For those that missed yesterday’s post, we’re doing our version of an advent calendar.)
________
This is a throwback to 2018, the first year we were involved with Winterlights. In a wonderful collaboration, we determined how to make the paper chains (size, color, paper type, quantity) and then the volunteers made everything. It was then installed by Color Story Studio.
________
Still blows me away that we were able to pull off something so spectacular that first year.
________

Happy December! Around here we love an advent calendar so we’re doing something called the . Each day leading up to Christmas we’ll share a previously unshared project, an old favorite, or something brand new!
________
This gridded moss panel was a residential commission. It came to us via the amazingly talented duo .
________
The custom grid and frame are ash hardwood. Notice how in some places the moss grows over the grid. This was a challenging piece and a significant evolution of our moss panels.
________
Follow along all month to see what we’ve been up to!
________

Anyone else ignoring the mound of leaves piling up in the yard? 🙈🍂🍁
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Perfect time of the year to flashback to this cute fall window we did for
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Handmade fabric ferns, paper leaves, and cardboard tree stumps play nicely with vintage hairdryers.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
______
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Moss panels are a fan favorite installation, and we don’t blame ya🌿
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
With each client it turns out completely different, and this pill shape we did for is a stunner! The gold lettering against the varying shades of green…chefs kiss!✨😍
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Local ladies, go check it out for yourself! We hope this welcome sign adds to the inspiring atmosphere that Maven Space has created. Big thank you to for being such a trailblazer and champion of woman-owned companies!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
_________
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

This one is for the Hoosiers❤️
500 cars later, is race day ready all year round! 🏁🏎
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Not to bury the lead, but WE MADE all 500 cars! Every car features the same body, but is unique from the others. There are 5 different gradients of gold panning out from a ✨spot✨ in the center! (pun intended 😆)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
For a stretch of time, the Color Story Studio team was immersed in these tiny cars. We started by pouring potters plaster in molds. After the plaster set, the cars were meticulously cleaned to smooth any rough edges or excess material.

Next they were dipped in wax, rubbed with a gold surface treatment, and finished with gorgeous gold leaf!

All 500 cars made by hand, with love. 🥰
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
_________
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Our friends at just got a lot greener!🌿
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This 4 foot x 6 foot Indiana moss panel is sure to liven up any office space. The sheer size and shape of it was a challenge we were excited to take on!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We love the sleek SPOT logo in the center, as icing on this mossy cake💚
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Dream with us for a second…if you could have a moss panel in any shape, what would it be?! ⚪️🔶⭐️☁️💎
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
______
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

"She gathered books like clouds, and words poured down like rain."
_______
How magical is this window installation we did for ? Books have a way of coming to life inside your mind, and we had so much fun giving these pages NEW life through different shapes and colors. 🧡❤️💛 If you are in Zionsville, pop over and check it out in person!
________
And speaking of books...the Color Story Studio team is a group of readers! 📚 Our To Be Read (TBR) list is always a mile long, but there's also always room for more. Drop your favorite recent read below. Next up for me (Sheena) is The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd.
________

A whole lot of layers & love went into these mixed media pieces, making for a shiny cherry on top for the cafe inside the One America building.
________
Swipe to see all the detail that goes into a single panel,
each unique from the other, with its own story to tell.
________