My Space

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In the latest in our series on people’s favorite spaces, Crystal Flynt of Bon Boutique invites us into her tiny work studio. By Gillian Drummond.

“Our work space at the back of the store used to be a bathroom. When we took over the store we took down the wall and there was a window behind the wall. So we turned it into our work space.

“My mom, Bonnie – who I run the store with – does her bookkeeping in here. It’s also a place for me to put all the stuff I’m working on and to keep ideas for store and store window designs. On one wall I have clippings from magazines. layered on top of each other. I’ll come in here at night – that’s one of my favorite things to do, is just to be alone and have a moment and process a thought and work on something.

“I’m always making things. I’m always messing around with paper. I’ve been making a garland for an artists’ show in Montana. And there’s a halo hanging up that’s featured on our website right now – over a girl walking in a cemetery. I think we all remember as a kid making stuff out of paper. I remember making little paper  houses. When I was living in New York City, I would send handmade cards to people. I still make them.

“We have what we call a ‘wall of fame’ on one wall of the work space, with magazine and newspaper clippings of artists and friends and designers we know. There’s a couple I know in New York who are featured in Bill Cunningham’s On the Street feature every Easter in The New York Times. My mom and I visit there [for shows and to meet artists] pretty often, so I have that balance of being able to go there and get energized, then coming back to Tucson and having open skies and spaces and ease of life.

“This work space is about 20 sq ft. I’ve always liked small spaces. I’m not a big space person. It’s less cleaning, for one thing, and I just like things to be quiet and cozy, not big. I feel like a space becomes not human when it’s too big.”

Bon will be having a sale July 19th and 20th, with 20% off everything. Visit at 3022 E. Broadway in the Broadway Village shopping center, or online at www.bon-boutique.com