Saturday, January 17, 2015

Studio Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to my Quilt Studio!


I read somewhere that it is rude to clean your house before your friends come over, because it leaves a false impression- you don’t really live like that! So, welcome, friends, and see how my sewing “hobby” and year-old Triangle Frenzy business has grown to take over half of my house.



This is my sewing room, er, Quilt Studio.

My Baby Lock Quilter’s Dream sewing machine lives in an old Montgomery Ward cabinet, though I never put the machine away anymore. (Our daughter has the old Montgomery Ward sewing machine that she learned to sew on- she still refuses to get a new machine.)
My reference books and idea binders are on the blue shelves, stacked with papers to add to my idea notebooks.
To the right of my machine is my ironing board/horizontal organizing surface. (Yes, I do clear off a space before I turn on the iron.) The iron is plugged into a power strip under the left side of the board. When the power strip is on, a ceramic house on the bookshelf lights up, so from the hallway, my husband can see if I left my iron on, or if I remembered to turn it off!
Above the ironing board, on the wall, is my inspiration board. I post my favorite sayings, pieces of stuff, pictures, and other things to inspire me here.
On the right in the photo, you can see a half of a Triangle Frenzy Hexagon sewn with watermelon fabric. Under THAT is my cutting table, which is a drafting table with a cutting mat atop it. I like this setup because I can usually get to three sides of the table, meaning I don’t have to constantly flip around fabric to cut from another direction. (Too bad you can’t see the pile of stuff that is on the floor in front of the closet you consequently can’t open.)




One wall of my Quilt Studio is covered in floor to ceiling shelves, and my quilting fabric has slowly displaced my craft supplies from my days working at Michael’s Arts and Crafts. Our son has remarked that there’s no way I could possibly use all of this fabric in my lifetime. I’m sure I’m not the only quilter out there with this predicament!
The translucent boxes hold my fat quarters. Unfortunately, Bed Bath & Beyond doesn’t carry those anymore, so I have decided to limit my fat quarter collection to what fits inside the boxes. Well, except for those ribbon bound sets on the higher shelf. Oh, and the sets waiting for that one specific project, and . . .
The books are sort of arranged by title, except for the new ones across the top. Rulers go right back into the ruler rack on the shelf, though I have too many to fit the slots nicely. Yardage is rolled around my 8 ½” ruler, then folded in half to stack on the shelves so I can see it all, except the stuff that’s stacked in front of it, waiting to be folded the same.
Fabrics are, for the most part, sorted by style: batiks, backgrounds, entire fabric lines, etc. The stripes and border prints are all in my Design Studio (read on below for more info on my Design Studio). Bolts of backing fabric bought on clearance sit along the top shelf next to the interfacing.
See those teal and purple Craftstor totes on the very top shelf? They’re all that’s left of my “craft supplies”.


UFOs


I consider myself a beginning quilter... I begin a lot of quilts! I tend to move onto another project when I have learned the techniques of the current one. Each UFO (UnFinished Object) is in a 12 ½” square scrapbook box, and this usually includes all the fabric, directions and a big note inside the top of what rulers I may need. The crate on the right also has 2 ½ gallon zipper bags with individual UFOs. Too bad you can’t see all the other projects filling the space under my ironing board. . .



Our home-based business has been shoehorned into our life and space. Shown here is the office, which used to be a sitting room with one computer for household use. It has now expanded into a full-blown bookkeeping, customer service, order fulfillment, and shipping office. It’s gotten a little cramped, but we’ll be moving it to the larger dining room across the hallway soon!



         Here’s a closer view of our shipping department. Most of the stock for the three Triangle Frenzy patterns live in the photo boxes on these shelves, which share the space with a bunch of reference books. Too bad the shipping desk often ends up as another horizontal collection surface for stuff!




My Quilting Room (formerly our son’s room) is transitioning to my Design Studio. It is currently being used as a storage room for holding shipping boxes and furniture from the dining room-to-office space conversion.




The closet doors had to be removed when the mid-arm quilting frame moved in. This closet is where the aforementioned stripes and border print fabrics for my Triangle Frenzy designs and kits reside. There are also even more UFOs in this closet that have the tops done, just waiting to be quilted.

FYI, These were supposed to be the BEFORE photos in a future before and after series, but Dear Daughter convinced me that these are more realistic than if I cleared off and cleaned up. Seems like the first few commenters agree. Maybe those that think this is an embarrassing mess have politely kept quiet. What do you think?





          You know how I mentioned that our daughter still has my old Montgomery Ward sewing machine? Well, here it is, in her Richmond, Virginia office! I recently hired Amanda as a virtual assistant to help me with customer service, pattern design, troubleshooting, and simply just to help keep me focused and organized in my day-to-day activities. Here, you can see me Skype chatting with her on her laptop screen! The project on her workspace is a 2 ½” strip set version of my newest Triangle Frenzy pattern that she’s currently helping me design.
Thank you for joining me on the Studio Spotlight tour today. This may not be the most organized studio you’ve seen this week, but it’s usually functional for me! Feel free to leave a comment below- I’d love to hear your thoughts on my workspace and ideas from your own.
I will be selecting one random commenter to win all 3 Triangle Frenzy patterns and a Creative Grids 60 degree ruler.
For a second entry to win, you can also sign up for our newsletter at the top right of our page here.
EDIT 1/27/15: Congrats to Anna G. for winning our contest!
Don’t forget to check out all the other designers’ studios at the Studio Spotlight Blog Hop here!

Thanks for reading, and have a Frenzy day!


45 comments:

  1. I think you have a lot of stuff in a small space. Your area looks a lot like mine so now I won't feel so bad. Thanks for showing us.

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  2. Do you ever feel like your quilting has taken over your life? Thanks for the tour, it was informative.

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    1. Yes, I am so glad that other people like my patterns, so I can recoup some of my "investment" : )

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  3. Wow, a work center similar to mine! I love it! I work from an 12 x16 former master bedroom. I think I'd still be crowded and disorganized if I had double the space. But I always find room for more.

    CathyQuilts@woh.rr.com

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  4. Loved seeing the creative environment and that I was not alone. Your patterns are easy to execute and take the fear out of working with border prints and triangle. Waiting for your quilt pattern. Thanks

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  5. Loved you idea about plugging the ceramic house into the power strip. I know my hubby, the electrician, would like to have mew do that. Also love seeing the Lonaberger baskets!

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    1. My husband is an electrician, too. So everything has to be grounded, surge protected and safe. This is the only way he'll let me leave the iron and sewing machine plugged in when I'm not using them!

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  6. Thank you for sharing your quilting space. I love the fact that you left it the way you use it. Mine is never clean for very long because as soon as I finish a project I pull for the next one.

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  7. It's funny how quilting supplies seem to multiply! Thanks for the tour. I will be using your idea to make sure I don't leave my iron on--thanks!

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  8. Thanks for the tour. it's so hard to decide how to store in a way everything is accessible. I'm like you about covering flat surfaces - a habit I'm trying to break.
    It's so much fun to quilt and I can see you agree.

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  9. Thank you for sharing. It made me giggle. Looks like my quilt room!

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  10. Signed up for your newsletter. Look forward to it.
    email used a1d37001 at telus dot net

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  11. I am new to sewing and quilting, and right now my space is in our bedroom. I think your space is great. And your old Montgomery Ward sewing machine that resides with your daughter gives me fond memories. My mother has an old Montgomery Ward machine, she bought it new. I can remember all the things she lovingly sewed. Unfortunately I never had an interest in sewing growing up and now I wished I had. Although my mom is one of those who had trouble teaching because she wanted to do for me. Now at almost forty I do try to call her and pick her brain for ideas or techniques. I think it's awesome that your daughter wants to keep that machine. I sew on an old New Home machine. Okay I've probably typed your eyes off, have a wonderful day. Thank you for sharing. dawnm1993(at)gmail(dot)com

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  12. I signed up for your newsletter. dawnm1993(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. I can so relate to your sewing room.....I really loved the idea about putting your UFO"S in a scrap booking tote....Just the best size...

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  14. This blog hop is one of the best ever because I've learned about so many new techniques. Your Triangle Frenzy looks wonderful and I've never seen it before. Thanks for showing the true creative space. It looks so much like mine Good luck with the furniture move. Those projects always snowball on me and turn into something very different by the time they are finished.

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  15. I love all of the goodies in your studio! I'm fairly new, so I'm still building it up! I know I'm in love with all things sewing, it has been a sanity saver! Thanks for the giveaway!

    tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

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  16. I'm a new follower and I'm signed up! Thanks

    tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

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  17. Thanks for giving us a tour of your work space. So glad it isn't perfectly clean and neat. Makes me realize that mine isn't horrible, but does need some organization.

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  18. Thank you for showing us your creative spaces. I am always amazed at what organizational tips work.

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  19. Thanks for the tour - I always like different ways to organize supplies as they multiply in my little sewing room! But wouldn't give up any of them!
    Please keep designing patterns - they are so nice looking and something different.

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  20. I love to see other peoples creative spaces. Thanks for sharing. Your patterns are beautiful!

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  21. I am in awe! Makes me realize I have to loosen up a bit, hehe. LOVE your iron alert idea.

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  22. Great use of space and though it looks stuffed to the gills, I bet you know where every little thing is. I call mine "organized chaos"

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  23. GREAT idea with the lighted house connected to the iron!!! I am totally goi to do that!!!

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  24. Bunnie, love seeing your studio and now I can picture you during our calls. The ceramic house idea is terrific.

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  25. I just figured out how to follow your blog so I think I'm signed up now.

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  26. Hi Bunnie. I found your blog via the blog hop, and had to take a look at your Triangle Frenzy patterns. I think I saw those being demo'd at Bozeman MT last summer. Very neat! Your studio space looks like someone works there - that's what it should look like, right? Thanks for sharing.

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  27. Your patterns are amazing.

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  28. Hi Bunnie, I was recently making a table runner with the 60 degree ruler and then saw your patterns and fell in love with the ideas and how to use the ruler in some new and imaginative ways! Love your quilting space and have some of the very same purple and teal totes. They work great! I also think it's very cool that your daughter is involved and that you all have figured out some ways to do things remotely! Way to go and thanks for the opportunity to participate in this fun give-a-way!
    LauraT
    Lauratawney7 at gmail dot com

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  29. I've also signed up for your newsletter!
    LauraT
    Lauratawney7 at gmail dot com

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  30. It looks more organized than mine. I have a shop and am always taking stuff (projects ) back and forth. I am a good starter, not so good as finishing, as, like you, once I figure it out, I good to start on the next project.

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  31. I have signed up for the newsletter.

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  32. I love that you are excited to move into the dining room (I think I would be drawn and quartered)...I took over an adjacent bedroom to my quilting room, but my organization became a mess when we had a child move back in...Oh well...As long as you can find things.

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  33. I'm happy to see that not everyone has a super neat all coordinated space. thks. pjrquilter(at)msn(dot)com

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  34. My space looks quite similar to your space - tight but workable! I too have totes (the same teal ones!) with crafting supplies and other crafting things that I don't do right now (counted cross stitch, wood working, ceramics, stained glass..... - lots of supplies there!) have been moved to shelves in hubby's garage. Thanks so much for sharing your space and for the chance to win :)
    Debby E
    samtaylorcjsmimi (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  35. Thanks for sharing your very real space. I'm sure you know where everything is. My space is way too spread out so I don't seem to organize anything. This blog hop is giving me lots of inspiration and hope that I can get busy.

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  36. Thank you for your tour. I too have a large stash, but it is in the shop building in the back yard. I sew in the computer room and spread out to the guest room. I have to stay organized because the kids come to visit and I have to clean up the guest room in a quick minute. My design wall stays up in there though. I am learning to shop my stash, do my cutting, then move to the sewing room. I quilt on my regular sewing machine, but I have a Singer Futura that I do embroidery on and it has a nice throat space so I will try it out for quilting next. crystalbluern at online ok dot com

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  37. I signed up for your newsletter too. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  38. I thought I had a lot of stuff...I think you have me beat! Loved seeing the tour. I agree with your son... I have stuff that I don't think I'll ever get do in the years I have left!

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  39. Thanks for sharing your rooms. :-). I'm very interested in your triangle frenzy patterns.

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  40. I've subscribed to your newsletter.

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  41. I love your studio tour because it reminds me the most of my sewing space which I love to be in! It is utter chaos to others but I know where (most) everything is and I feel so happy when I am in there! Thanks for the chance to win your giveaway!

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  42. Hope it's not too late to comment, but I loved your space and candid photos. My space is small and always cluttered with numerous project in progress.

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