Not Afraid of Color: studio tours

Showing posts with label studio tours. Show all posts

Monday, April 17, 2017

Studio Tours Polly's Perfect Place

I was lucky enough to tour a really terrific studio where everything has it's place and is in it.
Meet my friend Polly in Maryland. She knits, quilts and does needlework.

She loves the long table in the center which is her cutting table as well as gathering place for neighbors, bee mates and large family dinners!

Her studio was originally a patio which she enclosed to become her 12' X 24'( I suspect it's larger than that) creative space.

The ironing center was another find at a scratch and dent sale.

She has a closet for asst other crafts and large fabrics, wrapping paper and other items such as a big bin for scraps.

She says it's for her old age projects!

The ladder holds quilts made by her grandmother, and herself. She prefers making traditional quilts and using patterns.She still works full time and wants quiltmaking to just be relaxing. Her next project will be using her Kaffe Fasset fabrics.


note: Polly houses her friend's long-arm and is able to use it too! Win win!!

The room holds 12 IKEA sliding drawer units like mine, stacked to make 6 rows, with flat units on top.

The first two rows hold knitting and needlepoint supplies. Then fabrics, and the last two rows are for asst notions.

The bottom two drawers hold supplies for her grand children to use in their own craft projects made at that grand center table.

She has one book case for knitting and needlework books, and another for quilting books. The magazine holders are labeled, and hold torn out pages she wants to keep together for future projects. Nearby is a comfy easy chair and good lamp.
She had small windows built along the ceiling line to let in light while not being too open to neighbor's eyes. It feels cozy and safe.

Look at the threads!!!

Polly said she was able to receive all of these for $35 because she took a Floriani thread class!

Again, win win.
Polly makes storage beautiful as well as organized.

The answers to my usual questions are here...

1. How long did it take to set up your studio?

 20 years in my head so basically no time at all - but 2 days

2. Did you change or tweak it to work better? How?

 Not really - have moved a piece of furniture around occasionally

3. Music, TV or no noise?

TV

Note: the decorative threads are in a display waiting for use! Pretty way to store them

4. Do you crave any snacks when working or stuck on a project?

Sure

5. Do you schedule work time or is it according to mood/inspiration more often?

 Mood/Inspiration

6. Is there a machine, or tool you would like to have?

 A long arm with a computer - I currently have a loaned one from a friend w/o a computer

7. What kind of sewing machine do you have? Iron? Lights? Satisfied with them??

  2 Brothers and a Featherweight , Iron $9 from Kohls - plus a travel panasonic iron - Can lights in the ceiling and a flip light - yes

8. What do you like best about your studio? Least?

 Love everything about it - no minus’

 9. Messy or tidy?

 9/ Very Tidy : >

Editor's Note:

 And that's the truth. Very tidy and a place for everything. Her comment is if you have a designated place for everything it's easy to keep things put away.

I say I do not have enough space to designate a place for my supplies. I collected it all, like it all, use it, and want to keep it, so that's my problem to deal with lol.

Not every person is tidy, I am definitely able to work in constant chaos. I hope someone will allow us to see their messy studio sometime!!

Hope you enjoyed the tour, and can use some of her organizational methods.

See other studio tours on the page at the top or click HERE

this post was featured on http://www.conniekresin.com

 thanks Connie!

Monday, April 10, 2017

Studio Tours #3 Monika's paper palace

Editor's note: I was amazed at the organization!
I asked how she did something, say felting, and Monika (blog) was able to go right to the area of felting supplies and show me a book she likes on it. The room is sunny, has colorful plants, fit Monika perches on a balance ball to sit, and she makes many things here alongside her two poodle guards. They also have a basket of toys and a bed in here.

While you're at the first image Monika told me she absolutely loves the flat files cabinet from IKEA as everything is visible when the drawer opens.

Monika is currently making Balms and Bath bombs as well as doggie treats we might enjoy eating too.

the red spots are actual rose petals!

She has made me cards and felted this Cole poodle for me...

She painted a watercolor of Cole for me, but doesn't know how good it was. I have several really clever cards she has made as well. Those lucky poodles are the recipients of her special doggie treats that she could easily sell.

So grab a cup of tea and enjoy her answers to my questions!

1. How long did it take to set up your studio?
Years! That room was a storage room for excess furniture for the better part of 10+ years. I didn’t get serious about it until the past couple years and that has brought me such joy. My only regret is not doing it sooner!

2. Did you change or tweak it to work better? How?

The room has gone through multiple tweaks trying to make it more efficient and with each tweak, it seems to be an improvement. Now if only I could cull some of the extraneous excess. There way too much stuff in there.

3. Music, TV or no noise?

Music only or NPR

4. Do you crave any snacks when working or stuck on a project?

I often nosh when creating. I hate stopping for lunch and starting up again and need to keep the good juju flowing. ;) I pretty much always take some water or coffee in there and sometimes that is all I need.

5. Do you schedule work time or is it according to mood/inspiration more often?

My creative process can’t be forced. The mood has to be spontaneous. It has to feel just right in order for any art magic to happen.

6. Is there a machine, or tool you would like to have?

I just purchased a laminating machine that will make intricately designed die cuts much easier to adhere to greeting cards though I’m still trying to figure out my die cutter machine I bought last year that I had to have! Thank goodness my daughter can provide me with various groovy die cuts from her die cutting machine that work for greeting cards. LOL

7. What kind of sewing machine do you have? Iron? Lights? Satisfied with them??

I have a simple early 1970’s vintage Brothers machine. Doesn’t do anything fancy, but that bugger can sew! I love it, even when I try to lug it out (they don’t make ‘em like that anymore!) My Rowenta is in this studio as is my circa 1967 ironing board which squeaks like a banshee. 😆

8. What do you like best about your studio? Least?

The room faces south so the light is the best quality. I have a number of houseplants in there (two Christmas cactus bloomed again recently and I love looking at the gorgeous coral ad hot pink blooms while I’m getting inspired. Plus the fact that it’s at the opposite end of the house, away from the TV, news broadcasts and people. The dogs curl up in the room and I go about my creating. It’s paradise. I lose track of all time when I’m in my groove.

this is Elsa, the blond bombshell proving blonds really do have more fun.
For more studios look here
1. Cindy's quilting and beading Studio tour interview-with-artist-studio-tour
2. Mary in Colorado 2017/04/studio-tours-marys-studio-in-colorado

next week, Polly's Perfect Quilting Studio!

Monday, April 3, 2017

Studio Tours.... Mary's Studio in Colorado

Welcome to a new series, "Studio Tours"
Meet my friend Mary in Colorado. We have sewn together in Maryland many times so it was natural to take over her new studio on my recent visit to Colorado. I took some photos and asked her a few questions... enjoy!

1. How long did it take to set up your studio?

We moved into this house on June 7, 2014 and I had my studio set up two days later. However, I’ve rearranged it several times since then.

2. Did you change or tweak it to work better? How?

At first I tried to cram too many pieces of furniture into the room, like the cage for my Bearded Dragon. Then I got selfish and decided nothing but sewing stuff should go into my space. So the Dragon is now in the living room and office supplies are in the guest room.

I’m constantly working to get rid of objects (files, books, magazines, supplies) that don’t need to be in the studio or that I can get rid of all together. For example, last week I got rid of a shelf of books so now I have some space in my bookcase. I got rid of a lot of paper files related to quilting by scanning them and storing them online in Evernote. When I got a new machine I had to get a new table for it. It’s all a work in progress.

3. Music, TV or no noise?

When I’m concentrating, which is often, I have no music. But when I’m doing something mindless I’ll listen to rock music or to musicals, or watch old DVD’s of the Gilmore Girls, since I don’t have to actually watch it to know what’s going on.

4. Do you crave any snacks when working or stuck on a project?

No, thank heavens. I crave enough snacks as it is! When I’m stuck I just quit for a while and do something else.

5. Do you schedule work time or is it according to mood/inspiration more often?

Mostly I work according to mood, but I do find that I respond well to deadlines. Deadlines give me a goal for finishing things, especially hard things. Deadlines are my tool for getting things done.

6. Is there a machine, or tool you would like to have?

I’d like more space; does that count? If I had tons of money and space I might buy a long arm.

7. What kind of sewing machine do you have? Iron? Lights? Satisfied with them??

I have a Bernina 740 which I love and an old Pfaff Tiptronic (1985) for taking to classes and such. I love my $30 Sunbeam irons which are much better than more expensive ones. I have two; one is for fusing, the other is clean. My lighting is nothing fancy, just regular overhead and task lighting, but it’s definitely okay.

Around here (Colorado) there are many opportunities to meet somewhere and sew with other people, so I have a second set of regular sewing supplies all packed up and ready to go to a retreat or sew-day.

look how nicely she framed the quilt (top one) I made her!!

8. What do you like best about your studio? Least?

The thing I like the most is that I have a studio! I sewed in the dining room and then in a space shared with the laundry for years, so I am thrilled to have a room of my own. I also love the view from my sewing machine, which is looking at the street and the school beyond the street. There’s a lot going on outside my big windows and I love watching all the action as I do my work.

gratuitous shot of the countryside!

The second thing I like best is my daybed. It’s a real splurge having it in the studio but It’s great for taking a break, stacking things on, and having a place for guests, like my husband or son, and of course the cat! The Bearded Dragon often comes in to hang out on the arm of the daybed while he soaks up the morning sun and watches life outside. I love it when they come in to visit and make themselves at home on the daybed.

Spikey the dragon with personality!

What I like least? Well, ideally, my space would just have my sewing studio. Currently it also has a desk and bookcase which serves as my office and it would be better not to have that function mixed with my quilting.

I’m also very jealous of people who have big walk-in closets in their studios for storing their rolled up quilts. Mine are in a closet on another floor.

And a bit more room would be wonderful. I have an old Elna press which I love but I have to move it off the surface it sits on to use it. I’d love to have it out and ready to use on demand. Same with the big ironing board. It comes out when I’m doing serious ironing. Otherwise I use a small pressing board. The daybed is taking the place of an ironing station, and that’s a trade off I’m willing to make. But in a perfect world, I’d have room for all of it.

9. Can you think of any other questions you'd ask generally about people's studios?

Clean or messy?

Definitely clean. I can get messy when I’m in the middle of designing or creating something but otherwise I’m definitely one who thinks better in the middle of order, not chaos.

Fabric storage?

In wire baskets like the Elna system, which can be taken out to use. And not so much fabric. Too much overwhelms me and I have several great quilt shops within an easy drive so I really don’t need to store tons of fabric.

Best tip for organizing supplies?

My Alex rolling storage unit by Ikea sits to the left of my sewing machine and it’s narrow drawers hold all my “use everyday” supplies conveniently at hand.

I use Evernote to save magazine articles, images, patterns, etc. instead of filing the hard copies. I’m pretty ruthless about not keeping old magazines and patterns around. I use Evernote Scanable app to scan articles of interest and patterns, send them to Evernote, and then put the magazines on the “free table” at my local quilt quild.

That's it for our tour today and I hope you enjoyed it. As I get a peek into other artist's studios I'll share them with you on my new "studio tours" page! I want to visit everyone's studio so I hope you say yes when I ask! And remember to stay curious....

from the exhibit now at NCAR Boulder

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