Studio Pictures

Since my 1st studio on a budget design two years ago. I have added more storage and rearranged things.  Since I am always misplacing tools under fabric etc.  I put up a larger peg board and traced where my tools go. Whenever I glance that direction I can tell what is missing and try to put them back right away.  Oops! My favorite ruler and blue rotary cutter are nowhere to be seen.

 

When our Goodies Store was closing last spring, I was able to pick up 5 clear plexiglass cubicles.  They are a bit scratched, but very durable and perfect for all my quilting magazines, idea notebooks and embellishment boxes.

Studio Design on a Shoestring

This is a post about when I first set up my studio.  I will post more recent pictures later.

I know a lot of people have been posting pictures of their quilt studios.   My ideas may help those of you who don't have a lot of money to spend.  I have been lucky enough to take over my college son's bedroom.  Just a little bit of muscle changes my cutting table area back into a bed.  I have use the headboard and two saw horses to make my cutting table.  A 4ft by 7ft piece of marker board was glued to the same size piece of plywood.  This makes a great top to draw on or for working with paint.  For Christmas I had a mat-board custom cut to fit over this.  My tools are kept on the wall on scrap pieces of peg board.  I didn't even have to throw out my son's teddy bear collection or gymnastic medals

My storage system has been plastic stack drawers that I try to get when I can find them on sale. (Usually at Big lots) I use them as the base for my pressing table.  The top is again plywood with cotton batting and muslin stretched  over it and stapled on the back. 

I removed the closet doors and added boards for shelves and more storage bins.   An empty dresser and two night stands stacked serve as extra storage.

My biggest challenge was for a sewing table.  I had a folding table just the right height,  but I wanted my machine set down in like a "real" sewing table.  We went to Lowes to find some 1/2 inch thick smooth wood.  We couldn't find anything suitable, but it was suggested that we look in floor tiles because the boxes had smooth boards in the top for shipping that are thrown away.  We found two that were perfect size.  ( and free)  My husband traced my machine and cut a hole in both boards.  Then we glued them with wood glue.  A frame was made using 2' by 1" wood.  Finally a notch was cut in the frame so I could load the bobin without lifting my machine.  It may not be fancy, but it sure works great.

My design wall was made with white flannel over fiber board.

The last wall of my studio is where my daughter's sewing machine is and of course a few more storage boxes.  You can see the corner of my pressing table on the left.

The Art of African Grandmothers | Bonnie Samuel Blog

Art for Social commentary

"This is a story of African women who when faced with the devastation of AIDS in their families, turned to textile design skills of their culture to raise funds to support of their own grandchildren. " The Art of African Grandmothers | Bonnie Samuel Blog

Sneak Peak

Just a sneak peak of the double wedding ring table runner for my son's wedding.  The black corner triangles have to be added to each block.  The corners will be the background fabric.  The boarder will match the black triangles.

Zentangles days 14-17

Been tangling but haven't posted.
Day 17
This tangle was drawn while watching my daughter get new wires in her braces.

 Day 16  This is redemption

 

Day 15 - Enjoying the warm weather and thinking about spring.  The right side looks like grub worms in the soil.

Day 14
A rose for Valentine's Day

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My Valentine's Project

Here's my free motion valentine's day project and Haiku I made for my husband.

Last of the Snow Dyes

Here are all the scrap pieces I dyed.  I had lots of fun dyeing, but my fingers froze.

Looks like a snow cone, but don't eat!

Fushia and Black Dye

close-up

Mixture of dyes -mainly black

mixture - blue, yellow, black, and a fushia spill

Fushia, Turquoise, and Black

Snow dyeing - interesting surprise

 Okay, so I only had two racks - improvise when you are too impatient!

 here is the result.  This was on a scrap of PFD fabric.

 Close up of surprise in corner:  A butterfly (may be from South America)

Snow dyeing - more results

Here are some pictures of my synthetic silk piece.  The finished piece looked pretty good until I rinsed it,  It did not retain much of the dye.

Snow dyeing - my favorite piece

 Okay so I never shared the rest of my snow dye results. Here are step by step pictures of my next piece. Same process as in my 1st post Snow dyeing.

melting

whole cloth

This is my favorite section

Moving Zentangle Posts

I am moving my Zentangle posts to their own blog.  Be sure to click the link below and follow me their for anything related to tangles.

Zentangle Journey Day 13 - bird of paradise

Something simple but intricate, today.

Zentangle Journey Day 12 - Hearts

I missed posting yesterday, but I did do a simple zentangle just before going to sleep last night.  Had a great day at my pen and ink class.  The oil paint is wet so it is put way up out of reach of little hands.  My grandson spent 2 days with us last week and might be coming for a whole week.  Need to childproof.

Zentangle Journey Day 11 -

I decided today's drawing should be a little more fluid. was thinking about spring due to the cold, and drew this unplanned plant.

Zentangle journey Day 10 - repetition

I was not quite happy with this zentangle.  i put it into paint shop and did some patterns, and kaleidoscopes.

Beautiful Minds: Stephen Wiltshire

Zentangle - Grandma's Flower Garden

Day 9 of my zentangle journey.  I used the hexagon shape from "Grandma's Flower Garden" for this tangle.  I didn't have quite enough room on my 6x9 bound journal page. Each hexagon is approximately 5/8"