Tuesday, February 9, 2010

my studio

i've gotten e-mails from time to time asking about where i sew
& what my studio looks like.
but since the blog layout update.. i've gotten lots!

so hopefully this post will serve to answer your many questions...
{i'll try & update it to answer all new questions as well}
{updated 2.9 @ 11:20pm}
{updated 2.12 @ 1:30pm}

wide shot of the room

here is the floorplan
the room is about 12' x 17'

view from door upon entering
my mid-arm on a 10ft frame - with storage underneath

view of desk area
i change the quilt hanging above the drawers often

close up of bookcase that is to the left of my cutting table
here i keep magazines.. books & patterns.

here is a shot from the corner of the room

another shot from the corner.
this one shows my cutting space.

features of my studio
{which by the way didn't happen overnight... this has been a 2 year evolution that continues to grow & change}

lots of storage
1. six bins underneath quilt frame
2. two large drawers next to desk
3. two bookcases
4. large closet

design walls
1. 48" x 30" hung on side wall made from flannel stretched over plywood
2. collapsible 72" x 72" design wall by cheryl ann {can be seen here put up in front of the closet doors}

cutting space
1. 36" x 60" cutting table - this is an old dining room table raised up on bed risers to be the perfect height for cutting.
2. assorted smaller cutting mats for working in other areas & taking to classes

pressing surfaces
1. 18" x 24" June Tailor Cushioned Quilter's Square'n Blocker

2. traditional ironing board stored in closet for easy access when needed for larger work

sewing space
1. machine with frequent used tools in reach
2. 40" x 18" table allows for pressing surface to be directly next to my machine

tools & tool storage
1. see this post for details
2. since then i added cups from ikea as seen in this post
{update on tools coming soon}

bulk supplies
1. those two dots in the floorplan between the cutting table & bookcase are two bolts of batting. one is warm & natural and the other is warm & white
2. bolts of interfacing & cotton basics are stored in the closet

lighting
{i'll be honest.. i wish i had better overhead lighting.. but since the room didn't have it... it is meant to be a bedroom... this is how i've managed}
1. ottlite floor lamp
2. ottlite desk lamp on my cutting table
3. standard floor lamp
4. desk lamp on my desk
5. limited overhead light from ceiling fan
6. three bright windows which are great during the day


i hope that answers your questions.
do you have more?
leave a comment & i'll update the post as often as i can


Q&A

Sandy said...
For someone who has such an organized and attractive studio, why haven't you given that same detail to MY studio (loft) you did borrow my Fresia in 2002 and it seems you have had custody of her ever since. Hum, A Mother's love:)

lucky for you it looks like i'll be snowed in with you for the next few days

Purple Quilter Queen said...
Thanks for the tour of your studio Julie! I take it your brother took the pics? Good job! Jenn

nope. jared took them... more on that later

Dresden Quilter said...
Where do you get your batting from, and how high from the floor do you have your sewing table? PS. Thanks for the look.

i have to check my sewing table height & i get the batting at joanns when they have 50% off coupons

passingdowncrazy said...
Is it always that neat? Mine is almost always trashed!!!
It would be very easy to put up an expensive track light. They have the ones where the center fits where the existing light is. That way you could direct the light anywhere you need it.
What a wonderful spot to create!

no it is not always this neat
& i've thought about the lighting...

Anonymous said...
Hi Julie! Thanks for letting us peek into your studio ~ It's a great room!! I'd love to have a mid-arm too. Any recomendations? What do you love about your machines? What would you change?
Thanks, Pam

Mom on the Move! said...
thanks for sharing - can you tell me more about your machines? I am thinking of upgrading or maybe getting a second and would like to know what you use.

i have two machines
husqevarna viking freesia 415
husqevarna mega quilter
& i love them

Heather said...
WoW Julie.... your studio looks super fun!!! Can I come over and play... LOL..
XO, Heather

sure... just call first ;-)


Ann said...
Love your studio and the shots of it. Question - tv, music or nothing playing when you are in there working???

music... i don't have a tv in my studio right now!

37 comments:

Sandy said...

For someone who has such an organized and attractive studio, why haven't you given that same detail to MY studio (loft) you did borrow my Fresia in 2002 and it seems you have had custody of her ever since. Hum, A Mother's love:)

Sojourner said...

Thanks for sharing all this information! I find I am much happier sewing in a room that is organized. Mine is slowly evolving. Trial and error.

allsewnup said...

What an inviting space to spend the days. Thank you for the details, we're building a new house in the spring and I fully intend to have a "sewing only" space.

Carolyn

Purple Quilter Queen said...

Thanks for the tour of your studio Julie! I take it your brother took the pics? Good job! Jenn

Lexilooo said...

that looks great! I wish I had that much space...maybe someday :)

Natalia from Piece N Quilt said...

It's fun to see your studio Julie! Thanks for sharing! :)

rosie/the fabric shopper said...

What a wonderful space! Big tables are so nice. When I had my alterations shop, I used banquet table on bed risers .... wonder why I have not set them up at home. hmmm think there will be some furniture rearrangement in my future :-)

Angela Nash said...

Thanks for the tour! I would love to have that much cutting space. Mine is 24x36 and generally fine. But when doing those boarders and backs, 60" would be amazing!

And I'm giggling over your two batting spots. Anyone that sees my big roll thinks it's crazy!

Angela Nash said...

Oh - and your blanck and whites of the space and you working for the blog are awesome! Your brother's pics will be perfect for the dust jacket of your first book :)

Linda at Roscoe's Ma said...

Thanks for showing your sewing space. It is so nice to have all that room. I too have a room with unadequate overhead lighting so it was nice to see some of your solutions. I have big windows but struggle at night. Thanks!

Dresden Quilter said...

Where do you get your batting from, and how high from the floor do you have your sewing table? PS. Thanks for the look.

Anonymous said...

Is it always that neat? Mine is almost always trashed!!!

It would be very easy to put up an expensive track light. They have the ones where the center fits where the existing light is. That way you could direct the light anywhere you need it.

What a wonderful spot to create!

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie! Thanks for letting us peek into your studio ~ It's a great room!! I'd love to have a mid-arm too. Any recomendations? What do you love about your machines? What would you change?

Thanks,
Pam

Jessa said...

Thanks so much for sharing your space! Right now my sewing room doubles as the homeschool room. So I can leave my machine out on weekends and through the summer, but the rest of the time school gets priority at the table. I'd love to have a larger cutting mat/table. It seems that I am always turning it to suit. I also like your pressing board - I get tired out dragging out the ironing board for small pieces. I'll be on the lookout for that! Thanks again!

Mom on the Move! said...

thanks for sharing - can you tell me more about your machines? I am thinking of upgrading or maybe getting a second and would like to know what you use.

Jared Polin said...

what a great space lol lots of sharp objects that could totally cut my hair. I was scared for my life every min i was taking pictures lol.

Patty said...

I'm jealous... my sewing area is still a work in progress, I'm slowly moving my husband's stuff out and mine in... he promise to help now that football season is over ... time will tell

Mary said...

Love, love, love the pics of your studio! It's fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

WoW Julie.... your studio looks super fun!!! Can I come over and play... LOL..

XO, Heather

Vicki W said...

What a great space!

Sherri said...

Love your studio...thanks for sharing!

Stephanie said...

Wow, and I thought I was organized and pay attention to detail! Nice room, love your cutting table, mine is too low, which is why my back hurts often :)

Karamat said...

Thanks for sharing your sewing space. In our current house I'm spread out where ever I can find a little bit of unused space. But the next house will have a room of my own!

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Thanks for the tour! :-) It looks like you have a great place to be creative~ :-)

QuiltNut Creations said...

love your space!!

Maxine said...

I understand now how and why you get so much done --- you're super organized. Thanks for the pics and great ideas.

Danielle said...

Thanks for sharing pics (Great job, Jared). You have such a great studio. Good times.

Laura said...

Very nifty! Thanks for sharing your space-I love your emphasis on having good storage space.

Jocelyn said...

Wow it really looks great. Love seeing your work area.

Micki said...

What a wonderful sewing studio you have! It is so organized!
Micki

Rebekah said...

what a great setup!

I've never heard of a midarm machine before.

Renegade Quilter said...

Love your studio and the shots of it. Question - tv, music or nothing playing when you are in there working???

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

Definitiely crazy amazing, organized work space. Hm...one day...I hope to set up a designated sewing room and maybe that will help me with organization...instead of hunting for things! haha

Your blog is wonderful!
Blessings & Aloha!

Stitched With Prayer said...

Hi There, I found your blog due to the GO! giveaway, but I have been wandering through it since and I truly do enjoy it. I have you on my fav's so that I can find you each morning when I check the few blogs that I look at regularly. Thanks for this great tour of your studio! I don't have a sewing room...but I'm only 60 so maybe when I grow up I'll have one, LOL. I sew downstairs in the summer and in the living room in the winter. Health issues prevent me from being super productive, maybe 4 quilts a year if I'm lucky, but some day, I hope to feel well enough to really dig in. They also limit the time I can sit at the computer enjoying blogs and online friends, hence the short list! Quilting is my stress relief, pain relief and just all around relaxation, every aspect of it. Looking at your studio makes me realize that if I had a place to be as organized as you are, I could probably get a little more done. Thanks again, it was great! I'm off to look at more treasure around your blog!!! OH! One question...do you quilt on your mid-arm for others or is that just for your personal use?

Quiltjane said...

HI Julie, I would be interested also in knowing what you use the mid arm for. I have a Grandquilter and use it for all over quilting on smaller projects. What machine do you have and how do you find it? Kind Regards, Jane

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

SEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW :) glad that i found YOU! i was just talking today with my husband about making our guest bedroom into a sewing room for me. i LOVE your cutting table!! infact, your whole room is totallly fabulous! a nice place to go to create. for me, i have to move from room to room, which is a pain - and then clean up each time i am done.

thanks for inspiring me!!

becky
california

TheBloodofTheLamb said...

I am just finding out about blogs and I have no idea how I came across yours but O, my sweet Lord, He has so blessed me with what His eyes have made. I just started quilting because a gal at church inspired me when she would post her quilts, so I thought, let me try...we are all creative that way we just don't know it till we try. Thank you for your amazing blog. I want to follow you wherever you go..LOL