studio

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Sloppy Studio Saturdays

I can’t believe what I am about to show you……..but because of this…….
and this……….
I get to expand to here……….
There is a bedroom next to my studio, that I spent the morning emptying so my dear husband could install an indestructible floor.  
Do you think that means that if hot, molten glass or fabric paint or sharp scissors drop on it that it will still look the same?
I guess we will see!!!
There is one place in my studio that is still neat and tidy……..
My Blythe Doll shelf!
Looks like I wont be doing much work for the next few days, but hopefully soon I can post pictures of a neat and organized studio space.  I can’t wait to SPREAD OUT!!
And guess what?……there is still another un-used bedroom upstairs for me to expand into….ssshhhhh!
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Last Weekend’s Show and My Surprise Package

A few posts ago I told you I was busy getting ready for a show.  Abaco had its first Agri-Expo and it was a great success!!  That’s me in my tent with my quilts hanging up.  I had little art quilts, jewelry and ceramics on the table, and had great upright stands for them but the wind was brutal and everything kept blowing down.  I did well, sold quite a bit of jewelry, ceramics and got an order for a quilt!
There were lots of vendors with organic produce, farmers brought their goats, pigs, sheep and chickens out, and there were many other arts and crafts tents.  There were also fantastic food vendors including a vendor that had vegan foods for sale……YUMMY!
So this week I have been trying to gather my self together again, work on orders, work on swap quilts, quilt a quilt for a fundraiser this weekend, and stay inspired.  I still feel like my imagination is overflowing and I am enjoying that, just wish I had more time to play with these ideas.
Yesterday I got a nice surprise in the mail…….my “Anything Goes Mini Quilt Swap”
Here is one of the quilts I received:
It is 8″x 8″ square with embroidery stitches and button embellishments!!!  I LOVE it!!!  Looks like the water and bubbles.  It is hanging next to a flower that is painted on my studio wall and matches perfectly.
My sweet swap partner wasn’t sure I would like that quilt.  Thought it may have been too pastel-y, after seeing my work, so she sent me another on!!!!!! Can you believe it?
This one is called “Here Comes Summer” and I am infatuated with this one as well!!!  I can’t believe I was so lucky to receive TWO and from such a great quilter!!!  Her work is perfect and precise and I feel honored to be her partner.  I have been admiring her work for a while now, so I hope we get to be partners again!!!
Check out her blog and look at her awesome work.
I have quite a collection of swap quilts now, and am involved in 4 more right now, so that means I have 4 more on the way to me!!
This is the wall in my studio that I started to hang my collection.
Well, I need to get back to work and finish those swap projects!!!  Today I was making clay buttons to add to one of those projects, so I thought I’d do a post while I was waiting on those to dry.
I’ll be back the end of the week to show you the large quilt I am quilting for the fundraiser.
Have a great week 🙂
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….even my studio is a work in progress…..

I am a bit late in posting pictures of my studio, but the small town where we live, in Abaco, Bahamas, the hardware stores (and many other stores) close at noon on Saturday. So my husband and I spent our morning searching for items for the many do-it-yourself projects we have going on…….my studio is one of them……..

On the table in the middle I do everything from sewing to quilting to painting fabric to flameworking. And of course, Tesi the cat, has to inspect everything I am doing. Cat hair is just like batting right? She was very intrigued by all the pictures i was taking and managed to get in as many as possible.

Over to the side is an antique dresser where I store supplies for jewelry and some favorite vintage fabrics that are extra special. Next to this dresser is my grandmothers rocking chair .

In this corner is a neat little window seat where i can look out at the birds and browse thru some of my favourite books. On the wall on the right i hope to one day put shelves, for more storage, and a cork board with loads of inspiring pictures. The picture on the easel is a mixed media self portrait i did several years ago.

On the shelves on the back wall are my collection of Blythe dolls and a collection of vintage mason jars with different ribbons and trims in them. There is a website called http://www.ribbonjar.com/ that used to mail out a jar every month filled with ribbons and trims that all followed a certain theme. They haven’t done this in a while and i really miss it!

Another shot of my messy work table from the sewing side with an art quilt, in progress, at my Bernina. The wall behind the table has two closets for losts of storage.

Down a flight of stairs from that workroom is my quilting room where ‘daisy” lives….my long arm quilting machine…..everyone names their long arm machines don’t they? Also, down here are many bolts of fabric, batting, and quilts waiting to be quilted. Tesi, deserved one last shot since she can be quite the muse….actually she probably considers herself more of an instructor 🙂

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Open Studios Tour by Cloth Paper Scissors

Check back in a few days to view photos of my studio. Keep in mind it is a work in progress (my studio) and truly is a working studio since i am getting ready for 2 upcoming shows!!!!! Also, check out the Cloth Paper Scissors website to view the studios of other mixed media artists……they may inspire you! You may even want to purchase the newest issue of Studios Magazine.