Around the studio

I took some pictures today. First I wanted to share the stack-n-whack quilt I made using a skirt I found at the thrift shop.

 

Yes, I got every one of those printed blocks out of one size 14 above-the-knee skirt! I pretty much like the random way I placed them, and am hoping that a lot of machine quilting (not done by me!) will help camouflage all those seams in the blue. Anyway, they look like scattered stars to me, so I thought I'd paper piece some rising suns as a border.

 I was surprised at how many fabrics I found that went perfectly with the *skirt* fabric. I think it'll be a cool quilt when I get it done, but am not real motivated lately to finish twenty more suns!

For a couple of reasons I decided to make another ABC quilt only much smaller. These squares are five inches before sewing together and let me tell you--we're dealing with some tee-tiny pieces! 

  

Some pieces couldn't even be pinned, just had to glue stick them before sewing. Crazy! This quilt will hang in the kids play area so I tried picking block patterns  that tell *our* story here, and I'm also using my vintage stash in it, most of which I acquired this time last year.  OH I'll never forget that day! I'm enjoying working on this so will probably share results pretty soon.

While I was out in the studio I decided to take pics of it to share. I hadn't yet shown you much because it never looked "Magazine Worthy" like we see in so many other blogs but hey; in my current life I consider a clean floor to be a good look so here we go.

 

When I think about it, it's surprising how many of my pieces were bought with no place to go, but I knew if I bought them "all would be revealed". The red dinette in my kitchen is one of those pieces. I bought it before I moved up here. Stored it in a friend's airplane hanger because I didn't have any other place for it. Then I moved up here and well; it's such a good fit I should probably leave it if I ever sell the house! This green cabinet sat just inside the front door, in the tiniest room of the house, for almost a year while John came to understand that he really needed to have a studio built for me.  Several of you asked when I first showed it about that white scallop. It's simply cheap white vinyl that I hand cut. I really do cherish this cabinet. If I ever move I probably won't leave it. OH. Those two raggedy's up top. The one on the left was made by Nicole Ellison. Her work is so sweet! The one on the right I made for my first baby girl's First Christmas when I was 18. Seriously, I don't think I've ever met an 18 year old girl quite like me since. I'm just sayin'.

My favorite seat in the world.  Sitting in front of my beloved Bernina...tv on...two tubs of vintage scrappage at my feet waiting to be turned into quilt blocks. ahhh. Life can be good.

 

Here's a better look at the valances I made for all the windows. I used the Sizzix to cut every flower shape I had in every felt and velvet scrap I had. Turned out I made just enough of everything to go around three windows and one table skirt. Funny how that happens sometimes.

 

This white IKEA desk has every intention of being the "beading and jewelry station". Both sides are full of my jewelry and beads,  as is that blue doll chest of drawers at the foot of the chair, but for now I'm into fabric so the desk is just a catch-all area. I love my blue electric typewriter there but the kids have just about crapped it out. I paid 99 cents for it on ebay but twenty dollars to ship it here!

The rest of that wall. The red locker cabinet that holds all my ribbon (most of which will probably remain unused even after I die) is from IKEA. The tall cabinet next to it is from Target...their closet solutions pieces. I like how the lower part, meant to hold shoes, perfectly holds the cd boxes I found online. Mostly scrapbooking stuff in that corner. Especially behind the sliding doors. yikes! scrap crap to last a lifetime!

 This Wendy Addison chandelier was the centerpiece of my local drugstore last year but now it's the centerpiece of my studio (I got it for 60% off after Christmas!)

I know I've shown my little inspiration nook before, but here it is today, with all that junk up above (really--how many boxes and frames did I think I was going to alter in one lifetime?) and my Grandma's solid wood ironing board out and in use.

 

Working around the room, this closet is full to the brim with fabric (embarrassingly too much to show) and I've set the table up to be for stamping and scrapping. When I planned all this out I had all my days and nights free to do whatever whim struck me. HAHAHA!! Wonder what I was smokin' that day?!

 

Well, it's a blah shot but I just ran out and took it because I realized it completed the circle around the room. Which I love. :-)

Whew! What a long post! Are you still here? If so, thanks for letting me share. Gotta go. Have a great weekend!

Comments

[Tina]

You have a good sized studio and i just love the candy colors of the walls,the green cupboard,the aqua inside the closet and all the dashes of red.
The curtains you made are super pretty and sweet!Lovely!
Thanks for sharing,Jen,
~Tina

[Kris]

Jen... your quilting continues to be just wonderful. I think this quilt looks like sunbursts instead of stars. Your room looks awfully nice too. I bet you are so happy to have your own space that you can escape to, or just close and lock up behind you! We built a room, but Ted ended up taking it for his space.... whaaaaat!?!?!?!? Take care.
Kris

[Sherri]

I LOVE tours...yours is awesome...thanks so much for all the inspiration!

[michelleinfantino]

If I lived close to you I'd put my kid to bed and tell Mark "CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC ya, I'm goin' to Jen's!"

I love all your different little spaces for sewing/stamping/beading. How fun to have little stations.

Thanks for the tour.

[sharon]

OMG!!!!!!!!!! I am so coming over to your studio to hang out with you. Everything is freakin adorable!!!!!!! I want my own studio!!!!