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

[Doe]

Love you amazing quilts and your studio is to die for! And that green cupboard...*jealous*

[Heidi]

I love the tour! Next best thing to being there! Everything is organized, but very accessable! I love the wood ironing board, too. My mother has had the same one all her life (a wooden one), she's 79! So when I found one at the flea market for $5 I snatched it right up! Now to find a place to both display and use it...my craft room is too small...I NEED a studio like your's!
*Heidi*

[dana]

This just made me SO ashamed of myself!! I could cry!! I'm retired. I'm a computer addict/card making / knitting addict, and yet I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO ANY OF IT!!

PLEASE tell me HOW / WHEN you get the TIME to enjoy actually USING all the supplies!?

[Michelle]

I covet your workspace! You are some kind of blessed there!!!!

[MonicaA]

Wow your studio is amazing , I love love that green cabinet filed with all that yummy fabric!
I could stay in there all day :)

[Sue McG]

LOL, I'm still here :) Love your craft room, you're SO my people (too much stuff, too much fabric, never enough time :) Love your hubby for making it happen for you - or just being willing to let you make it happen for you. TOTALLY love that green cabinet, that is my color. I have a raggedy Andy and Anne that my grandmother bought for the kiddos, can't bear to part with them so here they sit, on a shelf, like all the other raggedys in the universe. Isn't it nice to know that there are others out there in the same universe and on the same plane as you? I like knowing you're doing your thing up there in No Cal. Someday I'm gonna turn up on your doorstep - consider yourself warned :)

[Susan at Black eyed susans kitchen]

I am truely in awe. Your studio would be like the happiest place on earth for me! I'm going back in to your pictures to check out that amazing stash of fabrics. You have a real artists eye. Susan

[tina]

By the way------- I've been back to your "tour" several times now. It is so inspiring, so wonderful, so HAPPY!

I'll be right over. If I leave now I should be there in 4 days so put on the coffee woman!

[happy zombie]

"Whew! What a long post! Are you still here?"

I'm still here, thanks to paramedics! I went into cutie-ack arrest after looking at the quilt, the studio, all of your goodies! OHMYFREAKINGGOSH!!! I'm dying, Jen. Dying. I want to climb through my monitor and jump into your studio and wrap myself in your amazing stack-n-whack.

YOU. ARE. AMAZING!!!!

[Cheryl]

Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful amazing, creative space!!! Every nook and cranny is just brimming with wonderful stuff! I would never want to leave that space!

[Lotta]

Gah! You just torture me with your awesome quilts. What must I do to buy one of those!!!

[Nanette]

The quilts are great. I love the blue and the ABCs. Fun things to work on. The studio is on the fairly amazing scale! I love it. It looks like a great creative place to work and play. The green hutch is really very cool. Well all of it is but that piece is pretty great. Love it all Jen.

[dawn]

Finally we get to see where your fabulous work comes from! Oh Jen, you lucky girl!

[jennifer Paganellli]

Amazing things going on here!!!! I love the cupboard!!! Truly wonderful and enchanting photos....thanks also for your comment you are the best..Jennifer

[upstatelisa]

gorgeous studio and VERY magazine worthy!

[pam]

I could cry a little bit just looking how cute this studio is. xop

[Renee]

Great tour and the room is PRETTY :)

[celia]

Your craft space is lovely! Really inspiring!

[Jackie]

I love your studio!! Wow, your work is gorgeous! Love all the works in progress. I love the fabric you have on your table... is it from Ikea? If not, where on earth did you get it?

[suzy]

Fabulous Jen! I'm supremely jealous of all that natural light in your studio. Oh, but that quilt you are putting together from the thrift skirt, amazing! It is going to be spectacular when you get that border on. You do amazing work! xo, suzy

[Denise Fontaine]

Beautiful!

[betsy]

your studio is beautiful.
looks like a picture from a home magazine. Lovely. I hope one day to be able to do that. I love both of your quilts. I am going thrifting today!

[Kathi D]

Wow, your studio is super duper fabulous!!!!

[Nicole Ellison]

Jealous...Jealous...Jealous! Did I mention that I'm JEALOUS! That is the BEST sewing room I have ever seen! I want every part of it! You're soooo lucky to have a room that size! And my sweet lil dolly.....oh I miss her..say Hi for me! She looks so cute sitting up there! Thanks for sharing her! And mentioning me!!!!! You're tooooo sweet! And yes...Missy is right...you are a well behaved girl with that fabric! Now I wanna see your scrapbooking since you're hiding it! Thank you so much for sharing your studio with all of us! Let me go wipe the drool off the table now!

[missy ballance]

I knew I felt connected to you! I have a Bernina too! LOL! so THAT must be it! LOL! Seriously tho... I popped on over to see if you wanted some cute quilt blocks I started, and WOWWWEEE! What a treat for me... a tour! I LOVE everything. But please tell me you have more fabric stashed somewhere besides on those green shelves... because if you DON"T... then you are so well behaved, and I jsut wouldn't even know what to say. I can't imagine... and I mean that in a good way... I can't imagine only buying what I actually use... and having all that money (and space) left over! LOL!