Studio tour

My apologies for the lack of a blog last week. The time is slipping away rapidly as I’m absorbed in getting our house ready to sell. Remodeling has been quite an education and I’ve had little time to spend in my quilting studio being creative and running my business. I love my studio and decided to give you a pictorial tour. I’m really going to miss it when house sells and I have to move. This has been my creative haven for over 13 years.

UK, house, KQG show 215 UK, house, KQG show 214

I’m fortunate to have a magnificent sewing table custom made for my sewing machine with a big surface perfect for sewing large quilts and plenty of storage space underneath. There’s also a large cutting table. When I swivel my chair round from my machine, I’m at my desk and computer.

UK, house, KQG show 212 UK, house, KQG show 216

The open fronted IKEA shelves are great for storing fabric and the double mirrored closet also houses fabric, thread and assorted supplies. The bookcase is full of inspiring quilting books and I’m constantly using my 72″ x 72″ work wall. I’m hoping that wherever I move, I’ll have the space for another set up such as this.

 

Spring Table Runner

I am writing this on the most beautiful sunny day. The colors are saturated and the daffodils are opening up. Here’s a couple of pictures taken in 2011 in the Skagit Valley near the La Conner Quilt Museum where they grow fields and fields of daffodils and they are so pretty at this time of year.

Jan to March 2011 175 Jan to March 2011 179

I love the feel of spring with everything bursting open and the richness of the colors, as well as the warmth of the sun after winter. In the last few days the cherry blossom has opened up – a lovely pink. Here’s my spring table runner inspired by the spring flowers and made from 12 of my Bargello blocks as featured in my book Bargello Quilts with a Twist.

P1020412 P1020413

Kitsap Quilters Guild Mystery Quilt

At our recent Kitsap Quilters Guild show there was a display of mystery quilts. One of our members, Jaxine Anderson coordinated the Judy Hopkins mystery project. The instructions were provided in our monthly newsletter over a period of a few months. What’s fun is the great variety of colorful quilts generated. It’s inspiring to see the results from the different choices of fabrics when everyone used the same pattern. Here are ten examples:

UK, house, KQG show 296UK, house, KQG show 298

UK, house, KQG show 291 UK, house, KQG show 290

UK, house, KQG show 292 UK, house, KQG show 288

UK, house, KQG show 286 UK, house, KQG show 282

UK, house, KQG show 284 UK, house, KQG show 280

These quilts were made by guild members Nancy Cave, Jaxine Anderson, Jan King, Andrea Rudman, Charlie Peterson, Sherry Loomis, Keitha Unger, Linda Melcher, Nancy Parrott and MaryAnn Hooker. What a difference the background value makes as well as the use of busy prints versus more solid looking fabrics.