"Quilt Romance" has lots of delicious photos and 20 designs. For all you Glorious Applique afficionados there is an article on Kim McLean with photos, as well as the pattern to her Hearts and Flowers Quilt.
The random draw will be on Sunday, 20th March at 9pm Sydney time. I will send internationally. To enter, follow these requirements:
1. Leave a comment on this blog about a great design tip/idea for a sewing room. This can be from your own experience or from some other source that you have seen.
2. In the comment, explain why you like your tip/idea.
3. Mention this giveaway in your next post if you have a blog,
OR if you don't have a blog, become a "follower" of this blog.
Meanwhile, I would like to show you how I am managing my resolution for the New Year. If you are confused about this just go to the sidebar to see my 2011 challenge.
Just a smidgin that I slipped into "Morse Code" at the last minute.
Here it is again in a project I am currently working on but haven't posted about.
Above is block #16 from the Beyond the Cherry Trees Album quilt. I wondered how I was going to include blue in a fundamentally red and green quilt. When the pattern for this block was published, there was some online discussion where it was felt the vine could have been blue instead of green. I leapt at the opportunity. It is not quite finished. If you want to have a sticky beak at the blog about this quilt go to the sidebar and press on the Beyond the Cherry Trees Album button.
Finally, during the week, my 50th follower joined. Being a follower does not obligate you in any way and sometimes it's a bonus. Winging its way towards Rochelle from this blog is a gift.
So, good luck to all who enter the giveaway.
72 comments:
Wow, what a great way to sneak that into BTCT. I'm still making grapes! I've got that book already, but I'll post about your giveaway tomorrow anyways! Have fun with this,
My tip (which I have not done yet) is from a Ricky Tims seminar this past January. Our number one homework assignment was to put away our standard ironing boards and make a large surface for pressing. Cut plywood to size, cover with Warm and Natural and then a finish cloth folded over to the back and stapled. Doesn't have to be pretty! I love this idea because a standard ironing board tapers at one end, making it impossible to press a row of blocks without a lot of shifting. I'll blame my procrastination on lack of space.
quiltfever.wordpress.com
Wow! What a great book! My husband built me a cutting table comfortable to my height (I'm 5'7") so I wouldn't have to bend over. It fits the large 57x33 mat. He also built me an ironing board book case to fit my height. Book case on the bottom with the large ironing board on top. Now I can iron large pieces of fabric and utilize the bottom for my many books. Thanks for the chance to win a wonderful book. Allison at gougeonathome@charter.net
Would love to win this book! I think that the best studio would have a cutting table at a perfect height, pressing table a rotation away from the sewing machine, tools on a wall board easily accessible, and unlimited time for creating (I think I'm dreaming now!!)
I am a follower !
My tip is to not see all the miscellaneous excess - I have made curtains to cover all the containers of fabric because if I don't see it while I am making a quilt, I won't become distracted.
If I see my crates of fabric, I end up wandering over to them and pulling out stuff
Ooooo cool book!!
Personally it's all about lighting when I sew so I would make sure there is lots of lighting. I would also prefer having doors on my fabric storage areas as all that light is not good for fabric. That was two suggestions does that count for extra entries? ROFL
I'm off to post about your giveaway :0)
Crispy
PS - Oops should mention that I love all your projects. Great idea for the vine!!
I think plenty of organized storage is key! I get so many ideas from a blog I see on your blogroll.. sew many ways! Thanks for a chance to win, I've been wanting that Kaffe book for a while!
Hi Liz, beautiful applique block, I always like the interest a striped fabric brings to a quilt so I really like the grapes stem. My tip would be to set up the sewing machine against a wall in the room so that to the left of it can be a table to hold the weight of a quilt when machine quilting.
Happy Stitching,
Cheri
I was just flipping through the book at the Dallas Quilt Celebration yesterday. It looks great.
Everyone has had great ideas for your sewing room--I envy you your dedicated space. My sewing room tip to add to the rest is to be sure to use the walls: a permanent design wall and a pegboard to hang rulers, stencils and other tools keeps current work and go-to-tools organized but in easy access.
Crispy sent me over here to visit your blog. My tip is to have a design wall on a vertical surface. Being able to step away and look at your quilt blocks is very helpful instead of looking at them up close. Different perspective :^)
I'm a follower now too!
Comfortable seating! It must be adjustable so that I can get it low and angled forward as well as to be able to roll around. I believe Bernina and Horn of America have teamed up to design this 'perfect' chair. This is next on my must have list and I am saving up for it now.
Hi, My friend Crispy sendt me over to your greate blog. And now I'm an follower too.
Install a single heavy-duty shelf fairly high on a wall so that you can run a closet rod underneath it where you can hang finished quilt tops and longer yardages from pants hangars and they'll be high enough that your cat or dog won't rub on them. ;D Put pretty fabric tubs above for fat quarters or scraps or books.
And for your health - place your ironing board AWAY from your sewing area so that you have to get out of your chair and take a few steps to do your pressing. Helps relieve your back, pump blood through your system, and wake up nerves running through your legs! The benefits of doing this aren't so obvious when you're totally healthy, but those of us who have problems like peripheral nerve damage or pulmonary issues really notice how much that tiny bit of mobility helps. Human bodies aren't designed to just sit all the time.
Blogger Apple Avenue Quilts said...
My favorite thing that I did in my sewing room was to raise the cutting table. I have one of those old, heavy, rather beat-up folding tables. Mine is pressed wood, but I think they are made of plastic now. It's regular table height and was making my back hurt when ever I cut on it. I found some heavy plastic risers intended for beds and put them under the feet. The table is wonderful now. I also skirted it to create a multitude of storage and added a heavy plastic tablecloth to cover the less than perfect top, so it's pretty now too. Thanks on the chance on the giveaway.
You have such fun projects going!
I enjoyed my visit.
If I were designing a sewing studio..I'd have more than one design wall if there's room. Most of us have more than one project going at a time. It's nice to be able to leave a work in progress up, rather than having to shuffle the blocks back and forth every time you switch what you're working on.
No need to enter me in your drawing..I have the book. ;)
I'm here by way of Crispy Quilts' blog and am glad I came. Lots of interesting ideas here for a sewing room. I like the idea of the design wall and the cutting table at the right height for you, and lots of organized space that can be hidden behide curtains or cupboard doors. The one tip I have done for myself is to have a desk with the lowered shelf for my sewing machine that also holds the clear table surrounding the machine. I can have easy access to my pins, scissors and machine accessories but they don't take up any useable counter space. My table is made by Quiler's Dream to fit my Bernina and they make them to fit most machines as well. Thanks for the great giveaway. I hope to see pics of your room once it's completed. Have fun desiginig!
and ps. I'm a follower now too :-)
Reading Crispy's blog post about organization reminded me of my under bed plastic storage containers. These are great for storing fat quarters and yardage, too. You don't have to keep them under the bed. They can be stacked under the tables in your sewing room.
right now my "studio" is a teacher's desk set behind the couch in the greatroom, ideally it would be in a loft with lots of storage hidden away by sliding closet doors covered in felt so they can double as design walls and of course, lots of natural light would flow in through sky lights and windows!
AAAANNNNNDDDD...I am now following your blog!
I think shelves, shelves and more shelves are the key. Love to have them to show and store WIP's and fabric.
One of the best tips I can give your for your sewing room is "Peg Board" pegs are wonderful to hang your rulers, roller cutters, sissors, the list goes on and on of things you can hang there, also frees up valuable table space. I would love to win the book.
Crispy sent me to visit your blog. LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT. that is my biggest tip. I have 2 ott lights besided my ceiling light. I also picked a white sewing cabinet. That makes more light in the room. And a coffee pot ! That would be my favorite addition. LOL. Then I don't have to go down to the kitchen to warm up my coffee. Enjoy your blog !!
Sewing room tips:
1. Invest in Ott light bulbs, they are the best.
2. A large cutting table at the right height - save your back!
3. Open shelves to showcase beautiful fabrics.
and finally...
4. Clipboards. I have eight that hang on my wall, each has a pattern, fabric ideas, paper for notes etc. It helps keep project you want to do out where you can see them - out of sight means out of mind!
Hi Liz,
I don't know if I have any great tips- I guess organize the fabric the way it makes sense to you- Make sure that it can not get light damaged-
Have good light in your quilting space.
I have become a follower and I did put a link on my blog. You can find it here:
http://quiltmomsjourney.blogspot.com/
I am a huge fan of Kaffe and I have a couple of his other books - just not this one. I love his love of color - they are so saturated with color - yummy to look at.
Thanks for the opportunity to win such a great book.
Regards from Western Canada,
Anna
Hi Liz,
I love your grapes :-)
I think as a new quilter, the best tip I have received so far is to starch, starch, STARCH. It was suggested to me by my very first block swap partner back in January and I think It has been a great tip for me.
I am a follower :-)
Good morning!
My sewing room tip is to use the white ceiling tiles as design walls. They can be glued or fastened to the wall. You can pin and re-pin over and over. Or, you can cover with flannel to use without pins. The ceiling tiles allow you to make your design wall as large as you want. They are 2' x 2'. I also use them as a bulletin board on another wall.
I have purchased a couple of the Kim McLean patterns and love the Kaffe book also (hoping I win).
Love your blog, became a follower this morning.
My tip is to make sure that your cutting area is the correct height so that you don't hurt your back. I recently got an IKEA kitchen cabinet with a butcher block top and twelve drawers for my cutting area. Having all of the drawer space is wonderful and it helps me stay organized. Thanks for a chance at the great giveaway. I'd love to make the cover quilt...someday.
I LOVE what I see on your blog! Love your 2011 challenge idea! What fun!
Tip: I love my printer's type press box hanging on the wall where I store lots of my thread, bobbins, embroidery floss, AND it's so pretty to look at.
My tip is: I just made a mug wrap (a Simplicity pattern with 3 easy pieces) for myself and several friends. You can be really creative with fabrics and embellishments. It holds all the little things that roll all over your tables. I have it on the corner of my sewing table within easy reach and can pick, use and put back. I dont have a blog so I just became a follower of your blog. Glad I found you.
Everyone's posted great ideas! Light is very important, but protecting the fabrics from the light equally important, particularly if you plan to store them for 20 years or more! (a stash doesn't always get used up, and some of mine had issues) It really depends on how large your room is, but it would be nice to have separate cutting, sewing, ironing (large enough for ironing the full width of fabric), and working space, plus a design wall (or two) if you have the room. But that's a big space. Someone told me about a woman who moved her sewing to her living room to have the room she wanted and just put up pretty doors to close it off. So, first rethink which room to use! ;)
Enjoyed reading your blog!
I love the quilt on the front cover of this book!I wish I had a designated sewing room instead of a corner of the spare room!! If I did, one thing I would have is a design wall - I think you really need to hang your work in progress and stand back and look at it ( It's not the same when you're standing on a chair looking at quilts on the floor!)
I'm a new follower!
I use a pair of broken binoculars with only one lens ,looking through the wrong end to preview fabrics to see if they fit into "light" or dark" categories.Mine are inherited,but you could probably find something similar at an op shop.Just became a follower as I don't have a blog.
I keep all my ongoing projects in art bin boxes with the handles. They easily hold 12 1/2 square blocks.
Yeah, I'm a new follower.
Liz, I have enjoyed reading everyone helpful tips.
I use my camera in my quilting to help with deciding on fabrics I use in a quilt , and also finding the mistake of a block sewn in upside down or reverse. Saves unsewing.
I too have raised my cutting table and transformed my regular ironing board into a big board. I also thought I had great lighting until I bought my Daylight lamp.
My favorite tool in my studio is my cutting table. I took 2-36 inch base cabinets and put a hollow core door on top (attached with self-adhesive velcro). On top I double faced taped down 2 cutting mats so I have 6 feet of cutting surface.
The cabinets have roll out shelves for plenty of storage.
I use this 36 inch tall table for everything I do in my studio.
I am a great fan of Kaffe. Met him at the Chicago Quilt show last spring.
Joined your blog as a follower.
Mary Ann
My tip is to have really good task lighting. I have a great central light in my sewing room, but I also have several smaller lights at various points in the room- over the cutting area, over the pressing surface, at my machine. And they all have cool, white, globes for good colour "reading". Thanks for the giveaway. Love Kaffe and his patterns, but don't have that book yet.
I included your giveaway in my blog today:
http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2011/03/luck-and-delicious.html
Please pick me - I LOVE Kaffe Fassett's designs! My quilting tip is to move the ironing board away from the sewing machine - like into another room. That way you have to get up from the sewing machine and get a little exercise.
I'm a follower and I blogged about your giveaway at http://salliessampler.blogspot.com/2011/03/quilterie-giving-away-kaffe-fassett.html
My tip is to keep all the fabric/thread/design ideas/templates for a project in one place. I like the clear 'Really Useful' craft boxes as they make a stable stack. This way you can use any available time working on a project rather than spending some of it searching for everything and it also means you don't accidentally use fabric in another project. I also keep food and drink out of my sewing room as I have a tendency to knock things over and it also forces me to take a break every now and then. Thanks for the giveaway! (P.S. I'm a follower!)
my ironing board is behind my sewing machine. I have a comfortable wheeled chair--I just turn around and wheel over to press. I love mindless chain piecing--the long bits of blocks go off the back of my sewing machine into a box that sits on top of a five gallon bucket. In front of my machine is a 8x8' design wall made of 1.5" thick foam insulation boards. They are rigid enough that the only place they attach to the wall is at the top with a few thin nails with large washers. Hinged down the middle with wide packaging tape. You can put several LAYERS of blocks on this with stick pins. I also hang directions for what I might be piecing right in front of me as I sew--no getting up to check.
I have a long arm--and I have rippers on both the front and back side attached by sticky velcro--you don't lose them and they are handy. Self threading needles to bury thread tails when you are done quilting. A tip given to me was use bits of blue painters tape as you quilt so you can FIND those thread ends.
And my favorite thing in my sewing room--an old store table with 9 shelves underneath it for storage. Its 9 ft long and 30 inches wide--the top has two large cutting mats on it. Its raised to a comfortable height with bricks. On one end is florescent light for more light--and around that corner on the wall are nails to hang all my rulers, squares, rotary cutters. Above is a shelve to hold tape, pens, pencils--all handy. And right off the end of the cutting table--a cardboard box to sweep those bits of fabric into the trash!
My favorite sewing room tip is to stay organized and put things away. I also cut my scraps into random sizes I have been saving for a scrappy project. My space is so small and organizing is the key
I am a new follower and excited to read the quilt room ideas being posted.
I read through all the comments, and feel mine goes against the majority of the ones that talk about your ironing board. I lower the ironing board to be at the correct level for me to merely roll my chair to the side and press blocks instead of having to get up out of the chair and press them. I put an old-timey CD player across the room. When the CD reaches the end and starts over, that's my "cue" to get up and stretch.
I also bought an old tie-holder from Goodwill and hung it on the wall over my cutting table. I keep fabrics on those black clips you use for holding papers together. My strips and blocks can be organized and hung over the table and not take up table space.
I have my scissors hanging from a piece of ribbon. While sewing, I hang them around my neck like a necklace, so I'm not fumbling looking for them when I need them.
I have been very blessed in that I closed in my garage, bought a longarm and started from scratch with my sewing room. I had two tables built at 90cm high so that I could stand and cut. I can sew and cut ergonomically now. One table has teflon cover for ironing and is lined with baskets underneath. Thanks for the great giveaway.
My hubby cut an opening in my table so my sewing machine table sits flush with the larger table. Voila, a built in base for large pieces. It works fabulous, although it isn't portable for when I go to workshops or retreats. I've become a follower. I'll browse around a bit now and see what you're working on with those stripes.
Hi, Liz! My tip is to create storage and a portable "ironing-board helper" from a TV stand. Because we now have those skinny TVs, I re-purposed a two-shelf, roll-around cart into storage shelves for fabrics. I also made a cover for the stand. The cover fits like a tablecloth, and the front drape can be flipped up to reveal stored items.
The cart can easily be wheeled under a table or pulled out and placed behind my ironing board to support over-sized items that hang off the edge of the ironing board. I like my idea because it kept what would have been a discarded item out of the landfill.
My tip for the sewing room is to raise up the cutting table. I have an old Ikea table that I put on bed risers, it makes it the perfect height for cutting and my back doesn't ache!
And now I am a follower too!
My late father made my mother a beautiful thread rack to hang on the wall - it has dowels to accomodate many sizes of spools. He sanded it very smooth and used polyurethane as a finish. He also made one for my SIL. When all the colors of thread are sorted on the dowels, it's so pretty and useful -- you know exactly what is available and it doesn't take up much space. This is my tip - a large pretty thread spool rack for your sewing room. alternate email mlwright29(at)hotmail(dot)com
The sewing room is a problem for me right now. My sewing room right now is the formal living room. I was considering taking out the wall between that room and the bedroom next to it to make a bigger room. I would have to move the closet to the bedroom next to that one and take out the hall closet as well.
I've kinda put that on hold (alot of work) and decided to move my quilting machine and fabric into that room. Don't know if that will work or not.
Basically I need a makeover. I don't have time to do all that work and still get my sewing done. What to do???
http://averagequilter.blogspot.com/
I am a new follower.
I think the most important thing for a successful sewing space, or any creative space, for that matter, is a door. I think it's so important to be able to retreat from the rest of your life while you're creating, and also be able to leave everything where it is and close a door on the mess when you have to deal with the realities of everyday life!
My tip is to have a cutting table at the right height and size and dedicated to cutting fabric. I don't have one yet, am working on getting one... :)
I am a new follower of your blog...
My tip is very simple, do clean up your sewing room regulary. My sewing room is always a MESS. Because i also love to work in the livingroom downstairs, so after sewing I take my stuff upstairs and put it somewhere on the table in my sewingroom. You can imagine after some days, there is a huge pile of things on my sewingtable!!!!
I am a follower now.
What a lovely book ! thanks for the chance.
My tip is just be organized!
i am a new follower
keep a basket on your sewing table and tidy your tools away after use
they are all together and look nice too
it's also easier than rushing to put things in the "right place" and then forgetting where that place is
....that's from experience ;)
I have small storage unit on wheels stationed oat m left side with a pressing board and iron. When working on a project that needs lots of seams pressed as I work, I turn my chair and press and go back to stitching. I also have my serger set up on my right side. This configuration works for me.
I have an antique gate leg table I store with the flat side against the wall and then pull up the flaps which I need extra cutting space. My large cutting board I can find on its edge against the wall. I have limited space in the spare bedroom with Queen size bed taking most of the room!I love Kaffe!
I'm a follower! Thanks
I'm a follower!
The best idea that I have lately is for keeping my projects organized. I like to write things out on notecards and tape them to the wall. So each project will have it's own notecard and will be given a progress list for it that can be updated. This way everything stays fresh in my head without getting confusing.
I might have missed the cutoff time for the giveaway... not very good at figuring out Australian time, I am one of those US followers. :) Thanks for doing the giveaway anyways, maybe I can get the next one! :)
I have no earth shattering ideas for you. Wish I did. I have a 12 ft long longarm table which runs right down the middle of my sewing room. I do have room underneath the table to store cubicles and since I have no closet I have purchased bookcases from Ikea. Over time I have accumulated 5 of them. These do hold quite a bit of my "stuff". I am in the process of downsizing and purging ..I will never quit quilting unless my hands and fingers dictate to me that it is time. Until then I just keep stitching. I too am doing the BTCT quilt. Well not yet as I am just now starting to cut my blocks and vines..Will look forward to seeing photos of your finished room.
My tip (via my mom): use cardboard to wrap your larger cuts of fabric, which you can organize by color. As for me, I'm still stacking folded bundles organized by project since, still being a quilting pup, I've got a much smaller stash!
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