My design desk
Imagine my surprise when browsing through my website, to find that I had neglected to post any photographs of my new working studio since the renovations had been completed on the front half. I have been working in this amazing space for approximately a year now and I had not posted any pics… oops! Well, I guess that proves that I have indeed been busy working in the studio, not just sitting back and admiring it. It certainly is a great joy to have a wonderful space in which to focus on the creation of art. It is private, spacious, beautiful, and best of all, just mine. That means I only have to clean up when I feel like it, or absolutely must because of the detritus accumulating everywhere. I have full use of four rooms, with the possibility of a fifth room when I turn the old kitchen space into my dye room. The kitchen is at the back of the building, facing north, and is the last space to be renovated. In the meantime, I take full advantage of the rest of the rooms, using one for storage, one as a painting/collage studio, one as a design and sewing room, and the adjoining room as a supply room, all painted in my favorite pastel colours. With windows that reach almost from floor to ceiling, there is an abundance of natural light, and for lovely ambient lighting, I’ve installed beautiful chandeliers. On the back wall facing towards the windows, I’ve positioned my design desk, surrounded by some of my most treasured collectibles. It is here that I work in my sketchbook journal or flip through art books for inspiration, with all my pencils, markers, and pens within easy reach. This room has a delicious colour theme of robin’s egg blue, soft vanilla cream, and black, which continues into the supply room where all my quilting fabric is stored in a wire basket system.
An Inspiring Workspace
One of the must-have features of my studio/sewing room is the 8’x8′ design wall covered in white flannel. I honestly don’t know how I worked without one for all those years! Not only is it great for displaying quilt blocks in the design process, it is indispensable for taking photographs of my work. The flannel is a little ‘grippy’ and therefore I often can stick fabric samples or quilt blocks to the design wall without the use of pins. Quilted pieces are heavier and require pins but the design wall is constructed of sturdy insulating foam under the flannel and can withstand even my largest quilts. The positioning of the wall offers me the option of stepping back over twelve feet to view my work, but is located conveniently to my cutting table.