LM: Describe your sewing room.
BC: Once upon a time my sewing room was a
warm, cozy sanctuary! Today it’s a giant mess
and horribly dark. What was a good-size room
when I moved into it in 1982 is now cramped
and confining, mainly because I’ve outgrown
my storage spaces since adding more antique
cupboards for my fabric stash. It needs a massive
clean out and reorganization and more light.
LM: If you could create your dream sewing
space what would it look like?
BC: My dream sewing space would include lots
of windows, really good lighting for cloudy days
or evening sewing, a comfortable chair for doing
handwork, cable TV, lots of cupboards and open
shelving for quilts and fabric storage, glass-door
cupboards for my antique quilt collection, and
a wall-size design board. I also would include
the Ping-Pong table my dad built when I was a
little girl. It would be a perfect place to lay out
or baste a quilt and for friends to gather around
and stitch.
LM: What tips or tricks do you have for getting
out of a creative rut?
BC: When I’m in a creative rut, I look through
my collection of books that feature antique
quilts. If I’m still having trouble, then a complete
break away from my sewing room for a few days
usually helps.
LEFT When Betsy was
a beginning quilter,
she hand-pieced and
hand-quilted this Lone
Star quilt while her
first child, Rachel, was
napping. ABOVE Betsy’s
favorite scrappy quilt to
make is Gone to Texas,
from her book by the
same name.In Betsy’s studio,
antique cupboards
hold historical texts,
antique quilts, and fabric.
Mini quilts cover the
walls. Betsy has made
hundreds of mini quilts.
“They’re so easy and fast
to make, you get carried
away,” Betsy says.AllPeopleQuilt.com 19