I usually play classical or
instrumental music while I work, and
especially when I free-motion quilt.
I fi nd that it keeps me moving along,
without distracting me. I sit only
when I sew; I paint, cut, fuse, and
design standing up. It’s rare for me to
have an entire day in the studio. A lot
of my work is done in short bursts. My
cat, Wicked, has a bed under a warm
halogen lamp, and she’s usually with me
while I work.
Storage is also key. I have two large
storage units along one wall that are
fi lled with plastic bins. They hold a lot
of the art supplies I use most often. I
also keep bins under my pressing and
cutting tables for things I don’t need as
often. I use a built-in bookcase for most
of my fabric storage. An oak armoire—
that wouldn’t fi t around the corners
into our bedroom and had to stay
downstairs—holds vintage quilts and
more fabric. I have a small cabinet and a
hanging thread rack to store my thread,
and a primitive , green , painted cabinet
holds my paint.
A lot of stuff also gets stored in
my offi ce. Large metal shelving units
hold much of the ‘business’ part of my
things, and my art quilts are rolled and
placed on the top. Many are rolled on
pool noodles and stored in Tyvek bags
I made to keep them safe from dust or
moisture. Bolts of batting, PFD fabric,
and interfacing are also stored there.
I use things I love to store my
materials. Old trunks/foot lockers that
took generations of my family to camp
and college have found new use as
storage for batting. My mom was an
amateur potter, and lots of her vases
hold pencils, pens, and scissors. I also
enjoy adding little touches of whimsy,
such as fi nger puppets, toys, and stuffed
animals. And displaying some of my
collections adds personality.
antfer
(Antfer)
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