Studio Workshop

Yesterday I ran my first workshop in my new studio. We did Aurora which is a fun workshop as you do a variety of techniques in a relaxed way with great results.
Here are my 4 students Maggie, Barb, Denise and Chris sewing and then later when we do the beading component of the class. I think the day went very well and I look forward to doing more in the new year. I can fit 6 students with machines or 8-10 for a non machine workshop so if you are interested in getting a few friends together for a fun day let me know.

I also thought I would show you a few more shots of my studio as part of the Quilting Arts Virtual Studio Tour although I am a day late and so not included in the official links but it is a great way to have a peek into other studios. Regular readers will have followed the studio creation but now it is looking more like it usually does... messy.

These are my custom shelves which hold the tubs I store fabric in as well as the perspex boxes we use for shows but they are just as gorgeous on the shelves.

My design wall is nearly the length of the room but nothing new on it at the moment so I thought I would show the end I am most proud of - the ribbons and a bit of inspiration. There are also some bits and pieces I am working on for my Orvieto Class next year.

This is my stash of non hand dyes but it is mainly silks and satins and sheers as well as rovings and felt. The top also doubles as a cutting table.


This is my little desk where I do painting and bits. It actually pulls out to make it much bigger but then I can't reach the back of it.

I have two of these flip out tables which fold back down flush to the wall if I don't need them up. This one has my big ironing board on it.

Some more of my beads

I had a couple of shelves put in above my thread and office and painting drawers which hold a few things but these change regularly and are a bit high.

These are the Alex drawers from Ikea which hold my threads (different drawer for each colour)

and my art supplies

Poor Peter and the Dyed & Gone to Heaven cutting table and storage has been relegated to the other room as it seemed more sensible to separate business and creation but they still do cross over of course. My books were exiled there too but it is only the next room so not too far away. There is a comfy couch in this room too.

Workshops in Dyed & Gone to Heaven Studio

I am pleased to announce that I have, after numerous requests, decided to run a few workshops in my new studio in Sydney.

Classes will be small and numbers will be strictly limited for personalised attention and I have chosen my two most popular workshops to 'test the waters'.

Creative Beading will be held on Wednesday 16th September and cost of $100 will include complete kit (including everything you need), delicious lunch, morning & afternoon tea and of course tuition.

Aurora Quilt will be held on Saturday 3rd October and cost of $80 will include tuition and lunch and morning and afternoon teas. Kits will be available or you can bring your own fabrics.

As these will be small classes you will have a wonderful opportunity to learn in a relaxed fun environment. Why not ask a friend or two and come along for a great day?

Contact me ASAP to ensure a place.

Studio in Use

I have actually spent some time in the studio this week preparing for a DVD I am doing in a couple of weeks.
I am still struggling trying to work out where to put things and am nowhere near it yet but each day I think of something so one day it will be perfect.
We have covered the design wall now. I bought 4m of 108" wide white flannel from Widebacks and it is perfect. It is just pinned to the caneite which is screwed to the wall. Great to have it all in one piece rather than the sheets I had before.

I keep moving the cutting table around and I am not sure I need both the fold up tables up all the time although the one that is the ironing table is a great size and height.

I have used the desk for some sitting down type work but havn't done much of that lately so not sure of its value yet. Time will tell I guess.

I also found a couple of things I don't use so have a 16" wooden quilting frame and a Fiskars ruler/cutter for sale at AUS$30 each.

I also have two thread racks still available at $40 each. They are all packed up ready to be mailed and the postage won't be anymore than $20 (for the two) as postage was checked to send them to WA which is about as far as they can go here in Australia so anywhere else will be cheaper.

Note- have been asked about my cutting mat - will post details ASAP.

Studio Update

Finally surfacing after the Show. It was a terrific time and I met so many old friends as well as made lots of new ones. Such fun.

I have a couple of days at home before heading of to Cohuna to teach this weekend so did a couple of essential things in the studio.

I wrestled with my new thread storage drawers and it only took two hours to put them together but I am pleased with the result. I decided on the Alex drawers from IKEA and they fit beautifully. I am very unhappy though as I discovered I don't actually have enough threads as I only filled about 3/4 of the drawers. Oh well - another challenge for me.

For those of you who asked before - I just have them sorted into colours. One drawer each for white/cream, yellow, orange, reds, purples/pinks, greens (2), blues (2), black etc. At this stage they are just all jumbled together but I do have some dividers so may start getting more organised but at least it is something that is put away.


But the most exciting news is that I bought the new Bernina 820 machine which I have been thinking about since I test ran it earlier this year. Small businesses are being offered a really good tax break on business purchases and what could be more critical to a quilter than a machine. I still have my fabulous Janome 6500 which has not skipped a beat since I got it and I will continue to use it as well but as a teacher I need to be comfortable with all brands so I will become multiskilled. Well that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

We were worried about where to put it but after a bit of a squeeze we managed to get it into my Horn Cabinet so all is well. Can't wait to have some time to spend on it but that will come. I will definitely blog my progress. I am so excited about it that I have started thinking about sewing clothes as well - now that is scary.

Studio Update

I couldn't resist starting to move stuff into the studio now that I am home.
Of course I don't have time to do it properly as we are getting ready for the Sydney Craft and Quilt fair which moves in on Monday (eek - only 4 days to go).

That line across the room in the middle on the floor is where the wall was but it was great that the floorboards went all the way under it. Interestingly 100 years of being covered by a wall created a definite line which is a reminder of it's history. The floor also definitely slopes down at that point and so any dropped beads will find themselves in the centre of the room.


But of course the beads just had to be moved in.

Still need to hang some quilts on the walls, cover the 3m design wall, work out the office area vs the sewing area vs the playing area and just generally work out a work flow.
However - it feels great and the light and space are incredible.

Studio Update

I am home and finally able to see my finished studio. Floors are sanded and walls are painted and furniture moved in.

Can't wait to start playing around in it - still lots of organising to do and a trip to Ikea today to check out some storage ideas.

Maybe when I get back from the Textile Arts Festival I will have some quality time in there. Doesn't it look wonderful - so clean and spacious and light!

By the way - please come and say hi if you are coming to the Festival. I noticed that they are using a photo of some my hand dyed fabric set rolls are used on the home page - fame at last!

Renovations Day 1

Today we started (ok the builder started) and I was very impressed with the progress.
These two rooms which were originally bedrooms and have recently been a studio and a store room are to be combined to create one large studio.


This is the wall that is coming down. Plaster and lathe and horsehair were the components 100 years ago when this house was built.

The slats were put on first and then the plaster pushed on and through.

By the end of the day we have an indication about the new space.

and what is this you ask - it is a petrified dead rat which we found in the wall cavity.

Re-organising

I have inherited another room since my son left home apart from his bedroom. His living room has really just been a corridor to my studio for months and I was tripping over myself in my studio. I have also been fortunate to win a Horn Craft Cabinet which was being wasted as there was nowhere but my main living room to have it opened up. It is only a small room but seemed such a shame to waste it. First to go was the the three piece lounge suit and coffee table so a blank canvas to work with.

So for the last week we have been shifting stuff around. I think this new room will be my embellishing studio and the original one can stay as the quilting one. I know that they cross over all the time but now I have somewhere for my embellisher and also the beads all in one spot. I think a design wall might be needed too fairly soon and some decent lighting.

I have however come to the conclusion that I HAVE ENOUGH BEADS!! Seeing them all like this together has made this statement fairly self explanatory don't you think? The top containers are two deep as well.

Cleanup Time

Probably procrastinating, but I really couldn't find anywhere clear to work in my studio today so decided I needed more drawers. Also having my baby (21 year old) finally leave the nest recently leaving an empty room helped. We have moved some of the fabric tubs that get filled for shows and things into that room and so the time had come to get more organised.

This is just after the new drawers went in. I lashed out for the more expensive Elfa ones which are just so much stronger than the other taller ones which are Ikea.




Starting the sorting process. Two collections - one of silks and other fibres and one of my own hand dyes. The space in the centre was where I was sitting (for about two hours).

Now - with a new table top which fits - it looks al lot more inviting.

Even the other side looks better.

Now I better get down to some sewing don't you think.
I am exhausted but really pleased to have made the effort.