Friday, March 17, 2017

Open Studio Day: Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop & Giveaways



Welcome to another stop on the QQQ 2017 Blog Hop filled with lots of goodies and giveawaysMarian at Seams to Be Sew organized this hop to be timely with International Quilting Day, and to me that means community in quilting. Spreading the joy that quilting brings to you with others locally, nationally, and internationally. A long list of sponsors is sharing their love with fabulous giveaways, but first let me share how I've embraced the concept.


One Day a Month I Share My Studio Space

Looking at this picture really brings a smile to my face. This was Open Studio Day here, and we honestly have so much fun no matter who turns up! Today we had my mom (front right), and mother-in-law (middle front) join our group, too. We celebrated Mom's birthday with cupcakes, learned SLQ, pinned a charity quilt in the long arm with group effort, and drank a pot of coffee. The sun shone in through the windows, and the laughter was steady. It was the warmest, fuzziest feeling you could get!


One of the strangest things is that in the beginning of this Open Studio idea I wasn't sure I wanted to do this every month. Stopping my projects and cleaning it up every month didn't sound all that fun really. If I was going to try it, I needed to become better organized so most things would have a place to be stored. So...


The batting is held on a baker's rack, and stacked high. 



Rulers and tools on a peg board. Long arm thread and supplies in an IKEA cart, and quilts waiting their turn on the long arm are stacked and labeled with their batting in plastic bins.


IKEA cubbies store my fabric stash. I added wheel sets last fall. (IKEA says they are not meant for cubes this high!) They are a delight to roll together to conserve space, or out to bring the cube right up to my table!


I left this picture in to show you I'm far from perfect. Sometimes I use laundry baskets and boxes to catch the overflow. There's a lot of fabric and project materials I need within reach.


My design wall is super simple. Green insulation board that is hot glued to masonry walls. Poly batting is hot glued to the board. I can stick up fabric or pin right into the thick layer. Note the tall Hektor lamps from IKEA. They are my latest and greatest improvement. They turn the design wall into a photo studio with balanced light. That's a feat with all the blue, northern light.


A 4' x 8' ironing board is also just green board covered with batting and upholstery weight fabric atop our ping pong table. It's amazing light weight stuff! If I need to use the slippery surface to square up quilts, the board lifts off and leans against the wall.


That's Axel, my HQ Avante center stage, book case and record keeping behind, and sewing station on the far right wall. The vintage settee and chair came out of an old car dealership when they closed, and gets a fair amount of use in here, too.


As much as I like my own time to work, I enjoy these days of sharing even more. They're worth the effort the clear a path through the chaos, and I'm even starting to embrace the idea of having a clean studio regularly. Imagine!

I'm glad to have the chance to share it with you, too. I hope it gave you some ideas for your own space.


And Now the Giveaways!


Marian at Seams to Be Sew has been hard at work organizing the hop, and securing some very sweet giveaways. She will have special giveaways each day on her blog as the host so plan on visiting, and the special giveaways change throughout the hop. Look for many more exciting companies you love already!

All giveaways are open to everyone, but before entering the drawing for these 3 giveaways--Terial Arts, Quilters Dream and Martelli, you must agree to pay your own shipping costs should you win. *Northcott FQ fabrics have free shipping.

USA Priority Mail: 6.75
Canada: 15.50
International: 23.50

Thank you, and GOOD LUCK!







a Rafflecopter giveaway

NORTHCOTT 
FABRICS




3 Fat Quarters from 
The Garden Gate Collection by Northcott

a Rafflecopter giveaway



a Rafflecopter giveaway







EQ Do You EQ Blog

And last, but not least...an EQ7 
30% discount for the length of the hop!
Use the code that follows.



Promo code: EQHOP2017
The code is good from 3/16/2017 to 3/27/2017
Exclusions: Electric Quilt 7, EQ7 Migration Kit, Upgrade from EQ Mini to EQ7, EQ Mini Migration Kit, EQ Academy classes, and EQ University classes.

*This code is also good for Upgrades from EQ6 to EQ7, and also the EQStitch. 




Quilt Qwazy Queens 2017
March 16

March 17

March 20

March 21

March 22



71 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for the visual tour of your studio! Love it! And all the neat give-a-ways --YES! Sewing with friends in a bright & cheery studio is the best! Thanks Julie for opening up new ways of quilting. I feel empowered!

Stitchin At Home said...

How I would love to drop in on a sharing day. Thanks for the visual tour Julie.

Marian said...

I love love love this sewing space, as I'm sure you do to. I really love the roving fabric shelves from Ikea, that would be cool to have and a great way to be able to store as you could line them all up to put them away and pull out the ones you need.. very cool. I also loved that couch, so very cool and comfy I bet. Kinda reminds me of a couch my dads business had back in the 70s... gee that sounds so long ago... eh :) I'm so happy you shared your space with us today, thank you :)

Carol said...

Drooling over the 4x8 ironing table!!

Bonnie58 said...

Thanks for sharing. I love your space.

Monica said...

I would love to have a studio where I can invite others to share the space. It's seems like you enjoy it more then you thought you would. Thanks for sharing.

Linda Edwards said...

Thanks for sharing your space with us.

Grandma said...

Nice that you have so much space to sew!
patsystitch@gvtc.com

VA said...

You have a beautiful sewing area!

GranChris said...

I would love your ironing space. I need that.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Great Design Wall! Thanks for sharing where you play/work. Thanks for being a stop on the hop too.

Lee said...

Such a nice hop, great giveaways and love the sewing area!!

Joyce Carter said...

Wow! Your sewing room looks hugh! I love all that space.{: And everything looks really neat compared to mine. Thank you for sharing today.

MaryBeth said...

Your room is so big. I'm jealous!

Rebecca said...

Sewing room with room to play with friends!!!!

Charlene S said...

Your sewing area made me feel normal b/c I too am far from perfect.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

I love your sewing room and how fun to share it once a month with other quilters! I haven't seen the lamps before at IKEA, they look great and I'll have to check them out. Thanks for sharing your great room!

Kathleen Trail said...

Love your lightweight portable ironing board idea!

rosemaryschild said...

What a great space-in heaven! Thank you, Susan

cjmont said...

i would love to see your studio, mine is 10'X10' ie tiny

apple blossom said...

lovely studio I don't have one. love the garden fabric as well. thanks for the chance to win

Kate said...

What a great studio

Lori said...

what a wonderful space. it is so fun to be able to share this time with friends

Shauna said...

Great studio and I love that you share it on a regular basis.

BarefootThunder said...

I love your studio !! I find it very refreshing to see "real" rooms, rooms I feel I could play in. I am not a fan of Magazine perfect... I'd be afraid of messing things up.
thank YOU :)

Barb Neiwert said...

You have a terrific quilting space, and it's awfully nice to be able to share with others, simply because you have so much room. And, I sense it serves as a reason to clean up and organize once in awhile, lol!

Anna brown said...

Love the shelfing...very bright happy place...tytyty foe the look see...

Kathy E. said...

I am jealous of the space you have for your studio! I have a small bedroom, which I feel lucky to have, but it's not as large as yours! It's a great place to create!

Angie said...

I really like your sewing space and I love the big ironing board!

Calicojoan said...

What a fun creative space. Best yet others can enjoy it too! It's all about sharing when it comes to quilting.

Jen said...

How blessed you are to have such a great studio to share with friends. Sewing together is one of the most uplifting occasions. I miss having Sewing Saturdays with my quilting friends. Sometimes we do it virtually, but it isn't the same.

Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net said...

I enjoyed seeing your sewing space.

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

What fun to share your space with friends and loved ones! I always find myself open to ideas when gathered with others and creativeness abounds!

Sewgirl said...

You have a great space to work, just like me it's a little unkept, but it works well for me. I know where everything is, as I'm sure you do. Thanks for sharing!

allthingzsewn said...

I wish I had some of the space you ladies have. But I would just fill it up. It's great you share your space like that.

Susan said...

What a great concept--sharing your sewing space. My creating and studying space is a spare bedroom and is not conducive to having more than two people in it. One can be on the computer and one can be sewing or studying at the table at the same time, but that's about it.

Quilting Tangent said...

Nice DIY studio, love the tips. Love the reuse of stuff. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Lisa England said...

Wow, what an amazing studio! Sounds fun to be part of a group sewing event!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the tour! Your studio is awesome! Thanks!

Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

Sally said...

Lovely space!

PuppyPaws said...

Great ironing board, wish I had the room.

Linda Swanekamp said...

Oh, be still my heart!! What a set up! I have to have my long arm in the basement due to the size of the frame. My sewing area is upstairs in my old living room. Fabric is all over. I love the IKEA cubes! Wish I could come over and hang out!

@lutzcats said...

Your studio is fabulous!!! I've lived in smaller spaces! My studio lets me and my bed share it.

Liz Horgan said...

I love your space! I think it's great that you share it once a month-for me, that's like inviting people over regularly so that I give a good cleaning to my house! Happy St. Patrick's Day, and have a good weekend!

Kathy S. said...

Love the shelves on rollers. Thanks for the chance to win. It was fun to hop with you.

Susan said...

What a great studio space, and wonderful sharing day. I love the days my friends come over, too. There's always so much going on and we take time to catch up with each other's lives. Thanks for sharing pictures of your studio. dezertsuz at gmail

mumbird3 said...

Love seeing how people organize (I'm a pile person!!!) mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com

JANET said...

What a nice, large space!! I can only dream!

cookie said...

Would love to be there! Thanks for sharing.

Kim said...

Oh my, what an amazing studio you have, Julie!! I am pea-green at the moment. =) I cannot believe all that wonderful space you have in which to play. You certainly have it all happening in there. Thank you for sharing your studio. Don't enter me in your giveaway.....let some other ladies win the prizes. Such a treat to gaze upon all your lovelies.

Sandra Walker said...

Uh someone's sewing in MY spot!!! Lol. Lovely to see your space fill with yet another warm fuzzy feelings group. ;-)

Vicki H said...

Your sewing space is so very spacious, I LOVE it.

Cecilia said...

Great room! Thanks for sharing your space. I love sewing with other quilters, too.

Farm Quilter said...

Love your sewing space!!

Sarah Craig said...

Love seeing the inside of your studio! It looks like a wonderful place to create. And it's probably good to have a reason to straighten it up once a month - you'll get more done in a neater workspace!

Seacoast Quilter said...

What a great space. You have such a large room! But I see how it allows you to arrange everything. I'm collecting ideas for the future!

OhioLori said...

Wowie!!! I would love To come & hang out with you ladies!! What a great Studio! Thank you for sharing with us all! :)

Jan said...

I would love a studio! I am spread over 2 small bedrooms. It works great until the kids are coming for a visit and I have to clear off the beds!!

wendy said...

Wow, you have quite a studio there! Lots of room for creating. {and hiding stash} Thank you for sharing!

teachpany said...

I wish I had a studio that large. Thanks for the ideas.

Annette Mandel said...

Bet you don't reply personally to all these comments!

Pedal Sew Lightly said...

I LOVE your studio! Open days look like so much fun too. I have had my eye on a Florence Knoll sofa at a tractor dealership for years!

Tu-Na Quilts said...

I enjoyed the studio tour. Your studio is a working place. So much nicer than a studio set up for show. Thanks for sharing.

MoeWest said...

You have a great studio space! I like the wheels on the Ikea shelves and your large ironing surface.

Beth said...

Thanks for keeping it real with your "not perfect" picture, Julie. I appreciate that so much more than all of the unobtainable, "Here is my spotless studio" photos on the internet. You have also given some great ideas, like the rolling shelves.

Unknown said...

I love your idea for a share day....llamance@hotmail.com

KaHolly said...

Awesome studio!

Lynne Stucke said...

Wow! What a wonderful studio! And, I love your vintage couch and chair. (lynnstck(at)yahoo.com_

Scrapatches said...

Open Studio Day looks like sew much fun. Your sewing space is wonderful.. I love all the color and designs ... and the comfy looking seating. Thanks for inviting us to share ... :) Pat

Linda said...

I would love to come to open studio day! My studio is my sister's dining table and various spaces around her condo, as I live with her. I am lucky she allows me to clutter up her home while I'm living here. My sister is my best friend. I couldn't get luckier! ljbisme at msn dot com

Angie in SoCal said...

What a wonderful thing you are doing - building community and sharing love.