I’m behind in blogging but I have been spending happy hours (days actually) in the studio. I remember earlier in the year when I fell into a bit of a slump but now I have more ideas than I could ever have time to create (must be a spring thing). I have enjoyed a few weeks of tile mosaic work but now I’m very happy to be working in fiber and paint again…it is so much lighter than tile!
Here are a couple whole cloths. I’m not certain how they will be finished yet but I know I’ll think of something!
I’m getting ready for a craft fair and decided to make some felted soap. These are just the first few (they look a bit like colored eggs). I’m thinking about doing some needle punching on others but that takes much more time, so we will see. But I’m sure glad I’m not allergic to wool and the studio smells so sweet!
After watching a few videos of people shearing animals and all the steps it take to make the fiber I buy (roving) to use in felting, all I can say is “And some people think quilting is time consuming!”
Recently I needed to replace my ironing broad canvas so I decided to take a few photos to show my ironing board and area. This surface is used primarily for pressing pieces of fabric and other fiber art materials…No garment ironing goes on in this studio!
The ironing board is 18” x 48” and is made of ½ “ OSB plywood with some reinforcing 1x1s, IKEA legs, cotton canvas, and very thin cotton batting. I’m not showing how we made the actually covered board (you can find great tutorials on YouTube).
To save floor space and to make usable space under the board it is set on top of a small dresser (IKEA) and a wire basket unit (IKEA) that have been topped with a counter top surface. The height (about 37 1/2″) works well for me; I’m about 5’2”. The under side of the older board (photo #1) shows that, unfortunately, my Mister didn’t realize I would be recovering it, so he used wood glue (that suckers never coming off!) and screws to attach the leg boards on top of the canvas.
Photo #1
Photo #3
I simply cut the old canvas away and when replacing it folded the new canvas under (photo #3). The extra wood was use to make the board more sturdy, to keep it from warping (photo #2) and also, so longer screws could be used for attaching the legs.
Photo #2
I positioned the board on the counter and applied a bead of hot glue on the counter top, around the base of each of the legs. This works great to keep the board in place without actually gluing it down (photo #4). It won’t slide but may be lifted off.
Photo #4
There is access to the under space from all four sides. On one side of the counter I have a couple of nails holding plastic rulers. The top wire basket contains hand quilting thread and hoops. The deep bottom plastic bin holds batting (photo #5).
Photo #5
Here it is before things are placed under it (photo #6) and after (photo #7).
Photo #6
Photo #7
I hope this give you some useful ideas. Do you enjoy seeing the studio spaces of other artists?
Working with fabric or fiber most of her life Ann continues to explore the possibilities. Ann’s art quilts have been published and have traveled Internationally. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows. Ann has presented lectures/talks and trunk shows, has taught and on occasion still teaches live classes. She enjoys making videos lessons and demos for her YouTube channel in hopes of encouraging others to give quilting, fiber art, and mixed media a try. Ann admires knitting and crochet, and though she can’t knit and can only crochet a chain stitch, she’s discovered other ways to use yarn!
