My Studio

Cubby Shelf Storage

July 2, 2012 By Anne

I’ve spent the weekend cleaning in the studio. When I’m busy working on new things organization gets away from me and after market it’s time to gather everything up once again and find a place for it. Cubby shelves are perfect for storage in a sewing room. They don’t use valuable floor space and they put things in site that you might use daily.

I purchased this shelf at Pottery Barn and I decided to fill it with my ribbon spools. I love it when I can see what I have in one place. For me (and probably quite a few of you) if it’s out of sight it’s out of mind. Now I can pick as needed and I’m reminded that I might not want to purchase any more of that beautiful blue ribbon for a while. :>) I can see this shelf being used to store thread, jars of buttons and endless things in the sewing room. Move it to the kitchen and you can store spices, cups, storage jars etc.

You may have seen pictures of this shelf before but this weekend I cleaned, polished and organized everything on it.

I bought this shelf on EBay and now it holds two of my collections: Salt & pepper shakers & beads and crystals.

While we were making “Lily” samples these were being used daily. It was wonderful being able to see everything at a glance so we could pick the ones we needed.

I’ve added another “cubby storage” in the studio that I just love. It’s my box of Kimono Silk Thread, all 80 colors in a portable thread case.

I’ve added one just like this to my website so you can buy all 80 colors in a case if your heart desires. Don’t gasp at the price…I didn’t make it up, it’s what 80 spools of this wonderful thread sell for. Here’s a little tip if you’re still gasping; Bunny Hill has a sale starting on the 5th and everything will be 25% off for 3 days. You’ll find the coupon in my newsletter that comes out on the 5th. Should you decide you must have a thread cubby of your own I promise we will not tell your hubby. We’ll simply ship you a “tool” box.

Make sure you confirm that you’d still like to receive my newsletter when you receive it on the 5th. I’ve had the same list forever and I just want to make sure those of you who are on it still have valid email etc.

Have a great 4th of July everyone! Keep your pets inside and away from all the noise. Mine hate fireworks and it’s always a traumatic time around here. I’ll be back after the 4th to give you a Marcel update.

Filed Under: My Studio Tagged With: bead storage, Kimono Silk Thread, ribbon

Pat Sloan’s Radio goes to Quilt Market!

May 31, 2011 By Anne

I adore Pat Sloan. She’s made the quilting world so much fun by hosting her radio show every week. She brings many different talents into our homes and makes us feel like we’re sitting right there with her! American Patchwork and Quilting is now the sponsor of Pat’s show! Congratulations Pat on such a winning combination!

Pat was at International Quilt Market in Salt Lake City this year and I had the honor of being interviewed by her! Click on the photo, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the podcast with my name. You’ll hear me, Kimberly Jolly from Fat Quarter Shop, Sandy Klop of American Jane and Patty Young of modkid! You can sew away and listen to us talk…something we all love to do!

Now for some more fun! I promised a giveaway and here it is! You just might win some of my newest fabric line Puttin’ on the Ritz!

Just tell me what color of Puttin’ on the Ritz you’re dreaming about and you could win! One of these bundles could be on the way to you Friday morning!

Hope you enjoy the radio show! A big thank you to Pat Sloan!

Hugs,

Anne

Filed Under: Bunny Hill Patterns, Fabric Design, My Studio, Quilt Markets Tagged With: American Patchwork & Quilting, Anne Sutton, Henrietta Whiskers, Pat Sloan's Radio

Pillow Talk

February 23, 2011 By Anne

I just found out that Lissa, our great leader has a blog post with a giveaway! Go there now and sign up for her giveaway. She doesn’t say what it is, but she is MODA!!!! Hmmm, maybe I’ll sign up!

I’ve been designing with my new fabric line and I don’t have any fabric yet! I’m still waiting for fabric to arrive so in order to get a head start I’m working digitally. I use a software program called Adobe Illustrator and I can actually scan my drawings, trace them directly on my “oh so fancy Wacom monitor”, and insert the fabrics into the drawings. It gives me an idea of what the actual quilt will look like before I’ve even sewn a stitch. Many of you asked me about what you saw on my monitor in the picture below (courtesy of Quilter’s Home Magazine)…

…You’re looking at a Wacom monitor and I can draw directly on it with a special pen. When I’m not drawing I can use it as a regular computer monitor! I love this monitor! Love it!

Of course now I’m facing the other direction in the room and still loving it! Some of you asked about my desk furniture…I bought it at Pottery Barn and it’s from the Bedford Collection. The nice thing about this furniture is it’s so versatile. You can easily re-arrange it into different layouts (such as facing my desk outward).

The cabinets you see are my old Horn sewing cabinets that I’ve had for years. I updated them with new pink knobs.

Speaking of sewing rooms, did anyone see the show on Oprah TV called “Enough Already with Peter Walsh”? be sure and watch it if you can find it in your area. It will make you feel SO much better! Really! It’s about a Quilter and her all consuming stash.

Believe it or not we have a severe weather warning for our area of California! They say snow could actually hit the ground here. I live in farm country and many of the vegetables and fruits you find in your grocery stores come from our area. The oranges and just coming into season and temperatures in the 20′s and 30′s could ruin them, not to mention the peach, apricot and cherry trees that are just starting to get leaves. It’s going to be a sewing weekend I can just feel it!

Hope you’re having a great week!

Back soon!

Filed Under: Designing Patterns, My Studio, Quilt Design Tagged With: Moda fabric, Pillow Talk, Pottery Barn Bedford Collection, Wacom Monitor

More fluff and stuff

February 15, 2011 By Anne

I’ll confess, I fell for it. I believed Sandy Gervais could paint with her toes. I spent about 3 minutes trying to imagine it and by that time I was at the end of her post. If you are as gullible as me we could go together and buy the real estate she’s selling! It’s not so far fetched because my DH can pick up pencils and things with his toes. I’m not really proud of him for this trait but I didn’t find out about it until after we were married!

Today is Laurie & Jessi Jung day on Pillow Talk! You’re in for a treat because everything they do is magical! I love exploring their website looking at photos and patterns! This mother and daughter are so talented! I’ve been told that Laurie does a lot of the design work for the home page on the the Moda website!

Tomorrow it’s Sweetwater another mother and 2 daughter team! We get to have fun at market with them and Karla (mom) always makes me laugh. Her smile is contagious. I love to go to dinner with her she’s so much fun!

Barbara Brackman is on Thursday. She’s had more influence on me than any other quilter or designer. I use her Block Base software, and her book “Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns” is falling apart I’ve used it so much!

Deb Strain is on Friday. I adore Deb! Every market I buy my “lucky” notebook from her. It’s the one I write all my secret ideas in and the notebook I can’t be without. She designs the notebooks and sells them with her calendars and things at market. Deb’s new to blogging so be sure and say hi!

Remember a few posts back I told you I was going to move my desk? Here I am facing the wall and yes I look very happy but, for the longest time I’ve wanted to face the other direction; toward the center of the studio. Well, with lots of help I’ve done it!

I’ve gone from this…

Photo courtesy of Quilter’s Home Magazine/Gregory Case Photography

…to this! I now face out toward the center of the room! My work station is on the left and Brigette’s work station is on the right! (Brigette took Bitty Mouse over to her side when I was moving things. She thought I wouldn’t notice.) Sorry for that awful black and silver printer…don’t you wish we could buy them in pretty colors like pink, red, yellow, or white? I love my printer (it’s a Canon) but not the color. I long for a designer printer!

Some close up photos…

Right next to my desk I hung this vintage basket I found in Minneapolis when we were shopping for market props. Now I’m trying to figure out what to keep in it… I’m thinking I may try something decorative. Maybe jars of buttons, fat quarters from my newest fabric line, balls of yarn, ribbons…just can’t decide!

Last but not least I’ll share my Valentine treat with you! While some of you may get chocolate my husband knows what I like. He found these in the store already and this year they come in orange too!