This Is Where I Bloom

I am busy getting ready to leave for a speaking/teaching engagement tomorrow for the Santa Barbara Guild. Each time I leave for an engagement I'm obsessive about making sure everything is picked up, cleaned, laundry done, sewing room spit-spot, etc. It's a great way to help make sure I haven't forgotten anything. Since everything is picked up I thought it would be a great time to share my haven. My first post, a couple years ago now, shared my space, so I thought it was a good time to do it again.

I have a very small room that is packed to the hilt with everything...there isn't a half inch to spare. Kent ran a standard kitchen countertop along the wall and this is my desk and sewing space. Before things got so crazy this used to have 2-3 sewing machines on it...now my one machine is in the corner and my desk area takes up about 3/4 of the length. I have great pull-out work areas that I can lock into place and it holds even more paperwork when needed.

Many of you have heard about my very special bulletin board...this has been the tacking up spot for almost 15 years of special quotations, mementos, ribbons, etc. A constant source of inspiration...my design wall takes up the space right next to my machine.

My stash! My stash is about half linens and half fabric...I have my beautiful table linens all folded and patiently waiting to be turned into beautiful quilts. The little stuff is lovingly stored in baskets...it's always an adventure going thru the baskets and I'm constantly discovering treasures that I've forgotten about. Most of the fabric stash is for wholecloth pieces or linen backs.

Kent turned the closet into a desk space too (good thing he's a cabinetmaker!). This is where all my folders are organized for my upcoming guild engagements and the CD's are stored for copying, stuffing and getting ready for upcoming classes.

Oh...my amazing rainbow wall of threads...I get a lot of questions from students on how I store my thread. I couldn't bear to tuck them away in drawers or boxes. Even on the gloomiest of days it's a bright spot in the room and in my life. It doesn't get direct sunlight and I'll wipe the dust off before using...just like everything else in my house! I have the very busy calendar tucked amongst the threads and this keeps me organized and honest.

And then there's my mascot, Kermit the Frog. The kids had him when they were younger and I swiped him. He sits on my design wall lamp and you can find him in various poses depending on how life is at that particular moment.

I often talk about my table in the living room where I do almost all of my handwork...I'm in my sewing room until about 7:30 and snug up here afterwards to put the finishing touches on my pieces. Since I get up at 4 am I'm often falling asleep here between 8 and 8:30 pm. Most people know not to call after 8 as they'll get a sleepy Cindy on the phone!
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On another subject, I wanted to let everyone know that I am busy developing a 4-day teaching workshop due to popular demand. This will be different than my 5-day session with Empty Spools at Asilomar. This workshop will provide detailed instruction on threads the first day; the second day will be devoted to design in a wholecloth setting (this can be applied to pieced quilts as well); third and fourth days devoted to instruction on heirloom feathering, backgrounds, etc. I am hoping to provide short lessons on the Tsukineko inks and various other short-shots of instruction throughout the workshop. The mornings will be devoted to lecture and the afternoon/evenings to quilting while the students make a wholecloth sampler. These will be set up in the Sacramento area and I am hoping to have 2-3 of these per year. I am working with Superior Threads to have this workshop at their School of Threadology in St. George, Utah too. I will also be adding two more "My Time Retreats" in the Sacramento area as the ones in McCloud are nearly full for next year already.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing a peek into my space here at home! Watch for a blog which will let you know about my upcoming workshops. I will have a newsletter blast with all the details. If you would like to receive my newsletters just send me an email and I'll add you to the list. (linenqltr@comcast.net)
...Hugs, Cindy :)