It’s A Working Studio–The Rest Of The Story

I had several people ask about my antique thread cabinet.

Just like almost every piece of furniture I have this does have a great story.

Before we started the the addition to our home  we had visited friends in their new home to get some ideas. They had a gorgeous antique thread cabinet I coveted. I hoped someday to find one, but was not having any luck.

When we were almost done building the addition  (which included the studio) I was having one of those days where it was just too much stress since the 3 month building project had dragged on for a year.

I decided I’d go visit my favorite antique shop which had just opened for the season.

Of course I was still on my quest for a thread cabinet but I did not expect to find one.

I walked in the door and not 10 feet in front of me was this cabinet.

I instantly fell in love with it but we were out of money from the building project.

I expressed my love for it to the owner. She said I could pay a small amount down and they’d hold it for me for a period of time. Of course I agreed to that.

I was so busy when the time was up I had not contacted her. She had lost my contact information.

She called the only quilter she knew who lived about 10 miles from me.

She didn’t know me but did remember her son was doing some wood work for my son – and then she looked out the window and her son had just drove up.

So she got the contact information from him and relayed it to the antique shop owner who was then able to call me.

We went the next day (I think it was Mother’s Day) and made the final payment.

They held it for me until the studio was in shape to move it in.

They delivered it and even took it up to the studio which was on the second floor.

It was meant to be and I love it even more today than I did when I bought it.

I filled the front of each drawer with old wooden spools that still had thread on them in a color run order. Of course the old thread is too weak to use so it is just for show.

Behind each wooden spool is my supply of thread, in a similar color order.

The drawers on the bottom hold large spools that are too large to fit in the top drawers.

This is just one of my life stories about how I found things I treasure.

Did you hear the one about my treadle sewing machine?

Or the one about Quilting Granny?

Or the one about the post office desk I store yarn in?

And there are many more stories too as I furnish my home with “new to me” finds.

Studio Rerun 7

Last week a topic of discussion on the Quilt Art list was where do you keep your thread?


Just about the time I finished my studio I was extremely lucky to find this thread spool cabinet in my favorite antique store.
The thread you can see in the front of the drawers is almost all old wooden spools with thread on them. I don't use them as the thread has probably lost it's strength.

Behind each one of them is space for about 10 spools of thread. I place similar colors behind each of the front spools.

Odd size spools go in the 6 bottom drawers.
It's both a beautiful and practical piece to enjoy in my studio.

Thread, Glorious Thread

Years ago traditional quilts were generally quilted with white or off white thread.
Today's quilters use a variety of thread types and colors.

This photo shows over 270 colors of rayon thread I purchased from Lunn's when they discontinued selling thread. They fill an entire 5 drawer plastic cabinet with large drawers.

This thread is finer than some of the other threads I use. I have actually used up to 6 colors at the same time on my sewing machine. This softens the colors, blends better with the fabrics and design and gives you a similar effect to what you get with variegated thread.

Like fabric, I am mesmerized looking at the gorgeous colors in this collection of thread.

This is less than half of my threads I use to quilt. There is so much on each spool I know I will never use them up in 7 lifetimes.

I have also twisted it to make cords and crocheted small art with it.

I have now found another use for this thread - a puzzle for all of you - me, too!

My Southern Studio

This is where I store all my notions, threads,small sewing supplies, embellishments, small pieces of batting,rubber stamps and miscellaneous items. It is really a TV cabinet that was part of a storage wall for the guest room. This piece didn't fit so I repurposed it here. The center section has doors that I can close and you can't see what is behind them when the room is being used as our second guest room.

This is where I usually use my sewing machine. It is within arms reach of the cabinet in the last photo. I want to be able to see something when I sew and when the blind is up I can watch all the traffic and walkers go by, but more importantly I can enjoy my nieghbors beautiful yards across the street. I sometimes move the machine to the great room or the lanai.

The two wood cabinets are our old dressers that were damaged when a TV fell into them. We had them repaired. I store fabric in the drawers. My Florida fabric collection is significantly brighter than my Wisconsin collection. I also store interfacings, wrapping paper, gifts and other items behind the doors. The white cabinet in the center is my office.

My Florida library has far fewer books and magazines than I have in Wisconsin.

I find it easier to do my cutting at the kitchen counter in the great room and do my ironing there as well.
My "studio" is something anyone can create. Almost everything is repurposed or very inexpensive. Actually the entire house is furnished with repurposed or very inexpensive things.

You may have noticed you didn't see a design wall. I generally work smaller here so I just prop pieces up to look at them or tape them to something. The one larger piece I designed was laid out on a bed using a formula to distribute the blocks and then I took digital phtographs to decide if I was pleased with it. I did purchase a tension rod I can put in the closet opening and gray felt to use as a design wall. I haven't found I need it yet.

I find if you have a desire to create you can do it almost anywhere. I have seen studios that are even more modest than this one and I have seen some awesome work created in them.

June 11 is tonight's puzzle.

Where do you keep your thread?

Last week a topic of discussion on the Quilt Art list was where do you keep your thread.
Just about the time I finished my studio I was extremely lucky to find this thread spool cabinet in my favorite antique store.
The thread you can see in the front of the drawers is almost all old wooden spools with thread on them. I don't use them as the thread has probably lost it's strength.

Behind each one of them is space for about 10 spools of thread. I place similar colors behind each of the front spools.

Odd size spools go in the 6 bottom drawers.
It's both a beautiful and practical piece to enjoy in my studio.