Studio Set Up

 Studio

Today's blog post is a chance to show you my current set up of our 'creative space'. We are calling it our studio because not only is it my sewing space, but it also serves the purpose of a music practice and recording space as well!

The studio is upstairs. Right at the top of the stairs actually! Above is my sewing station as seen right as you turn off the stairs. As you can see, the space has sloped ceilings. Luckily I'm not too tall! I can stand upright at this iron and not hit my head as long as I don't grow another inch :)

 

  

 

As you might be able to see from the first picture above, my table is set up on bed risers. I really like this height! It is perfect for cutting. I often spend an entire afternoon cutting and packaging two or three projects at once to get it done so that I am more likely to sew throughout the week. This setup allows for longer stints of cutting without the back ache! The first picture is poor representation of lighting in the space though so I took a picture from the other direction. The doorway you see is the bedroom. I have also found that I really like the half wall by the stairwell because it allows me to lay out pieces of projects not in use! You'll notice that for this sewing project I was using a stool. I like the stool the best, but adding a cushion put me just a bit too high. This cushion does work well with the chair you see off to the side for days I want a back rest. But if I were to be 100% truthful, I spend most of my time sewing standing up!

 Again, this was taken from the top of the stairs. This angle shows that I haven't COMPLETELY taken over the room. Opposite the sewing side, we have a lovely practice area. Complete with an area rug, keyboard, amp, bookshelf and (further to the left) an instrument storage nook. PS Hubby would DIE if he knew I posted a picture of him in is jammies!

 

There! A better picture of him to make up for it! This is us on a typical afternoon home!

Music and Sewing

 So the music teacher in me is wondering does anybody else listen to music while sewing? I find it help pass time during projects that have repetition! If the sewing is straight forward I tend to choose music I can sing along to, but for projects that need more focus I'll chose something more classical or instrumental so that I don't get as distracted! I know Pieceful likes audio books while she sews.

Just Because

 Here is the view from my front porch! We live in Aroostook County, which is potato country. I took the first picture before school one morning in the fall. The tractors were getting ready to head out and harvest. By the time I got home from school they were done with the portion of field directly in front of the house and the farmer waved me over and said I could come pick any leftover potatoes to keep. I filled my crate and we have plenty of 'taters to get through the winter!

Stay Tuned!

Hopefully I will have a finished product or two to show off in the next post!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Harmony at Home

I'm Baaaack! 

This is Harmony posting today. I've been gone from blogging for quite some time. For good reason though, I promise! Last fall my husband and I bought a house! Woohoo! The best part about buying a house? Is having a room dedicated to creativity! We are calling it the 'studio'. It's a nice open space at the top of the stairs leading to the bedroom. We have one half of the room dedicated to music (we are, afterall music teachers!) with a keyboard, amps and plenty of instrument storage. The other half is my sewing area! I can leave everything set up and ready to go on a whim! We've been here three months now and I've already sewn quite a few projects here and LOVE the new space! More pictures to follow ;)

2016 

One of my New Year Resolutions this year closely resembles one that Pieceful had a few years ago. She dedicated time each Sunday to work on sewing Christmas gifts. So that when the holidays came around she wasn't so overwhelmed with projects. I am going to dedicate time each Sunday to be creative in the studio. For me, it may not involve working on gifts each Sunday, but it will involve either sewing, cutting projects, organizing or blogging about what I accomplish! Some weeks I might just squeeze an hour in while others I may spend the day! Either way, I will be creative!

Completed Projects

Believe it or not, I have completed a thing or two since my last post! Don't believe me? I have photo evidence! A wall hanging from a book series:

 A bag for my uncle that I designed to specifications he gave me!

 Many aprons and a zipper bag for Christmas presents (many more bags to come too!)

Stay tuned!

My next blog post will show off my studio but here are a few sneak peaks. The wall hanging was made by Pieceful a few years ago, but fits wonderfully in the stair well. The sweet lady bug was a Christmas present and I absolutely love it!

 This photo is a teaser. Piecefuls (belated) Christmas gift are in the process of being made out of this material!

 Respectfully,
Harmony

Using Your Imagination!

 I make lots of my Christmas presents and am sometimes organized enough to post  pictures after they have been delivered. Alas, that posting will not occur this year. I made bowl cozies, placemats, a shawl and a table runner that have already been gifted and there is not a  picture to be found! Please use your imagination and know that I have been busy in the sewing room!

I do, however, have a picture of a quilt top to post.  This is a tshirt quilt that is being mailed back to Maine to be machine quilted. It looks black and grey but it is really navy blue. Not a Christmas gift but a gift nonethe less. Enjoy Mikey DiBona!

It's been a long,long time!

FOR TODAY  November 28,2015

Outside my window..it is dark and still 75 degrees.

I am thinking...that it has been far too long since we have had any new posts.

I am thankful... for  many .many things during the Thanksgiving season.

In the kitchen...I have lots of leftovers although Thanksgiving was  just for me and Mike this year.

I am wearing...short sleeves and capris.

I am creating...a T-shirt quilt for a neighbor in Maine.

I am going...to put laundry away .

I am wondering... if my family in Maine enjoyed the Thanksmas presents I made this year.

I am reading..."The History Lottery" . A novel by one of my kindergarten students! And, yes, I am enjoying it! Congratulations, Kristi Hall Gherlone.

I am hoping....to finish refurbishing my side flower garden soon. The weeds had a party this summer!

I am looking forward to...attending lots of Christmas activities .



I am learning to ...  make burlap wreaths.

Around the house...I making plans to redecorate a bedroom.

A favorite quote for today... "It's a small,small world."

Excitement in the neighborhood

FOR TODAY  June 4, 2015

Outside my window..it is finally sunny after 5 days of rain!

I am thinking...how lucky I am to live in Maine. We have had a bear in the neighborhood. two eagles had to be seperated by the local game warden and his daughter who is studying  to be a wildlife specialist at the University of Maine. The eagles were taken to a refuge and then released. I am also thinking about the up close and almost TOO personal encounter I had with a moose  while driving on Saturday! Lot's of excitement in the neighborhood!

I am thankful... for preventive medicine check- ups.

In the kitchen...I have a nice piece of fresh haddock waiting to be cooked for  supper!This is another reason I am thankful to live in Maine!

I am wearing...jeans and a long sleeve top. It is very cool here for June 4th!

I am creating...a wall hanging for the living room.

I am going...on a Shop Hop Saturday with a bus load of quilting friends and Harmony!

I am wondering... if the weather will cooperate so I can attend a Little Legue game tomorrow.

I am reading... an Amish Romance.

I am hoping....to attend an informational meeting on the National Park  proposal for this area.Gathering information to be informed.

I am looking forward to...some more time in the flower gardens.



I am learning to ...  amend the soil  for my flowers.

Around the house...Michael is working on the window trim in the living room!!!!!

A favorite quote for today...I just saw this on a mug advertisement today. "Give us this day our daily thread" . Written by a true quilter!

Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Especially to my Mum, Pieceful. Today's long awaited post is dedicated to her. She has share with me a love for quilting!

Today I finished a little wall hanging that I started last July! That's embarrassing to admit. I've had the top completed for months, but I have been putting off quilting it because even though I took a class at the State Quilt show last July (the same place I started piecing the top) I had never free motion quilted an actual project before! I made an attempt around January that was pathetic and called for the seam-ripper.

This picture just about sums up this project....

That's right. Instead of just picking up my seam ripper and trying again I set it aside and then lost confidence to even pick it up again until this week....in MAY! But I did it! The quilting is nothing to write home about. Simple and not a lot. But I am proud because I actually did it!

It is going to hang in the hallway on the door to our apartment as a cheerful welcome!

I still need to work a finding the best tension. The front came out nicely, but the back wasn't wonderful, but let's face it...hanging on our little door nobody will see the back! I know you can't see the actual quilting because I played it safe using similar thread colors to the materials. Here are a few close-up shots that might do justice.

Thanks for teaching me this art, Mum!

Respectfully,

Harmony