In the Studio with Cate

From Rural Mexico to a Rental with Style: In the Studio with Sew Liberated's Meg McElwee

Cate Prato — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:01:00 GMT

Until July 2008, Meg McElwee was a Montessori teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Mexico. McElwee launched her sewing line, Sew Liberated, while living in Mexico and she now lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband and son, Finn. She writes about her adventures with fabric, thread, and motherhood at SewLiberated.typepad.com and is the author of the new book by the same name, Sew Liberated: 20 Stylish Projects for the Modern Sewist (Interweave, Dec. 2009). This fantastic sewing book is hitting bookstores this month and we're excited to introduce Meg as today's guest blogger. Meg's studio tour is the third stop on her two-week blog tour with fellow Interweave author Rashida Coleman-Hale, author of I Love Patchwork. You can follow along their blog stops for the next few weeks (click here to see the schedule). Now heeerrre's Meg... give her a big "Studios" welcome! --Cate

L ike most crafters, I had dreamed about the ideal studio long before it became a reality. Unlike most crafters, I did most of my pining for a beautiful sewing space while I was living in an adobe house in the mountains of rural northern Mexico. I spent three years living there while teaching three to six year-olds in a one room Montessori schoolhouse. I shared my sewing space (a small table) with my husband's office, which happened to double as our bedroom. It was tight!

As soon as we moved back to the U.S., we looked for a rental that would have enough space to house my creative exploits. I moved in my humble piles of quilting cotton, got myself a “real” sewing machine and serger (I have Berninas – an Aurora 430 and a 1300 MDC), rolled up my sleeves and painted the spare bedroom a bright and sunny aqua color (Sweet Rhapsody by Behr – the go-to color for studios, I tell you!)

The highlight of my space is the 9 foot-long table which we found while thrifting – my dear husband sanded it down and painted it white. The red cube storage on top of the table we finished ourselves after purchasing in on the cheap from a local unfinished furnishings store. The cubes hold my quilting cottons, organized by color.

This battered bucket is the diamond in the rough – my great grandmother used it to store her buttons, as I do now.

Finally, no studio tour would be complete without a nod to these two felines who love the view from the window (our neighbors have several bird feeders in their backyard). They love fabric just as much, if not more, than I do! They quickly take up residence on any stray piece of fabric – especially what I'm sewing right now!

Warmly,

Meg

******************************************
www.sewliberated.com ~ sewing patterns for women and children

www.sewliberated.com/books.html ~ Sew Liberated (the book) published by Interweave

www.sewliberated.typepad.com ~ blog

Bloggers and Interweave Authors Open their Studios this Saturday October 3!

Cate Prato — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:49:00 GMT

Welcome to the Fall 09 Studios Tour!

**Notice: For some reason, not all of the links here will "refresh" to today's new posts with the tours. I am particularly having trouble with blogs on blogspot. I have refreshed, cut and pasted into new lines on this post, triple checked the links, etc. It's frustrating, and I'm still trying to figure it out. But I'm a writer editor/not an html expert!

However, I wouldn't want you to miss any great studios, so please, if you are visiting one of the links here and you don't see a tour, refresh your browser or copy the url in a new window to access the tour (and remember, some of these studios are in other parts of the world than yours, so their tour may not be up yet). If your blog is not going to the right place, please leave a comment with the correct link below; that way, people can see it and I will update it as soon as I can. Thanks for your patience and cooperation! ~ Cate**

From Germany to Mexico to Canada and all over the US, quilters and mixed-media artists will be offering you a glimpse into their studio spaces this weekend as part of our Open Studio Virtual Online Tour. I have been to the sites listed below, and believe me, you are in for a treat. Not just because of the creative spaces, but because of the inspiring art you will find there.

Here is the list of "stops" on the tour, in the order they were posted here. If you are among the first 25, please send me your address at cprato@interweave.com, and I'll send you your door prize! Be sure to see the special Interweave Author Studios, also listed below.

By the way, a special thanks to Jenn Mason, whose studio graces our cover. She not only let us come in and take over her house for a day while we shot the picture, but wrote a terrific article that tells you everything you need to know about hosting a real-live Open Studios event. Read it in the Fall issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, on sale now.

suebleiweiss.typepad.com/sueb

http://candiedfabrics.wordpress.com/

http://tactiletravel.com/virtual-traveler

http://marlisegger.blogspot.com/

http://vintagelegacystudio.blogspot.com/

http://www.lemontreetales.com/lemon_tree_tales/

http://www.knitgrrlstudio.com

http://www.virtuallori.com/2009/10/02/studio-tour/

magpiesmumblings.blogspot.com

http://soulechoes2.blogspot.com/

www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog

http://smullis7.blogspot.com/

corvidarium.blogspot.com

http://jenniferjangles.blogspot.com/

http://danitaart.blogspot.com/

expresscreateimagery.blogspot.com

http://tammygilleystudios.typepad.com/

http://quiltpixie.blogspot.com/

http://claynfiber.blogspot.com/

www.craftygemini.blogspot.com

http://paintingchic.blogspot.com/

www.silverspringstudio.com

http://dianedidit.blogspot.com/

http://sunnespot.blogspot.com

www.adventuresinquiltingandsailing.blogspot.com

http://vdenegrequilts.blogspot.com/

http://downthewell.blogspot.com/

http://vintagerockchick-gill.blogspot.com/

http://itsmarysmadness.blogspot.com/

http://sewgoodsewfar.wordpress.com/

http://studioadventures-susan.blogspot.com/

barnyardchatter.wordpress.com

http://elmilagrostudio.blogspot.com/

http://susiemonday.squarespace.com/

http://susiemonday.posterous.com/

http://clothtocreation-pam.blogspot.com/

http://artiphytheheart.typepad.com/

http://heydawnhowsthestudiocoming.blogspot.com/

http://myclothesline.blogspot.com/

http://nollyposh.blogspot.com/

www.birdwoman3.mysite.com

http://jeckabee.wordpress.com/

http://wordwalks.blogspot.com

http://www.anlinadesigns.com/blog/

http://blueturtlesart.wordpress.com/

http://shulamitron.typepad.com/

http://sewngracefully.blogspot.com/

http://www.studiomailbox.typepad.com/

http://spueredeinefarben.blogspot.com/

http://martysfibermusings.blogspot.com/

http://www.lynndevinemcdonald.blogspot.com/

http://hecketyathome.blogspot.com/

http://cathytyler.wordpress.com/

http://beadingatthebeach.blogspot.com/

http://studioloreen.blogspot.com/

http://www.jellybeandesigns.org/www.jellybeandesigns.org/Blog/Entries/2009/9/29_my_studio.html

http://rsislandcrafts.blogspot.com/

www.bahamadawn.blogspot.com

http://lovemelove.wordpress.com/

www.thistlecovefarm.blogspot.com

http://www.highfibercontent.blogspot.com/

http://crafty-artist.blogspot.com/

www.mrsblossom.com

http://di-did-it.blogspot.com/

http://www.artycollagesanddolls.blogspot.com/

http://www.melanietesta.com/mtype/

http://stegart.blogspot.com/

http://bluenickelstudios.com/?p=1434

http://jamiefingaldesigns.blogspot.com/

http://overthetopquilting.blogspot.com/

http://sewingmagpie.blogspot.com/

http://www.cameronannemason.com/?page_id=38

http://www.sisters38.blogspot.com/

http://thewoolworks.blogspot.com/

http://paperkitty.wordpress.com/

http://www.thecrankyquilter.com/

http://www.colourstudio-fiberfanatic.blogspot.com/

http://rosemarygoround.blogspot.com/

http://marywillsussman.com/

www.nestlingsbyrobin.blogspot.com

http://filmandthread.com

http://marcydesign.blogspot.com/

http://jessicaloughrey.blogspot.com/

http://juliettecrane.livejournal.com/

Also, be sure to check out these Interweave authors' blogs tomorrow during our virtual Open Studios tour! They'll be showing off their unique creative spaces and home studios, as well as some of the new designs their working on now. There's a wide range of crafts represented here, from knitting, crochet and spinning to jewelry-making, contemporary sewing and mixed-media. Please stop by their blogs anytime tomorrow, October 3, and say hello during this first (and hopefully annual) Interweave author Open Studios event!

Cookie A, author of Sock Innovation

http://www.knitanon.com/blog/

Debbi Crane, co-author of Mixed Mania: Recipes for Delicious Mixed Media Creations

http://www.paperdollpost.blogspot.com/

Rashida Coleman Hale, author of I Love Patchwork: 21 Irresistable Zakka Projects to Sew

http://www.iheartlinen.typepad.com/

Abby Franquemont, author of Respect the Spindle

http://www.abbysyarns.com/wordpress/

Rosemary Hill, author of Elements Of Style: Creating Jewelry with Wire, Fiber, Felt, and Beads

http://rosemarygoround.blogspot.com/

Mary Scott Huff, author of The New Stranded Colorwork: Techniques and Patterns for Vibrant Knitwear

http://blog.maryscotthuff.com/

Lyric Kinard, author of Art + Quilt: Design Principles and Creativity Exercises

http://www.lyrickinard.blogspot.com/

Kristin Omdahl, author of Wrapped in Crochet: Scarves, Wraps & Shawls

http://www.styledbykristin.com/whatsnew/2009/10/3/welcome-to-the-open-house-of-a-crochet-designer-kristin-omda.html

Melanie Testa, author of Inspired to Quilt: Creative Experiments in Art Quilt Imagery

http://www.melanietesta.com/mtype/

Cynthia Thornton, author of Enchanted Adornments
http://cynthiathornton.blogspot.com/

And her brother Andrew Thornton, contributor to Enchanted Adornments

http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/2009/08/inside-studio.html

Alison Willoughby, author of 49 Sensational Skirts

http://www.alisonwilloughby.blogspot.com/

Dorit Elisha, author of Printmaking + Mixed Media

http://lifeasafiveringcircus.blogspot.com/

Have fun and enjoy!

Cate

Join Our Open Studios Event and Win

Cate Prato — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:09:00 GMT

The theme of the Fall 2009 issue of Studios is Open Studios, so we're kicking it off with a virtual tour, and you're invited to participate. Be among the first to join, and win a door prize! Here’s how:

Step 1. Take pictures and/or video of your studio. Maybe your studio is a large, dedicated space or maybe it’s just a corner of the dining room. It doesn’t matter—we want to see it! And don’t worry that it isn’t perfect. Art is not about perfection. You can clean it up, leave it in its natural state—it’s up to you.

Step 2. Announce the tour on your blog/website and include the cover image of the Fall 09 Studios, linked to our website.

Once you’ve posted image and link, leave a link to your blog/website in the comments section of the In the Studio with Cate editor’s blog (that's right here!) anytime before October 2.

Step 3. On October 3, post the images/video of your studio on your blog or website with a little commentary describing your creative space and what makes it special to you. Leave the post up through October 4, or as long as you like.

The first 25 people to join the tour (i.e. leave a link to their tour announcement in my blog comments, below) will win a door prize from the Studios storage closet (books, fabric, craft bags, art supplies, and more). Everyone who participates will have the opportunity to share their unique workspace and get ideas and feedback from others.

So, join the fun! Any questions? Contact me at cprato@interweave.com.

And be sure to get your copy of the Fall '09 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, where you'll get advice on the best way to join and run an Open Studios event from expert Jenn Mason, discover cool storage and display tips, learn ways to set up a teaching studio, and get a look inside the studios of more than 20 artists, including quilter and fiber artists Suzanne Hyland, Lucie Summers, Susan Brubaker Knapp, Terry White, and more.

I can't wait to see all your studio tours!

More Winning Names & a New Cover

Cate Prato — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:23:00 GMT

Hmmm. None of the folks whose names I drew for the Creative Makeover Bag have responded, so it's time to draw new names.

Meva

abonestell

bondgirl

koffiebean

Phyllis Krosinsky

Please send me your address at cprato@interweave.com. You have until Monday morning, ET, to claim your giveaway prize.

More news: Have you noticed the new Cloth Paper Scissors Studios cover up on our website?

You can now pre-order the Fall 2009 issue that will be on newsstands the first week in October. The lovely studio pictured is that of Jenn Mason, artist, author, frequent contributor to Cloth Paper Scissors, and all-around great gal. Check back here on Monday for a behind-the-scenes look at the photo shoot.

Makeover Bag Winners Announced

Cate Prato — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:12:00 GMT

It's still Friday where I live, so I'm still on time to announce the five Creative Makeover Bag Winners:

BrendaSmoak

Phylis

Cindycoven

bracys@cox.net

forrestwife

Send your address to me at cprato@interweave.com by Tuesday 9 a.m. ET and we'll send out your Creative Makeover Bag. If I don't hear from you, I'll pick another winner in your place.

Congratulations!

Win A Creative Makeover Kit

Cate Prato — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:31:00 GMT

Careful readers of the Muse Flash section of the new issue of Cloth Paper Scissors (July/August ) are probably the first ones to read this blog post, as in it we told you to look for our Creative Makeover Kit giveaway in this space today. Those of you who marked your calendar--as well as those of you who just stumbled upon this post--are now rewarded!

Inspired by the new Smooch Pearlized Accent Inks by Clearsnap that look like bottles of nail polish and the Colorbox Pigment Brush Pads that made us think of eye shadow, we've put togther five "makeover" bags of art supplies--and you could win one.

Just leave a coment here telling us why your studio needs a creative makeover. On Friday, we'll announce the five winners and send your Creative Makeover Kits out to you.

Good luck!

Does Mess Equal Stress, or Creativity?

Cate Prato — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:29:00 GMT

Tell me, does a messy studio stress you out, or is it a sign of a creative mind at work? Can you create better with everything out in the open and available, or when you have everything unneccessary to the task at hand put away, with clean open spaces in front of you?

I ask, because there's been a friendly debate going on over at the Studios Forum on the topic of tidy studios: some people see clutter as the bane of creativity, others see it as a boon. Which one is right? I suppose--and several posters have said as much--that the answer is that there is no right answer. It's not "wrong" to fold every scrap and replace every pin before you leave for the day, nor is it a sin to close the door and leave everything right where it was so you can dig right in the next time. One thing I will say is that when we ask readers what topics they most want to see in Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, the #1 answer is always Storage and Organization ideas. That makes me think that more people want to get organized than want to add clutter to their studios. But I think that's partly because most of our readers are long on "stash" and short on space.

I think the trouble comes when the way you keep your studio doesn't work for you or your art. For example, you always tidy everything up into neat bins and drawers because that's how Mom taught you--or because you just can't stand a mess, but you miss the visual stimulation that having everything out in the open can bring. Or, you hate to clean up and don't mind clutter, visually, but you can never find what you need when you need it, and frequently find yourself heading off to the craft store for something you "know you have somewhere," or rummaging for a rubber stamp or piece of fabric only to find something you were missing a month ago: "So that's where that was!"

Maybe the answer is in compromise. If you like a sleek, tidy studio, consider a wild and crazy (or orderly but colorful) design board or inspiration shelf that you can change frequently to spark ideas. If clutter is your thing, at least commit to keeping one drawer, or a segmented tool box, for your most basic supplies (such as scissors, glue, sketchbook, ruler, hand needles and threads) and resolve to put those things away every day so you can find them and get back to work quickly and easily.

I know that at home I am always trying to clear the decks, create more space, and de-clutter. But, you know, I like stuff. And stuff apparently likes me, as it seems to follow me home and in through the door. So I've tried to commit to putting at least the most important things in my household--bills, school papers, coffee-making supplies--in one place, always. It works most of the time. I'm still working out the best method for my "studio" supplies; I think the best plan for me is to have duplicates of the basic things in each room where I like to craft (primarily hand stitch in front of the TV) and move the project from place to place, because I am a social crafter who likes to be with other people (or at least the TV) while I create.

What about you? Do you have any suggestions for "slightly" de-cluttering or getting "a little" messy? If you do, spill! (Or, if you're a tidy type, don't spill, just leave a comment.)

Travel Bag & Iron Winners Announced!

Cate Prato — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:23:00 GMT

Wow. Judging by the number of comments to my last post, the travel bags and iron were mighty tempting! I enjoyed reading all of your summer art travel plans--may you all have the good weather and health to carry them out.

And now, for the winners:

wer4tun8

linens2lace

EllenB

Otellie

Congratulations! Please email your name and address to me at cprato@interweave.com and we will send your prizes right out. If I don't hear from you by June 11 at noon, ET, I will draw another winner in your place.

If you didn't win, don't worry--there are plenty more giveaways to come. Also, we are looking for more studios for our Fall and Winter issues, and even beginning to think Spring! I am particularly looking for studios that :

are shared
have a lot of light or have unusual or creative lighting
have unusual window treatments
have a photo-staging area
have unusual wall decor

If your studio has any of those features, or you just think it's fun, creative, well-organized, or has another special feature, send a brief description and up to five lo-res images to submissions@clothpaperscissors.com, with studios in the subject line.

Art Travel Giveaway

Cate Prato — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:23:00 GMT

In the new issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, we have a special feature on Art on the Go--artsy travel destinations near and far, budget-saving tips, how to pack your art bag, in addition to lots of inside and outside summery studios.

We also show readers some cool travel bags especially for artists and crafters and an adorable travel iron that works great for fusing on the road--especially with super-lightweight Mistyfuse.

You'll want to read all about these tips, products and art excursions before planning your creative endeavors this summer. By the way, what ARE your creative travel plans for the summer? If you share, I'll reward you!

Just leave a comment about something arty you're going to do this summer--whether it's attend an art show, paint outdoors, take an art-centered vacation, go to a workshop or retreat or something else. On Monday, June 8, I'll pick four lucky winners--three will win one of these adorable craft carry-all bags from Creative Options and one will win this darling travel iron provided by Mistyfuse.

This is an example of what you can carry inside:

Let the commenting begin!

Ephemera Dilemma Solved

Cate Prato — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:08:00 GMT

Hi everyone,

In this episode of In the Studio with Cate, we address an email from Betty Anderson, who writes:

I have tons of clippings/old mags/postcards/etc/etc/etc

I'd love to see an article on organizing the small pieces of paper that are to integral to our art but a pain in the BUTT to store and retrieve!

Here's my drawer:

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Betty sent several more pictures of her drawers stuffed with ephemera, but you get the idea. In fact, you may have drawers--or bins, that look just like this. Fortunately, we know of ways to deal with this problem, based on the many creative solutions we've seen in Studios. There's the semi-organized way and the highly organized way.

Semi-organized: Sort your ephemera by how you use it, such as color, type of paper (like tissue, found papers, vintage, handmade, cardboard), etc. You might want to have subcategories, if you use a lot of images or types of papers (for example, birds, animals, Victorian ladies, labels, postage, and so on). Then, get clear plastic bins to contain each category or sub-category. Label them. This way, you can see what you have and where it is. Whenever you've finished working with the papers, put them back in the bins they came from. When you acquire a new piece of ephemera, immediately put it in the appropriate bin (after admiring it for several minutes.)

Highly organized: This is best if you use a lot of small pieces of ephemera like tickets, old postage stamps, images cut from magazines, etc., or bits of ephemera smaller than the size of an 8 1/2" x 11" page. Get yourself some clear plastic paper protector sheets--some that will hold full sheets of paper and some that are segmented with pockets, such as the ones used for slides, baseball cards, etc. Sort your ephemera by category as described above. Go as crazy with this as you would like, for example, we know some people who not only have a category for bird images, but sub-categories for red birds, yellow birds, etc., and backyard birds, waterfowl, etc. Use the larger protectors for the bigger sheets: say, a full magazine page of flowers or a piece of cardboard with an interesting texture. Then get yourself some loose-leaf binders and assign a binder to each of your categories. Label them. For larger sheets of paper, invest in a set of flat files to keep them orderly (don't forget to sort and label), and a tall plastic or metal rubbish barrel where you can keep rolls, such as wrapping paper. Don't forget to put everything back where it belongs and file it appropriately when it comes in. That's the key (and the hard part.)

Of course, Betty, you must adapt these methods to your own style, type of art, and space allotment. And I'm sure there are other suggestions that our readers would be happy to provide. If you have a suggestion for how to sort and organize ephemera, please leave a comment here.

Down-Under Design

Cate Prato — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:44:00 GMT

When we feature artists' studios in STUDIOS, we ask for a floor plan so readers can get a better idea of how the studio is laid out, the flow of work, etc. It's funny how many of these amazingly talented art quilters and mixed-media artists blanche at the thought of drawing a floor plan. Many worry we want something akin to an architect's rendering. I always assure them that a quick pencil sketch with the basic shape of the room, dimensions, and placement of the major pieces of furniture is fine. Some artists do send in a precise, to-scale drawing. But either way, our STUDIOS designer, Christina Williams, transforms each one in the computer so all of the floor plan designs have a uniform style within the context of the magazine.

However, when I received award-winning Australian quilter Helen Godden's floor plan, I wanted to laugh--or maybe cry. Instead of a rough sketch or a tightly drawn rendering, Helen sent an illustration of her studio, aka "The Zone," in her own irrepressible style. It's complete with a key to the coded shapes, captions, and an outline of her beloved dog Kosci, "asleep, not dead" in the middle of the floor. That's the part that made me laugh. What made me want to cry was that a) it had taken a circuitous route to our Stow, Mass., offices and therefore arrived after press time and b) we wouldn't have been able to use the floor plan in the format Helen had sent, anyway. So no one would see it.

But wait...QA community to the rescue! I could show Helen's floor plan here.

And so you have it. Be sure to get your copy of the Summer 2009 issue of STUDIOS to see the photos of Helen's studio and read her hilarious description of "The Zone."

And the winner is...

Cate Prato — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:10:00 GMT

Flutterbugartgirl!

She was randomly chosen to win the first In the Studio with Cate giveaway. Please email me your address Flutterbugartgirl, and I will send your winnings out poste haste.

Didn't win? Don't despair. I have another giveaway coming next week. But I'll be blogging before that, so check back soon.

Doorway to Design Giveaway

Cate Prato — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:52:00 GMT

Fabric designer Melissa Averinos, whose studio graces the cover of the Spring issue of Studios, doesn't have a lot of room to work in. Her 10.5- by 23-foot space is not only narrow, it has two windows and three doorways. So, where to put a a design wall?

How about right on one of the doors?

Melissa simply tacked on sturdy string "clotheslines" to the bathroom door. There she clips on an ever-changing array of inspiration pieces, including vintage scarves, fabric swatches, her own painted doodles, found papers, colored fibers--anything that strikes her as interesting and stimulates her senses.

Her solution to the design wall problem is not only fast and budget friendly--it's instant decor as well.

Would you like to create a similar design door? I'll give the tools to one lucky commentor!

Just leave a comment stating your favorite studio design or organization trick from the Spring 2009 issue of Studios. I will draw one winner randomly on Monday, May 4, and that person will win this 45' line of hemp cord, chic black clothespins, and vial of shiny tacks, all from Canvas Home Basics.

Let the commenting begin!

Studio Storage is Where You Find It

Cate Prato — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:55:00 GMT

A lot of our readers and artists featured in Studios say they like clear storage, because they can see at a glance what's in it. You can find a wide variety of storage containers and systems at craft and organization specialty stores. But sometimes, the perfect storage container finds you. For example, we discovered this ideal beading supply holder one day when we were feeding ink into the office printer.

As I removed the last brick of solid ink from the container, co-editor (and inveterate beader and re-purposer) Barbara Delaney pointed out that the boxes are just right for keeping bead supplies. Not only do the flexible plastic containers have compartments and a top to keep the beads from spilling, they stack. These boxes would also be great for holding bobbins, small found objects, pins--any tiny craft item that tends to roll away and get lost.

The best part? Ink containers like this don't get tossed in the trash, headed for a lifetime in the landfill.

What's your favorite storage "find"? What's the most unusual item you've ever re-purposed to organize your supplies? Leave a comment! We may feature it in a future issue of Studios.