Lemon Tree Tales

Art and Ghosts artwork

A few months ago I couldn't resist ordering this delightful print from Louise Robinson of Art and Ghosts. It's haunting and has some of my favorite colors in it. The only thing more perfect than apple and pear heads would have been a lemon head. Don't you think it looks great on my studio wall?

Louise has a great digital collage style that I really admire. I have to stay away from her etsy shop otherwise I'll find other prints that are just as irresistible.

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In other news, remember how I went for my first mammogram? Well they saw a little speck of something they didn't like so I had to go for a second one. It still didn't make the doc happy so he wanted me to do a needle biopsy. Yikes! It wasn't very painful but it did seem that I was climbing up onto some type of medieval torture table. Imagine if you will, a table with a hole in it. Yeah, kind of strange, no? At any rate that wasn't near as scary as I thought it would be. Now the tough part is to wait until next week to make sure that it's nothing. The doc seemed to think that there was a 90% chance that it would be A-okay. So in the meantime I've been keeping busy ... I made another tiny world teacup pincushion and have begun the spring cleaning attack. Also we're getting ready for more racing. Perhaps this time I can gather my supplies together. I'd like to start work on a cathedral windows quilt for the living room wall.

The mannequins are painted!

The mannequins are finally painted and posed above the window shelf. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. They add a little splash of my favorite colors to the studio. Of course at this point I consider the wall color to be a neutral - Caribbean Mist #560C-2 by Behr. It's painted on the walls of all three bedrooms. (I wanted to keep things simple when we first moved in.)

Mom's visit to my studio

I had a great time with my mom these last few days. She was a whirlwind of energy and ideas on how best to organize my art supplies in the studio. One evening we took all my beads and put them in little jars sorted by colors that then fit into these specially made plastic containers. That took much longer than expected but we didn't stop there. We also sorted out and labeled all the drawers under the cutting table, in the sewing table and in the closet. She helped me take down the outdated yellow bulletin board above my desk so that I could hang up one of my lovely swap mini quilts. Ah, so much better looking.

I had mentioned my idea of getting a line of little painted manikins to display above the window on some type of ledge. Before you could say it, lickety split we hightailed it to Ikea for a look around. Wow, was it crowded and busy on Friday. What were all those people doing? Fortunately they had my little manikins in stock. The next day we shopped around until we found the perfect width of wood at Home Depot. Did you know that they'll make one cut for you for free? Zoomed back home to begin the painting. While we were at it we took down my little shelf above the printers and painted it white.

While we waited for the paint to dry we began color sorting my quilting cottons and washed a few loads of them. There's a few more to do but the completed ones look amazing!

In between all of this we enjoyed homemade dinners (one was a very delicious coq au vin dish that Steve cooked ... thanks babe!) and watched a couple movies. I'm sure that we drove Steve batty with all the giggling and girly chit chat but he was a great sport and put up with us. Overall it was a most excellent trip. I forgot to take pictures of mom and me but here's some of the studio organization.

Above the desktop ... quilt by Calamity Kim in the Four Seasons Quilt Swap

Newly painted shelf above the printers ... finally framed my Keep Calm print

New shelf above window with little manikins (will paint them later) ... I'm planning on making a skirt for the cutting table

Organized drawers below cutting table

Paints for the manikins

Organized quilting cottons ... didn't realize that I had so much pink (not really a pink person)

Four of the seven drawers are filled with freshly washed and folded quilting cottons

My spools of ribbon drawer!

All of my beads in these nifty little jars ...

... that fit into four of these specially made plastic boxes.

Thanks Mom!

Sewing Room Ergonomics or why does it hurt when I sew?

Yesterday I read that Tracy of Pink Purl was taking a little break from her sewing studio because her back was hurting. Often I've felt the very same way! When I was in my early 20s I didn't worry about this at all. In fact when I went to design school I often would do all my cutting and sewing while standing up! Of course I often would pull all-nighters so I didn't want to tempt falling asleep at the sewing machine. But now that I'm 40 I find that my neck, back and shoulders will ache if I sew for long periods at a time. So I've been experimenting and doing a little research on a subject that is near and dear to our hearts, uh, or rather our backs - sewing room ergonomics.

Cutting Table
The dining room table just isn't the best place to cut out fabric unless you're sitting down and cutting small pieces. But if you want to cut out garments, or to cut quilt pieces with a rotary and mat then you'll really need to stand up so that you can reach farther. Unfortunately your back will begin to ache fairly quickly while doing this. If you have the room then a separate cutting table that is between 34" - 36" high is good. Of course this is only the average measurement that may vary with your height. To find the ideal height, stand up with your hands down at your sides and measure from the floor to a point 4" below your elbow. That measures 37" on me which would explain why I still think that my current solution is a bit short at 34 1/2". I placed a folding table on plastic bed risers from Bed, Bath & Beyond, but I still want it a little higher. Another 1 1/2" should make it just right.


Ironing Board
Because irons are heavy equipment the ironing board should be about 3" higher than your ideal cutting table height. Unfortunately the average home ironing board doesn't go that high so you'll have to improvise by raising it as well. Make sure to keep it steady and safe. Another solution would be to make an ironing board with 3" legs that fold under. You'd be able to set it on top of your cutting table for an ironing station and then fold the legs and store it afterwards. Or for a quick fix go to Ikea and get a Jall folding ironing board (only $4.99!) and then make a cute cover like Jenny of Allsorts just did here. Lisa of U-Handbag also has a tutorial for making a custom ironing board cover here.

If you prefer the traditional stand alone ironing boards Rowenta makes one that can extend to 37" in height. It's called the Rowenta IB-9100 Professional Ironing Board but it's pricey at $189.


Sewing Table
This may be the most important component to maintaining a healthy back. First sit down with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle and your feet flat on the floor. Now bend your elbows at a 90 degree angle and measure from that point to the floor. That should be where your sewing surface or feed dogs rest. If you do this with the surface of a desk you'll find out that a typical sewing machine will be about 4" higher than this. What then happens is that your shoulders will raise while sewing and hours later when you should be admiring your handiwork instead all that you want to do is to take some aspirin and rest!

Solutions to this would be to raise your chair to accommodate this difference - if you have one that will go that high. You'll have to then place some type of platform on the floor for your feet and pedal. If you have the extra funds then invest in a sewing machine cabinet that's specially designed for this purpose. Fair warning that this will involve a large hit to your pocketbook!

Some people who have access to woodworking tools (or the people who use them) have opted to transform regular desks or tables with drop down sewing surfaces. Look at what Katie of My Sandbox had her husband do to a basic Ikea desk here.

A couple months ago I was fortunate enough to find a sewing cabinet for sale on craigslist. It's probably 20 years old so it doesn't have a fancy airlift that will raise the sewing machine for me. But since I like to have it out all the time that's not a problem. I do have to adjust where the lower shelf sits since my machine's sewing surface is a bit higher than the older machines. After a few measurements and a couple turns of a screwdriver that should be fixed.


Chair
Make sure that it is set to the correct height. Swivel chairs that adjust and have waterfall seats (that's when the edge gently drops down) are the best. They make expensive ones that are geared for the sewing industry but you can just as easily find a good inexpensive one at Ikea or Office Depot. If you don't like the drab black look, then recover it just like Emily of Joyful Abode did here or make a pretty slipcover like Vicki of Turkey Feathers did here.


So make your back happy and try out a few of these tips today! And if you're at a loss of what to sew, why don't you check out this post with 14 Cool Sewing Projects. I especially liked the Pretty Floral Divided Tote ... that's definitely next on the sewing agenda.


References
Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space by Lois L. Hallock

Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space Studio Planner by Lois L. Hallock

Lois Hallock's Company, Clearview Designs

Organizing Your Craft Space by Jo Packham

Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women By Jo Packham

US Department of Labor OSHA Sewing Ergonomics

Late night studio redo

Do you ever have one of those moments where you just can't do anything else because one thing is driving you to distraction? That happened to me late last night. I decided that I finally couldn't stand my old bulletin boards anymore. At first the yellow was nice, but over time I realized that it was just too glaring and made my studio a bit too loud. After I bought those nice storage boxes a few months ago, I wanted my studio to be more neutral with the pale blue walls as a backdrop and perhaps a few accents of chartreuse green and a wee bit of yellow.

The bulletin boards are cheap ones from Target that I covered with a neutral canvas from inexpensive tab-top curtains. Then I glued a ribbon along the edges to cover any stray thread ends. Voila', more sophisticated bulletin boards. I think that I'll make some fabric covered push-pins to hang things up. And of course I now need to get out my threads and put them up on the new thread racks. This will make it a lot easier to find the correct thread, not to mention that it'll add a nice accent of color. The pictures are fashion illustrations by Ruben Toledo that I tore out of a book years ago and then hung in inexpensive Ikea frames. The black cat clock was an engagement present from my mom. It was hanging on the wall behind the computer, but since I got a bigger monitor I haven't seen much of it. He's much better looking over here. Oh, and that trick that designers tell you about hanging a series of pictures (using kraft paper to plan it out then draw outlines and nail marks) works wonders! It was a lot easier doing it that way. I just used painter's tape to hang up the kraft paper, then I nailed the holes and ripped off the paper. Try it the next time you want to hang multiples. I do hope the neighbors didn't mind the hammering too much since it was 11pm.

I haven't mentioned it before, but I took that folding table that my mom sent to me and covered the top of it with one of those vinyl tablecloths in a faux burlap pattern. It's a great cover because you can wipe off any messes. It's just duct taped underneath. It's closer to counter height by resting on a set of those plastic bed risers that they sell at the linen supply stores. The next step will be to make a skirt for it. I did put a skirt on the back of my Ikea desk that I use as my sewing table. My friend Trena suggested that I take off the wheels so that it'd be at a better sewing height. That seems to make a big difference.

It's amazing what a difference this does to the room. Makes me feel wonderful and happy. Hmm, that could also be because I'm off to the airport to pick up Steve. He's been away on a business trip and I'm glad that he'll be home soon. Oops, very soon, gotta run!

Create in 2008!

I just read Calamity Kim's post about her new habit goals for 2008 and was completely blown away. It stuck such a nerve with me that I was inspired to come up with a motto for the new year - CREATE in 2008! No more putting off my creative job because of household chores that need to get done. They can just as easily be done in the late afternoons and evenings. Lemondrop and her friends need more attention, my new shop needs to have new prints and items every two weeks in order to take off, the sketches of new dolls and designs need to become real (they don't live when stuffed in sketchbooks), my studio needs to become organized to reflect this new shift of priorities, and I need to become more energized.

New Habits
Action: Walk 30 minutes outside three days a week in morning
Benefit: Fresh air, sunshine, energy, and free time for creative thoughts

Action: Storyboard ideas for the orchard fairies while watching tv with Steve in evenings
Benefit: Less time wasted on what to do with story ideas, sharing with Steve

Action: Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings draw/post sketches for 101 Fairy Lane
Benefit: Story becomes regular and more consistent with a schedule

Action: Monday mornings pick one or two ideas to turn into full color prints during week
Action: Remainder of Mondays & Wednesdays work on shop prints and goodies
Benefit: Shop becomes stocked

Action: Tuesdays & Thursdays work on a doll from sketchbook
Benefit: Bringing life to new designs

Action: Remainder of Friday work on organizing/cleaning studio
Benefit: Clears the way for the next week's creative storm

**************CONTEST**************

How about you? Rather than make simple resolutions that often don't make it past the month of January, why don't we all come up with solid daily/weekly actions that will become new habits. Since writing things down is a first step, I'll help.

For everyone who comments with their new creative habits for 2008, I'll put their name into a drawing. The prize will be as many goodies that will fit into a Priority Flat Rate box for domestic mail (US). If it's an international winner, the prize will have to be a bit smaller due to postage costs. Goodies will be: fabric, trim, button, pattern, maybe a book or magazine and one handmade item. You have until Monday January 7th at MIDNIGHT, Pacific time zone, to enter your name and creative habit for the new year. Good luck.

So let's CREATE in 2008! Happy New Years!!!

The goodie jar

This is what I did with my free time while Steve was racing around the track. I wasn't sure if I'd have the right conditions to do anything super productive so I brought an organizing project instead. I found this huge glass jar at Target for around $5. It was so cool that I couldn't pass it up. I wasn't sure what I would store in it until I remembered this post from Heather Bailey ages ago. Right now these are just the craft floss that I have. I'm working on the DMC embroidery floss while watching tv with the hubby. There's plenty of room for lots of color. It'll have a nice home on my cutting table when I'm done. How can you ever go wrong with a little splash of the rainbow on your table?

Ten little WIPs ...

I’m not sure whether it’s the whisper of fall, the sound of school buses picking up children, or if it’s the upcoming High Holy Days but this feels like the official start of the year more than New Year’s Eve ever really does. For me it triggers the urge to purge, to organize and decorate the house. I’ve started my attack with the studio, in particular the mounting number of WIPs that were stored in the closet. Can you believe how many that I have? TEN, yes ten Works-In-Progress. And if you’ve been reading Turkey Feathers lately, you’ll know that she’s started another round of FWYH (Finish What You Have). The goal is simple - finish at least one of your WIPs before you start a new project.

So taking a cue from a tip in this book, I’ve boxed my WIPs and stored them where I see them every time I enter the studio. A not so subtle reminder that I have to work on them. And if you’re interested, these are the ten WIPs (not in any particular order):

1) Charity Dolls that Rachel and I are making

2) Wall hanging quilt for living room

3) Chenille patchwork jacket

4) Green clutch purse

5) Patti Culea’s elf doll

6) Barbara Willis’ memory box doll

7) Leslie Molen’s Gossip doll

8) Judy Skeel’s Lady Grace doll

9) Jill Maas’ Jude stump dolls

10) Arley Berryhill’s La Femme doll

 So I’ll see how many I can finish in the next month or two. In the meantime I’ll also keep working on the studio.