Thursday 17 May 2012

SAQA Studio Blog Hop

Well at last the blog hop has made its way to Tarome, population about 73, which starts at the top of the Great Dividing Range at Cunningham's Gap and flows north east across to the edge of Aratula in south east Queensland. We are nestled in amongst the mountains and the room I use as my studio used to be our neighbour Myrtle's bedroom. I find it hard to believe that seven children were raised in this home and some of them are still in the neighbourhood.   My studio space is only calm and ordered about once a year - so this is a more truthful representation of the space in which I dream and create. When I walk into the space I call "the studio" it is akin to my own version of the TARDIS - I love the sense of enormous space that is the same size as a small bedroom - which it is.  I have tried to make the best use of the available space - including the walls - for threads, hoops, rulers and anything else that can be hung. Everything is almost within easy reach - it is probably a good thing that I have to get out of the chair at regular intervals to get whatever I need!
The table was made by our friend Graham (our builder fixer renovator man), who after building about four houses for his own family kept forgetting to make a room big enough to house the table. It is long enough to have a sewing space, creating space, and cutting space - and sometimes more! I have three large cutting mats butted against each other for about 2/3rds of the length.  I installed some small cup hooks on the underside to hold electrical cords and keep them out of harm's way.

The cupboard behind the door was also built by Graham - and keeps my folders of "stuff" - papers, foils, samples, things that worked, things that didn't, roles of vliesofix and baking paper, glues, lino cuts, stamps, paints, and some of the "upstairs dyes". Tissue papers, machine quilting samplers, stitching ideas, flame throwers, soldering thingys, yoghurt containers, paintbrushes and cut-up-but-not-sewn-into-blocks shoe boxes all reside here. Way down below I keep a couple of plastic boxes - in the style of the Playschool useful box - with all sorts of gorgeous stuff I never remember is there but love to rummage through on an irregular basis - tulle's, goop, sequined numbers from the op shop, scarves and burnable fusible stuff is there.  My UFOs are kept in the trays above the cupboard ... and in recent times I've stopped getting frustrated with my lack of finishing progress and cut them into "postcards"  -  I've found it to be a great "resolution".  My work samples and journals are a constant source of inspiration - although I the "what if I tried that" moment frequently misses being explored as a new process ... there's a lifetime of ideas  and "what ifs" on those pages.
In one corner I have a study and computer area where I keep some of my reference and resource books. I surround myself with the precious things that make my soul do a little dance - photos, pieces and works by my sister and niece, inchies from Ankie, leaf designs from Maxine, a postcard from Ros, another by Sue and (now that I look more closely) the vacuum cleaner. This is the area where I tend to "draw up" and play with an idea, or doodle or write  ... I used to have the table over near the window and all I did was look out the window ... the cosy confines of the corner work best for me.
This corner unit is made from recycled timbers and is home to my fabric stash and a collection of Meakin china. I've given my entire stash away twice now and started anew - something I found quite liberating as I now create most of my own fabrics (I don't get to spend enough time with my wonderful friend and mentor Ankie King  - who has taught me just about everything I know about dyeing ...)  I keep wadding and stuffing up top and the closed doors hide larger metreage of pfds and backing fabrics. I have a curtain rod  which sits across the top of the cupboard and that's where I hang my design sheet - a miracle of static electricity which holds hundred of pieces in place - I love being able to close the door at the end of the evening, and come back the next day with fresh eyes - whatever isn't working with the piece almost always screams at me when the door reopens.  


The next studio stop is with Pam Holland - who we get to visit from the 19th (Saturday). Pam is an incredibly talented artist and one of SAQA's Professional Artist Members (PAMs). I hope you've enjoyed the tour so far - I've loved the diversity of spaces in which we all create.

6 comments:

Sue Reno said...

Looks like a grand space for a creative mind--thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

I love your space Ali! It looks so warm and welcoming!

Linda’s Textiles said...

Great work space and it looks a nice part of the world too!

mel.forrest said...

Thankyou for sharing your delightful space Ali - very inspiring

Bearlytherecreations said...

It still looks Fab to me!! Room and organization -something i may com to know of one day lol!!

Sue Dennis said...

The views are to die for. Your space is 'your space' so thanks for shaing.