Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Studio New!

Since it's been a little bit, today I thought it would be fun to share some of the photos I took of my studio last week!

Studio New

Once the walls and furniture were painted and everything cleaned, at the top of my to-do list was to unpack my Soulful fabric samples to recreate a similar display to the one I had created for Quilt Market when
I showed Soulful. It's so nice to have the space now, to enjoy seeing on a daily basis the hard work that goes into the sample making and display designing. After a show, often I would leave samples in my suitcase for weeks or I'd have to sell them right away because I didn't have the space to keep them in my sewing room at home. Had I had this much space when I began designing fabrics, I'd certainly have more than enough goods to open up a shop already!

Now that my Love Story fabrics are widely available and the samples I made using this new collection are home from their travels to AGF, I was exited to put Soulful on the shelves to make room for a  Love Story display right away!

Filling Shelves

Love Story at the Studio

I didn't show Garden Dreamer or Love Story at International Quilt Market, so I'm especially excited to put together this simple display to share here on the blog. I have plans to make a small quilt to hang on the wall above my collection of Love Story pillows, I just need to decide on a pattern. I also ordered more rolls of the Italian crepe paper that I used to make those big, beautiful paper flowers that I decorated
my Flower Child booth with. I hope to make a dozen or so to use both for this studio Love Story display and for Flower Child when that collection arrives in April!

Studio &  Love Story

Handmade Giant Flowers

Love Story Rolls

Love Story Display


This is the view from my sewing machine and this space has truly been such a wonderful blessing for my own creativity and goal setting. I shared around the holidays that while working at this new studio, without the distractions of home chores, I've had so much time to think about the goals and plans I have for this space and my future as a maker and fabric designer. I LOVE designing fabrics more than I could ever express, but just as much I love making things with ALL fabrics. I know that pattern writing is not a strength of mine, but I do hope to both inspire other makers by all the things I make & share, and to also sell my handmade goods. I've never enjoyed making so much as I do these days in my new studio, and I've been a maker my entire life!

Love Story Wall

I hope you'll enjoy seeing the occasional "Studio New" post from me on how this new space of mine changes and evolves in the days ahead. Once I clean up the side of my room that I work in, I plan to share how I'm trying to keep things organized. I also have a second room that I'm in the process of working on that I plan to hang my quilts in and perhaps I'll finally have a design wall, I can't wait!

Thanks for visiting!
xo Maureen

15 comments:

  1. Your talents and creativity are amazing!

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  2. Your room looks lovely. Your fabric collections are stunning. But I must say I was a bit taken back when you wrote that pattern making isn't one of your strengths. My goodness everything you make is beautiful and the patterns you have designed are perfect. I always read your blog and I find your projects inspiring. Just keep on making whatever makes you happy and thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

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    1. Thank you!! I do think that pattern making/creating is a strength of mine, just not the technical writing side of it all. I don't enjoy the math and details needed to create well written patterns. Tutorials with lots of photos and simple instructions are what I'm best at, so I hope to share more of those this year, like I did in the past. Thankfully I have Sharon Holland as a sew-along partner and she is such a gifted pattern writer. I'm glad I found a great teammate in that!

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  3. Owww, such lovely creations with your beautiful fabrics. Maureen you should be very proud of yourself. Your new studio looks perfect for you. Must be so exciting to be able to go to your new studio with all your creations. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next as I am loving your fabric lines already. Watch out world, here she comes! Best wishes xx/oo

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    1. Awe! What a sweet comment, thank you! It is pretty wonderful, especially because now when I am home, I'm home. No distractions! The separation of work time/family time that the studio has provided us has been invaluable!

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  4. You have done an excellent job with developing/decorating your new studio. Bravo. It looks amazing.

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    1. Thank you! I'm still moving things around throughout the rest of the space, but this side is looking pretty good these days! :)

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  5. Very lovely space. My first time to your blog! Love your fabrics. I would love to design fabric, how did you get started in that venue?

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    1. I've been an avid quilter and blogger for several years now and was lucky enough to build a wonderful relationship with Pat Bravo, the creative director/owner of Art Gallery Fabrics, the company I work with. Pat noticed my abilities as an artist and has been my mentor in fabric design. It's been a dream come true for me! Most designers create a portfolio of work to share with fabric manufacturing companies, but I truly got lucky!

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  6. Your room looks great! Do you design your own fabrics? Love the colors and especially those great pillows!

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    1. Yes! I've been a licensed fabric designer with Art Gallery fabrics for a few years now. I just released my sixth collection called Love Story and my next collection, Flower Child, comes out in April! I also have an etsy shop where I sell lots of my handmade goods! -- http://www.etsy.com/shop/maureencracknell

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. i want to get signed up. I am excited

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  8. Maureen your studio is beautiful, such a creative space. You have worked hard to reach this point in your career, enjoy!

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  9. Love your studio and how organized you are! What a beautiful spot to create the amazing things that you do!

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