Sewing Room Tip #1 - managing new fabrics

I've made a resolution to reorganize the shop so that I use the space better. Like most, I have a limited amount of space and like to have all of my fabrics within site, so that I can quickly see all the possibilities while I'm working. Normally, when I get new fabrics, I wash them, fold them up, and organize them by color on a series of bookshelves. Lately, I've been looking at the piles of fabrics and wondering how to condense them so that I have more space. The answer, scarily enough, is ironing all this fabric!!

Believe me, I was not really keen on ironing everything, so I did a test to see if all the effort would pay off. While cutting out turquoise fabrics for another ocean themed quilt, I ironed each piece of fabric as I went along and then carefully stored them back on the shelf. I buy a lot of fabrics two yards at a time, but I do have a lot of fabrics that I've purchased the whole bolt....this takes up LOTS of room. After going through the turquoises, what was once three shelves of fabric now took up only one and a half shelves! Yay! It really worked!

For example, here is a photo of my green fabrics, you can see how much space it takes up, and how messy it is.


Now, here is a photo of the turquoise...all ironed and beautiful! I'm hooked :)
And so the lesson here is: time saved by not ironing = loss of much needed space in the workroom. I haven't gotten through my entire fabric collection, but I'm working on it :)

For Black Friday - stay home and shop - buy handmade - buy local :)

A new queen size quilt in the shop :)

Friday Deal!

Today Only!

Start your Christmas shopping early! Get 15% off this set of nesting bowls by using "FRIDAY" in the coupon code box during checkout! (15% applies to bowls only). Thanks so much and Happy Friday :)

It's National Sewing Month

Did you know this? Me either. It was created in 1982 by Ronald Reagan to recognize the importance of home sewing in our country. Sweet! Funny I didn't hear about this till just a few days ago. I can't remember where I saw it or how I was tipped off about it, but it is indeed true. It is National Sewing Month, and I plan on celebrating it!
A treasury I created firstly about memories of sewing with my Mom, but then decided it was about this month as well.Part of the plan is to start creating table runners again. They were really popular. (see the detail of one above)
And over at Loft Full of Goodies you'll find this awesome needle book. I bought one recently, but it's blue, and I cannot sing its praises enough. If you hand sew, get one of these lovely little felt books to keep your needles in. I adore mine!

Check out the National Sewing Month website. They are holding a sewing contest through the end of September with three large baskets full of sewing supplies and notions as the prizes.

September Giveaway

September always feels like a time of transition to me. It must stem from years and years of getting ready to go to school, new classes, professors, schools, and clothes. Even now, beyond my school years, September feels more like the beginning of the new year to me than January ever has, you can even buy calendars that start in September, so I can't be the only one who feels this way.

Anyway, to mark this fresh, crisp and wonderful month, I'm having a btaylorquilts give away! I'll be mailing out this tote/project bag (see photos below) to the winner, who will be drawn at random from all entries. See "How to Enter" after these awesome photos!

How to Enter:

Two things: follow my blog, and leave a comment!! If you already follow my blog, great, just leave a comment and tell me you follow. OR, Like my Facebook page and leave a comment here (see the link on the right ---> )That's it!

Get extra entries if you make a purchase in the shop! Buy anything valued $18 and over and get 3 extra entries. If you buy a quilt your name goes in 10 times!

The drawing will be held on September 1, 2011!! Start entering now :) and tell your friends!

I've quit my day job

That's right! While it was bittersweet and one of the hardest things I've had to do, I left my position at Easthampton City Arts (ECA) as Coordinator. I've been with the group since its early days and started at 3 hours a week managing the website and encouraging other artists in the community to sign up on the brand new site. It slowly developed into a full time position and the group took on some pretty amazing projects, including Bear Fest 2009! It was one of the most amazing projects I've ever been involved with!

All along the way I've been trying to continue to work in my own studio and also manage a growing quilting/sewing business on Etsy. It became clear over the last year that I could not devote enough attention to any of my work, including ECA, and everything was suffering. Not really suffering, but I was just maintaining each thing at a kind of flat-line level...not really how I like to operate.

And so, I've taken the plunge and am facing the risks head on. BTaylor Quilts is doing great, and it can be better, and that's what I'm trying to devote my attention to. I've also got an exhibit this October at the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts and am busily working on new paintings to include in that show (well, if it wasn't so hot in my studio!!) I feel so fortunate to be able to have this time to focus on my own work. It's more than a full time job, it's every waking moment for the most part, but I LOVE it! I've got a new long arm quilting machine in the shop, which is another story (I promise to tell you about shortly!!), and have been busy designing new products, quilts, and brewing other ideas for marketing and getting the word out.

Christmas in July on Etsy

It's Christmas in July starting today through July 24, in my shop! Please use the coupon "JULYSALE" to enjoy 10% off anything in the shop. Don't forget that I donate 10% of all my profits from btaylorquilts to the American Cancer Society.

Jungle Wagon treasury

A treasury today.

Introducing......BTaylorQuilts Bags!

Yes, it's been a while since I've posted, but I've got a good reason. I've been busy designing and sewing a new series of bags. It's been a long time in the process, and mostly it just existed in my head, but I finally found the time to devote to getting this project underway. I'm really happy with the results, and will be listing them in the shop shortly.

The line up as of now is (from small to large):

• credit card / change purse - from the wallet series
• market purse / clutch - from the wallet series
• small tote / project / market / lunch bag - from the tote series
• large tote / project / market / beach bag - from the tote series

Here's a sneak peek :)

Photo Credits for this post: Latentecho

Large tote / project / market / beach bag

small tote / project / market / lunch bag

credit card / change purse

Special orders don't upset us :)

The shop has been busy with special requests for weeks now. Just before Christmas, I received a request for a queen sized green gradation quilt with a due date in early Spring. I love it when I really have some time to work on quilts like this. It gives me time to peruse my favorite fabric stores close by and also my on-line resources for really nice additions to the project.

I'm also working on a custom oven mitt, and a cover for a KitchenAid stand mixer. So cool! I haven't made a mixer cover before, so this is a new project for me...it ought to be pretty fun. It's been fun so far working with the customer.

And now I'd like to share a whole bunch of photos of the quilt. These are mostly detail shots.