This is my studio tonight....as always, in transition, becoming better and making me feel more at home there. Yesterday, my friend Paula helped me with rearranging some of the things and building some shelves to help store others.

First we needed zip ties.....lots.

Then Rubbermaid closet shelving. 2 pieces 6 feet long for the upright sides and 2, 8 foot shelves cut in half at the store [Lowes].

These shelves are designed to hold bins of fabric at an angle....the front of the shelves being lower than the back so that the contents are more visible. I need more storage but it can't be in closets or armoires where I can't see the fabrics and colors which come together in my quilts. Out of sight, out of mind is too true in my case. My muse needs to see her materials!

Below is one end of the studio with my sewing machines and serger and a primitive antique hutch/closet ......

Now, on an adjoining wall is my new shelf unit. Thanks to Paula, and the zip ties we had it assembled in no time! The top shelf is level and holds baskets. The bins are on the slanted shelves and I can see the contents more easily! I love it!

Now the discipline is to keep the fabric collection to a rather constant size....sewing up some before more comes in so that I can have a sense of what is here!

A closer look at the shelf right after we finished it yesterday.....

A day off from work and a call in to the doctor. My poison ivy seems to turn into hives, moving around and tormenting me. So I will soon pick up an oral medication which could help!
Meanwhile, I am planning to keep the air conditioner cranked up and stay cool....of course this is my day for yoga class too!
I'm afraid to go near my garden until the poison ivy nearby is removed....and that is not being taken care of very quickly. :-(
I am praying for rain as I can't go out and water this morning. It IS cloudy, so it could happen! My "Cherokee Purple" tomato has 2 huge tomatoes which are beginning to turn red! I am so excited. I will have someone pick them and bring them in soon!
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Meanwhile, a little bit of organizing in the studio....
Here a three ring binder with page protectors holds ephemera and clippings which may end up in collages. This is much better than having them piled in a shallow box! Now I can see what I have to work with and even enjoy placing them in visual relationships in the page protectors!

Flower clippings
Frida and turquoise

Afghan woman and child across from some large leafy kale!

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Here is my art journal page for today.....wanting to garden but staying away from it.

Off to yoga now! or NOT

[A few minutes later, having decided that yoga class is not a good idea] I've been out to the mail box just now....(in the front yard, not near the poison ivy in the back yard), and found a lovely card from Janet!

It's almost time to find my quilted flag placemats....and cut a bouquet from our garden.

A bouquet of a different kind.....
In cleaning my sewing/art studio I set to work on a bag
of bias binding strips. They are rolled up and pinned
waiting to finish the edges of future quilt projects.
Back to work on this now.....