Welcome to My New Studio at 30 Beekman!

Welcome, friends! Whether you’re here because of the Spring Clean Your Studio Blog Hop or coming by to see my new studio in Saratoga Springs, NY, I am delighted to show you what I’ve been up to (and why I am skipping Quilt Market this Spring). I have to start with the story behind my space, first, because it’s literally a month old! If you’re just looking for photos, scroll down 😉 But here’s a quick little tease:

This most recent chapter in my story…

…started when my sweet friend Kim Niedzwicki  (Go-go Kim!) stayed with me on the last night of the Lancaster show. I’ve been waffling around for a while trying to find where I fit, so to speak. Kim has been watching me struggle with some deep questions, and she questioned and poked and prodded until the thoughts in my brain were all stirred up and energized. And when that happens it’s like a snow globe, you know? The sparkly thoughts never drift into quite the same spot, or look quite the same way, do they? Kim’s an amazing friend, and I am so lucky to have her care about me.

So, on the drive back the next morning (at 3:30 AM, no joke), I finally sat with my thoughts and her words and shook up my snowglobe thoughts some more, and realized two things:

1) I love to teach and encourage people

2) I love every bit of quilting, and I think I’m pretty good at it.

OK. Except I don’t like binding. Not a fan of binding.

The question as I saw it was how could I get the things I love together more often? And then it occurred to me that, actually, a studio might do that for me. A place where my local clients can drop of their quilts for me to quilt, a place that had some space for small classes, a place I could explore new techniques and be a part of the larger art community.

And then I thought, gee, we have a local Art District in town. I make functional art. I wonder if there’s anything there? I have been considering selling my quilts at galleries, what if I have my own?

And lo and behold, there was a Craigslist ad for a studio in the Art District on Beekman Street, with south-facing windows and handicap accessible entries and bathrooms. With a basement fully-plumbed to set up a dye kitchen!

Without further ado: my studio!

I have a beautiful big room with beautiful big windows in a historic building. There’s room for my longarm and to display some of my quilts:

There’s room to store a (small) bit of my fabric collection, so I have something to work with if I am so inclined:

And space for a sewing studio, complete with giant design wall, work table, and sewing table.

I want to change this table out at some point, but for now it works. I’ve got big tables in the basement to bring up for classes.

I have the giant design wall I’ve always wanted next to my ironing board

 

And a sewing table in front of the window.

Check out those windows!

I hope to have a class schedule up soon, because not only will there be piecing (hand and machine) and machine quilting options, but I have the BEST teacher coming in for garment classes! I’m thinking about having some sewing machines on hand, too, so people don’t have to worry about investing if they’re sewing-curious but not ready to commit.

Did I mention I have a porch? Because I have a porch. Right now it has someone else’s chair on it, but soon it will have hanging flower baskets and comfy chairs for hand stitching. Summer up here is NOT to be missed!

 

The Big Picture

My space is at 30 Beekman Street in Saratoga Springs, NY. It’s a small town that I like to think of as the “last good stop” on the Metro North up from NYC (after our town, you share the line with freight trains, which get rights of passage). It’s a 3-hour beautiful train ride along the Hudson River, depending on the schedule.  Saratoga Springs is famous for its horse racing season (July-Labor Day!) and it’s spot at the edge of the Adirondack State Park. We’ve lived in the area for ten years as of this summer. While I’ve lived a lot of places, I love the beautiful mountains and lakes here. At some point, I will be able to offer the space for small groups of friends who may want to come visit and stay at any of our local B&Bs (and we have a TON) and are looking for a place to rent to sew in. How fun would that be??

Hours are scheduled weekly, and you can also find me by appointment and by chance.

Happy quilting, friends! And I hope to see you in person, some day! Please make sure to visit the other stops on the Spring Clean Your Studio Hop and share your love in the comments!
May 1 – Teri Lucas – www.terificreations.com
May 2 – Tammy Silvers – www.tamarinis.typepad.com
May 3 – Emily Breclaw – www.thecaffeinatedquilter.com
May 4 – Amalia Morusiewicz – www.FUNfromAtoZ.com
May 5 – John Kubiniec – www.bigrigquilting.com/blog/
May 6 – Debby Brown – www.higheredhands.blogspot.com
May 7 – Melissa Marie Collins – www.melissamariecollins.blogspot.com
May 8 – Delve MIY – www.fronddesignstudios.wordpress.com
May 9 – Misty Cole – www.mistycole.com
May 10 – Sam Hunter – www.huntersdesignstudio.com/blog
May 11 – Dale Ashera-Davis – www.dalead.wordpress.com
May 12 – Sara Mika – www.mockpiestudio.blogspot.com
May 13 – Sarah Trumpp – www.Wonderstrumpet.com
May 14 – Carma Halterman – www.beanstrings.blogspot.com
May 15 – Jessica Darling – www.jessicakdarling.com
May 16 – Lisa Chin – www.lisachinartist.com
May 17 – Sally Johnson – www.sallysquiltingcorner.blogspot.com
May 18 – Mandy Leins – www.mandalei.com/blog
May 19 – Shruti Dandekar – www.13woodhouseroad.com
May 20 – Jane Davila – www.janedavila.com
May 21 – Ebony Love – www.lovebugstudios.com
May 22 – Cheryl Sleboda – blog.muppin.com