After three and a half years, I have finally moved into my new studio space! While it is only a little over 22 feet wide, this space has over 44 feet of design walls along each side wall. The 14 foot tall ceiling will also give my compositions room to breath. Larger design walls enable me to work on more than one large composition at a time and allow me to have more visual references displayed as I work. All this open space is exciting! If you want to learn more about the building go to loewengallery.com
Loewen Studio & Gallery in Williamston, Michigan
I must admit, though, that I am also a little nervous. I have never had a studio outside of my home, and I have never had more than one studio at a time. Now I will have two, because I will continue to do my machine quilting in my home studio. This will also be an adjustment. Sounds silly, but psychologically for me, this is a stretch.
As I begin to quilt my new tree series, I am also trying something new.
In my garden series, the figures are quilted in mostly straight lines with a walking foot and the ground in free-motion quilting. I have reversed this in my tree series. This change is bringing new design challenges.
first quilt in tree series (not yet named) detail
© Pamela Loewen
Machine quilting the ground areas with a walking foot is not as easy as one might think. The direction of the lines have to support the figure, but also not become too predictable. Twice I ripped out what I had quilted because the surface created was too static. Making just subtle shifts when I quilted the same area again, brought more life into the ground.
Serviceberry Tree in a March Snow
© Pamela Loewen
I took this photo of our serviceberry tree last night as the snow fell. I love how the snow accentuates the lines of the branches and twigs. I am always looking, noticing, admiring. This snow storm also had a little thunder and lightning, another first for me to experience.
What new things are you working towards? Have you experienced any “firsts” lately?