Good Morning, Quilters!
When I read other blogs, one of my favorite things to read is the “Behind the Scenes” posts. So today, I’d like to share a few photos from my recent photography session with Martingale, held in my Minnesota studio.
The photography for my first two books, Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 and MORE Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 was done “in-house” at Martingale’s office in Washington. However, because this book is totally different–a series of lessons and projects–the editor decided it would be better to do the photo shoot in my studio.
Time to Clean
Imagine if a photography team was coming to YOUR studio!? I spent hours cleaning, rearranging…
and finding lost things!
The Photography Team
The team included the editor of Martingale, Jennifer Keltner, the photographer, Adam Albright, his assistant, Jason and me.
Jennifer decided what should be photographed and kept us all on track. Adam did all of the photography including composing the shots and Jason was in charge of the computer.
My job was to find the appropriate samples (there were more than 200!), make sure the quilts were photo-ready and explain what part of the sample demonstrated the lesson best. I also did some stitching for the camera!
Long Work Days
We worked for nearly three days. It was hard work for me…not because it was physically demanding, but because it required full focus for hours at a time. I am not used to that much structure anymore-LOL!
I learned a lot about the editorial process and I picked up some photography tips along the way.
The Quilts in Photos
It was really, really exciting to see the quilts and projects on the computer and imagine how they will look in the finished book!
I am extremely grateful to “The Team” for their talent and professionalism!
What’s Next for THE Book?
The Book is written and the first round of editing is complete, samples are stitched and photographed…so what is next?
Back in Washington…
- Photos will be edited,
- Illustrations are being prepared
- More copy editing
- Layout
- Title
- Front and back cover photographs,
- Book paper and binding chosen,
- Final reviews and edits…
Then to print!!!
I can’t even imagine self-publishing a quilting book!!!
Back in my Minnesota Studio
It’s been nearly three weeks since Martingale finished photography here and my sewing room still looks like this:
Yup…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! You don’t want to see what’s behind the scene today!
(Maybe I should pretend a photography team is coming more often!?)
What about YOU?
How would you feel about a photographer coming into YOUR studio?
Have YOU written a quilt book?
Have you ever thought about writing a quilt book?
Are YOU interested in knowing about my writing process?
We’d LOVE to hear!
May YOUR sewing room always be clean enough to find what you’re looking for and no cleaner!
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thanks!
43 comments
Pam Hotle
My room is a disaster. It is small and every horizontal surface (this includes the floor) has piles and bags and boxes and totes. When I need to do a lot of cutting, I have been sliding my second cutting mat out from under the top one and cutting on the kitchen peninsula. I also use the peninsula for basting my quilts and trimming off the extra batting and backing after quilting. I did spend a few hours tidying up the other day and feel better about my room. I would seriously need 3-6 months to have it camera ready. I have beautiful glass panel French doors into my sewing room. There are sheer curtains on the inside. When company is over and the lights in my room are off you cannot see inside. Whew!
Kathy Kelner
Just love your segments! Thank you for sharing! The only way my studio (this term used very loosely!) would look this terrific three weeks later would be if I didn’t go in there for the entire time! Keep up the good work!
Bonnie Langenfeld
Lori, this is such fun to see. I’ve dreamed of writing a book but even getting accepted by a publisher sounds daunting. If you will share any advice, I will gladly try them. Can’t wait to see your new book!
Quilteuse Forever
I know I will buy your Book!
I have just published mine calles BeeBook with Éditions France Patchwork, about quilting stories and History, about liberated quilt making and improv… I shot nearly all photos, so I could hide what was untidy 😃
My book has no place on the American market since it is in French, but my love for quilts leads me to write about America very often!
WordPress.com Support
Congratulations on your book! I’m so impressed that you took the photos your self!! I wish I knew French!
Suzanne
Oh my! My sewing “studio” (LOL) will NEVER look like yours. Like someone else who commented above, my 12×15′ sewing room is shared with our office – 2 computers, 2 printers, software, files, office supplies, cable equipment and more. The office part takes up not quite half of the room with my sewing area only a little bigger – but I have all three windows! And needless to say, the walls are lined with shelves. My big quilter, my backup machine, cutting table and ironing table are set up in a U-shape arrangement that takes advantage of the windows and only just fits in the area. But it works! Luckily I have a wide sliding door closet that is all mine! (Yay!) I’m in the process of changing this over to become fabric and supplies storage. I hope to get it done soon so I can keep better track of my quilts and other projects, AND get the mess organized and out of the way.
The only people allowed in this room are family, a like-minded neighbor and the cats, one of whom loves to help me sew – although there are times I wish he wouldn’t. I think he likes the “purr” of the sewing machine. The dog’s bed is right outside the door and he loves to snooze, so he leaves me alone, bless his fuzzy little heart.
I feel blessed to have what I do and as a retiree, I’m grateful to have the time to enjoy it.
As always Lori, thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and inspiration.
Kari
Love all the comments! Crime scene! Priceless! I recently turned my junk sewing room into a full blown transformation into a gorgeous den for my newly retired husband! Now the sewing mess is upstairs being cleaned out for my room. Lori, your sewing room is beautiful!
Rosemaryflower
Your studio looks neat as a pin. This looks like the laboratory of sewing 🙂 I do love it.
My sewing room is the morning room next to the kitchen. It is perfect for me bc I am down stairs and I can see the tv, I have my kitties snoopervising and if I MUST prepare meals, I can do that without too much effort.
My sewing space always looks like an explosion, but when I have family gatherings at my house….. I remove every thing that looks messy….. and put it in my bedroom and shut the door. No house tours ever. Just no.
Everyone tells me I am neat and tidy. hahaha no.
Again, your sewing studio is so dreamy. I am so glad that you have this space because it works!! — you are amazing.
Linda Rackley
Thank you for sharing your story about the photo shoot for your book. Your sewing studio looks wonderful and organized. Maybe one day I will get my quilting room in order, did I say maybe?LOL
Bette
My sewing room looks like a fabric bomb exploded in it. I’m working on a deadline project for my guild and there’s stuff everywhere. I’ll be finished today and I’m looking forward to finally cleaning up, something I don’t usually say! Lol!
Patty a
I love all of the creative free motion you do. I always look forward to your posts. However, the new heading on the second page takes up over one-fourth of the screen on my phone, making it hard to see the content. Can that be corrected?
Brenda S.
I’m blessed to have a sewing room which I thoroughly enjoy, though I wish it was a little bigger. But at least it accommodates all the essentials. Try as I may, it can get messy after a few projects and then I have to re-group and organize again. Sewing/quilting is more enjoyable for me if there is not too much chaotic messy distraction around me but then again if there’s a deadline or it’s just too exciting to stop and clean, I just focus on my project and postpone the cleaning. I will close the door so others don’t have to see it.
I have a 9 month old inquisitive Beagle puppy that has to be restricted from my sewing room for all the obvious reasons. During the winter months I didn’t like cutting that room off from the heat of our wood burning stove. My solution was to put up a baby gate so I can keep the door open for the air flow and prevent JoJo’s entrance at the same time. It works great.
Thank you for all your instruction and inspiration.
Karen
Lori, you are amazing! Are you related to the Energizer Bunny? I have both of your previous books and they are my “go to” when I reach the FMQ part of my quilting journey. I just want to make one comment- please don’t change the way these books are bound. I absolutely love the enclosed spiral binding. I wish all quilting books were bound that way. They are so durable and practical to use. Can’t wait to see the next one!
Barbara Jansz
So interesting! Best wishes on your new book.
Karen
I’d rather plan, select, create, stitch than clean or tidy up but a term came to me last week during a 2-day class at a local shop: “critical mEss” At various times I stopped and folded and organized the many fabrics and tools in my limited work space to get a handle on where I was in my creative process. Tidying didn’t feel like a very “creative” thing in this improvisational curved piecing class but there comes a time when the Mess gets to a critical point that it interferes with ideas or even the mechanics of construction. So I told myself it was okay to stop and give myself some Negative Space in which to create.
Your studio looks beautiful – and totally unnatural.
Chris
Last Christmas, I went to visit family, leaving my dogs with a trusted dog sitter. Somehow, my 2 year old bloodhound got locked in my sewing room over night. When I got home, I found it impossible to cope with the mess. I did not sew for months. I finally had to get some help, or I might have never been able to sew again. It still isn’t perfect, but I can work in there now..
Line Paquet
Only one question. When can we buy your book?
Maggie Drafts
Lori,your sewing room aka, STUDIO, is beautiful!!!! I have learned since moving to the place where I live now, the bigger the room, the bigger the mess!!! I can only hope to get my sewing room organized! Looking forward to your new book!
Quilt Crossing
You are so blessed to have such a spacious sewing space. I feel fortunate to have a dedicated sewing area in a spare bedroom, but it would never be considered a “studio”. In any case, I always feel more creative in there after a good sorting and de-cluttering. I look forward to you new book. Congratulations!
Terri
looking forward to the new book. My biggest nightmare happened when I got a new furnace. I had no idea the furnace guy was going to move almost every item in my basement sewing room. I still can’t find the power cord to the vacuum cleaner, but I think I found most of my sewing items.
Susan J
Lori, your sewing studio is gorgeous. I love all of the cabinets, storage space and that big window. I do have a small room that we call the sewing room/office. I have to share the room with my our computer, desk, and personal files. Having the computer in there does come in handy and I appreciate having a room set up where my machine and ironing board can be set up all the time. There was a time when I had to sew on the kitchen/dinning room table.
I have never thought about writing a quilting book and my room is so small there would not be room for a photography crew. lol. I think I would like to hear about your writing process. I don’t have plans to write a book, but you never know what the future may bring. I might want to some day, who knows. I retired in May of 2018, went to work part time in January of this year, and retired in May. Part time turned out to be more than part time. Long story short, I should have time to pursue creative activities.
Cheri
Well you’ve done it again Lori! Inspired me to get projects organized and ready to sew. I can’t do that in a disorganized room! If a photography team were coming to my house I’d need 6 months notice! I’d want everything organized, inside cabinets, projects, curtains I haven’t sewn together yet, etc., etc., etc.
Jacqui VMS
Love love love this blog post and your lovely tidy room! My room looked like this – once I think ROFLOL! But, as my husband says, “It’s a work room, dear”! Love that :-). I do teach quilting in my studio once a week so need to at least clean it a little every week. Love it when it’s tidied up, but as soon as the ladies are gone, I’m off to making a yummy mess again. Love reading about the process of the book photography and can’t wait til the book is out! I love getting inspiration from your blog and books!
Kresti Lyddon
Love your blog and the photos of your sewing studio. I saw this on another site: “Reasons my sewing room is not tidy: 1. I like to sew!”
Sandy
I have a sewing space in the family room. I have another room that I used to call my quilting studio; it was such a mess that I have never sewn a stitch in there! I started cleaning and organizing, but then we adopted Rock! I have not finished cleaning the room and I have done precious little sewing since Rock came! He won’t be a puppy forever, lol!
Elizabeth E.
Your quilt studio looks so spiffy. I teach at Guilds, and when I teach the FMQ class, I always bring your books and recommend them to the students; along with Christina Camelli’s, they are my go-to’s (and I’ve read just about every FMQ book out there). I really enjoyed this post, and yes, I’ve thought about writing a qulting book. I also know, that, there has to be a certain amount of “famous-ness” to get a book contract, so I don’t pursue it (even though I have 2 degrees in Creative Writing). So I loved seeing this–so much work! We really appreciate it so much, and can’t wait until the book comes out.
worldpresscom986
Elizabeth, You can’t get famous unless you put the first project out there. I had a friend who wrote a very long Science fiction book and the publisher said, “If a first book sells well, we like to have a second one ready to go.” They broke it down to 3 books. Dennis just had to put an ending to the two sections, and he published. I can’t say he became famous, but he got a dream fulfilled.
Maureen B. in B.C.
Maybe that’s what I need to get my … in gear to clean out my sewing room. Perhaps I’d find that particular piece of fabric and favourite scissors I haven’t seen in two years!! Loved Martha’s comment about crime scene tape. Your room looks sooo organized and professional … you mean it’s not ALWAYS like that (tongue in cheek)? 😚
Rhonda Goss
Love the sewing room.
D Kirk
HA! My sewing room is so small the crew wouldn’t be able to fit in there. LOL Am thankful I even have a room that’s all mine to “play” in. Only the second time in our long marriage and I love it. It’s my happy place. Everything is in there except a few binders (notebooks). And for the first time, it has a door so I can close it when people come over that aren’t sewists. Yippee!
Love your emails. Enjoy each one. Have learned a lot.
Louise
HI Lori! Your quilting motifs are such an inspiration! And now sharing photos of your sewing room! That’s it I am inspired to get organized! Thanks. L
MJ
My sewing room is my guest room. So it just got cleaned up for guests. But that means no sewing this week. 😩
Maggie Nichols
I wish all quilt books came with a spiral binding! So, I hope the Washington “Team” will chose a spiral binding! LOVE your quilt room btw!
Marta
Yes..agree that spiral bound is so easy to use on desk, sewing machine table and in my lap and in the car , etc.. Would appreciate that consideration!
Photo shoot in my sewing room(s) ?? gotta be kidding. However, even as it is somewhat disorganized, I can usually lay my hands right on what I need.
Pamela Remley
That was my first thought too! Can’t wait for the book, and I hope it is spiral bound!
Jeanette Funk
Yes, the serial bindings are the best!
Nicole Benallick
Hi Lori, it must be exciting to show off your beautiful studio. I have 2 rooms dedicated to my sewing. One room has my sewing machine, fabric and notions and the other room contains my books, hand sewing supplies, a comfy chair and desk. I am very lucky. I really enjoy your blog. Thanks for all your hard work and lessons
Gloria S
I have enjoyed Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 so much and I’m looking forward your project based book. I’ve been quilting since I was a kid but I’ve learned SO much from your book and blog. I see a Panasonic 360 iron in a photo… I purchased one a year ago and have had to have it replaced 3 times for leaking water chamber. (Fortunately Panasonic has an incredible exchange policy) Have you experienced any problems with your iron?
Karen
Oh Gloria, I had the same issue with my Panasonic iron. Wasn’t aware about the exchange policy. Lori, your studio is gorgeous. I struggle to find things in mine. It’s about time to just put everything in the hallway to sort and put things away again.
Marta
Hallway? I’d have to put mine in the yard…then people would think it’s a yard sale and buy me out! On second thought,,,hmmmm.. may be good idea……Nah, I will let my daughter do that when I kick the bucket! She and her daughter love yard sales. … holding and attending!
Martha
We have company coming today and my husband put crime scene tape across the door to my sewing room . . . Yours on the other hand looks beautiful!!
Suzanne
Your husband’s a hoot Martha!
Jacqui VMS
LOL!! Martha…LOVE this comment…I think my husband has been tempted to do that on more than one occasion….me? I’m getting used to just saying that I’m in the process of cleaning up and sorting LOL.
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