I suppose the design wall episode wasn't so much a debacle as pretty fruitless.
What I decided to do on my birthday was to make myself a design wall. Truth be told, I've never really seen the need for them. I've always just used my floor and it works fine. But lately I had been envying some sewists with their works in progress sticking up there for a long time while they mull over the design. Sounded like a cool idea.
So, following the directions here I set out to make a movable design wall. I wanted it big, but to be 3 separate panels that would fit perfectly into the corner of my studio I had picked out for it. So I bought the foam insulation but only had one choice of type at my local Home Depot. It was pink but I didn't see the problem in that.
It was a problem. I had to add an extra layer of white fabric underneath so the whole thing looked close to white. Between that and cutting the panels down to size, it ended up taking more than my birthday to complete and wasn't particularly inexpensive.
Then I brought them upstairs and realized I was totally kidding myself. I was never going to put these away in their intended corner. Right now they're still set up in the hall area outside my studio and this is 3 months later. They're not going anywhere...at least not very often.
They are pretty cool and the blocks I have on there now are from my first ever online Bee - The Busy Bees. It's fun to play around with them and nice to really be able to step back. But let's be honest, the same effect could have been achieved by tacking a big piece of batting to the wall whenever I need it. And it would have saved me a lot of headache. Live and learn.
Two other notices:
The Modern Mix blog tour is still going strong. See the list on the last post and don't miss your chance to win a copy and learn some funny stuff about me...
We're finally going to have a New Jersey chapter of The Modern Quilt Guild. Hoo-ray! See the fancy new button on my sidebar?? If you're in the area stop by our new blog and find out about how to join in the fun.
Hmm I gave up on mine as well a few years ago and now I use twine and clothespins on one large wall...of course this doesn't work with the larger designed quilts like what you do for those I use our table after everyone is asleep and it has to be cleaned up before they get up for breakfast lol
Posted by: Tabitha O. | October 17, 2011 at 02:12 AM
great now you got me going. never thought i really needed one...and now you screwed it up. see you in a couple of weeks
Posted by: vanessa | October 17, 2011 at 03:21 PM
I'm going to star this post, Jess, for the next time I think I need a design wall. Because . this . would . so . be . my . story...
Congrats on the book, it looks quite fab even though I have (yet) to see it in person...
Posted by: Doris | October 18, 2011 at 04:06 PM
I too have wondered about those design walls, they look so cool when other people use them i thought I needed one. But your post tells me that I really don't need one, just some floor space, which I have been using for over 20 years. thanks for the tip.
Posted by: marci | October 19, 2011 at 02:52 PM
Beautiful wall designs. I like all. Great job done by you. Stay up the good work! Thanks for sharing this one.
Posted by: טיפים לאיפור | November 18, 2011 at 11:55 AM