Have you ever wanted to be kinda nosey and peek into someone else’s home to see how they’ve set everything up? You know, because you’re looking for clever storage inspiration and layout ideas? Thanks to the Quilted Joy Clubhouse, we’re doing exactly that! Join me each month for a Looky Loo Studio Tour as we take a peek into our members’s sewing spaces!

Watch the video below to see Mary’s space for yourself. The video will begin at the start of Mary’s tour, but you can watch the whole video from the start here.

During our very first Quilted Joy Clubhouse meeting in March 2019, we got a tour of Mary Goldsberry’s sewing studio. She’s set up in her basement. Her husband thought the space would be a living room, but her quilting, sewing, and crafting passions have taken over the space! I especially loved how her husband boxed in the support posts with pegboards so that she can easily store her rulers there. That’s such a clever use of space! Plus, you’ve gotta love a supportive hubby like that! ❤️

Let’s get to know Mary a little bit more!

Angela: How long have you been quilting?

Mary: I’ve been quilting for 8 yrs minus a 1-1/2 year sabbatical about 3 years ago.

A: How long have you been longarm quilting?

M: I just passed my first anniversary of longarming.

A: How have you grown your skills?

M: I’ve grown my skills by taking a class, watching videos, reviewing the classes that came with the longarm numerous times for refreshers, joining the APQS blog when I have questions and emailing or calling you or APQS!

A: What is the most challenging part of quilting for you?

M: For quilting in general - not having enough time in my life to make all the quilts I bought patterns for or saved on my computer! I’ve been working on my UFO list for two years now. Made good progress.

For longarming - being a newbie I still have so much to learn! Since I bought an IQ computer with my machine my focus is mastering that before I branch out and try ruler work or free-motion. I was doing free motion on my regular machine before buying my longarm so I’m pretty confident that won’t take too long to master on the longarm. I’ve mastered e2e on the IQ and want to focus on custom quilting this year. I’ve attempted it a few times by volunteering to quilt my guild’s charity quilts. That has been great practice for me!

A: What do you love about your quilting space?

M: What I love most about my quilting space is the amount of space I have. I’m fortunate I know. It’s big enough to fit my longarm. I had to really get organized and move almost everything in the room when I got it. I don’t have as many things piled up now and I have a UFO list from that process.

A: What would you change about your space if you could?

M: If I could change anything about my quilting space it would be getting more storage space. Because I’m in the basement there are no closets. I don’t have anywhere to put any new stash I buy. Or I need to finish some UFO’s to free up space. Overall, I’m pretty happy with my space.

A: What advice would you give a new longarm quilter?

M: If you are a new longarmer know where to get answers when you don’t have them. There are lots of resources available to you. Angela is my dealer and I have called or emailed her at all hours! She responds very quickly even when she’s out of the country! APQS is only a phone call away. If you have to leave a message they get back quickly and will walk you through the issue if needed. Really great service! Ask the APQS blog. You'll get all kinds of responses. There are tutorials galore out there. Join Angela’s or another longarm group. Multiple heads are better than one.

A: What quilt project are you currently working on?

M: I’m currently working on 5 projects. But the two closest to being finished are my brother’s memory quilts for my niece and nephew. I think I’m going to add a small 2” border and then quilt them. Because they have pictures I’m really not sure how I’m going to quilt them. These are my first memory quilts.

A: What quilt project is on your bucket list?

M: This year I want to complete a Hosta paper piecing pattern I purchased while at Paducah a few years ago. This will be the first bed quilt I get to keep for myself. So I’m really excited!

A: How would you describe your quilting style?

M: I’m not sure I really have a quilting style. There are so many neat techniques I want to try them all! I have appliqued (fused and hand sewn), paper pieced, regular pieced, completed a Quilt of Valor and the memory quilts. I’m getting ready to start a landscape quilt soon. That will be a challenge for me because art was my least favorite subject in school. Not that I didn’t like it. I just wasn’t very good at it. I have no design or art degree. But I have a brain and a willingness to try anything, at least once anyway!!

A: What is your favorite batting and thread?

M: My favorite batting is Hobbs Heirloom 80/20. I like the weight, thickness and the quality compared to others. It works well on the longarm. My favorite thread is Superior. They have a thread for every sewing need and they provide education as well. It is also a good quality thread. For me, if I am going to go to all this work in making a quilt I want it to have quality materials so it will last a lifetime.

A: What is your current favorite quilting gadget?

M: I’m not sure rulers would be considered gadgets, but I have started replacing all my rulers with Alex Anderson’s Quilters Select rulers. They really don’t slide and they’re not colored. I’m putting my other rulers in my travel machine cart so I won’t have to worry about forgetting one when I’m away.

Mary Recommends:

• Finding your passion! It really does bring joy to your life!
• Applique Techniques with Pearl P. Pereira P3 Designs
• Norwex dusting wands
• Plastic storage bags your bedsheets come in for storing your projects
• Quilter’s Select piecing rulers

Thank you again to Mary for letting us be nosey in her sewing space! If you’d like to connect with Mary and see what she’s been up to you can find her on Facebook at Quilting and More by Mary.