One way to hang a quilt

I recently had a two person show and needed to be able to hang the quilts fairly quickly. The gallery was okay with putting nails in the wall, so I used the same system I use at home.

I like to use Levolor adjustable width pocket rods. They are almost flat and have a hole in each end where the nails can go, and they are adjustable. They come in two different lengths so I keep some on hand for different quilts. I buy them at Lowe's, but I would imagine they are available where ever Levolor curtain rods are sold.

This is the label for the shorter length rod:

The rod slips easily into the sleeve at the back of the quilt:

I put tape on to keep the rod the size it needs to be for that quilt. I can always remove the tape and use it for another quilt in the future. Not sure if you'll be able to see the tape on the rod, but you get the idea...

After holding the quilt up on the wall and deciding on the height and placement, I make pencil marks for the holes. Then I hold the rod up and place a level tool on the top rim. Once I have it leveled, I double check the pencil marks, and put nails in those marks.

Now I can slide the rod into the quilt and place the nails in the holes and admire my work - or in this case the work of Susan Szajer! I bought this quilt after seeing it in Santa Fe and falling in love with it. I'm planning on painting the wall a little deeper color to show off the quilt, and putting a small chest of drawers under it. Susan does beautiful work - she paints and quilts. I'm so pleased to be able to see this quilt every day.

The feathers on the quilt are 3-D and have a wonderful textural quality to them. Please visit Susan's website to see more of her lovely work: Susan Szajer website and blog.

I hope this was helpful for you. If there are any questions, please put them in the comment section and I'll try to answer them asap!

Banksy in New York City

The British artist known as Banksy is in NY City, and is making art every day. He's got an amazingly inventive mind, and sharp sense of humor. There's a film that is sort of about him as well that is a hoot titled Exit Through the Gift Shop

Check his website out for yourself - and see NY differently!
Banksy's New York City Art

My Yellow Studio

My studio needed a paint job, and I was going to go with the same barn red color it was when we bought the house. That's what I did 5 years ago and it only needed one coat so it was the practical thing to do. But then I thought about how boring it was, and decided to go with a slightly deeper color than my house - on the other side of the driveway.
Here's the finished paint job -

Won't it look great with a hanging basket of flowers on that hook and the window box on the window? Even from inside the house, it looks like it's calling me to come and feel the joy of creating!
Color can have a huge effect on how we feel and I know this color makes me feel happy and full of optimism. The studio floor is painted periwinkle for the same reason. Do you have a color that brings you joy?
I'm one lucky artist to have a space to call my own.
Next time I get the studio in order, I'll post photo's of the interior. Thanks for stopping by!