Sunday, January 27, 2008

Other side of the Studio, 2008

My DH and I share a very small studio/room (about 10 x 12). If I roll my chair away from my sewing machine at the same time he rolls his chair away from HIS work area, we will bump into each other. He gets threads in HIS boats, I get sawdust in my quilts. That's the way it is - we got over it.

Remember, we live in Nebraska - there is no serious water here. He's always liked boats, BIG boats, BIG working boats, and since we don't have a gazillion dollars to actually OWN a big working tugboat, this is what he does instead.

Our downstairs has become 'down below.' When he builds them, he absolutely knows how each section of a boat should be built according to his specs. Some of these boats start as a kit. Kits are usually made in a non-USA country and are NOT complete in any way - many modifications must be invented. Some are scratch built (yes, plank by plank), and some are based on REAL plans that are purchased from a REAL boat designer (pricey, to say the least!). All are wood. If based on a REAL boat, all parts have to be scaled down to approximately 24-30 inches. During the process, he is IN this boat, in his imagination and dreams. Most of them have hatches that can be removed (carefully) to look down inside the galley, head, storage, engine room, where all the parts are indeed there also. (yes, he's building the engines, that no one will ever see except him!) My very favorite part of any of these boats, is in the head, where he actually has a teeny roll of toilet paper!

At last count, there were 24 in the house. Some have been published in boating magazines.


We're running out of room for many more uhhhh - let's see, quilts or boats?

16 comments:

  1. Elaine:

    Have you made any quilts with a boating theme? I like the idea that your DH crafts also.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think it is so cool when the husband has a hobby. I wish mine could find something he loves to do besides work. It does them good and helps them to decompress. The boats are absolutely beautiful!!!
    dawn

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your Hunny is quite an artist! Those boats are amazing. Maybe they all need to sail on a sea of quilts? LOL -- what a wonderful home you must have!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow. Nice boats. around here it's quilts or pottery.

    ReplyDelete
  5. DH's boats are extraordinary. Toilet paper in the head? That's incredible. I agree with the others . . . it's good your DH has a hobby. Mine plays poker.

    I like all the settings of your strips. I couldn't pick one I like more than the others.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Now that is TRUE love, being able to share your quilting space! I don't think I could ever do that. Beautiful boats too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. He should build a little moat around your house so he could run his boats in your own little river!

    Maybe you should start quilting dust covers for some of his boats, or seascapes & beach scapes to hang behind them!

    ReplyDelete
  8. With my husband it's antique radio restorations. There's not a room in the house that isn't filled with radios, or quilts, or both! And no, I don't have a radio quilt pattern, but does anyone else? I might be interested!

    He is also into computers. I tried to sew in his "computer room" but can't because there weren't enough empty outlets to plug in both sewing machine and iron!

    ReplyDelete
  9. But how great that your hubby has a hobby that makes him happy! And you don't tread on each other's toes too much right? So much better than just being a couch potato!

    ReplyDelete
  10. how fun! I love your dh's hobby-it shares a lot with yours. Enjoyed your many layouts of MM's strips that sizzle- my sort of colors!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a terrific hobby! Your workspace reminds me of a "convergence quilt" - two hobbies converging and sharing!

    I wish more people would find a hobby they could and would be passionate about. I live in a resort retirement community and I'm constantly amazed at how many do nothing. They have to be entertained or they are bored.

    Like you and your hubby, my hubby and I will never be bored. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a talent! How lovely that you both have a hobby that pleases you so much.
    I wish Gom had something like that!
    Those boats are beatifully crafted.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gee whiz you think there is a decision to be made here>???? Quilts go on the wall! Boats need a flat surface.......wait, I re-looked and saw boats on the wall.....still...even with such incredible looking boats...quilts must prevail and win the space!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh, my, Elaine. His work is as stunning as yours. How wonderful that he has a creative hobby. I guess unless he's willing to sell some of them, they're nothing else to do but build a wing onto the house!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh my - what marvelous skills your DH has! To me this hobby is much more amazing than quilting - the tiny scale he works with. How fun that you can share the same room - even if it is tiny. Seems like my DH and I are rarely in the same room together - especially since his important hobby time is spent on the golf course!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Being a tug boat worker is actually one of the top 10 hazordous jobs (ratio) to have! I always show your DH's work to my DH! In Feb. I will post a photo of a model my DH purchased from a very elderly model builder - very ingenious!

    Cheers!

    Evelyn

    ReplyDelete

I no longer will accept Anonymous comments. I hope my adjustments to Comments do not cause anyone hardships.