Patricia Belyea at her home teaching studio in Wauconda WA

new teaching studio

By Patricia Belyea

WAUCONDA WA   It all started when we ordered Starlink—a new fangled satellite system capable of delivering high-speed internet to our remote location. 

After the big black box arrived, Michael and I risked our lives to install the Starlink dish above our roof peak.

Starlink installation at Okan Arts Studio in Wauconda, WA

For the last two years, I’d been renting a teaching studio in the cowboy town of Republic. The drive in winter was hazardous, through snow and ice over a mountain pass, to get to my space with high-speed internet.

Testing our Starlink connection, our new home internet was ten times faster than before. And speedy enough to broadcast via Zoom!

So Michael and I began transforming my home office into my home teaching studio. Besides moving out some furniture, we painted the sheetrock walls and ceiling, oiled the log walls, steam cleaned the carpet, washed the cellular blinds in the bathtub, and replaced the ceiling fixtures.

Prepping for the new home teaching studio in Wauconda WA

Our biggest job was untangling all the gear from my Republic studio and re-installing everything in my smaller room.

Camera equipment at the Okan Arts Studio, Wauconda WA

Here’s a quick tour around the space:

COMMAND CENTRAL

Okan Arts Teaching Studio, Wauconda WA

 THE COMPUTER THAT POWERS IT ALL (four computers and seven cameras)

Okan Arts Teaching Studio, Wauconda WA

 SEWING STATION

Okan Arts Teaching Studio, Wauconda WA

WORK TABLE

Okan Arts Teaching Studio, Wauconda WA

IRONING STATION

Okan Arts Teaching Studio, Wauconda WA

DESIGN WALL

Okan Arts Teaching Studio, Wauconda WA

QUILT DISPLAY STAND

Okan Arts Teaching Studio, Wauconda WA

Now I'm all set for my Fall online workshop—Something To Say. Students will explore adding words, names, and messages to quilt designs, and will delve into Designer Facings. 

Hopefully you can join the fun and come for a visit then!