The Five Favs Series with: Daisy Aschehoug of WarmFolk
Episode 7
The Story behind Five Favs
This series developed out of my love of movies, and specifically, movie lists. Critics and film geeks alike spend hours pouring over lists, ranking everything from best movies of the year (pretty standard fare) to top five music documentaries (getting a little more granular) to top five movie characters that shaped who you are (pretty personal and specific!). I thought it would be fun to play with this idea in the quilting world. Since we spend so much time in our sewing spaces, they contain interesting snapshots of who we are as creators, and can offer a sneak peek into other aspects of our lives, too. And so- the creation of The Five Favs Blog. This is a top five of the guests favorite items in their sewing space.
For July’s Five Favs I am so honored to have my amazing friend Daisy from WarmFolk share her favs. I met Daisy early in my time here in Norway- back in 2020- when I saw a listing for an event she was teaching at a local community space in Oslo. When I saw she was an American quilter living here in Norway, I knew I had to reach out and see if she wanted to meet! I sent an email and was so surprised to receive an immediate and enthusiastic response back. We met for coffee then and have been getting together for coffees and studio sessions ever since :) Daisy’s work centers around bold fabrics and curvy shapes and has such an energy about it- I always love seeing the shapes and color choices she seamlessly blends together!
Photo credit Cami Mendes
About Daisy
Daisy Aschehoug is a quilter who left a career in natural resource management for the far less contentious world of fabric. She’s best known for bold, curvy quilt designs that look complex but feel approachable. Originally from the U.S. and now based in Norway, Daisy teaches internationally and contributes to books and magazines when she’s not cutting up fabric or enjoying the snow.
Where Daisy Works
“My studio is in an old hospital-turned-creative-space, just 200 meters from my house — close enough to feel like an extension of home, but far enough to leave the laundry behind. The hospital has been thoughtfully redesigned into studios for artists and makers, and I’m lucky to have two connected rooms: a large, light-filled space for cutting and sewing, and a smaller room that houses my longarm machine and much-needed storage.
I have two big tables on wheels that give me a generous work surface but can easily be rolled aside when I need to trim or square up quilts on the floor. There’s also a separate workshop on-site that holds a laser cutter and my husband’s woodworking tools — it’s a good balance of sawdust and stitches. My own studio is filled with plants and color, and I try to store fabric in ways that keep it visible. If I can see it, I’m more likely to use it. It’s a space that keeps me grounded and inspired, with just enough room for creativity (and chaos) to coexist.”
Fav 1 - Antique-ish Irons
“I'm convinced modern irons aren't meant for the extended use that quilting demands. Also, my husband is handy with electronics and can put new cords on irons from the '70s, so I can enjoy a hot, heavy, dry iron whenever I'd like.”
Photo credit Cami Mendes
Fav 2 - USFS Paperweight
“My mom found my old uniform from my days as a wildland firefighter, and my woodworking dad made me a fabric weight with my badge. It's the perfect reminder of my adventures working with the Forest Service.”
Photo credit Cami Mendes
Fav 3 - My Juki
“This industrial machine doesn't take up any more space than my fancy domestic machine did, but it's super reliable. It's also got a lightning-fast thread cutter that I access in the foot pedal. Sewing on it is an absolutely dream.”
Photo credit Cami Mendes
Fav 4 - Shelving Unit
“A friend saw this wooden shelving unit on the used marketplace in Oslo and insisted it would be a good fit for my fabric. She's right, and it's been so convenient to see what I have when I'm pulling fabric for a project.”
Fav 5 - Worktable
“With my habits and with the kinds of projects that I make, having a good surface to work on is absolutely essential. I can give up a lot of things, but my work table isn't one of them. I once tried when living temporarily in another country for a few months, and it was impossible to get anything done with a large, flat surface!”
Photo credit Cami Mendes