Getting ready for the New Year

I have been AWOL lately, but for good reason. I had my gall bladder removed on Tuesday. I am feeling better than I felt before the surgery, but I haven’t been in the Studio since I finished my secret Christmas gift, which ended up not being so secret since my sweet niece, Karolyn, reads my blog. Here is a picture of us with her new quilt. I hand dyed all of the fabrics and quilted it on my Bernina. Karolyn posted a Christmas video of “If Quilts Could Gossip”. Link on over, it is so wonderful and Yes, I am bias, she is my niece!

I love the colors of the hand dyes I used for Karolyn’s quilt. I think I’ll try to dye some more in these colors when I get back into the wet studio after the first of the year.
After the first of the year, my first project is to finish the truck quilt. I have ideas in my head for the quilting and I just have a little bit left to do on the painting. Then I’m going to continue on the quilt for the house. I’ve been collecting mixed media items for it. Stamps, surface techniques, keys (one for each grandchild), beads, misc. items that have family meaning. I made a trip to Artful Bead in Carrollton, TX and found some wonderful glass pieces to include. One day after a DAFA board meeting we made a field trip to the Stamp Asylum in Plano and I found some wonderful stamps! I am looking forward to getting back to it and using some of my new findings.
Then I have new projects in my brain. I’ve started sketching out one that started from my workshop day with Katie PM. It is in the enlarging stage right now.
While recuperating I am using some of the time to get started on “The Sketchbook Project”. I actually bought two new sketchbooks the other day. Both are small enough to fit in my purse and one of them has watercolor paper in it. I am really looking forward to this challenge and broadening my artistic abilities. Can’t believe that it is going to be the new year in just a few days!
To add to all of my new year art projects, I am going to spend more time in the kitchen this year. I love to cook, but “Mr. Wonderful” is also “Mr. Picky Eater”, much to the surprise of my mom 24 years ago. I am her child that would anything she put on the table, and I married “Mr. Picky Eater”. My response to her was “Well, he can fix anything that breaks around the house.” That got a smile out of her and she said she was glad I looked at it in such a positive way. Our meals have gotten very lazy and routine and with some of my health issues, I have decided to go Gluten Free. So far the things I have fixed have gone over well, especially the chocolate-chip cookies.
Okay, off to take care of a few other things on the computer and read my new cookbook.
Have a safe and happy New Year everyone! May it bring you health, happiness, and lots of paint, thread, fabric and mixed media!
Jules

If Quilts Could Gossip

I have to share a link to a You Tube video that my wonderful niece wrote and directed. It's called.....wait for it....."If Quilts Could Gossip". It's a hoot, take a peek and give her a thumbs up on You Tube! I'm so proud of her and I know she has more episodes in the wings to film and I'll let you know when they are ready for viewing.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Down Time

Ever finish a project and then need some down time? Seems to be my norm. I just finished the super secret Christmas present I've been working on and am now in limbo. So I decided to catch up on a few computer things, like blogging and increasing the discount in my ArtFire studio. Oh, yes, it's one week until Christmas and all merchandise at StudioJules is 25% off. Yes, that means hand dyed fabrics and Mistyfuse™! I figure discounts are better than fighting traffic!
Sue Bleiweiss is having a give away on her blog. It's the Cloth Paper Scissors Gifts 2010 Issue! Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the give away, so link over and sign up quick!
Sue is one of the artists with the Sketchbook Challenge that I have committed to for next year. I'm really excited about this new adventure and maybe I'll work on sketching this afternoon!
I'm hoping that next week I'll be motivated to work on the truck quilt. I've been pondering the quilting and think I may quilt a barn and windmill into the background.
I've also have the project that I started for my house and I have a smaller quilt that I have to sketch out and start on soon. I would like to get it done for a gallery show coming up in February. I better get moving on that one. So maybe I'll work in sketching it this afternoon.
I've recently started listening to books by Dee Henderson. They are wonderful Christian mystery books. I'm listening to the "O'Malley Family Series" right now.
Okay, time to start sketching! Have a great weekend everyone!

Making A Commitment to Sketch

Yesterday I signed up and made the commitment to “The Sketchbook Challenge”. I’ve tried sketching before and just drew a blank when I sat down, so I didn’t pick it back up again. Now that I’ve made the commitment, I’m going to follow through. I’m really excited because this challenge is being led my some of the best quilt/fiber artists I’ve met at the International Quilt Festival and through networking on the Internet.
So, this morning I pulled out my sketchbook and I thumbed through and found notes and rough sketches of potential projects, sketches from an IQF class with Lyric Kinard and sketches that actually became art quilts. I think about these from time to time and that I need to do something with them, but other art quilt projects jump ahead of them!

Here are a few of those sketches from my class with Lyic.





These are sketches that actually turned into art quilts this year!



Tried my hand at Zentangles one day.



I already know I’m going to need another sketchbook partway through the project, but at least I have one to start with until I get another one. Maybe a gift certificate to my favorite art supply store, Asel Art, will appear underneath the Christmas tree!
So for now, I’m going to quilt and overdose on Christmas music today, my favorite is Vince Vance and the Valiant’s, and the Carpenters, and Barbara Streisand…..

I Know, I've Been Absent Lately......But I Have a Good Reason!

I've been a little distant lately from my blog, but I have a good reason. I'm working on a Christmas present and I can't talk about it on my blog! If I do, it won't be a surprise for the person that receives this "gift from my heart" that I'm working on. All I can say is that it's beautiful!
I still have a couple of quilts on my design board and I'm looking forward to working on new projects after the first of the year. After the first of the year I plan on working on developing a few workshops and start teaching. Plans of increasing on online networking are already in the works with other artisans on ArtFire and Facebook.
Right now I have a Holiday Sale of 20% off all merchandise in my ArtFire studio, StudioJules. Link over and enjoy the sale!
I've also been busy with the grandchildren and tomorrow, Mr. Wonderful and I will celebrate 24 years of wedded bliss. He is taking a couple of days of vacation so we can do some things together that don't include sewing, sketching, dying or fixing anything around the house.
Tuesday night we are going to the Gallery Night at Oxide Gallery in Denton, Texas. I have three new pieces in this show that haven't been in a show before and are fresh out of the studio. So if you are in the area and want to see the fantastic works of some of my fellow Dallas Area Fiber Artists.
So, signing off for now and I'll post more later, when I can tell you what I'm working on and not keeping Christmas secrets!

Dallas Area Fiber Artists Show at Oxide Gallery

The Dallas Area Fiber Artists will be holding a show at the Oxide Gallery in Denton, TX, the month of December 2010. If you are in the area, be sure to come by and see the show and buy some beautiful artwork! There is a wide venue of artwork by the artists, everything from paintings, to art quilts, to wood sculptures.
Come join us for Gallery Night, December 7th, 6pm to 8 pm.

Looking for Stocking Stuffers or Secret Pal Gifts?

We are always running around looking for Stocking Stuffers and Secret Pal gifts that are unique and one of a kind. Do you have a favorite Quilter, Fiber Artist, and family member in mind? Take a look at the hand dyed handkerchiefs and fabrics at StudioJules on Artfire. I've left the Cyber Monday Sale Discount of 20% on the entire stock of Hand Dyed Silks, Cottons, Fat Quarters, Handkerchiefs, Bookmarks, Artquilts and Trims!

Cyber Monday

Are you tired of shopping??? Well don't stop now! StudioJules on Artfire is running 20% for Cyber Monday! Get your hand dyed fabric and small art quilts now!

New Fabrics on StudioJules

I just posted new fabrics in my Artfire studio - StudioJules. There are luscious hand dyed silks and cottons. Some of the pictures that I posted today are of fabrics that have been in my studio, and needed updated pictures. I have been working on my camera skills and in the past year I've been able to tell a difference in the quality of my pictures. I'm not done yet, there are still updates and new pictures to be taken and loaded, so stay tuned in. I'm getting there, it just takes time after you dye two bolts of fabric to get the pictures taken and loaded with descriptions.
But take a look in StudioJules, there is a Black Friday 10% off sale!
Happy Stitching everyone!

Change in Studio Jules Black Friday Discount

10% Discount is still there, but I changed it to where the discount is already calculated and you don't have to remember to use the "Coupon".

Black Friday!!!

Well, I'm jumping in and getting a head start! Black Friday at StudioJules on Artfire starts today! 10% off your entire order! There is a coupon on the right hand side of my blog that gives the Coupon Code to receive 10% off your order. Click on the Coupon and it will take you to StudioJules!




Start your shopping early, finish early and enjoy!

Fall Leaves ~ 2010 ~ Complete

I finished "Fall Leaves ~ 2010" today, just in time to submit it for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists show at Oxide Gallery.... I really like this piece. The colors are so warm, cool and refreshing. I spent all day yesterday and this morning stitching the detail to the leaves and when it was all said and done....this is how much thread I had left! After knotting the threads and hiding the tails on all the leaves, by fingers are sore and ready for a manicure!


When you look at the detail of the art quilt, you can see the knot in the tree and that the quilting has blue leaves...these are suppose to be like shadows and/or reflections of the tree leaves.



That's all for now! I've got to finish up the other piece I'm working on.
Have a great day everyone and Happy Stitching!

Monday Path, Start of a New Day and New Routine

Yesterday I picked up my "Artist Way" book again, after 2.5 years. This morning I started journaling again. I'm incorporating the scripture from Sunday service into my journaling. Hopefully this will move me forward and stop the time blocks I've been running into the past weeks. I have decided to stop listening to books while I work for the time being and have turned the Rock 'n Roll back on. Now, if I can work instead of dance around the Studio (dancing around the Studio counts as my daily exercise, right?)...

I have so many creative thoughts and my creative time needs to improve to accomplish what is being put before me. I know I am starting this at a difficult time of the year, but what a time to start a new process! If I can make it through the holiday season, then the first of the year will be easier and more routine, right?

The weather forecast for today is "Mostly Cloudy"....right now at my house it is very sunny, cool and beautiful. But this is Texas and I know that the weather can change in an instant, so I'm sure the clouds "may" show up sometime today and it "may" rain tomorrow. If it does get cloudy today I plan to run outside and hopefully finish taking pictures of fabric and handkerchiefs that I dyed last month. I need to get these into StudioJules for the holiday shoppers. Speaking of StudioJules and holiday shopping... I just marked-down my hand dyed t-shirts 25%. The t-shirts, hankies and fat quarters would make great presents for family, friends, secret pals or for yourself!

In the meantime, before the clouds appear and I can go outside to shoot pictures, I'm going to continue working on the two projects I have going to submit to Oxide Gallery on Friday for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists show in December and January.


Fall Leaves I showed you this one in the starting stages of leaves the other day. I decided it needed a lot less leaves. Yesterday I started adding in the smaller tree branches by couching embroidery floss. I have a few more small branches to incorporate and then I can start thread painting the detail into the tree and leaves. I've placed a few pieces of fused metallic paint into the background to be "light reflections" of the leaves and sky. If all goes as planned, this may be finished today before (or if) the clouds appear.



This one doesn't have a name yet. It is still trying to speak its name to me. I have copper wire and a few other things that I am going to incorporate into it before it is finished, but it is getting there. I love nestling the beads into the folds of the painted cheesecloth, like they are hiding, or trying to come out of hiding.

Well, I'm off. I'm keeping in mind that this is all in God's timing, not mine and each piece will be finished, when it's finished.

Move over left brain, the right is taking over!

New Projects....

The Dallas Area Fiber Artists will be showing at Oxide Gallery in Denton, TX the months of December and January. I'm excited for our group to have another venue to show in! I have one work completed to sell, Cardinal Summer Dance and two on my worktable to get finished within the next two weeks.
Yesterday I decided that I needed to work on something quick, so I pulled out a mosaic background I had fused a few weeks ago and started working on a tree motif. I used the last of a batik fabric for the leaves and was pretty happy with it.



Then I decided that it needed a little bit more "Fall Color" in it and started adding some orange into the leaves. Now I have a complete split complementary color scheme! The background fabric is has blue and purple in it. These pictures aren't the greatest, but I did the best I could. I was standing on top of my worktable to take them!



Now I have the critical artist voice asking myself if I have done too much, should I take out some of the leaves and let it be a little more sparse, or should I leave it, fuse it and start my thread painting.

What do you think? I'm looking for some feedback, so let me hear from you!

Happy stiching everyone!

IQF, Directions and DAFA

It has been a busy week! I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Houston at the International Quilt Festival. I was able to meet up with a network of quilters I have met through the Internet networking and workshops that we have attended. And my two-day class with Katie Pasquini Masopust was awesome. I have always walked through the International Quilt Festival with awe and wonder of vision and construction. I have total appreciation for these quilters/artists. This year, was even more exciting for me since I had a quilt accepted into the “In Full Bloom” exhibit and a mini quilt in the SAQA booth exhibit.


Through the years, I have been taking steps to develop my “style” from traditional sewing (clothes, purses, craft projects, embroidery), to traditional quilting, to art quilting, to artwork. I have felt understanding and working in all these areas would awaken my “voice” and direct me to where I feel fulfillment with my work. Like many quilters and artists, there have been many struggles, frustrations and projects that I have placed in bins for another time; I have more ideas in my head than time. I can’t go to sleep for thinking and designing, I wake up early with new designs and/or an idea for one of the projects I’m working on. Don't get me wrong, I love my artwork and the paths I am taking with it. I experience great joy in the process of each project. Creating and watching fabric, paint and thread become a visual of something real going into the abstract. And part of this process is taking workshops with different instructors. It has helped me discern the directions and methods that create excitement and that I would like to explore and work with more. This past week has really touched a place in my artistic mind that will move my “voice” into the direction I’ve been seeking and will broaden my scope of artwork. Here are some of the pictures from my class with Katie PM. I’m looking forward to finishing the projects I’m working on and move on to the next brush strokes and stitches with my art quilts. I think my new motto will be "Move over Left Brain, the Right is taking over!" Thanks Katie!




After my two-day class with Katie, viewing quilts and a tiny bit of shopping on the vendor floor, I drove home to get ready for the Opening Night Reception of the Dallas Area Fiber Artists 2010 Annual Show. It was a wonderful night with my fellow fiber artists, their friends and family. The ArtCentre of Plano is a beautiful, restored historic home in Plano, TX. The artwork hung beautifully and everyone was thrilled with the venue and the quality of work. Our Juror/Judge, Amie Adelman did a wonderful job in choosing the collection and winners of the awards. Best in Wearable Art? Well, it was my Kimono Jacket! Here is a picture of me with my “Sunflower with a Passion for Color”. I was so busy (and tired from the drive) that I forgot to have my husband take a picture of me with my “Traditional Batik” quilt and the Kimono Jacket.



It was a productive and wonderful week. The networking, learning, fellowship and challenges are all priceless pieces to the journey. Happy Stitching everyone!

"Move over Left Brain, the Right is taking over!"

Checking Off Items on the Check List

Well I've been able to check off a few things on my check list so that I'm ready to leave for the International Quilt Festival in Houston on Tuesday. Friday I ran to Kinko's and ordered postcards of the quilt I have in the In Full Bloom exhibit. Nothing like deciding to do things at the last minute!



One of the very important things I accomplished today is embroidering Hudson's name on my denim shirt. When I embroidered all the girls names, Hudson wasn't born yet and his name wasn't a "for-sure" thing. Now that he is almost 2, it's way past time to have his name on my shirt. So here they are, all 5 of my precious little bugs, well blue jays in this situation. Nickola leading the pack, Betty going along her merry way, the twins, Sadie and Shelby, the same, but different and here comes my Huddy Buddy, charging after the girls and making sure they stay in step. Oh what a precious bunch they are with their own personalities! Don't know what I would do with out them! Can you tell I'm a proud Grammy???!!

All my supplies are packed for Houston, laundry is done, but I haven't packed my clothes. I've set up times to meet my quiting buddies for lunches and dinners. Book on CD has been picked out from the library, now let's hope my CD player will work. It's on the fritz and the dealership has ordered a new radio, but sometimes it works!
Okay, off I go. Time to go cheer for the Texas Rangers, hopefully they can pull out of the two losses they've had and come back and win the World Series! Oh, and we have to join three of the grand kids for the "Monster Mile" in our development tonight!
Happy Stitching everyone!

Staying Busy and So Much to Do!

Time is moving fast and I have so much to finish up with before I leave for Houston next week. What's on the schedule? Well, I have a display I need to finish for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists (DAFA) 2010 Annual Show, embroider my grandson's name on my denim shirt (because it has to go to Houston with me), finish packing my class supplies and my car CD play went on the fritz today so tomorrow is goes to the dealership to be fixed. I have already checked out two books on CD to listen to on the drive to Houston and back, so the CD player has to be fixed.
And to add to my time schedule, the Texas Rangers are playing in the World Series (though tonight they aren't doing as well as we would like), so nothing gets done during the games.... There are still several items on my worktable that need to be finished up, but they can wait until after Houston. I really need to finish my truck quilt so it can be submitted on the 19th to a show DAFA is having at the Oxide Gallery in Denton. I work best under deadlines and stress, so I'm sure everything will get done when it needs to be done, but time is flying fast!
I was pleased to find out today that my Old Alton Bridge quilt was included in a blog by Satin Moon. What a wonderful surprise and it is a fascinating blog post.
I had a great time Monday night with my fellow DAFA members at our monthly meeting. My mini-workshop went well and I'm mulling over how to make the mini-workshop into a full workshop so the participants can make an art project. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to doing more and growing in this segment of my career.

Teaching First Mini-Workshop

Well, tonight is the night. I'm teaching my first mini-workshop at the Dallas Area Fiber Artist meeting. It is our "Mixed Media Mini-Workshop" night. It should be a lot of fun. My season is is on painting and fusing cheesecloth and Mistyfuse™. There is so much you can do with this process! I've got my instructions written and printed, kits made, supplies together....now I just have to find something to do until time to leave for Dallas. It's hard for me to get into the studio and be productive on days like this, because I loose track of time when I start working. If I start working on one of my projects I might miss the meeting!

I'm anxious to teach tonight. If things go well, I would like to spin this off into a 1/2 day or full day workshop where the attendees can do this process and incorporate it into a project.

So, if you are in the Dallas area, come to our meeting and join the fun! Check the link above to get directions. See you there!

Free Shipping on MistyFuse!

Don't forget that the free shipping on Mistyfuse™ end October 31st from StudioJules on Artfire!
Use Coupon code Mistyfuse Free Ship!

Go Texas Rangers! ALCS Champs!

For My Art Quilt Friends That Have Never Seen My Studio a Mess

This is for all my "Artsy Friends" that have never seen my Studio a mess. Yes, there have been complaints that my Studio is always too neat and how do I get anything done in a workspace that is so clean. Well, that's because I cleaned it before they came over and I am a little ADD about my workspace and have trouble focusing in with a clutter of projects around me. Maybe it's a case of the era I was raised in "Finish what you start and then you can move on to the next project....clean up your mess as you go...." Anyway, to "please" my friends, here are pictures of what my Studio looks like today.

On my worktable you will find several things in progress...the Truck quilt - ready to put on the background fabric (it's hanging on the work wall), supplies for Houston, Dancing Angel quilt is ready to be mounted on canvas, and supplies and samples for the mini-workshop I am going to teach Monday night at the Dallas Area Fiber Artists meeting.



Oh yes, and don't forget that overflowing backpack of supplies I've already packed for Houston! Katie PM, here I come!!!!

Okay, so I've got to get busy here. I've been listening to another book by Lisa Samson "Club Sandwich", but I think I need some good old Rock n' Roll to get me moving this afternoon and get finished up here in the Studio. I need to finish mounting the Dancing Angel quilt, get my class samples finished for Monday night and mount a display for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists Annual Show. Then I need to get dinner started for when "Mr. Wonderful" comes home from work and then the Texas Rangers are playing the NY Yankees. Tomorrow is another busy day with family and the TCU football game. Okay so Rock 'n Roll! Go Rangers! and Go Frogs!!!!

Mixed Media By Chance or Recycle Reuse?

I know I’m always starting new projects before I finish the prior two, but hey, art on a whim can be the best pieces, right? Okay, I know, it just increases the number of unfinished projects, but the results can lead to unforeseen Mixed Media items that I hadn’t thought about before. That’s what happened this morning! Yesterday I painted and fused (with Mistyfuse™) cheesecloth for a new project. I did this on my appliqué press sheet, figuring it would clean up easily. This morning I went back to cleaning up in my studio where I had left off yesterday from painting and fusing. Using my handy dandy pot scrubber to take the paint off the press sheet I was welcomed with a colorful surprise. Look at the gold, silver and turquoise flakes! Can’t you just imagine how wonderful they are going to be fused (recycled) into a project!



Today I plan on working on the front end of the Truck Quilt and I’m thinking these flakes may work in somehow. They may be in the front end, below the truck, inside the truck, who knows, time and testing will tell!

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures.....

Yesterday was a beautiful "Partly Cloudy" day. The temperature was perfect, so I grabbed my camera, newly dyed fabric and hankies, plus some of the older fabrics. I have been able to improved (IMO) my photo techniques, so I wanted to reshoot pictures of some of the older fabrics while it was cloudy outside. The sun, clouds, and I had to play peek-a-boo for a little bit, but I was finally able to shoot pictures for a couple of hours. Thanks to my wonderful husband, I was able to use a stretched canvas to block the sun at times and he also helped me pin fabrics to the fence. We were able to get several pieces done before Dallas Cowboy game started, maybe I should have kept taking pictures….

I wasn’t able to get all the fabric photographed, so when the “Partly Cloudy” part of today happens, I’m going to be outside again.
This morning I have spent time loading the new pictures and products in my Artfire studio (StudioJules) and remerchandising the different categories.
Well, I’m off to press fabric so I can maximize the “cloudy” part of the day!
Happy Stitching Everyone!

Mistyfuse™ and Making Mini-Workshop Kits

I just posted Mistyfuse™ White, Black and Ultraviolet packages in my Studio Jules (on Art Fire) studio! Now it is available to purchase in a pre-cut package (20" x 2.5 yards) or by the yard (12" wide)! For the month (well, the remainder of the month) I'm offering Free Shipping to kick off sales.
This afternoon one of my Dallas Area Fiber Artists friends is coming over to help me put together kits for the mini-workshop I will be teaching this month. I'm so thankful for the help! We'll be making 60 kits of Mistyfuse™, cheesecloth, and parchment paper.
Tomorrow, back to work on the truck quilt!
Happy Stitching Everyone!

Yesterday ~ What I did for Fun and Future Projects

Yesterday as I intended to continue on the truck quilt I received an email from one of my fellow DAFA board members that there is a change in the program for this month and she needed some of us to teach quick and easy mixed media techniques. Perfect timing, I have in my brain that after the first of the year I am going to develop curriculum to teach some of my favorite processes in a workshop setting. This will be a great jumping off opportunity.
A couple of my favorite tools are Misty Fuse and paint. I have a great piece that I made in a workshop with Esterita Austin using sheers, Misty Fuse and paint. So how can I use that process and do something different? After I played with a few ideas and processes I came up with layering Misty Fuse, Cheesecloth and paint. Using parchment paper as the bread for the sandwich, I hit it with the iron to fuse and dry the paint and this is what happened!

If you would like to learn this technique along with several others, join us on October 25th for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists Mixed Media Night!

Getting Back to Work

I’ve been piddling in my studio lately and not being as productive as I usually like to be, but you have to have down times every once in a while. I have been busy organizing the Dallas Area Fiber Artists Annual Show that will be November 5 – 27 at the ArtCentre of Plano. I am pleased to say that the jury process is complete and three of my pieces were selected for the show. Kimono Jacket, Traditional Batik and Sunflower with a Passion for Color. I'm looking forward to the show and seeing all of our art work hanging all together in this 1920's home that has been refurbished and converted into a gallery and offices.


This past Saturday DAFA participated in NorthPark Celebrates Art in Dallas. It was a productive day, we were able to spread the word about DAFA and entice people to visit us and join! It was also a great day for me to spend with fellow members and get to know them better and talk about our upcoming show and education ideas for the coming year.

I’ve decided I like the way some of my smaller art quilts look on painted canvas, so I painted a few canvases this week to mount two of my angel quilts on. Here is the "Weeping Angel" art quilt that I just mounted.


I love the way the art quilt continues on out into the painted canvas. I had done this process with a couple of other art quilts and a gallery owner encouraged me to continue this technique, telling me that art collectors will see it more as "art" rather than a quilt hanging on the wall.

While I was piddling last week I designed and started a new quilt for the house. There is a dark corner in our family room that needs to lighten up. The wall is “blue suede” and next to the windows going out to our hydrangea flowerbed and a dark stained built-in entertainment center. I want to complement the blues and bring in the beautiful colors of the hydrangeas. Here is a picture background that I put together. I’m going to try out some new surface design techniques to pull in the blues, pinks and greens of the foliage. If you have any ideas of things for me to try, let me know! I’m open to ideas!!!!



Happy Stitching Everyone!

You Know You Are A Quilter of Habit When....

You know you are a Quilter of habit when you try to bury the knot you just made after sewing a button on your husbands dress pants....Yup, I just tried to do that! Guess you know where my mind is!
I have set aside the truck quilt for another week. My mind just too distracted to concentrate on painting highlights and shading right now. I have a little bit of time before my personal deadline for this piece.
I started a new quilt yesterday that I am going to put in our family room. There is a dark corner in-between the built-in and the window that needs an artistic piece. My vision is for it to pull the inside colors(white, light tan, greens and blues) and the hydrangeas just outside the window. I'm planning on using different surface design techniques to pull in the greens, pinks, blues and purples of nature, but in an abstract way...
Have a creative day everyone!

Clearing My Mind.....

I have to blog today to clear my mind. There is just too much going on and I'm not as organized in my daily routine as I use to be!

Today is the deadline for entries for the 2010 Dallas Area Fiber Artists Membership Annual Show. I’m the Show Chair, and this is my first time to be involved in this capacity of a show, so I’m going a little crazy. My work background, before I ventured into full-time fiber art, was in Church Finance and before that, the Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities Market, writing processes and procedures, doing a little bit of report programming and training and compiling lots of information to send out to someone else. I'm use to having a "To Do" list going and right now I have several lists! Lists that I made in meetings, lists that I made in the car/kitchen, lists from emails I've received... I feel like an applique' quilt should come together here somewhere! Okay, it's time for me to get all these lists in one place! I'm going to try out the Microsoft software "OneNote" and see how I like it. Maybe this will be the stitch, or fusible, to bring all my notes together seemlessly!




Okay, now that you have read my venting for the day….on to more artistic things. Here is the latest photo of my truck quilt. The grill will have the strings of sequin beads for a texture break and this morning I was reading some things about Mistyfuse that I hadn’t tried before, so maybe there will be some Mistyfuse techniques added. Hopefully later this week I will be able to spend a day painting on this quilt, I really love the way it is coming together!

Oh, and if you haven't been to StudioJules on Artfire lately, I'm selling Mistyfuse by the yard!

Better eat some lunch and get back to making my lists, checking them twice and putting them all in one list!