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!"