Alzheimer's Video and Walk to End Alzheimer's

Jeff and I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the Alzheimer's Association/Dallas Chapter a few weeks ago. This video will be used to help raise awareness of Alzheimer's and hopefully help other couples know that they are not alone in this life changing diagnosis.
Here is our video. I hope you enjoy viewing it and pass it on to others that may need a bit a reassurance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOu9ewADLV0

There are so many people, young people, being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I can't tell you the devastation we felt when we received the diagnosis. This past year-and-a-half has been an emotional roller coaster and we have been blessed by friends, family and so many people praying for us.

The Alzheimer's Association plays a vital role in giving support to families dealing with Alzheimer's.  When you link to their website, there are several ways you can contact the Alzheimer's Association for information and support.

Next month is the Dallas Walk to End Alzheimer's. If you would like to donate to to walk, here is my link for donations. The Dallas Walk to End Alzheimer's is October 5, 2013. If you want to walk to help spread the word and raise funds for research and Caregiver care, please find a walk near you, or come join us on the 5th!

Getting Ready for Alzheimer's Awareness

September is Alzheimer's Awareness month. In prior posts I told you about the Dallas Area Fiber Artists show at Lover's Lane United Methodist Church during the month of September to help raise awareness of Alzheimer's. Here is the flyer for the show. I am quite honored that Shattered Curves was chosen as the promo artwork of the show.

This mission is so near and dear to my heart. This past year has had its ups and downs. Trying to understand the disease we are now living with and working out new schedules and routines. Jeff and I have been able to travel and spend time with our grandkids (number 6 was born just this week). I'm blessed that we have so many good days right now and have been able to start working with the Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

The Dallas Chapter Walk to End Alzheimer's is October 5th.  We are blessed by the dedication of Venture Mechanical in forming a team again this year. If you would like to support my goal in fund raising for the "Rushing for the Cure" team, click here. You can also join our team from the same link.

Jeff and I are dedicated in doing our part to raise awareness for research and caregiver support. One way I am working to making a difference is dedicating part of the proceeds of each piece of artwork I sell to the Walk to End Alzheimer's and each piece I make from here on will be with an Alzheimer's theme.

This blog was started to talk about and show my art. It will now play a duel roll in artwork and talking about Alzheimer's. I feel it is important for me to be able to have an avenue to talk about what it is like to live the life of a wife of someone with Alzheimer's and how it is affecting my art and my life.

I hope you will join me in this journey, I will enjoy your company!

Jules

Things I Have Learned...

I’ve been working on my latest quilt “Down the Drain”. I used one copy of the pattern to place behind my white base fabric to use to position my applique pieces properly. At one point I wasn't pleased the way the flow was coming across, so I started “unfusing” (aka, peeling off) some of the pieces (so thankful for Misty Fuse!). Ugh, the black ink from the pattern had transferred onto the back of the white fabric and was showing through.  Lesson learned, watch the way I fuse from now on. I did grab a new piece of white fabric and transferred the other pieces over, without the pattern behind the fabric.

Down the Drain - in process

I like the way the quilt is flowing now and I’m creating most of the pieces without the pattern. Here’s a peek at what I have accomplished so far. My deadline for this quilt is growing closer, so I need to get busy and get back in the Studio for some serious fusing time.

When I was frustrated with the black ink transferring to the white fabric, I had to step out of the Studio and do something different. So, I made my way down to the Dye Studio and tried a few “sink dyeing” ideas I had been thinking about. When I was about to pull the fat quarter out sink I went looking for my drying racks. Hmmmm, where were they? Mr. Wonderful has been a little OCD about straightening the garage lately. Second lesson learned that day, when Mr. Wonderful comes to me and says, “Look how much more room we have around your car”, I need to start asking where my drying racks are and my other treasures in the garage. He had done it again, stored “my stuff” in the upper cabinets where I can’t reach them. He wasn’t using them, so they could be stored out of the way, right? My drying racks are now safely (I hope) stored under my dye table.

MRI Mirage

I have completed “MRI Mirage”. Here is the final picture of it. It is ready to be entered in the DAFA / Alzheimer’s show. This is my favorite quilt, right now. I love the dept of the colors and how the deep center draws you in.

Back to the Studio I go! Have a creative day everyone!

New Projects in the Works!

Oh, there has been so much going on. I just do not know where to start. I have not posted in so long due to staying busy with things around the house and travelling, and you know how I love to travel!

My interview with the “Save our Stories” program of Quilt Alliance has been published online. Click here to access my interview. I am so excited that it has been published and is part of quilt history. “Save Our Stories” is such an important program for our industry and fiber history.

The Dallas Area Fiber Artists will be presenting a show at Lovers Lane UMC, Dallas, Texas, in September 2013, to promote Alzheimer’s awareness. You know this cause is near and dear to my heart and I am so pleased that the LLUMC Foundation asked us to present this show and that we are able to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association, Dallas Chapter.  I am blessed by the committee because they chose my Shattered Curves quilt as the promo quilt for the show. Luckily, it will be back from the Sacred Threads Quilt Show in time for the “Let’s Make Alzheimer’s a Distant Memory” show in September.

If you are a local artist and would like to enter art work for the show, here is a link to the information for entering. The theme of the show is "The Mind's Eye". All work is to be related to Alzheimer's and all work must be for sale. The sale proceeds will go to support the Alzheimer's Association (Dallas Chapter), LLUMC Foundation and the artist.

MRI Mirage

Down the Drain

I am working on two projects to enter into the show. Here is a peek at both projects.  Right now, the first layer of MRI Mirage is fused and basted for quilting. After I quilt this layer, I will add another layer of hand dyed sheers. I have thread for most of the quilt, but I think I need to make a trip to the quilt shop to look for more thread. Yum!

Down the Drain is coming along. Seems that I'm working from left and right and going to join the two sides in the middle. Lots of little pieces in this one. I just love being able to design art quilts and use my own hand dyed fabrics.

Okay, to start quilting with the thread I have.

Happy creating everyone!

Happy News!

Shattered Curves

This past week has been full of happy news. Last week I received an email that "Shattered Curves" was accepted into the Sacred Threads Quilt Show in Fairfax, VA. This is super exciting for me and I wish I could go to VA for the show. There are so many wonderful and talented art quilters who have pieces in the show. Several are SAQA members and I feel so blessed to be showing with them.

This quilt is also the promo quilt for an upcoming show the Dallas Area Fiber Artists are having in the Watson Gallery at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, Dallas, TX. The show is in September to raise awareness for Alzheimer's. The Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is also involved in planning this show. The title of the show is "Let's Make Alzheimer's a Distant Memory". All of the art work for this show will be made to the theme "The Mind's Eye". I know with all of the talented artists in the Dallas Area Fiber Artist and surrounding areas, it will be a fantastic show. Part of the proceeds from the show will go to support the Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and the Art Foundation of Lovers Lane UMC.

The next part of my happy news is Monday night was the closing reception for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists Annual Show. "The Truck Quilt" was awarded Best in Show! I am still pinching myself to see if it is true or if I'm dreaming. There were so many wonderful pieces in this show, I am so blessed to be associated with so many talented and generous people.

Now, hopefully I will get some studio time tomorrow, along with embroidering labels for Baptism Quilts for church.

Happy Creating!

Snow Day = Snow Dyeing!

It feels good to be back in the Studio and being productive. Lately, I have been working on a new quilt for our bedroom (pictures to follow in a later post).

Earlier this week I enjoyed sitting at my machine and the sun shining on my back.

The next morning we woke up to a surprise snow.

Since enough had accumulated on the outdoor kitchen counter it was time for some snow dyeing. I pulled some of my favorite colors (Carmine Red, Teal, Golden Yellow and Wedgewood Blue) and sprinkled them dry on the snow covered fabric. 

One yard was put into a container with the snow, just to see how it would melt out. 

Container Snow Dyed

The container piece has it’s pluses and minuses, but I think the parts that look dark will be great surface work pieces.

Here are how the other four pieces turned out. They are all wonderful and I can see so many different uses and whole cloth quilts in each one. 

Can you see an English Garden?

Sunset over the mountains

Firework explosion.

Fall vegetable garden

Studio Pictures Finally!

With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays and completing the Studio, I forgot to post pictures. Please, please, please pardon my tardiness. I just love the way the Studio looks. The cheery yellow is perfect and gives an energy that was needed. My design wall is insulation board covered with black diaper flannel. My husband framed the insulation panels with 1x2's on the back and they hang on another piece of wood so the panels can be moved, if needed.
The floor is 5/8" foam flooring that looks like hardwood. Oh my goodness, it makes such a difference to stand on and it cleans up with a dust mop. If I ever damage one of the tiles too seriously I can pop it up and replace it with one of the ones that was left over.

Entry into the Studio

My old grey flat files got a makeover
with white spray paint.

Standing at the work wall looking back into the room.
Future quilt patterns lay on the table, waiting to be filed.

The cupboards hold my library and
additional fabrics stored in bins.
I hadn't unpacked all of my library and
treasures when I took this picture.

Fabric and thread storage. I know, not enough fabric.
But I'm not showing you the fabric stored in a closet.