Finding Balance

Lately I have been struggling with finding balance between “Life” and “Studio”. Do you ever have that problem? I have decided to take each day as it comes and be at peace with it, and maybe, just maybe, I will be able to spend a few hours each week in the studio.

Our new little dog, Oreo, is a joy and has become a great encourager for me to go to the Studio. Everyday he runs to the studio and tells me it is time to work. Unfortunately, most days I have to tell him it isn’t time yet. He just loves to sleep at my feet while I am quilting.

He is such a love and tries to help me work on the computer too.

The latest pieces of work to come out of the studio are this versatile piece, “Fall 2016”. The colors remind me of a Fall morning with the changing colors and the left over colors of summer. It can be hung on the wall or lay it on a table as an accent piece. It measures 8”x17.5” and is available in my Etsy shop.

The big project I am working on is a modern quilt. It isn’t a large quilt, but one that can hang on the wall or accent a table. I used the Rising Star pattern for the blue stars and love the way the triangles are quilting.

I’m off to work in the studio and get more quilting done. Enjoy your day and make it a creative one!

Dyeing Day with my Grand-girls

This past weekend I had a great time with two of my grand-girls. One of the first things they wanted to do (besides play with our new dog) was to dye shirts for themselves, one for mom and a onesie for their new brother. And I couldn't resist and dyed one for me too.

We showed them different styles of dyeing and the Shibori techniques that I have been experimenting with. Sadie wanted her shirt wrapped on the PVC pipe and purple dye. Shelby wanted her shirt and mommy's to have rubber bands and navy dye. I wanted the same as Shelby and navy dye too. They decided to do binder clips on the onesie for brother, and since we had a vat of navy dye going, we threw his in.

When our daughter picked up the girls on Sunday we went to lunch and celebrated our freshly dyed shirts. Everyone was thrilled with the outcome.

And I can't forget to post about our new little rescue pup. Oreo is 3 years old and the most passive, gentle and well behaved dog I have every met or had. He was surrendered to the Humane Society of North Texas this past week and we were lucky enough to adopt him. I had been keeping my eye out for a Maltese mix, and I think we hit the big time with this little guy. He does need some TLC and heart worm treatments, but hey, he needed a family to love him and we sure do!

Don't forget that September is World Alzheimer's Awareness month. If you are walking with a team this month for the Walk to End Alzheimer's, give me shout out and let me know! If you would like to donate to a team, please find your local walk and donate to one of the team. Or, you can donate to team Rushing for the Cure, and I will be very grateful for your support.

If you are Twitter, Instagram or Pintrest, let me know. I would love to follow you!

Back to School - Free Shipping!

Back to School Free Shipping!

Get ready for Fall with a new scarf or treat yourself to quilting fabric (since you have the house to yourself again!).

Use Coupon Code BACK2SCHOOL for Free Shipping at check out in my Etsy shop.

Hand Dyed Scarves

I love dyeing fabric and scarves and hankies. Being able to share this love with others gives me a wonderful feeling. When you wear one of the hand dyed scarves, you will always have someone commenting on the color and the uniqueness of the pattern.

The hand dyed fabrics, each of the ice dyed pieces is different and I have started dyeing pieces using the Shibori technique. Today I posted new fat quarters that are in different colors and various Shibori techniques.

Hand Dyed Fat Quarters
Hand Dyed Yards

Do you needlepoint or hand quilt? I have some beautiful DMC pearl cotton to go with your hand work. I love to needlepoint and have hand dyed DMC to work on a project. What a peek? I am doing this to go along with the Four Year Quilt! When I'm done it will be put on a custom made footstool. 

Pearl Cotton

So, enjoy your day and pop on over to StudioJulesArt on Etsy and use your BACK2SCHOOL Free Shipping code in the Coupon Code section of check out. 

The Four Year Quilt

Finally finished! I think I started this quilt in October of 2012, so that would make almost four years in the creative/construction phase. Yards and yards of hand dyed fabric, and don’t ask me how many yards, I forgot to keep track. The blocks of the background fabric, which are in the vertical direction, are container dyed and the horizontal blocks are ice dyed.  The insert fabrics of various colors are container and iced dyed. When calculating how many blocks I would need, I over estimated and made too many. Now I have a throw quilt to match!

The Quilter’s Guild of Dallas held a workshop with CarolTaylor in September of 2012. My friend, Lu Peters, asked me to join her in taking this great workshop and it was much-needed day away from the house.  This was right after my husband had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (at the age of 57) and I was just a tad bit stressed. During the workshop I knew I wanted to make a new king size quilt for our bedroom and method grabbed me!

Then the decision making process started. What colors for the background? Container or ice dyed? What colors for the inset pieces? Oh, the fun I had being able to spend time with the creative process and in my construction and dye studios.

The curved piecing became a refuge and very therapeutic. I would escape to the studio for bits of time, man the rotary cutter and turn on some music or listen to a book.  Even when we moved last year, and in an apartment for 7 months, I had my big ironing table in one guest room and my portable sewing table in the other. 

You would think I would be tired of this method after 258 - 8inch blocks, but I’m not. I have ideas rolling around in my head for another quilt…after I finish some works in progress.

Thanks for letting me share the process with you! And yes, the pillow shams are ice dyed also. I just can't stop with the ice dying!

Happy sewing and quilting!

Sunset

Last night the sunset was beautiful!

This morning I woke of thinking about the sunset and realized that I have fabric and scarves in my Etsy shop to match!

Beautiful Red and Yellow

Hand Dyed Red and Yellow

I love dying fabric and sharing it with others. These infinity scarves are made out of Bamboo Cotton and are so soft. Enjoy the eye candy, but jump over to my Etsy shop and purchase one of these scarves so you can enjoy the sunset everyday.

Mother's Day at Studio Jules Art on Etsy

Just in time for Mother's Day! Jump over to my Etsy shop, Studio Jules Art, and pick out a sweet infinity scarf or hankie for your mom! For those of you that are TCU fans or support the Alzheimer's Association, there are some scarves that are just the right colors!

Infinity Scarf in Deep Purple and Wisteria

Finally - Back in the Studio and Back on Etsy

This past year has been a whirlwind with moving and getting settled in our new home. I love our new home, it is the perfect size and location for us. My studio has been separated into two rooms, but it works well. My construction studio has wonderful windows and faces the south and the studio with all the fabric faces the west with a huge two story blocking the sun. Bonus!

 Yesterday I re-opened my Etsy shop. Right now I have hand dyed and ice dyed scarves and hankies listed. Pop on over and take a peek! The colors are awesome!

I'll be posting more hankies and scarves this week and then I will post fabrics and notions. 

Glad to be back in the land of the creative! Enjoy your day!