What's New in the Studio

Good Day!

I've been busy in the studio with dyeing new fabric and pearl cotton. I've added several things to the Etsy Shop.  I've also been busy with Christmas presents. So many of my grandkids love homemade items, that it is fun to make them for them. But I'm not showing you what they are, because one or two of them may be snooping. 😁

Hand Dyed Pearl Cotton DMC #8

Hand Dyed Cotton Yard Fabric

Ice Dyed Yard Cotton Fabric 

So what are you working on during the holiday season? Quilts? Holiday items? Christmas presents? I want to know. Inspire me!

Don't Forget! Free Shipping through the end of the year in my Etsy Shop. Use Coupon Code FreeShip2017

Have a wonderful, safe and joyous holiday season!

Creatively,

Jules

PS: Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I post a lot of new product on those pages!

SAQA Regional Exhibit

I am pleased to share that the SAQA Regional Exhibit Texas Quilts:Art in Stitch is currently being shown at the Museum of Texas Tech. It is a wonderful show that traveled from Abilene.

I'm super excited that my "Angel of Mercy" quilt is the cover art for their article.

Click here to go to their website and see the exhibit.

Also, don't forget to go to your local quilt store for Stampington's website to get the Winter Edition of Art Quilt Studio magazine.  My article "Finding Light in the Darkness" is on page 106. Yup, just a little excited! The magazine is suppose to hit the stores December 1st.

 I have a few projects in the works. Stay tuned for updates on their progress!

Creatively,
Jules

Psst, I Have a Secret

Prism Refraction is Finished!

I finally completed Prism Refraction. Piecing was fun because I love this wave piecing process. I'm addicted to it and can't wait to do more of it and maybe even teach a few classes.

The quilting of this quilt, well, that is another story. I wanted to hurry and get it done so I could enter it in a show. So I went to the long arm studio and quilted it. I hated what I did. I'm not a seasoned long armer and my lines just didn't turn out the way I wanted them.

So home I went and had a lot and I mean a lot of quality time with my seam ripper. I took out the entire quilt and started over on my Bernina. It took a couple of days of quality time with my walking foot, but I got it done and I am very please with the precision I was able to quilt.

Needless to say, I didn't make the show entry deadline. But there are others coming up!

I think I will be doing a lot more quilting with my walking foot. I even ordered the book "Walk: Master Machine Quilting with Your Walking Foot" by Jacquie Gering, to help me with inspiration and new designs. Can't wait for it to get here the end of the week.

Creatively,

Jules

New Items in Studio Jules Art Etsy Shop

Sometimes you just have to shake things up a bit.

I decided to start carrying a few sewing notions and patterns in my Etsy shop. Needles, patterns and a few other notions.

I love these Self Threading needles by Clover. Most quilters do too.

Self Threading Needles by Clover

In previous years I added beading to my quilts and used these beading needles. I love them. They are long and slender and I can use them with the tiniest of beads.

Beading Needles by Clover

 Today I'm adding Sew Straight by Quilt in a Day - Eleanor Burns. This tool is wonderful for when we are having problems keeping your 1/4" seam and I use it when sewing bias strips together and angled blocks. I have been able to sew half square triangles without marking the fabric using this tool. All my quilting students have bought this product and have commented on how much it has helped them.

I'm also adding some patterns by Zen Chic, by Moda and a few others. These modern quilt patterns are so attractive and are fun to make. I have made the Dancing Triangles and the Throwing quilt, both using Moda fabrics. 

I made the Dancing Triangles quilt with Moda Spectrum Charm packs and Moda Paper White Grunge.

I'm teaching the Throwing quilt pattern this month and can't wait for my students to get started on it. I used the Merrily charm packs, by Moda, along with a selection of Grunge fabrics, by Moda.

My Dancing Triangles

My Throwing Quilt

Enjoy the Fall weather my quilting friends. The weather in North Texas keeps teasing us, some day it may get cool and stay cool. Perfect quilting weather and perfect weather to cuddle up with a quilt.

Creatively,

Jules

Student Show and Tell

A few of my students from my class last Saturday sent me pictures of their completed pieces. How fun! They all did a great job and it is such a treat to receive texts and emails with pictures of their pieces.

Here is the eye candy!

 Pam Gantz did a great job on her gradient dye of Bright Green. She just did two stages of the gradient.

Pam also ice dyed this piece with Chinese Red. Ice dyeing doesn't always bring out the strongest of the color because it gets more watered down, but I think this is beautiful!

Pam used the product Color Magnet by Jacquard to get the tone on tone effect on these pieces. I haven't used this product. Pam watched an episode of The Quilt Show with Sue Bleiweiss and learned how the use the product. Great results! The dye color Pam used was Indigo. 











Pam also dyed cotton cording and made these cute mug rugs and bowl. She works fast because she emailed these pictures to me the day after the class. Pam said she begged dye from the other ladies when they were container dyeing and dropped it in a ziplock bag. She didn't let it mix too much so colors will absorb the way she dropped them in.

I'm going to try this now and use the cording for my Etsy orders when I wrap them up.

Patty Hofer created this iced dyed piece. The colors are excellent. It looks like something from the galaxy. It looks like she used Golden Yellow, Clear Yellow and Lilac.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this show and tell as much as I did. Don't forget to check out my Class and Workshop schedule for Dye classes and/or if you want to reserve time in the Open Dye Studio.

Creatively,

Jules

What a Fun Dye Class!

Yesterday was a fun day in the Dye Studio. The Etc. Art Quilt Group came and had a creative day.

Sorry to say, we were having so much fun that I forgot to get a class picture! These 8 ladies were a blast and I look forward to them coming back to play.

We ice dyed, parfait dyed and container/zip lock bag dyed. To not waste any dye, I grabbed a piece of Lemon Lime fabric that was not on the exciting side of things and we used it to wipe our dye spoons and the blades to the mixing bullets. Here are the Before, During and After pictures.

Boring Lemon Lime

While Being "Enhanced"

Sitting before being washed

Final Product - One Yard of Monet Fabric

I also grabbed an old undershirt from Jeff's drawer and used it to wipe the bullet cups from when we mixed dye for container dyeing. This is now my favorite shirt.

I have a few pieces that I set to ice dye during the class, but haven't had time to wash them out yet. That will be another blog post.

Several of my dye students have asked if I rent out the dye studio so they can come dye and not have instruction. What a grand idea! So, I have made a cost schedule and it is posted under the Class and Workshop tab on my website. Just click over and check it out! Contact me with the days/times you would like to book. You can book during the week or on the weekend. I have two sinks and plenty of room and ice!

Until next time, don't forget that the unplanned dyeing can sometimes be your favorite!

Creatively,

Jules

Trying to Catch-up

Oh, where does the time go? This summer I have been busy in the dye studio, teaching quilting classes and trying to keep Mr. Wonderful challenged and keep up with the 7 grandkids. Yes, I’m tired by the end of the day.

What did you work on through the summer? Me? Well let me tell you, I have been dyeing fabric to post the Studio Jules Art Etsy shop and working on some new quilts.

I have dyed so much fabric that I am having trouble making time to take pictures and post to Etsy. So hold on tight, there is more fabric coming to Etsy! I’m also working on a special order for an Etsy customer. Yes, I do special orders, so if you are looking for something special and want it ice dyed, let me know. I just love being able to dye fabric for a special project for a customer.

 

Finding Light in the Darkness #5

I have continued the “Finding Light in the Darkness” series. This series is very special because it is about Caregivers. Caring for someone that has progressing Alzheimer’s, dementia or another long-term illness is hard work. Most people just think we are home all day and what is so hard about that. Ha! Don’t get me started. Anyway, I created this series so that other caregivers know that I know what they are going through. Sometimes is it everything we can do to find one positive thing about the day.

The two quilts to the right can be found in my Etsy shop. 

There is something special about this series; the first three quilts are going to be published in the Winter issue of Art QuiltingStudio magazine. I can’t wait to see the Winter publication and share my article with you.

Finding Light in the Darkness #6

So my friends, for today, keep finding the bright and creative spot in your day.

Creatively,

Jules

It's Almost My Birthday!

Oh my goodness! My birthday is sneaking up on me. It's time for my annual Birthday gift to Studio Jules Art on Etsy customers!

Here it is: FREE SHIPPING until the end of the month. Just click on this Link or copy the Coupon Code HAPPYBIRTHDAY and you will receive Free Shipping on any size order. Order as much or as little as you like, the Free Shipping is my Birthday Present to YOU!

Happy Dance!

Jules

Getting Ready for Fall Classes

I've been busing working on the schedule for my Fall classes and making a few class samples. The classes that I have developed are listed on the Calendar of Classes and Workshops page. Just hit the tab and it will take you there.

My dye classes are fun! My first class I think I had way too much for my students to do, so I have broken it up into two classes, Container and Ice Dyeing and Shibori Dyeing. This way we have plenty of time and aren't rushed to get everything done. My first class was so much fun and everyone came away with great pieces.

 

 

So check out my page on classes and come join me! I promise it will be a day to dye for and I will keep you in stitches!

Creatively,
Jules

Good Morning!

Happy Summer Solstice! 

The longest day of the year. How are you going to spend it? 

Me? Well, it is a busy and long day. This is the day the Alzheimer's Association recognizes caregivers and our neurologist is having a gathering at her office today. Part of the gathering today will be the unveiling of my quilt MRI Mirage, which I have donated to Texas Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders. It will be on permanent installation in the reception area. I'm pretty excited!

More pictures tomorrow of the unveiling.

You have the entire day, go create!

Where Has the Time Gone!

What a busy year I am having! So busy that I think about blogging and then in the evening I’m too tired to think, much less make sense in a blog post. So, I told my self last night, blog in the mornings while you are having your first glass of green tea. Perfect.

What has kept me so busy you ask? Besides the normal caregiving duties with Mr. Wonderful, I have revised my “To Do” list a couple of times. The marker board in my studio has gone from listing shows to enter to a list of things to get accomplished, because the list keeps growing and I can’t keep up.

Waves of Color

Reflections in the Sea

In April, the Dallas Area Fiber Artists had their annual show. My petit-point piece, Waves of Color, came in Third Place. The other exciting news is that my piece, Reflections in the Sea, sold!

Angel of Mercy

Last month, I entered, and was accepted into, a SAQA Regional show in Abilene, TX. Texas Quilts: Art in Stitch. Very excited about this show. The quilt that will be showing is Angel of Mercy.

To add to my list of “To Do’s”, I pulled a group of friends together and we put together 13 quilts for Jeff’s neurologist office for The Longest Day

. Last year they had caregivers write on muslin blocks with the idea of a quilt.  Well, it turned into 13 smaller quilts to be hung in their exam rooms and hallway.

As if I don’t have enough to do, I decided to start teaching beginning quilting classes from the house. This way I can share my love for quilting and also be here to care for Mr. Wonderful. These ladies Rock! And we have so much fun. Right now they just have one more class and then we are going to start a Sampler Class. I’m almost done with my sample quilt and have had a great time deciding what blocks they are going to make.

I’m also writing curriculum for a “Quilt as You Go” class and have bought a couple of patterns of Modern Quilts to teach.

In a week I am having my first Dye Workshop and the class is full! We are going to try various ways of dyeing, such as gradient, ice dyeing, traditional dyeing, and Shibori. It should be a fun day and people that are coming are from various groups I am involved in and neighbors. I’m looking forward to posting pictures after the class.

Okay, I think I have caught you up on my busy schedule and I am going to make more of an effort to blog in the mornings before life gets me too tired to make sense! There is so much to tell you, but I’ll save some of it for future posts.

Don't forget, if you are trying to keep up with me a little more often than my blog posts, follow Studio Jules Art on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. I can usually take a quick picture and post a few times a week!

Happy Creating!

Jules

How I Hang My Quilts – Part Two

After my previous blog post I have had several questions on preparing my quilts for hanging.  So, I decided to post a follow up to answer and elaborate on the process.

First: The sleeve – depending on size of your quilt and if you are going to show it in a quilt show or just hang it at home, the sleeve size can vary. If you are going to show your quilt in a quilt and/or art show, you need to follow the guidelines of the show. Normally for a large quilt (over 24” wide), your sleeve needs to be 4” deep. If it is a smaller quilt, you will want a 2” deep sleeve.  When preparing your sleeve, remember to allow for your seam allowance when cutting (yes, I have made this mistake).

Second: Attaching the sleeve to your quilt – I hand stitch my sleeve to the back of my quilt coming down about an inch from the top of the quilt. You don’t want it too far down or your quilt will not hang flat and you don’t want it right at the top, because you need to allow a little it of slack in the sleeve to allow for the board or quilt rod when hanging.

Now the fun stuff.

If you are going to show your quilt in an art show and you need to wire your quilt for museum hanging, here are your instructions.

Purchase hanging wire from the hardware store (not monofilament line! Monofilament line will stretch). I was lucky and found covered mirror wire at Home Depot a few weeks ago. This is great, because then you don’t have to cover the cut end of the wire with tape.

Wrap the wire around one of the “D” rings on the board, after you have inserted it into your quilt-hanging sleeve.

Measure out enough wire to go to the other “D” ring, leaving enough room for wrapping and a little bit of slack.

Wrap the wire around the second “D” ring. If you do not have covered mirror wire, tape the ends of your wire so they do not fray and hurt the back of your quilt.

Now, make sure you don’t have too much slack in the wire. I don’t like it to come above the top of the board.

Using your handy dandy staple gun and 1/4” staples, staple two staples on each side of the middle to stabilize the wire. You don’t want your quilt going wonky during the art show or on the wall at home.

Ta Da! You are done!

Happy Creating, Jules