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!

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

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!

Pondering a Thought

Today on Maria Shriver’s Facebook page she posted a quote by Juju Chang (and I love Juju Chang). “What does your best day look like? Live a piece of it every day.” What an inspiration. It makes me think about how my world is changing now with Jeff’s diagnosis and having him home all day, every day. Honestly, I love having him home. I don’t have to grocery shop and do errands by myself. He’s a great companion.

Juju Chang’s quote has me thinking about showing Jesus in my everyday life, in the little things. Making sure I don’t get exasperated answering the same questions several times a day, doing things differently than  I had done them before (because I’m not by myself any longer), taking a slower pace with things and enjoying the little things that life brings. I am also reminding myself to stay thankful in all situations, even the hard and difficult ones.

Since my world is changing, there isn’t as much time to spend in the Studio. Lately, I have been lucky to snatch a couple of hours a week to work on a baby quilt for church. I haven’t had the opportunity to touch any of my art quilts that are in progress or dye fabric. But I am content working on the baby quilts right now. When I get the one on my table complete I will hopefully have time to get out one of my art quilts and finish one. And being a women of faith, it will all happen in God's time. For if I try to create the time, something will happen and end in frustration. And what would that solve? How would that feed my creative spirit?

So, here are my questions this week for you. What is the best part of your day and how are you going to spend it? And, what is your favorite part of your art and why?

Let me hear from you, some days you are my avenue to the world outside. Keep me entertained.

The Beginning of a New Era

This morning I woke up very grateful and with a very large amount of appreciation in my heart. When I get to church later this morning, there are oodles of people in my life that I am going to be singing praises for, along with God and Jesus Christ, of course.

As most of you know, if you read my last post, my life is in a constant transition right now with Jeff’s diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer’s. This past week I have been able to enjoy him being home every day, all day, doing things together, him doing the yard when he wants, him cleaning the house and helping cook the meals. It has been a great week (I hate cleaning the house)! The past couple of months have been very stressful and our financial adviser told us this week, “Your homework is to go home and book a vacation!” Now that is an assignment I am all over! The next day I got busy and we leave soon on a cruise. Best way to vacation, see several places, only unpack once and the only place I have to drive to is the airport! Whoo Hoo! So our financial adviser is one of the people I am most thankful for, not just because of the vacation, mind you, but because she has shown us that God is taking care of us by surrounding us with HIS people and is providing the emotional and physical things that we need.

Then yesterday, oh my goodness, we had the first official Dallas Area Fiber Artists Board meeting of the new board, and I am President. This board ROCKS!!!!!! The energy and new ideas these artists have is amazing! New ideas for new programs, working together to move things around to accommodate each other, and being so supportive of each other and excited about how we are going to promote and increase membership! The biggest step  DAFA is making right now is a totally new website and blog. Click over and see the beginnings. A lot has been done and I am so proud of our Web Goddess and her team for all the hard work they have put into it. Okay, I do have to brag a bit more, I am on the team and have done “some” of the work on the blog and I get training this week on the website. This awesome board was the group of people I woke up this morning thinking about and thankful for. They are going to make my year as President easy, fun and filled with excitement!

As for work in my studio, well, nothing is going on there right now, but maybe I'll have a day this week to work on one of the baby quilts I'm making for the church. I'm hopeful that during our cruise I will take some pictures that will inspire new pieces and collect some things on a beach to work into a new piece. Wouldn't that be grand?!

God Bless everyone, have a great Sunday and remember to be thankful for the people and artists God places around you!