Dallas Quilt Show / Upcoming Dye Workshops

Boy, I've been in recovery mode since the Dallas Quilt Show. It was a great show and I won an Honorable Mention for Prism Refraction.

Studio Jules Art Booth at the Dallas Quilt Show

Prism Refraction with its Honorable Mention Ribbon

My sweet daughter came to her first quilt show and to support me at the show. I'm so blessed!

Since I have been home, I've been catching up on administrative things and slowly I'm adding new things to the Etsy Shop.

I'm also gearing up for Dye Classes, so if you are local, or if you want to travel, check out my Workshop and Classes section and contact me for a dye workshop.  If you have a group that wants to spend the morning in the studio, I love having groups come over to dye. We have so much fun in all my classes!

Keep your eyes on my class schedule. Quilting classes will be posted for the summer when it is too hot to dye.

Have a creative day!

Jules

Let's Start a Conversation

Let's Start a Conversation

For 2018 I want to start something new. Let's have a daily conversation about what is feeding our creative time. Are you working on a project with a deadline? Are you cleaning your creative space? Are you designing a new project? Are you stuck? Are you getting ready to submit a quilt or project to a show? Are you learning new techniques? I want to hear, I want to learn and I want us to join in conversation.

Join me here every day or join the conversation on my Facebook page. Let's keep the conversation and networking active.

Rules of engagement:

Rule #1 - As I tell my grandkids - Have Fun with the conversation

Rule #2 - Post your inspirations, thoughts, and questions

Rule #3 - only positive feedback. No bashing or criticism. If someone asks for feedback, be honest, but be kind and constructive. If comments are hurtful, they will not be published.

So, what is feeding your creative spirit today?

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

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

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

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!

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!

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