Parfait Dyeing Results from Last Week

Well I have dyed, ironed and posted fabrics on Etsy and ArtFire! Thought I would give you a peek at what came out of the dye containers. The colors are so beautiful and I'm amazed at how the dyes take so differently from the snow dyed fabrics. The snow dyed fabrics, the colors are so much more brilliant and the parfait dyed fabrics are softer. The movement in both are wonderful and unique. So, here are the parfait fabrics!


Hand Dyed Cotton Fabric Fuchsia


Hand Dyed Cotton Fabric Varigated Green and Yellow


Hand Dyed Cotton Fabric Fuchsia and Blue


Hand Dyed Cotton Fabric Blue and Fuchsia


Hand Dyed Cotton Fabric Purple, Fuchsia and Blues


Hand Dyed Cotton Fabric Golden Yellow and Green


Fuchsia and Blue Hand Dyed Fabric


Multi Color Dyed Cotton Fabric 1 Yard

It Feels Good to be Creative Again

It sure does feel good to feel creative again. I'm in the studio concentrating on fabric today. One of the discussion groups I am part of has been talking about containers that we dye in. Well, all the discussion really got me in the mood to dye fabric today. It is so cold outside that I didn't want to spend time in the garage mixing dyes and arranging fabric to dye. So I hauled the containers and dye upstairs to my studio and have several yards of fabric dyeing along with some tops that I have bought to dye. Two containers are parfait style and one is sort of a parfait, but it is just one blouse with two colors. I wanted a camp shirt that is brown and turquoise, since I wear my turquoise jewelry a lot. Hope it turns out the way I want, if not, oh well! That is one of the things I love about parfait dyeing, the results are always a surprise.



I decided to get the fabric dyeing and then start on my truck quilt. I just have a little bit of painting left to do on it and some surface techniques. I fused it all down the other day. I'm planning out the quilting too. Hopefully I will get the quilting sketched out this afternoon and then I'll be ready to go tomorrow morning after I run my errands and do come cooking and baking for a party on Saturday. I plan on quilting a barn and a windmill into the background.

Okay, have an artful day everyone!

It’s Been a Good Day!

My day started off wonderful! Got up, checked the email and someone had bought some of my dyed fabric! To make it even sweeter, one of the pieces is one that I snow dyed last week. Whoo Hoo!
So, I made sure to workout, but I think I forgot to have breakfast and celebrated the sale by myself. While I was getting ready for the day I decided it was time to put forward some of the “Branding” information I have been reading on the internet, Etsy and ArtFire. First I decided to continue with the header I have on my blog, Etsy and ArtFire shops and put it on my “Sales Receipt/Packing Slip”. I just copied the packing slip information over from Paypal and made my own! This way I was able to personalize my message at the bottom and made sure all my websites were accounted for.
Next, I pressed white gift tissue, yes, I ironed gift tissue. I want it to look nice! Then I printed out clear labels with my ArtFire and Etsy shop web addresses and I pulled out some of my hand painted fabric scraps and cut a strip to use as a bow. After I wrapped up the fabric, I used one of the labels to secure the gift tissue, and then tied it up with the hand painted fabric! Doesn’t it look pretty! I know printed gift tissue paper would look nicer, but I don’t want to run the risk of any of the dyes from the paper to leave a mark on these beautiful fabrics.
The next branding/marketing idea I put to use was printing out “Return Customer” discount cards. It is a marketing strategy talked about on one of the Etsy forums. I thought this was a grand idea, so I put it into action.
Okay, so now I’m off to post new artwork on Etsy and ArtFire!

Snow Dyed Fabric - The Big Reveal!

We received over an inch of snow the other day at our house. Just enough for me to gather enough snow for to snow dye some fabric in the garage. I posted on Monday the pictures of my 5 yards of fabric being snow dyed (and how they looked like huge snow cones). Well, here are the results. At first, I wasn’t too thrilled with the results, but I have learned not to make judgments until after I washed the fabric twice and dried it. Because, first impressions are always wrong. The fabric I think looks the worst, becomes my favorite, what can I say, so I just don’t get my hopes up or down anymore and look forward to the wonderful surprise that awaits me. The part of the process I love the best is when I iron the fabric, that is when it really talks to me and tells me what it wants to do. With each picture, I’ll tell you what they told me!
For those of you that are just now following my blog, I blogged earlier this year about the snow dyeing process. See my March 31, 2010 post "Snow Dyed - Hand Dyed Cotton.

The Reveal……………


This first piece is gorgeous, I know I should save the best for last, but I just had to show this one first. This piece started talking flowers, as I started ironing, flowers started popping out, iris and peonies. Purple and yellow iris, pink peonies, do you see them? My hair stylist asked what I was smoking when I showed the pictures to him, I don’t smoke anything! Just high on life, fabric and color.


Oh, I love these colors. Reds, pinks, orange, yellow, bright cheerful colors. This one started talking flowers too, yellow and pink iris again, or maybe some butterflies. This would also be a great piece to use for appliqué. It has such a great mixture and movement. Do you think I’m anxious for warmer weather and that is why I’m seeing spring and summer flowers?


Piece number three started out as a disappointment. The top section just didn’t take the dye as well as the middle. I don’t know if it just didn’t get soaked well enough with soda ash before I placed the snow, or if the dye just didn’t migrate over to it, but it has a hint of the robin egg blue, chartreuse and pink. The colors are better in person, I just couldn’t get the color to adjust right today and I wasn’t up to braving the cold to go outside and take it. Brrrr. Anyway, I can see using surface designs and textures on it. The middle part reminds me of pictures I’ve seen of stars exploding. When I started thinking about stars, then a universe piece started forming in my brain...we’ll see where it goes. It just may go into either my Etsy or Artfire shop. Any takers out there?


Piece number four, now this is a close runner for my favorite. Rainbow explosion, the green is very lightly mixed in the middle. The way the colors just explode into each other is invigorating! The snow, ice crystals really did a great job. This piece also shows great potential for flowers and butterflies too. Do you see them too?


This last piece was dyed with piece number two, so the colors are the same, but the way the fabric took the dyes is a little different. At first I didn’t see flowers as much as the other piece, but when I looked at it again I saw gladiolas and some roses. I also see this piece as a great piece for appliqué. Each artist visualizes differently, so tell what the fabric saying to you.

Some of these pieces will be one of my online shops, StudioJules on Artfire or StudioJulesArt on Esty . So, if you interested, check my shops! Each piece is one yard.

Happy creating everyone and I hope these bright cheerful colors warm up your day!

Sketchbook Challenge - January - Highly Prized

It’s cold this morning! Okay, I know it’s not as cold in Texas as it is north of us, but my fingers are so cold that I’m having trouble using my new Droid X because my finger temp isn’t registering… I know, life could be worse.

As I promised yesterday, I have pictures of the sketches I have made so far this month for the Sketchbook Challenge. I joined this challenge because I have a terrible time sketching and just haven’t been able to get comfortable with pencil and paper, I’ve always been more of a “tracer”. So, this month the challenge is “Highly Prized”.

Hmmmm, the first thing that came to my mind is that the most highly prized things in my life are faith, hope and love. Without faith in God and our relationship, life would be so hard to deal with at times. Hope in the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ, and the love that He shares with me and I am able to pass on to others.


As I was working on the sketch above, I thought of the gifts and talents that God has given me and realized that the art I enjoy creating the most is abstract, off the beaten path, realism with a twist, so…… I sketched out the next drawing while I was playing with my new phone and downloading music. Honestly, downloading the program to download the music to my phone was very frustrating, so I needed a positive outlet. Here is what I came up with, structured abstract, colorful, free and didn’t require any computer downloads. I can already see this as an art quilt with each section being quilted differently. For this one I believe my “Highly Prized” statement would be the “freedom to create whatever my art heart desires”.



Have a great day ya’ll and stay warm!
Watch for my next post…..snow dyed fabric!

Where has the time gone?

Can't believe we are 10 days into January and I feel like I am so far behind already! Oh well, guess that is what happens when you start off the year with recovering from surgery. I looked back to what I blogged a year ago for my resolution for my studio for the year. To have a project being quilted, one on the board and one in the design phase....for the major part of the year I kept that one up! Right now I have 5 yards of fabric in the garage covered with snow and dye. I love this process! Today I realized one reason why, I'm a big fan of snow cones in the summertime, and these look like huge snowcones! I promise not to eat them, only to drool over the fabric when they are done. Here are the pics!


To add to my schedule this week, I decided open an Etsy shop in addition to my Art Fire studio. Spreading the love around, plus so many people know about Etsy and don't know about Art Fire, so I decided to jump on the wagon and try Etsy out. The links are on the right hand side bar. My Etsy shop is named StudioJulesArt.

I've started on the Sketchbook Challenge. I haven't done very much, but some. I'll post pictures tomorrow of what I've done.

Getting ready for the New Year

I have been AWOL lately, but for good reason. I had my gall bladder removed on Tuesday. I am feeling better than I felt before the surgery, but I haven’t been in the Studio since I finished my secret Christmas gift, which ended up not being so secret since my sweet niece, Karolyn, reads my blog. Here is a picture of us with her new quilt. I hand dyed all of the fabrics and quilted it on my Bernina. Karolyn posted a Christmas video of “If Quilts Could Gossip”. Link on over, it is so wonderful and Yes, I am bias, she is my niece!

I love the colors of the hand dyes I used for Karolyn’s quilt. I think I’ll try to dye some more in these colors when I get back into the wet studio after the first of the year.
After the first of the year, my first project is to finish the truck quilt. I have ideas in my head for the quilting and I just have a little bit left to do on the painting. Then I’m going to continue on the quilt for the house. I’ve been collecting mixed media items for it. Stamps, surface techniques, keys (one for each grandchild), beads, misc. items that have family meaning. I made a trip to Artful Bead in Carrollton, TX and found some wonderful glass pieces to include. One day after a DAFA board meeting we made a field trip to the Stamp Asylum in Plano and I found some wonderful stamps! I am looking forward to getting back to it and using some of my new findings.
Then I have new projects in my brain. I’ve started sketching out one that started from my workshop day with Katie PM. It is in the enlarging stage right now.
While recuperating I am using some of the time to get started on “The Sketchbook Project”. I actually bought two new sketchbooks the other day. Both are small enough to fit in my purse and one of them has watercolor paper in it. I am really looking forward to this challenge and broadening my artistic abilities. Can’t believe that it is going to be the new year in just a few days!
To add to all of my new year art projects, I am going to spend more time in the kitchen this year. I love to cook, but “Mr. Wonderful” is also “Mr. Picky Eater”, much to the surprise of my mom 24 years ago. I am her child that would anything she put on the table, and I married “Mr. Picky Eater”. My response to her was “Well, he can fix anything that breaks around the house.” That got a smile out of her and she said she was glad I looked at it in such a positive way. Our meals have gotten very lazy and routine and with some of my health issues, I have decided to go Gluten Free. So far the things I have fixed have gone over well, especially the chocolate-chip cookies.
Okay, off to take care of a few other things on the computer and read my new cookbook.
Have a safe and happy New Year everyone! May it bring you health, happiness, and lots of paint, thread, fabric and mixed media!
Jules

If Quilts Could Gossip

I have to share a link to a You Tube video that my wonderful niece wrote and directed. It's called.....wait for it....."If Quilts Could Gossip". It's a hoot, take a peek and give her a thumbs up on You Tube! I'm so proud of her and I know she has more episodes in the wings to film and I'll let you know when they are ready for viewing.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Down Time

Ever finish a project and then need some down time? Seems to be my norm. I just finished the super secret Christmas present I've been working on and am now in limbo. So I decided to catch up on a few computer things, like blogging and increasing the discount in my ArtFire studio. Oh, yes, it's one week until Christmas and all merchandise at StudioJules is 25% off. Yes, that means hand dyed fabrics and Mistyfuse™! I figure discounts are better than fighting traffic!
Sue Bleiweiss is having a give away on her blog. It's the Cloth Paper Scissors Gifts 2010 Issue! Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the give away, so link over and sign up quick!
Sue is one of the artists with the Sketchbook Challenge that I have committed to for next year. I'm really excited about this new adventure and maybe I'll work on sketching this afternoon!
I'm hoping that next week I'll be motivated to work on the truck quilt. I've been pondering the quilting and think I may quilt a barn and windmill into the background.
I've also have the project that I started for my house and I have a smaller quilt that I have to sketch out and start on soon. I would like to get it done for a gallery show coming up in February. I better get moving on that one. So maybe I'll work in sketching it this afternoon.
I've recently started listening to books by Dee Henderson. They are wonderful Christian mystery books. I'm listening to the "O'Malley Family Series" right now.
Okay, time to start sketching! Have a great weekend everyone!

Making A Commitment to Sketch

Yesterday I signed up and made the commitment to “The Sketchbook Challenge”. I’ve tried sketching before and just drew a blank when I sat down, so I didn’t pick it back up again. Now that I’ve made the commitment, I’m going to follow through. I’m really excited because this challenge is being led my some of the best quilt/fiber artists I’ve met at the International Quilt Festival and through networking on the Internet.
So, this morning I pulled out my sketchbook and I thumbed through and found notes and rough sketches of potential projects, sketches from an IQF class with Lyric Kinard and sketches that actually became art quilts. I think about these from time to time and that I need to do something with them, but other art quilt projects jump ahead of them!

Here are a few of those sketches from my class with Lyic.





These are sketches that actually turned into art quilts this year!



Tried my hand at Zentangles one day.



I already know I’m going to need another sketchbook partway through the project, but at least I have one to start with until I get another one. Maybe a gift certificate to my favorite art supply store, Asel Art, will appear underneath the Christmas tree!
So for now, I’m going to quilt and overdose on Christmas music today, my favorite is Vince Vance and the Valiant’s, and the Carpenters, and Barbara Streisand…..

I Know, I've Been Absent Lately......But I Have a Good Reason!

I've been a little distant lately from my blog, but I have a good reason. I'm working on a Christmas present and I can't talk about it on my blog! If I do, it won't be a surprise for the person that receives this "gift from my heart" that I'm working on. All I can say is that it's beautiful!
I still have a couple of quilts on my design board and I'm looking forward to working on new projects after the first of the year. After the first of the year I plan on working on developing a few workshops and start teaching. Plans of increasing on online networking are already in the works with other artisans on ArtFire and Facebook.
Right now I have a Holiday Sale of 20% off all merchandise in my ArtFire studio, StudioJules. Link over and enjoy the sale!
I've also been busy with the grandchildren and tomorrow, Mr. Wonderful and I will celebrate 24 years of wedded bliss. He is taking a couple of days of vacation so we can do some things together that don't include sewing, sketching, dying or fixing anything around the house.
Tuesday night we are going to the Gallery Night at Oxide Gallery in Denton, Texas. I have three new pieces in this show that haven't been in a show before and are fresh out of the studio. So if you are in the area and want to see the fantastic works of some of my fellow Dallas Area Fiber Artists.
So, signing off for now and I'll post more later, when I can tell you what I'm working on and not keeping Christmas secrets!

Dallas Area Fiber Artists Show at Oxide Gallery

The Dallas Area Fiber Artists will be holding a show at the Oxide Gallery in Denton, TX, the month of December 2010. If you are in the area, be sure to come by and see the show and buy some beautiful artwork! There is a wide venue of artwork by the artists, everything from paintings, to art quilts, to wood sculptures.
Come join us for Gallery Night, December 7th, 6pm to 8 pm.

Looking for Stocking Stuffers or Secret Pal Gifts?

We are always running around looking for Stocking Stuffers and Secret Pal gifts that are unique and one of a kind. Do you have a favorite Quilter, Fiber Artist, and family member in mind? Take a look at the hand dyed handkerchiefs and fabrics at StudioJules on Artfire. I've left the Cyber Monday Sale Discount of 20% on the entire stock of Hand Dyed Silks, Cottons, Fat Quarters, Handkerchiefs, Bookmarks, Artquilts and Trims!

Cyber Monday

Are you tired of shopping??? Well don't stop now! StudioJules on Artfire is running 20% for Cyber Monday! Get your hand dyed fabric and small art quilts now!

New Fabrics on StudioJules

I just posted new fabrics in my Artfire studio - StudioJules. There are luscious hand dyed silks and cottons. Some of the pictures that I posted today are of fabrics that have been in my studio, and needed updated pictures. I have been working on my camera skills and in the past year I've been able to tell a difference in the quality of my pictures. I'm not done yet, there are still updates and new pictures to be taken and loaded, so stay tuned in. I'm getting there, it just takes time after you dye two bolts of fabric to get the pictures taken and loaded with descriptions.
But take a look in StudioJules, there is a Black Friday 10% off sale!
Happy Stitching everyone!

Change in Studio Jules Black Friday Discount

10% Discount is still there, but I changed it to where the discount is already calculated and you don't have to remember to use the "Coupon".

Black Friday!!!

Well, I'm jumping in and getting a head start! Black Friday at StudioJules on Artfire starts today! 10% off your entire order! There is a coupon on the right hand side of my blog that gives the Coupon Code to receive 10% off your order. Click on the Coupon and it will take you to StudioJules!




Start your shopping early, finish early and enjoy!

Fall Leaves ~ 2010 ~ Complete

I finished "Fall Leaves ~ 2010" today, just in time to submit it for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists show at Oxide Gallery.... I really like this piece. The colors are so warm, cool and refreshing. I spent all day yesterday and this morning stitching the detail to the leaves and when it was all said and done....this is how much thread I had left! After knotting the threads and hiding the tails on all the leaves, by fingers are sore and ready for a manicure!


When you look at the detail of the art quilt, you can see the knot in the tree and that the quilting has blue leaves...these are suppose to be like shadows and/or reflections of the tree leaves.



That's all for now! I've got to finish up the other piece I'm working on.
Have a great day everyone and Happy Stitching!

Monday Path, Start of a New Day and New Routine

Yesterday I picked up my "Artist Way" book again, after 2.5 years. This morning I started journaling again. I'm incorporating the scripture from Sunday service into my journaling. Hopefully this will move me forward and stop the time blocks I've been running into the past weeks. I have decided to stop listening to books while I work for the time being and have turned the Rock 'n Roll back on. Now, if I can work instead of dance around the Studio (dancing around the Studio counts as my daily exercise, right?)...

I have so many creative thoughts and my creative time needs to improve to accomplish what is being put before me. I know I am starting this at a difficult time of the year, but what a time to start a new process! If I can make it through the holiday season, then the first of the year will be easier and more routine, right?

The weather forecast for today is "Mostly Cloudy"....right now at my house it is very sunny, cool and beautiful. But this is Texas and I know that the weather can change in an instant, so I'm sure the clouds "may" show up sometime today and it "may" rain tomorrow. If it does get cloudy today I plan to run outside and hopefully finish taking pictures of fabric and handkerchiefs that I dyed last month. I need to get these into StudioJules for the holiday shoppers. Speaking of StudioJules and holiday shopping... I just marked-down my hand dyed t-shirts 25%. The t-shirts, hankies and fat quarters would make great presents for family, friends, secret pals or for yourself!

In the meantime, before the clouds appear and I can go outside to shoot pictures, I'm going to continue working on the two projects I have going to submit to Oxide Gallery on Friday for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists show in December and January.


Fall Leaves I showed you this one in the starting stages of leaves the other day. I decided it needed a lot less leaves. Yesterday I started adding in the smaller tree branches by couching embroidery floss. I have a few more small branches to incorporate and then I can start thread painting the detail into the tree and leaves. I've placed a few pieces of fused metallic paint into the background to be "light reflections" of the leaves and sky. If all goes as planned, this may be finished today before (or if) the clouds appear.



This one doesn't have a name yet. It is still trying to speak its name to me. I have copper wire and a few other things that I am going to incorporate into it before it is finished, but it is getting there. I love nestling the beads into the folds of the painted cheesecloth, like they are hiding, or trying to come out of hiding.

Well, I'm off. I'm keeping in mind that this is all in God's timing, not mine and each piece will be finished, when it's finished.

Move over left brain, the right is taking over!

New Projects....

The Dallas Area Fiber Artists will be showing at Oxide Gallery in Denton, TX the months of December and January. I'm excited for our group to have another venue to show in! I have one work completed to sell, Cardinal Summer Dance and two on my worktable to get finished within the next two weeks.
Yesterday I decided that I needed to work on something quick, so I pulled out a mosaic background I had fused a few weeks ago and started working on a tree motif. I used the last of a batik fabric for the leaves and was pretty happy with it.



Then I decided that it needed a little bit more "Fall Color" in it and started adding some orange into the leaves. Now I have a complete split complementary color scheme! The background fabric is has blue and purple in it. These pictures aren't the greatest, but I did the best I could. I was standing on top of my worktable to take them!



Now I have the critical artist voice asking myself if I have done too much, should I take out some of the leaves and let it be a little more sparse, or should I leave it, fuse it and start my thread painting.

What do you think? I'm looking for some feedback, so let me hear from you!

Happy stiching everyone!

IQF, Directions and DAFA

It has been a busy week! I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Houston at the International Quilt Festival. I was able to meet up with a network of quilters I have met through the Internet networking and workshops that we have attended. And my two-day class with Katie Pasquini Masopust was awesome. I have always walked through the International Quilt Festival with awe and wonder of vision and construction. I have total appreciation for these quilters/artists. This year, was even more exciting for me since I had a quilt accepted into the “In Full Bloom” exhibit and a mini quilt in the SAQA booth exhibit.


Through the years, I have been taking steps to develop my “style” from traditional sewing (clothes, purses, craft projects, embroidery), to traditional quilting, to art quilting, to artwork. I have felt understanding and working in all these areas would awaken my “voice” and direct me to where I feel fulfillment with my work. Like many quilters and artists, there have been many struggles, frustrations and projects that I have placed in bins for another time; I have more ideas in my head than time. I can’t go to sleep for thinking and designing, I wake up early with new designs and/or an idea for one of the projects I’m working on. Don't get me wrong, I love my artwork and the paths I am taking with it. I experience great joy in the process of each project. Creating and watching fabric, paint and thread become a visual of something real going into the abstract. And part of this process is taking workshops with different instructors. It has helped me discern the directions and methods that create excitement and that I would like to explore and work with more. This past week has really touched a place in my artistic mind that will move my “voice” into the direction I’ve been seeking and will broaden my scope of artwork. Here are some of the pictures from my class with Katie PM. I’m looking forward to finishing the projects I’m working on and move on to the next brush strokes and stitches with my art quilts. I think my new motto will be "Move over Left Brain, the Right is taking over!" Thanks Katie!




After my two-day class with Katie, viewing quilts and a tiny bit of shopping on the vendor floor, I drove home to get ready for the Opening Night Reception of the Dallas Area Fiber Artists 2010 Annual Show. It was a wonderful night with my fellow fiber artists, their friends and family. The ArtCentre of Plano is a beautiful, restored historic home in Plano, TX. The artwork hung beautifully and everyone was thrilled with the venue and the quality of work. Our Juror/Judge, Amie Adelman did a wonderful job in choosing the collection and winners of the awards. Best in Wearable Art? Well, it was my Kimono Jacket! Here is a picture of me with my “Sunflower with a Passion for Color”. I was so busy (and tired from the drive) that I forgot to have my husband take a picture of me with my “Traditional Batik” quilt and the Kimono Jacket.



It was a productive and wonderful week. The networking, learning, fellowship and challenges are all priceless pieces to the journey. Happy Stitching everyone!

"Move over Left Brain, the Right is taking over!"

Checking Off Items on the Check List

Well I've been able to check off a few things on my check list so that I'm ready to leave for the International Quilt Festival in Houston on Tuesday. Friday I ran to Kinko's and ordered postcards of the quilt I have in the In Full Bloom exhibit. Nothing like deciding to do things at the last minute!



One of the very important things I accomplished today is embroidering Hudson's name on my denim shirt. When I embroidered all the girls names, Hudson wasn't born yet and his name wasn't a "for-sure" thing. Now that he is almost 2, it's way past time to have his name on my shirt. So here they are, all 5 of my precious little bugs, well blue jays in this situation. Nickola leading the pack, Betty going along her merry way, the twins, Sadie and Shelby, the same, but different and here comes my Huddy Buddy, charging after the girls and making sure they stay in step. Oh what a precious bunch they are with their own personalities! Don't know what I would do with out them! Can you tell I'm a proud Grammy???!!

All my supplies are packed for Houston, laundry is done, but I haven't packed my clothes. I've set up times to meet my quiting buddies for lunches and dinners. Book on CD has been picked out from the library, now let's hope my CD player will work. It's on the fritz and the dealership has ordered a new radio, but sometimes it works!
Okay, off I go. Time to go cheer for the Texas Rangers, hopefully they can pull out of the two losses they've had and come back and win the World Series! Oh, and we have to join three of the grand kids for the "Monster Mile" in our development tonight!
Happy Stitching everyone!

Staying Busy and So Much to Do!

Time is moving fast and I have so much to finish up with before I leave for Houston next week. What's on the schedule? Well, I have a display I need to finish for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists (DAFA) 2010 Annual Show, embroider my grandson's name on my denim shirt (because it has to go to Houston with me), finish packing my class supplies and my car CD play went on the fritz today so tomorrow is goes to the dealership to be fixed. I have already checked out two books on CD to listen to on the drive to Houston and back, so the CD player has to be fixed.
And to add to my time schedule, the Texas Rangers are playing in the World Series (though tonight they aren't doing as well as we would like), so nothing gets done during the games.... There are still several items on my worktable that need to be finished up, but they can wait until after Houston. I really need to finish my truck quilt so it can be submitted on the 19th to a show DAFA is having at the Oxide Gallery in Denton. I work best under deadlines and stress, so I'm sure everything will get done when it needs to be done, but time is flying fast!
I was pleased to find out today that my Old Alton Bridge quilt was included in a blog by Satin Moon. What a wonderful surprise and it is a fascinating blog post.
I had a great time Monday night with my fellow DAFA members at our monthly meeting. My mini-workshop went well and I'm mulling over how to make the mini-workshop into a full workshop so the participants can make an art project. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to doing more and growing in this segment of my career.

Teaching First Mini-Workshop

Well, tonight is the night. I'm teaching my first mini-workshop at the Dallas Area Fiber Artist meeting. It is our "Mixed Media Mini-Workshop" night. It should be a lot of fun. My season is is on painting and fusing cheesecloth and Mistyfuse™. There is so much you can do with this process! I've got my instructions written and printed, kits made, supplies together....now I just have to find something to do until time to leave for Dallas. It's hard for me to get into the studio and be productive on days like this, because I loose track of time when I start working. If I start working on one of my projects I might miss the meeting!

I'm anxious to teach tonight. If things go well, I would like to spin this off into a 1/2 day or full day workshop where the attendees can do this process and incorporate it into a project.

So, if you are in the Dallas area, come to our meeting and join the fun! Check the link above to get directions. See you there!

Free Shipping on MistyFuse!

Don't forget that the free shipping on Mistyfuse™ end October 31st from StudioJules on Artfire!
Use Coupon code Mistyfuse Free Ship!

Go Texas Rangers! ALCS Champs!