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!

Collecting Treasures

Recently, Mr. Wonderful and I vacationed, collecting family history information. One of my hobbies is family genealogy and I have hit a brick wall with part of my dad's family. I have had to come to the conclusion that some things just aren't to be found. Especially since they didn't document births and deaths in the early to mid 1800's.

While driving through these small mid-west towns we occasionally stopped to do some antique shopping, hoping I would find a wonderful old quilt.  I didn't find a quilt, but I found a wonderful thread box and three antique irons.

The irons are older then the ones I had already collected for my Studio. One of the irons has "Memphis" on the handle. I would imagine these date back to the 1800's.

The thread box isn't old, but I love the color and the charm. As for the thread box, well I'm sure it will collect all sorts of treasures in my Studio. The size is perfect for my hutch in the Studio.




Before we left on vacation I took a wonderful Shibori - Indigo dye workshop with Suzanne Morgan. What a wonderful day! Here are some of the treasures I dyed. I couldn't wait to get home and dye some more using the methods I learned.

Enjoy your day, your week and your summer. Be sure, especially during this Memorial Weekend, to thank every service person you come across. Without their dedication to serving our country, we wouldn't have the freedoms that we do.

Time Flies and Art Updates

I can't believe it has been 5 months since I posted updates. Time really flies when you are busy!

The Alzheimer's art show at Lover's Lane UMC was wonderful. We had a few pieces sell and I'm proud to say that "In Flight" was one of them. The luncheon reception was great, getting to talk to church members about the art and about our walk with Jeff's Alzheimer's Disease.
Here are a few pictures from the show.

Shattered Curves hung with the
atrium as a backdrop

One wall of the show - MRI Mirage
and In Flight on this wall

Dallas Area Fiber Artists members enjoying the show.

This week I was able to end the drought of not being in the studio. I basted a quilt a few days ago and yesterday I switched up and pulled out an art quilt I started a couple of years ago and went back to work on the applique' process. Several years ago, Jeff and I vacationed in Charleston, SC. Love that city and all the history and architecture. We took a photo walking tour one day and I took so many wonderful pictures and was able to start looking at things a different way. One picture I took was of a pebble stone walkway. The texture and colors really drew me in. Here is a picture of my end of day process yesterday. I'm going to place it on hand dyed cotton batting, the batting will show through and give an additional texture to the piece.

I have more art news to post, but due to time, I'll post it as soon as I get a moment. 

I've been pondering the idea of separating my art blog and my blogging about our journey with Alzheimer's Disease. I realize many of you want to read about both, but there are some that may want to just read about my art journey and some may just want to read about our Alzheimer's journey. So, as soon as I can get it set up, look for another page on my blog called "Alzheimer's - Rushing Style".

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

Things I Have Learned...

I’ve been working on my latest quilt “Down the Drain”. I used one copy of the pattern to place behind my white base fabric to use to position my applique pieces properly. At one point I wasn't pleased the way the flow was coming across, so I started “unfusing” (aka, peeling off) some of the pieces (so thankful for Misty Fuse!). Ugh, the black ink from the pattern had transferred onto the back of the white fabric and was showing through.  Lesson learned, watch the way I fuse from now on. I did grab a new piece of white fabric and transferred the other pieces over, without the pattern behind the fabric.

Down the Drain - in process

I like the way the quilt is flowing now and I’m creating most of the pieces without the pattern. Here’s a peek at what I have accomplished so far. My deadline for this quilt is growing closer, so I need to get busy and get back in the Studio for some serious fusing time.

When I was frustrated with the black ink transferring to the white fabric, I had to step out of the Studio and do something different. So, I made my way down to the Dye Studio and tried a few “sink dyeing” ideas I had been thinking about. When I was about to pull the fat quarter out sink I went looking for my drying racks. Hmmmm, where were they? Mr. Wonderful has been a little OCD about straightening the garage lately. Second lesson learned that day, when Mr. Wonderful comes to me and says, “Look how much more room we have around your car”, I need to start asking where my drying racks are and my other treasures in the garage. He had done it again, stored “my stuff” in the upper cabinets where I can’t reach them. He wasn’t using them, so they could be stored out of the way, right? My drying racks are now safely (I hope) stored under my dye table.

MRI Mirage

I have completed “MRI Mirage”. Here is the final picture of it. It is ready to be entered in the DAFA / Alzheimer’s show. This is my favorite quilt, right now. I love the dept of the colors and how the deep center draws you in.

Back to the Studio I go! Have a creative day everyone!

New Projects in the Works!

Oh, there has been so much going on. I just do not know where to start. I have not posted in so long due to staying busy with things around the house and travelling, and you know how I love to travel!

My interview with the “Save our Stories” program of Quilt Alliance has been published online. Click here to access my interview. I am so excited that it has been published and is part of quilt history. “Save Our Stories” is such an important program for our industry and fiber history.

The Dallas Area Fiber Artists will be presenting a show at Lovers Lane UMC, Dallas, Texas, in September 2013, to promote Alzheimer’s awareness. You know this cause is near and dear to my heart and I am so pleased that the LLUMC Foundation asked us to present this show and that we are able to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association, Dallas Chapter.  I am blessed by the committee because they chose my Shattered Curves quilt as the promo quilt for the show. Luckily, it will be back from the Sacred Threads Quilt Show in time for the “Let’s Make Alzheimer’s a Distant Memory” show in September.

If you are a local artist and would like to enter art work for the show, here is a link to the information for entering. The theme of the show is "The Mind's Eye". All work is to be related to Alzheimer's and all work must be for sale. The sale proceeds will go to support the Alzheimer's Association (Dallas Chapter), LLUMC Foundation and the artist.

MRI Mirage

Down the Drain

I am working on two projects to enter into the show. Here is a peek at both projects.  Right now, the first layer of MRI Mirage is fused and basted for quilting. After I quilt this layer, I will add another layer of hand dyed sheers. I have thread for most of the quilt, but I think I need to make a trip to the quilt shop to look for more thread. Yum!

Down the Drain is coming along. Seems that I'm working from left and right and going to join the two sides in the middle. Lots of little pieces in this one. I just love being able to design art quilts and use my own hand dyed fabrics.

Okay, to start quilting with the thread I have.

Happy creating everyone!

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!

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

Studio Pictures Finally!

With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays and completing the Studio, I forgot to post pictures. Please, please, please pardon my tardiness. I just love the way the Studio looks. The cheery yellow is perfect and gives an energy that was needed. My design wall is insulation board covered with black diaper flannel. My husband framed the insulation panels with 1x2's on the back and they hang on another piece of wood so the panels can be moved, if needed.
The floor is 5/8" foam flooring that looks like hardwood. Oh my goodness, it makes such a difference to stand on and it cleans up with a dust mop. If I ever damage one of the tiles too seriously I can pop it up and replace it with one of the ones that was left over.

Entry into the Studio

My old grey flat files got a makeover
with white spray paint.

Standing at the work wall looking back into the room.
Future quilt patterns lay on the table, waiting to be filed.

The cupboards hold my library and
additional fabrics stored in bins.
I hadn't unpacked all of my library and
treasures when I took this picture.

Fabric and thread storage. I know, not enough fabric.
But I'm not showing you the fabric stored in a closet.

Studio Update

Thought you might like to see the sight of my spare bedrooms. When we unloaded my studio last week all of my treasures (aka fabric, notions, machines, mixed media items, patterns, etc) took up the space in three guest rooms, the office/playroom and one bathtub (that's the part that kills Mr. Wonderful). Here are the pic's for your amusement.

Cabinet top from the Hutches

Patterns are getting sleep on the bed in
the "Pink Bedroom"

Mixed Media storage found a
home in the bathroom

Other Mixed Media found a home in the
other bathroom

Fabric, pool noodles and other items
are sleeping in the tub for now

Boxes of fabric, fabric bins and boxes of books and
pictures are in the "Twin Bedroom"

The Fabric / Thread Cabinets and the Ironing
Table in the Office/Playroom

Iron Cart and too many other things
are in the "Red, White and Blue" Bedroom

The Studio is complete on being painted. I just have one more flat file to spray paint white and the floor to install. Hopefully we will be done in just a few days and then the "Reveal"!

Studio Redo In Progress

These past two months have been busy! We took a wonderful cruise to the Northeast to see the beginning of the Fall color. I took a disk full of pictures and have yet to go through them. I know there are several inspirational photos in the collection.

New Office Space

As soon as we got home, we started clearing out my Studio for some redecorating. We moved my office out of my Studio and into the playroom to give me more space. The Office/Playroom has been painted a soft yellow, called Peaceful Calm. The Studio will be the same color. This color gives energy and gives a “Peaceful Calm” to my nature. And, with all that is going on in my life, having a room, or two, to go to and have peace and find some calm, is definitely a bonus.

I have not had time to work on any art quilts, but have made several little doll quilts for my granddaughters for Christmas.

Here are the pictures of the Studio “Before” we started pulling everything out. This weekend we will, hopefully, be able to finish the painting the walls and start painting the worktable and the flat files. The flat files will be white, instead of industrial grey, and the worktable will be white with graphic/abstract accents. 

Right now the only item that is in the studio is the worktable. It was custom built by my husband and step-son for me several Christmas' ago and is too heavy to move out of the room. The carpet has been pulled up and we will put down 5/8" high density foam flooring that looks like hardwood. This flooring is what is put in weight rooms and is used by vendors at trade shows. The pieces interlock so it will go down fast and easy and if I ruin one of the tiles, I will just pop it up and replace it with one of the extra tiles.

Work Wall

Fabric and Thread Cabinets (and no, this is not all off my fabric!)

Flat Files for Patterns underneath my worktable

Flat Files for Mixed Media underneath my ironing station

Part of my Mixed Media Organization

Stay tuned! I promise not to wait 2 months to post again!

Texas Quilt Museum

A couple of weeks ago Jeff and I traveled down to La Grange, Texas to the Texas Quilt Museum to see my "Old Alton Bridge" quilt. The Texas Quilt Museum is beautiful. The historic building has the original floors and brick walls. It is a gorgeous way to display quilts.

I enjoyed meeting the women at the museum and there were several visitors there too. I was told they have hundreds of visitors each month to the museum. That is awesome to have so much traffic.

The manager was so kind and asked me to speak about my quilt to the other visitors. This was a treat to talk about my art, inspiration and joy of art quilting (and see my husband beaming in the background).

Today I was able to spend the afternoon in my studio working on my project for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists "Recycled Runway" event in a couple of weeks. This was the first time in a long time I have had the time to get into the studio and it felt good to have time to work on a new top out of hand dyed silk. It is almost done!

Old dye test was a success. I love the way the colors came out. Several of these pieces are going to be great background pieces for some art quilts.

One piece of the discharged pink silk is being ice dyed. I want to see how it comes out before I ice dye the second piece. Plus my ice maker hasn't caught up completely from yesterday and I didn't have enough ice to dye both pieces. I can't wait to unveil and wash it tomorrow to see how it comes out.

The fabric that I "Ice Parfait" dyed yesterday is in the washer. I looked at it earlier and I love the way several of the pieces came out. As I was looking at the fabric I had clearer vision for our bedroom quilt. I need to sketch out my ideas so I can start working on it next month.

Off to make my top pattern and fold up these beautiful pieces of dyed flannel. Glad I know I can hold on to my dyes for a while.

Finally, a day to spend a few hours in the dye studio. I have been wanting to try the process of "Iced Parfait" since I read in the the June/July 2012 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine. The article was written by Carl Ludington. You all know I love to ice dye and my other style is parfait dyeing, so it just makes sense to combine the processes.

Two of the vats are in colors for our bedroom quilt, that I keep changing my mind on how it is going to look and be constructed. The third vat is of old dye that was in my dye refrigerator. These dyes have been sitting in the fridge for months, so I don't know strong the colors will come out. I just threw in diaper flannel to see what happens. If they don't come out well I will use the diaper flannel as batting in my art quilts.

This morning I also discharged the last of the pink silk in my stash, about 4-5 yards. Since I emptied the icemaker this morning, on the iced parfait dyeing, the silk will have to wait until tomorrow to be dyed. Have to let that icemaker catch up with my dyeing habit. I am going to make a new blouse of the silk and use one of my current tops as the pattern. I found the top in a shop in California, it is lightweight linen, cut on the bias and the most comfortable and flattering top I own.

Yesterday I was honored to help hang the latest show for the Dallas Area Fiber Artists. The show is at the Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas. Beautiful church and gallery area. The Dallas Area Fiber Artists never cease to amaze me with how all of our varied styles and processes work together in a show. Here are three of the walls of the show. I didn't get a picture of one of the wall. Check the DAFA website later for all the pictures.

Okay, time to get back to the studio and start drafting my pattern.

Finding Balance

The Broken Line

A few weeks ago I was listening to a book while in the Studio. Okay, don’t ask me which one. I listen to a couple of books a week and cannot keep track with which one I was listening too at the time. Anyway, there were several profound statements, but the one that made me stop mid-stitch and write it down was that “fear can suck away our creative powers”. Wow, how I can relate to that one. With all the adjustments around my house right now, my creative juices have been sucked out, purified and poured down the drain. It has been a struggle to get back into the studio and “want” to do something.

Honestly, I have been able to complete two baby quilt tops for the Baptism Quilters at church. I am fortunate to be a part of a wonderful group of ladies and one of them is going to quilt the quilts for me. I just don’t have the will power to quilt anything larger than a 9x12.

Another quote from the book I was listening to was that our brains are our “Imagination Machines”. All artists can relate to that one. It is a great concept to ponder and concentrate on while I work. This past week things have mellowed out and I have been able to complete one 9x12 for AAQI (The Broken Line). I have two other art quilts that have been sitting on my board for three months that are growing on me and I have visions of completed pieces.

This week I am going to work on my “Imagination Machine” and finding balance in my life. My days don’t have to be all or nothing, they can be a balance of God-time, care-taking, administrative work and creative time. I hope you are finding this type of balance in your life too.