by Great Joy Studio | Feb 11, 2016 | Studio
‘To err is human; to forgive, divine.’
An Essay on Criticism, Part II , 1711 – Alexander Pope
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Please F O R G I V E me participants!
Intense focus on a new collection caused me to
F O R G E T
the Where Women Create Studio Giveaway drawing!
Deadlines are not my strength however, this is the F I R S T one I ever missed on the blog. 🙁
So sorry.
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Seventy one of you wrote to us about your work spaces and it has been a delightful read. It seams we makers have such strong personal attachments to our work spaces, wherever they may be, that we are naturally interested in each others. And I am no different. I loved reading each one of your comments on one of my, favorite subjects, the studio!
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
to the 3 winners! Picked at random:
- Pamela Huntington
- Barbara Struve
- Carol Kussart
Please email us with your ship to info at janet@greatjoystudio.com to receive your prize!
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I sincerely appreciate all of you for sharing your creative retreats with us.
THANK YOU!
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Stay tuned, for the Handmaids® Challenge Giveaway 2016 announcement next month.
Btw~
Sometimes, especially during this freezing, snowy week in February, I actually like to work from my bed under a vintage quilt, as in this sneak peek on the lap top below!
😉
by Great Joy Studio | Jan 13, 2016 | Studio
Trying to reset!
Holidays, hospital & high water presented some creative challenges at our, year’s end.
Hopeful however,
for reaching new heights in 2016.
Time to stand firm . . .
&
get ready for taxes!
By the way,
don’t forget to leave a comment & tell us about your creative space on our
Where Women Create Blog Giveaway
on the post link below:
Joy Studio
&
we are still on news stands until the end of this month,
in the
Where Women Create, Winter Issue.
by Great Joy Studio | Dec 26, 2015 | Personal Touch, Studio
On the cusp of another new year.
2016
What’s ahead, what’s next, what’s this ole world coming to?
Anticipation, reflection and a time for start overs.
I’ve been receiving many FB ‘memories’ notices in my news feed over the past month. A few I’ve shared and some. . . I just take a peek at in amazement. Mine went back at least five years. Interesting, remarkable, some sad, etc. A whole variety of emotions are stirred up.
Likewise, here on the Joy Studio blog I can look into the archives to see what was happening a year ago, five years ago on any given month. Often either goals were being set, challenges met and times of grief, to overcome.
I didn’t realize when I started this blog, that it would serve as sort of a journal exercise for me, with an easy accessible record of the fun, the successes and the disappointments of this artful and life journey.
Where Women Create – Winter Issue 2015/16
Although I have not always held up so great, I’ve been very lucky (so to speak)/blessed and watched over. I know, that God has brought me through it all. I haven’t always seen or felt it and still have my struggles. However, looking back over the last four (tough) years, through my family, my friends (close that I’ve known for dozens of years & many of you I’ve never met) and my creative work, the love (His) and watch care is clear.
And I’m grateful.
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So, whatever God has planned for this new year, I’m going to keep trying,
to be ready,
be seeking,
be better.
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Thank you once again, for supporting my efforts with your heartfelt comments and interaction both here on this blog and on our Facebook pages and Instagram. It has been very encouraging.
I sincerely appreciate you! And I look forward to more creative fun and work ahead as we share our gifts.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Joy Studio on FB
Handmaids® on FB
Tidings of Great Joy on FB
by Great Joy Studio | Dec 23, 2015 | Personal Touch
Christmas sort of snuck up on me this year. It was a very busy 2015.
However, a wonderful year! I hope yours was too.
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As it stands today . . . we are,
still decorating,
still wrapping,
still opening Christmas cards,
Barnes & Noble
still shopping but only picking up a ham,
still not snowing except on grandma Wecker’s buffet,
still singing,
&
our site, tidingsofgreatjoy.com . . . is still down. Our apologies.
Similar company info can be viewed on our sister site
Handmaids.com if you need to contact us.
Hopefully after the holidays we’ll be back up & running.
Running for sure. It’s the new normal, right?
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MERRY CHRISTMAS
to you all!
by Great Joy Studio | Nov 1, 2015 | Home Arts, Studio
On news stands,
T O D A Y !
Winter Issue of
Where Women Create
&
where our
JOY STUDIO
is honored, to be among the featured artists.
Page 38!
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&
We have three copies to S H A R E!
Leave a comment here on the blog
telling us about your favorite work space or place
where you create,
to enter this flash blog
G I V E A W A Y !
By random drawing – Winners announced January 31, 2016
Also,
Along with the Winter Issue,
we are including one of the hand made produce pincushions
that was featured in out recent
Sewing Seeds II
Quilting Treasures booth at Quilt Market.
&
A Letter Stitch fat quarter!
We hope you will enjoy reading our family story in
Where Women Create.
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For you Dad
by Great Joy Studio | Oct 22, 2015 | Art News
It’s True!
Where Women Create paid our Joy Studio(s) a visit!
And you can see the feature in the Winter Issue,
on news stands Nov.1, 2015.
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In addition it is my pleasure to be doing a signing
with the magazine’s creator and editor in chief,
Jo Packham!
At
the International Quilt Market in Houston on Saturday.
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Last year at Fall Quilt Market I met the very gracious Jo, at the Sew Scary fabric debut and soon after we began the process. Another dream goal, being realized, hard to believe. The upcoming visit understandably, thrust us into high gear sprucing up and organizing both work spaces as you have seen (here) over the past months. A tall order after only just moving into to the new space last August however, quite rewarding and needed.
Re-creating the inspirational areas was perfect (God’s?) timing!
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So,
I hope you will pick up a copy
&
that you will enjoy reading our story.
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Almost, like a fairy tale ending?
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Or a new chapter.
😉
by Great Joy Studio | Oct 12, 2015 | Studio
In our May, what we’ve been up to share,
we included a chalk paint treatment to some studio storage.
I recommend for any large painting projects.
No stripping or sanding, just start painting.
For our application, we used Annie Sloan purchased at Nettie Suze.
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Here is the pretty cabinet reveal.
One set houses pastels, glues & framing equipment.
On top,
some acquired vintage (my dad’s)
tools of the trade.
Sculpting, palette knives and photo developing pan
& anything for small constructive projects.
Also…
Some familiar faces.
The watercolor is from the Hairraising Halloween collection.
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The old windows were salvaged from my hub’s childhood home,
on 240 Main St.,
now underneath a mini mall.
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Vintage clothespins secure the
Scripture index cards, hand written (other side) by our Syd,
especially for me, to encourage during a dark time.
&
The other cabinets have all printed and promotional matter.
All of the doors still need their knobs
and a clear wax coat.
On the counter tops…
My mom’s French female book end and one of my dad’s sketches.
Several porcelain pin cushion tops, saved for a future Handmaids® challenge.
All gathered around my aunt’s miniature cafe furniture.
An antique re-print
available soon on our
Joy Studio Vintage shop.
A vintage paper cutter conveniently holds our product labels and twine.
This was the fun part of the home studio project.
Finding a place for everything,
cleaned up, freshly painted and everything in it’s a place.
Then surrounding myself with treasured sentimental items
creating an inspirational work space
offering both comfort and joy.
&
It was high time!
Ahhhhh,
At last, organization is at hand!
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Please stay tuned for
a full Joy Studio(s) reveal and news!
by Great Joy Studio | Oct 3, 2015 | Projects, Studio
Another one of my bright ideas!
Again, as part of the studio shape up this summer,
we reclaimed some lumber from our home remodel that was being stored under the porch.
The former studio staircase rough is now a heavy duty work bench.
A well needed station suited for those too messy to work on inside projects was my thought.
The designer in me couldn’t resist using the stringers as a decorative apron . . .
. . with the risers as decking on top.
A couple of the treads are on each end.
A little transparent stain with a little color & voila!
Seasonally, it will serve as a potting bench. I love the results
&
the new work surface!
Many thanks to my hubs!
Often, I am the one who comes up with the vision,
and always the one who hangs on to scrap lumber but,
not the one who can execute!
by Great Joy Studio | Sep 14, 2015 | Collectables, Studio
I should title this post, “. . . Another man’s (woman’s) treasure?”
If you have been following our art journey then you know that over the past year we have been . . .
Cleaning up,
expanding,
and setting up SHOP! Our latest,
JOY STUDIO VINTAGE on Etsy.
All summer (and a bit longer) we have been diligently sorting, cataloging, and prying out of my tight grip, the many collectibles in the studio. Some are very difficult to part with however, it’s time. I suppose many artists are also collectors and I cannot deny, that I am a passionate one. I acquired my first antique furniture piece at age 16, my grandmother’s dresser and have admired vintage items and antiques ever since. Not sure why, perhaps it is the detail of the workmanship? Or maybe the history of a piece that I find intriguing.
H o w e v . .
. . . my great weakness of all time, is vintage (& antique) illustration!
Yes, OLD paper. Not sure why but I get lost in an illustrated image, sigh.
I have always been fascinated by illustrations, especially pre-1960s, ever since pouring over my dad’s childhood books as a kid.
Yes, I would say fascinated!
1.
to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or some other special quality; enthrall:
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I am certain, that being exposed to these interesting and sometimes charming images has inspired, shaped and contributed to my illustrative endeavors.
Anyway . . .
My collections have now become somewhat vast, I hate to admit.
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Much of the ephemera I have collected was solely for inspiration and reference so, truly it has served it’s purpose,
although I still adore and never tire of viewing it.
So.
I am opening the file drawers and am in the beginning stages, of offering some of my favorite pieces to be shared with other collector’s and admirers who share my passion. We have a long way to go so there is sure to be (LOTS) more in the coming months so please check back often. To date, we have a variety of vintage post cards and antique trade cards in the old paper category. Still listing and haven’t even started on the children’s books yet! Those will be tough.
So, I invite interested parties to take a look at
There are also vintage art supplies, paperdolls, pincushions and prints.
As well as sewing related trade cards!
Surprisingly, many of these treasures are selling as soon as we list, and before we could get anywhere close to completing this daunting process. For instance, we started with approx. twenty rocking chair sewing caddies which were intended for a She Who Sews (Rocks) challenge. Before we could organize it, the cute rockers began to disappear. Four are left.
We thought it might be a good time to share with our like minded/kindred spirits.
If you can find something you like, please enjoy.
Thanks for the visit!
Also,
by Great Joy Studio | Sep 1, 2015 | Quilting & Fabric, Studio
THANK YOU!
To all of you for supporting us on our Joy Studio facebook page last month
&
participating in the Sew Scary fabric giveaway.
To continue the first year celebration of the Joy Studio expansion
and home studio spruce up,
we are sharing progress shots featuring
more of our fabric collection,
Letter Stitch!
Here is some of the fun we had creating with the Antique Typography
in the home studio.
Art history studio screen.
Window shade buntings.
Sewing supply shelves.
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Needlecraft collectibles.
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Pillows.
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Quilts of course.
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Upholstery
&
comfy couch makins.
The possibilities for this fabric group are endless and inspiring.
If you love letters, written text and pattern, check out
“Letter Stitch” from Quilting Treasures in quilt shops now.
Still going too!
Lots more studio joy in store!
Coming right up.
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