by Great Joy Studio | Apr 12, 2014 | Quilting & Fabric
Announcing our first
Handmaids™ Challenge Giveaway
We tried to keep it S I M P L E so, here’s how to play. Details to participate in the challenge are listed below:
Eligibility:
• Anyone who sews (or non-sew project) and is among the first 30 to sign up.
• Anyone who can email us a photo of your finished project or projects.
• Anyone who will share this on your Facebook page (if you have) & your blog (if you have).
• Anyone who will like us on our Handmaids Facebook page OR sign up for our Handmaids Newsletter OR follow this blog by email (in left sidebar).
Challenge Rules:
1. Sign up by April 25, 2014 with an email to tidings3@aol.com and comment to this post – Accepting the first 30
2. Make any item (s) of your choice using one (total) or more yards of the “She Who Sews” fabrics (collection from Quilting Treasures – available in quilt shops & on line)
3. Use two “She Who Sews” fat quarters – We provide
4. Also (must) use at least 2 more cuts (skus), your choice, of the “She Who Sews” fabrics, in any increments, totaling an additional 1/2 yard or more – You purchase
5. To be eligible/entered for the participant giveaway/drawing, you must email photo(s) of finished project(s) to tidings3@aol.com by May 26, 2014
Steps to Sign Up:
• To become a participant you must be among the first 30 to sign up
• Email us your name, address and blog address (if applicable) to receive 2 free “She Who Sews” fat quarters – To tidings3@aol.com
• All Email’s subject line should read: Handmaids Giveaway Challenge
Prizes:
1.) All Participants – Receive two “She Who Sews” fat quarters – Just for signing up, to get you started.
2.) 3 Winners By Random Drawing to Participants only, can win:
• One of three, Handmaids™ 16″ x 16″ Framed Prints from Frames Plus, Inc!
• Plus a “She Who Sews” panel – Large patch, small patch or chalk board signs patch!
A $95.00 value!
3.) Non Participants can play too! To be entered to win a “She Who Sews” Panel, simply leave a comment here on this blog! 3 winners will be chosen by random drawing.
Winners announced May 30, 2014
So, create a play date with us and let’s have fun with the
“SHE WHO SEWS” fabrics.
by Great Joy Studio | Apr 8, 2014 | Home Arts
R E N O V A T I O N !
Upheaval best describes the current condition of our home as well as the studio which is also greatly impacted. It is improving slowly however, creativity has been on the back burner for several weeks as a result of the chaos. I’m eagerly looking forward to regaining the creative retreat, although still weeks away. Our home sweet home is a fading memory, shown above on the first day of packing & moving EVERYTHING (nearly) into the garage. The ordeal continues to take a toll.
First, it was the floor. I decided to go with a natural maple, or so I thought. Here is the sample that I based my decision on and a couple of the boards that we received, laid diagonally across that same sample. How would a consumer know to expect these extreme dark and light boards to be the actual product from this sample? Somerset, character (grade), be warned.
Below, a before and after. After I stopped the job to wait for the back ordered replacement floor, approximately 3 more weeks. Life on the sub floor and no kitchen sink was a little rough. The good news, it gave us time to paint the walls. I understand fully why renovation jobs grow.
The staircase went in like a well thought out, giant puzzle. Watching the installation by a skilled carpenter was fascinating to watch. This job turned out beautiful with no glitches, although with today’s codes the rail is a bit tall than what we were use to. Aesthetically speaking, too tall for my visual taste but safe. At 40.5″ on the landing, no one is likely to fall over. And a long awaited rail, luxury or safety? All that is left on this task is the finish. A clear spayed lacquer has been recommended by the experts. Sprayed? Oh my! btw – I highly recommend In Step Designs.
The next major dilemma, the kitchen cabinets. I just found out yesterday that the door I chose, from a sample, was not executed in quite the same color chosen. And 90% complete!!! Again, a manufacturer’s sample misrepresentation? We’ll see, meeting today with the cabinet distributor. I’ll let you know. Ahem, tired.
We’ ve been doing our best under our circumstances, to keep up with new designs, Etsy orders and new Handmaids.com subscriber freebies however, a few managed to get past us. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. We plan to be back to business as usual, very soon.
Feeling a bit like Humpty lately with our home project, or better perhaps, all the king’s horses & all the king’s men.
by Great Joy Studio | Mar 18, 2014 | Quilting & Fabric
A classic favorite,
“Daily Grind”
Fabric collection fat quarters, with coordinating cup!
Just added to the Great Joy Studio Etsy Shop
These cute coffee cups are offered with three different (five cuts) fat quarter bundles. Choose your favorite or all three. Makes a great gift.
Limited supply of artist samples.
by Great Joy Studio | Mar 10, 2014 | Quilting & Fabric
. . single machine embroidery designs in smaller hoop sizes, just posted at Handmaids.com
Including this free download!
Simply sign up for our newsletter and receive the freebie code.
by Great Joy Studio | Feb 24, 2014 | Art News, Quilting & Fabric
New Machine Embroidery Applique Product, just released:
By request – She Who Sews – Machine Maid in smaller sizes! Available to download at Handmaids.com
Also
She Who Sews – Chalkboard Signs Designs Collection from Amazing Designs!
Also, available now.
by Great Joy Studio | Feb 19, 2014 | Quilting & Fabric
Creative Play Date #3
Stolen moments over the weekend allowed for a teensy bit of creative play time, but not much. A major renovation that our home is undergoing currently, requires most of my focus and energy. We are four weeks in . . . and that is without a kitchen sink. 🙁
My (creating) heart however, has been set on new projects for the Handmaids™ series of fabric collections. Especially after visiting & viewing all of the beautiful projects that were presented for the She Who Sews Blog Hop. And thankfully, many of yours too, perhaps.
So, first in order was prepping & packing the giveaway prizes!
Fat quarter cutting early Saturday with Jac and Syd.
Then, my good buddy Annie and I examined the She Who Sews fabrics from Quilting Treasures, for two small quilts that she will be playing with & piecing.
We also discussed:
• Future GIVEAWAYS! The consideration is, one a month to get things rolling.
Beginning mid March.
• And while She Who Sews fabric is available, we were wondering how many quilting, sewing & collage artist bloggers might be interested in participating in another Handmaids™ Hop.
Or for any & all quilters, sewers & collage artists to simply showcase your She Who Sews works in one of our albums. Please leave us a comment to let us know your interest in either.
Or contact at:
email info: Tidings of Great Joy, LLC
Lastly for me, who is still getting my sewing sea legs, a February post card for a Facebook group & finishing up the second canvas wrap. BTW – I thought it was interesting to learn that one of the giveaway prizes is going just across town to Ferguson, & one to France!
. . . And the post card is off to Switzerland!
by Great Joy Studio | Feb 8, 2014 | Quilting & Fabric
What a fun hop over the past two weeks. I was delighted to see all of the creative projects made from my “She Who Sews” collection of fabrics from Quilting Treasures. Below are only a handful of the handy works however, many more are posted on our Pinterest page. There were such great ideas presented so, if you weren’t able to follow the hop, please take a look.
www.justletmequilt.com
And nicer still, to hear so many kind comments from all of you. Thank you very much for taking the time to write me here at the Joy Studio.
& a heartfelt thanks to all of the participants who created for the She Who Sews blog hop. I was truly overwhelmed by the talent and time represented. 
quilteddelights.blogspot.com
I think we need to have these giveaways more often. We’ll plan on that. OK, we have our winner of the She Who Sews fat quarter bundle – Congratulations to:
Sunnybec!
And . . . Our Facebook winner is:
Sandy Allen!
by Great Joy Studio | Jan 27, 2014 | Quilting & Fabric, Studio
A Creative Collaboration, among friends & colleagues. 
Welcome & wow!
What an honor for our very own “She Who Sews” fabric collection to be the featured fabric for this Sewing Room Blog Hop.
If this is your first visit to the Joy Studio, please have a look around and tell us what you like to create, especially using your She Who Sews fabric.
To learn about the creation of Handmaids™ and the art process in the beginning stages, I invite you to join (like) us on the Handmaids Facebook page or click the like button to the right in side bar. Also visit Handmaids.com where you can sign up for our newsletter and receive regular product updates. And please, be sure to get in on our GIVEAWAYS! One is here on the Joy Studio blog, simply comment to enter and one on Facebook’s HANDMAIDSGreatJoyStudios, for a like and comment telling us so, you will be entered. Both offers are for a She Who Sews fabric fat quarter bundle and a canvas wrap, wall art piece. If you already like Handmaids™ on FB, just a comment will work. Winners will be announced on FB February 7th.
Blog Hop Giveaway
I was certainly privileged to collaborate with four friends on our contribution to the She Who Sews Blog Hop. Together we designed and created several items, pincushion & paperdoll pillows for the comfy couch in our Joy Studio and others to wear. Allow me to introduce these skilled sewers and quilters, through their beautiful projects listed below.
• Paperdoll & Pincushion Pillows
Annie Regal (Quilting)
Puffy Pillows
Nancy McClellan (Construction & Quilting)
Sew n Sew
• Paperdoll Throw
Diane O’Shea (Piecing & Quilting)
• Mommie, Dollie & Me – Dress for Mommie, Daughter, Dollie & Bag
by Amber Martin – These items offered at:
Bullfrogs ‘N’ Fireflies
• Wrapped Canvas Wall Art
by me, J. Wecker Frisch
Tidings of Great Joy, LLC
It has been a privilege and pleasure, to see our very first collection in the Handmaids™ series, She Who Sews, featured in the Sewing Room Blog Hop. Thank you Carla & all of the Blog Cheerleaders for inviting and supporting me. And a sincere thanks, to all of you, for stopping in. Please don’t forget to leave us a comment (to be entered in our giveaway). I would truly enjoy hearing from you.
I am also excited to get hopping on, to see what the other bloggers (listed below) have made from the She Who Sews fabric collection to share:
Creatin’ in the Sticks
•
Below – Are a few shots of the canvas wrap process using the “She Who Sews” large patch panel from
THANKS everyone! And a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister, Barbara!
by Great Joy Studio | Jan 20, 2014 | Getting Started, Quilting & Fabric
In the last few quiet moments here, before hammers fly for the renovate, I wanted to share a few images from the second Create Play Date/weekend. We worked with the She Who Sews fabric from Quilting Treasures in anticipation of next week’s sewing room blog hop and also January’s, free motion quilting, post card group, FMQ on Facebook.
Saturday was spent again, at my dear friend’s, Annie Regal, sew studio where we collaborated on two puffy pillow tops. It was quite wonderful. Complete with lunch, coffee, crackling fire and a gentle snow falling visibly from the cozy new work space. The creative play dates have been often discussed and long awaited so, we are both very grateful to be able to share the opportunity to create together. She did all of the sewing, btw.
Second location took place at my daughters home where she and granddaughter Sydney, graciously re-acquainted me with my own sewing machine. Last summer they took advantage of some basic machine sewing lessons so were able to refresh my memory regarding the machine use. Confession, I have not sewn in over 25 years and I had limited knowledge even then. After designing fabric however, for over ten years, I plan to change that. So, below is my first attempt at a quilted post card using my Seam Stress(ed) Handmaid, which I could identify with, while stitching her up into a usable post card.
Sending her off to the recipient today. Over all, a very fun create plate date weekend.
All of the finished projects will be posted here next week, January 27th where the
Sewing Studio Blog Hop will begin.
by Great Joy Studio | Jan 15, 2014 | Quilting & Fabric
2014 – Only two weeks in:
Challenge # 1, packing up everything, in preparation for new floors and remodel.
Challenge # 2, my main working computer crashes last Tuesday! And without backing up files for the entire new series of Handmaids! Happily, they were recovered, but a costly mistake.
And lastly, keeping a cool, calm head through it all in order to continue creativity which is the only topic I’ll address in this post. After all, it’s more fun than the other two, right?
Above, just a peek, at our next Handmaids collection, completed just before Christmas.
Next, on the fun side of things, we wanted to share the
She Who Sews Blog Hop!
We are so happy to be joining the Cheerleaders for Blog Hops, in their first hop of the new year, Sewing Room Blog Hop. It will be featuring the first of our Handmaids series, “She Who Sews” fabrics from Quilting Treasures. The hop begins at our very own Joy Studio blog on January 27th and runs through February 6th. We are supper excited to see what creative projects will be showcasing the various sewing studios. And of course, the giveaways, can’t forget those. So, please join us and check out the creativity activities.
Also, just a reminder . . .
Machine Maid Embroidery – The 20% off embroidery special is extended all this month at Handmaids.com – We are currently working to offer additial views to the Machine Maid design to include smaller hoop sizes which will be available soon. Enter code mmaidjan2014
Fabric Sale – A Valentines Day Special also offering 20% off fabric starts today, January 14th thru February 14th! Our Great Joy Studio Etsy store features J. Wecker Frisch classic fabric collections in a limited supply of artist’s samples. Enter code: VALENTINESDAY2014
