by Great Joy Studio | Oct 3, 2013 | Quilting & Fabric
. . here comes quilt market. Again! It’s hard to believe, but in just three weeks, the 2013 Fall International Quilt Market in Houston Oct. 26-28 will be underway, to the trade. Directly followed by Quilt Festival, Oct. 31 – Nov. 3 where everyone can feast their eyes. Meanwhile, a sneak peek from our new collection:
Let the quilt shop shopping, begin!
Shops – Please come by to see our new line in the Handmaids™ series at
Quilting Treasures
Booth 2152-2153
& claim your embroidery GWP.
Spring 2014 Delivery
by Great Joy Studio | Sep 4, 2013 | Art News, Quilting & Fabric
Officially Introducing – Handmaids™ FB Fan Page
& Announcing – We are offering our first, fan freebie Handmaids™ hand-out, Paperdoll Chain Applique template as a free download. So, Handmaids™ FB Fans can Take One from the OUT OF THE HAT tab.
Paper Doll Chain Applique Template!
by Great Joy Studio | Aug 28, 2013 | Quilting & Fabric
Announcing – Great Joy Studio on ETSY!
S-l-o-w-l-y but surely, we have been trying to build our ETSY shop offerings to include supplies and images. However, for now, it is just a tiny little shop featuring some of our classic, out of print, fabric collections. These are high quality cottons in a limited supply, my personal stash of early artist samples.
So, sewers, quilters & creatives, we also wanted to let you in on our first promotion, a Labor Day Weekend Sale on these beautiful first cuts. 
Please – Don’t be fooled by our initial (non-professional) photography attempts, the fabrics are truly gorgeous and quilting quality.
To receive your 20% off Weekend Special, use coupon code: LDSALE2013
by Great Joy Studio | Aug 22, 2013 | Art News
With summer’s additional activities aside, it’s back to the drawing board. I have one fall collection complete and will be working on two new holiday groups simultaneously, over the next few weeks.
Sharpening my crayons and staying focused.
by Great Joy Studio | Aug 19, 2013 | Field Trip
Once a year the “Old Rock Church” (St Patrick’s of Armagh) near our house holds a picnic in a fundraising effort to maintain the church, cemetery and grounds. Yesterday our family attended the annual event for the first time. The day began with an 11:00 service which was uniquely inspiring, just to be sitting within the (rarely open) historic country church walls.
The stations of the cross are depicted in these unusual antique framed prints which hang in typical fashion down both sides of the outside walls. Beautiful!
A single bagpipe followed the service in memorial.
by Great Joy Studio | Aug 16, 2013 | Home Arts
The homegrown tomatoes are finally ripe, which means, time for BLT’s! Everyone’s favorite summertime sandwich, right? On the new deck too, by the way. What made these taste even better . . . we used Whole Food’s Seeduction bread. A present from my friend, thank you Annie.
Loaded with seeds, nuts and whole grains, a very yummy loaf!
by Great Joy Studio | Aug 2, 2013 | Field Trip
We’re having a difficult time catching up with ourselves this summer due to a heavier than normal schedule. That’s why it was especially nice last week to take time out for some pure peaceful picking. Blackberry picking that is!
My daughter found a quaint berry picking farm, Huckleberry Hollow, earlier this year, just thirty to forty minutes from us. It was a perfect morning, unseasonably cool and almost no other pickers. Although there were far more red berries than black, we still picked over 10 quarts of ripe berries. 
I washed and froze all of mine and look forward to blackberry cobbler, my favorite, this fall. Yum!
by Great Joy Studio | Jul 8, 2013 | Quilting & Fabric
Collections, was the subject surrounding the last of the on line art class assignments. Perfect for a long time collector like myself. And as it happens, I was in good company. Evidently, creative types love to collect things and there was much sharing within the class this past week.
I’ve posted only a cropped portion below, of the assignment that I submitted this week, as it is very likely to show up in my next HANDMAIDS™ art group. It was created using my absolute largest collection, ephemera. Antique and vintage illustration, an early love for me. I’ve poured over imagery as long, maybe longer, than I’ve been creating it. I also incorporated hand rendered images into the piece as well.
by Great Joy Studio | Jun 24, 2013 | Art News
Wow! So far, our summer has been completely booked, in fact, over booked. June has already included one college tour (with Natalie), a new summer intern, a five week on line art class, an all day WordPress class, with one to go this Friday, two long distance family visits, two birthdays and a partridge in a pear tree. Not to mention our fall fabric line development, is still underway. Yikes! All enjoyable however, what was I thinking. 
Sharing today, a few images from week three of the on line class – Children’s book illustration. This one was right up my alley however, I’m finding that one week per assignment is challenging while balancing with all other work commitments. 
I plan to develop (& tweak) this snail character further when time allows, although this was the way the assignment appeared as submitted.
Also sharing/introducing our lovely and very talented artist intern, Faith.
by Great Joy Studio | May 31, 2013 | Art News, Getting Started
Starting off the summer with a new on line art class! Seamed a good time to push past comfort zones, stretch and let go of my very controlled, & tight style. So, I’ll be taking aim at the three L’s, lighten up, loosen up & learn.
Class starts Monday! 
Let the quilt shop shopping, begin!
Shops – Please come by to see our new line in the Handmaids™ series at
