by Great Joy Studio | Jan 24, 2011 | Personal Touch, Studio
Thank you all for participating in my giveaway game. It was a pleasure to hear from each of you and about all of the different ways everyone likes to create. I’ve enjoyed reading about the various mediums, methods and materials that you’ve all shared. I hope you will continue to write me about your creative conquests and discoveries. It sounds like we all enjoy doing so many things and keeping busy fitting them into our lives.
Early this morning I picked a winning name for the giveaway prize. Then, I decided it was so much fun for me, that I needed to pick another name. So, the two winners of the “Get Acquainted Giveaway” goes to Liz and Susan! Yeah! Keep living creatively!
Please excuse me, I will be taking a bit of a blog break while I visit with family.
by Great Joy Studio | Jan 14, 2011 | Quilting & Fabric, Studio
During the past year of Joy Studio, I have met and been privileged to get to know better, a new community of artists, crafters and collectors. Still others I have come to enjoy hearing from are admirers of the same, all of whom I have found fascinating. Connecting with so many like minded, creative and sensitive individuals has opened up new ways of creating, crafting and creative communication. It has also reminded me of the sheer fun of it all. I look forward to reading your comments and sharing each others ideas in the coming year.
So, without further delay – in celebration of the Joy Studio blog’s one year anniversary, I am offering a giveaway extravaganza! The prize will be a combination of previous giveaways conducted over the past year, materials I used on my Valentine project last February and a $50 gift card to Michael’s! The winning name will be randomly selected on January 24th, our official anniversary.
Here’s how to play:
Three chanses to win.
•Leave a comment about your favorite media of art or craft or any hobby, here on the blog. It doesn’t matter what it is, painting, quilting, altered art, digital art, gardening, etc., whatever you like to do.
•Post about this giveaway on your blog (if you have one, if not, you can do the alternate option, below)
•Click the “Like” button at the top (if you want to become a fan of the pg.) of the Tidings of Great Joy, LLC facebook page.
Alternate option for an additional opportunity to win if you do not have a blog or already are a fan of T of G J, LLC – leave a similar comment as stated above, on the Tidings of Great Joy, LLC facebook page.
Fabric seen here can be purchased at local quilt shops or contact Quilting Treasures for availability.
by Great Joy Studio | Jan 7, 2011 | Getting Started, Studio
Armed with good intentions and resolutions, I accomplished some, not all, of what I planned for the first week of the new year:
Washed some filthy, but interesting vintage windows that I’ve been storing for years, on the one warm sunny day we’ve had.
Afterward I played a bit, utilizing the new decorative elements on a blank studio wall over the company filing cabinets. The lateral file systems were a big help in gaining control in the studio’s office area. One unit houses my sketches and ideas, while another, the not so fun, but necessary business items. Fitting & functional.
Then I had to clean up the paper blob that typically accumulates on top of them both! Oh my, still working on that, end of the year items, etc.
I found the wire/rod dress form in a shop on the way home from Spring Quilt Market last May. The sparkly J-O-Y letters, Wendy Addison – Tinsel Trading Co., were purchased a few weeks earlier at the ME Home Companion workshop event. The dress form, art pieces are from my “Tiny Tailors” fabric line. It’s nice to see them all in their proper places at last.
I managed to get the Christmas decorations put away,
…do a little sketching on a new line using some of my old art,
and tried to eat healthy for the last three days in a row!
So, not a bad start, I suppose. This also seems a good time to declare the rest of my ongoing organizing goals for 2011 and checking off some from 2010. During the studio clean up attempts over the past year, it became necessary to extend the regrouping to all areas of my life, eeks, as I’ve stated a few times already. It seems the farther I get into this, the more projects and stuff I (re) discover. Fun, but at times it still overwhelms.
Dealing with all of the accumulated debris while the under lying prioritizing of what’s important to do with one’s time vs what needs to go, is a challenge. Seeing some results helped me this week however, to stay on (practical) task. Overall, I’m encouraged to keep going and hopefully you are to.
by Great Joy Studio | Dec 30, 2010 | Personal Touch, Studio
Little did I know, last December I was just beginning work on a program that would monopolize much of my time, energy and focus in 2010. In addition, my chaotic studio surroundings were closing in on me, literally. In reflection, it has been a good but challenging twelve months.
One year later, to be heading into the new year with a clean slate (work schedule), an organized work station and a considerably tidier, studio space, over all, feels especially good. I’ll reveal my progress on the complete studio undertaking after the holidays. Maybe in stages, still have a far way to go.
What a difference a year can make. Tools are close at hand, some practical while others offer sentimental comfort…
and everything is in good supply. Paint is housed in the drawer on the right.
The large message board was a Christmas present to myself, one that I’m not entirely sold on keeping.
I suppose most of us like a new day, a new year. It feels kind of like a new start, full of possibilities and opportunities, to make necessary changes, to do better, another chance to get things finished and in the proper order. Hmmmn, I wonder what God has planned for me in 2011! And…for you.
A hearty thank you for all of your comments and encouragement in this first year of the Joy Studio blog and a Happy New Year! God bless you.
by Great Joy Studio | Dec 28, 2010 | Personal Touch
As it turned out, we did get many more flakes for a spectacular white Christmas. Snow two weeks in a row was nice but on Christmas eve, perfect! Nothing like a good snow to set the holiday mood, in just the right amounts.
Things around here are not quite back to normal yet, although I realize that it’s back to work for many. I’m catching my breath and still enjoying the holiday mode for now. Christmas prep and activities wore me out. I’m not finished resting up.
by Great Joy Studio | Dec 24, 2010 | Collectables, Spiritual
…all is bright. Now that the powdered sugar dust has settled, following the very messy, very tiring cookie caper, it is a silent night. Ahhh, peace on earth. Christmas eve upon us, but for now, feet are propped and snow is expected.
The images featured below are from my personal collection of Christmas ephemera. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of my favorites from the stash.
Origin:
1670–80; < Gk ephḗmera, neut. pl. of ephḗmeros, taken as sing.;
| ephemera (ɪˈfɛmərə) |
|
| — n , pl -eras , -erae |
| 1. |
a mayfly, esp one of the genus Ephemera |
| 2. |
something transitory or short-lived |
| 3. |
( functioning as plural ) a class of collectable items not originally intended to last for more than a short time, such as tickets, posters, postcards, or labels |
ephemera
late 14c., originally a medical term, from M.L. ephemera (febris) “(fever) lasting a day,” from fem. of ephemerus , from Gk. ephemeros “lasting only one day,” from epi “on” + hemerai , dat. of hemera “day,” from PIE *amer- “day.” Sense extended to short-lived insects and flowers; general sense of “transitory” is first attested 1630s.
I have collected some really nice pieces, such as these Leyendecker covers above. However, this Christmas, baby Jesus post card, out shines them all. I love it!
Throughout the year and now at this holiday season, I’m feeling very blessed with an overflowing cup. My prayer is that you are too.
Now, time for “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Merry Christmas everyone!
by Great Joy Studio | Dec 23, 2010 | Home Arts
Next day – We managed to get the cookies decorated today and with only a cup and a half of powdered sugar left for the scratch icing. Decorating the butter/sugar cookies is always the kids favorite part of the cookie making process. Ours had a lot of fun and were very satisfied with their yummy creations.
by Great Joy Studio | Dec 22, 2010 | Home Arts
Tuesday was our cookie baking day and a long day at that. We were only able to complete three different recipes even with our extra helpers. Decorating the butter cookies had to be put on hold until the next day.
All day long the kitchen was filled with that familiar sugary dough, baking aroma.
A few snapshots of the pastry chefs.
by Great Joy Studio | Dec 19, 2010 | Personal Touch
Extremely low temperatures kept our modest three inches of snow around for nearly a week. Even in small amounts, a beautiful sight. We’ll need a lot more flakes falling to guarantee a white Christmas.
by Great Joy Studio | Dec 18, 2010 | Home Arts
Sleepovers are very good for catching up on Christmas projects that get put on the shelf until there’s time. I purchased this self color wrapping paper several months ago at a trade show. We got started last night and hope to finish this morning, just enough to wrap mom & dad’s secret present. The kids art will be an added bonus I’m sure. Spent some wonderful quiet coloring time in the process while Frosty the Snowman played in the background. Another memory made!
