Weekend Giveaway

Our weekend giveaway offer is from the “Christmas Traditions” commemorative collection. A 1700’s Sugar Tree (signed) print, greeting cards (12 pack includes two of each of the six designs) and a few other surprise goodies.

1. Comment here to enter. 2.Let me know that you (click on) “Like” Tidings of Great Joy, LLC (Facebook page) for a second chance to win! 3.For a third opportunity, stop by the Fine Art Ltd. booth #413 at the St. Louis Holiday Magic show, the America’s Center anytime this weekend and say Hi! I’ll be there Sunday afternoon.

Announcing a winner Sunday night, December 5th.

“Christmas Traditions” products availability:

Country Door & Bass Pro shops – dinnerware
Fine Art LTD. – Glass ornaments, cards & prints
Quilting Treasures – Quilt fabric available March, 2011, exclusively in quilt shops

Fun Day Trip

A couple of weeks ago, I took a drive across town to pick up some of the “Christmas Traditions” ornaments at the Fine Art LTD gallery. It was my first opportunity to see the finished product and I was quite pleased with the final result. What a privilege, to be a part of this interesting commemorative collection and discover the meaningful story of a 500 year Christian, Christmas tradition. The Christmas tree.

This weekend the “Christmas Traditions” ornaments, dinnerware, prints and greeting cards will be available for purchase at the “St Louis Holiday Magic” show December 3rd – 5th, held in the America’s Center. Come by and see me at the Fine Art LTD booth and say hello on Friday, Dec. 3


For additional information and details on this collection go to Joy Studio’s October 25th post titled “Announcing.”

500 yr celebration of the decorated Christmas tree from

The National Christmas Tree Assoc.

Additional Availability:

Country Door & Bass Pro shops – dinnerware
Fine Art LTD. – Glass ornaments, cards & prints
Quilting Treasures – Quilt fabric available March, 2011, exclusively in quilt shops

Riga – Be sure to watch this, it’s really fun!

Dinnerware Spot

A few days ago an artist friend spotted a store display (several hundred miles east of me) featuring one of my holiday dinnerware collections. Quite often, if I’m out shopping, I will routinely check for the artist credit on a product too. I really enjoyed seeing the photo that Loilynn Simms sent me. It is a rare occurence (not a shopper) when I get the opportunity to spot actual product of my licensed art on store shelves so, it was a treat to see. THANKS Lori!

"Heavenly Holiday" JWF© Canterbury Poteries

Original Snowman Piece (set of four)

Not Again!

Last February in a post titled “Unexpected Guest,” you may remember, was a tale of a large black snake that I discovered in my home studio. This afternoon, after I spent several hours working on the catalog clean up, I decided to make a brief wash room visit. As I stepped toward the door, I found myself face to face with the critter pictured below. His/her head was raised in the strike position, as I was extremely close to stepping in it’s path. Instead, I froze in my tracks. My immediate assessment was that this was a poisonous snake and most likely a Copperhead! Eeks! Two snakes, inside, in the same year? This will never do. Especially the most concerning species in this region.



Living in the woods, I’ve become accustomed to snakes and expect to see them from time to time, outside! However, never did I expect to see one of these guys, inside. With limited resources, I backed up, circled around, picked up a small basket on the way and was able to throw it over the top of him/her from behind. After that, it was a challenge but I manged to get it out the door and into a box. Heart was pounding all the while. Whew. Not going to be at ease in the studio again until I find out if he/she was acting alone. Jeepers-creepers!

Oh, and BTW, my fonts are looking weird on this end again, too.

Building Updates

Do you remember my posts last June regarding our new church building? Well, we’re still going, the work continues primarily by volunteers. Here are some shots I took yesterday morning on our standing Saturday work day.

Recently, spreading mulch, hanging lights inside and out, getting tiles laid and sewing (grass) seed! You can see all of the progress at Friendship Friends.


Moving Mountains

I mean moving magazines! Some to a new holding area, some out the door. In between the tricks, the treats, the turkeys, the collection tweaks the battle of the studio clean up, continues. I look forward to the reveal, hopefully before the end of this year.

You've Gotta' Love Lucy

How did I let things pile up to this degree? Today, I tackle the catalog build up! This close to Christmas they are coming in faster than I can carry them out. Yikes!

Font Snafu

OK, I realize that operating in the first year of my blog, I’m still a relatively new blogger and have a lot to learn. So, I have a question for any of the veteran bloggers out there. What would cause my blog site and a few others I noticed, to appear differently, only the text headings, for about a week now?

There are so many fonts that I really like but some, I just hate the look of and this was one of them. Following my last post, my blog name and all headings appeared something like the “B” column below. I disliked it so much and after many attempts to adjust, I was forced to give up and resign to the new ugly font. I seriously considered moving Joy Studio if I was not able to remove the unrequested change.

Then, as suddenly as it appeared, yesterday afternoon, it returned to it’s original font, something like column “A.” Someone suggested that perhaps, it was a setting on my end only? I changed nothing. I don’t get it. Did anyone else experience this last week? How does it appear to you now, please comment. Yep, technology, computers, you gotta love em, eh?

Is font type important? I suppose not really, eh?

Hi•ber•nate

hi·ber·nate

verb \ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt\

hi·ber·nat·edhi·ber·nat·ing

Definition of HIBERNATE

intransitive verb
1
: to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state
2
: to be or become inactive or dormant
hi·ber·na·tion\ˌhī-bər-ˈnā-shən\ noun
hi·ber·na·tor\ˈhī-bər-ˌnā-tər\ noun
 

Does this sound good to anyone else? To pass the winter in a resting state? Well, maybe not totally inactive. But at least retreat to a quiet, clam creative place to paint or sew, eh? I’m ready. This sounds good to me right now. Where’s the snow? Where are the cool temps? 75 degrees again today, November 11? Hmmn.
Oh yes, 11/11, Veterans Day. Thank you veterans.