by Great Joy Studio | Nov 26, 2010 | Art News
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)
by Great Joy Studio | Nov 24, 2010 | Studio
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.
by Great Joy Studio | Nov 9, 2010 | Art News, Quilting & Fabric
The work break, that I’m becoming accustomed to, was interrupted yesterday for some necessary fine tuning. Putting to bed my Spring fabric line finally and it feels good. I’ll offer one hint, it involves beans but not from a beanstalk!
by Great Joy Studio | Oct 25, 2010 | Art News
The 500 Year celebration of the Decorated Christmas Tree!
“Christmas Traditions” New product line now available.
About a year ago I was introduced to the fascinating commemorative event. It started me on a captivating journey into the Christian efforts of a 500 year old tradition! As I began researching the subject, it was surprising to learn about the many customs that have evolved through the centuries surrounding the Christmas tree. Quickly, I experienced a strong connection as the story unfolded.
Last November, I was privileged to be the artist chosen by the National Christmas Tree Association to illustrate the celebration of the event. In the weeks that followed, the challenge to depict the various traditions began. The decorated fir tree originated in Riga, Latvia (northern Europe) in the 1500s and the custom has continued these many years to be the central focus of Christmas traditions today. Perhaps, like me, as you read the recorded facts, you will come to sense the strong Christian influence, continually at work impacting the decorative elements.
The Christmas tree traditions are conveyed in a series of six classic storybook style, illustrations of the popular decorations over five centuries. The glass ornaments, cards and textiles also include six children in period costume. Within all of the designs, the popular trend of decorative text, enhance the images with historic dates and details.
Products include dinnerware (Canterbury Potteries), glass ornaments, cards, limited edition prints (Fine Art LTD.) and high quality quilting fabric. All are accompanied with the printed story of each century’s significant decorative contribution.
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!
by Great Joy Studio | Oct 24, 2010 | Art News
Tomorrow, my big announcement.
"Circus Menagerir" collection
[tuh-dah]
–interjection
(used as a jovial interjection in making an announcement, taking a bow, etc.).
Also, ta-dah .
by Great Joy Studio | Oct 22, 2010 | Studio
OK, yesterday was golden but today, yikes! Since taking time off, I’ve been catching up on the many areas of the home and studio that needed my attention, desperately. I feel pretty good about the main level, regaining control there, except for a few over due closet renovations, and have even completed a few projects. However, today, I moved to the studio area, dunt, dunt, dunnnnn, a personal stronghold, well one of them. I am determined to conquer the “messy” studio before going back to work. Who can create in chaos, right? I will not give up until I have the organized, artful place restored to it’s original order. I insist.
Perhaps some of you remember my posting several messy studio photos (above) last March, titled “Good, Bad & the Ugly.” Those were suppose to be the before’s and then I planned to share the after’s. Well, these several months later, I looked around this morning, not sure where to begin so, I started with the most dreaded. The shelves of magazines.
Magazines,
magazines…
and more magazines! Oh brother. Does anyone else suffer from this addiction? I mean what do you do with these beauties? Well, they have to go, but not before I sift through them of course. Yikes, how long is that going to take? Can I do it in this lifetime?
The shelves are getting there. Am I half way yet?
No, not even close. Well, it’s a start. Yeah!
