by Great Joy Studio | Jan 5, 2012 | Art News, Studio
As a prelude to the 2012 Atlanta (Winter) Gift Market and a creative new year, a group of artist friends and I invite you to A New Years Studio Meet & Greet blog hop. If creativity is your muse then you will enjoy seeing these unique artist‘s inspiring work and an introduction to their creative digs. Twelve artists in all will be sharing their work space, medium, inspiration and new collections of work.
Comfort & ‘Joy Studio’J. Wecker Frisch
Growing up, I remember my mom was always busy ‘upstairs,’ taking care of the numerous tasks that make a home clean and run efficiently. Meanwhile, ‘downstairs,’ all the fun was happening, in my dad’s home art studio! Both of my parent’s talents and skills combined, made it seem as though, everything imaginable, was right there for the making. Somewhere, throughout the family home, one could find it all. All of the good stuff that is, which goes into… well.. making stuff! It was a dream and one that I seem to have carried on in my own home studio. Whatever is required to construct or create any variety of arts or crafts, I always seem to have, or a similar item that would work as well. That fact no longer amazes my daughters and in fact, they often count on it. It is the first place they check to find a particular needful or unique item that would be perfect to complete their own project.
I’m sure that my ample supply system, although sometimes bulging at the seams, is not so very different than my artist friend colleagues. I believe we’re all quite content to be surrounded with just enough (lots) interesting yet inspiring, stuff. The more (stuff), the merrier although, I do not like admitting it as some might consider my studio to be stuffed with stuff!
Besides all that was acquired on my own through the years, I also surrounded myself with my dad’s tools of the trade, which happen to be, the heart of my studio. His small first drawing table for instance, (pictured above, complete with a 1950s pencil sharpener still firmly attached) is my favorite place to seriously sketch as I begin each new line. There is something poignantly personal to create not only using all that my dad taught me about art, but to be drawing, sculpting or painting while using the tools he also held as he skillfully created.
Then of course there’s the fabric! A large fabric wall provides the color source in my work space. The two holiday lines, “Creepers Peepers” and “Bakers Dozen” (pictured above) are new for 2012. Check back here for availability.
The joy of working with fabric design and quilters has also brought me home – to my sewing roots. The sewing skills in our family, was all mom. And the baking. And the home making. And the nurturing, etc. And the disciplined structure . . . which continues to elude me as a life style, somewhat. So, I remain an aspiring artist who is just on the cusp of organized. Maybe THIS year!
Currently I’m finishing up on a fabric collection that brings me full circle so to speak, and incidentally has come about (from a personal perspective) in God’s perfect time. It combines the art with the sewing and a sprinkling of Spiritual seeds seeking to take root, in your fabric stash perhaps.
So, with my new iPad portfolio in hand, wide eyed enthusiasm in it’s proper place, I’m heading out again, to share with the world, the Tidings of Great Joy.
Ahead for 2012 – Wishing you all of the comfort, and joy in the coming year that the Creator through creating, has brought to me.
To continue on the hop:
by Great Joy Studio | Mar 6, 2011 | Art News, Spiritual, Studio
Life remains on hold, at least… as I knew it. Creativity is shelved for an undetermined amount of time.
Encouraged this morning by the Word spoken:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives,
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn. Isaiah 61:1-2
Hallelujah, He lives!
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.
