Fabric Journal, Week 2

Hello!

I hope that you enjoyed making tags and faux stamps along with gathering any vintage sewing inspired items that you want to incorporate into your journal. Moving along – This week I made a few heavy canvas pocket pages (signatures), to test and started on some quilted pages (signatures) as well.

The featured fabric throughout the project will be She Who Sews (Best of) and the She Who Sews Home Dec fabrics from Riley Blake Designs. SWSs Home are due to deliver in August. So, check with your quilt shop for availability. This fabric is sew pretty!

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1) Blank canvas pages.

Again I had this canvas on hand and decided to begin with these first. I cut them using a rotary cutter and straight edge on two sides to fit my notebook but left the fringed edges for interest. I also reinforced the inside edges with a one inch strip that will be hole punched, just for extra support. I then used up the scraps for my pockets.

If you want to sew anything on your pockets, do before attaching them to your page. I added a few of the spool stamps and buttons but may decide to stamp or paint some details too.

2) Quilted Pages with She Who Sews.

For my first quilted one I chose She Who Sews Home Dec shears fabric from Riley Blake Designs. This collection is full of vintage sew-y motifs which are perfect for a fabric/sew journal! It will deliver in August so check with your quilt shop for availability.

Page base is Natural Linen cut a half inch larger than your fusible batting and your top (shears) fabric, on all four sides. Sandwich the three layers in that order and pin in place if your batting is not fusible. I only gave a light press to adhere the fabrics where I wanted them to be and then began to quilt around each of the images.

I used an off white thread to blend into the fabric. After some light quilting I used a zigzag stitch on a fairly wide setting around the edges of the top fabric. I like the sketchy appearance of raw fabric edges and a variety of stitches but you could turn and top stitch if you prefer. I have not decided yet if I will fringe my linen edges or simply trim them. My pocket will be added just as the previous canvas pages. I am still deciding what fabric to use however, and how deep to make the pockets. Maybe matching the print would be nice. Any thoughts?

Continue making as many pocket pages as you think you’ll need. By next week I hope to have several and then we can really get creative! Sound good?!!

Meanwhile get daily updates on Instagram and Facebook.

 

Thanks for visiting, see you next week.

 

In Case You Missed

In case you missed the announcement,

it’s on the

RILEY BLAKE

blog! Please, check it out

&

leave them a comment?!!

We are very excited to be working with this innovative company.

The first collection, “Paperdoll” delivers to shops in August so be sure to ask about it at yours.

Studio Update

A

new year

&

a new work space!

At last

JOY STUDIO

is complete!!

1 year ago,

we were

insulated, waiting for drywall and

Still Seeking Light.

 

Time capsule.

 

 

Well, we found it.

Windows on every wall, eight skylights and two sets of French doors with connecting elliptical above each one.

At most times of the day, the room is flooded with a generous amount of natural light.

And I love it!!!

Builders on the project couldn’t understand the need for so many windows and I was questioned from every tradesman.

I stuck to my (never enough light) priority and it turned out to be the right decision, no question.

So, beginning 2018

Joy Studio

is completely finished, furnished and finally, ready for (hiding out) creative action.

A

Mini photo tour

 

As you enter:

The large Staircase Reclaim workbench:

 

 

Drawing/painting station one:

 

Drawing/painting station two:

 

Sewing station and supplies:

Large desk:

Everything maker, supply cabinet:

Coffee station:

&

Sitting, thinking, dreaming area:

It was a long, extremely tough journey but worth the effort.

Every time I enter the new studio space, I feel like a kid.

Curious,

and still hard to believe.

Thanks for visiting.

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Still Seeking

Happy New Year!

Still seeking light. And still hopeful,

in more ways than just a bright, well lit work space of course.

However,

I decided to share the Joy Studio portion and progress on our big project, to start out the blog year.

If you’ve been following us in the past two years you may remember that as we outgrew our work space it was necessary to rent additional office and Etsy shop storage areas. This was working out nicely until our shop managers MOVED! So, everything came back to the home studio causing quite the challenge in 2016.

Here’s the timeline in a photo nutshell.

Moved From The Rental

Moved From The Rental

Dinning Room Designated for Drawing

Dinning Room Designated for Drawing

Made A Plan for On Site Studio

Made A Plan for On Site Studio

With the former home studio now full of fabric, office and Etsy shop we (I) decided to build on our home site. A scary project but a long time dream that I never thought would be realized. Still waiting but it’s looking like in 2017, it may really happen!

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Broke Ground Early July

Broke Ground Early July

Poured Foundation

Poured Foundation

Floor Went On

Floor Went On

Walls Went Up

Walls Went Up

Roof Went On

Roof Went On

Wrapped While Waiting for Windows

Wrapped While Waiting for Windows

We were told the wait for windows would be five weeks! Then they came, in a big storm. Windows were wrong. It was then we discovered that two of the four walls were also, wrong. So, they came down and we waited for windows. And waited. And waited. It would be another five weeks. Second try, they were wrong again. Windows held up the studio project until December.

Windows Deliver During A Storm

Windows Deliver During A Storm

Walls Torn Down

Walls Torn Down

Wait for Walls & Windows

Wait for Walls & Windows

We kept going luckily, wrapping walls, running wires and having HVAC installed.

Electric And Furnace Installed

Electric And Furnace Installed

Shake Siding

Shake Siding

We couldn’t leave out a fireplace of course. Built by family and friends. Nice!

Stone Fireplace

Stone Fireplace

Insulated

Insulated

As the new Joy Studio sits now, we are fully insulated and with the correct windows.

I am starting the new year working in the designated drawing station in the dinning room at my dad’s drawing table. I’m feeling snug and . . . GRATEFUL.

joystudiomover

Dad’s Table & Palette Tin

Looking forward to 2017 and I hope you feel the same.

&

I almost forgot! We are having a FABRIC special!!

Use Code: january2017 for 25% off at,

Great Joy Studio Etsy Shop

Through January.

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Where (this) Woman Creates

It’s True!

Where Women Create paid our Joy Studio(s) a visit!

And you can see the feature in the Winter Issue,

on news stands Nov.1, 2015.

WWCPosterQTLo

&

In addition it is my pleasure to be doing a signing

with the magazine’s creator and editor in chief,

Jo Packham!

At

the International Quilt Market in Houston on Saturday.

JoyStudioWWCg

Last year at Fall Quilt Market I met the very gracious Jo, at the Sew Scary fabric debut and soon after we began the process. Another dream goal, being realized, hard to believe. The upcoming visit understandably, thrust us into high gear sprucing up and organizing both work spaces as you have seen (here) over the past months. A tall order after only just moving into to the new space last August however, quite rewarding and needed.

Re-creating the inspirational areas was perfect (God’s?) timing!

JoyStudioWWCb

So,

I hope you will pick up a copy

&

that you will enjoy reading our story.

JoyStudioWWCc

JoyStudioWWCyJoyStudioWWCx

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JoyStudioWWCf

Almost, like a fairy tale ending?

JoyStudioWWCa

Or a new chapter.

😉