by Great Joy Studio | Dec 6, 2025 | Art News, Quilting & Fabric, Spiritual, Studio
Late career just starting out. J Wecker Frisch
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Hello Everyone
Many of you have followed, supported and encouraged me throughout the 25 – ish years that I have pursued an (late) art career. And I do mean MANY of you. At first there was so much I needed to learn and you generously shared experiences, your expertise, emotion and just about everything. The memories that came from meeting all of you and those in the industry and are fresh as when they happened. It has been my great pleasure and privilege connecting with fellow creatives, makers and entrepreneurs. Thank you!
This is the first time ever that I may be organized enough to give you my 2026 schedule of events and workshops in advance. Even some of these do not have all of the details worked out however, for planning purposes I wanted to provide what I could.
As I consider the opportunities that I’ve said yes to for next year it occurred to me, hope I can do all of these and is this my first and final tour? Let me put it another way. Those of you who have written to say, “One of these years I’m going to meet you, attend one of your work shops, guild or quilt shop events,” etc., I wouldn’t wait! That is, if we’re to ever meet and have a chat, maybe the time is now? You know what they say, we’re not getting any younger?
2026 Schedule:
• Valentine Workshop January 15 – 16, 9:00 to 4:00 both days at The Maker Studio Space Eureka Mo
• Shop visit at Oh Sew Personal on March 7 at 11:00 – 12:00
• Shop visit – Apple Tree Quilt Shop March 13
• Americana Semiquincentennial Workshop April 16-17, 9:00 – 4:00 both days at The Maker Studio Space Eureka Mo
• Bit N Pieces Quilt Guild speaker spot April 28 6:00 – 7:00 pm
• Sew Journal Workshop to be determined
• Christmas In July Workshop July 9 – 10 9:00 to 4:00 both days at The Maker Studio Space Eureka Mo
• Garden Of Quilts at Thanksgiving Point in Utah, Artist Special Exhibit begins September 18 – 19
• Artist Special Exhibit continues The Maker Studio Space Eureka Mo
• October Workshop Oct. 8 – 9:00 to 4:00 both days
• Artist Special Exhibit ends November 1 9:00 to 4:00 The Maker Studio Space Eureka Mo
God willing these are the events I have committed to and will do my best to honor and be in attendance!
Something new you may have noticed on social media is The Maker studio space in Eureka, MO. This is a one year endeavor that I took on in late September. It is in addition to the Great Joy Studio office around the corner. Makes little sense I realize but I am trying to walk in the limited light that God has given. The outcome is (Part of my exit strategy?) unknown to me but I am trusting that He sees the BIG picture. Stayed tuned, I sense something exciting.
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Fourteen years in, home studio. J Wecker Frisch
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So, if you are local please come by and tell us how we can serve your MAKER dreams and if you’re able to travel here to Missouri I would love to meet you and hear about the art journey that you are walking thus far. Or please use our calendar schedule under Maker tab at top.
Btw – The most recent head shot can be viewed on the RBD Storyboards and it is as recent as I agree to post. Lol
Sincerely, Janet.
Great Joy Studio, 16 Dreyer Ave. Eureka Mo
The Maker Studio Space, 137 S Central Ave Eureka Mo
by Great Joy Studio | Aug 30, 2023 | Quilting & Fabric
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Hello there!
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Well, I did not expect my fabric journal journey to take a full year to put up my next blog post! However, if you’re following me on Instagram then you have a pretty good idea of what Great Joy Studio has been up to. Five more fabric collections, a White As Snow Winter-y Projects booklet, lots of quilt design and some time to create a few inspirational pieces for church.
So, let me tell you what else is new like our latest collection from our fabric partners at Riley Blake Designs. “Sew Journal” is the name and is currently delivering (or delivered) to shops this week. Of course it is full of the coolest vintage and antique sewing imagery from my own personal ephemera stash. Some of the pieces are quite rare so I am especially glad that we can present this stunning art and can share on fabric and quilts for years to come.
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We used three of the Sew Journal panels and several scraps from all three of my ‘Journal’ collections, Art Journal, Journal Basics and Sew Journal to continue on our book making exploration. In addition I have gathered all of the tiny and interesting trinkets that one tends to collect through the course of a creative lifetime. You know the ones I mean, countless items that just don’t seam to go anywhere but you hang onto just in case you need for that special project? Well . . . we have it! And we want to invite you to join me at our first Sew Journal weekend retreat. Here are the details:
October 13 – 16
Quilt Town USA – Hamilton MO
MSQC Retreat registration click here!
See you there and keep following us on Instagram for inspiration and retreat updates.
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by Great Joy Studio | Sep 22, 2022 | Quilting & Fabric
Hello once again.
We took some time at the end of summer to do a bit of traveling so, our week five for the fabric journal post was delayed. We also took a couple days for garage and closet cleaning! In addition, the actual execution of this project is somewhat new to me and I am learning what works and what doesn’t. So I’m giving myself plenty of time for my fabric journal style to evolve. There are many techniques to try and experiment with.This is going to be an ongoing, learning process to enjoy.
Now, back to the fun fabric stuff! I have two more fun layouts signatures/pages to share. One I did in the car while riding along on the road trip. We had just received a bundle of Hush Hush II from Riley Blake Designs before we left so I grabbed our Baby Button Dot low volume sample and a bit of inspiration for this one. I stamped some words on linen scraps from Colossians 3 which was my scripture reference for this piece.
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I had purchased some craft board paper doll templates some time ago and decided to cut one from Riley Blake natural linen and one out of ordinary batting. Then a dress from our Doll Closet appliqué template and adjusted to the right size. I simply layered in a pleasing layout and began to hand stitch. A perfect project while taking in the sights.
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The second group of images were inspired by insects from our upcoming “Art Journal” fabric (above)! We are so eager to introduce this collection (February 2023 delivery) from Riley Blake Designs that we could not resist including a few early samples that were sent for color approval in our finished piece (below).
I asked Kate to design and cut out silhouettes in Riley Blake Black and then highlight with Best of She Who Sews measuring tapes and button dots. Once Kate had the black appliqué pieces cut out we auditioned a few of the Best of She Who Sews fabrics to see what to use for the beetle highlights and butterfly wings. Best of SWSs offers so many great options it’s difficult to choose!
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After fabrics were chosen, we prepped our base signature/page fabrics, Again we used RBD Natural Linen layered with Journal Basics Ledger Paper and assembled in place to fuse. I like fusing before sewing down to assure precise placement and this offers more stability to the signature/page. We added a little more stamping and plan to continue with the sew-y theme with vintage buttons and maybe some labels. Plus I have much more sewing details to try/add but see what you think so far! We will have these bug-y appliqué kits in our shop soon.
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I’m saving the Baby Button Dots beetle for a small accent pillow! Stay tuned:
Great Joy Studio/J Wecker Frisch on Instagram and Facebook
by Great Joy Studio | Jul 14, 2022 | Quilting & Fabric
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Hi and welcome!
This will be short and sweet so if your time is limited like mine this summer, you can still squeeze in a little TAG fun!
I tried a couple of new (to me) fabric tag making processes this week and it’s ongoing. The further I explore possibilities, the more ideas that evolve. Especially with so many fabric options. For these I used the Best of She Who Sews measuring tapes fabric from Riley Blake Designs. I love these text and color rich tapes and as always the scripture snippets!
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I’m sure many may have already done this with cargo tags however, I just happen to have a LARGE number of these manila paper tags so I decided to cover some with fabric. I like the stability that they offer as a base and also the look. The method I chose was the quick and easy trace, cut, sew! Here in these photos is how I did it.
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I used a Frixion Pen so the lines would disappear with heat from the iron and the red sharpy to hide my careless cutting. They are not perfect, not precise but that is the sketch-y, stitch-y, journal-y charm, I was told on IG. Then I decided to trade out the white strings that came on the cargo tags for some black hemp twine to compliment the tape text.
Now, I think we need to go a bit further by stamping the backs and attaching a few trinkets of ‘found’ objects that we ALL have in our growing stash and a little layering. To see this progress however, I invite you to tune in to my socials: Instagram or Facebook.
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One other new development for me this week was discovering my concise purpose for this Fabric Journal as I build and contemplate. I stated initially that it would be for personal use and since I chose such a jumbo binder there might be room to store my entire fabric designing journey! Or at least bits of the most significant items.
Again bye, for now and I hope you enjoy some create time.
~Janet
by Great Joy Studio | Jul 7, 2022 | Quilting & Fabric
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Hello Again!
I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th. We were quite busy building a porch on the Joy Studio, putting me behind on my Fabric Journal project! Hopefully I am not holding anyone up but if that ever happens, please move forward with yours at your own pace.
I continued making pockets this week and made some fun die cut tags. The fabric that I used of course is She Who Sews (Best of) from Riley Blake Designs black text on white and also gray. I fussy cut some of the really cool sew-y phrases from SWSs scraps that I had to fit a small size pocket. I then layered those on top of a little larger piece of Riley Blake Natural Linen and batting, leaving raw edges on three sides of the fabric and enough to turn the pocket tops. I then attached them to the back, top of my canvas pages made last week careful not to sew the larger pocket on the pages reverse side. I plan to do a lot more of these when time allows.
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I also decided to cut some small tags out of black poster board scraps that I also had on hand using a large die cut punch. They happened to be the perfect size for adding a few of my spool stamps.
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Since I am learning as I go with this fabric journal I decided to experiment with some scrappy layering of SWSs gray measuring tapes, a tiny bit of gray buttons, off white linen, vintage spool tops and Sew-y text, all raw edge scraps and again with batting. This will be one of my quilted pocket pages and who knows, maybe my first attempt at some free motion sewing if I feel brave?!!
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Considering my pace on this project it is likely to be a summer long series!
Keep making and please share.
Thanks for visiting/following.
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