by Great Joy Studio | Sep 30, 2025 | Quilting & Fabric
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Hello everyone!
I posted this project originally with “Costume Makers Ball” fabric when it was offered from Riley Blake Designs in 2019. Owner, Cindy Cloward thought it was so fun that she is sharing hers as a YouTube tutorial at Riley Blake Designs – YouTube.
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We borrowed these instructions (below) from our original step by step post which pairs seamlessly with the new “Costume Makers Act II” fabric collection! However, you will want to follow along with Cindy as she creates her version of this festive fall favorite.
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BIG SCARY BOOK!
Featuring,
COSTUME MAKERS Act II
fabric by me, J. Wecker Frisch
from Riley Blake Designs
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So many of you have asked if this fun fall project was a pattern so, we decided to share the easy process here!
I pretty much made this up as I went along and it was truly so easy. I’m still learning on the sewing front so, if you see anything that can be improved on, I’m interested to hear from you. Of course we love the images on the patch panel and they were the perfect sizes for the pages and pockets to hold whatever spooky items we found around the studio. Choose anything you like in your stash of old photos, tags, charms and trims to personalize your scary book.
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What you’ll need, beginning with Costume Makers Act II fabric:
• One – Patch Panel for pages and pockets.
• One repeat – Border Stripe for a few fun tags to slip inside and attach.
• Fat quarter – Black Text for cover.
• 1/2 yard – Jac O Lantern Balloons on Black for inside of cover plus one page background.
• Fat eighth – Measure Tape Stripe Blk n Wt for one page.
• 1/2 yard – Riley Blake Linen in Natural for inside pages.
Optional:
• Quilt batting, 1/2 to 3/4 yards based on preference. We used a light weight fusible behind page patches and cover.
• A medium weight Interfacing for a stiff cover cut to 17.5″ x 17.5″
• Measuring tape ribbon, buttons, decorative string, one cargo tag, old key & vintage notions or game cards, etc.
• Fabric only kits available exclusively at greatjoystudio.com/shop/
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Pictures worth a thousand words?
Pages six & seven with quilted tags made using the CMB border stripe.
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Sandwich each of the individual cover and (18″ square) page layers as you like. I chose batting between my cover fabrics and under each of the fabric patches. I then used a variety of sketchy stitches around each the page edges to create decorative borders and attach to the linen pieces. Using your skill level and imagination there are no limits to what you will create with these fantastic fabrics! Again, my stitching experience is short and some of these are my first attempts but I was pleased with the results. So remember, have fun, no rules, anything goes and you can’t make a mistake.
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Here are the the page layouts:
Inside front cover & page 1
Pages 2 & 3
Pages 4 & 5
Pages 6 and 7 are pictured at top of post and are holding the border stripe kid tags.
Page 8 and inside back cover.
Not pictured is the outside cover! We used the CMB black allover text.
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Complete Scary Book fabric kit available on the Shop page.
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More Scary Book photos and fun projects on IG @jweckerfrisch and FB Joy Studio
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Please share your scary book eye candy with us!!
•Be sure to follow us on Instagram @jweckerfrisch & Facebook Tidings Of Great Joy.
by Great Joy Studio | Jul 23, 2025 | Collectables, Getting Started
The
Great Joy Studio
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Summer Porch Sale continues,
despite the very wet and steamy weather conditions we have been experiencing this season!
Update on our dates:
Our antique and vintage collectables sale will remain a constant, summer long effort to raise money for Samaritans Purse disaster relief. Every Thursday through Saturday between 10:00 and 1:00 at our shop location in Eureka, Mo. 16 Dreyer Ave., you can (SHOP) check us out.
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Items are marked with a suggested donation tag that you can leave/donate with us inside or placed in the after hours box located at our back door.
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Thank you!
by Great Joy Studio | Apr 8, 2025 | Quilting & Fabric
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Spring Fling
&
Spring/Summer Tag Sale!
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Our returning summer hours will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 am -1 pm.
We are currently transforming the quilt workshop studio to include a collection of curated vintage and antique items for sale/donation. The Spring Fling, hosted here in Old Town Eureka, Mo. (April 15-17th) will kick off a summer-long Tag Sale event at the Great Joy Studio shop, 16 Dreyer Ave. All proceeds for this will be donated to Samaritans purse to help their disaster relief efforts.
Mendy from Missouri Stitcher will also be offering long-arm quilting services for any projects you may have.
Watch our IG Great Joy Studio account for updates on the pop-up Tag Sale and IG and FB J Wecker Friscg account for all fabric details.
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See you soon!
by Great Joy Studio | Jun 3, 2017 | Quilting & Fabric
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Our
J O Y S T U D I O
2017 Quilt Market
recap is one of collaboration.
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At the end of summer last, my childhood friend Ann Regal and I finally had the opportunity to schedule a series of create play dates. After a decade of dreaming about such a time to collaborate, we decided to pay a visit to one of Ann’s first sewing loves appliqué and combine the technique with mine, art. Here are the results.
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The
Joy Studio Maker’s Guide.
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We chose three of our favorite She Who Sews characters and began the process of translating the art into life size raw-edge appliqué. We were delighted and challenged. A much larger endeavor than either of us anticipated however, the end results were worth the painstaking process. The detailed patterns themselves offer the maker a wealth of information. So we hope you will consider giving them a try.
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Also as part of our quilt market follow up, I wanted to introduce you to a company with a wonderful story that we can all relate to.
Aunt Henri.
I began working with this mom/daughter duo, Victoria Naylor Passmore and Jesse Weber after they participated in one of our Handmaids challenges. As I followed them in pure delight I looked forward to seeing each of the beautiful items they created. Item after item began to sell out in quick order. Impeccable taste and skill are only two words that come to mind when I view their works. It is easy to see that an artistic sense is present and it’s a pleasure to watch their creativity with our fabrics. Victoria bravely took on three of our creative characters just in time for market. All are charming and display just how different these female figures can look by switching out fabrics. Victoria and Jesse did Press On in Sewing Seeds II (top) and my new collection “Hatter’s Tea Party” from Quilting Treasures. Seamstress was made using She Sews Sea Shells (below).
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A third willing maker to agree that taking on one of these HANDMAIDS was well worth the effort is
Elizabeth Cecchittini of Dandelion Rose.
I have collaborated with Elizabeth on a number of projects. Soon after I found myself designing fabric Elizabeth, Ann and I worked on a series of books using my panels. Since then I’ve learned that one can have complete confidence in Beth’s skill on any sewing, decorative or quilting project. So, Machine Maid was presented to her and she executed beautifully.
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Brooke Sellmann of Silly Mama Quilts
joined this year’s market team willing and ready no matter the task. She quilted, she stuffed and even stood post in our booth, all with a warm smile. And here’s what she made! Pillows, placemats, mug rugs and she even quilted our Sewing Seeds II piece.
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Tuffet Source
Last but not least is Sharyn Cole, who needs no introduction because everyone knows her and loves her TUFFETS! What an amazing success story of passion to business. Sharyn graciously offered to make us not one but two tuffets using our
Hatter’s Tea Party
fabric for quilt market. And what tea party can do without a tuffet! Sharyn achieved a wonderful result using her 18″ pieced and tuffet mini patterns out of one piece of (tea ads text, multi) fabric.
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Words cannot adequately express how appreciative I feel to have been able to collaborate with these talented and skilled makers. All share a passion for creating that reaches far beyond sewing and quilting, I’m sure it is plain to see.
A Pure
J O Y!
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The Joy Studio Maker’s Guide is available at quilt shops (ask yours) and on line at
GreayJoyStudio.com
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by Great Joy Studio | Sep 14, 2015 | Collectables, Studio
I should title this post, “. . . Another man’s (woman’s) treasure?”
If you have been following our art journey then you know that over the past year we have been . . .
Cleaning up,
expanding,
and setting up SHOP! Our latest,
JOY STUDIO VINTAGE on Etsy.
All summer (and a bit longer) we have been diligently sorting, cataloging, and prying out of my tight grip, the many collectibles in the studio. Some are very difficult to part with however, it’s time. I suppose many artists are also collectors and I cannot deny, that I am a passionate one. I acquired my first antique furniture piece at age 16, my grandmother’s dresser and have admired vintage items and antiques ever since. Not sure why, perhaps it is the detail of the workmanship? Or maybe the history of a piece that I find intriguing.
H o w e v . .
. . . my great weakness of all time, is vintage (& antique) illustration!
Yes, OLD paper. Not sure why but I get lost in an illustrated image, sigh.
I have always been fascinated by illustrations, especially pre-1960s, ever since pouring over my dad’s childhood books as a kid.
Yes, I would say fascinated!
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to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or some other special quality; enthrall:
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I am certain, that being exposed to these interesting and sometimes charming images has inspired, shaped and contributed to my illustrative endeavors.
Anyway . . .
My collections have now become somewhat vast, I hate to admit.
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Much of the ephemera I have collected was solely for inspiration and reference so, truly it has served it’s purpose,
although I still adore and never tire of viewing it.
So.
I am opening the file drawers and am in the beginning stages, of offering some of my favorite pieces to be shared with other collector’s and admirers who share my passion. We have a long way to go so there is sure to be (LOTS) more in the coming months so please check back often. To date, we have a variety of vintage post cards and antique trade cards in the old paper category. Still listing and haven’t even started on the children’s books yet! Those will be tough.
So, I invite interested parties to take a look at
There are also vintage art supplies, paperdolls, pincushions and prints.
As well as sewing related trade cards!
Surprisingly, many of these treasures are selling as soon as we list, and before we could get anywhere close to completing this daunting process. For instance, we started with approx. twenty rocking chair sewing caddies which were intended for a She Who Sews (Rocks) challenge. Before we could organize it, the cute rockers began to disappear. Four are left.
We thought it might be a good time to share with our like minded/kindred spirits.
If you can find something you like, please enjoy.
Thanks for the visit!
Also,
