Baby Pine Cone

My husb brought this snippit of baby pine cone home from his golf game, because he knew I'd like it. How sweet is that?

Thanks sooo much to everyone for all the wonderful comments on my recent post!!
And the winner of my new DVD From Art Journaling to Art is: Marilyn! She wrote..."Juanita did a wonderful job. Your dvd most be great. I just started sketching and some watercolors about a year ago and really enjoy your blog." (Email me, Marylin, with your address)

Laura's new book

My pal Laura Wasilowski has a new book out! Fanciful Stitches and Colorful Quilts. As you know, I'm a big fan of hand stitching and  this book not only gives you some instructions for easy, effective embroidery stitches, but clearly proves that hand stitching adds so much to a quilt!  Look at all the yummy stitches on Laura's quilt below!

 Laura Wasilowski fused quilt with hand stitching.

The book includes 11 full size templates to make an assortment of whimsical houses, from houseboats, to tree houses, to windmills.

TRUE CONFESSION: And even though I have taught art quilts for the last 6 years, to hundreds of people, I really wasn't clear on fusing till I read Laura's instructions in the book. I know. embarrassing huh? This book has taught me the importance of release paper! 

And, I love Laura's hand dyed threads, and consider them a staple in my thread palette. (The cotton 12 is my fave)

1.  I had the chance to ask Laura few questions:  

 J  JL: Laura, I love that you dye threads and fabrics and sell them as part of your business. When did you start doing that, and how did it come about?

LW: When you're a dyer you'll dye anything from shoelaces to underwear. So after a class long ago in dyeing varigated warps for weaving, I realized I was not a weaver. But the idea of hand dyeing thread for embroidery soon captured my imagination. The appeal is that the thread colors match with the brilliantly hand dyed fabrics I make. And the change of color within a skein adds movement and texture to surface of the quilt.

JL: How did you decide to focus on house shapes for this book? And how many books have you written?

LW: The theme of houses evolved from my small art quilt series called housing department. Here's my method of creating art. Pick a theme, make quilt after quilt based upon that theme and then you don't have to think of an idea for a long time.

Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts is my third and most favorite book.

And  since it's give-away city here at JaneVille this week, you can win a copy of Laura's new book, Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Stitches. Leave a comment for a chance to win--and just for fun tell me what would be the theme of your house quilt. I'll choose a random winner on Monday, May 2. (Sorry, but just North American addresses are eligible.)

Juanita and my new DVD

I received this wonderful email last week:
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 11:45 AM
Subject: Watercolor DVD
Dear Jane,
I am writing to let you know how much I am enjoying your new DVD. I purchased it from Interweave Press last week. I am a quilter with NO art background and yesterday I was able to sketch my first apple. Today I opened my little box of watercolors and with the incredible water brush (love it) I was able to do my very first art piece. Perhaps not a masterpiece, but I DID IT!
I have looked over the years at books teaching how to sketch and paint, but being so left-brained I found them too difficult and became very frustrated. Watching your DVD I was able to follow your ease of teaching method and can honestly say I can do it. Thanks so much for making the DVD and please do another one soon.
Sincerely,
Juanita

I was so pleased, I asked Juanita to send me some of her watercolors..

Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:18 AM
Hi Jane,
Little scared to send these to you but you have to remember I have no art talent or background. I've been trying to do a watercolor a day and have viewed the DVD atleast 5 times. It's a little hard to get that right brain thing going, but I am enjoying the trip.
Juanita


Juanita's first watercolors





Juanita's first watercolors



Juanita's first watercolors

So, in honor of Juanita, and her wonderful review of my new DVD From Art Journaling to Art: Drawing, Watercolor, and More Techniques for the Mixed-Media Artist with Jane LaFazio I'm giving away a copy! Leave a comment, and tell me a little about your own drawing and watercolor experience. I'll select a random winner on Saturday, April 30. You'll need to check back on that date to see if your name was called.
 

San Miguel de Allende: My sketchbook pages

Even though I was teaching Sketching & Watercolor Journal Style at our San Miguel art retreat, I had time to draw and paint on my own and a little bit in class.
 

   
Such a good trip.......Looking forward to going back in November 2012...Join me.

San Miguel de Allende: The Week

Laurie Mika, Lynn Leahy, Helen Shafer Garcia and me, along with Diane Uke, created and organized this week long retreat, Tesoro de Corazon, night of altars, days of art in San Miguel de Allende. We stayed at Casa Luna.

 
Everyone got along fabulously!! Here we are hangin' around the our bed & breakfast.


Our opening reception was held in the courtyard of our B&B
             
We spent time in town, sight-seeing and shopping.
       
As women do, who travel together, we often shopped and frequently bought the same things! Here's Lynn and Laurie with paintings they each bought from a local artist. And Colleen, Helen and I couldn't resist buying the same dress in different colors.

We visited the artisans mercado, above.

My friends Eli Hans and Joseph Bennett live in San Miguel, and we visited their home and studio. The do interior design and Joseph teaches and coaches and Eli teaches Spanish. Love these guys!


And below are a few photos of the finished Tesoro del Corazon, treasure of the heart, projects from our students. Each and everyone created the tile covered box (Laurie Mika's workshop) the necklace and nicho (Lynn Leahy's workshop) the paste paper book (Helen Shafer Garcia's workshop) and the small watercolors in my workshop.









Our farewell dinner.

All the participants and teachers at Tesoro del Corazon April 2011. A fablous time was had by all!! We had such a wonderful time, we have another retreat planned for November 2012!

San Miguel de Allende: My Sketching & Watercolor workshop

At our week long workshop in San Miguel de Allende we had 23 students total, and they each were in classes of 7-8 people, from all 4 teachers, for 4 days. Each of us teachers taught a piece as part of a progressive project. My part was Sketching & Watercolor. I started by teaching my students to draw and paint from Mexican tiles which I'd purchased in the outdoor market. Above is what one of my classes created the first morning.
     
Students worked from these small tiles.

 
I love the way each person interprets the subject matter differently. I always say your drawing is as unique as your handwriting!

Yes, these lovely spots were our classrooms!
   


More student work, each depicting the same subject in their own way.


I had students who'd been artists for years, and others who said they couldn't draw at all....Everyone did soooo well!
Tomorrow's post, on the activites we did while in beautiful San Miguel de Allende, in our art retreat Tesoro del Corazon.

San Miguel de Allende: The Streets

Tommorrow I'll post about our workshops and most wonderful participants...Everyone had such a fabulous time, we're planning another retreat for November 2012. Sign up for updates at Tesoros del Corazon...