JaneVille: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

Map Book ~ on the road

Map book ~ Jane LaFazio

I've seen this book structure, made with a map, a few times, and thought I'd give it a try. Great fun, and I want to make more and fill them with my sketches and watercolor!

Map book ~ Jane LaFazio

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

works in progress

in progress ~ print on paper by Jane LaFazio

Gelli prints In progress. I've ordered the large 11x14" size! watch out world!

in progress ~collage and print on paper by Jane LaFazio

in progress monoprint on cloth ~ by Jane LaFazio

Monday, May 27, 2013

I've got an article in the recent Quilting Arts magazine, June/July 2013, showing how to use stencils in your work with fabric (or paper). And what do you know, I'm using the stencils I designed for Stencil Girl Products in the article! Coincidence? I think not.

Quilting Arts latest issue with my friend, Jamie Fingal's quilt on the front!

And I also appear in an issue of Cloth Paper Scissors....

Cloth Paper Scissors magazine March/April 2013

Editor, Jenn Mason included a photo of the CREATE mixed media retreat instructors, and guess who was doing a yoga pose...Oh, I laughed when I saw it!!

Yoga Poses in Public Places

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Peonies and Ponies

photo by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

I'm totally enamored with peonies! I was in Maryland recently, and witnessed them growing in the gardens and coming into bloom in a vase on the table. They are sooo beautiful! They don't grow in San Diego, so of course, they seem even more precious.

photo by Jane LaFazio

Maryland ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

And, I visited a thoroughbred horse ranch and loved seeing these horses with their babies!

photo by Jane LaFazio

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Red Thread Retreat ~ teaching in Maryland

student work ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

I've just returned from teaching at The Red Thread Retreat, with Lesley Riley. (You can read my interview with Lesley here.) I taught for 2-1/2 days (sketching & watercolor and gelli plate mono-printing) and then Lesley taught us how to create a book for our pages.

our location ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

Students! with Lesley Riley and me

We had 14 wonderful women at the retreat.We stayed at The Blue Mountain Retreat Center in Maryland, and made art, had great conversations, ate delicious, organic meals, walked the Potomac...A grand time!

Student book covers created in class ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

student work ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

The finished projects were simply gorgeous! I was sooo proud of everyone!

Show and tell on the last evening

from my sketchbook (this is what I taught at the workshop) ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

I'll be teaching lots more during the coming year! hope to see you in one of my classes!

Yoga Poses in Public Places on the Potomac River in Maryland

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

from my sketchbook ~ bowls

detail from my sketchbook ~ Jane LaFazio

from my sketchbook ~ Jane LaFazio

This month's theme, over on The Sketchbook Challenge, is bowls. Here's a page from my sketchbook.

detail from my sketchbook ~ Jane LaFazio

There are still openings in my online "Sketching & Watercolor in a Mixed Media Journal" for those who have drawing experience.

I'm Jane LaFazio ~ an 8 minute video

I'm Jane LaFazio from Jane LaFazio on Vimeo.

I'm currently taking Jennifer Louden's online course, Teach Now so I can become a better teacher. One of the assignments was to make a video telling a story. Well, this is my story and a variation of how I introduce myself in my classes.

(I forgot to mention huge career influences and mentors like Danny Gregory and Pokey Bolton,and being published in the magazines Cloth Paper Scissors and Quilting Arts.)

Everyone has a story. Everyone. Tell yours. Listen to other people's. That how we connect.

Kim Mailhot, aka The Rock Fairy via Patti Digh

Patti Digh writes: It is clear to me that the shortest distance between two people is a story. If I know your story, I can connect with you at a deeper level, from a place of deeper understanding, and perhaps even from a place of knowing, of recognition. When I know your story, you become a “who” to me, and not just a “what.” Categories break down, dissolve.

As Madeleine L’Engle has said, “Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving.” They make us who we are. And they connect us in ways we can hardly imagine."

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Small Narrative Quilts

spring story quilt by Jane LaFazio

Inspired by Janet Bolton's work, I created these small (~4x4 inch) story quilts.

detail spring story quilt by Jane LaFazio

I taught a variation of these small quilts for a workshop at San Diego Museum of Art, recently.

Students at my 'narrative quilt' workshop at San Diego Museum of Art

Before the workshop, we toured the SDMA exhibition with a docent

People often as me, with all the teaching I do, do I have time to make my own artwork. The answer is yes, I love learning and making new things that often lead to subjects for workshop. And, frequently, I need to go in my studio and create specifically for a workshop or class. Either way, I'm making art, and staying inspired.

FYI: Registration for my online classes is open now.