The Sketchbook Challenge hand carved houses

sketchbook page detail ~ by Jane LaFazio

sketchbook page detail ~ by Jane LaFazio

Welcome to The Sketchbook Challenge blog hop! The theme is Houses & Hideaways.

sketchbook page ~ by Jane LaFazio

hand carved stamps by Jane LaFazio

sketchbook page ~ by Jane LaFazio

stamped fabric and the beginnings of embroidery ~ by Jane LaFazio

Here's a VIDEO inspired by The Sketchbook Challenge blog hop and its theme "Houses and Hideaways."


There's a fabulous blog hop going on over at The Sketchbook Challenge. If you missed some of the posts, go here to catch up.

Oh, and by the way, my online classes are open for registration! Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style and Sketching & Watercolor in a Mixed Media Journal. Leave a comment on which class you'd like to take, and I'll choose one person for a FREE scholarship for each online class! Check back here on October 2nd when I announce the winners!

Poke Salad Annie! quilt in progress

Poke Salad in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

Thanks to you, my lovely readers, I found out that the photo I took in Central Park was of Poke Weed. I've started an art quilt with pink and green and poke weed as my theme.

machine stitching poke week design ~ Jane LaFazio

That means, I rummage around in my studio for cloth that speaks to my theme. Here I'm using fabric that I've gelli printed, stenciled and or stamped. Then, I"m free motion machine stitching the poke berries design on the cloth.

Poke Salad in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

machine stitching poke week design ~ Jane LaFazio

machine stitching poke week design ~ Jane LaFazio

Poke Salad in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

Poke Salad in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

Poke Salad in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

Poke Salad in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

Poke Salad in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

I've got a bunch of ideas swimming around in my head, and each time I sit down to work on this quilt, I sing right along with Elvis "Poke Salad Annie!"

LavenderSage Expressive Arts Mixed Media Art Retreats

Pamela Underwood and me.

My wonderful friend, Pamela Underwood and I have a brand  new website for our LavenderSage Art Retreats!

Mabel Dodge Luhan Inn, (where we'll stay in Taos, New Mexico)

AND, on that new website, we are announcing our next retreat, in Taos, New Mexico in August 2014. Registration is open now. Limited to 16 women.

from our 2013 Taos retreat

Taos, NM

Here's a short video about our upcoming LavenderSage Expressive Arts Mixed Media Retreat. And please go visit our new LavenderSage Art Retreats website and read all about our upcoming Taos, New Mexico retreat, for August 24-13, 2014. Registration is open now.
And while you on our website, sign up for our newsletter and to receive our blog posts.
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Lavender Sage Art Retreats in Taos  VIDEO from Jane LaFazio on Vimeo.

hand made felt piece ~ in the beginning stages of creation

the beginning of a project ~ Jane LaFazio

I've started a new project, made from my hand made felt. You can see the start of it above. Remember my piece, "Zen Eucalyptus" . This is exactly how it started. Cutting up squares, stitching on them, and then, reassembling them into a composition.

wet felting in progress ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

I taught a wet felting workshop on Saturday, and this is my piece in progress. (Yummy merino wool roving.)

wet felting in progress~ photo by Jane LaFazio

wet felted piece 20x20 "~ photo by Jane LaFazio

Above is how it looked completely felted.

wet felted pieces cut up and stitched on ~ Jane LaFazio

My plan is to cut my new piece up, and stitch on them so that they blend with these squares that I've already stitched on. We shall see!

wet felted pieces cut up and stitched on ~ Jane LaFazio

wet felted pieces cut up and stitched on ~ Jane LaFazio

Cereal Box book in progress

Here's a VIDEO about my Cereal Box book, in progress. (Yes, I need a better name for this project!)
NOTE: if you get my blog posts via email, you need to visit my blog to see the video.

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

I started this cereal box book a while back. It's just a fun project that I work on when I have time. The color scheme came from photos I took of some gorgeous pink peonies back in May.

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

I bought a bouquet of pink flowers, to help me continue my theme.

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

The book is not done! It's still in progress, and this is how it looks today. I know I want to add some writing...but not sure what else. And I do plan on binding it when it's complete.

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

The last frame of the video (in this post) has the materials I've used on the project, if you're curious.

in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

So, I've got two questions for you, esteemed readers of this blog:

1. Do you like that I'm adding more videos to my blog?

2. Have you got any suggestions for my cereal box book?

Thanks for reading!!

art quilt ~ nearly finished

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

I started this art quilt during a class I was teaching ~ free spirited free motion ~ and now I'm nearly finished. It needs a name. Any suggestions?

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

nearly finished quilt ~ by Jane LaFazio

Inspiration! Berries

photo by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

Isn't this the coolest plant ever? I took these photos in Central Park, during my recent visit to New York City.

photo by Jane LaFazio

The colors just blow my mind! Do you know what plant it is? It grows all over Central Park.

photo by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

I usually avoid drawing from photos, I much prefer to draw from real life, but since I couldn't bring these home to California, I must do something inspired by the photos! Got any ideas?