JaneVille: May 2014

Monday, May 26, 2014

Green Spring

detail of Green Spring ~ by Jane LaFazio

Green Spring ~ by Jane LaFazio (11.5x10 inches)

detail of Green Spring ~ by Jane LaFazio

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Matilija Poppies

photo by Jane LaFazio

Another obsession, I mean, interest of mine, is Matilija Poppies. The grow wild and bloom this time of year. I love looking at them, photographing and drawing. (A quilt is next, for sure!)

My painting stuff. photo by Jane LaFazio

I visited the lovely Fullerton Arboretum recently, and went straight to the poppies.

photo by Jane LaFazio

Sketchbook page in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

One of my esteemed blog readers referred to these flowers as

"a dandelion in a wedding dress."

photo by Jane LaFazio

detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

Monday, May 19, 2014

Dreaming of Poke Weed

detail of "Dreaming of Poke Weed" by Jane LaFazio

"Dreaming of Poke Weed" by Jane LaFazio (13x24 inches)

Central Park poke weed! by Jane LaFazio

If you've been reading my blog since I visited New York City, in September 2013, when I saw my first poke weed! Maybe not so exciting to you, but I fell in love with the image and colors of the weed. It's been turning up everywhere (the images, not the actual weed!!) in my artwork.

detail of "Dreaming of Poke Weed" by Jane LaFazio

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Modern Hand Stitching

detail of hand stitching by Jane LaFazio

In case you didn't know it, I love to hand stitch. I usually stitch in the evenings and it relaxes me, and keeps my hands busy while I watch TV with my husband. I use a few simple stitches, mostly relying on the repetition of the simple stitch and beautiful threads to make the impact in my art quilts.

detail of hand stitching by Jane LaFazio

But I needed a boost, and inspiration to add to the way I work.

Not change it, just add to it.

detail of hand stitching by Jane LaFazio

My friend, Ruth Chandler, has written a book that's done just that. Inspired me, but not overwhelmed me with stitches I'm never going to do. In her book, Modern Hand Stitching, She shows how to do a simple, basic stitch and then gives the reader a bunch of different ways to use, change and layer that basic stitch to create something new.

Modern Hand Stitching by Ruth Chandler

Ruth writes about how to create this little cloth stitchbook (below), in her book, Modern Hand Quilting. I think it's a great little project and would be a wonderful inspiration book to keep on hand with my stitching stuff.
Or for new stitcher, as a learning tool.