What's your ONE WORD for 2015?

Words for 2013 ~ created by Jane LaFazio
of my blog readers and facebook friends' words 

"What you are is what you have been. What you will be is what you do now." Buddha.

Have you chosen your one word for 2015? One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. One word that you can focus on every day, all year long. Or at least try to.

Words for 2014 ~ created by Jane LaFazio
of my blog readers and facebook friends' words 

In January 2014, my word was CLEAR, and I wrote this at the time:

My ONE WORD is CLEAR. 
Clear, as in clear roads ahead. Clear, as in clear spaces surrounding me. Clear, as in clear skies, clear sailing ahead. Clear, as in a clear mind. 

My 2013 word was LOVE.

My word for 2013~ from my sketchbook by Jane LaFazio

My word for 2012 was Preparation. And I wrote this at the time:

This year I've chosen the word "preparation." Not a very exciting or ethereal-type word, but a good one for me. You see, I want to become a better teacher in 2012. Yes, I'm a good teacher now, and I do get lots of wonderful, positive feedback. But I want to be better. I want to step it up, really give my students their time and money's worth. I want to be more prepared. To be prepared for my classes, to have more hand-outs, more of a structure (but still with lots of room for creative play!) to really think through each step of the process. Good solid preparation is what I plan to be physically doing for each and everyone of my classes and workshops. 

So, what is your ONE WORD? Do leave a comment on this post, and I will include it in my 2015 words poster. And if you are one of my blog subscribers, you'll receive a free downloadable color pdf of 2015 words. So, you've got two assignments, subscribe to my blog by going here, and entering your name in the upper right hand corner.

And then, leave a comment with your ONE WORD for 2015.

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake." ~ Francis Bacon

Handmade Christmas ~ around our house

BeBop

Every December, I unpack our box of decorations and ornaments. This year, I was more aware of how many of the things in the box were handmade and hand-stitched  by me.

Counted cross stitch pillow by Jane LaFazio

If you've been in one of my in-person classes that involved stitching, you've heard me introduce myself with a story about how I started hand stitching at age 16 and how I worked from kits for about 20 years or so.

Painted Santas (from a kit) ~ by Jane LaFazio

Santas were painted in 1988.

And, evidently, I was a crafter before the word was invented! I made crewel work, needlepoint, counted cross stitch. And I also made Christmas ornaments from kits, like the little ceramic Santas pictured above.

Counted cross stitch (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio

Painted ornament (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio

embroidered ornament (original design) by Jane LaFazio

needlepoint ornament (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio

Clothes pin ornament (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio

And one year I worked on a kit of different characters made from old fashioned clothes pins. (picture above)

Counted cross stitch pillow of the Spode Christmas tree (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio

It just shows that I have always loved making things! Now, everything I make is original, and designed by me. But back then, it never occurred to me to design my own. 

Though, if you handed me a cool kit to make something, anything, I'd probably sit right down and do it.

Mass produced kit or your own original design, making things with my own hands is so satisfying!

tiny needlepoint ornament (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio

Tiny stocking (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio

Happy Holidays, dear readers!

from my sketchbook ~ San Diego

"December" 5x7 inches by Jane LaFazio

Two pages from my sketchbook, both done in beautiful San Diego, my home.

"Balboa Park" 5x7 inches by Jane LaFazio

My sequined Corazon

detail ~ "Corazon" by Jane LaFazio

"Corazon" 6x8x1 inch by Jane LaFazio

I just ordered $80 worth of sequins from Cartwright Sequins. That's a lot of sequins! Clearly, I'm enamored with working with sparkle and shine right now.

detail ~ "Corazon" by Jane LaFazio

detail ~ "Corazon" by Jane LaFazio

detail ~ "Corazon" by Jane LaFazio

I'm enjoying making these little felt stuffies. Hand sewing and beads and felt and sequins. Sort of sounds like my 'desert island' list of necessities!

detail ~ "Corazon" by Jane LaFazio

I plan on teaching a workshop or two in this, in 2015. Hope to see there there!

detail ~ "Corazon" by Jane LaFazio

We might even add sequins to the journals we make for my LavenderSage Art Retreat in June in Taos, New Mexico. Interested in knowing more about my LavenderSage Art Retreats? Email me at : LavenderSageArtRetreats (at) gmail.com

Botanical Garden

"Botanical Garden" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Botanical Garden" detail by Jane LaFazio

Working on proposals for my workshops in 2015. I'm happy with the way this one came out. Hope the students will be too!

"Botanical Garden" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Botanical Garden" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Botanical Garden" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Botanical Garden" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Botanical Garden" detail by Jane LaFazio

"City Blocks" 3 day workshop at Art is You (art retreat) in Connecticut in October 2015.

detail of "City Blocks" by Jane LaFazio

detail of "City Blocks" by Jane LaFazio

detail of "City Blocks" by Jane LaFazio

detail of "City Blocks" by Jane LaFazio

detail of "City Blocks" by Jane LaFazio

detail of "City Blocks" by Jane LaFazio

Here's a sneak peak at "City Blocks" It's an art quilt I'm creating for a proposal for a unique 3 day workshop for Art Is You in Stamford, Connecticut October 7- 10. Then I'll be teaching two one day workshops on October 11 and 12, 2015 too. I'll share more details, once I know them!

detail of "City Blocks" by Jane LaFazio

Nothing is worth more than this day....

"Nothing is Worth More than This Day" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Nothing is Worth More than This Day" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Nothing is Worth More than This Day" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Nothing is Worth More than This Day" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Nothing is Worth More than This Day" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Nothing is Worth More than This Day" detail by Jane LaFazio

"Nothing is Worth More than This Day"  by Jane LaFazio

I've worked with felt for a long time:

A peak of my felt projects over the years. By Jane LaFazio

And I love elaborate beading:

BRA by Jane LaFazio. (I did this for a cancer fundraiser a few years ago.)

But it's thanks to the inspiration of Design Matters that I combined them and created this little pillow.

Fiberart for a Cause ~ benefits American Cancer Society on February 4

100 Artists ~ 100 Patrons ~ one day= 

$10,000 to fight cancer

February 4, 2015

 Virginia Spiegel's Fiberart For A Cause begins February 4.. This year her project is called "The 100." Virginia invited 100 fiber artists to commit to donating a piece of their artwork to a patron who donates $100 to the American Cancer Society on February 4. After the donations are received, Virginia will randomly match artists will donors and the artists will send off their artwork.

I am thrilled to be included on this list of 100 amazing artists! 

100 Artists - 100 Patrons - One Day
$10,000 To Fight Cancer
February 4, 2015

Want to make a donation and receive a piece of art? Mark your calendar for February 4 and check out the details are here.

Fiberart For A Cause has already raised $240,000 through the generosity of fiber artists and patrons.