JaneVille

Dia de los Muertos

2012-01-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

I finished this Recycled Circles piece in honor of Dia de los Muertos. It make me excited for the art retreat my friends and I are teaching in San Miguel de Allende during Dia de los Muertos!

8 Day heARTfest Valentine Tutorial Blog Hop with my friends:
1/25/2012 Jane LaFazio Sketchbookpage to Valentine Card (& envelope too)

1/26/2012 Traci Bunkers Heart filled journal page

1/27/2012 Diana Trout Woven heart valentines card

1/28/2012 Lyric Kinard Lovin' my Thermofax Screens

1/29/2012 Judy Coates Perez Chocolate Peppermint Cream Heart Cakes

1/30/2012 Kelli Nina Perkins Heart-shaped felted soap

1/31/2012 Melanie Testa

2/1/2012 Tracie Lynn Huskamp Valentine Message Pillows

Judy Coates Perez heart cakes

Kelli Nina Perkins felted soap

8 day heARTfest~ Valentine Tutorial Blog Hop

2012-01-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

8 day heARTfest~ Valentine Tutorial Blog Hop starts here!
Make a Valentine and matching envelope using a page from your sketchbook. Above is a cropped photo of my layered valentine page. You'll see how I produced and printed cards and envelopes using a photo of this page.

As you'll see in this post, the layered journal page is made from a doodle on one page in my sketchbook and then covered with a sheet of vellum, with more ink drawings, filled with color pencil.
Envelopes: I photographed the ink doodle page, then, using Photoshop (filter: stamp) to simplify the drawings. Then I printed it out in black and white on regular printer paper, and then cut envelopes using the envelope template I found online.
Cards: To make the cards, I printed out the image in color on card stock. I made both postcards and folded cards, both to fit the envelopes.

the vellum overlay. ink and color pencil

Here' are the other pages of mine from my Strathmore Visual Journal (9x12). The doodles, painted with watercolor on one page, and the overlay of vellum, with more ink drawings (and colored with color pencil)

I used Strathmore Translucent Vellum and it took ink beautifully. ( I see they have inkjet and laser vellum too , but I haven't used it.) To fasten the vellum to the sketchbook page, I used a tiny hole punch and tiny brads. You could just staple it too.

Happy Valentines Day!

8 Day heARTfest Valentine Tutorial Blog Hop with my friends:
1/25/2012 Jane LaFazio Sketchbookpage to Valentine Card (& envelope too)

1/26/2012 Traci Bunkers Heart filled journal page

1/27/2012 Diana Trout Woven heart valentines card

1/28/2012 Lyric Kinard Lovin' my Thermofax Screens

1/29/2012 Judy Coates Perez Chocolate Peppermint Cream Heart Cakes

1/30/2012 Kelli Nina Perkins Heart-shaped felted soap

1/31/2012 Melanie Testa

2/1/2012 Tracie Lynn Huskamp Valentine Message Pillows

Judy Coates Perez heart cakes

Kelli Nina Perkins felted soap

From my Sketchbook

2012-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

This month's Sketchbook Challenge theme of doodles has really triggered something in me.

I got the idea to layer a piece of Strathmore Translucent Vellum, that I already had, from one of the ideas in Jill K. Berry's book, Personal Geographies.

I'll be doing a Valentine tutorial on this blog on January 25, and I'll show you how I created a journal page like this and then, use the image to create a valentine card and envelope.

Recycled Circles

2012-01-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

Recycled Circles. I teach this workshop and, am continually surprised at the variety one project can inspire. This is one finished recently, under the influence of Lyric Kinard's Bead it Like you Mean It DVD.

Thanks to Ellen for this gorgeous grouping of fabrics!

I'll be teaching "Recycled Circles" in San Diego, on April 9; at CREATE in Irvine, CA on June 1 and in Kentucky on October 12. You can see my teaching schedule here.

My first book (okay, it's self published)

2012-01-20T14:15:00.000-08:00

Cuba by Jane LaFazio | Make Your Own Book

I made a book of some of my photos from Cuba. It's 32 pages and here's a preview of some of the pages. It's for sale. If I sell 500 copies, I'll be able to afford to go to Cuba again...(Clearly this book is not a money making proposition!) But I thought it would be a great way to create a hard copy of my photos.
And send me an email if you'd like to be on the contact list for possible "Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style" trip to Cuba in 2013.

Cuba ~ Community

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

We visited the home of Jose Fuster, a mosaic artist who had covered his home, and with the help of the community, much of his adjoining neighborhood.

We had a delicious lunch (with Cuba Libres of course) at Jose Fuster's home.
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We also visited Mario Pelgrin Pozo's home. He's created a community center, in his neighborhood. There are kids art lessons, dance lessons, and a small garden. He's done this for 11 years, relying on as he put it, 'non-government donations.'


I donated a bag of watercolor sets and told Mario I'd love to come and teach the kids for a week someday. He grinned and pointed to 'my room!' (below) and invited me to check it out.

My future lodgings.


As you can tell, we totally enjoyed our tour with Cuban Cultural Travel. They're going again in April 2012, and I hope to do a sketching and watercolor trip to Cuba in 2013. (Email me if you want on the list for 2013)

photo by Petey Dietz

I hope you've enjoyed seeing Cuba, through my eyes...... You can see all the photos here.

Cuba ~ exterior walls

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Cuba's location, with his heat, humidity, salt air and hurricanes, is hard on the buildings. Not to mention, that most everything is at least 100 years old and untouched.

There is no real graffiti, as we Americans know it. Mostly message-laden artwork.

I can't image what this means??? but it makes me smile. (above)

,
Tomorrow Cuba Community. And my last post (for now) on Cuba.

Cuba ~ Spiritual Practice

2012-01-18T06:00:00.001-08:00

We visited a church, with its American Pastor. They have programs for the community, including this Senior Citizen one. That's husb, saying hola to everyone.

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Santeria, is a belief that's a combination of African and Cuban, with it's own symbols and rituals. We visited a small neighborhood (Callejon de Hamel) in Havana, covered in these mysterious (to me) imagines.

Tomorrow's post exterior walls in Cuba

Cuba ~textures and trains

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

These photos are from an old train collection, right near the Capitol Building in Havana, just a few blocks from our hotel. They are mostly trains used to transport sugar cane. (That business is pretty much done now. Used to be that Cuba sold the the Soviet Union 85% of their exports...then, the fall of the Soviet Union, in the mid 90s ended all that.)

I just love all the layered textures.........

If I were a abstract painter, or fiber artist, Deidre Adams, I'd know just how to use these photos for inspiration.

Tomorrow spiritual practice in Cuba

Cuba ~ Tobacco Farm

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

This is Viñales Valley, about 2-1/2 hours drive from Havana. We visited Concha and Paco Ramirez and their extended family. Paco grew up on this family farm, went to college, and then returned to continue his family's 100 year tradition of farming tobacco.

He grows tobacco, on the 40 acres, along with rice, beans, tomatoes and lettuce. There are also cows (we had pork for lunch) and an assortment of animals. He explained (through our guide) that he 'gives' 90% of the tobacco to the government, and in return they provide the equipment, fertilizer etc to farm. When asked by one of our group, what does he do with the other 10%? He smiled, told us he saves the best for himself, and rolls his own cigars. At the point, he lit one up, from the pocket full he carried.

Hand rolled cigars (20 for 20 pesos) and the 100 year old cigar mold he uses.

That's the Ramirez house, dwarfed by our tour bus.

Nothing like a good cigar a a cup of sweet coffee after lunch!

They had neighbors to entertain us then fed us a delicious lunch (pork, rice and beans) and dessert was mango jam and a slice of cheese. (quite good!)

Tomorrow, textures and trains in Cuba.

Cuba ~ Hemingway's House & Drinks & Cigars

2012-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

That's me on the front steps of Hemingway's house, Finca Viga. This house is the reason I came to Cuba. Years (and years) ago, I visited Hemingway's house in Key West, Florida. They mentioned he had a house in Cuba too, and that planted the seed for this trip.


Hemingway first visited Cuba in the early 1930s. He rented this house for a year, and then, in 1939, he bought the 40 acre place, with the incredible view for about $12,000. The money was from the advance on "For Whom the Bell Tolls." He wrote "Islands in the Stream," "The Old Man and the Sea" and To Have and Have Not" here. The house is about 20 minutes from downtown Havana.

He lived here for 20 years.

Hemingway left in 1960, some say at the urging of the US government, and he committed suicide in 1961, in Ketchum, Idaho, at 60 years old. His widow, Mary, came to the house once, after he died, to collect some personal stuff. Then she 'bequeathed' the house and its contents to the Cuban government. They and the Finca Vigia Foundation have worked to restore it and catalog his 9,000 books and letters and unfinished writings.

Hemingway only met Fidel Castro one time, at a fishing tournament in 1959 in Cuba.


The house is simply gorgeous. Below, is the bathroom wall, where he wrote his weight and the date every day! and his closet, with his shirts and shoes.

If I do a sketching and watercolor trip to Cuba in 2013, (email me) I'm thinking of tying it into a Hemingway theme, so I can visit all the other places he frequented.

Hemingway is revered in Cuba. This from an outdoor book store in Havana

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Above is our hotel lobby, at the Central Parque Hotel in Havana Vieja. And husb, buying his first Cuban cigar!

Here we are at El Foridita, one of the bars that Hemingway frequented.
Husb is very happy with a Cuban cigar & Daiquiri, just like Hemingway drank.

Our meals, in Cuba were all delicious, with fresh ingredients. However, we ate an inordinate about of black beans, rice, pork and chicken! It's a very limited menu. I had my first, second, third and fourth Mojito's while in Cuba. I'm now officially tired of them. Rum is the official beverage of Cuba and everywhere we went, we were greeted with a welcome cocktail of a Mojito or a Cuba Libre.

Tomorrow's post a tobacco farm in the beautiful Vinales Valley, Cuba
See yesterday's post on Interiors and cars of Havana.

Cuba ~ interiors and cars

2012-01-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

I showed you the buildings of Havana here. These photos are some of the interiors, as seen from the street.

This is the newly restored Palace of Matrimony. Yes, it's just for weddings.

Cuba is just now allowing small employee owned businesses.
This is an example of a woman opening up a produce stand in her home.

Yes, there are lots of old American cars in Havana! They are mostly taxi cabs, so anyone can ride in them.






Including the hearse at the cemetery!
Tomorrow, Ernest Hemingway house and food and mostly drink in Cuba.
Don't miss yesterday's post on dance and drinks in Cuba.

Cuba ~ dance, music and art

2012-01-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

Our week in Cuba was a cultural tour with visits to the National Ballet of Cuba performance of the Nutcracker (in the Grand Teatro built in 1837) and visits to artists galleries. Our opportunity to watch this flamenco dance company rehearse was extra special. The room was very small and their passion for the dance huge.

These three guys provided the music and beat for the rehearsal. The wooden box is a traditional percussion instrument for Cuban flamenco. We had dinner and a fabulous flamenco performance Meson de la Flota too.

We visited Taller de GraficaExperimental a printmaking cooperative with 130 artists, started in 1962 (above)

We saw a rousing musical "Besame Mucho" at the old Riviera Hotel. (The hotel was built in the 1950 by a mafia boss.)

We watched dance classes and rehearsals at Centro Pro Danza a school for 850 students founded in 1988.

The rehearsal spaces are on the second floor.

This is the first floor of the dance studio...

Fabulous salsa dancing, with Buena Vista Social Club music at La Taberna. I was mesmerized by the dancing and hip swinging! Talk about sensual dancing...

Here's the group we traveled with. Fifteen delightful, congenial people!

Our driver, Thomas and our guide Osmeen (in the red). They were so wonderful!
Osmeen was a wealth of knowledge and a darn good dancer.
They were both Cuban, of course, and had never traveled outside Cuba.

Our trip was full of planned activities and meals and walking tours, as you'll see over the next few days. I felt we had total freedom, though, to skip the activities and go out on our own. To me, Cuba was very safe, and the people exceedingly welcoming.

Don't miss yesterday's photos of the buildings of Havana.
Tomorrow, a post on the interiors of some of the buildings and the infamous old American cars.

Havana, Cuba ~ the buildings

2012-01-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

I've just returned from a week long trip to Cuba. It was fantastic and fascinating. I'll be doing a series of posts, highlighting different aspects of my trip. Today, I'm focusing on the buildings of Havana.

One of the things I was most fascinated by was the architecture, particularly in Havana Vieja (Old Havana was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1982.). Havana is 500 years old, and the range of buildings is amazing. Unlike most cities, they haven't torn down many of the old building. And, sadly, have been unable to afford to rehabilitate soooo many of the gorgeous old structures. The city looks as it did 100 years ago...

The population of Cuba is 11 million, with about 2.5 million living in Havana. The island of Cuba is narrow and 740 miles long.

The Spanish ruled Cuba from 1519- 1898, when the US briefly took over. With the Cuban revolution of 1904, Cuba was ruled by it's own people. Throughout the years, Cuba has gone through huge economic booms and huge depressions.

The song lyrics of 'what a beautiful wreck' describe these old buildings...

There is an active restoration going on, in Havana, but the money and materials are VERY slim, so it will be a slow process with hundreds and hundreds of buildings to be restored.

Even though the outside of this building (above) looks beautifully restored, the apartments inside are not. The housing shortage for Cubans is one of their major problems, since soooo many of these structures are uninhabitable.

There are some structures, in some areas that have been restored to their former glory.

The streets are uniformly clean with street sweepers and residents keeping them tidy. It's the case throughout Cuba.

Our group took a walking tour with respected Architect and historian Maria Elena Martin (above).

Cuba is a very poor country, even though education and healthcare are provided for free. There are extreme shortages for basic goods, ration cards, and the people are paid ~$24 a month, yet must pay high prices for non rationed goods. The countries income is number 1. tourism and number 2. remittances (which means money and goods send from their family members who live outside the country)

You can find neighborhoods that look like this, but VERY few.

This is the view from the Malecon (the road and 5 mile walk way along the shore.) That's more of Havana in the distance.
Tomorrow, the dance studios and artists we visited. I'm posting for the next week on our trip..through January 20.
(My husb and I went with Cuba Cultural Travel and the Fallbrook School of Arts. They will be going again in April, and here's the info. I hope to teach a sketching and watercolor trip in Cuba in 2013, so let me know if you'd like to be on the mailing list for that by emailing me with CUBA in the subject line.)

thank you dear readers!

2012-01-12T05:43:00.000-08:00

Me. Teaching

Wow, dearest readers! thank you sooo much for all the generous and helpful and insightful comments on my post, when I asked you what makes a good teacher. I sooo appreciate your input and that you took the time to really share your opinions. All 294 comments were great. I'm going to compile and edit them into one document, that I promise to read before each and every class I teach! Seriously, because of you I really feel I will be prepared to step up into 2012! Thank you!!

The winner of the giveaway is Penny.

Penny has left a new comment on your post "Happy New Year 2012!":
I dont think I can add much to what has already been said.A good teacher is one who is passionate about what she teaches, knows it well, loves to find something new from her students and has a good relationship with her students,all of which I am sure you do.
OH how I would love that give away!!

Doodles in layers

2012-01-09T03:00:00.002-08:00

Can you tell I had lots of fun with this!?

Here's the layer below, inspired by The Sketchbook Challenge January theme of doodling:

I did the doodle drawing, straight to ink and watercolored it. Then I traced some images ink, on to vellum, from other pages in my sketchbook, that inspired the doodles. Then I attached the vellum to the page and colored some of the images with color pencil. I'll definitely do more of these!
Don't forget to leave a comment on my January 1st post for a great giveaway! I'll announce the winner on January 12th.

walking and watercolors

2012-01-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

I took a walk in my neighborhood, and picked up these bits of nature, a pod, an acorn and some round eucalyptus leaves. When I got home, I drew and painted them in my 9x12 journal.

Years ago, like in 1994? I did this watercolor painting (below). We were in Seattle for a few days, and everyday I'd walk around Greenlake and pick up a bit of nature. Then I'd come back and draw and paint it. The composition just developed and I think I added some bits of map and text. I look at this piece now (well, this lousy photo of the long ago sold piece) and am amazed at how my work is heading in the exact same direction...

Don't forget to leave a comment on my January 1st post for a great giveaway!

Arizona ~ monoprint on cloth

2012-01-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to leave a comment on my January 1st post for a great giveaway!

Prayer Flag #19: Grounded

2012-01-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

Prayer Flag #19: Grounded. Defined as: mentally and emotionally stable : admirably sensible, realistic, and unpretentious. And I like the electrical definition too: A direct physical connection to the earth.
Read about how I created this flag, over on the Prayer Flag Project blog. And while you there, check out How to Participate, and join me and others in making flags.

Don't forget to leave a comment on my January 1st post for a great giveaway!

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

Me. Teaching.

Happy New Year, dear readers!
"What you are is what you have been. What you will be is what you do now." Buddha.
I like the idea of selecting a word for 2012. A word to focus on. An affirmation or a goal. Last year, I chose 3 words (that was too many! I forgot the 3rd word by February.)
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.

When I discussed this with my wise friend, Pamela Underwood, she clarified that my intention is to "step up" to new opportunities and be prepared.
And, I need your help to do this, in exchange for your help, you could win this pretty darn fabulous giveaway! (The giveaway includes my DVD "From Art Journaling to Art", 5 large tubes of very fine Windsor Newton watercolors, a Pitt artist pen, a Tobow water soluble pen, a Strathmore Visual Journal for watercolor and a Sketchbook Challenge tote. This is great stuff, and all my fave products that I use regularly.)

But I need your help. Please leave a comment regarding teaching. I want to know what you think makes a great teacher. What traits, handouts, preparation, structure or whatever, that makes you feel you've really had a great experience in the classroom or workshop.
Leave your comment by midnight January 11 and I'll choose a winner on January 12. Thanks in advance!

from art journaling to art

2011-12-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

Tesoro de Corazon ~ treasures from the heart. (The name of the art retreats my friends and I do in Mexico.)

I love leveraging images from my sketchbook to create something else--stamps, thermofax, stencils, stitching..

I'm teaching a 6 week, online class called "Watercolor Sketchbook: Designs from Life." It doesn't start till March 29, but you can get started "Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style" on January 24 on joggles.com and/or download or buy my DVD "From art journaling to art." OR, just get started! go on over to The Sketchbook Challenge blog and get inspired.

Walking & Watercolors on the French Riviera

2011-12-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

Walking & Watercolors along the French Riviera

Sept 10-16 Join your Blue Walk host Carlo, and our veryspecial guest Jane LaFazio, for a spectacular week of “Walking &Watercolors” along the French Riviera.

The Blue Walk offers anextraordinary opportunity to spend a week on the Cote d’Azur, leisurelystrolling its gorgeous coast, meandering through its best-loved towns, andenjoying classes taught by our artist extraordinaire, Jane LaFazio.

Using a pencil, a pen and a small set ofwatercolors, you’ll illustrate the details of your French Rivera experience.Jane LaFazio is known for her fun-loving, supportive instruction, and she willteach you to draw and paint in your own style, as unique to you as yourhandwriting. You'll learn how to capture the subject in pencil and thenadd watercolor in a quick and intuitive way.

Each day we’ll stop along our walk to draw andpaint the details that capture your interest - just quickly, and on small 5x7”journal size pages. Our stops could be a colorful French flower market,pausing along a shaded seaside promenade, or lingering at an outdoor cafesipping cappuccinos. With the Coted'Azur as our backdrop, inspirations are limitless.

At the end of the week, we’ll compile a smallbook with your pages and memories of the Blue Walk tucked inside.

Click here for the Itinerary

What’s Included:

· Six nights atour unique art-inspired hotel in Nice with lovely gardens & pool

· Art classes with Jane LaFazio

· Gorgeous guided coastal walks

· One-week unlimited use train pass to get us to and from our walks

· Daily buffet breakfast

· Cafe lunch inMenton’s town square

· Picnic lunchin St. Jean Cap Ferrat

· Welcomedinner

· Farewelldinner

· Allcustomized itineraries and maps

· Visit to theEphrussi de Rothschild Villa & Gardens, St. Jean Cap Ferrat

· Visit to alocal artist’s studio in Nice

· Visit toCours Saleya, Nice’s colorful “Marché aux Fleurs”

· Visit toAntibes “Marché Provençal”

· Assistance ofyour hosts throughout

· All hoteltaxes, fees and service charges

$2850 Price is per person, doubleoccupancy, land only.

Single supplement available - ask for details

For more information, click here. Or email Carlo Roberts

in my sketchbook: pods!

2011-12-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

I'm enjoying working in my sketchbook during these last two weeks of December. It feels good, and quiets my mind and nurishes my soul.

My sketchbook: Shells

2011-12-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

Stitching and a workshop with Patti Digh!

2011-12-21T03:00:00.001-08:00

If you know me and the way I work, you'll recognize my process of just working on one little square at a time. I love working small, with no real plan, and only a slight idea of a cohesive color scheme. I'm doing this now, in preparation for a workshop I'll be teaching with Patti Digh (author of Life is a Verb) on March 17 in San Diego. I'm making many more squares than we'll create in the workshop, but I'm just enjoying it so much.
Here's info on the workshop The Geography of Loss: Creating an art quilt map of your journey through grief. And to you, my lovely blog readers, I've offering a $50 discount if you use this code Friend2012.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Art Retreat

2011-12-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

Mixed Media Mosaic Libro de Ofrendas cover by Laurie Mika

I'm teaching again in San Miguel de Allende Mexico in October 2012. My friends, Laurie Mika, Helen Shafer Garcia, Lynn Leahy and I are teaching 4 days of workshops during the Dia de los Muertos. We've created a fabulous project! Wait till you see it! In fact, you can see it right here and get the details of the 9-day retreat. Thirty students maximum and we've already got 15 registered....There are more photos on our blog Tesoro del Corazon.

In my sketchbook: Poinsettia

2011-12-17T03:00:00.000-08:00

Is the addition of the stitched felt leaf clever? Well, I added it to cover up a drawing on the page I didn't like!

Going to Cuba!

2011-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

Husb and I are traveling to Cuba in early January. (We're going with an education based tour company, Cuba Cultural Travel.) I've always wanted to go to Cuba, ever since I visited Key West, Florida, many years ago. I saw Hemingway's house, and was told he also had a house in Cuba--and decided then I wanted to see Cuba.

I'm preparing a small journal for the trip, since I want to draw everything I see. I started with a map of Cuba, inspired by Jill Berry's wonderful new book "Personal Geographies."

And of course, I had to include Fidel in my journal.

As I was creating the map, it was interesting to realize not only how large Cuba is, but how close to other places we've visited, like Key West, Jamaica and Turks & Caicos.

Sashiko meets prayer flags

2011-12-13T03:00:00.001-08:00

Fabric fun! I bought these gorgeous fabric squares from designer Marcia Derse at the Houston Quilt Festival.

And I have a new Babylock Sashiko sewing machine to play with!

I'd planned to completely stitch the squares down, but when I completed the top, they reminded me so much of prayer flags, I had to stop there. (You know, The Prayer Flag Project)

The stitches are gorgeous. I'll be playing with the machine a lot more, to see what it can do!

Fabric covered swingin' vase

2011-12-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

I made these fun fabric swingin' vases.

For these, I used my own original fabric, with a thin batting behind and did some free motion stitching.

Then, just because, I colored in some of the stitched shapes with water soluble crayons.

I used glass test tubes from here. These are the 38x200mm size, $3 each.

I measured them, and stitched two sides, rounding the bottom. You can hem them first, by machine, or hem them later, by hand. I sewed buttons on each side, on the top, and strung the monofilment (fishing line) through the buttons, to create a hanger.

I created another set, as gifts, using fabric printed with a Paris subway map (sorry, I don't remember where I got this fabric) and free motioned it.

I hand stitched the top hem of these.

Watercolor in Italy ~ May 2012

2011-12-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

These are photos that I took last year, during my workshop in Orvieto, Italy. You can see all the photos here.

I'll be teaching in Orivieto again, in May 2012. As you can imagine, I'm looking forward to it! I'll be teaching "Bella Italia: Orvieto Sketchbook" and we'll sketching and watercoloring and cooking and wine tasting for one glorious week! Join me! Seven are registered now--only 3 spaces left!

And the winner of Jill K. Berry's book "Personal Geographies" is Vee!! Email me with your mailing address! congrats!

December in California

2011-12-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

I taught last Saturday at California Center for Creative Renewal in Encinitas, Ca. Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style. 22 students and a beautiful, clear day!

Some of the students work above.

Then, on Monday I taught Monoprinting using my fave Gelli Plates, at Visions Quilt Museum. (another gorgeous location for a workshop!)

Here's the begining stages of Jo's prints (above). It's all about layering

And Kay's (above)

And Lisa's (above)

Claire-Lise Matthey Anderegg worked with this wonderful stencil from Stencil Girl Products

And created her usual fabulous work!

In my sketchbook

2011-12-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

I'm using a Strathmore Visual Journal, 9x12 (in fact, I'm teaching a 6 week class "Sketching and Watercolor in a Mixed Media Journal" in San Diego, starting January 24,Tuesdays 9-noon, using this journal.)

Anyway, I've taken apart my journal, removing the wire binding and I've combined the Mixed Media pages with the Watercolor pages of two 9x12 Strathmore journals. It's working out great! (I used these cable rings.)

Work in Progress

2011-12-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

Some works in progress.

red, gold and turquoise

2011-12-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

No, this isn't in my house. It's my friend, Linda Blinn's mantel. I adore the arrangement and the colors! I'll be shopping for a turquoise vase...

Personal Geographies by Jill K. Berry

2011-12-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

Greenwood Drive by Jane LaFazio

"WhenI was a little girl, I lived on Greenwood Drive. My whole world existed inabout 5 square blocks. My best friend lived down the street, two doors downfrom the lady that handed out candy all year long, across the street from themean man who yelled when I rode my bike on his lawn. The next door neighbor’s granddaughterwould visit every year, and we’d string up tin can telephones to talk acrossthe driveway. Burton Park was a few blocks where I’d wade in the children’spool, play on the swings and attend birthday party picnics. Seems like everyday an ice cream truck’s music alerted me to ask for dimes from my mom. Goodmemories of life on Greenwood Drive."

Jill K. Berry's new book "Personal Geographies"

My friend, Jill K. Berry has a brand new book! Personal Geographies is really packed with every type of map imaginable. Some, look like real maps, until you take a closer look. Others are 3-dimensional or in a heart or body shape. Jill's a well-known book artist, and she's got some fold-out, booky maps too. She's got guest artists, so you see their take on the map theme, and how truly free wheeling it can be. Maps of experience, maps of places, maps of dreams, of possibilities.There are 21 (!) mixed media map projects in this book. And references to traditional and contemporary maps, and how they can inspire you. Plus, a gallery of maps from contributors. (Full disclosure, my map, Greenwood Drive, is on page 91)
Jill's wit is apparent through out the book. Her head map "My idea of a neighbor's day" with extra long eyelashes and a mouth that closes after 1500 calories.
At the same time, I'm wowed by her sensitively. There's another head map called "A Map, Perhaps, of Nancy" depicting how Jill imagines her friend's brain, after she'd suffered a stroke. So many maps, all different, ALL inspirational. Oh, and directions are included too!

Jill's created a new blog, just for the book and map lovers. Check it out here.

~~I'll be giving away a copy of Jill's book on Saturday, December 10. Leave a comment about a map you might make. (Sorry, only North America only.)~~ Winner is Vee!

Or, try your hand at the others in the blog hop giveaway...

Nov25 Aimee Myers Dolich

Nov 28 Carla Sonheim

Nov 29 Diana Trout

Nov 30 Gloria Hansen

Dec 1 Gwen Diehn

Dec 5 Judy Wise

Dec 6 Lisa Engelbrecht

Dec 7 Lyric Kinard

Dec 8 Orly Avineri

Dec 9 Tracie LynHuskamp

Or just buy Jill's book, "Personal Geographies" here, and get it for a super deal at $11.75!

Prayer Flags

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Prayer Flag 18: for Light. Light was one of my words for 2011 was Light. Light of heart. Sharing the light...

Here's a little tutorial on this prayer flag. I love stencils, and use them in lots of ways in my work.

The markers for fabric are really easy to use.

Artist Cellar has a number of new and very cool stencils. I especially love the cathedral series. Oh, I love the steam punk series too!

I used the stencils with acrylic paint on this prayer flag for my friend Jill. I used the traditional japanese stencils for hers. She loves blue and white!

Go over to the Prayer Flag Project blogspot, and check out the wonderful group prayer flag project I recently did with a group of my friends.

Cyber Monday Shopping!

2011-11-28T06:16:00.000-08:00

It's Cyber Monday, so they say, and many people are doing their online Holiday Shopping today. I thought I'd do my part for the economy, and give you some gifty suggestions.

My online JaneVille Etsy shop! Original art, and watercolors, and collages and more!

Learn. My DVD, "from art journaling to art ~ drawing, watercolor and more techniques for the mixed media artist." You can purchase the DVD or an immediate download. (And then you can post your work on the flickr group and post your work!--I mean, tell the friend who you are buying this for to post their work...)

Lyric Kinard's DVD "Bead it Like You Mean it". Remember I was inspired by it here, and reviewed it here.

Jill Berry's new book Personal Geographies

Gloria Hansen is offering a special price on her book Digital Essentials.

cereal box paper dolls from January's adventure in Palm Springs

Giggle. A gift certificate for one of Carla Sonheim's online classes. (I'll be buying certificates for certain friends of mine for Cereal Box Paper Dolls class.)

The Sketchbook Challenge ezine.

Download 86 pages of creative projects by some of your fave artists from

the Sketchbook Challenge.

Make some gifts! Here are all my blog tutorials on various arty things.

I'm sure you'll find a gift idea in there somewhere.

Moldable foam stamp kits (with directions) from Traci Bunkers (Traci's tutorial is here.)

Books. Check out my faves and recommendations on My Book Shelf

Pretty things. I love this pewter bird necklace, and think it's a great gift. (Etsy)

As I was researching for this post, I bought this scarf (that's not me in the photo--haven't received it yet), from one of my favorite felters. There's more at FeltFieltroFilc (Etsy)

My favorite purse (and they make wallets too.)

I love these felted rocks from Delica. She makes necklaces too. (Etsy)

Plan. Tracie Lyn Huskamp has her beautiful 2012 calendars available.

My Studio ~ Virtual Tour

2011-11-26T08:56:00.001-08:00

It's all because of Daniela. Daniela Stout, owner of Cozy Quilt Shop. I've know Daniela, since 2003, when her shop made and donated quilts to the Wildfire Survivors (and I drove my friend Pamela Underwood, who'd lost her home, to Cozy Quilt, to select a quilt.)
I ran into Daniela at the Long Beach Quilt Festival in July and she asked what type of sewing machine I owned. (A very cheap one.) Fast forward. Cozy Quilt is a Bernina Distributor. I'm now the proud owner of a Bernina 550.

Bernina arrives!

Bernina demands its own table

My studio BEFORE Bernina.

My studio after cleaning and reorganizing

When I used my old sewing machine, I'd just set it up on my work table, a midst the paint, and glue and whatever I was working on. It was not treated with respect. The Bernina demanded respect and it's own table. (Not to mention it's quite an investment.) So, my annual (well pretty much) studio cleaning and reorganization begun! I thought you might be interested to see where I work. (It's a small bedroom in my home about 10x12')

Bookcase and TV

Glues, gessos and pens

My studio table is our old kitchen table; set in the center of the room, it looks out a sliding glass door to our front yard.

My journals: filled and waiting to be filled

Wooden drawers from Ikea

wire curtain 'rod' with clips to hang artwork

and the studio wouldn't be complete without my kitties!

Buddy, in the studio

BeBop, in the studio

Imaginary....somethings

2011-11-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

The Sketchbook Challenge theme, for November, is imaginary animals.

In my studio

2011-11-23T07:08:00.001-08:00

A day in the life of an High School Art Teacher

2011-11-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

I think I may have been a teacher in my former life. When I told husb this, he immediately imagined me in the mid 1800s, in a one room school house in a small community. I added that I was probably the unmarried school marm, that loved the children I taught, like they were my family....
So, maybe this is why I had the need to follow my friend, Susan Avery Clark, around all day as she taught art to High School kids. Here's record of her day.
Pictured above, Susie, at 8:15am, greeting her 20 high school students at the door. (In each class there are 20 or so kids, usually 75% of them are boys.)

Susie teaches at Murray High School, a continuation high school, of juniors and seniors in Vista, California (just north of San Diego.) For these students, it's their last chance to graduate.
(A continuation high school is an alternative to a comprehensive high school primarily for students who are considered at-risk of not graduating at the normal pace. The requirements to graduate are the same but the scheduling is more flexible to allow students to earn their credits at a quicker pace since they are usually behind when they arrive at the continuation high school. Students who attend these schools may include discipline problems, drug users, pregnant teens and teenage mothers.)

Period one: 8:15-9:05

The first period students are quiet, filing in to get their materials. A couple of them appear to sleep or rest with their heads in the arms. The energy is very low.

Susie, cheerful and smiling, asked them as a group, about their recent 3-day weekend. At this point, they mostly mumble. She introduces the lesson (based on illustrator James Christensen's Renaissance figures and creating their own patterns for the costumes on their hand-drawn characters.) She draws and demonstrates the lesson.

Susie's demo is on the left, the students interpret it.

Period two: 9:05-9:55

Another 20 kids, slightly more awake, file in, and she repeats the lesson with a new demo.

Susie's on the left, a student work on the right.

Period three: 9:55-10:45

Another 20 kids, these are more social with each other, and Susie quiets them so she can be heard. Susie tells me later many are considered homeless, by the state, as they are sharing living quarters with multiple families, or in some cases, the kids can't live with their parents (a restraining order against dad, for example) and live with a classmates' family.

another demo, repeating the lesson and principles again.

Some of the kids get right into it. Many have to be cajoled, because they lack the confidence in their skills.
10:45-11:05 Break

During the 20 minute break, Susie checks her email for messages and schedule changes or announcements. We go to the teacher's lounge to grab a snack of cheese and crackers. (One needs protein to keep up this pace!)

Meanwhile, the kids are outside and there's a group activity. Susie grabs her camera to get pictures for the yearbook (She's in charge of the yearbook this year.)

Period four: 11:05-11:55

Another group files in. Susie hugs one boy, he's just gotten out of jail. (She and everyone believes he was falsely charged.)

The kids are allowed, in this school, to have ipods and wear ear-buds to listen to music during class. The administration believes the music helps the kids focus. Susie requires the kids to take out their ear-buds when she's giving the lesson, and then, once she turns on classroom music, the kids can put in their ear-buds. It doesn't always work that way..
(Susie's demo drawing on the left.)

Period five: 11:55-12:45

Another group of kids. Susie continues her upbeat, supportive style, respectful of the kids, yet firm when she needs to be. Most of these kids have difficult lives, and she knows it. And they realize that if they are kicked out of this school, or fail, it will be an even harder road ahead.

Susie's 5th demo on the left.

12:50, Susie checks her email again for messages and announcements. Goes to the teacher's lounge for a quick lunch. Then back to her classroom to clean up, and prepare for the next day's 5 lessons, grade papers, administrative work etc until ~ 3:30, when she heads home.

At the end of the day, Susie still looks great and full of energy. I, frankly, am exhausted.
I have huge admiration for Susie. She is a natural-born teacher, who cares deeply about the kids and how they learn. She has a teenage sense of humor, that endears her to the kids (and probably helps keep her sane.) Before Susie taught in public schools, she taught community education art classes and she taught me watercolor back in 1993. I'm proud to call her my friend.

Wet Felting workshop

2011-11-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Here are my happy students, working on their newly made felted, totally originally cloth at my workshop last week at The Athenauem.

It's quite a magical process, done with wool roving and a little rolling (photo above). In just 3 hours time, you create a piece of wool cloth. Remarkable! and I supply all the equipment (for you to keep) and materials, so that even if you never do it again, you'll have learned something and come away with a piece of original felt!
You can see more students and their work from my past wet felting workshops here.

From this pile of roving to this..

From this pile of roving to this..

From this pile of roving to this..

From this pile of roving to this..

And mine, from this to this.

Here's close up of mine. I'm adding stitching and maybe some beads...
I'm teaching this 2-day workshop at Fallbrook School of the Arts (Fallbrook, CA, near San Diego) on Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28, 9:30-4pm both days. You can register here.

Bird inspired bag

2011-11-17T07:24:00.001-08:00

I seem to be into bags this month! These cute bags came from Discount School Supply. The adorable felt birds were from Caryl Park, and were my inspiration for the drawings. I used these fabric markers and just drew directly on the bags. (I created this bag, then did a variation of it for my after school kids art program, Mundo Lindo.)

Barbie in a Bag

2011-11-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

I was asked to create a Barbie something for a special birthday gift calendar. Now that the gift has been given and the surprise has taken place, I can show you.
That's a Basic Barbie, and I did a little embroidery on her jeans and t-shirt. Then I made her a special personalized quilt.

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the glamorous photo shot for the calendar. (Don't look to closely to see the cat food dish in the background. Like I said, soooo glamorous!)

Did you see my How to Draw Barbie Tutorial, over on the Sketchbook Challenge blog? I drew her in my sketchbook, then scanned and printed her onto fabric prepared for an inkjet printer. Then I cut her out, fused her to the quilt and to the gift bag. (See my gift bag tutorial here, for some more cool ideas with these muslin bags.)

Wouldn't this make a great gift? You can make one yourself, or you can buy my one-of-a kind Barbie in a Bag in my JaneVille online Esty shop.

Kids love sketchbooks too!

2011-11-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you, dear adult students at my recent workshop at the Learning & Art Expo in Pasadena. When I mentioned the after school art program that I created and teach, Mundo Lindo, and that I'd love to buy some Strathmore Visual Journals for the kids. Many, in the class, donated some money and I bought 23 journals for the kids, and gave them to the kids on Thursday. You can see by these photos, the kids were thrilled!

With such a large class, your donation is very appreciated. The classes and materials for Mundo Lindo are free for the kids. And we're hosted by a non-profit, so your donations are tax deductible. You can donate here.

The kids were thrilled, and are creating a giant thank you note!

Bella Italia: Orvieto Sketchbook

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

A page from my mixed media journal (Strathmore Visual Journal for Mixed Media 9x12")

Notice the Italian book page in the background.

I'm getting excited about my week long workshop Bella Italia: Orvieto Sketchbook in Orvieto, Italy in May 2012. Join me! I'll be teaching Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style. Oh, and we'll have time for wine tasting, cooking, sight seeing...

Sketch & Stitch Gift Bag Tutorial!

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm having great fun sketching, stamping and stitching on these 8.5 x 11" muslin draw string bags.

I carry my camera attachments in this bag.

You've seen this inspiration before. I'm having eternal fun with this imagery.
I used water soluble crayon for the color on this bag.

Eucalyptus Inspired bag in my JaneVille Etsy shop (sold)

Texas Red Oak Gift Bag in my JaneVille Etsy Shop

I drew, in pencil, on the bag. I outlined it with a permanent pen, then colored in with color pencils.

From the oak leaf image, I carved my own stamp. Be sure and put wax paper inside the bag, when you stamp or paint on it.

I stamped the bag, and some shipping tags. You can see the acorn stamp I made too.

And of course, I hand stitched, using a chain stitch and a back stitch.

You can see my stitch guide here.

France! In my JaneVille Etsy Shop

For this bag, I stamped first, using commercial stamps. Then I printed out a fleur de lis, cut it out and traced it, using a gel roller for fabric.

And stitched!

My gift bags. 8.5 x 11 bags

This is just day ONE of 11 days of tutorials! Have a creative November!

And don't forget, the tutorial blog hop continues!

1. November 9^: Jane LaFazio Sketch & Stitch Gift Bags

2. November 10: Lyric Kinard Glitter, Glisten, Glimmer: a beaded snowflake ornament

3. November 11: Tracie Lyn Huskamp A Christmas Cardinal Ornament

4. November 13: Traci Bunkers Moldable Foam Stamps

5. November 14: Melanie Testa Zippered bag

6. November 15: Judy Coates Perez Folk Art Inspired Ornament

7. November 16: Kelli Nina Perkins Whimsical Spool Garland

8. November. 17: Lisa Engelbrecht Experimental Lettering

9. November 18: Jill Berry Geo Papers and Projects

10. November 19: Gloria Hansen Resizing a Digital Image

11. November 20: Diana Trout Furoshiko

Houston Quilt Festival

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

"Surviving the Runway" with Jamie Fingal, Cheryl Sleboda, Melanie Testa, Pokey Bolton,
Judy Coates Perez and Leslie Tucker Jenison.

Home from the Houston International Quilt Festival with 60,000 of my closest friends.

I taught two classes. One 3 hour workshop on machine needle felting, using the Babylock Embellisher. Here's the student work:

I think it turned out great! And if you missed the workshop, here's a link to my tutorial on machine needle felting, my way.

I also saw lots of friends....

Mary Fisher and me

Carol Bostian Hensley and me

And I taught a full day class on Recycled Circles. It's always fascinating how everyone's work turns out the same, but so different.

I had dinner with friends. (Friends with spoons on their noses.)

I did Open Studios at Make It University.

I shopped. (bought a Laga Designs wallet to match my purse.)

Taught with my fellow Sketchbook Challenge artists at a Make It University.

and most importantly, laughed with good friends!

Pokey Bolton and Melanie Testa

Pre-Holiday Tutorial Blog Hop! 11 days worth!

2011-11-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Come back on November 9 for a tutorial on these "Sketch & Stitch Gift Bags"
and then join my friends and I for an 11 day Pre-Holiday Blog Hop!

1. November 9^: Jane LaFazio Sketch & Stitch Gift Bags

2. November 10: Lyric Kinard Glitter, Glisten, Glimmer: a beaded snowflake ornament

3. November 11: Tracie Lyn Huskamp A Christmas Cardinal Ornament

4. November 13: Traci Bunkers Moldable Foam Stamps

5. November 14: Melanie Testa Zippered bag

6. November 15: Judy Coates Perez Folk Art Inspired Ornament

7. November 16: Kelli Nina Perkins Whimsical Spool Garland

8. November. 17: Lisa Engelbrecht Experimental Lettering

9. November 18: Jill Berry Geo Papers and Projects

10. November 19: Gloria Hansen Resizing a Digital Image

11. November 20: Diana Trout Furoshiko

Texas Autumn ~ sketchbook page

2011-11-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pages in my mixed media sketchbook.......(You saw the one on the right here.)

The page (on the left) started with writing, drawing, doodling, stamping. (Can you tell that I did this page under the influence of the Jesse Reno workshop I took recently?)

Then I drew the Texas Red Oak Leaves and painted away the background, the negative space, but there wasn't enough contrast.

I painted the background with a brighter, stronger orange. I'm calling it finished!

Book Review: Anne Lamott "Bird by Bird"

2011-11-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

I enjoyed this book soooo much that I was inspired to write a book review of it for you.
It's a laugh-out-loud, get a tear in your eye, underline multiple passage and fold over the edge of the page, honest, endearing, instructional, well-written book. I pretty much want Anne to be my BFF or at least be a student in her writing classes.

I especially enjoyed how she wrote in a real voice. Sarcastic sometimes, or silly, or even ending a sentence with 'ha ha.' I love that. It's how my BBF would talk to me!

As you may know, I write articles for magazine and books. It's hard for me. Lots of chocolate is usually involved to ease the stress. Anne's book spoke to me regarding writing...

Start with a "shitty first draft."
She'd "...write a first draft that was maybe twice as long as it should be, with a self indulgent and boring beginning, stupefying descriptions..." "The next day, though, I'd sit down, go through it all with a colored pen, take out everything I possible could.."
"Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something--anything--down on paper."

Her thoughts are on writing...yes, but they apply really apply to making art.

"So you must risk placing real emotion at the center of your work. Write straight into the emotional center of things. Write toward vulnerability. Don't worry about appearing sentimental. Worry about being unavailable; worry about being absent or fraudulent. Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If you're a writer, you have a moral obligation to do this And it is a revolutionary act--truth is always subversive."

"...if you are writing the clearest, truest words you can find and doing the best you can to understand and communicate, this will shine on paper like its own lighthouse. Lighthouses don't go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining."

and to life!
"It's like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can't stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship."

"..because helping each other has made their hearts get bigger. A big heart is a both a clunky and a delicate thing; it doesn't protect itself and it doesn't hide."

color palette generator

2011-11-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

To much fun Go to http://bighugelabs.com/colors.php and download your photo and they created a color palette. Way fun! (I do a screen capture, then copy it into photoshop, and save as a jpg.)

If you were going to make art from one of these color palettes, which would you choose?

Dia de los Muertos

2011-11-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Exactly one year from now, November 2012, my artist friends and I will be teaching a mixed media art retreat in beautiful San Miguel de Allende and celebrating Dia de los Muertos! You can read about our retreat here on our Tesoros del Corazón blog.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

this month, 2011

I love this time of year, because I love to draw pumpkins!
Looking back over my journal, it's become a regular subject matter over the years

from 2006

from 2007

from 2008

from 2009

from 2010

earlier this month, 2011

And the winner of The Cloth Paper Scissors book is comment #30! Barbara L. Email me with your mailing address!

This and that

2011-10-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Cloth Paper Scissors Book

Cloth Paper Scissors Book is full of wonderful articles from past magazines. Barbara Delaney, the editor, has chosen a wonderful, inspiration mix of projects and techniques. They've included my article on Creative Sketchbooks. Here's my article, along with my actual journal page (from my 2006 journal).

Me and Husb, at a recent fundraiser for San Diego Brain Injury Foundation.

At last, a kitty in each bed! Thanks to Knitanista!

Me, being a spokesmodel (ha, in my dreams) for Secret Lentil (the dress and scarf) and Laga purses. I'm in front of the Mingei Museum, in Balboa Park, San Diego. That's a Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture.

Hey, if your read this far, you deserve a chance at winning a copy of The Cloth Paper Scissors Book! Leave a comment, and I choose a winner by random number on Sunday, October 30th. Be sure and check back here to see if you won!

Sketching and Watercolor ~ anytime, anyplace

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

1. sketch it in pencil

Me and my watercolors go everywhere. It's easy to bring just a few tools and plant yourself somewhere and draw and paint! (These photos were taken by Carol Bostian Hensley in Austin, at our Lavender Sage Art Retreat, at the Wildflower Center.)

2. Refine the pencil drawing

3. Ink it

4. Paint it

5. Finish the page (oops, I'm not quite finished with the page on the right)

You can check my classes and workshop page, to see where I'm teaching next...

Watercolor & Walking on the French Riviera

2011-10-24T06:00:00.001-07:00

(I used a map of the French Riviera. Here's my tutorial on how.)

I know, it's a year away, but I'm pretty darn excited about doing a walking and watercolor trip on the French Riviera in September 10-16, 2012. If you want to go, n'est-ce pas, you might want to make your reservation. Have questions? Look here. Additional questions? contact Carlo. (Carlo lives in San Diego, and she's a delight! and she speaks fluent French)

fine print:

deposit: A non-refundable, non-transferabledeposit of $500 per person is required to hold your reservation. payment schedule: A secondpayment of $500 per person (refundable based on our cancellation policy) is duenine months prior (December 10, 2011), and is payable by check or moneyorder. Final payment is due 90 daysprior (June 12, 2012)

Blog Radio Interview

2011-10-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

Listen to internet radio with AS Rebecca Parsons on

Blog Talk Radio

Listen to my interview on Artistically Speaking.

Hand stitching

2011-10-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you know I love to hand stitch. I'm guest posting on Alisa Burke's blog today, showing some of my favorite (and so easy) stitches.

Monet & Me

2011-10-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

Remember Monet and his Rouen Cathedral Series? His Haystack Series? Lily pond Series? The guy was obsessed.

When I saw this Passion flower at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, I felt an obsession coming on! The red fruits, encased in thorns are simply stunning! and the flower, wow. I took a bunch of photos, no time to sketch!

So, I've ordered two plants, and I'm going to try to grow them here in San Diego, with the plan of doing a series of paintings and quilts and who knows where it will take me.

(See below for just arrived plants.) Looks like I have some time before I'll have something to draw and paint!

In my mixed media journal

2011-10-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

and from another page....

17 prayer flags

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Seventeen prayer flags (and 1 visiting feral kitty.)

Flag 17: for determination and creativity. A physic recently told me that the color of my aura was orange. For determination. For creativity. I'm thinking he is correct.

Gelli plate monoprint with BioColor.

My goal is 30 flags. You can see the rest of my flags here and join in the project here.

Houston Quilt Festival

2011-10-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Are you going to the Houston Quilt Festival? I'll be there! I'm teaching (my classes are full) and I'm doing a Make It University with my Sketchbook Challenge friends on Saturday at 1:15-2:15. Sign up in the morning, and the attendees are chosen by lottery. $15. AND, not only will you learn some sketchbook ideas from me, Jamie Fingal, Leslie Tucker Jenison, and Judi Hurwitt, you'll meet Sue Bleiweiss too AND get a fabulous tote (pictured) full of goodies including a Strathmore Visual Journal.

Have you downloaded The Sketchbook Challenge Ezine yet?

Also in Houston, my quilt "Industrial Aged" will be on display at The Space Between exhibition.

Industrial Aged (36x48")

Lavender Sage Art Retreats

2011-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pamela Underwood and me at her recent art reception. Pamela and I have founded Lavender Sage Art Retreats together. Not to mention, we've been great friends for years.
(That's her painting, Maiden of Fire, in the background.)

We're doing a mixed media art retreat in Austin, Texas April 19-23, 2012. All the info is here, on the Lavender Sage Art Retreats blog.

Another Danny Gregory Film

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

To El and Back: a film about Butch Belair from DannyGregory on Vimeo.
Another extraordinary film from Danny Gregory.

Winner!

2011-10-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

And the winner of Lyric Kinard's DVD "Bead it Like You Mean It" is Finelines! Email me with your mailing info.

Autumn in San Diego

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's fall in San Diego. The only tree that changes color here, is the Liquid Amber.

Pomegranates

Apples

Blue, cloudless sky. Oh that's right, it looks like this nearly every day of the year in San Diego.

This gorgeous flower blooms rarely and quickly on the grounds of Bernardo Winery.

Succulent... and I do love rose hips..

I took all these photos on my regular 3 mile walk around the neighborhood one morning

Orvieto, Italy

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo by Bill Steiner)
Ah, Orvieto! My workshop, Bella Italia: Orvieto Sketchbook is May 20-26. We've got 6 registered so far, with a maximum of 10. I've been lucky enough to teach in Orvieto once before and it was divine. You can see the photos of my 2010 workshop here. Hope you can join us.

Mixed Media Sketchbook

2011-10-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've been obsessed with drawing with my Tombow, water soluble pen.

I just know you've been hankering for a How to Draw Barbie tutorial. Head over to The Sketchbook Challenge to see my tutorial on just that!

Bead it Like You Mean It! giveaway!

2011-10-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

You may remember this post, on the influence Lyric Kinard's new DVD, Bead it Like You Mean It, had on me. This is an excellent DVD. Lyric was voted Quilt Teacher of the Year 2011, and I can see why. She is an excellent teacher. Charming, clear, well spoken, straight to the point, and certainly knows her stuff. I've been beading for years...thought I knew it all (ha!). I learned sooo much from Lyric! Even something as seemingly basic as a way to tie a knot on the back, or how to stitch on single beads so they really do stay put or get this, she picks up the beads with the end of the needle, rather than pick it up with her fingers and put it on the needle! genius. Honestly, I was amazed at how clueless I was, and how much I learned from watching Lyric's DVD. I really recommend it.

So, you can either dash over and purchase one here, or wait and leave a comment on this post and see if you win a copy. (Or, you could do both, and if you win, give one away as a gift. This would make a fine stocking stuffer.)

So, leave me a comment, on this post, by this Thursday, October 13 6am PST, and I'll chose a name by random, and send you Lyric Kinard's new DVD, Bead it Like You Mean It. Be sure and check back here on October 13, so see if you won, and then send me your mailing address.