from my sketchbook ~ in progress

my palette ~ by Jane LaFazio

instagram  from #mymorningwalk ~ by Jane LaFazio

instagram  from #mymorningwalk ~ by Jane LaFazio

sketchbook page in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

Of course, I'm painting these from real life, and not the photos. Here's my page in progress. I have no idea what will be next on it...but of course I'll show you when it's done.

sketchbook page in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

instagram  from #mymorningwalk ~ by Jane LaFazio

The Sketchbook Challenge hosts a blog hop!

Here's a hint for my blog post on September 29 ~ by Jane LaFazio

The first ever Sketchbook Challenge blog hop is about to start!

The Sketchbook Challenge blog hosts have a surprise for you. (I'm a core artist for the Sketchbook Challenge, you knew that right? I've been there since the blog first started.)

For the next 21 days The Sketchbook Challenge will be celebrating this month's Houses and Hideaways theme with a blog hop!  Each day, beginning September 9, you’ll find a new post on The Sketchbook Challenge Blog related to this month's theme that will also include a link to the artist's own blog, where you’ll find tutorials, video’s, studio tours, exciting giveaways and more!  

Take a look at the line up of posts below and visit The Sketchbook Challenge Blog each day!

Sept 9 - Gina Lee Kim http://ginaleekim.blogspot.com/

Sept 10- Jacqueline Newbold http://djnewbold.blogspot.com/ 

Sept 11 - Sue Bleiweiss http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog  

Sept 12 – Jackie Bowcutt http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/

Sept 13th - Kristin La Flamme http://kristinlaflamme.com/musings  

Sept 14- Jane Davies http://janedavies-collagejourneys.blogspot.com/

Sept 15- Lyric Kinard http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/

Sept 16 - Terry Grant http://www.andsewitgoes.blogspot.com/

Sept 17- Carol Sloan http://www.carolbsloan.blogspot.com/ 

Sept 18- Leslie Tucker Jenison http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/  

Sept 19 - Lesley Riley  http://www.lesleyriley.com/weblog/  

Sept 20 - Traci Bunkers  https://www.tracibunkers.com/blog/  

Sept 21 - Lynn Krawczyk http://smudgedtextilesstudio.com/blog/

Sept 22 Desiree Habicht  http://myclothesline.blogspot.com

Sept 23 – Jamie Fingal http://jamiefingaldesigns.blogspot.com/  

Sept 24 - Mary Beth Shaw http://mbshaw.blogspot.com/ 

Sept 25 –Kari McKnight-Holbrook http://backporchartessa.blogspot.com/  

Sept 26 – Deborah Boschert http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/  

Sept 27- Susan Brubaker Knapp http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/  

Sept 28- Laura Cater Woods http://www.cater-woods.com/weblog/  

Sept 29- Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/   that's me!

from my sketchbook ~ farmer's market

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

Here's a page I did while teaching at Art Unraveled this year. Farmer's market is one of my fave themes, because there are so many wonderful things to paint at a farmers market.

I'm no fancy letterer, but here's step one

step two

step 3

complete

 detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

 detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

 detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

 from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

Spray paint and stencils

photo by Jane LaFazio

I really like the photo above, and it was just a shot of the table in my garage, while I was working! 

works in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

When I teach, especially in Europe, I create goodie bags for my students. Since I'll be teaching in Italy in early October, I thought I'd create the bags and tags now.

works in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio (Artistcellar stencil)

I find it a good idea to experiment on the tags to find the colors and stencil combos you want to use. (All the product info with links is at the end of this post)

works in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio (Michelle Ward Green Pepper Press Stencil)

works in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio 

That's the sweet gum ball stencil above, designed by me.

works in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

blank muslin gift bags

Then I laid out the bags and did them the same way. (I was in my garage with the doors open when I did this project)

works in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

The completed bag and tag  ~ by Jane LaFazio

Buddy and BeBop investigage ~ by Jane LaFazio

detail of bag ~ by Jane LaFazio

(The spray paint color comes out brighter on the paper tags, than it does on the muslin bags.)

finished bag & tag ~ by Jane LaFazio

the sniff of approval ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

It was a fun project, and I like how all the bags and tags are different, but unified in color and desgin.

Materials I used:

• Stencils from Michelle Ward, Artistcellar, and Stencil Girl (especially the stencils I designed.) And a letter stencil from the hardware store
• Spray paint from Liquitex (I got it at Michaels)
• Muslin gift bags
• Shipping tags

from my sketchbook ~ 10 objects 10 ways

detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

I taught this workshop, 10 Objects 10 Ways,  twice during the summer and here are the pages I did in class, while demonstrating.

detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

detail from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

It's a fun class, and my students learns lots of techniques and tools for sketching and watercolor. You can see my upcoming teaching schedule here.

free online workshop

 Register now for the free online workshop starting September 3.

See you there!

(And while you're here, do sign up to receive my newsletter..sign up on the right hand column of my blog)

just back from teaching in Chicago at CREATE

Me at the Artist Faire, at CREATE in Chicago (photo by Kari McKnight-Holbrook)

I had a lovely time in Chicago, teaching at CREATE mixed media workshops. This is my 4th time teaching there, and it's so great to recognize past students and new friends.

my demo in progress from my Free Spirit Free Motion stitching class

Student work from my needle felting class

my happy students @ CREATE

students admiring their work in my Text on Textiles workshop

students admiring their work in my 3 hour Sunday workshop

Limo ride to the airport, heading home to San Diego

No, I don't usually (like never) take a stretch limo to the airport, it was just a fluke, and great fun! Hope to see you next year at the CREATE mixed media retreats. (I don't know the dates yet, I'll keep you posted. My known teaching schedule is here.)

Text on Textiles ~ Go West

Go West by Jane LaFazio

Go West by Jane LaFazio

 detail of Go West by Jane LaFazio

detail of Go West by Jane LaFazio

 detail of Go West by Jane LaFazio

Text on Textiles by Jane LaFazio

I'm thinking of creating an online class called "Text & Textiles." Would you be interested?