Papier Mache in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache demonstration~ photo by Jane LaFazio

One day, we all walked over to a small, family owned papier mache factory in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Above they are demonstrating how they created the paper shapes from plaster of paris molds. Then, they let them dry and paint them.

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

And two photos of the dolls from our hotel:

The classic and traditional figures in papier mache at our B&B ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

papier mache ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

San Miguel de Allende ~ sugar skulls and more for Dia de los Muertos

marigolds and sugar skulls and figures ~photo by Jane LaFazio

 sugar skulls and figures ~photo by Jane LaFazio

The 'sugar market' in San Miguel is set up for a week or so before Dia de los Muertos ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

 sugar skulls and figures ~photo by Jane LaFazio

yup. little tiny sugar coffins. ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

The 'sugar market' sells beautiful beeswax candles too. ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

At our B and B, we set up a community altar for dia de los muertos. I couldn't resist  buying the tiny sugar figures pictured below. The sheep is traditional for this area of Mexico (I'm told) and the two kitties for my beloved JazzCat and Cool Baby, the telephone (since it is certainly dead!) and the plate of donuts because they were so cute.

these are the ones I bought ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

And for more color and some fabulous folk art:

photo by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico ~ Halloween AND Dia de los Muertos

Halloween (October 31) is being celebrated more each year in San Miguel de Allende.
See their trick or treat bags.  (photo by Jane LaFazio)

I've just returned from 8 days in the beautiful colonial Mexico town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I'll show you some of the photos over the next few blog posts.

SpiderBaby (photo by Jane LaFazio)

so many kids and families in costume! (photo by Jane LaFazio)

I love being in the jardin for festivals! The city square is filled with smiling families and children, with everyone enjoying the colorful costumes, banners and music.

 The San Miguel de Allende parroquia is lit up. (photo by Jane LaFazio)

Papel picado banners across the jardin (photo by Jane LaFazio)

serious little faces (photo by Jane LaFazio)

face painters along the jardin doing Katrina skeleton faces (photo by Jane LaFazio)

elaborate altars along the jardin on Dia de los Muertos (November 2) (photo by Jane LaFazio)

Images done with beans, and sand and marigold petals and wood shavings (on the altars) (photo by Jane LaFazio)

Altars for dia de los Muertos (photo by Jane LaFazio)

The jardin is filled with people, altars and music (photo by Jane LaFazio)

Teaching in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Dia de los Muertos is a festive time of year in San Miguel de Allende
 ~photo by Jane LaFazio

We four instructors and our retreat organizer.
(LtoR: Jane LaFazio, Helen Shafer Garcia, Lynn Leahy, Laurie Mika, Leslie Harris (organizer)

The Tesoro del Corazon workshop was in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, during Dia de los Muertos. We wrote about the project we taught in the September/October 2014 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.

Our group of students, orientation morning in the courtyard of Casa Noche B&B 
~photo by Jane LaFazio

Our group of students and some spouses and we teachers

yours truly

Student work from my stamp carving workshop ~photo by Jane LaFazio

Student work from my stamp carving workshop ~photo by Jane LaFazio

My students did fabulous work in my stamp carving workshop! I need to plan to teach another workshop in this soon!

Student work from my stamp carving workshop ~photo by Jane LaFazio

Final evening. Show and tell of the student's finished projects
~ photo by Jane LaFazio

Cheers! 

News update ~ published

I'm so proud to be included in the latest issue of Through our Hands. This is a free, online magazine is produced by UK Fiber artists Linda and Laura Kemshall and Annabel Rainbow. Click on the image below to read the gorgeous 70 page magazine. 

Click here to read Through our Hands

I just got home from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (photos soon!) and found this republished interview about how Mexico has inspired my artwork:

Click here to read the interview

Lastly, two of my online classes are starting this week. For beginners "Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style" and for those who know how to draw "Watercolor Sketchbook: Designs from Life." Hope you'll join me and students from around the world in some creative fun!

LavenderSage Art Retreat in Taos, New Mexico

Taos, New Mexico

I'm finalizing the details for the next LavenderSage Art Retreat to be held in Taos, New Mexico at the Mabel Dodge Luhan Historic Inn.

Please SAVE THE DATES June 24-July 1, 2015. Please visit the LavenderSage Art Retreat website, and sign up to receive the newsletter, to be the first to know when registration opens.

Sketching and Watercolor on location in New Mexico

I'll be teaching sketching and watercolor, we'll make our own sketchbooks, and print from nature. Stay tuned for more details! 

A fabulous classroom to work in!

in progress, from my "Text on Textiles" workshop

detail "Vulnerable and Strong" by Jane LaFazio

in progress "Vulnerable and Strong"  by Jane LaFazio

An in-progress piece, from my "Text on Textiles" workshop. It's fun trying new color combinations.

detail "Vulnerable and Strong"  by Jane LaFazio

detail "Vulnerable and Strong"  by Jane LaFazio

detail "Vulnerable and Strong"  by Jane LaFazio

detail "Vulnerable and Strong" by Jane LaFazio