I spent my birthday with John Steinbeck

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

My husband and I celebrated my birthday, walking in author John Steinbeck's footsteps. 

I love Steinbeck and had reread Tortilla Flat and Cannery Row Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) right before our visit to Monterey and Salinas, California.  

The stories, setting and characters were fresh in my mind. We walked Cannery Row, and saw Doc's and the Chinese grocery store, still in tact. Visited the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas.

Yoga Poses in Public Places at Doc's in Cannery Row, Monterey

And we also made a pilgrimage to Steinbeck's childhood home. It's restored and makes its income with a charming restaurant right inside the house. Of course, we had lunch there, but first I had to sketch and paint the house.

drawing Steinbeck's home

drawing Steinbeck's home

sketchbook page in progress

Birthday selfie in John Steinbeck's home

I didn't take any photos of lunch or the furnishings because I was too enamored with the reproduction wall paper throughout the house.

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

I completed my birthday with John Steinbeck with a Yoga Pose!

Yoga Poses in Public Places on my birthday ~ John Steinbeck's home, Salinas CA

my birthday dinner

Patti Digh's Life is a Verb Camp 2015

Asilomar Beach ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

Patti Digh's Life is a Verb Camp took place at Asilomar Conference Grounds, in Monterey, California. (And now I pretty much want to move there.)

The lodge at Asilormar, a fire every morning ~ photo by Jane LaFazio (on instagram)

Camp was held in a beautiful location, with inspiring speakers, artful activities, and wonderful people.

Life is a Verb Camp art parties (that's my husband in the blue shirt)
~ photo by Jane LaFazio

Life is a Verb Campers ~ photo by Mike Magee

Yoga Poses in Public Places

Life is a Verb fellow campers, returning from early morning beach dancing
~ photo by Jane LaFazio

My husband and why I love him. ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

Wine and watching the sunset with my husband. 

Sunset at Asilomar ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

I worked in my sketchbook too, and watched the sun come up. 

We saw this beauty and his family nearly every day at Asilomar ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

ahhhh. photo by Jane LaFazio

Don and I. ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

Patti Digh will hold Life is a Verb Camp 2016, in the fall in North Carolina. Hope to see you there! 

Co-teaching with Patti Digh

work in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

I've just returned from beautiful Asilomar Conference Center, in Monterey, CA. I had the extreme pleasure of co-teaching a workshop with my friend, Patti Digh (Author of  "Life is a Verb" and many other books). 

Patti Digh, doing her own version of the techniques!

We taught a workshop entitled "Your Geography of Loss" based on Patti's book, Geography of Loss, and my current 'Text on Textiles' workshop. 

Our students and their work ~ "Your Geography of Loss" workshop 

Patti Digh teaching her portion of our class together. ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

Patti gave the students writing prompts based on loss and grieving. It was powerful and healing for everyone.

work in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

Students hand stitching ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

Our workshop was part of Patti's annual "Life is a Verb Camp. (I'll write more about camp in my next post.)

My piece, in progress ~ Jane LaFazio

San Diego peeps and Patti Digh. (l to r: Linda Bannan, me, Patti, Davielle Huffman

Just a few hundred yards from our classroom, the beautiful Monterey Bay!

 I'll be teaching "Text on Textiles" (sadly, without Patti) in January at Craft Napa! Hope to see you there.

My husband had an art show!

Don, ready for his guests.

My wonderful husband, Don Strom, has his first solo art show last night. He was the featured artist at the office of the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation, at NTC/Liberty Station in San Diego.

Don's framed artwork

Don took up sketching and watercolor about 15 years ago, after his brain injury. We often draw and paint together, especially when we travel. He had original paintings both framed and unframed, for sale.

Don ready for his guests.

Art lovers and friends!

The art show was a wonderful success! Many many people came, including lots of our friends. And he sold about $500 worth of his artwork! I'm sooo proud of Don!

Artist Bhavna Mehta came too!

Don's set of 5 note cards. ($15 for the set of 5, including envelopes)

Email me if you'd like to buy a set of Don's note cards (as shown above)! I'll send you a paypal invoice for $20 and Don will send them to you.