17 prayer flags

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

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

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

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

Winner!

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

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

(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

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!

 

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.)

detail ~ by Jane LaFazio

Two kitties ~ two beds. Thanks to Knitanista!

You may remember, in early September, when the kitties got a new bed from the fabulous Knitanista. Here's BeBop in the new bed, and then Buddy, in the same new bed.
Well, I saw her in Portland and she gave my kitties another bed! so they would each have their own. (of course, you notice in the photos above, they are still want to be the one in the newest bed!) Look at the tag she included on the bed--'no kitty left behind campaign.' and a photo of her kitties in their own beds. waaay cute and sooooo kind of Knitanista! thank you! (And dear readers, if you beg her, Knitanista may make and sell you one of these fabulous beds. She knits then, then 'fulls' them to create a felt-like bed. Needless to say BeBop and Buddy are happy to her spokesmodelkitties and tout the comfort of these beds.)
   

Lavender Sage Art Retreat in Austin Sept 2011

I spent a wonderful weekend at our debut Lavender Sage Art Retreat, in Austin, Texas.

We had 11 participants, plus Pamela Underwood and I as co-teachers.

Texas Red Oak (with some paint)

We spent lots of time making and sharing art.

The whole group at dinner in the studio at Turtle Crow.

LavenderSage Art Retreats

Mundo Lindo starts up again!

The after school art program I created and teach has started up again. Mundo Lindo is one of the best things I've done in my life. Do check out the blog, and see more photos of sweet kids makin' art. An excellent reminder how important art making is---for kids and everyone!

(As you see, we had 31 kids come to class --limit is supposed to be 20---but we couldn't turn anyone away. If you can, please help by making a donation. Mundo Lindo is free to the kids and supported by grants and donations.)

Teaching in Portland, Oregon September 2011

Me, in Jesse Reno's class

Just back from my first time teaching and taking at in Portland, Oregon.
I had a wonderful time, teaching, taking workshops and seeing beautiful downtown Portland.  

Student work ~ recycled circles

   
I taught two classes (and both were sold out, thank you!). Recycled Circles is always fun, because everyone's work turns out so different. 






Student work ~ recycled circles

Student work ~ Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style

And I taught 'Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style.' Students are always surprised at how well they do!
   



 
I took a workshop from Jesse Reno (that's my hand, we painted with our hands the first half of the class!)
      
Needless to say, this isn't my usual style of painting, but it was fun and freeing and I definitely will use some of what I learned in my sketchbook.