Family Summer Camp gig continued

Montecito Family Summer camp continued. Husb and I went on the Boole Tree trail and this is what we saw.





The Boole Tree.
 
Sequoia cones, some of the smallest in the forest and the exotic snow plant.

Back at camp, tie dye t-shirts drying near the Arts & Crafts room.

I taught my sketching and watercolor class in the mornings. (I'll post the artwork tomorrow.)

Beach party on the lake

and of course, the best of all, spending time with my sweet husb.

just home

Just home from Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park. That's me and husb in front of a giant sequoia. Details to come!

Hope ~ 2nd prayer flag

A second prayer flag. Hope.

 Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me
~ Emily Dickinson
The Prayer Flag Project

(I'm using monoprints that I've made in the past, for the base of my flags.)
Husb and I are off to Montecito Family Summer Camp in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park. (I teach adults in the mornings, and we particpate in the million camp activities the rest of the time.) See you in a week!

Prayer Flag Project

My cyber friend, Vivika Hansen DeNegre has created The prayer flag project. And I'm joining in. 

My first flag is for my dear friend, Melanie Testa.
     
Melly is battling breast cancer. She's had chemo and she's going in for surgery on June 21. My first flag flutters in the wind in my backyard, spreading wishes of love and healing to Melly.

++++++++++++++
Here are the details, in Vivika's own words on the Prayer Flag Project. Join us.
"Prayer Flags are part of the ancient Buddhist tradition. My family has several strings hanging in our home... not because we are Buddhist or even know what the writing or symbols upon the colored fabrics mean, but because they are beautiful and a reverent reminder that our prayers are heard and answered. In a nutshell, it is believed that the prayers on the flags are lifted and spread throughout the universe as they flutter in the wind. Everyone who is touched by that wind, is touched by the prayers. The wind spreads the prayers through the world, extending happiness, good will, and peace. What a wonderful concept.
I started a new project - The Prayer Flag Project- with a new flag each day. Each flag is made in less than an hour, then hung outside for a while, its word and sentiment dissolving into the wind and being spread to all whom the wind touches. They are a living, breathing, kinetic journal."

The Prayer Flag Project... Join Vivika  if you'd like.
"Vivika is looking for artists to participate in this project. The process is simple: Just make a flag with your prayer as its theme, and hang it in the breeze for a while. You don’t need to make a flag a day, but you could if you wanted to.  She will eventually want to collect as many flags as possible to hang in an exhibition, and that would likely be an outside venue. She has created a group on Flickr for the photos (aptly named “Prayer Flag Project” – anyone can join), and will have a separate blog for the posts after July 1.

Mini Tutorial from VivikaThis is how she makes her flags, but feel free to be creative and change them to fit your own style. I would like to eventually find an exhibition venue for this series. If you would like to be part of this bigger project, please keep the 5”x8” dimension with a 3” hanging area as described below. And sign your work! Let Vivika know via email that you are “praying along” and include a photograph of your work or link to a blog so she can post about your flags as well.
1. Cut a piece of background fabric to approximately 5”x11”.
2. Create a place to thread a string by folding one short end over to the front by 3” and press, making a rectangle approximately 5”x8”. Sew a row of decorative stitching either by hand or machine along the raw edge.
3. Choose a theme for your prayer, and embellish your flag with paper, painting, stitch, embroidery, buttons, etc. You are only limited by your imagination and your stash.  
4. Use machine stitching to add free motion words and journaling to your flag. I always include the date, and usually add a word to the surface of the flag.
5. Journaling is important,  flags can have a small paper tag with snips of words cut from books relating to the prayer.
6. Lastly,  photograph the completed flag and write about the process and the prayer.

Recycled Circles

Here's my most recent  Recycled Circles.







Check here  to see where I'll be teaching this next.

just because

Jane Powell has this monkey in her collection of...vintage...uh...odd stuff. You can see my tutorial on how I got the sheet music in the background here.


I bought this little ceramic bird in North Carolina, so had to draw him too.

And still playing with ideas for my workshoip Mixed Media Sketchbooks & Journals on July 9 & 10 at San Clemente Art Supply (CA) with Linda Blinn.

Saluda, North Carolina

Just returned from teaching in beautiful North Carolina.
   
We stayed in charming Saluda, where Random Arts is located and where I taught two workshops.
   
We stayed at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast right in Saluda. We could walk to dinner (Purple Onion) and to Random Arts.



Here's Donna, one of my favorite students. I met Donna, last year, when I taught Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style at Random Arts. She's a retired lawyer, and had been struggling with finding an artistic outlet for her left-brained self. Since that first class last September, Donna has taken 3 online classes with me and was back this time for another class. Oh my! I've watched her art and her spirit blossom!! It was wonderful to see her again.

The lovely, talented, spirited and fun, Jane Alice Powell, proprietor of Random Arts. 
 
  
Some student work, from my Recycle Circles workshop.

Susan Brubaker Knapp and Jane Elizabeth friended each other on facebook!

Husb and I took a little time and hiked to Pearson Falls. I don't need any words to describe how beautfiul it was.


 

Just foolin' around

This is a Strathmore Visual Journal (mixed media 5.5x8"). Just playing around with it, as Linda Blinn and I are teaching a workshop July 9 &10 in San Clemente Art Supply, CA. (register here)  All the students get a journal for class (the bigger version, I think) so I figured I'd better get to know it. 

Recycled Circles

BeBop likes my new Recycle Circles pillow!



I'll be teaching Recycled Circles in fabric at the Long Beach International Quilt Festival on Thursday, July 28, all day. (You'll bring your own fabric.) You can make it a wall hanging or a pillow top or proudly wear it on the back of your coat...
And I'm teaching Monoprinting on Cloth all day Friday, July 29 at the Quilt Festival.

Friday Harbor and what Danny Gregory said

Beautiful Friday Harbor, Washington (81 miles from Seattle) I'm teaching a two day "Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style" workshop at Wild at Heart, September 10 and 11, 2011. Details are on the website or you can email Jan or call her (360) 298-2195.
I sent a copy of my DVD to my pal and mentor, Danny Gregory and here's what he wrote  "I love Jane LaFazio's new DVD 'from art journaling to art" which is an elegant, clear introduction to my favorite art form, full of specific lessons, tips and inspiration."
That makes me happy! Thanks Danny for all you've done for me and every other journaler! And you know, I'm one of 50 artists in Danny's fabulous book "An Illustrated Life."

My first edited video. Notify the Academy!

Mundo Lindo ~ Beautiful World

For the past 4 years, I've taught Mundo Lindo ~ Beautiful World, a program I created for 4th & 5th grade kids. It's an afterschool art program and free to the kids. This photo was taken yesterday, June 2, with the kids wearing the tie dye t-shirts they made last week.
I'm in the photo, along with my assistant Amy Williams, teen volunteers Monica, Leo and Jonathan. Mundo Lindo is taking a summer break and will return in September 2011. It's a grant and donation based program. And we need some funding to start up again. You can donate directly here (be sure and mention Mundo Lindo). Go look at the Mundo Lindo blog I've kept up, and you'll see the kids, the art and the joy... Thanks!

dreaming of Italy

I made caprese the other day for a party, and just had to paint it. And of course, it made me think of Italy, and eating and the sketching and watercolor workshop I'm teaching Orvieto in 2012!