Hand stitching

my stitch guide bag ~ by Jane LaFazio

I wanted to have a stitching reference for my students, so I created this bag (above) from my watercolor illustrations of the embroidery stitches I use regularly. While I was making the bag, I thought they'd be great to sell. When I finished the bag, I realized I'd have to sell it for something like $400! ha! Yes, there is only one bag, and I bring it to workshops I teach.

sample of the buttonhole wheel stitch ~ by Jane LaFazio

detail from my stitch guide bag ~ by Jane LaFazio

I love to use variegated hand dyed threads like these from Laura Wasilowski. I also like these, from Caron. I like either 8 or 12 size pearl cotton thread, and use single strands when I stitch. Here's a guide, from Laura, on which needle for which thread.

Speaking of thread, I store my threads using this inexpensive yet practical system called "Floss-A-Way. 

Button hole wheel stitch by Jane LaFazio
(Read about my stitched and beaded bra for charity here.)

Oh, did you see this post from Pokey Bolton about CRAFT NAPA and my stitches?

I'll be teaching two hand-stitching workshops at Craft Napa:

Garden Patch Friday, January 8 

Text & Textiles Saturday, January 9

Registration closes for CRAFT NAPA on December 7th!

If you can't take a hand-stitching class from me, take a look at this online stitch guide, it will keep you busy!

Text and Textiles ~ THE SEA

detail of THE SEA by Jane LaFazio

detail of THE SEA by Jane LaFazio

detail of THE SEA by Jane LaFazio

detail of THE SEA by Jane LaFazio

 I'll be teaching this class, Text on Textiles at CRAFT NAPA on Saturday, January 9 2016.

detail of THE SEA by Jane LaFazio

I'm also teaching Garden Patch (Friday, January 8) and Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style (Thurs. January 7)  at CRAFT NAPA.

Quick, hand me an x-acto knife!

Work by Bhavna Mehta

Work by Bhavna Mehta

Look at this gorgeousness! All cut from paper by the talented Bhavna Mehta! I took these photos at the Oceanside Museum of Art, where her exhibition is on display until January 4th.

Work by Bhavna Mehta

I was lucky enough to take a workshop from Bhavna and I have only just begun cutting paper with an X-acto knife. So many possibilities!!

Work by Bhavna Mehta

If you can't go to the museum, click HERE to see the video of the exhibition. 

two recent workshops

My "Felt Like Stitching" soft sculpture (nearly finished) ~ by Jane LaFazio

While at Art is You in Connecticut, I taught two other workshops (besides Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style).  Here are some photos from my "Felt Like Stitching" class.

student work~ in progress

Student work ~ in progress~ in my 'Felt Like Stitching' class

detail student work ~ in progress

Eileen Bellomo's piece in progress

Eileen's finished piece

And I also taught "Abstract Collage using the Gelli Plate." Here's some of the student work:

Student work from my "Abstract Collage with Gelli Plates" class

Messy fun in my "Abstract Collage with Gelli Plate' class

student work ~ 

student work ~ 

student work ~ 

student work ~ 

I'll be teaching "Abstract Collage with Gelli Plate" in San Diego on February 27. Click here for the info.

A journal for just a week ~ a great way to remember.

My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

I shared with you my recent trip to Patti Digh's Life is a Verb Camp here and here. And then my birthday with John Steinbeck here.

During the week, I kept this small zig zag journal to draw, take notes and doodle in. I thought you might be interested in seeing it.

 (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

 (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

A quote from Patti Digh.  (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

I got up early in the mornings to fit in a little work in my sketchbook
 ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

 (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

 (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

 (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

 (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

A quote from David Roche.  (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

 (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

 (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

A quote from Patti Digh. (detail ) My journal ~ by Jane LaFazio

Teaching Sketching and Watercolor Journal Style!

from my sketchbook ~ in progress~ photo by Jane LaFazio

I just returned from Connecticut and teaching at Art is You. I taught one of my favorite classes, "Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style." This class had the theme of autumn. Perfect for this time of year.

gosh we had fun! 

It was a great class, with really fun students!

One of the students took kind-of step-by-step photos of my demos, and I thought you'd be interested.

Student work! in just one day. 

It's REALLY hard to tell from the photo above but at least four of the students introduced themselves at the beginning of class by saying that they could not draw and were really nervous. Don't all these pages look like pros!

me and my students! 

I'll be teaching this workshop at CRAFT NAPA on Thursday, January 7. Click here for the scoop.