Jane LaFazio workshop at Random Arts

I just spent a relaxing, inspiring day with Jane LaFazio at Random Arts in Saluda, NC. I was there to take Jane’s “Recycled Circles” workshop. That’s my project – in progress — above. I’m definitely going back to Saluda soon; it is a charming little town in the mountains. Jane Powell, the owner of Random Arts, reported that it will soon be in a new location on the main street of Saluda.

Look a this great wood and metal door! Jane rusted it herself. Behind that door is a cute little courtyard that leads to the back door:

We started by building our backgrounds. Here’s Mama Crow working on hers: 

Mama Crow (her nickname) has been a wonderful supporter of my blog – and a Facebook friend – for a long time, so it was wonderful to meet her at the workshop! She was wearing a cool shirt she had embroidered (and in this photo, I'm wearing one of Jane Powell’s aprons):

This is the background that Jane LaFazio made to demonstrate her techniques:

And here she is demo-ing one technique. While she looks rather somber in this photo, Jane has a very warm, sunny personality, and the workshop was laid back while each student worked at her own pace.

This shows some of our backgrounds out in the sun to dry:

Isn’t this one fab?

In the last half hour, Jane spent time with students making suggestions for improvements, and playing with the way the four quadrants of the circles could be arranged:

Jane is teaching at some amazing retreats in Mexico and Italy in the next few years. How I’d love to do her Mexican one Oct. 27 - Nov. 4, 2012! Check out the georgeous photographs of the last retreat there on the Tesoro del Corazon blog. You can buy Jane’s artwork at her Etsy Shop.

Random Arts has all sorts of lovely flowers and plants around the building, like these hollyhocks:

and these daylilies:

a lacecap hydrangea:

and blackberries almost ready to pick and eat!

Many thanks to both Janes for a fabulous day!