Vila Ephrussi Rothschild ~ Did I mention I do love a Villa?

photo by Jane LaFazio

photo by Jane LaFazio

So, here we are at Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, on Saint Jean Cap Ferat, in the South of France.

from my sketcbhook ~ by Jane LaFazio (in my JaneVille Etsy shop)

some of our group

Not only is this Villa, stunningly beautiful, the gardens are a wonderful place to paint. (And the restaurant is also really really good!)

The back story: You see, I spent about two and a half weeks in Europe, the end of May/first of June. The first week teaching on Lake Como, Italy, then I took the train to Nice, France, and met another group there, and taught for a week. I posted about the Italy portion (you can look at my past posts on my blog) and now, I'm covering the week in France. 

photo by Jane LaFazio

If I lived in this villa, this would be MY bedroom...

photo by Jane LaFazio

I adore the architectural details!

photo by Jane LaFazio

More photos tomorrow, from my visit to France. (Next year, I'll be teaching on a River Cruise on the Danube and in Greece. Join me!)

French Peony ~ an art quilt

"French Peony" detail by Jane LaFazio

"French Peony" 14x14.5 inches by Jane LaFazio (in my JaneVille Etsy shop)

I made this small quilt, inspired by my trip to France in May, 2014.

"French Peony" detail by Jane LaFazio

"French Peony" detail by Jane LaFazio

I got the antique lace at a flea market in Nice, France and the fabric circles and the flowered bias tape at a cute notions store there. I used a piece of coffee dyed cotton from my stash.

"French Peony" detail by Jane LaFazio

I finished the whole background, (by creating it and then cutting it up and reassembling it) and then decided it needed something more. Something symbolic of my recent trip to France. Peonies! I took many photos of the beautiful peonies in the farmers markets while I was in Nice and Menton.


I loosely traced a peony from one of my photos. Scanned it, and sized it and printed it out on paper. I pinned the paper to the back of the quilt and free motion stitched the flower, in a light pink thread. I ripped off most of the paper, and turned the quilt over 
and free motion stitched again, using a variegated pink thread.

I use this easy technique all the time in my art quilts.

French Peonies, peonies and more peonies

I do love a farmers market and the ones in France are pretty spectacular. From all these photos I took, of peonies, you'd think there was nothing but a market full of peonies! I adore peonies. I seem to have an obsession, in fact.

I think I might make these photos into a printed book or maybe framed prints or prints on canvas..or something, so I can look at these all the time! Got any suggestions on how I can live with my beautiful peonies?

I did make an art quilt, inspired by these images. I'll show you that in my next post!

and now, to the French Riviera!

Nice, France. The French Riviera!

beautiful light. beautiful architecture

After teaching for a week in Italy, I traveled to Nice, France, to meet a new group of students and travel the French Riviera with them.

Me and my student/friends in Nice, France 

If you follow this blog, you know I love a farmers market and Nice has one every day!

the perfect setting! in a cafe, in France, sketching and watercolor

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio (in my JaneVille Etsy shop)

 

marzipan

And the finish to a perfect morning at the market : a goat cheese salad!

Italy

from my sketchbook ~ Jane LaFazio

A day trip to Lugano, Switzerland.

from my sketchbook ~ Jane LaFazio

our farewell dinner 

from my sketchbook ~ Jane LaFazio

Next up, my week of teaching and traveling on the French Riviera! 

Next year, I'll be teaching Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style on a River Cruise on the Danube and in Greece. Both trips are already half full!