Art Quilts Gallery
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The art in this gallery is my most recent passion. I began working with fabric in 2003, and teaching art quilts in 2005. I’m honored to have my fabric work published in numerous books and magazines. And now, you can order my instructional DVD called the “The Small Art Quilt.” I’ve always loved the colors and textures of fabrics, buttons, thread and ribbon and it’s thrilling to use them to create new pieces of soft, touchable art. The majority of my art quilts are hand-stitched, and though labor-intensive, I find the process very enjoyable, and almost like a meditation. I believe the fabric, touched, manipulated and stitched, continues to hold my energy. - Jane LaFazio - |
(see examples below)
Click on the images for a larger version.
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Ralph’s Letters Description: Thirty-five year old love letters quilted with silk organza size: 39x53” Price: POR (Price on Request) |
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Ralph and I
met at in about 1970 or 71 in Alaska, when I worked at Mt. McKinley
National Park (now called Denali Nat’l Park). We were both 20, and had
dreams of adventure and passion. We stayed in touch through letters and
visits until about 1975, in and out of each others lives as friends and
lovers. I have saved about a dozen letters from him for all these years.
Something about him, our friend/lover relationship, how it just slowed
and stopped, with no ending, remained a very fond and positive memory.
By 1975, the letter writing just faded away, and I learned recently, it
was around the time he met his now wife, and I met my, now husband. I
re-read his letters in early 2006, and they were so wonderful--from
Utah, Washington, Oregon, Egypt and Morocco. It’s not that they were
love letters, not at all, just letters telling of his boring jobs, or
exciting adventures. Both mundane and thrilling. We were both in our
twenties, I was a flight attendant flying the world, living in the San
Francisco area, he a sometime student and traveler. His letters
eloquently described those eventful and fearless times. Ralph’s letters
chronicle a precious chapter of my life. |
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Ralph’s Envelopes Thirty-five year old envelopes quilted with silk organza Size: 28x39” Price: POR (Price on Request) |
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Ensenada Altar Size: 11x8” Price: $250
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Inspired by the dia de los muertos altars I saw in Ensenada, Mexico. The traditional symbols of day of the dead included here are: a photo of the deceased (my sweet kitty 1996-2006) an Aztec dog, to guard the altar, sugar skulls for decoration, and for the journey back to earth; a ladder to climb, a bell to signal the location, candles to light the way, marigolds to scent the night, a coin for spending money, a bowl of beans. |
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Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty Size : 13x13 Price: $150
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A painting of my kitty, Cool Baby (1996-2006). I still call to her “Here kitty kitty kitty…” |
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Pomegranates for the Journey size : 12.5x9.5” Price: $250
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Fruit is an important part of a Dia de los Muertos altar, and this is my tribute to one of the most beautiful fall fruits. |
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Title: Tree Story Size: 19x19” Price: $325
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The universal tree of life, grounded thoroughly to the earth. |
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Memories of the Silk Road size: 18.5X15” price: $850
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You can almost smell the incense…Tibetan prayer flags, Indian silk scraps, artist dyed-silk, ribbon, gold thread, beads and bells create a lush memory of Asia. A true labor of love, hours and hours of hand stitching and embellishing, this quilt glimmers in the light of your heart. |
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Viva Frida size: 12.5X9” price: SOLD
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Created with Dia de los Muertos in mind, my favorite part of this quilt is the rabbit in the moon. On a trip to Oaxaca, our guide told us that Mexican people see a rabbit in the full moon, and as he spoke I looked up at the full moon through the window across a deserted cathedral courtyard, and saw, so very clearly, the clear image of a rabbit. Back in San Diego, I haven’t been able to see the rabbit in the full moon again…. |
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My Milagros size: 27X21” price: SOLD
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Some of my favorite images, hearts and kitties and birds and a collection of tiny metal milagros. Personal symbols that are meaningful to me. |
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Birdies at the Tree of Life size: 9x12” price: $250
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This small quilt features one of my favorite themes, the tree of life, in wool felt, with sequin birdies in the branches. It was chosen to be included in the book “Fabric Art Gallery” published by Leisure Arts in 2005. |
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Calaveras Tree of Life size: 19x24” price: $800
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This began with the black and white print fabric of Papel Picado (Mexican “punched paper” banners) featuring calaveras (skulls) in honor of the Day of the Dead. I’ve been working in felt and loved combining both the felt and cotton in this piece. The tiny skeleton dangles from the tree of life. |
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Eucalyptus size: 20x26” price: $1,100
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I made this felt by hand, from scratch, to depict eucalyptus leaves. I love eucalyptus trees, the blue-green-maroon colors in the leaves, and the pink-brown-grey bark. |
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Full of Grace size: 9x12” price: SOLD |
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A painting (on fabric) of a small Josephina Aguilar figurine I purchased in Oaxaca, Mexico. I love the rays of love radiating from her head. |
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Home Sweet Home size: 9x15” price: $300
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A sweet piece with dried lemon rind buttons and punched tin. |
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Kitties at the Tree of Life size: 9x12” price: $250
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I’m continually drawn to the ancient Tree of Life image. This time with my kitty Cool Baby on the ground and my precious departed JazzCat, with wings in the sky. It was selected to be included in the book “Fabric Art Gallery” published by Leisure Arts in 2005. |
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Mexico Memories size: 9x15” price: SOLD
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Quilted in clear vinyl, with small mementos, milagros, beads and little paintings I created while visiting Mexico. |
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Pomegranates and a Persimmon size: 9x12” price: Sold |
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Inspired by my watercolor painting, “Persimmon Minority” using fabric that I hand-dyed. The bright colors glow in a tie-dye kind of way. |
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Red Kabuki size: 9x12” price: SOLD |
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I’ll never forget the Kabuki Theatre performances when I was in Japan in the 80s. The costumes were mesmerizing. |
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Saint Kitty SOLD price: $300
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Another tribute to my precious JazzCat. We lost him to congestive heart failure in January 2005, and I continue to work through my sadness, by re-creating his image in my art. |
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StarShine 1 size: 21x28” price: $900
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The StarShine series was a meditative stitching experience; sewing clear beads and silver sequins for hours and hours. As I stitched, I thought of the stars at night, and the unseen galaxies while I sang “Good morning, Star Shine, the earth says hello…” from the 60s musical “Hair.” |
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StarShine 2 size: 26.5x19” price: $900 |
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More stitching and singing… |
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StarShine 3 size: 15x24” price: $450
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This StarShine took on an Asian influence with the antique bamboo hanger attached. The view of the constellations in Japan? |
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"Bluebird" price: SOLD size: 9X20X2" |
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My friend Helen gave me some shimmery fabric as a birthday gift, and it inspired this very sparkley bird. Click on the image to see the shrine open. I sewed many different colors and types of beads to create a rich, coat of many colors on this proud bluebird. The embroidery on the background implies the path of the wind that carries this elegant bird to my backyard. |
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"Dia de las Muertos Maize" price: $750 size: 18X21" |
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Once again it was a small piece of fabric that got me going on this. The black fabric with woven pattern of corn and radishes helped construct the house of my favorite dancing skeletons. Heavily embroidered corn appliqué ('the Indians call it maize") and milagro farm animals continue the theme. This quilt has been accepted in the San Diego Art Institute 48th Annual International Exhibition which runs May 1 - June 12, 2005. |
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"Dia de las Muertos
Milagros" price: sold size: 16x19x2" |
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Click on the image to see a tiny clay skeleton couple, dancin' in their fabric house, on a background of red wool felt, red ric-rack, and vintage buttons, on a ghostly background. |
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"Ode to Fruit" price: SOLD size: 10"x7"x2" |
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I actually started this piece in a brief appearance television news program (to plug an upcoming art show) and had to come up with a title for it 'after the next commercial.' Click on the image to see the pear inside the shrine. The pear in the center, is a little acrylic painting on canvas that I created to complete 'Ode to Fruit.' |
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"JazzCat" price: not for sale size: 12-1/2 by 13-1/2" |
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This is my precious kitty, JazzCat. He had some serious health issues, and I created this painted and heavily embroidered quilt, as I worried and hoped for his miracle recovery. He was a dear love, and I think that comes through in this piece. |
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"Cochineal Petroglyph price: sold size: 14x16" |
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This piece started with a small piece of silk fused paper, that I'd created in a workshop, and grew to a very textured study in color. Two quilts were joined with a section of my knitting. (I bought the hand-dyed cochineal colored yarn in Oaxaca, Mexico, figuring I'd learn how to knit. This is the extent of my successful knitting.) |
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"Mockingbird" SOLD size: 9X11" |
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Inspired by a Mary Oliver poem, I embroidered a stanza of the poem next to a beaded embroidered mockingbird. This little 'journal' quilt is a combination of painted canvas and fabric. Featured in the book "Material Visions: A Gallery of Miniature Art Quilts" published by Somerset Studio. |
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"Crazy, Wacky Quilt" price: SOLD size: ~20x20” |
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This quilt is probably closest to my personality. It’s made of bright, primary colors, a mixture of energetic patterns, it’s asymmetrical, hand-stitched, with lots of embellishment and detail, of course the title... I created this quilt during the San Diego Firestorms of 2003, so that I could keep my hands busy and my mind occupied during those stressful days. |
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"Kabuki Quilt" price: sold size: ~20x20” |
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This quilt is powerful, as the Kabuki (from one of my paintings) stands strong within his Chinese-scroll fabric frame. Featured in the book "Material Visions: A Gallery of Miniature Art Quilts" published by Somerset Studio. |
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"Casa Dia de los Muertos" price: sold size: 14x20” |
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A party girl skeleton hints at what’s inside. The close-up, shows what’s behind the fabric doors of the shrine: another skeleton in a tin heart frame, with a tiny offering of wooden marigolds and milagros. Featured in the book "Material Visions: A Gallery of Miniature Art Quilts" published by Somerset Studio. |
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"Silver Heart Fabric Shrine" price: sold size: ~5x9” |
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A portable fabric shrine in my favorite blues, purples and rose, including imagery from one of my milagro paintings. Note the detail of the inside of the box with a silver heart cross from my favorite, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Featured in the book "Material Visions: A Gallery of Miniature Art Quilts" published by Somerset Studio. |
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"Dia de los Muertos" price: sold size: ~20x20” |
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Celebrating Mexico’s Day of the Dead, with the skeleton couple, happily ensconced in their house of love, and a sort of jack-in-the-beanstock tree, growing up the side of their home. Dancing skeleton print fabric, multi-color ribbon streamers and lots of delicate embroidery bring this quilt to life. |
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"The Lantern & the Moon" price: Sold size: ~20x20” |
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Inspired the lantern print fabric, this quilt sparkles in the moonlight, like a traditional lantern festival held in the Buddhist temples of Japan. The tiny, souvenir Japanese sandals, encased in red netting are extra special to me, as they were a gift from my brother on our trip to Japan in the late 80s. |
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"Summer Camp" price: $350 size: ~20x20” |
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Inspired by the flannel fabric, nostalgically depicting streams, and mountains and campsites, I was reminded of the family camping trips my family and I went on every summer. The smell of pine trees, the crackle of the campfire, sleeping under the stars in my dark green sleeping bag, lined with soft flannel. |
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"Meow Dynasty" price: sold size: ~20x20” |
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One of my first, and favorite quilts, this Asian inspired piece is embellished with coins, charms, beads, and vintage embroidered butterflies of China. The cats are the focal point, inspired by my two kitties, JazzCat and Cool Baby. Featured in the book "Material Visions: A Gallery of Miniature Art Quilts" published by Somerset Studio. |
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"Butterfly" price: $350 size: ~20x20” |
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This quilt is about joy. The colors, the butterflies and dragonflies, imply a springtime afternoon. |
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"Lady of Guadalupe" price: SOLD size: ~20x20” |
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Our Lady of Guadalupe is a fixture in Mexican imagery, and this quilt pays tribute to this strong female image. She is surrounded by milagros, brightly colored chili peppers, vibrant branches, and hearts. A very colorful scene! |
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"ME" price: not for sale size: 18x27" |
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A very personal image, richly embroidered and beaded, with milagro hearts, Asian good luck charms, kitties and a bird. I created this bodyprint in "Bodywriting," a workshop retreat created and facilitated by my dear friend, Pamela Underwood. (See links in "About Jane" to find her website.) Featured in the book "Material Visions: A Gallery of Miniature Art Quilts" published by Somerset Studio. |
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"Jane & don" price: not for sale size: ~20x20" |
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One of my first quilts, I used sunprint fabric to reproduce images of my husband and I. This is a sentimental piece, with photos from 1977 to 2003. I had fun stitching and beading and embellishing, all in a navy blue color scheme. |
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