01 May 2023

Making Zen Online Stitching Retreat

 

Happy Spring!

I'm going to be part of the Making Zen online retreat later this month. It is a series of online presentations by some very talented makers (twenty in total), and there will also be some give-a-ways as part of purchasing your all-access pass ticket. I'm including a pdf version of my book "The Boro Aesthetic" as part of the bundle. Access to individual presentations is free, but only for a limited period of time. To get wider access, and the goody bundle, you need to purchase the all-access pass which is very reasonably priced.






Here is what Kate Ward, the organizer of the event, says about the event:

"Making Zen is a 5-day online retreat for stitchers and crafters to help them learn new processes, improve technique, and get inspired through a holistic approach that nurtures creativity. Not only does this retreat offer all of the above through presentations from incredible artists from different places and backgrounds, it also offers an excuse to slow down, practice mindfulness, and bring some zen into your life!"

The retreat will cover lots of topics, including different methods of printing, visible mending, and bringing nature into your craft. My presentation is entitled: For the Love of the Back Patch. I will be sharing my collection of mended textiles using the back patch technique, will show images of my artwork that incorporates the back patch, and then will demonstrate how I make a back patch - and viewers are welcome to stitch along.

Tickets are available on the Zen Stitching Website here. You can also find lots of information there, as well as FAQs and a full list of the speakers that will be presenting throughout the retreat.

The above link is an affiliate link and I will get brownie points if you use it! Thanks, as always, for your support.
 
I also have some in-person workshops coming up. You can see them here.
 
Hope to see you out there!

03 January 2023

Happy New Year: Winter and Spring 2023 Workshops!

 Happy New Year to All!

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I hope that the New Year is treating everyone well so far.

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My workshop schedule is filling up so I thought I would share. Here is a round up of my Winter and Spring workshops (and a couple beyond that...):

 

Jody Alexander Decorative Longstitch Binding
Decorative Longstitch Binding
 

Decorative Longstitch Binding (zoom)

Wishi Washi Studio (online)

February 11th, 2023, 1:00-5:00 Pacific


Jody Alexander Stencil Printing Wishi Washi Studio
Textile Surface Design

Textile Surface Design

Stitches West, Sacramento, CA (In-Person)

March 2nd - 4th, 2023

 

Textile Artist's Book - Tokyo Book
 

Textile Artist's Books (Zoom)

BARN, Bainbridge Island Artisan Network, WA

March 18th, 19th, 25th, 2023, 1:00 - 3:00 Pacific

 

 

The Hussif
 

The Hussif: a Travel Sewing Kit (Zoom)

Hello Stitch, Oakland, CA 

April 15th, 2023, 1:00 - 3:30 Pacific


Jody Alexander French Stitch Cracker Box Book
French Stitch Cracker Box Book
 

Just added:

French Stitch Cracker Box Binding (Zoom)

Wishi Washi Studio, Online

April 22nd, 2023, 1:00 - 4:00 Pacific

 

The Studio Coat
 

The Studio Coat: a Hand Stitched Garment (In-Person)

Cabrillo Arts Extension, Aptos, CA

May 20th and 21st, 2023, 10:00-4:00 daily

 

Mending Sampler Needle Book

Mending Sampler Needle Book

San Francisco Center for the Book

June 24th, 2023

 

The Boro Aesthetic

 

The Boro Aesthetic: Creating Fiber Art Pieces Inspired by Japanese Textiles

 Fibre Arts Australia, Ballarat, Australia

September 13th - 19th, 2023

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Hope to see some of you out there!

I'm very good about updating my workshop page here - so check in there for updates.

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I also regularly promote workshops on Instagram and Facebook.

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As always, I have workshops available 24/7 on Creativebug!

 


20 September 2022

Fall 2022 Workshops

 Fall 2022 Workshops!


There are a couple of online workshops coming up this Fall as well as two in-person workshops:




Printed and Stitched Tabletop Quilt (Zoom)

Hello Stitch

Two part workshop:

Saturday, October 1st, 2022, 1:00-3:00 Pacific

Saturday, October 8th, 2022, 1:00-4:00 Pacific

 

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The Hussif: a Traveling Sewing Kit (Zoom)

Wishi Washi Studio

Saturday, October 22nd, 2022, 1:00 - 3:00 Pacific

 

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 Origami Travel Notebook (In-Person)

San Francisco Center for the Book

Saturday, November 12th, 2022, 9:30-12:30 

 

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Exploding Picture Box (In-Person)

San Francisco Center for the Book

Saturday, November 12th, 2022, 1:30-4:30 

 

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 [edit: just added:]

Crossed Structure Datebook Workshop (Zoom)

Wishi Washi Studio

Saturday, December 3rd, 1:00 - 5:00 Pacific

 

Let me know if you have any questions about the workshops and I hope to see some of you out there!

 

Just a reminder that I also have workshops on Creativebug 24/7!






06 January 2022

In-Person and Zoom workshops - 2022

 Boy, oh boy, am I a liar. In my last post (date 12/2/20) I promised I would post soon. Oh well. Best laid plans. These last two years have been...A...LOT!

But, here we are and I want to let you know where I'm going to be teaching in the next 6 months - both in-person and zoom.

I will be adding to this list so check back with my "In-person and Zoom Workshops" page where I am being really good about updating my workshop engagements and dates.

Here's what I have so far (click on workshop title for more info.):

Two fun and accessible workshops that I am offering via Zoom through Wishi Washi Studio:


 

Exploding Picture Box (Zoom)

February 5, 2022

1-3:00 PST

 


 

Origami Travel Notebook (Zoom)

February 12, 2022

1-3:00 PST

 

And, here are some In-person workshops that I have scheduled:

 

 

Stitch, Mend, Print, Make (In-person)

April 21 - 23rd, 2022, 10-4:00 daily

Ephemera Paducah, Paducah, KY 



June 12 - 26, 2022

International Center for the Arts, Monte Costello, Italy

Hope to see some of you out there and remember that I have classes on Creativebug 24/7.

 

 


 

 



06 December 2020

Workshops in the time of COVID - 2021

What a year!

My last blogpost was on March 21st, at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. And, only one 2020 post before that. Looks like it's time for another post.
 
I don't even know where to start regarding what this year has meant to me and mine, and am not even going to try. So many changes...but those are stories for another time.
 
For now...it is time to look forward.

 In September and October I taught two Zoom workshops and gave one Zoom talk. These were all events that had been planned as in-person, and we decided to morph them into Zoom events rather than cancel them. And, it went swimmingly. I even enjoyed them! There is nothing like connecting in person but it was so nice to connect with like minded people during this time of intense isolation.

 

Jody Alexander - Mending Sampler Needle Book
Mending Sampler Needle Book

 
 So...shoot me an e-mail if you are part of a group, guild, shop, retreat, etc. that would be interested in my teaching a workshop or giving a talk via Zoom. 
 
I've reached out to a couple of my regular, in-person, venues and we are scheduling some upcoming workshops.
 
 
Jody Alexander - Mending Sampler Needle Book


One that is already posted and ready to register for is:
 
Mending Sampler Needle Book
French General, Zoom Workshop
with two dates to choose from:
or
 
Click on links above to register or go the French General.
 
 
Jody Alexander - Mending Sampler Needle Book

 
As the vaccine nears and we all start to dream of traveling and gathering again it is ever important to continue to practice safe protocols: isolating, distancing, wearing a mask. And, while we are doing that let's take advantage of gathering virtually! I know I have been enjoying some of the workshops, talks, and events that have been made available virtually for the first time ever! 

Let me know if you want me to give a workshop or give a talk. Hope to see some of you in my scheduled zoom workshops (click here to see listings that I will update as they arise).
 
Next post I'll share a series that I've been working on during the pandemic...I promise it won't be eight months away...


 
 

21 March 2020

Stay at Home 2020

Hello Everyone. I hope that you all are staying healthy and sane during this difficult time, and remaining inside and social distancing in order to do your part in flattening the COVID-19 curve.

There are so many artists, writers, musicians, actors, and other creatives that are being very imaginative and offering services to help everyone stay entertained right now.

Bamboo Rubber Band Book and Orizomegami

I would love to create a new tutorial here for you all but family matters have called me away from doing much creative work currently.

So, I thought I would bring together, in one place, a couple of bookmaking-for-kids tutorials that I have done in the past, a sashiko thread prep demo, and mention that Creativebug has opened up 50 classes for free!

Here are the links:

Snake Book

This is a blogpost tutorial I did a few years ago. The snake book is a super fun structure suitable for kids - I would say Kindergarten and up - as well as adults. HERE is the link.

Snake Book


 

Bamboo Rubber Band Book

I made a guest appearance on the Tinkerlab Blog a few years ago and put together this bookmaking tutorial for kids. Minimal supplies and you can learn how to make the fancy orizomegami covers on Creativebug - it is one of the 50 free classes available on the site now! Link to Bamboo Rubber Band Book HERE
 Scroll down for more info. on the Creativebug classes.

Bamboo Rubber Band Book

Sashiko Thread Prep

This one's for adults - we need entertaining activities, too! Is your sashiko thread collection a mess? This little tutorial tells you how to cut and braid a sashiko skein so that it doesn't become a messy nest in your sewing box. Link to post HERE.

Sashiko Thread Prep
Creativebug is always a good deal and they currently are offering 50 classes for FREE - for kids and adults alike. I just took a peek at them and three of my classes are included: Orizomegami, Japanese Binding for Kids, and the House Book - so happy to see this! They are all great projects for kids. Check them all out HERE.



Japanese Binding for Kids with Orizomegami covers

Wish I could do more and maybe I will be able to once things quiet down for me.

In the meantime, stay inside, stay in touch with your friends and extended family virtually, and be creative - it really helps! 

18 January 2020

2020 Workshops - Winter, Spring, Summer

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope that the new decade finds you happy, healthy, creative and well.

Thought I would round up my 2020 workshops and talks that I have scheduled so far in hopes that I will get to see some of you out there!:


glean, gather, group: Jody Alexander and the Santa Cruz SCRAP residency
Free talk at San Francisco Center for the Book about my recent residency at the Santa Cruz dump
Thursday, February 13th, 6:00 - 8:00




Mending Sampler Needle Book
French General, Los Angeles 
Saturday, February 29th, 10:00 - 4:00 





The Boro Aesthetic: Creating Fiber Arts Pieces Inspired by Japanese Textiles
Aya Studios, Stuart, Florida
March 21st - 23rd, 2020





Japanese-style Mending as Utility and Embellishment
A Verb for Keeping Warm, Oakland, California
Saturday, April 25th, 11:00 - 5:00




The Boro Aesthetic: Creating Fiber Arts Pieces Inspired by Japanese Textiles
Fibre Arts Australia, Ballarat and Toowoomba, Australia
June 29th - July 5th - Ballarat
July 6th - July 12th - Toowoomba


Very excited for all of this teaching and traveling and especially looking forward to all of the wonderful people that I will meet along the way. 

I hope that this post inspires you to take a workshop but I realize that it is not always possible...so remember...
I have workshop online at Creativebug 
and a book that goes over much of what I cover in some of these classes:

Here is to a creative 2020!