Author: Judy Coates Perez

  • Judy’s European adventure- part 1

    Judy’s European adventure- part 1

    Phil and I had an amazing trip. I’m so glad I had him along to travel with, not only to help with my 2 fifty pound suitcases, but also to help with language. I can communicate to some degree in Spanish, but German is completely beyond me. It took us 22 hours from the time…

  • Perseverance and fortitude.

    Perseverance and fortitude.

    There are so many words I could use to describe my son, but I think perseverance and fortitude rise to the top. He is completely self-motivated and holds himself to a standard that few could attain. On Wednesday, my son Ty graduated from the College of Chemistry at UC Berkeley with highest honors. I’m so…

  • The paintings continue

    The paintings continue

    I don’t have multiple photos of this one in process, because it was a bit of a disaster for a while and kept changing until I turned it into a painting of succulents, but if you’re really curious this is what it looked like at one point. See, sometimes my stuff looks awful too 🙂…

  • Learning, Creating, Living

    Learning, Creating, Living

    There are countless articles on the importance of continuing to learn new things as we age. They say it helps ward off declining brain function, memory loss and boosts low spirits, and eases depression. This year I’ve immersed myself in more small art projects than ever. To be honest, I haven’t had the energy or…

  • Make an Impression!

    Make an Impression!

    I’d like help you Make an Impression by learning how easy it is to make and print on fabric with your very own custom made stamps. As you probably know if you’re familiar with my work, I like to create pattern using stamps. I also love teaching students how to print with foam, rubber and…

  • Rotorua the most colorful spot in New Zealand

    Rotorua the most colorful spot in New Zealand

    I am really enjoying revisiting my photos from our trip to New Zealand, even though it is now almost 5 months after. How has so much time passed? While life in the US persists in a heightened level of tension with constant political chaos, today I get to temporarily fall back to a peaceful and…

  • My teaching trip to Naples, Florida

    My teaching trip to Naples, Florida

    I just got back from teaching at the Naples Quilters Guild. This guild goes up on the high list of wonderful places to teach, and credit goes to great programs organizers like Judy and Linda that make the job a whole lot easier, and a lot more fun. My first class was Paint and Printapalooza…

  • Painting canvases

    Painting canvases

    I love painting fabric then stitching it, but the downside is that it’s a much slower process than simply painting canvas. Sometimes I want to work on more projects and be more experimental with my painting since I feel like I learn so much every time I sit down to paint. Unfortunately, I don’t have…

  • Back to my New Zealand adventure, Napier

    Back to my New Zealand adventure, Napier

    Over the last couple weeks, I’ve been catching up on some deadlines, but before too much time has passed I wanted to post another installment of my trip down under last October. After Phil and I left Palmerston North, we drove a couple hours north east to the coastal city of Napier, another wine-producing region…

  • What a great way to start 2018: part 2

    What a great way to start 2018: part 2

    At Craft Napa on Saturday, I taught a brand new class- Blooming Inspiration. This class is about learning to paint on fabric in layers using acrylic inks while creating simplified more graphic elements. We began by making several pieces of colorfully painted fabric, by applying acrylic inks in a few different ways. Then we worked out designs…

  • What a great way to start 2018: part 1

    What a great way to start 2018: part 1

    It was so great starting my teaching year at Craft Napa. Hands down, it has to be my favorite venue to teach at. Napa is only an hour away from Sacramento, so it was easy for me, my daughter Indigo, and friend and fellow teacher Melanie Testa to pack up the car and head over to…

  • Happy New Year and the adventure continues on the North Island in Wellington

    Happy New Year and the adventure continues on the North Island in Wellington

    2017 was a year filled with the best and the worst of times. I hope with all my heart that democracy makes a comeback in 2018 and we can set the US back on course for saving the planet, civil rights/justice and helping instead of hurting those who need help the most. I’m falling behind…

  • Next stop Nelson, New Zealand

    Next stop Nelson, New Zealand

    I find a lot of inspiration from the places I travel to, and that’s why I share them here on my blog, to show you how these experiences can influence the work I make, whether it is a color palette (like the photo above taken just north of Greymouth with the violet-gray sky, soft aqua-gray-green…

  • I had to bury myself in the studio last week

    I had to bury myself in the studio last week

    To put it bluntly the last week or two have been hell. Between the GOP gift to the wealthy tax bill and their endorsement of child molester/sexual predator Roy Moore for US Senate, I just can’t stand seeing what’s happening and feeling so helpless to stop any of it. Everyone I know is calling, writing,…

  • Greymouth, New Zealand

    Greymouth, New Zealand

    Pronounced ‘Grey MOUTH’, not Grey myth like one would think. I was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, pronounced ‘ports myth’ or probably more like ‘pohts muth’ if you say it with the right accent, lol. I think Greymouth has to be one of the greenest place I have ever been. Not like the rest of New…

  • Felted wool ornaments for the holidays

    Felted wool ornaments for the holidays

    It’s that time again! and I don’t know about you, but and I need a good distraction!! I love making felted wool ornaments for Christmas. I think it must have something to do with seeing the beautiful rich colors and feeling the soft wool in my hands, and stitching them is so easy. These make…

  • Sorry, but I have to rant

    Sorry, but I have to rant

    It’s hard to be calm when I see my way of livelihood about to be obliterated by this administration if they pass the GOP’s *tax* bill. Small businesses will be going under everywhere you look. Sadly, if it goes through, I may no longer be able to afford to teach. I’m sure I’ve said it before,…

  • Blessings in the wind, making mixed-media prayer flags in Fresno

    Blessings in the wind, making mixed-media prayer flags in Fresno

    This was the first time I’ve ever taught for a guild twice in the same year! How cool is that? Debbie Girt (on bottom left of photo) took my Painting Imagery with Textile Paints workshop in February when I was there last and brought her finished Seahorses wall hanging to show and tell. Didn’t it…