STUDIO COATS WITH JODY ALEXANDER
STUDIO COATS WITH JODY ALEXANDER
A Storytelling Garment
March 20-28, 2027 - San Miguel De Allende
Join Book and Fiber Artist Jody Alexander in a workshop where you will create and embellish a garment that is meant to travel with you, and added onto, through the years. The Studio Coat is a patternless garment based on old Japanese farmer’s coats, or noragi, with a few incorporated Western attributes.
In this workshop students will examine coats from the instructor’s collection for inspiration, and then hand stitch their own. The sizing is very generous and there will be three muslin samples (S, M, L) for students to try on to choose their size.
Noragi are constructed in a very simple manner and were worn for years and repeatedly repaired. We will be embracing the joy of slow stitching in this workshop, and while a student’s stitching does not need to be neat and tidy, students must be comfortable with hand stitching.
The end product is intended to be a special garment that will be a perpetual work in progress to be worked on, mended, and added to as it is worn and loved for years to come. Stencil materials will be provided to start embellishing your coat to begin its storytelling journey inspired by beautiful San Miguel de Allende!
Itinerary
Day 1 - March 20 Saturday
Everyone arrives. We will meet this evening at 7:00 for a welcome fiesta and introductions
Day 2 - March 21, Sunday
All breakfasts are served in the dining room. Meet in the studio at 9:30 a.m. Jody will go over the schedule for the day. We will break for lunch and go on a short walking tour. Back to the studio to create and class will be over around 4:30. Dinner will be provided this evening.
Day 3 - March 22 Monday
Breakfast, studio at 9:30, break for lunch prepared by Chef Ana Elena Martinez. Back in the studio working until 4:30. Dinner will be provided.
Day 4 - March 23 Tuesday
Breakfast, studio at 9:30. Work until we leave for the class with Mojiganga master Hermes Arroyo. We will stop to have lunch before joining Hermes and his crew. Dinner is on your own this evening.
Day 5 - March 24 Wednesday
Breakfast, then in the studio at 9:30 for a full day creating. Lunch and dinner will be provided.
Day 6 - March 25 Thursday
Breakfast and into the studio by 9:30 for another full day of creating. Lunch and dinner will be provided
Day 7 - Friday
Breakfast and then into the studio at 9:30. We will finish our projects then clean up and have our Show ‘N Tell. Lunch is on your own and you have the afternoon free. We will have our final dinner tonight.
Day 8 - April 4 Sunday
Trip is over
This Escape Includes
8 nights at Casa de la Noche
Transportation from/to airport
Classes with Jody Alexander
Class with Mojiganga master Hermes Arroyo
Welcome reception and fiesta
All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners (one lunch and one dinner on your own)
Visit to markets
Cooking Demonstration with Chef Ana Elena Martinez
Free time to explore
A farewell dinner
Price: $4700, limited to 12 people based on double occupancy, limited single rooms are available for an additional $700.
A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration. The balance is due January 15, 2027.
Price does not include airfare to/from Mexico, alcohol, and travel insurance (mandatory).
Accommodations: Casa de la Noche
CDLN is a boutique bed and breakfast located minutes from the center of SMA. Rooms will be assigned to you and transportation is included and coordinated by CDLN. See the video with a surprise guest at the end!
Airport:(BJX) Del Bajio Airport, Leon/Guanajuato which is 1 hour and 15 minutes from SMA. Or Queretaro (QRO). Transportation from/to airport will be coordinated by CDLN (Casa de la Noche).
We will provide
Stencil material and brushes
Stencil Ink Pads
Artist’s Supply List
3 yards of fabric at least 40 inches in width - cotton or linen- solid if you want to stencil print on it (we will send instructions on how to prepare your fabric before class)
Thread: sulky cotton 12 weight thread or machine threat, or sashiko thread 20/4
Needles: milliners needles from Dritz or Clover
Pins
Marking Tool: pencil, chalk or fabric marker
Fabric Scissors
Rotary Cutter
12x18 cutting mat (bring two if you have them and can fit them into your luggage - this will help when cutting out your fabric
You can see more of Jody’s art at www.joyalexader.com. On Instagram: jody.alexader.art. Instagram: aqua.lab.project
Jody Alexander is a mixed media artist who lives and works in Santa Cruz and Penn Valley, California. She combines textiles, paper, found items and imagery to create books, objects, wall pieces, garments, and installations. Her work is inspired by the art of repair, reuse, and imagery and stories encountered in her travels and everyday. Currently, she is exploring the allure of water through open water swimming in her Aqua Lab series.
Her work appears in a number of publications including Masters: Book Arts: Major Works by Leading Artist, 500 Handmade Books, and 1000 Artists' Books: Exploring the Book as Art. Jody was the 2015 recipient of the Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship, was an artist in residence at the Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility in 2019 and at the Sonoma Academy in 2022. She is the Director’s Circle 2026 Artist of the Year at the New Museum in Los Gatos, CA.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from U.C.L.A., and a Master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College, Boston, MA. Jody teaches and exhibits nationally and internationally.
