Lori Gafarian Lawson
After graduation, I started working as a legal secretary in a law office in Ontario. My good friend, Jan Hinson, got me the job; and it changed the direction of my life. For the next 20 years, I worked in various law offices, went to school in the evenings, graduated from Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA, in 1974, and eventually became a certified paralegal through UC Irvine. In my early 30s, I began studying law under the supervision of the attorney for whom I worked, and at 40, successfully passed the bar on my first try (without having attended law school but studying on my own). Another classmate, Barbara Macri-Ortiz, also has the distinction of studying law and passing the bar as I did. I practiced law in Corona del Mar for 10 years and retired in 1999 after working 32 years in the law. At 50, I was ready for the next half of my life (after becoming obsessed with weaving).
In 1999, I began weaving and my journey as a fiber artist began. I soon was dyeing yarn, selling my yarn, handwovens, and handknits. I learned to spin my own yarn and began dyeing fibers for handspinners. All of this evolved quickly into a small artisan fiber business, Capistrano Fiber Arts Studio, working out of my home studio in San Juan Capistrano: www.etsy.com/shop/capistranofiberarts. My blog where I post my fibery endeavors is paintspinknit.blogspot.com. I participate in several fiber and art shows every year and have fun traveling and taking fiber workshops. Since 1999, I have been active with the South Coast Weavers and Spinners Guild in Irvine.
I have lived in San Juan Capistrano for 40 years and have been married for 33 years to Paul Shapiro (a 1967 graduate of Corona del Mar HS), who works for the Orange County Superior Court. We have two adult sons, ages 30 and 40. We welcomed our first grandchild/daughter in February of 2016. Our son, Kiernan, is a clothing designer for Nordstrom in Seattle, and our son, Dana, is an accountant for PriceWaterhouse in Irvine, CA.
Hobbies: For 15 years, beginning at age 36, I was a member of the women's masters' outrigger canoe team with Dana Point Outrigger Canoe Club. This was competitive canoeing with races from 10 to 14 miles, and I paddled with our masters' team in the Catalina Channel Crossing three times. My family and I have enjoyed camping, hiking and biking. My husband and I enjoy gardening and traveling, mostly in the Sierras and Western U.S.
Lori and Paul in Maui 2011
In my booth at Black Sheep Gathering 2012
Kiernan's wedding May, 2015
Kiernan and family December, 2016
With friends at Crystal Cove State Park 2016
Dana and girl friend 2016