Harmonies Batiks....

One of my favorite adventures in fabric design was creating the Harmonies Batik series. This was the first time I took the chance and drew my own designs. They were simple India ink drawings that were then translated into sun baked batiks in Indonesia. It was a a leap of faith to send black and white drawings and let them dye as they desired. The results of this combined creativity was amazing, I received so many color options it was difficult to narrow it down.

There were three additions of Harmonies Batiks... I have always had a special place in my heart for these fabrics it was a collaboration of artists in different countries making beautiful fabric.

During this time I also was learning about New York Beauty blocks and drafting my own designs. These experiments led to my book Radiant New York Beauties, I was expanding my abilities as an artist designing fabric and as a new quilter exploring techniques.

These were my last fabrics with Quilter's Only, my next collection debuted with a new company, Free Spirit.

xoxo

Valori

Through The Garden Gate and more.

My fabric adventures continued with my next three collections being inspired by the photography I did for mom and I's books, Through the Garden Gate and Along the Garden Path.  These books were stories of quilters and their gardens, each of the amazing quilters we featured made us a quilt for the book. While I was living in North Carolina I had decided that I would make a quilt for our book using the stitch n' flip technique. I was incredibly homesick and since I didn't have a garden of my own to be inspired from so I created my quilt based on memories of my mother's garden. This was the first quilt that I had designed, pieced and quilted on my own. I specifically remember calling my mom and asking her how I draw with my thread to finish the quilt, she never let me know that free motion quilting was not usually something that a brand new quilter would do, she just told me to go to my local quilt shop get a darning foot for my machine, drop the feed dogs and go for it. I love her for this because I never had fear when it came to machine quilting.

Not only was I growing as a quilter I was also learning a about fabric design and working with the studio. I had little confidence drawing, even though I had four years of life drawing in college, so the studio continued to do the designing of the fabric based off my combinations of photographs and color palettes. It was an interesting learning curve for me since I knew nothing about repeats and color call outs. As Along the Garden Path came out I realized that I wanted to take more of a hands on approach to fabric designing. To do this I had to quit being scared of my drawing abilities and take some chances.

These three collections really pushed me as an artist and the next series of fabric collections I created took on a whole new look.

xo

Valori

Highlighter Rocks with Sunflowers & Lemons

Happy Friday!

This week really flew by...Quilt Con is just around the corner and I am just about ready to go. A few more bundles to fold this weekend. Today I wanted to share with you my Highlighter Rocks with Sunflowers & Lemons Quilt.

Highlighter is Kona Cottons Color of the Year!

I found photographs a huge inspiration for my Highlighter quilt since the color was so hard for me to grasp. It makes me pucker and smile at the same time. By looking for photographs that used that color it started me thinking about palettes to play with. I came across an abstract painting with yellows and grays, drawings of lemons, sunflowers and yellow doors.

These photos inspired the palette and then I began playing with ideas for design. I carry an embroidered pouch with me full of colorful rocks and it got me started on the “rock” idea for the quilt. Rocks of course, because they are gray and that was a part of the palette. Inspiration can come from so many different things and when all those little bits come together a quilt design emerges. Next came pulling together the gray rocks and the yellow stripped background to give the quilt subtle lines and movement - similar to the color essence in the abstract paintings. The goal was to balance out the intensity of Highlighter but still make it the dominate color of the quilt. The top is just part of the quilt, quilting can stand out or blend in depending on your motif and color of thread. I wanted a little of both because I just had to quilt sunflowers and lemons.

This is a free pattern at Robert Kaufman...soon! Like in the next week they will have it up to download.

Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments about Mystic and all the blogs that I did this last month about Morocco. I loved getting to share all of it with you.

Have a great weekend!!

XOXO

Valori

PS The 3 bundle winners have been emailed.....

The Souks of Marrakesh...

The Souks....

A combination the entire Mystic collection and Kona Cottons.....

The Souks is the open air marketplace in the medina (center)  of Marrakesh.... it is a maze of tiny stalls and vendors with every possible product you could need....I barely touched the surface of the Souks and was a little confused as to where I was but after a couple of visits I was able to find my way around. It is one of the most interesting aspects to the city...people watching...smells.... colors.... textures.... sounds...it hits every sense and then some. The souks may seem confusing but they are very well organized by product.... dyers area, food, leather, etc. The strips in the design of the quilt connect to each other in some places but not quite in others creating a maze sort of feel but yet it is very organized it felt like the Souks.

My quilting is a maze of quilting to showcase the Souks....

Here are a few of my favorite images from the Souks....

This would be one of my favorites!!!

I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of my trip to Morocco....the trip changed my life and I am so very grateful!!! 

Last weeks bundle winner.... Jenny (you have been emailed)!

Ok - I have three fat 1/4 bundles of the entire collection of Mystic.... leave a comment and next week I will announce the winners!!!

Have a great week!!

XOXO

Valori

Peacock Pavilions...... oh my....

Hello...

I have been working on my newest collection of fabric for fall...the designing phase and got so caught up yesterday that I forgot to post... good grief. At least it was because I was on a really good roll....Anyhow....

One of the things I loved about the way that Maryam  from Peacock Pavilions decorated was her ability to put all of us (12) at a table and it felt seamless...she layered her table cloths. Love the idea. (I am sure that for some of you this is old news :-) ) I don't have one long enough tablecloth for our table when the entire family is over so now I just layer three different cloths. I took two - 2 yard pieces of Mystic and stitched them around the edges like you would a pillow. Turned them right side out and pressed. Whipped stitched the opening and took my walking foot and ran some stitching to secure the two pieces of fabric. So easy... they wash well and they are two sided! Bonus!

Part of why I want to share this place with you is for the design that is incorporated into every aspect of this place....

The dining tent...

The stenciling on the tent... amazing.... the floor is covered in soft Berber rugs (no shoes allowed).

This is the main living area of the house we stayed in. There are two houses apart from the main house. These two houses are were the guest stay. The main house is the families living quarters, the kitchen and the main living communal area...

Artifacts from all over Africa adorn the houses....as well as kitties!

view from the roof top...

 The main house....

The property they own has a olive grove on it...the small batches of olive oil produced from their grove is really yummy.

And yes they do have peacocks....they used to roam free but they found that they had no disregard for interiors....and that is hard to get out of a Berber rug!!

Scout the resident lab!

The pool....

 The path from my house through the olive grove to the main house. They are called meditation paths because the stones are either a little too close together or a little too far apart in turn making you conscious of each and every step. I loved starting my morning walking this path being in the moment noticing the small delicate details of the ground cover and the olive trees.

Our crew....

Mystic Blue blog winner is Sarah M. (you have been emailed).... Thank you all for you wonderful comments.....I am so in love with blue, glad to know I am not alone!

This trip through the inspiration of Mystic is winding down... The last post will be on Monday.... I have some bundles of the entire collection to give away... Three to be exact! Leave a comment....See you then!

xo

Valori

Mystic Blue

Happy Friday!!!

It is a beautiful blue sky day here in Sisters...perfect day to share with you my Mystic Blue quilt that is made out of the blue palette in the Mystic collection and Kona Cottons.

This quilt is a mixture of design elements seen in the rugs and the variety of blues you experience while visiting Morocco.

I already love blue... and now I am completely enamored by blue....

I really enjoyed quilting this quilt... embracing the solid areas for Moroccan elements of design.

Mystic Blue will be a Sewing Card available late January.

And now for Moroccan blue inspiration....

The Riad Idra in Marrakesh.

The doors...

Amy and I....

Jardins Majorelle - this garden was incredible with the marjorelle blue everywhere.

How could you not fall in love with blue!??

The winner of the last blog post is Ann (you have been emailed)...

A bundle of blue Mystic up for a giveaway... Just leave a comment and the winner will be picked on Tuesday....

XOXO

Valori

A little embroidery...

Hello Friends....

I love embroidery. Over the years I have embroidered bits and pieces of my fabric designs. Adding stitching to quilts, bags, and pillows whatever I can think of that will add a little more texture and color to a project. My flora design in Mystic is perfect for embroidery.

I like to make something for my mom at Christmas and this year at the last minute I decided to embroidery on the grey canvas Flora to make into a pillow for her. It is perfect colors for her house. This is the modern canvas from Robert Kaufman so it is light weight compared to traditional canvas. It is perfect for pillows and bags...

I added some gold piping which worked really well at accenting the gold in the embroidery. The great thing about taking a printed fabric and adding embroidery is that you don't have to embroider the entire pillow. Just add to the design of the fabric. My mom loved it...

She has now started one for a friend of hers.... it is in progress so I thought I would show you how easy it is to embroider a little fabric and make something...

Here we go in progress. I use three strands of the Aurifil embroidery floss. Tie a knot in one end and use the design printed on the fabric as your guide.

It is that simple.... I like to use a couple of colors in the flower. But it is up to you... maybe an variegated thread. There are so many great fabrics out there that would be perfect for this technique.

I have to share a few photos of Morocco that inspired this new design Flora, from Mystic. It is not a specific flower but the essence of the flora in Morocco...created into a stencil like design....something simple but dramatic.

The roses at Peacock Pavilions were amazing...

The stenciled door in our house at Peacock Pavilions....

And a little henna to round it out.....

The winner of the Gypsum blog bundle giveaway is..... Robin (you have been emailed).

I have more fabric to give away... and with this bundle I am going to include some of the canvas.. just leave a comment to be entered to win. Winner announced on the next blog post this Friday....

Have a great day!!!

xoxox

Valori

Just in case you would like to come to Morocco and do a little creating and exploring... YA SALAM

 Amy Butler’s Ya Salam Exotic Getaway! Marrakesh Morocco
November 5 - 12 2016

Join Amy and David Butler and creative guru Val Wells for an exciting inspiration expedition exploring Marrakesh and all of it’s exotic inspirations!
Our week together will be filled with creative workshops mixed with day trips that take us to fascinating, colorful locals! We’ll scour the souks, visit
historic sites in Marrakesh and have a full day in the Atlas Mountains taking in the natural beauty and tour the rural Berber villages. Our home base
is the gorgeous Peacock Pavilions.  Many of our meals and events will take place at the Pavilions including our creative
workshop sessions. You are in for a treat!

Gypsum

Happy Friday!!!

I wanted to share with you my Gypsum Quilt made out of the black and white palette of Mystic, for Robert Kaufman.

Gypsum was inspired by the Berber Rugs in Morocco and the gep carvings throughout the architecture in Marrakesh. Geps are the carved plasterwork used for upper wall, ceilings, tops of pillars, arches, or peaks... they can be ribbons framing windows and doors. I first saw geps in the Riad Idra in Marrakesh.

I love the Berber rugs... and what is surprising to me is how few photos I have of them. They are very simple and usually geometric, two color designs. The rug designs mixed with the stenciling at the Peacock Pavilions, I was bound to be inspired to do a black and white color way of Mystic and a quilt.

My room at Peacock Pavilions was even neutral....

Once this quilt was done I decided to quilt the Hand of Fatima mixed with designs reminiscent of the geps.

Mayram has an amazing collection of Hands of Fatima at Peacock Pavilions.

I love how the quilting turned out....

So does Ollie....

I have to share a few more images from Morocco that inspired the black and white palette in Mystic.

I hope you enjoyed the inspirational journey of Gypsum. The pattern for Gypsum will be available through The Stitchin' Post this month. I will keep you updated.

The winner from the Kantha Stitching blog post is... Solange (you have been emailed).

As with each quilt and project I share of Mystic there will be a bundle of fabric to win. Leave a comment to be entered... I will announce winner on Tuesday.

Hope you have an Awesome weekend....

XOXO

Valori

OH... One more really important thing. My good friend Amy has her newest Blossom Magazine Live... If you want to be inspired...find some love....some meaning... go check it out. Our trip to Morocco is in there and the exciting announcement that there is a new Morocco Artist Retreat in November 2016... and I am going to be teaching with Amy.....

Kantha Stitching

Today is one of those winter days I am not  fond of... it's cold, raining and the roads are icy. A good day to be in the studio.

A good day to sit by the fire with a nice cup of tea and do some Kantha Stitching. I have also heard this stitching called, Big Stitch or Running Stitch.... My friend from South Africa taught me...

All you need is two pieces of fabric - fat 1/4's are a great way to start and then you can turn it into a cute pillow. Embroidery thread or pearl cotton for stitching, and a needle. (I personally need a needle threader sometimes) and some scissors. Thread and needle for a quick basting.

This is one of my in progress pieces... I am going to turn this into a pillow once the stitching is all done. One of the great things about this technique you can put it down and pick it up months later without worrying about a pattern...(my current problem with knitting projects)

If you are working on something bigger than a cocktail napkin you are going to want to baste the two layers together. You can use a few safety pins or needle and thread. Using a needle and thread stitch the two layers together with large stitches, you don't need a ton of basting just to keep the two layers from slipping while you get the first few rows of Kantha stitching done.

Cut a 12" ish length of thread. Knot the end and either nest it between the two layers or through both layers so the knot is on the back. Your first row you will want to be straight. I fold my piece and finger press a line to follow when I am stitching. Very scientific!

It is this simple....

Now for all the fun things I am making or have made....

I think this will be a table runner when its all stitched...

Little cocktail napkins!! These remind me of Morocco and the cool napkins they have at Peacock Pavilions.

Pillows...Out of Mystic canvas and Mystic cotton.

Hope this finds its way into your tool box of techniques that you use when you create.

XOXO

Valori

The winner of the Mystic bundle is..... Barb in MI (you have been e-mailed)

AND because I really love giving things I am going to do another give away from this blog post....

Just leave a comment and I will announce the winner on Fridays blog....

Flying Carpet

Happy Saturday....

This is Flying Carpet, one of the four quilts made out of Mystic Fabric, for Robert Kaufman.

Flying Carpet was inspired by the rugs and carpets in Morocco.

The variety of styles and colors were amazing....each style representing a tribe or area in Morocco.

No rug was exactly the same because they were usually made by one woman - their skills passed down from generation to generation and no pattern is used just their knowledge. I loved that you could see two rugs from the same village with similar patterns still be very different.

I had to include this cute little guy. Kitties are well revered in Morocco... they take care of the rodents since most of the markets and homes are open air. You will find them everywhere.... I was in heaven.

In honor of Flying Carpet I am giving away a fat 1/4 bundle of the "extract" palette....just leave a comment below and the winner will be chosen on Monday. My manor of choosing winners is not scientific, I collect the number of comments (say 35) and write them on little pieces of paper and let one of the kids draw. So it really is quite random. Don't worry this isn't your only chance to win....I will be giving away a bundle of fabric with each quilt.

Hope you have a great weekend!

xoxo

Valori

The flying carpet pattern will be available mid January from The Stitchin' Post.

Morocco & Mystic Fabric

I am so excited to share with you my newest collection of fabric with Robert Kaufman, Mystic. The collection was inspired by my trip to Morocco in November 2014. This trip changed my life, as adventures to a foreign land should. Traveling for 12 days, a couple of them on my own in Marrakesh, on an Artist retreat with my good friend Amy Butler. We spent most of our time at this amazing "hotel" Peacock Pavilions just outside of Marrakesh in a small village.

As you can imagine I took A LOT of photos... how could you not - the color - the people - the textures - the architecture - the color! Of course out of this amazing adventure there has come some designs.... Before I show you Mystic I want to share a little of the beauty of Morocco.

The Medina... the center of the city.

I arrived a day early from the rest of the group and stayed at this beautiful hotel, Riad Idra, in the city.

This little hotel was such a welcoming place to be after 27 hours of travel....the people were friendly and so gracious. I felt as though I was staying in their home and I was an old friend.

The Souks... the marketplace in the Medina of Marrakesh.

This is just a small taste of the beauty that surrounded me in Morocco.

Now, I want to introduce you to the fabric....

This is Mystic....

This is the focal print Mosaic.... it comes in 5 colors....

This is Flora....

The Beads...

The Tile....

Grid....

The last design is actually from my collection In the Bloom, the Leaf. This pattern works so well with Mystic I had to re-color it.

This collection is so close to my heart as was the trip to Morocco. Stay tuned because for the month of January I will be sharing the quilts and projects designed out of Mystic along with their inspiration, more photos from Morocco....and of course some fabric to give away....

I hope you have a great day!!!

XO

Valori

Mystic fabric is now available at The Stitchin' Post.... AND the first 50 people to order more than $25.00 in Mystic fabric will receive a Mystic pin cushion made by the amazing staff at The Stitchin' Post. XOXO

One more parting photo....

Inspiration and 2015...

Happy New Year!

I have been thinking a lot about what I am doing with my work, my life, pondering my existence. I am not trying to be dramatic or am thinking I have a horrible life. More along the lines of, what am I giving back? Is this a thing that happens when your 40+, you completely over analyze your life…. My family is first, of course, I am here to take care of them but there is more…. I want to inspire more than I do now. But inspire what? I don’t know the answer… maybe that is part of the discovery. I am on a search with my work finding my place…I am scared to lose my career by not staying relevant, to not be able to support my family. But there is a time when it is important to push your creativity and your work to a new level. The fear is unhealthy…. Focusing on being scared to make a change makes you unable to move forward. Turning that fear into curiosity is giving me the courage to make changes and take chances. This has sparked these thoughts of what my work is meant to be. Yes, I love it and it fuels my soul but I need more from it. I need it to fuel others.…I want to inspire… even if it is just to look at your day a little different. Maybe its just a photo that inspires a smile…. Or a fabric that inspires the need to create a quilt…. Or a quilt that fills you with the desire to sew…. In all of this I want to spread Love. I want to find Love…. Let go of the Fear. My goal is to let go of my own fears, insecurities and pure bullshit that I have convinced myself is true. My bad habits of self doubt can snowball into my daily tasks. I am ready to change my habits and theories and to grow, embracing it all. Part of this journey in my life is to inspire others. Now I just have to figure out what that looks like…

I am learning to look at myself with a loving eye and should revel in sharing with you my photography that speaks a lot better than I write, if that can be a true statement – images verse writing. I should show you what I see…and in what I see, I find Love… I photograph what I love. And Love is so many things…it’s a feeling, a object, a person, a memory, a smell, a sight, a sound, a taste…. couldn’t we make love anything and everything……and if we did wouldn’t the world revolve around love rather than fear?

So, I share with you my Love… 12 images, one from each month of 2015 that inspire me, that remind me of the love in my life, and how blessed I am.

Experimenting with screen printing onto appliqued circles. I love experimenting and taking chances when I am in the studio. The success and the mistakes are all part of being an artist and I am constantly striving to be a better at what I create.

Morocco filled my head in February as I designed Mystic, my most recent collection of fabric from Robert Kaufman. Filtering through all of the images that I shot in Morocco filled my head with so many ideas that there are more than one Moroccan inspired fabric collection in the works.

Photography....it is such a love of mine...and when it all comes together you click the shutter at just the right time and you capture magic. This photograph of Olivia is magic...she is so full of love and it comes through in this image. I take thousands of photos a year and I strive to capture something special every time.

My sketchbook goes everywhere with me.....along with this little tin of watercolors that I made in Morocco. The tin is the perfect size for travel and filled with huge memories that inspire me every time I pull it out. I think of what I learned about myself on my trip and how I learned from those I traveled with, they started as strangers and left as friends you hold close to your heart.

It may sound odd but I remind myself everyday that I am love...I am open to love and I love fiercely. Try it sometime you'll be amazed at how good it makes you feel!!!

These little kittens that have turned our house upside down.... in the best way ever. They are my constant companions in the studio and the kids best friends... they have even made Ross, the so-so cat person, fall in love with them....They remind me to be in the moment...and they are just so FUZZY!

Mother Nature at her best...nothing but inspirational.

We travel to the Oregon Coast at least twice a year and usually go to the same beach, Manzanita. I am always amazed that I can find something new to see... take photos, sketch and be inspired by. It could be the time of year mixed with where I am in my life... what am I open to seeing.

The spring of 2015 the kids and I planted 300 sunflower seeds.... there were several casualties due to rodents but we got most of them to bloom. Our yard was such a happy place surrounded by sunflowers of all different sizes and colors garden beds filled with veggies and flowers....AHHH summer!

I fell in love with Indigo dying...I mean how couldn't you...The color.... the endless possibilities! Part of the joy of Indigo dying was learning the process with my mom, one of her friends and my daughter Olivia.  Three generations of women creating beautiful fabric together.

Block printing has become a huge part of my work. It has been a love of mine since college and I am finding it to be a new inspiration for design.... to see what happens when designs are repeated, mixed together and layered. 

 This crew is my biggest inspiration and love...their love and patience with me is unwavering. I hate to admit it but I am  kind of a moody artist and these four people love me anyway.

I wish you a wonderful 2016 inspired by the unpredictable and familiar, seen in a new light.... inspired by your time with those you love and the quiet space in which you can reflect.....

Be grateful and live your life out of Love!

xoxo

Valori

Interrupting the silence...

I am interrupting the recent silence on my blog (haha) to talk about a friend of mine’s new book. I am very lucky to be friends with some amazing people in our industry and Sarah Filke is one of them. Sarah is a resident of Australia. She came and taught at Quilter’s Affair last summer and was given rave reviews from her students.

I am excited to share with you her new book… Old Quilts, New Life

 

In this book Sarah selected 9 quilts from the American Folk Art Museum in New York and used them as the inspiration for her 18 quilts. She asked me if I had a favorite antique quilt that I would like to share…. Why yes I do!

I love this quilt! The contrasting fabric used in the chevrons intrigued me. I loved the varying widths of the rows and how the fabrics were all over the place but the way they are arranged made the quilt work. (I was privileged to see it in person at the Houston International Quilt Show in the Kaffe Fassett showcase.) I was so inspired by this quilt and my recent collection of fabric Mystic, inspired by Morocco, that I had to make something.

My something is this….

The Souks

The souks are the market place in the center of Marrakesh that I enjoyed winding through, finding treasures and seeing the craftsmen at work. The colors are vivid and the smell at times intense but so full of life I found myself sucked into a magical place.

The antique chevron quilt was a maze of color but yet felt organized…. That is the Souks!

Stay tuned for more about the Souks of Marrakesh and the new Mystic fabric!

XO

Valori

Inspired by.... Clouds

May in Sisters, Oregon... rainy (which we are all very, very, very, happy about since our winter was extremely dry) and full of great clouds. May is also a busy time for me. I just returned from Quilt Market and we are 6 weeks away from Quilter's Affair and Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show....OMG how does that happen so fast? Reminding myself to breathe and enjoy the excitement of preparing to celebrate 40 years of quilt show.... and this weekend is the shop's 40th birthday party....all of these things will happen only once and I have to remember to be there..... 

The Clouds this time of year really speak to me... oddly enough keeping me grounded and in the moment.

Living on a canyon we get really amazing fog...

and then this happens....

Oregon Coast has fabulous clouds...

Who doesn't photograph clouds when your flying?

I couldn't show photos of clouds without some from Morocco.....

A sunset on the roof top of Peacock Pavilions in Marrakesh, Morocco! When I see this image I can remember the smell of the air, giggling with Louise as we ran out of the main house to the roof top to capture this amazing sunset... trying not to mess up the Henna tattoos we had just received...

Isn't this why we love photographs so much...

Have a great day!

XO

Valori

Inspired by... White

I am have been feeling completely overwhelmed and stressed the last couple of weeks. I believe in positive thought and the power of your mind - I have times of constantly reminding myself of this. Sometimes I need inspiration to clean out the stress and today I picked WHITE.... so much calm and serenity in white.... when you think of a color can you imagine a smell?  For me white is a jasmine flower - its delicate, intoxicating scent drifting in the breeze.

Just a few of my favorite whites...

jasmine....

My husband always gives me a knowing smile when we go anywhere and I stop to grab a quick shot of something... could be anything. Pretty sure this was outside a restaurant.

I have a collection of white vases perfect for wildflowers....I can't wait to start filling them with my first spring flower the Daisy.

Marrakesh, Morocco

I had to merge two photos here, I wanted to show you the amazing detail of the Riad Idra in Marrakesh, Morocco.

You can't have white without snow.

Snow also means....

Yummy.....

I hope you are Inspired by white today.... I sure feel better! :-)

Have a great day!

XO

Valori

Inspired by... Paths of Peacock Pavilions

Happy Friday!

Today is my first post of Inspired by....

I had the honor of staying at the Peacock Pavilions in Marrakesh, Morocco. This place is MAGIC... While staying there you travel from house to house and tent to tent through the olive groves over paths. These are unique paths, each step is either too close or too far apart so that you are conscious of every step you take. You are present! My biggest goal and desire while I was in Morocco was to be present, soak in every moment. From my room in the morning I walked through these olive trees to the main house for breakfast. Starting my day being present in the moment.... this has stayed with me and I am so grateful for Maryam and Chris for creating such a unique and magical place.

My Path through the olive grove.

The Path to the artist tent.

The Path to our house.

I knew I would make a quilt at some point based on my love of these paths and the colors of Peacock Pavilions.....

At the beginning of the year Robert Kaufman asked if I would design a quilt out of their Essex Linen to show at market. Of course I said yes.... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE working with Essex Linen! As I looked through the colors I realized that this was the quilt that I would make to honor those paths!

Some of the beautiful colors from Peacock Pavilions...

Dinner in a traditional Arabian Tent.... This was our first night there and was the most fun experience... the floors are covered in soft Moroccan rugs you sit on firm embroidered pillows... with soft lighting and bougainvillea hanging from the lights. The tent is covered in traditional Moroccan stencil designs. Seriously how could you not start off your experience with this and not be in LOVE with Peacock Pavilions!!

The Main house...

From the rooftop of our house looking towards the main house over the olive grove.

I loved the nights at Peacock, the pool would darken as the sun went down, the lights would start to glow in the seating area and everything would slowly turn into an Indigo night... so beautiful.

So.... drum roll...... the quilt....

Paths of Peacock Pavilions (photographed on the canyon at our house)

I quilted Olive leaves and Olives all over the paths. I am truly in love with this quilt... the memories of such a special place that helped my path to changing the need to always think about what is next or what I have to do or, or, or to being present and in the moment. Enjoying my children and my husband in the moment! It brings tears to my eyes because I am so full filled by this by the love I receive and give by being in the moment.

I hope you have a magical day!!!

XO

Val

Here is a great description of Peacock Pavilions   from their web site. They are amazing people!

"Peacock Pavilions is a handmade, artisanal boutique hotel in an olive grove on the outskirts of Marrakesh.  Part of the M.Montague offerings,  Peacock Pavilions  was designed and built by American blogger and designer, Maryam Montague, and her American husband, Chris Redecke.  

The hotel, like the rest of M.Montague brand,  supports Project Soar, a non-profit organization established the couple to uplift underprivileged communities, especially its girls and women, through art, and fitness. 10 % of profits from Peacock Pavilions go to sourcing Project Soar.

Maryam, her husband, and two children continue to live at Peacock Pavilions where they share their own slice of a Marrakesh oasis with resident peacocks Maurice, Persephone and Gigi, five cats, one mischievous yellow lab, and any guests lucky enough to be stopping through."

Learn more about MMontague products and experiences at www.mmontague.com

Good-Bye Color of the Week...

Good- Bye Color of the Week... you have been good to me.

Over the past year I have been pushed at times to find images of a certain color.

I found out that most of my photographs of blue are of the sky. It was my hardest color to find photos of. Which I find very interesting because my favorite color is turquoise.

All of the neutrals were the easiest and I loved finding just the right ones.

Sometimes I had to call my husband to ask him what he thought of a color because I had no words.

I made a point of posting at least 7 photos of the color. And at times I know I took creative license in picking photos...

I tried to make sure that not all of my photos were of nature. My favorite thing to photograph is the natural world. I wanted to show color in unexpected places.

I loved using my Hipstamatic App on my phone to take photos, sometimes they ended up perfect for colors others not so much. It was unexpected and exciting.

I saw color in more depth than I ever have....

I have been overwhelmed with the response to Your Favorite Color of the Week... thank you so much for all of your kind words. They make my heart so full....I wish I could give some fabric to everyone who took the time to comment.

The kiddos and I picked winners and I will be emailing you directly.

Have a great day!!!!

XO

Valori

Color of the Week... GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Color of the Week started with my collection of fabric, Blueprint Basics, and the desire to share my color inspiration through photography. I mixed in some Kona Cotton Solids to complete the color spectrum. The 52 weeks were split into the four seasons...

Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter....

I designed a quilt for each season ending with a trip around the world quilt, Celebration, that uses all 52 pieces.

All of these quilts are free pattern downloads on Robert Kaufman...(left to right: Winter, Spring, Celebration, Summer, Autumn)

To Celebrate the Color of the Week I have 12 of these babies to give away, 52 fat 1/4's in each bundle....

To be entered in the giveaway just tell me what your favorite Color of the Week was? I will close the giveaway next Sunday night and pick 12 winners next Monday.

Thanks for your support!

XOXO

Valori

Color of the Week... Celestial

Celestial

Celestial is a luscious deep teal...rich and vibrant.

I love to knit with this color!

The last Color of the Week. This has been an adventure for me. Finding photographs that I have taken over the years that fit (sometimes I have stretched this notion) the Color of the Week has been challenging but very rewarding.  I am more aware of color and the variety of colors.

Thank you for following this journey that started with an idea for a collection of fabric and turned into a year of seeing color. Love it....so much!

I plan on continuing a weekly blog of inspiration. Leaving my options of images open to fit a variety of creative subjects...texture, line, emotion, color, etc. I love the challenge of seeing something new in my everyday.

XOXO

Valori

PS.... I totally forgot to put this in last weeks post...

Color of the Week... Leprechaun

 

Leprechaun

Leprechaun Kona Solid is a very traditional green. Fits in between lime green and emerald green. Makes me think of  fresh cut grass and a late summer breeze...

I hope your day is full of fresh new green sprouts as a sign of spring coming your way.

Next week is the last posting of Color of the Week....Kinda sad but at the same time so very rewarding to see all the images over the year. I will be doing a BIG give away after the final Color of the Week....stay tuned!

Have a great day!

Xo

Valori