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

Shades of Serenity, my first collection of fabric, 1998.

Happy New Year! This year brings new adventures and reflections on past creative endeavors. I am taking over the shop while mom goes into semi-retirement. She will continue to help me over the next couple years phasing out more and more as time goes by. The shop is her baby and I couldn't imagine her not being there in some way but it is time for her to focus on herself and her art. As this new adventure starts for me I am celebrating 20 years designing fabric and my 40th collection releasing this spring and designing my fall 2018 collection. Part of me can't believe that it has been 20 years but then I went in search for a photo of me then.

In 1998 I was fresh out of college with a Fine Arts Photography degree and was living in Greensboro, North Carolina. I was a hippie, tree hugging, photographer trying to get a job in NC and ended up working at Fran's Quilt Shop. Mom and I were working on our book, Through The Garden Gate and I had become obsessed with fabric and the possibilities of design. I knew this gal, Debbie Stark, that was head of a fabric studio, Quilter's Only, in Charlotte, and decided to take my black and white nature photography to her and pitch a fabric collection. Quilter's Only was a division of Springs Industries and they manufactured fabric for independent quilt shops only not chains. She took a risk on me and that started this amazing 20 year adventure of developing my art, growing and changing with the industry and my own life.

My first collection was Shades of Serenity, the collection was based on my black and white close up nature photography. I worked with the studio to design the fabric, at this time I did not draw or paint my designs. It is fascinating as I go through my collections, remembering my journey as an artist, when I decided I was going to draw my designs, when I started painting them, the first collection that I used the computer to now utilizing a technique I learned in college, block printing, to create my fabric.

I moved back to Sisters in 1999 almost a year to the day of moving to NC. I was homesick and missed my family so much. I called my mom and asked her if she might have a job opening for me. That year I started working at the Stitchin' Post doing the ordering of books, notions, and patterns. And here we are now....

Wishing you a great day full of Love, Kindness and a lot of Laughter!

xoxo

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....

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

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

Color of the Week... Stone

Stone

Stone is a beautiful grey....It leans towards the warmer side. I have a love for grey...all shades of it. It is a beautiful neutral that can make any color sing.

Only two weeks until the final Color of the Week.... so many fabulous giveaways...stay tuned!

Have a great day!

XO

Valori

Color of the Week... Cactus

Cactus

This yummy green Kona Solid reminds me of spring green. The new sprouts of wild flowers...young grass and moss. I am so looking forward to spring and gardening...

Had to show a bit of one of mom's quilts. As this green is what we call "Jean green" at the shop.

There are only 3 more weeks of Color of the Week. I can't believe it has almost been a year since I started this blog series. Stay tuned as I have some FABULOUS giveaways!

I have loved doing Color of the Week and have decided to continue with a weekly blog of Inspiration! 

Have a great day!

XOXO

Valori

Color of the Week... Ice

Ice

So sorry that this is two days late... I just sent out my fall collection of fabric to Robert Kaufman and was so consumed Ice fell by the wayside....

Ice is almost a sky blue...a little deeper and more on the purple side of blue.

Enjoy your day!

XOXO

Valori