A freshly washed pile of Karavan Jersey Knits!!! LA LA LA!!!! Just got my hands on the knits and I'm dying to make some yummy clothes! Since Quilt Market is two and a half weeks away I had to make a call into my girls for some help. Thursday night we are going to have wine and cheese and sewing, I love it!!
I'm off to plan what to make, get myself organized...
XO
Valori
PS I had to include a picture of Miss Liv on her Hello Kitty machine, sewing away!
We had a soccer game yesterday. Vi and Teague's attention span is very short for this weekly event. Since the games are played at the Elementry School there is an awesome play structure.
Earlier that morning I was in the studio silk screening elephant legs (you'll see that project soon) and Vi requested a skirt out of Karavan. I had time so I made her a very simple elastic waist skirt.
Vi is defiantly her mothers daughter, the minute we have new clothes we have to wear them. Hence the title "Karavan goes to the park".
Hope you have a great Sunday!
XO
Valori
I am computerless today. Amazing how weird it feels to not have a computer. So I am checking in by iphone... But it is good because it makes me focus on Karavan sample yardage that is stating at me. Begging me to play with it, cut into it, create something beautiful! That is what I'm going to do.... Now where are my scissors.....
XO
Val
Burning discs.... Watching the clock as I miss my window to send out my new collection.... Computers!!!! Then you add in there my computer not talking to my Internet and I'm doing emails and a bloging on my phone! Not much I can do about it right now, so I'll play with other projects.... Like the billboard quilt along.... Have you been to ohfransson.com to play along. I've been thinking a lot about a word.... It is tough to narrow it down!! But I'm excited to start! Soon.....
This is a quick snapshot of the package I send out to Free Spirit.....just missing their discs and a tie around each section and off they go onto the next process! I have been so involved, no, obsessed with this collection that I'm sick of it and am sad it's going at the same time. It will feel good to move onto another project!
Have a great day!
XO
Valori
It is a beautiful Sunday morning and I am in the studio working on a fabric deadline! UUGGHHH! Normally I don't mind but yesterday I spent the day outside playing with the kids and it was a wonderful, much needed day off! Now, I just want more.....
I do promise to get some more Quilt Show photos to you.... I keep you waiting, huh? Not on purpose of course, just in quite the time crunch for getting in my Spring Collection of fabric done. I am procrastinating on colors right now - ok maybe not procrastinate but stall.....I am really good at picking colors but I am not very good an narrowing them down. I can only use 16 to 18 colors per design and that is SO hard.
My fall collection Karavan is in print right now....there are two new friends I thought I would introduce you to.....
Indigo....
and Jules.......
they will be coming in other colors...
I am excited to say that there will be a small collection of Jersey Knit - YEAH!!! Along with the knit and cotton, Karavan will come in a small collection of Flannels.
Well, I must return to the elimination of colors....
Have a great Sunday!!!
XOXO
Valori
Hello my friends.....first and foremost THANK YOU to all of our service men and women! We are lucky to have you.....
Now, as the end of May arrives and the weather is only 62...I mean really, our spring has been SO cold and icky!! Good thing I have so much to do and I can't really be outside anyway.....
Taking a quick break from drawing to show you the new sewing cards....
This is Betsy...named after the old Cadillac in the photograph. We have this wonderful Wine Bar in Sisters (Cork Cellars - if you ever make it to town) and Betsy is the owners car...Carolyn and I were able to take it out and shot some photos with the ol' girl.....too fun! The quilt is made out of the Wrenly Cotton Voile but the simple design could be used for a variety of fabrics. It is a twin size...I thought it would be a fantastic dorm quilt, easy yet looks so cool!!
Bird's Eye View is a great quilt that utilizes a large print and solids. I used the Wren Gypsy fabric and picked solids to accent the colors in the fabric and used a white so that the background would flow. It looks complicated but the solids and background fabric are put together with a simple formula which takes away all the little piecing of the squares.
This quilt was very popular at market....I was plesently surprised.
Most of you have heard about my Little Wallet pattern....well, this is the big sister, Little Cell Phone Wallet. The design is longer and has a pocket on the back with a snap to put your cell phone in. I also added the option of a strap...which is nice for when you just want to go out with a few things and not your whole purse.
AAHHHH, the sweet Wish Bird....she is a gem. Easy construction with a pocket on the top that you can place a wish. The bird is a great way to start embroidery and play with beads, these accent the bird and make her a one of a kind gift. A more adult stuffed animal for all of us who still love stuffies and want to having something special in our home.
Mina Bag....this is your new favorite bag! SO, easy to construct and the perfect size. I really played with sizing, just big enough for all your stuff but not so big you feel like you are packing a diaper bag. The handles are the perfect length to have the bag on your shoulder but still get your hand in to find you cell phone or keys. I made the one on the cover with home decorator fabric from Wrenly and the accent fabric is my cotton linen, Jenaveve.
There you go....the new sewing cards. I really feel strong about these patterns, they are great projects yet not overly priced....ranging from $4 - $6 retail, can't beat that.
I will show you the new clothing patterns in the works soon......
Have a great day...back to drawing.
XXOO
Valori
PS Wrenly should be up on our site for Pre-Sales soon! I will let you know....
As promised some of the details of the booth....
We did coloring therapy in the booth....a great way to relax. This is my friend Kaye Prince!!! Isn't she cute....
My girl, Carolyn and I just before take down!! A long weekend but very good!
XXOO
Valori
Ohi Vey.....I have been playing catch up since I have been home from market....catch up with the family. I missed them so much. Catch up with the shop and the studio and, and, and, and!!! Never ending I guess. Market was excellent! We had so much fun putting Wrenly's Place together and showing her to everyone that attended. Thanks to all my friends that came by the booth!!
So here you go....
The party in the booth before we packed it all up...I don't think the garage was every that fun!
Loved having my friends haning out in the booth chatting and relaxing.
and now for set up.....
Here is the booth....
Tomorrow there will be some details....
Have a great day!
XO
Valori
I'm writing this on my iPhone from bed. The flu took me down yesterday. It was miserable, reminds me why I hate being sick. Today is better, I think I can get to my computer and get my emails done and some photo editing.
We had a party in the garage on Saturday to unveil Wrenly's Place to my friends and family that have been so supportive of my crazy, busy schedule. It was really fun. It feels great to have the booth done. Now we just have to fit it into the truck!
I'm going to nap and hopefully feel even better when I wake up.
Have a good day!
Val
Lulu in her market outfit!
The booth is coming together in the garage. I'm having a cocktail party on Saturday to celebrate, and show my friends what I do. With market being in Salt Lake and we can drive it allows me to go all out. This is the first time that I have completed the booth before market, other than in my head. We all know what it is like to see something in your head and then it just doesn't work. Anyway, I'm heading back to the studio to finish up a few projects. Thank god for my husband helping me out with the kiddos and for being so supportive of me! I am lucky!
It's too bad I can't take Sophie to market, she would be a nice touch!
XOXO
Valori
Market is getting closer and closer.....and I am getting more and more frantic. I always think I am ahead of the game but then I feel that I am under the gun. UUGGHH!!I can tell when I have anxiety because I have a reoccurring dream about packing....I can't get every thing into the suitcase, or I'm running out of time to get to where I need to be and I can't get it packed quick enough. Funny what the brain does.....so a quick note on the market status. By the end of the week I am hoping to photograph the covers for the new patterns. Which means that I have all the patterns to the proper places and I can breath a bit......wish me luck!
Have a great day!
XXOO
Valori
The studio is a buzz of creativity as I am preparing for market. Sondy and Carolyn have been a big help getting all of the details worked out...
One of the elements in Wrenly's Place will be an old bench from the Stitchin' Post that I have painted and recovered....here is the changing of the bench! (PS most of the photos were taken with my iphone so not the best - please forgive me)
How it originally looked...
Lovley old fabric....now, as the fabric was removed this is what was found...
WOW, isn't that the 70's smacking in your face.....mom did such a great job covering this in a patchwork collection of cottons and velveteen's....
Look at this piece of fabric that we found behind the velveteen.....Carolyn thought that maybe as a kid I put it in the bench as she was recovering it...the fabric is from 1976. I would of been 3. Now, I can see Vivi sticking some sort of fabric in something I was working on, so it wouldn't surprise me if I did put the fabric in the bench. Mom doesn't remember...so we will never know.
Painted in turquoise....the old bench is taking on new life with the paint and my new home decorator fabric, Ingrid.
AAHHH, Sophie approved....that means I had to of done something right, those kitties can be pretty picky.
The bench sits in my studio now covered in cat hair but truly loved. I can't wait to see it in the booth.
Well, I'm off to the studio to get more done! Have a great day!!!
XXOO
Valori
An update on the March Modern Fabric Madness.....I didn't make it past the second round...but I lost to a great competitor, Kate Spain...and I love her fabric so not too bad.....
We started assembling the booth this weekend in the garage.....I am so excited I think I might burst! I thought I would share bits and pieces of how Wrenly's Place is coming together.
Eric is Carolyn's husband and a wonderful contractor. He was nice enough to build the booth for me. Ross and Teague helped him out as much as possible....
Once the booth was done we had a great dinner with Carolyn and the boys....taco's and sangria how can you go wrong.....now it is time to paint...
Now for a bit of fabric....
Ross asked me if I was making a parachute...."No", I said, " just a failed quilt idea that will end up on the back of the voile quilt." It was a great idea just haven't quite figured out how to make it work.
This is the beginning of the Voile quilt out of Wrenly....
Back to work!
XO
Valori
Well actually I'm in the Costco parking lot...but I just couldn't resist giving a quick look at the two large totes of fabric in the back of the car. Wrenly sample yardage is here!!! Yeah!!! FYI sample yardage is the fabric they fly into me to make things before the fabric hits the stores. Right now all the crates of lovely fabric are on the water from Korea. I will share more tomorrow. I am in the studio and I can start playing.
Have a great day!!!!
XO
Valori
I am getting strange looks from other shoppers as I take photos of the back of my car filled with fabric.
Happy Sunday! As we dream of Spring I think of the trees getting new leaves, the grass getting green and the warmer weather, I dream of my new fabric collection....I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Wrenly sample yardage. It is always so exciting to get the big box of fabric from Korea. We take all of the fabric out of the box and lay it on the living room floor. The girls tend to roll around in it welcoming it to the family. I thought I would introduce you to the fabric as we await the package.....
This is Wren...she has been on my design wall for a couple of years awaiting her place in fabric. It took me some time to figure out how I wanted to incorporate the beautiful bird.
One of the crazy things about designing fabric is the timing....I did this collection last year, in the summer. In January I turned in my collection for this fall and am starting to work on next spring. I get really attached to my drawings that then turn into fabric and am completely immersed in them....then it gets sent off and you get into the next collection. As time rolls by you get strike-offs and then sample yardage which ignites all of those connections you had with the fabric when you were intensely working on it.
Here is Wren in her garden....
I am starting the reconnection with Wrenly and finding the excitement to touch and play with the fabric.....oh the sample yardage can't come quick enough....
Have a great Sunday!!! I am off to clean the house then move onto the studio....I have started a huge cleanse of the studio. I am even going through all of my fabric that I have had since I first started designing....13 years ago. Eventually I am adding a shopping cart to my web site and will be selling some of the archives. That just makes me chuckle thinking of that old fabric....more to come soon!
XXOO
Valori
I've been in the fabric designing cave for the past few weeks. Working on my fall collection of fabric! I am really excited about it and can't wait to show you but it will have to wait until I get some samples. It is amazing how I am working on this fabric but at the same time thinking about my booth for Spring Market and the Wrenly collection that is coming out this spring. So many things to think about and so many ideas! Oh thank god for the ideas....there are times in my life where I wonder if I am going to be able to come up with another collection or another quilt or another booth but then when it comes down to it I do! It is all so exciting these days with the work I am doing and there are times that I can't believe it is real! I have struggled for years with lack of confidence in my work and myself and finally I am getting there. Getting to the place that every artist dreams of, the land of confidence!!!
While I have been in the "cave" I have had lots of help from my kitties...they follow me everywhere when I am in the studio. When I was taking a break from drawing (my wrist has been aching)) I shot a couple of photos of the kitty helpers.
Lilly is not much help so she sleeps and purrs SO LOUD! Gotta love a purring happy kitty...I just wish I could nap with her.
Leo on the other hand is very frisky and he runs around harassing Sophie as much as possible. I think she secretly loves it.
Even though she acts like she is pissed off and being put out by the kittens! She also likes to eat my erasers on my pencils when I am not looking......not sure how good that is for her digestion.
I am not very good at being idle so there are a ton of projects going on in the studio....my girlfriend Andrea told me I need an intervention! She is probably right or maybe just an assistant!!! Anyhow, we have a new quilt contest with Quilt Show this year, Small Wonders. I really wanted to make a quilt for the contest, so this is what I have started....
The contest will benefit Quilt Show and our Parks and Rec in town. I am so excited to help SPRD (Sisters Parks and Recreational District) they have do so much for our community and our children in the community. We are hoping to get some of the kids to make some quilts for the contest.
I have attached some information from the Quilt Show web site for the Small Wonders contest just in case any of you would like to enter....I love the idea - it is like making doll quilts, they can't be smaller than 18" or bigger than 24". OH, so attainable for someone like me!!! It is fun to work on something like this nothing to do with my fabric but everything to do with my community and my family.
Well, back to the cave and the kitties!!
XOXO
Valori
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Merry Christmas to all!!! Running a bit late on the salutations....but I am running late on my Holiday Cards also. Good thing that they say Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas!
Here is the picture that comes with the card...
They are too cute! My girlfriend Sondy (who designs stationary) did our cards with some of my designs and then the photo of the kids. Love it...Love her!
Over the past few weeks I have been furiously making Christmas Presents. Still not done with a few of my Wish Birds but luckily I have some time this week to get them to my friends.
Some birds....
I made a bag for each bird to "wrap" them in. I couldn't think of any other way to wrap up the bird. My husband thought I was crazy to do so much but I just couldn't help myself. They have to look right and feel right for me otherwise I am not going to give them away....
For my girl Andrea.
For my mama.
In the meantime I received my strike-offs for my Spring Collection....want a sneak peak?!
It all looked wonderful! What a great Christmas gift!
Our day was so fun with the kiddos. Ross and I were so excited that we didn't sleep well....The morning 5:30 a.m. was filled with wonder and amazement of Santa and presents. The weather was pretty good so Ross, the girls, my parents and I hiked down into the canyon. There was defiantly some snow but manageable. The canyon and creek were absolutely beautiful. Couldn't believe that we hadn't been down there in ages. In the summer I am cautious of the rattlesnakes and cougars. Well, cougars anytime but there were a lot of us and the dogs. The girls did great in the snow until the end of the hike when we had to climb out of the canyon. I carried Olivia on my back and Ross carried Violette. Not sure how I got the bigger kid. Better work out for me with all the yummy food and drinks it was good calorie burn.
Now we are on a cleaning mode. We thoroughly went through the kids rooms yesterday. I am wondering how long all of my baskets will stay organized???!! Tomorrow will be the laundry room and what ever else we can get to. My pantry needs a good cleaning and mom gave me great containers for organizing it. Just have to get my motivation up for it. Cleaning is not one of my favorite things, I really have to get over that.
Now back to work before the kids get home from meme's and papa's.
XOXOX
Valori
I'm sitting in Salt Lake City airport waiting to go home from market and I thought I would share our photo shot we did last week with Jenaveve. As you might remember I received the fabric on Monday.
The lovely, colorful box from Korea....it is so fun to open up the sample yardage boxes and see your hard work come to life in fabric.
Tuesday morning.....
Three Creeks lake the location for Jenaveve photo shot. It is so beautiful at the lake that day. Knowing that we only had a couple of days before the weather turned.....No one was at the lake and the water was perfectly still, clear, and cold.
Mom, Carolyn and I started scouting out the beach area for photo opportunities....
Mom decided since she had her camera that she would take "behind the scenes" photos....kinda fun, huh?
We laid out all 15 pieces of lovely cotton linen....oh so soft and yummy! I envisioned (with some help of Carolyn's brilliant mind) a clothes line of the fabric blowing in the wind.....now to find the trees to tie the rope onto.
It took some time to get all of the fabric on the rope....I didn't realize how heavy the fabric would be it really weighted down the line. But we did conquer it!
This was the final outcome...there were tons of photos taken but this is my favorite. As we were scouting out the area we noticed so many great possibilities for photos with the fabric.....the colors of the area were perfectly neutral. Does that make sense?
I love using my LenseBaby....it creates the soft affect on the edges. You can move and tilt the lense to pick your sweet spot. Too much fun!
The greens.....
Teal and grey.....
This print is the Tribal Floral...I just love it. I'm thinking that some pillows need to happen or maybe a chair...just have to find a chair to cover. Not like we have a lot of room for another chair....maybe something small. Anyway, I digress...
The reds......isn't it just perfect with the red of the stump?
There are a lot of rock "studies" going on up at the lake....I love taking photos of what others have left.
Around 2 p.m. we decided that to sew up as much of the projects on the list as we could knowing that Wednesday was going to be beautiful. Carolyn and I heading to my studio to make a skirt, quilt, bag and some pillows. Mom would come by later and pick up some of what we couldn't get done.....it was going to be fast and furious.
Carolyn and I had so much fun sewing and getting time to just be together. We hadn't spent time like this in ages....did I mention that we recently adopted two kittens and a puppy. Yep, chaos in the Kennedy house. But fun all the same....Carolyn had a heck of a time getting the skirt cut out with Lilly attacking the tissue.....
The final result for the postcard for Market ended like this.....
The back had swatches of all the designs and then we stapled a swatch of the fabric to the card. I thought that it would be good to have the fabric on the card. We are such a tactile group of people once you feel the fabric you will want it!
Tomorrow I will share the photos we shot with all of the projects...yep we even got them all done! Giving ourselves a big pat on the back......
Now I must catch a plane home. I can't wait to see the family!! YEAH!
XOXO
Valori
Sewing fairy aka mom helping me sew up a quilt. We are having fun talking ideas and playing with fabric.
NEST has arrived.....my newest collection of fabric has hit the studio. I am now taking all of my ideas and starting to put them into fabric. With market just around the corner I have a lot to get done.
I will share the new projects as I get them done....
Have a great day!
XOXO
Valori
