Sewing day.....

Time is just flying by getting ready for market - whew thank goodness we are almost there. It seems like no matter how prepared I think I am, there are still things to finish the last week. One of these days it will not be like this.....well, at least I strive for that.
Anyway, I did get a awesome day of fun last week. On Saturday my girlfriend, Trea, brought over some of her college friends for a little sewing day. There are a group of us that try to get together once a month for sewing in the studio, Trea, Julie, Sondy and I, we eat, chat and work on projects. It is so fun and relaxing......well, when Trea's friends were coming to town she wanted to teach them how to make project bags - one of my sewing card patterns - so we all gathered at the studio and had a great sewing day.........just what I needed - a day away from market and my day to day to just play!

Trea and the girls with their bags......

It was a great day it reminds me how important it is to spend time with your girlfriends how much it can refuel you and complete your life. We do need women in our lifes to support you, laugh with you, cry with you and be there no matter what. Thanks girls!!!!!......now I am back to work......lots going on - I have more to share but the curtains in the booth are calling to me to finish them! One more thing  off the list.....
Enjoy your day......
XOXO
Valori

More new patterns.....

A bagel with cream cheese is sitting just fine this morning luckily the nausea of pregnancy is gone but the hormonal headaches are not. I have one every morning and every night before I go to bed. Really annoying but that too shall pass.....Olivia was up at 5:00 am. this morning and once I am awakened by "Mommy, mommy, what time is it?" then it is all over for me. We are going to get her a digital alarm clock so that she can read what time it is and unless it says 6:00 she cannot come upstairs and wake us up. Not sure if it will work but maybe....worth a shot.
Anyway, I have two new Sewing Cards coming out this spring. Here they are.....
Daphne Throw......

And out of the other color palette......High Desert

It is so simple and great gift....I was thinking that they would make a great picnic blanket. Last Sunday we went out and had a picnic and it was wonderful......the weather was great and it was so fun just sitting together and munching on sandwiches and fruit......just great to hang out as a family. I sure do treasure those times - especially when I left the house this morning at 7:00 to get to the shop.
Ok, the other Sewing Card is......
Little Wallet

My girlfriend has a little credit card wallet that she uses all the time and I thought that the idea was great.....of course made it different but the concept of a little wallet to take out to dinner or to put in your jacket pocket rather than taking a purse or diaper bag is wonderful. They are easy to make and you can do it in an hour.......great gift....I think my friends will be getting them for birthdays!!!
Well, I am at the shop early to get some work done on the booth for market......
Have a great day!
Valori

Exciting news......

I have some great news to share......I am pregnant! Our discussions of having a third came true.....Surprise!!! Good surprise, but we were both shocked as we were not trying. My husband likes to say I wanted a surprise for Valentines.......Here you go!  There are times that it seems surreal that I am pregnant again. I swear my belly just popped out, knows what to do I guess.....Even the morning sickness, just like the girls, I never know when it is going to hit. But I am coming out of the first trimester and sailing into second trimester bliss. Olivia is so excited. She was giving me a hug one day and I told her that when she hugs me she hugs the baby so now she always asks me if she can hug the baby. It is so cute, she is such a good girl. Vi doesn't really get it, she will soon! The baby is due November 1st......but as both of the girls were very early we are thinking it will be in October. My doctor encourages me to lay low this fall. Not that easy to do with the girls and work but we will make it work......we are very excited and blessed!
Now, I have been meaning to get some new photos up of the projects coming out this spring.....
This is Carmen.....

It is a simple quilt that can be translated into many colors. I really want to make it out of solids using white where the dark brown is and then using oranges, lime greens and yellows in the pieced strips. I just think it would be a great spring quilt to put on the bed...brighten the room. Since it is so simple I figure I actually have time to do it. I doubt it will go on our bed the shop will get it first.....maybe next year.

Carolyn and I shot the quilt at Brittenbush Hot Springs. It is on the way to Eugene from Sisters.....I had actually never been there. Great place! So close that it could be a day trip from here in the summer for a change of scenery........
This is Delila........

Delila is a combination of the traditional with the contemporary twist. The large prints mixed with the log cabin block make for a great quilt that is easy to put together.

This was a little house at the lavender farm....very cute.
The last pattern is my favorite.....

Pillows, Pillows, Pillows.......My girlfriend made a great statement to me one day that inspired me to do a pillow pattern. Andrea said, "Recovering pillows is a great way to change a room with out adding more stuff." How perfect is that! Who needs more stuff.....we don't! But our living room could use a change so I made a bunch of covers for our couch pillows.  The pattern has directions for my pillows and basic directions to cover any pillow you have.......lovely little Jewels for your Home!
Well, more later.........Have a great evening.......
XOXO
Valori

Snow again.....

A few days before spring and we are in a total white out snow storm. Very beautiful and it is much better than the rain we had yesterday. I do hope it goes away soon as I have a lot of photos that I wanted to take this week....photos without snow.....
I have been busy in the studio with all of the patterns and projects.......Sophie has been keeping me company as usual......

Too bad she doesn't know how to use her paws to help iron or sew or something......she does test the quilts to make sure they are comfortable.....This one is kitty approved.
We have some new patterns that we are doing in the shop - more classic patterns with a Stitchin' Post twist. They will be introduced this spring.....I thought I would share the coves that I have designed for them.


I have two more photos to take - hopefully this week......
Well, all of this snow makes me want to just hang out in the studio and work....good day for it!
Have a great day!
Valori

Fresh snow....

We have about 4 inches of fresh snow....oh so pretty. It was great to wake up to snow especially when I didn't know it was coming. I was up early in hopes of getting some work done in the studio - 5:30 but Miss Liv decided to get up.....I ended up coming into the shop before 7 so I could shovel snow. What a great work out - didn't have to go to the gym and be on one of the machines. Exercise outside is a lot more rewarding to me.
I have so many projects going on at once that I am not sure how to keep track of everything....lists upon lists! I was working in the studio this weekend and the whole family came to play - got some cute photos of the girls playing in their fabric drawer....

They were TOO CUTE!!! It makes me happy that the family can be in my studio and I can still be with them even though I am getting quilts done, or whatever has to happen that day. I don't want them ever thinking that all I did was work and that they never saw me......at least they see me and we play a bit.
Have a great day.....
Valori

Hello from fogged in Sisters......

Good morning....I am recovering from a cold that my lovely girls gave me. Gotta love daycare! I am happy that it isn't that bad......just really tired. I have not had time to pick my 100th posting winners but I have some great fabric to give away....I have some studio scraps of the new Del Hi, bundles from Sole' - the first collection I debuted on my blog.....and more!!! I will have the girls help me this weekend to pull names.
In the meantime......Carolyn - my girlfriend and assistant photographer - and I have been out shooting every week. We made a deal with ourselves that we would go out every week and do new photos of fabric, quilts, gifts, anything and everything to have some new material to work with. I thought I would share some of our recent adventures in photography.......

This was our first shot we did after our pact.....we are at my mom's new house - well under construction new house - The contractors thought we were crazy carrying all of these stacks of fabric out to the fence and taking photos of them. But we came up with a great ad......

We have so much fun taking the photos and coming up with the ads. The girls upstairs find us very entertaining as we pat ourselves on the back when we come up with something great....it is so fun to work with someone that you connect with.....LOVE that girl!

We didn't think that we were going to get to shot this day but had an ad due in a couple of days and had to make it work.... our ad had to include quilting, sewing, knitting and gifts......Here is the finished ad.

Meanwhile we shot Lulu - that is our manquine - by herself.....

Love this shot.....She looks so good in the dress - I wish we would of had the sweater sample the day before I would of wore it to the show opening.......
This week - before sickness set in - we did a photo shoot at my house......here is what we got. A bit of tweaking to do but they are pretty good!

These are candlesticks out of antique glass that we carry in Twigs......they are too cool.

Caldrea is a product that we have carried for years.....dish soap, laundry soap, etc.....we are wanting to use these images for the Twigs web site that we are working on....

Our little nest.....

Miss Carolyn - aka Charlie - is my wonderful model.....This is the fist quilt finished from Del Hi.....It is going to be the free pattern - Del Hi Street. The palette is the High Desert palette....I am working on the Mediterranean palette now.....
There are all sorts of projects going on in the studio and as they are finished I will share.....
Have an awesome day!!! I will be e-mailing my winners this weekend.....
Valori

100th Post.....and more......

HELLO!!! I have finally hit the Century....100th post! I thought I would of got here sooner but life happens and playing with the girls is more fun than sitting at the computer. Thanks to all of you that read my blog - I do hope that I have inspired you in some way. I will strive to continue inspiring and bringing you new ideas and things that I create. Onto the rest of the fun things to talk about......

Last night was my first art show reception.....WOW! it was fun! Lots of wine and lots of people and food and, and, and.......I had Ross taking photos - he tries very hard and got some good ones. I need to put the camera in his hands more often so he can get comfortable with shooting. Besides sometimes it is nice to not be the one with the camera. Although it is a security blanket when I am uncomfortable or in an situation that I don't know anyone. Well, here are some photos from the show - it was so much fun and I couldn't stop smiling.....

Mom shot this of Ross and I......That is the dress that I made out of some of the new Del Hi....


Lighting is a little off but not bad for an Athletic Club.....


Big Dahlia painting, "Crimson", that I wasn't sure if I was going to put in but my girlfriend, Carolyn, convinced me to...I am glad I listen to her!

I had my photographs printed on canvas and stretched - they were around 22x33....the images look great on the canvas almost like paintings or drawings......

I am really into birds right now.....as you can see 6 out of the 7 paintings are birds. And I have done them all in the past 6 weeks or so.....

I finished the "Tweet" painting the night before the show........just got a roll.





Honestly, I couldn't believe how many people came........we need more events in Sisters. Gets us out to socialize and not stay cooped up in our homes. I have to say THANKS to all my family and friends that came by to see me.......

So for my 100th post I thought I should at least give something away......I am not sure what but I will take e-mails until next Wednesday the 18th....I am sure I can figure out something to pass on by then. It will be a surprise....
Thanks to all......I hope you have a great day!! My high is still going from last night.....
Valori

kinda exciting.....

Ok I have to say I am totally excited about this.....my girlfriend Andrea called me the other day to say that she saw my fabric on tv. I was a surprised.....want to know more!!?? Well, TNT cable network is doing a movie called Gifted Hands - on the preview of this movie there is a beautiful woman wearing a dress - at least I think it is a dress all you see is from the waist up - out of my Brown Roses from Olive Rose..... I have now seen the preview - so cool - and am going to record the movie. It airs tomorrow night at 8pm - I think it will actually be a great movie - it stars Cuba Gooding Jr.
 

Here is my brown roses. I have to tell you it makes me want to make a dress out of the fabric. I do have a skirt but a dress would be do pretty. Thank goodness for Andrea she had the eagle eye for my fabric!! Thanks girl!!!
Have a great day....
Valori

Lots going on......

Well, as usual life is crazy busy, but good! I can't complain. Let me see all sorts of things to fill you in on. This year at our Quilter's Affair - a week of classes and lectures that we put on before our annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show - we are lucky enough to have some of the ladies from Gee's Bend. SO EXCITED!!!! If you have not heard of or seen any Gee's Bend quilts take a second to check them out. Their composition and color choices are beautiful.....very inspiring and freeing.  Since they are coming to the show we have decided to do our employee challenge based on the inspiration of Gee's Bend. Every year we do employee challenge quilts that have a theme and then are hung on the side of the shop on Quilt Show day......the firemen hang them up for us. Anyway, mom has been giving mini lecture and technique classes based on Gee's Bend. Last week I shot some photos of the little class - I even started a piece....I am not sure I will be able to get it done for the show. I don't think I have completed a challenge quilt in years. I always have good intentions then market comes and getting ready for the show.....ok totally rambleing.......let's see some photos.

The little lecture - our staff is so attentive!

Quilts......

Inspiration.......

Sewing a gentle curve......

After a few curves and some pressing this is what she had.....I did crop off the edges - you have to square these things up.
 
For those of you who remember this is mom's New York quilt - I think she calls it City Scape - it has a lot of the same sort of piecing. I am excited to see what the staff is going to come up with. A lot of them are using what they have - old shirts, jeans, etc. I am going for the solids and a bit of a print and working on the technique rather than using something old. That is what is so cool about our challenges and having such a variety of people at the shop - everyone interprets things a little bit different....I will keep you posted.
Now for other news........

Most people in Sisters just think of me as someone who quilts, some of them know me as someone who designs fabric and there are few that know I do other art but not many.  I am excited to have my first show with my photography and paintings.......our athletic club is a great space to show and there is a lot of traffic......I am interested to see what happens and what the response is....a bit nervous also! I haven't put myself out there in this fashion before........good for me to take a risk and step outside of my box!
Anyway, if anyone is in town come on by......
As far as the studio is concerned there is a huge mess of Del Hi fabric all over - gotta love the creative juices.....one quilt is done and three or four more to come! Not too sure how many I am going to do. Then I just finished three new paintings for flannel for this fall, I finished 5 paintings for the show next week all with birds - I have been a little obssessed with birds........and.....and.....oh yeah - got a wild hair and decided that in the mix of this I wanted to make a dress out of the new fabric for the Show next week.....I took one of my dressed that I liked and made a muslin pattern out of it - suprised myself it worked! Just a few minor adjustments and am going to cut the real thing......God I hope it looks good when all is said and done.  Ok....I will go for now and once I get the camera unburied from the fabric I will get some photos.....
Have a great day!
Valori

As the paint dries....

I would like to say that the paint  that is drying is from a new design but alas it is not.....We had a major leak in Olivia's room the Saturday after Christmas and are finally getting a chance to paint the newly sheet-rocked room. So the primer is drying and then off to paint the wall and ceiling. Which I might add is such a pain - the ceiling. I lost part of the tree that I painted before she was born and will have to recreate it. But at least it wasn't the whole tree. I am not sure I would of been able to handle that. I am so emotionally attached to that tree. I finished it about 4 days before she was born. There is a Lovely photo of me VERY pregnant on a bakers rack painting the ceiling. AAAHHH memories. I just figured we would paint over it when she was a teenager and totally sick of it. So here is our leak.....

Luckily we were standing in the hall when it sounded like a shower being turned on in the room......Liv and I went running and frantically got all of her books on the floor out of the way. We filled three large coolers with water - our fabulous snow was melting like mad that day.

 Our house has been in extended chaos for a almost two weeks and it is getting on everyone's nerves - ok maybe just mine. I just hope that we can get it all painted today and her moved back in. The studio will just have to wait another day......
Have a great day!
Valori

The Picks.....

Well, I had Liv and Vi help me pick the 16 winners of the Urban Flannel bundles and a special kit of Urban Baby. I will be sending out e-mails tomorrow for addresses......they were so cute helping me. I so wish I could give one to every one who e-mailed me. Thanks so much for all of the kind words!!! They are always appreciated and treasured!

all of the yummy give aways!!!!

Happy New Year from the Kennedy's!!!
I wish everyone the best in the new year, love all of those around you and live your life to the fullest!
Have a great day!
With Love,
Valori

Boxing day.....

As my brother reminded me today is Boxing Day.....So Happy Boxing day - these days it has lost it original meaning and is now a "shopping day". I don't think I would go out shopping today - like the black Friday sort of day....too many people for me. 
I have officially gotten sick - Miss Vi is getting over a cold and I thought I had managed to only get a little sick but no! Glad that all the hub-bub is over and I can just be mellow.
I am going to get all of the e-mails together and do the Urban Flannel drawing.....first I have to put together the bundles and see how many winners there will be. I will be e-mailing you and then send out the packages on Monday - I hope.....Have a great day!!!
Valori

Kind of how my head feels......

Merry White Christmas.......

Merry Christmas to all!!!! We are enjoying a beautiful white Christmas. I think we have at least a foot or more of snow. LOVE IT! It just makes me smile......it is not winter unless we get some snow and I say bring it on....I would love to have more. You want to go play out in the snow and then come in and get cozy by the fire....Anyway, had a great morning with the girls. Vi was a little overwhelmed - me too! Liv was just excited!!!! Fun all around. I found a great recipe for Sourdough Coffee Cake on the Internet and made that for breakfast....yummy! If I do say so myself! I thought I would share some winter wonderland photos that I shot this morning and last night as it was snowing......

The trees were beautiful last night. I could of stayed out there for hours.....but there were Santa duties.

Looking over the canyon from the deck this morning......

Black Butte.....

Three Sisters......Well I am off to get dinner ready. We have 10 of us for dinner tonight. I love cooking.......Have a Wonderful day!!!!
Valori

Aloha!!!

Greetings from the Big Island of Hawaii.....the girls are napping, Ross and John are golfing, mom is reading and listening for the girls and I have a chance to check my e-mail and read this totally awesome post from my friend Tina Kim. She is the Knitting Contessa. This fall Tina asked me to be a part of her Knitting Contrissmas - she decided to included the fiber artist - me - with her knitting artists. What an honor....anyway, I loved doing the interview. She had great questions - things that I have not thought about in ages - she made me think about where I have been and where I am going. So if you have an chance check it out. And check out the Knitting Contessa - if you haven't already.
I hope to get some photos downloaded soon and pass on some of the beauty of Hawaii!
Aloha!!!
Val

A new project......

We are leaving for Hawaii in a week and I wanted to make the girls a little carrier for sketch books/coloring books and crayons. I had fun making these. A few of my girlfriends that come over once a month to sew want to make them as Christmas gifts. We meet tomorrow for a fun evening of sewing and chatting and eating and drinking.....I love my Tuesdays with the girls. Anyway, here are the little carrier - I am not sure what else to call them - for the girls.

I made this one for Liv first. You can't really see it but I quilted her name on the bottom edge.

This is the inside of Liv's the sketch book is small but there is enough room for a coloring book also.

This is Vi's - I got the idea for the letter on the front from one of my sewing friends - Sondy - she made a cover for her son, Henry and put an H on the front. Too cute.

Vi's is a bit smaller - I thought it would be better so she can actually carry it. We tested it and she had fun toting it around the studio. She even opened it and started scribbling in the book.
On a side note - I mentioned my friend Sondy as one of my sewing friends - she is a great artist also. She has a card company, RexfordHolly, where she prints her own cards - they are very cool - when Vi was born she did her announcements.  Anyway, you can now buy her products on line and the proceeds go to NEST - Nest is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the lives of women in developing countries. The mission of Nest is to support women artists and artisans in the developing world by helping them create sustainable entrepreneurial businesses. To do this, Nest provides micro-credit loans to be used for the purchase of the supplies and materials necessary to begin and/or maintain art or craft-based businesses. Very cool Sondy! 
Have a great day!
Valori

changes and lots of new ideas.......

As you can see I am making some changes on my blog...trying to update to where I am at this time. So, please be patient with me as I am making a little change. Also, I have some great photos from our annual PJ sale at the shop. Ross (my loveley husband) is getting them to me.
Then today I got my strike-offs for Delhi - YEAH! I will give you a sneak preview. On another note the last post I did I was talking about the collection that I was painting and I said that it was for Spring of 09 - OPPS it is Spring of 2010. Delhi is Spring of 2009, so.....I will give previews of the 2010 as I get the paintings done. I am so excited for all of the new designs that are in the works. I love that feeling when it is all starting to work - I have to embrace it.
I will leave you with a sneak peak at a design I did for a new collection of fabric that will be out this spring.... this is just a black and white image not the colors of the fabric - this is part of the new collection that I have coming.....soon....I have to wait a little bit longer...please be patient!

Take care.....Have a great evening.....
Valori

Houston.....

Well, we made it to Houston for Quilt Market. Mom and I are unpacking in our hotel room and in a couple of hours I will do my schoolhouse. For those who don't know what a schoolhouse is let me explain. The day before market opens there are a series of 15min and 30min lecture/ demos of new products that will be available at market. I will be showcasing Urban Flannel with an emphasis on how to market and sell flannel or other fabric in your shop. I give away as many ideas as I can in 15 minutes and show off the fabric. It is really important to me to give shop owners ideas to take into market and back to their shops. Having been on the other side of schoolhouses I know a bad one compared to a good one. I believe that this helps me give as successful and informative schoolhouse as possible.
Before I go I will share a couple of photos of some of the work I have been doing out of the Urban Flannels. I have been meaning to share these for days now but time has slipped away...I will give a more detailed report when I get back from schoolhouse. I also will share the free patterns that I have created for the flannel.....here you go......

Miss Livvy Lou with the "blankey" from a new pattern that I am doing called "Prudence & Henry".....

Miss Vi with Henry the Elephant.......

Miss Livvy Lou with Prudence the Owl......as you can see Prudence and Henry are pillows that are shaped as cute, lovable animals....they both can carry their blankey, Henry on his back and Prudence under her wings. I thought these would be the perfect for car travel, as well as a sleep over at Grandma's........here are a few more photos of the girls and their new friends before I go....

Have a great day and I will write more soon.......I have two great quilts out of Urban Flannels to show you and give you the patterns for.......
Valori

on the recovery.....

Well, I have been remiss in writing because I have been sick for 10 days.....last weekend was the worst - Ross was out of town and I could barley function...luckily the girls were so good. It made it a bit easier. I have a whole new respect for the single parent - I am so happy to have my husband, even though he was gone. The darn cold is still lingering but the work must go on. We did a entire re-arrangement of the yarn department at the shop. Getting ready for winter and our yarn tasting that we did on Friday. Which ended up being so great! Lots of people sitting around eating and trying out new yarns. It was so rewarding to see our customers having fun. Then yesterday Carolyn and I taught a Barcelona Skirt (by Amy Butler) class. Which turned out wonderful. There were 4 students and us - we all finished our skirts. I will get the photos soon! It was so rewarding to see everyone go home with a skirt and feel confident in making another one. It did help that Amy's pattern is easy and will fit anyone!!! Thanks Amy! I now have three Barcelona skirts.......
I have lots to catch up on from the sickness.....once I get Miss Vi down for a nap I am heading to the studio for a work day.
Have a great one!
Valori

Plein Air Painting.....

OH my gosh!!! I had the best day....I can't even begin to explain how cool it was to do something that I was so scared to do and be sucessful!! WOW! So Katie and I went out to this great place with the river and the canyon and set up at this little beach area.....I so didn't have a clue how to do this but she is a great teacher and I came away with two paintings (sorry I have not had a chance to download them) and a lot more confidence! I really want to go again it feeds the soul! I just had to let you all know - I can't wait to go again......as soon as I get the photos downloaded I will post them...I have great photos of Katie's painting also - it is amazing that two people looking at the exact same thing can come up with two totally different looks! I love it! WOW I am fired up about it all.....I am on the road in the morning back to Colorado Springs to fly home. Boy, I miss my family - I can't wait to see them.....
Thank you all for all the support of the new designs. I am so happy with them. Once I get strike-offs I will scan them and post for you to see....the fabric will be out in the Spring....I still need a name - I have had some great suggestions keep them coming.....
Love to all!!!!
Valori

PS If you get a chance check out Katie's web site....she is amazing!

New news.....

I have been meaning to tell all of you about this great online quilt shop, QuiltHome.com. First they carry all the great designers and when they carry a line they carry all of it. Very cool . Anyway, they have all of my patterns and fabric - great place....check it out.
Now, what else is going on in my crazy life......well, I am getting ready to get some new flannel sample yardage....

Here is Miss Sophie laying in my strike-offs...she is so funny how she must lay in anything that I am working on.......But the new flannels should be in my hot little hands soon....I have lots of great ideas for patterns......I will show you some swatches soon...... 
I am going to be taping The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Timm's early September...it will be a Spring airing of the show. The taping is in LaVeta, Colorado and then I am going to drive to Taos and have a couple of mommy days filled with art and hiking. Katie Pasquini Masopust is going to drive up from Santa Fe to paint with me and do a little hiking. Should be a blast!!!! I can't wait......
The new fabric is going really well....I just have to quit doing more drawings...Although I should not argue with the creative bug!!!! Hopefully I will turn it in the next couple of weeks...I will give you all a sneak peak at the paintings before they are off in the mail.
I also have a special give away that I am going to be doing this weekend......my good friend Carmen - has made these beautiful necklaces out of fabric and she sent me 5 to give away to all of my loyal bloggers!!! I will take some photos of them tonight and start the call for 5 lucky readers to get them......Keep checking.....
Have a great day - I have to get to cleaning my desk here at the shop!!! As you can tell I am procrastinating.......
Valori