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
sneakpeak.........
I am sending off the Delhi strike-offs for a few corrections and I thought I would give you a sneak peak at the collection. I am really excited about this collection and all of the projects I am going to do. The ideas are flowing.....yeah! It is nice when that happens. Although today is a bit of a frazzeled day....as the past few have been. I think I am a little burned out - but there is still a couple of weeks before out vacation to Hawaii and I have to take advantage of every day I have......aaahhhh I can't wait for the sunny skies and beaches and family time.....ok no more daydreaming - here you go!
This is both colorways - High Desert on the left and Mediterranean on the right.
Hope you like them....
I will end with some photos from the PJ sale that I had promised so long ago......
Mom and I in our GREEN Urban Flannel PJ bottoms.....too cute and we didn't even plan it. 
The shop in full force PJ shopping....lots of coffee to be had that early in the morning.....
Even young shoppers.........
Love it when the guys come to help.....and wear their PJ's.....
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
Happy Voting......
I hope everyone went out and voted today. Luckily for us we have a mail in voting system and I voted a week ago. It is such an amazing election, there is so much at stake. I am officially an CNN junkie today! Earlier there was a comment made about being a part of history - being in history - it is so true we are experiencing part of history and becoming a part of history. Anyway, I am not that eloquent with words or sometimes I just can't find them - I just hope that all of you took advantage of our freedom of choice. What an great day....although we are experiencing snow flurries - I have not left the studio today........
As I promised here are a few photos of the Halloween parade.
My little froggy - Livvy.....and her little flower sister - Violette
Violette had a blast!! She was so funny holding a candy in each hand. Digging around in her bag to find things - not that she knew what they were. It was a fun event for her......
My froggy and my friend from childhood - Deri's - little girl, Chloe, aka Monkey....The girls have been trick-or-treating every year....this is number 4. Deri and I met when we were three and have been friends since. It is fun to have our girls hang out together and be friends.
Some of the Crew from day care.....I can't wait to see how things grow over the years with this group of kids. It is too much fun!
I have started painting the next collection of fabric.....for spring 2009. All of the drawings are done and it is time to paint. I am trying to get a head of the game. I like to have some time to work with the fabric coming this spring - Delhi and another collection that I have in the works...more to come soon on that.
Have a great day!
Valori
Happy Halloween......
IT is a perfect day for Halloween here in Sisters....overcast, a little windy....the leaves are blowing around. Kinda creepy....maybe it is just the day. We have a great event in our little town on Halloween it is a costume parade of sorts. The Library organizes a parade around town to all of the businesses for trick-or-treating....rather than going into neighborhoods at night.....it is at 3:00 and way too much fun to see all of the parents and kids out and about .....the gals here at the shop even dressed up!! Liv is going as a Frog and Violette is going as a Flower.....Miss Vi gets the hand me down costumes until she can protest......saves a bit of money. Anyway, it is always fun to do....I will pass on photos......
On another note yesterday morning as I was washing bottles and sippy cups I noticed the sunrise.....oh my gosh!!!! Ran up to the studio to get the camera and really captured some amazing photos.....I PROMISE that nothing was done to these images other than downloading them from the camera to you!
This is off our deck over looking the canyon......
A little to the left looking down the canyon you can see Grey Butte and Smith Rocks......
As the sun rose it kept getting prettier and prettier....but I couldn't stand out in the cold for too long so I would go in and out of the house.
I couldn't believe how amazing the clouds looked.......
The final image that I took....I also pulled out the LOMO and this was the first photo that I took with it......the film is black and white and I am curious to see how it is going to turn out in the darkroom.....Cheryl the challenge is on........
Have a wonderful Halloween and fabulous weekend......
Valori
Back home........
I got back home late last night - so good to be home.....great to see the fam this morning! I totally slacked on getting many photos at market. Not sure why I had my camera - just one of those things. I spent my day trying to get myself organized - made out my list and then found myself going in circles on where to start. There is a need to prioritize....that can wait until tomorrow. Being unable to focus I spent several hours - I hate admitting that I didn't work - checking out some new friends web sites and blogs. I met some great people at market - well not market itself but through Amy and David. We went out to dinner with a couple of their ultra fun, creative friends from Texas.....Chris Brown - very outgoing guy with a lot of talent and some great tattoos.....love the tattoos. And Cheryl Schulke a gorgeous gal just overflowing with creativity....the two of them are also the creators of a on line magazine.....REFUELED - I haven't ever seen a magazine like it...I love the style of these Texans...
I was totally inspired by their work....
Cheryl and I are going to have a little LOMO Challenge....those who don't know what a LOMO is let me fill you in....LOMO is a very basic camera that for me makes me forget all of the things I learned in school and just have fun with a camera....hard to explain check out their site to find out more. I am so excited to have a little project that has nothing to do with what I have been totally immersed in. YEAH to new friends and new creativity......
The beauty herself....Cheryl.
I will post my LOMO photos when we get them done....
Have a great day......
Val
Urban Flannel Quilts.....
Schoolhouse is done...sometimes I get so insecure at these functions! I know that I just have to be true to myself but with all of this talent around you it is hard not to feel a bit on the insecure side. Anyway, as I promised here are the new patterns that I did out of the flannel.
This is Urban Baby.......
.....I thought that it would be good to do two quilts a smaller kid friendly version and Urban Comfort.......
The patterns are simple and easy to translate to any fabric....you can down load the pattern and go to your stash and make either one. Quick gifts for all ages. I wish I had time to take Urban Baby and whip out some quilts for my pregnant friends.......I am thinking that receiving blankets will fit my schedule a bit better.
I hope the days brings you smiles......
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
Fall is here......
There is fresh snow on the mountains and it didn't get warmer than 48 today......Fall is officially here! A perfect time to cozy up with some flannel......As I promised here is the whole collection of Urban Flannels.
Blue Medallion
Pink Medallion
Multi Medallion
Blue Friends
Pink Friends
Multi Friends
Blue Roses
Green Roses
Pink Roses
Orange Roses
All of these designs (above) are large - 22"wide x 24" high repeat....I do like to work big. I really wish that you could feel the how soft this fabric is......it sure doesn't come through in the photos. Anyway - on with the collection.......
Aqua Birds
Blue Birds
Pink Birds
Yellow Birds
Green Circles
Multi Circles
Pink Circles
Blue Circles
Blue Diamonds
Green Diamonds
Orange Diamonds
Pink Diamonds
Blue Dots
Brown Dots
Orange Dots
Pink Dots
Yellow Dots
Blue Stripe
Pink Stripe
Yellow Stripe
I just realized that I didn't photograph the Green Stripe.....darn it! I thought I had it all done.....
I spent most of the evening sewing together a quilt out of the flannel for a free pattern...I will share as soon as I get the instructions done. That should be Monday - I think....The girls and I went to the Harvest Fair in town today with Mimi (my Mom).....then we had pizza....it was fun. They are such good girls. Ross is at the UofO game (Go Ducks!) he would be proud. I am not really a duck fan but I am not a fanatic sports fan anyway - just neutral for the most part....but I do always cheer for the Oregon teams.
Well, I am rambling....I think am tired - so off to bed...but I must first cuddle with Sophie - my sweet kitty - and finish my wine....
Have a great night! and Day tomorrow.....
Val
Urban Flannels......
AHHH, I thought that I was getting over my cold the last time I wrote but I was wrong......I have now been sick for almost three weeks. I finally went to the doctor and got some antibiotics - I figured that it had been long enough to be sick.I am so tired these days - working late at night and still trying toget in time with the family......I am going to be so happy when some of
these deadlines are done. Burning the candle at both ends is probably part of the problem with getting better. I think I am coming out of it......now I just have cramps!!! Lovely!!!
On a great note I received my sample yardage for the new collection of fabric I have coming out this fall - Urban Flannels.......it is so yummy......
These are some snap shots that I took....I will post all of the designs in a nice clear format soon. I have to get them scanned and the larger ones photographed......I have started working on a couple of free patterns that I will have available....the one above is the Urban Baby - the other one will be an adult size.......I also am getting together a couple of patterns for this fall. I have some stuffed animals pillows with a throw - a cute owl and elephant - and a new quilt pattern. We have to get everything ready for market at the end of the month. The fabric is a little late in delivery but I just have to make it work.
In the mean time I am also working on some new designs for this spring.....it is going to be a surprise!!! You will see soon......
I promised photos from the skirt class and have disappointing news - they didn't turn out. I am going to e-mail all of the girls to have them send me photos.....totally bummed....forgot to reset my camera and the images were all blury......some days I wonder where my head is.
Hope everyone has a great day!
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
Back in town......
Well, I am finally back in town....I came home late on Wednesday, ran errands on Thursday and then the family went to Washington to my cousins wedding on Friday. We came home last night...I have to say those girls did so good being in the car all day. We did stop in Vancouver, WA to see my dad. He is finally home and looking pretty good. I really thought that he was going to die....he is pretty tough - our genes are tough! It feels like I have been gone for ages...I love coming home - I love my home.
Before I share lots and lots of photos from my trip.....I have to brag that Miss Vi walked for the first time this weekend!!! How exciting!!!
OK - first photos from The Quilt Show.....
It was a live audience on the show...I have never done a show in front of a live audience - it was fun!
I guess that every session they do a dress up day - the day I was there it was Pirate day....here is the crew all dressed up....they were very silly.
Ricky Timms........
Alex Anderson.......
This is Ricky's studio....La Veta is a beautiful little town. Lots of artist and such character..... after the show I hit the road to Taos.....
I looked in my mirror and saw what was behind me....it was too cool.
The drive to Taos was on a great highway, not a lot of traffic and a beautiful drive. Living in the mountains in Oregon is so different from the Southwest....I love the landscape.
I stayed at the Historic Taos Inn....right in the middle of down town. Great place to stay - you are surrounded by galleries and beautiful architecture. It was very inspiring....I couldn't believe how many galleries there were. I don't think I made it into all of them.
On my hike to Williams Lake in the Taos Ski area.....
The creek along the hike......
Williams Lake.......
It was beautiful - surrounded by the mountains. There were only a couple of people at the top...I was glad I went early in the morning because on the hike down I passed a lot of people. It was nice to get the place almost to myself.
And it was convenient to have someone take a photo of me, rather than my holding the camera and taking a photo of myself. Although I think I have mastered the self portrait.....
This is where Katie and I painted....we took this road off th beaten path....a gal at this Fabulous Weaving studio gave me the directions. It was perfect! Nice sandy beach the river and canyon.....
As we were setting up a forest service truck parked on the middle of the bridge next to us....we heard a splash and realized that he was stocking the river with trout.....
Never seen that before!
Being able to have Katie bring all of her stuff....we had it made with the easels, chairs, all of the essentials when you are plein air painting....I learned a lot.
This is the beginning of the painting....Katie's is on the left.
We did get a visitor fisherman....but he kept to himself...we figured we probably disrupted him more that he did us.....
Here is my first painting.....fun to do - it is hard for me because I want to make it realistic and I am not that good of a painter to do that but it was a good first try......when I paint at home I can take the time to make things look more realistic - but I am not painting landscapes I paint large flowers....that is more of my comfort zone....anyway....
I started a second painting - I would of worked the other one to death and then I wouldn't of liked it...and Katie told me to stop and go again...it is good to have someone teach you and help you out. It was so fun to be out there painting, immersing myself into where I am and what I was doing...
This was the second view that I painted and I made myself work in unlikely colors.....push myself a bit.
And I only had a half hour.....
So this is what I ended up with....I might add a bit more now that I am home but I don't know - it is important that I just did it and explored something new.
This was Katie's painting when we left....she will finish it at home and then she stitches on the canvas...it is really cool - she promised to send me a photo when it is done. I will share it with you.
Like I said I have mastered the self-portrait.....anyway, after our painting - which we both could of stayed for hours but it was time for lunch...we went back to Taos had lunch and a little wine and then went shopping.... I really had a great time....too much fun!!! Thanks Katie!! She taught me so much.....
I will end with some cute photos of the girls from this weekend and all of the dahlia's that Molleigh had for her wedding.....it was amazing.
It is so tough to get a photo of Liv without her making a cheesy face...I hope that passes....but she is a beautiful girl....
Vi taking steps.....the dress is from Miss Amy Butler....she made it for her when she was born....I can't wait to tell her that she took her first steps in her dress....
She was so proud of herself......
Although she is still a bit nervous about the walking she goes really fast with holding our hand....I figure I have a couple of weeks before I am chasing her around.....
Alright....I have to get to work......Hope you have a great day!
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!
Taos, NM.....and new designs......
I am sitting in the Historic Taos Inn enjoying dinner - my three days off…yeah! Yesterday I finished taping The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Timms….it was too much fun. I took lots of photos but those are to come tomorrow - hopefully I can get them downloaded...I also have a painting date with Katie...we are going to go out and do Plaine Air (ok I know I misspelled that one) painting - you know where you set up in some place beautiful and paint what you see. I have never done that and am so excited for the challenge......
I went for a hike this morning up to Taos ski area - the hike was to Williams Lake. It was a 2 1/2 mile hike to the lake - I figured no big deal…..well as I was huffin' and puffin' my way up I couldn't help but think I am not out of shape what is my deal…..well as I reached the lake there was a sign - Williams Lake 11,040 feet. Well no wonder I was out of breath!!! I don’t think I have ever hiked at that level before…..beside the altitude I was alone and a little nervous about bears so I was singing the girls favorite song…."I love you bushel and a peck, bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck"……if someone would of come up on me they would of thought I was some crazy girl. I did meet a great couple from Portland of all places. I had lunch with them at a great little German restaurant at the base of the chair lift. One of the better Caesar salads I have had. Maybe it was the altitude at any rate a great time. I will get some photos posted soon. I took a lot with my Roliflex (medium formant, twin lens camera that takes film) I shot black and white...
I have lots to share today…..before I got on the plane on Saturday I finally finished my newest collection of fabric - the ones with the Dahlias…I am still trying to find a name for the collection…maybe you all can help. I am just horrible with names. Carolyn and Mom helped my name the designs and the come up with color names. The designs are painted in the Mediterranean Palette - clean clear colors. Like the photographs that I took of the dahlias last summer. The second palette I am calling High Desert - it is reminiscent of Central Oregon with a little sass….anyway I took some quick - I mean quick not great - snap shots of the designs before they went to get scanned. They are not the best quality but it will give you an idea of what they will look like……….
First we have In Full Bloom….this is a big design - like most of my designs but very colorful and clean lines. This is how much these are snap shots the background of this is white.....
Pom Pom - this is my new favorite Dahlia…..they are so cool - I painted this on canvas because I wanted a bit of a different look - I am excited to see what will happen in the printing process…….
Can't wait to see this in all blues….wouldn't that be cool!
This design is called Tango - it is one of the last ones I did - I just wanted to incorporate butterflies….I had been seeing so many around the house that they were inspiring…(again White background)
This is the Paisley….I wanted to create a design that looked like my drawings before they are painted - the lines with a background color. One of the colors I want to do is white lines and a red background….I have a lot more strike-offs that I am going to have them do than I can actually have in the collection but I just want to see what will make the best variety and outstanding collection.
Ok….you might have seen Tapestry before on one of my other posts….I just love how this one turned out. I haven't done a design like this before and it worked just like I imagined - is always so cool when that happens…….
Chandelier - I had to look up how to spell that one - is one of the elements from Tapestry….I love how it turned out.
Flora is another element from the Tapestry - I actually did a sketch of these flowers about a year ago and thought it would be a great element to the Tapestry.
Monarch is another of the designs I just did - I wanted to make the butterflies look like they were all flying in different directions….yet still make it simple and stylized. 
The last design is Stones…..the other day I had cut up some of the roses from Olive Rose and one of the pieces was just the dots…I loved the look so I took that idea to create the stones. You can never have too many dots…..and these dots are defiantly not perfect circles so I thought stones was more of an appropriate name.
I feel like I have to say these are my designs and unpublished (so to speak) at this time - Please don't use them in any form.....I want to share what I do with you, my process - the whole package so to speak I hope that this is not misused - Ok, I had to get that off my chest......I hope that I didn't offend anyone I just felt that I needed to say that....so I will quit going on and on......
I hope every one is having a great September - can you believe it is September!
More to come later.....
Valori
All gone......
Ok you guys are so quick......I think that I got my first response with in 15 minutes.....Thanks so much! So the give away is closed for the time being but as you know I have new fabric coming out soon........and I can't resist giving some of it away!!! Keep in touch!
Thanks again Carmen!!!
Have a great day.....
Valori
Cool necklaces from Carmen......
So my weekend got away with me and I didn't get this posted so here we go.......
I have 5 of these gorgeous necklaces to give away......if you don't make the first 5 to EMAIL me then check out Miss Carmen's Etsy page to buy your own.......love her stuff....Love her!! THANKS CARMEN!!!
Have a great day........
Valori
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
Back into the groove of things......
Well, we are back into the groove of things around here. Liv had her third birthday on Thursday. She was so excited. This was the first year that she got it......fun to watch her open presents and have fun with her friends at daycare. We are having a party for her on Sunday - lots of adults and a few kids.....we don't know a lot of kids her age. Should be fun....it will be a hot day so we are going to have three kiddy pools out for everyone to enjoy along with beer and sangria's, bubbles and lots of laughing.......
So, I have to report that I have had a recent e-mail of someone giving up on my blog because of my grammar......I was a bit offended but I realize (and Ross continues to tell me) that it is one person. I am here to share what I do - my studio, my work and of course my family. My family is a huge part of my work so it will become a part of my blog. I feel like I need to apologize for my grammar....I am not writing this blog to show my skills in writing but to share who I am. OK that is off my chest and if you don't want to read my blog because of the way I write just look at the pictures..........
Enough about that......how about some photos from our trip to Burney, California......
This is Burney Falls, absolutely beautiful....Liv loves waterfalls, she was so excited!
Manzanita berries..... I have never noticed berries on the Manzanita bush around here - I guess I didn't look hard enough.
This is Clark Creek, nestled just below the cabin where we stayed.......
Very cool leaf in Clark Creek.
I have always been very inspired when we come to the cabin. I will take my paints and paper and just have fun painting. Liv joined me one morning. What a great moment for me to have my daughter paint with me.
Every year we have stayed at the cabin - we have been there 5 times now - we put the camera on the hood of the car and take a photo on th front porch. I love seeing the transition of just Ross and I to now. It makes me smile......
Have a great day!
Valori
Final Quilt Show photos.....
We are heading off to California tomorrow for a bit of a break.....we have some friends that have a cabin near Burney Falls....it is a great place. Can't wait! But before we begin that....here are the rest of the photos that I took from Quilt Show.......
This was part of the kids exhibit...the blue quilt was made by a friends little girl - Sierra - for her new baby brother...she even quilted it - at nine years old! Now she is working on three more for her friends that are triplets......
This was the featured quilter exhibit - Robin is a local gal who does amazing work. She uses a lot of dead fish......some funky process you'll see.......
that was the last one I got of Robin's quilt and I realize that I didn't even get a photo of her with her quilts......anyway on with the show.......
Look at those cute kids.....the little boy is my nephew, Braden....he looks a lot like my brother! Not that you can see him with the cap but he is actually smiling not making a funny face - just like my brother! 
Vi and Ross - he was part of the Quilt Rescue Team - which didn't have much to do this year because the wind was mild and the quilts were put up really well. A lot of times in the afternoon we will get wind and it can blow the quilts down. So we have a great group of volunteers that are around to help rescue quilts. 
Liv and Braden walking down the street in the afternoon. It was so cute......we have a photo of Braden last year walking down the street just about the same as this - so next year their will be three!
This was a cool series of quilts that I think was done on a challenge with a guild.....
By the afternoon there was this group of kids - young adults - that were raising money for a mission abroad. They were really good....got the kids dancing and everything. Very impressive group of kids.
Town in the middle of the day....it is truly amazing to have the street closed.....
This was our raffle quilt this year......
This is the last quilt - it is one of my mom's newest creations.....amazing - I sure do say that a lot but when you spend a day surrounded by all of this creativity all you can do is say amazing!!! 
Our troopers at the end of the day....waiting patiently for us.....what good kids!! I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend.........
Valori
More Quilt Show......
I hope you are not getting bored with these posts on the show......It has been such a busy time around here it is all I can do at night to get some photos sized to get on line......Vi's birthday, My birthday - 35 on Saturday July 26, I am now out of my early 30's - where I still felt like a kid and into the "mid" 30's and shit I have two kids and a husband and a career - but I digress........Ross's birthday is a week away and we are leaving for California to a friends cabin on Saturday for a week......Liv's birthday is the middle of August and then it is Ross and I's 5th wedding anniversary - WHEW!.....a big party here at the Kennedy's for July and August!! I am tired thinking just about it......anyway, I did get some more photos for you of the show....don't you feel like the show is going on, and on, and on?
This is my brother, Jason, he really liked these quilts from Japan.
I love how this one is transparent and you can see the pine trees through it.
My brother was concerned that the quilt on the end would not be sell because the tag was too high. SO he had some help from my husband...........
Then they got a bit on the silly side......
I love seeing my family being silly.....my loving husband has brought a lot of silliness into my life and has brought out some of my brother's. I love my family......anyway, on with the quilts.......on to the teacher tent!
this quilt and the next two quilts are by Janet Fogg, she is from Portland area....amazing quilter!!!
I love this one!!! I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike......(Queen song gets in my head when I think of 
Our quilt block contest - sponsered by Westminster......
Well that is all I have for the show...there is one more batch to come....this week I promise as we go on vacation on Saturday....
So I will end with my birthday.....my husband made it so special - we went for a hike as a family and then he had all of my friends together for a party (beer and food -well wine for me but you know what I mean nice and casual) He spoiled me all day....it was great!!!
Here are the girls and I on our hike at Tumalo Falls.
When I am not taking the photos we don't get nearly as many photos.....but here is one that my friend Julie took of Ross and I.......
It was a great day and I felt very special and very pretty! It is always nice to feel that way...you know!
Alright more to come again.......
Have a great day!!!
Valori