Thanksgiving......and giving.....

Thanksgiving my favorite holiday......I love getting to see my family, cooking, eating, enjoying time together. We tend to spend Christmas just us so Thanksgiving is when we see everyone. I love it. The kids had so much fun together.....mom and John hosted their first big family gathering in the new house  it was perfect....now getting out of our house was an ordeal. Three kids....sometimes I just can't believe it.

Here are some of our Thanksgiving moments.......

 

 

Ross got a hold of the camera....here are some of his photos.

 

 

 

Now for the giving part......I have some sample yardage that is waiting for a good home.....Della Flannel, Del Hi Home Dec, even a little Della Fleece.........

 

Since it is the giving time of year......I will collect emails  (you have to send me an email) for the next week. The drawing will commence Monday, December 7th....once the girls get home from daycare. They love to do the picking. I will send out the winners an email on Tuesday.

Have a  great day!!!
XOXO

Valori

Del Hi Home Decorator fabric....

I have to first show off some of the family.....little Teague is now a month old. Wow - time has really gone fast. The days blur together - probably due to lack of sleep but also just being busy with the family and starting to get back to the studio. It is amazing how you forget the feeling of only having 2 to 3 hours of sleep at a time then having to be on duty as mom with the girls....but I wouldn't change a thing. The little man is a blessing to our family....

 

This photo was taken at a photo studio in Bend - Whippersnappers - we have signed up for the first year photos so that we can get images of the family over the next year. This was his two week photo....I just love this shot in Ross' hands.

 

My little helper.....she loves to hold her little brother. Vi just likes to say hi and then carry on to what she was doing before. She is two!

Now, the Del Hi Home Decorator fabric has arrived in the shop....

 

We made a Del Hi Henry.......isn't he cute!

And recovered a Ikea chair with some of the fabric. Miss Vi came to the shop one day with me to photograph the chair and new displays that Carolyn has been working on. It was really good for me to take a little time with just Vi. Makes me realize how much I need to do that with both of the girls.

 

This is the simple little bag that I am doing a pattern for. Paige is getting the pdf together for me and we should have it posted by the end of the week......at least that is my plan. With all of the nursing sometimes I miss calculate time......

Anyway, here are the displays that Carolyn has been doing. 

 

We have a magazine coming to the shop next week to photograph - this coming year is our 35thanniversary. We are very excited to get some magazine articles showcasing our shop. They are also photographing my studio and mom's studio. That stresses me out a bit.....I have been cleaning the stdio so that it is presentable for it's photo shot. I want it to look great! Still have some work to do....

Well, the little man needs to eat....again! As my pediatrician says I am the Dairy Queen!!!!

Have a great day!

XOXOX

Valori

Teague Ashton Kennedy

Wednesday, October 7th 12:05p.m. Teague Ashton Kennedy arrived....safe and sound, 6lb, 15 oz, 20" long. It was an amazing birth to me - well, I guess they all have been - this was just very different from the rest. Not surprising.....he is probably going to do that to me for the rest of my life. We are now home...a family of 5.....wow!

 

Olivia and Teague - can't get Vi to sit long enough to take a photo - Ross got this with his phone. Olivia is a great big sister. I will post more when I get some taken.

XOXO

Valori

36 and counting.......

It is October and I have safely made it to 36+ weeks. YEAH! I am off to the doctor today to see how far I have progressed, with the symptoms I have I should be moving along. He likes to bang his head against my cervix-lovely, my doctor says he is just trying to find his way out. That would be nice I am tired of being pregnant and would really like to meet him and move onto the next part of it all. There is that part of me that remembers that this will be the last time I am pregnant and to enjoy it and quit rushing things along.

I wasn't able to sleep the other night and did the math on how early the girls were - Liv was 30 days early and Vi was 22. Right now I am in the middle of that. There is a lot of anticipation because I just don't know if he is going to wait longer or come any day. I am such a planner and this so throws me off my normal. But this little guy has done this from the beginning so I should not be surprised.

Mom heads off to market this week. She is taking some of my new product to put up in the Free Spirit booth. I have a couple of free patterns that I will get posted soon.....I think I have said that before. With the new Del Hi home dec there there is a cute bag - that takes no time at all to make. For the Della Flannel mom made this great little quilt - perfect for baby. And then I have a new Valori Wells Designs pattern that should be all printed and ready to go by the time the fabric hits the stores it is new stuffed animals - a kitty, Lucy and a dog, Logan. Here is the postcard that mom is taking to market......notice the two bellies....

 

I am on the left....and Miss Carolyn is on the right - her little boy is due mid December.

Well, off to hang out with the girls until heading to the doctor........

Have a great day!!

XOXO

Val

Buried in Fabric......

The new Della flannel and fleece sample yardage has arrived in the studio......it is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. I am buried in work.......and this little baby would like to try to come earlier than I would like - my doc has me on bed rest each day which is a good thing and a bad thing. I lay there thinking about everything I have to get done and finally will take a bit of a nap but feel like I miss out on a bunch  of the work day. Part of me feels like I will be able to get more done after the little man arrives that I can now.....I am sick so much now - nausea, heart burn, contractions....ect. etc. etc.........Oh, I shouldn't complain it is a blessing to have a baby just caught up in my own drama. Anyway, when the fleece arrived the buried the girls in it and took a photo - they had so much fun playing in the fabric and boxes that it came in.

It is a micro fleece so it is thin but OH SO COZY.....can't wait to make a blanket for myself for the couch......

Here is the Della Flannel.....very nice and goes really well with Urban Flannels. I want to come up with a quilt that uses them both....just haven't figured it out yet.

Sophie is always in the mix - she can't miss out on anything going on in the studio. Mom and I were putting together fabrics for the free pattern and she felt that she had to put her two paws into the mix. Gotta love cats!
On another note - this spring I met (well not in person but on line) a great gal, Rebekah Merkle, that lives in Oxford, England that makes little girl clothes and she wanted to use some of Del Hi. Well, she just wrote to send me the link to her site with the dress out of the turquoise PomPom from Del Hi......

Too cute.....Amoretti is the name of Rebekah's clothing line. She sent me a link to the video - I am unfortunatley a little behind on the technology and don't know how to put the video on my blog so I am putting a link to her site. Check it out - I am totally impressed!!!! The three beautiful girls are her daughters......Thanks Rebekah for using my fabric and sharing with me!!! I love it!
Maybe updating my computer skills would be a good thing to do on maternity leave......Oh, the list for maternity leave is getting longer and longer........besides just being with the baby!
Well, I have some deadlines to get back to before the end of the month.
Have a great day!!
XOXOX
Val

New Projects and more......

Now that my fabric is off to the "scanner people" I decided I needed a couple of hours for myself.....so, yesterday I spent some time working on the bummer pads and new quilts for the little Man! I haven't had my silkscreening equipment out in ages.....it is now out and being used. Here is what I got started. It was so fun to get to work in the ink and and do something different.........

I used a double gauze fabric from Japanese designer that had the great yellow dots - then I screened the elephant onto the top. The elephant came from a photo that I took at the zoo when we were there in July. He turned out cute.

Then with all of the excitement I screen printed yellow dots onto a solid fabric and put some elephants on the bottom and top and will make it into a quilt......now all I want to do is screenprinting and not work. I have another design ready to go with the elephants for a different quilt. Hope he likes elephants.

I also wanted to share with you a pattern that mom did for a really cool footstool. Here are the photos, instructions and illos.....now you can go out and make a great footstool.
These are the notes from mom........

"When we were at spring market the Mosaic quilt pattern from Aardvark Quilts was my very favorite so when I decided to do a quilted footstool cover I went to this design.  Pam Goecke is a fabulous designer and we love her patterns.

This is the original quilt.
The first thing I did was measure the soft footstool (kind of like bean bag filling) that I had purchased from the West Elm catalogue. It was 24" square and 13" high. I decided on a 6" repeat block for the top and then the 6" for the sides but added panels of fabric to make it 13". It was necessary for me to make the block a little larger but the technique still worked. You slice off the end of the square at an angle and stitch another piece to it. It creates wonderful movement throughout the design.

This is the block.
The living room in my new house is soft grey tones with green and orange accents so I started digging in my fabrics and made some blocks. I really liked the movement in the striped and the multi colored leaf fabrics. They added some spice to the design. Here you can see the blocks arranged for the top and the sides pinned next to the edges.

Once I was satisfied with the block arrangement I stitched them together. For the sides you can see I used panels of fabric in places to fill in. I thought it would be way too busy to have all blocks on the sides.

I felt it would be sturdier, with grandkids lounging and playing on it, if I quilted it. I used a thin batting and no backing. With my free motion embroidery foot I stitched grain lines like you might see on trees. I did add grey piping around the top edge.

To finish it I stitched each side to the top edge starting and stopping 1/4" from the corner and back tacking. The side seams were easier than I thought. I began at the bottom and stitched the seams together ending where the sides meet the top and back tacked.

For the back I cut a square 26".  Then cut it into two pieces diagonally from corner to corner.

 Place the two triangles right sides together and stitch in 1" on each end using a 1/2" seam allowance and back tack. Press the seam open including the unstitched seam allowances across the triangle. Place a zipper under the seam allowances and stitch the zipper tape to the folded fabric.

Open the zipper at least six inches.
Place the right side of the back fabric to the bottom edges of the sides and pin all around. Stitch the back to the sides. Put your hand through the zipper opening and unzip the zipper. Turn the cushion to the right side. Fill with the filling from the purchased cushion. Zip it back up.
This turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be. The quilting was time consuming but it looks good. You can see the footstool in my new living room.

Send me pictures when you tackle a project like this.
Jean"

I have one of these cushions and I am going to cover it with one of my new Del Hi home dec pieces.

The Tapestry in the teal/eggplant/sage and tan background.......When I get time!!!
I am probably not going to piece my cover but I still like the idea of recovering the cushion. These cushions are great for the living room. The girls love to play on them and I think it is Sophie's favorite napping spot.
Have a great day!!!
XOXO
Valori

After vacation......and so much more.......

Hello - we are back from our annual August Vacation to Berney, California. Every year we visit this amazing cabin that our dear friends so graciously let us use. It is truly a spiritual place......Ross and I went to the cabin on our first vacation and have been every year - well except the years when I was pregnant with the girls. It is one of the few places that I go that I can totally let go of work and just be with my family. No phones, no internet, just us and the woods, and the creek, a perfect escape from the day to day. I always take my old poloroid with paints and paper and make a book out of the funky photos that we shot. This year both of the girls helped me paint. The only sad part was that we had to leave a couple of days early because of two fires in the area it was really smokey. We made the best of it and went back to Ashland - one of our favorite citys to visit. Since we were home early we moved the girls into the same room - it has been a really good transition. They sleep together so well and really have fun sharing a room. Now we just have to get the babies room all done.

When we returned I had my sample yardage of the 6 new home decorator fabrics that should be arriving to a local quilt shop near you........

I did four new colors of Del Hi and two that were in the spirng collection. I am working on a free bag pattern to go with the fabric. I will post soon.......
One of the other projects I am working on is the spring '10 collection of fabric - I took some sneak peak shots of the paintings to share.......not all of the designs are painted but they will be by the end of this week......I want to get everything sent out to Free Spirit by next week.

This week mom and I took my nephew back to Portland after his weekend visit with Meme and Papa and I got to meet my new neice, Samantha.......too cute!!!

Also, on this trip I was lucky enough to meet a gal that I TOTALLY admire - Kara Larson.....Who is Kara Larson? Well, let me tell you......she is an incredible clothing designer from Portland - all of her designs are made in Portland by local sewers. Little did I know that we have been clothing our girls in her designs for years.....I had one of those AAHA moments when I connected her childrens line "Wild Carrots" with her women's line "Kara-Line".  Along with being a talented designer she also has two of my favorite stores in Portland, Grasshopper - the kids store - and Tumbleweed - the woman's store. I am so excited that we are going to work together with some of my fabric and her deisgns......I can't wait to have one of her dresses out of my fabric.

This is one of her dresses, Coco - even fits my 7 months of prego.......the nice thing is that it is a wrap dress and it will fit me when I am not pregnant.........and will be great for nursing.....I also really like the Mae dress and am thinking of getting it......

The girls in two of the Wild Carrots dresses........this was on Friday when Liv had her 4th birthday.

Aren't they too CUTE!!! It has been a busy week home from vacation.....it always seems like you are playing catch up after going on vacation......oh well, worth it.
I must get back to the family.....today is Ross and I's sixth wedding anniversary! We are having a family day and then the girls are staying the night at Mimi and Papa's and we are going out to dinner....I can't remember the last time we had an adults only dinner.....it will be strange not saying, "you need to eat" or "sit down" or "you have to try at least one bite".......but I guarentee that a majority of our conversation will be about them.
Have a great day!!!!
XOXO
Valori

Quilt Show 2009 Part 3.......

The studio is roasting......I have a bunch of fans up there since the girls are coming over tonight for a sew night. Now, I just have to figure out what I am going to work on. I really try to work on fun things when they are over - no work - sew and just have a little girl time. There have been a lot of "softies" books coming into the shop and I have been fascinated by them. I think I might just make one tonight.....an Owl. I just think it would be fun to make some funky softies - maybe the guardians of the studio.....
Ok, totally distracted by that.....what about some more photos of the show. This last series is from walking around town and the teacher tent.
This years Quilt Show Challenge was the Power of Red.....we had some great quilts.

Phyllis Johnson was our Featured Quilter this year. She is local andmakes her quilts for her family - mostly the grand kids. They are very beautiful quilts.

Here are some of the quilts in the Teacher tent.....unfortunately I do not know everyone's quilt or did I get a photo of all of them.....sorry.

The final quilt......it was a great year with over 1300 beautiful quilts. I am off to tidy up the studio and plan something to sew on.....
Have a great day!
XO
Valori

Quilt Show 2009 Part 2.......

Well, last week sure did fly by.....I so thought that I would get some more photos of the show up. AAHHH, life gets in the way. Maybe not in the way but consuming.....Sunday was my birthday.....36. Part of me can't believe that I am 36. Not sure how to explain the feeling. Just seems like time is flying by......We had a great day - went to breakfast in town and then went out to Camp Sherman where we have a family cabin on the Metolious River. It was so beautiful.......we pulled out the kiddy pool and I brought some painting. I was so excited when Ross told me to take some painting. I brought the one that I have been working on for mom and John's new house. I think it will be awhile until it is done. What a blast sitting out in the sun painting with the girls running around in the pool........couldn't of asked for a better day! What a great husband I have.

Now onto more Quilt Show photos......I am going to warn you I have a lot. There will be a third instalment to come. First, I have to show you my favorite quilt for this year.....it was based on Charley Harper birds. I love his work......you will have to bear with me but I shot a bunch of them, the quilting was beautiful and I was just so impressed with the interpretation of his work.

This year we had a very special Inspirational Instructor - our very own Lawry Thorn. She has taught for years and is our go to gal for beginners.......LOVE HER! Here are some of her quilts.

This is Lawry with Carolyn....we did a bunch of interviews that day - Miss Carolyn is starting to show her little baby belly. We just found out this week that she is having a boy!! OH so excited!! We are going to have too much fun with our little guys.

This is how most of the Quilters see Lawry and her daughter Mindi - being the tallest they get the honor of holding quilts during lectures and the Picnic in the Park.

Lawry started working for my mom when I was six. Mindi and I have grown up together......

The two pregos and Mindi......don't we have cool shirts!

One of our interviews was with a friend of mine, Sierra Hummel. She is a great quilter and only 12. She made her fifth quilt (might be more) for her mom for Mother's day so I had to get some photo of her and her quilt.

Now, just some images that I took in the morning as I walked through town with Mom and Carolyn.

These are a couple of my friends that come to Quilt Show, Katie and Kim.....they are sisters and this is their Sister trip! It is very fun to see them. The quilt behind us is one that they made together, Kim lives in California and Katie in Washington. They each made blocks in their prespective states and then got together to finish the quilt.

Look at these.....they had too much time on their hands and had way too much fun.

One of my good friends, Rob Appell, came to teach for the first time and we had a special exhibit of his quilts. He was also one of our interview victims.......

I didn't get as many photos of his quilts as I thought I did......
So, this is it for tonight but there will be more tomorrow......my studio gets so hot in the afternoon and it is hard for me to work. We are having days of high 90's.....not that I am complaining because it doesn't last long and it is nice to have summer. Since our weather is only that hot for a couple of weeks we don't have AC, the studio is a sauna by 3pm.......no more painting for me in the heat. I can't concentrate. That is when I make the trip downstairs and work on my computer. 
Have a great night!!
XO
Valori

Quilt Show 2009 Part 1........

So many photos so little time. I really want to give you a good selection of photos so I have been spending time resizing and organizing......this will be the first series......had to get at least a few up for you. Here we go....starting with Friday night. For the shop and Quilter's Affair Friday Night Picnic in the Park is the finale to our week of classes and lectures. This year Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston gave the lecture. We actually have about 800 picnicees (is that even a word) in our Village Green Park and others can come and picnic on their own to see the lecture. The High School Jazz Band plays music, the track team and rally squad serve dinner. We could not do it without the kids and their parents help. It is amazing how the community comes together to create such a great event. For the kids it is a great fundraiser and for us we don't have the stress of making sure everyone gets their food and water and is taken care of. At the picnic we always show our Employee Challenge quilts - this year the challenge was to be inspired by the Gee's Bend Quilters. The Gee's Bend ladies also sung at the picnic....it was wonderful! What a great night!

The crowd.....after dinner.

Singing.......

Hanging out with the ladies of Gee's Bend......

Miss Vi dancing to the music......

Can't help but put a few photos of my cute girlie's......My friend Laura made these dresses for the girls. So nice!!!


I have to give props to Grandma Jo.....I couldn't do Quilt Show and Quilter's Affair week without her help. She comes and stays at the house and helps with the girls. Next year she might need some help with three of them. We are so blessed to have our family around to be with our children.

The quilt hangers.....

......the first quilt to be hung......our favorite firemen on the side of the shop!!



They get a lot of help from the ground.......


This is Lawry's Gees's Bend Inspired Quilt - so different for her.

Mom's quilt.....

My quilt......I actually made one! It has been years since I have had the time (or made the time) to make a quilt for the employee challenge. It is hard to fit it in with market and then getting ready for the show but this year I was inspired. I love the quilts from Gee's Bend and I needed to make something for the baby. Not that he needs something but I needed the bonding experience that happens when you make something for someone. Especially that connection that happens when you make something for your baby. When I started we did not know what we were having. I love how it turned out and I am going to base the rest of his room around the colors in the quilt.

As the firemen finished hanging the quilts we were getting a photo of them and the Gee's Bend ladies showed up and wanted to be in the photo.

Some of the Gee's Bend quilts.

I don't get photos of mom much.....so I take them when I can.

Gwen and Freddy......they had a special exhibit at the show here are some of their quilts.






This is the last photo for today.....but there will be more tomorrow. Today is Miss Vi's 2nd birthday so we are going to have a little picnic party at the house for her tonight. We don't really do a party for 1 or 2, just us and mom and John. Next year we will do a party for her with her friends. I know I say this every year but wow I can't believe that she is 2, this year went so fast.
I am off to painting my spring collection (2010) I want to get it all done by mid August so that I can have baby thoughts rather than a deadline looming over my head. Then I can start working on next fall....it it fun to think up new ideas. I used to get so scared after I turned in a collection that I wouldn't have any new ideas but now I embrace the challenge. Getting older and wiser - I guess!
Have a great day!!!!
XOXO
Valori

A new girl to the family......

No, I am not having twins......my brother and sister-in-law had their little girl, Samantha, last night. It is very exciting for them and the whole family. I made a quilt for her and sent it off without taking any photos so I had my brother take a few. Thought I would share........

They painted her room with lime green and turquoise so the butterflies from Del Hi were perfect for her room.

I hope to see her wrapped up in it soon........I think it would be great out of other fabrics......maybe apattern someday. I am thinking that solids would make a great contemporary version with some cool stitching.......so many ideas so little time. Isn't that always the case. I have been feeling very creative these days. A combination of not getting to be creative and being surrounded by creativity with the Quilter's Affair and Quilt Show.

As you know we just got done with Quilt Show on Saturday.......whew! I am tired this year....but I did get a lot of photos and once they are downloaded and sized (this week) I will post....it was a great year.  As usual the weather was good and everyone was in great spirits.
Happy day.......
XOXO
Valori

The Bird Paintings........

I have been meaning to post the recent and earlier this year bird paintings. I finally got some decent photos of them to put on my website when the shopping cart is finished. Not sure where my obsession with the birds have come from but I am OBSESSED!!!! Next springs fabric collection that I am working on has birds.....
It is interesting how much I notice birds now - their shapes, colors, positions they sit in, or perch in, how they look when they fly........ I am not very good a photographing them the way I want, the little buggers move to fast! I think I just need practice, flowers don't move nearly as fast.
Here you go......

Ruby - the latest......

Three Little Birds.....this little guy came from a photo that mom took of a cute little bird in on her trip to Italy - he was all puffy and kinda looks like an owl.

Tweet......my mom recently purchased this one from me. My first sale of a painting......funny it was my mom!! She liked it because it is five birds and she is going to have 5 grandkids......my brother and sister-in-law are due any day with a baby girl and then with my little guy that will make five. Didn't even think of that when I painted it. I don't think I was even pregnant. Odd numbers seem to be my thing......Ross thinks it is "odd".

Scarlet - this one and the next two are small paintings 10" and 8" as the others are at least 24". I am not as comfortable working small.....as you know from my fabric....but think it is a good idea to push myself and I really like little paintings so I am trying to paint little paintings.

Tango.....

Last but not least - Violet. When I brought the paintings back from hanging in Bend at NorthSoles, my Violette picked up this painting and says to me, "Mine". How did she know?!?!? Although she says anything is hers...."mine" is one of the favorite words.
Well, I am back to work.....we are almost set up for quilt show and I need to get a posting on our Stitchin' Post blog.....I have been TOTALLY slacking on that one.
Have a great day!!!
XOXO
Valori

Pregnancy, sickness, moving, oh my.......

It has been a crazy few weeks......my mom and step dad moved into a new home. Ross and I were the helpers in moving and unpacking. It was bittersweet for me. The house that they moved out of I grew up in since I was six, Ross and I got married there. A lot of memories!!! Strange not to drive down that road to go to the house and just be in that space. I know it is good to move on and for them it is great. They have downsized, and moved into town. Their new house is amazing - all "green" and very them. I am happy for them. Makes me want to live in town sometimes rather than 10 minutes away. Like right now when I need to go to the grocery store and am blogging instead of driving into town. But we have a great place and I really do get a lot of ideas when I drive........during the move and getting them settled in (we had our employee dinner at mom's new house one week after we moved her) I got the stomach flu and a cold. OH MY.........being sick while you are pregnant is the worst and it seems to last FOREVER. I am still fighting snot!!!!  I hope to be done by next week as it is the beginning of Quilter's Affair classes and then Quilt Show on the 11th. It has come up fast.....

We are finally having some nice days after the weird weather in June......these are the first Zinnia's from my garden. Now I am just waiting for some veggies!!! and sunflowers!

While my "shopping site" is being set up for my web site I have my new shirts and cards on the Stitchin' Post site.....come check them out.

The pregnancy is going well, minus the sickness......I am almost six months. Which seems crazy - it went fast but at the same time it seems to be forever. I was thinking today how I am really looking forward to meeting the little guy. Seeing what his personality is going to be like and how it will change the family.  Oh, it will be interesting.......I still have moments of thinking, wow we are having three kids, just seems unreal. Does that ever go away? 
Ok, I really have to get to the grocery store.....
Have a great day!!!
XO
Valori

It's a.........

I am at work taking a quick break from our HUGE move in Twigs and yarn......thought I would pass on the good news........
BOY!!!!! OH, BOY!!! I think Ross almost fell out of his chair......it will be a good mix to the Kennedy household. The girls were very excited....Livvy said to me, "it has to be a brother because I already have a sister." Anyway, he is right on track with all of his growth and measurements...always a relief when they tell you everything looks perfect!

Ross and I went out after the ultrasound and bought him an outfit! Too cute - from Zutano, Ittsy Bitsy collection.
Back to work.....
Have a great day!
XO
Valori

Nesting or Cleaning.......

I just finished cleaning my studio....wow what a feeling having everything put away and vacuumed....Mom recently passed down her cutting table to me as she is moving into a new house in a couple of weeks and wont need it. Now my cutting takes place on a nice big table rather than my flat files. With this new piece of furniture in the studio there was a lot of re-arranging to be done. At first it seemed so overwhelming but once I got into it.....so rewarding. Now I just want to do the rest of the house...especially the girls rooms! Soon....the nesting will get to the rest of the house......beware un-used stuff in this house!
On another studio note........I have a new baby......

My serger......I am so excited!!! Carolyn and I drove to Portland last week to get lessons on our new machines. She has a new sewing maching and I now am a proud owner of a serger......Oh, the clothes I am going to make! I have lists for the girls. Heather Ross' new book Weekend Sewing has SO many great projects. What a wonderful book......now I just have to find a few hours.....HHMMM!
Olivia had her first dance recitle last weekend......

Isn't she cute?! Part of me wonders if she is too young to be having recitles. But she loved it.....mom came over and curled her hair. Not sure she would of let me get that close with a curling iron......I was very proud of her she knew the dance and barely looked at Miss Lonnie.
We had the camera out the other day as the girls danced in the living room....

.....she told me she was a mermaid!

I love that the dresses that we make pass down from Liv to Vi. I forgot how much I adore this dress...

My sweet girl.....although she is nearing 2 and the signs of terrible two's are emerging.....AAAHHH! Life is interesting around here......Tomorrow we will get our ultrasound and find out what we are having...very exciting!!!!
So, many things to share but this will have to be it for today......I am running out of energy and I should spend a little time with my husband.......
Have a great night!!
XO
Valori

Memorial Weekend = Yard work! YEAH!

With all of the hub-bub of market I didn't get a chance to post before I left.....more than anything I wanted to say........ HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! To all of those mamma's out there I hope you had a great day!!!! We sure did....I had Mom and John over for breakfast for sourdough crepes. OH, they were so good! One of those cravings that just had to be full filled. I hadn't made them in ages - I don't know why so easy and so yummy!!

The girls on Mother's Day! I realize when I look at these images how much we all look alike.

Now onto market....it was a busy week! I think I am still recovering took and hour nap this afternoon.....it was not as busy as last spring but still the booth was busy. Amy and I were across from each other - we have too much fun having booths that close. We are going to request being close every spring....nothing but trouble and the busiest row around.....

Miss Carolyn and I in the booth on Sunday. There wasn't time to take photos on the other days... Sunday is one of those mellow days that we can take photos, chat with people and goof off.

My booth.....we try to keep it simple when we have to travel so far. We used canvas curtains, the back wall was painted and swatches of the entire collection were stitched onto the canvas.  I would of loved to have wood walls but that is a whole other task......
I have to say I am a little disappointed in my Leica point and shot camera, the photos weren't nearly as good as I would of liked. I think I am just spoiled by my Cannon....ok, random, back to market.

My friend Amy......it is hard that we only get to see each other a couple times a year......someday that will change!

Diane and Mallory - two of Amy's wonderful girls that work in the studio.....
Since Sunday was so mellow we went to the roof of the convention center....beautiful....

Brandon Mabley - an extremely talented fabric designer and knitter....

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city, architecture mixing the modern and historic, the lines were amazing.

It was so nice to have Carolyn there....we have fun together and get along so well I couldn't ask for a better friend, rooommate and co-worker.....Love her!
Since the plane landed on Monday it has been catch up at the shop I am really looking forward to this weekend and a few days with the family. Ross and I are laying sod in our newly expanded back yard. We are so excited to get the yard going........ the vegetable garden, new grass, flowers, a sand box and best of all a fence to keep the deer out.  I think we will live back there this summer. It is great to have some warm weather to get out and prepare the soil......although there will be no veggies in the ground until the snow is off Black Butte. Ross finished the sand box tonight and the girls are so excited to play in it......perfect while we lay the sod. He has been on a mission the last few weeks......putting up the fence, staining the deck, building the sand box.....I have an amazing husband. I haven't been so excited to work in the yard in years......Have a great weekend and  where ever you are I hope that you are surrounded by sunshine and family.......
XOXOX
Valori

New projects........

I sent off the booth today - YEAH! Except the quilts, we will pack them in our suitcases. It has been a long week getting everything together and making sure we don't forget anything. The "list" comes in handy during times like these. I am hoping to get everything else together and ready to go by Saturday so that on Mother's Day we can have a fun family day. I can't wait to just hang with the family for a day without any thoughts of work. Sounds like heaven.....
One of the projects that I have been working on for a few months now is a series of graphic t-shirts and cards. Let me show you some photos......first there are three shirt designs......

My AWESOME girlfriends are my beautiful models.......

The shirts are made in Canada and printed right here in Bend, Oregon. The company that I am working with in Bend has connected me to the Canadian company that can make custom shirts. This first series is a pretty simple shirt; white, form fitting, 100% cotton and yummy soft.

Tapestry

Red Bird

Leaves
The designs are inspired by my paintings and some of my fabric designs. They do seem to go hand and hand.......I am working on long sleeve designs for the late summer - early fall!

This is the first series of "Artful Cards" - images of some of my favorite paintings printed on recycled paper, blank inside. I do love sending cards, writing letters.....it is a lost art at times with the convince of email. It is so easy to fall into the email communication - I am guilty of that - but there is something about sitting down and writing a letter to someone you love.
After market I am going to be adding a shopping cart to my website - long awaited! And start sending out information of the shirts to boutiques around the country. I am excited - and totally scared - for this new adventure.....I figure this is normal emotions....More to come as I get this ball rolling.....
Anyway, these are a few of my newest projects......besides the full time job of baking a baby. It is amazing that in two years you can forget what it is like to be pregnant. Not that this is much different than the other two just that I forgot some of the wonders of the pregnant body!!!! I am at that "oh so lovely" stage of not looking quite pregnant, a bit more like I have drank too much beer and am bloated! Can't wait for that to pass.....luckily I have only put it on right in the front of my belly and my boobs. Trying to keep my butt from joining in on the growth aspect of the whole thing......at least as long as I can. It will be nice when market is over and the weather around here gets a bit nicer to be outside hiking.  For now it is the treadmill in the gym......oh so boring.
Rambling.......I seem to do that a lot with this pregnancy....or maybe just chatty tonight!
Have a awesome evening!!!
XOXO
Valori

OH - Totally forgot to mention that Del Hi arrived in the shop this week.....

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