Owls on holiday

Even the teeniest owls love a good time. Just wait til you see what's been going on with my newest creations. They've been pretty busy...

First of all, I'd better explain that Toshi has been such a patient and wonderful helper for me in studio. She just doesn't complain about anything I ask her to do. Even when it comes to making the tiniest needle felted creations. Afterwards, she shyly confesses "that wasn't exactly the funnest thing you've had me make..." I totally understand, for even though these little guys look like they should be dang easy to make, they are an exercise in patience. I'm warning you about that! But Toshi is a good sport, and we made up an awesome couple of owls, don't you agree?! They are being made for the upcoming Earring class I'm teaching at Paper Tales on Feb.25th. Click here for more info on that class!

So, no sooner were one pair of owls finished before they had to go explore...

Here they are in the garden, searching for snacks in the succulents...

Then, a dip in the pool, and sunbathing...

They spent some time wistfully gazing over the canyon and watching the birds in action...

Finally finished up their outing with a ride on the giant Lola dog.

(Isn't she so sweet and patient?! Lol!)

What a day! They have confessed they are ready to be tethered to earrings so they can get their kicks while going along for the ride!

Ok, that's our adventure for today :o)

Hope you are having an adventurous day today too.

x, Val

I heART you

Image courtesy Tumbler

Wishing you the Happiest and most Heartfelt day ever today...

with lots of love from me to you...

x, Val

New Classes at Paper Tales!

Yep, classes! Hooray! The first class is Sat, Feb, 11 (um, kinda today... sorry for the late notice), but it's already filled up, so don't feel like you are missing out. We are working on a new date to run this class again. Call over to Paper Tales 619-222-2510, and tell them you must know the new class date, so you can sign up right away! Hurry up, because the last class filled up in about a minute.

The next class will be Super-duper Sweet Birds or Owls Sitting on a Cage. Aren't they cute?! I know I only have pictures of the birds, because the owls aren't even done yet... what can I say? Life has been throwing me lots of curve balls lately... This class will run on Sat, Feb 25th from 1-4. Plenty of spots are still open in this class, so give those girls at Paper Tales a call and sign yourself up!

Each class is $35, and includes one kit for you to complete the project in class, and wear your creation home! Extra kits will be available for purchase during the class so you can practice those new needle felting skills on your own.

Remember to bring the following supplies to class!

• Needle felting foam mat (not the brush style mat)
• Green 5 needle tool
• "Pink pen" 3 needle tool
• Replacement needles by Clover, "Fine" size
• A pair of small sharp scissors
• Jewelry making tools; 2 needle nose pliers and a small wire cutter (you can use mine if you don't have them)

I can't wait to see you in a class very soon. Save some room for a cookie or two :o)

x, Val

Fantastic Felt

I am crazy about felt! I admit it. I started as a young girl with a love for sewing, migrated to painting and drawing love, then to knitting love and finally felting. So I guess that makes Felt my current love affair. Who could possible know what will come next? For now, it's all about everything Felt!

On that note, here are a few photo's of Lynda Watson's (my felt instructor from last week) magical felt cactus brooches. Lynda is a silver smith artist, so it's no joke to me that she would naturally progress to sculpting felt. The possibilities of sculpting felt are somewhat similar to the challenges of working metal (I took a semester of metal smithing while finishing up my degree at SDSU). The benefit to working with felt is that it is clean, soft, mess free, delicate and forgiving. Plus, the natural fiber just feels so good in one's hands!

Our felting class was filled with like minded souls; knitters, artists, metal workers, jewelry artists, all natural fiber lovers. One thing I wanted to try during our time together was wet felting. Even though our instructor, Lynda, was an accomplished felter, she hadn't done too much wet felting.

I started out making flat felt sheets to get the feel of things...

All of the wet felting novices (us!) were interested in creating a range of wet felted tubes, rods and even bowls. It was crazy fun to feel the felt come together in your hands. Now I have a clear idea of the feeling of how felting works! Mary Lou, a classmate who had extensive wet felting background, made this gorgeous wet felted vessel...

Liza and I went mad over Mary Lou's piece, and decided to get crazy, wooly wet too, and dove right in to lying lightweight and airy flecks of felt together. We added soapy water, a little rubbing and agitation...

...then, voila! A bowl is born!

The end of the week brought everybody's finished work out on display for the art opening. Here's my display of wet and dry needle felting. It was a rich week filled with learning all sorts of new felting techniques, and I enjoyed every minute!

Sign me... So felt happy :o)

x, Val

Welcome your change

Isn't amazing how one influence here or there is enough to change our life's course? The sweetest thing in life is just being open to newness, to other ways of thinking and doing, open to pondering... to dreaming.... to change.

I returned last night from my wonderful week in Santa Cruz. My friends, Jean and Mike, live slightly south of Santa Cruz in a small town called Aptos. We spent the week taking a class at Cabrillo College, where I concentrated on wet and needle felting taught by the amazing Lynda Watson. The classes and teachers at this community college are taken from a very talented pool of Santa Cruz artists, and I found the entire experience to be filled with art awe. Jean took a challenging abstract painting class, where she mastered her thought process towards acceptance during the first afternoon. I love when that happens. Change, and a force towards new thinking is so good for us!

Here we are: me, Lynda, Mike, Jean and super sweet classmate, Liza

We could wave to each other from our classrooms across a large grassy lawn, and go off for lunch to a wonderful local spot called Carried Away. Our days were spent talking art, teen struggles, and life philosophy, and laughing over how old we are getting (we've been friends for over 20 years), dissolving into hilarious tears about doing everything in the world NOT to google when we just couldn't remember even the most mundane things. Oh, heck! Our week ended as our visits normally do... feeling like there just wasn't enough time to do all we wanted to when we are together. Oh, Jean (and Mike!), I just love you to death!

I want to tell you all about my felting adventures, and will be sharing some amazing photos of the work our class did last week, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, I just wanted to check in and say Hi! and see how things are going in your neck of the woods. For now, I will leave you with a very short video from our next-door classmates, lighting and electrical. This was not created during their 3 week class, but from a Santa Cruz artist who shows his work at Burning Man. He is Todd Williams and he creates remote controlled shark lights called Land Sharks. They were a crazy hit during the Art Opening on Friday night...

More about Todd's amazing Land Sharks here:

Sharks signing off for now...

xx, Val

A creative mess

Photo courtesy of Austin!

Every single aspect of my life is in full, unbridled swing, and I find myself in the biggest creative mess possible. Ooh-eee! Have you been here too, girlfriend? Do you know how messy and wild this feels?!

I am busy beyond belief in the Hello Soul Hello Business class, and am certain I will be soon bursting out of all my seams with growth and potential. Oh, yes! I can feel it! I didn't realize how all-encompassing this class would be, but it's come at the perfect time, and I really did try to structure some o p e n time, so I could put my whole heart and soul into getting to know me better. Yep, Hello Me!! Though we are not to post our exercises, I am dying to share all I'm learning with you, but I will certainly be able to show and tell about my growth leaps in ways without divulging course content. All I can say, girls (boys too!), is that this class is blowing my socks off! Take a trip over to Kelly Rae's blog to find out a bit more by clicking here, and Beth's blog will tell you how you can still join in all the fun. Nope, you do not want to miss out on this...

This next week will find me at my dear friend, Jean,'s house, where we will share a week of art and friendship. Jean and I have been friends for about 20 years (wow, heck!), and we have done so many things together, though at different times in our lives. Now that we are older, we support each other artistically so well, and never quite have enough time together. Every parting is left with longing that we just need more time together. So, now we are to have a whole week! Yip, I'm so excited for this!

I will be taking a felting class from Lynda Watson, while Jean takes mixed media painting, (another true love of mine, don't you know!) I don't know anything about Lynda, really, but Jean assures me she's the cat's meow when it comes to specialty felting. A visit to her website tells me I am in for a really big treat. I can hardly wait to get busy. I am taking along my Tylenol PM, so as to make sure I can get my shoulders relaxed properly each night after long days felting and needle felting! That's something I struggle with, oh my golly... and isn't it crazy how we prioritize our travel needs. Sheesh! I'm also taking my brand new camera that I treated myself to after my super busy holiday season, a Canon Rebel t3, so hoping I can share some fantastic new pics on my blog and website very soon....

Off on my wild and crazy, out-of-my-normal-element adventures, you won't be hearing from me for a bit, but I promise to have some amazing stories for you upon my return. Happy creating to all my bloggy friends!

x, Val

House of 2 Hearts

Sometimes, miracles come out in the making, unbeknownst to me. I simply listen, and make art. When I touch a heart, then I feel I've given of my gift in the best possible way I can. A special commissioned painting turned out just so, and the person who received the best gift of all? Me!

The couple has been married for over 50 years, and she wanted to present her husband with a special gift on their anniversary, a painting of their beloved home near the Coronado coast. It just so happened to be the day after Christmas, and, most unfortunately, painting was at the bottom of my holiday to-do list after all that sewing and needle felting my busy fingers had been creating for months leading up to Christmas.

Weary as I was, I couldn't let her down. My painting was worked on frantically as Christmas approached. The text had to be something special, and so I presented her with several fitting choices, throwing one last possibility in at the end. I loved it, but not sure if they would.

House of 2 Hearts. She absolutely loved the sentiment. I delivered the finished painting the day after Christmas, on their anniversary. They were the cutest couple I'd ever seen as they held hands and lovingly gazed at the painting. Her husband turned to me (we had only just met), and gave me a great big bear hug.

It was the sweetest, most heartfelt gift I'd received in a very long time.

Art just doesn't get any better than that. Thank you Mr and Mrs P! I hope Greg and I are as happy and joyful on our 54th wedding anniversary. You two truly live in a House of 2 Hearts :o)

xx, Val

Birdita and Pastina

Most afternoons in my house are filled with alarm bells going off. Literally, the bird in my life acts like he is dying of starvation, and begins shrieking his birdy head off. How can a small bird make so much noise? Lordy. Only one thing will save the day... Pastina.

I run to the stove and boil water. Quick! Add the pastina (small pasta bits), and a bit of salt. Even after only a few minutes of boiling, I must take a spoonful out to feed that screaming bird! Heck already, will he please shut up?!!! (Other people in my family don't put it quite as nicely as that)

Ahh, peace and quiet at last!

Birdita has been with me for over 25 years now. Really! Wow, I never knew cockatiels could eat so much pasta, or live this long. On days when he's particularly annoying, my family asks the unthinkable... "MOM! When is that bird going to die???" Oh, I tell them they are breaking my heart. Birdita was my first true love. When I met Greg, he said the bird's only redeeming quality is his love for pasta (Greg is Italian, by the way). Heck. What about his sweet whistling? Or his garbled words he's trying to talk. When you take the cover off his cage in the morning, he says "hello birdita" in a low, manly voice (like Greg's!). How sweet is that?!

I thought he was a she bird when I got him/her, and, I admit, I wasn't a very creative name giver... I was going for the name Wolfgang, aka Mozart, which turned into Wolfie, then Mot-zita, then finally Birdita. Then, after a year, I learned she was a he. By then the name had stuck. Poor bird has had a lifetime of mixed gender issues.

The boys have had their moments when they've actually liked Birdita (BIRD... that's what they call him). Unfortunately, when they got a bit too chummy, he's hauled off and bit them on the lip or nose. Well, that took care of that. ("hate you, BIRD") Ok, they are teenagers now. I like to remember the happier times...

I'm sure he's lived so long due to his fastidious pasta diet, with a side of edamame. He's in heaven with that combo. He's getting so old now, and some days just sits and sleeps in that covered corner of his cage. He's such an old man birdy now. I kiss him on his old birdy head, and rub his beak and neck, which he especially loves. I can't think of the day when he won't be with me. Though I love him so, I have made my mother promise me she won't get a cockatiel, and leave him to me. I can't take another 25 years of making pasta at 3pm each afternoon. Nope, a pair of parakeets will work just fine for me. Take note, Mom!!

xx, Birdy-Lovin' Val

Sketchbook Saturday

As the brave new year takes shape, I find I am in a state of sluggish discombobulation when it comes to getting back to work... As much as I'm dismayed by this, I know it's because I pushed myself beyond belief over the past 5 months. My mind, body, and spirit are asking me for a renewal break. Yes, I know it's so, and I'm listening, yes, I am...

My break is in the doing, but it's the peaceful doing where my mind finds rest. Sketching suits me just fine. I doodle with colored pencil, and watch the beautiful colors blend and images take shape. It's amazing what appears...

When my mind is all a-flutter, and I am in turmoil, I find the things I create so restorative, refreshing and beautiful. I just don't understand the connection... must I be in despair for true beauty to flow? What about when my mind is calm, will it mean I am barren of creation? What's with that?

In an effort to renew my soul and self, I have signed up to take two online classes, yes, I know I need help to jumpstart my creativity flow! One begins very soon, called Hello Soul, Hello Business. I think this class will be simply amazing. Taught by the innovative Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nicholls of Do What You Love, I've signed up for this class because I am certain it will help me take my business to the next level. I am so ready for this! Now, if I can just get the muscles in my shoulders to relax, I think my body will be ready to forge ahead too!

The second class I've signed up for is called The Art of Wild Abandonment, and will be taught by Christy Tomlinson along with sweet Junelle Jacobsen of Yes and Amen! I just couldn't resist this class. Junelle asked me to take Christy's Three Hearts class with her last year, and it was so good for me to get out of my little shell, and get all messy and wild with paints and papers and scrapbooks, and new art tools galore! This is a gift to myself - a just for wild fun - class... don't you need to gift yourself too? Head over to Christy's blog to check out this class. I would love it if you took the class with me! Plus, get reduced tuition if you sign up before Feb 29th!!! Go ahead and treat yourself :o)

Hoping your new year is off to a good and restful start, and a creative one too!!

xx, Val

Today, I'm all about...

Patchwork! I'm so in love with it...

Quilt by Angela Webster, Ruler by James Michael Starr, Beehive photo, Doll by CocoonDesigns

If my husband and sons wouldn't object, I'm

sure my entire life would be adorned in patchwork. I'd have patchwork quilts on my beds, patchwork curtains on all my windows (I do have them in my studio, and you can see them here :o), patchwork wood furniture, and I'd knit happy evenings away on these glorious patchwork chairs (from Sundance) ...

I have made myself promise that I will not, will not, WILL NOT start quilting! (stern reprimand to self) But I will put patchwork clothing together and I will wear patchwork clothes, I will make patchwork Friendlys, and even patchwork trees...

Yesiree, it's a patchwork life for me! Just wondering if you have the same feeling about patchwork? If not, what are you all crazy about these days?!

Just sign me,

Happy Patch :o) ...aka Val xx

goodbye control freak, hello faith

As we prepare for the start of a brand new year, I find myself pondering some of the quiet thoughts that were my constant companions over the past year. A few so called "friends" with names like Shame, Blame, and Unreal Expectations. Certain aspects of my past year have been particularly mind-breakingly hard... Do you know that feeling too? We're together in this, girlfriend...

I want to start a brand, spankin' new year off right, yes-siree! I am going to leave my 2011 brain baggage behind, leave it forever slowly spinning on the 2011 carousal. Yep. I will start my year with an open mind, with fresh Hope, fresh Faith, and looking towards new possibilities. I just can't wait!

Before I judge, I will listen (to my heart)

I will work towards speaking softly, and let Faith be my guide

I will smile more, and fret less

I will cheer each day as I awake with Hope in my heart

I will work to sooth away angry words and thoughts

And, I will let Nature be my spiritual healer.

I wish you and yours a wonderful and Happy New Year, and hope the blessings of the season reveal themselves to you, so that you can take the best of yourself into the brave new year!

x, Val

A Pop Up show TOMORROW!

Birds are flying in... It's a flock, I tell you... Not only am I all about the world of birdies, but many of the women who support me are too. Well, birds of a feather flock together, right? Welcome friends, is all I have to say!

Tomorrow is a Pop Up Shop at the home of the Talmadge Show organizers, Sharon Gorevich and Alan Greenberg. You can find out more about it here. The show runs from 10-4. I will be one of 14 artists, and though I am pretty much all holiday needle felted out, I am excited to be included in this wonderful venue. A last big hip-hooray before Christmas. I am praying the weather cooperates. It's supposed to be windy and wintery. A festive Pop Up Shop day! Come out and join the fun, and do your last minute gift shopping! Pop on by :o)

The birdies and I will be there to say "Hi!"

x, Val

Blog Hop Winners!

Image courtesy of Sea Dream Studio

Hi Blog-hoppers! Thanks for checking back on my blog to see if you won! Here are the three winners of my giveaway. (I just put all the comments in a basket and picked. No method to my madness over here!) The winners have one week to get in touch with me, and if I don't hear from them, I will pick new winners. So, do not fear, you may still win! And don't forget to keep coming back, because I am planning another After Holiday Giveaway with overflow from all my holiday happenings!

Ok, ready? Drum roll, please.....

1. Rose Red!
2. Marfa!
3. Natasha of N's Whims!

Winners, here's what you need to do to claim your prize:

Email me at ValsArt@me.com, and give me your

• your first and second choice of prize (yes, it's first come, first served!)
• address where you you want me to mail your item

Remember, if I haven't heard from you in one week's time, then I will choose a new winner to fill your spot. So you have until next Wed, Dec. 21st at midnight to contact me!

Thanks again everyone. I really enjoyed all your comments, and meeting each one of you on Facebook, and the blog. Hope you had fun!

x, Val

Hey, Beautiful Girl!

Today I did something really special. It made me laugh and cry at the same time. It felt full of giving and remorse, but it was beautiful all the same. Do you know what I did? I downloaded a song off iTunes that I used to listen to with reckless abandon in high school... Is that weird? Heck, it made me feel so good, and brought me right back to what I was feeling at that time in my life. Wow... A 50 year old dropping in on her 15 year old life... what a trip!!! I felt like I was a teenager again... all that angst and heartache...sheesh... it's just so good and so bad! Takes me into the world of my teenage sons. Well, maybe just a little bit...

Girl, have you heard about the Brave Girls Club? No? Heck, girl! You need to know about being a brave girl! It will get you moving.... off the couch and downloading your songs from when you were 15! (just kidding- really, I did that before I read today's post.) Being a Brave Girl is about touching your soul with kindness. Sign up for the daily emails. You will be so glad you did!

Today, I honored myself. Wow, I tuned into me. It totally felt so good. Now, please excuse me, cause I'm gonna go listen to that favorite song again. And I'm going to turn it up really loud! That's the way it's gonna be :o)

Live in happiness!

x, Val

Wooly wizardy

How is it possible to turn a ball of wooly fluff into the cutest version of a snowman possible? Wooly snow wizardry, with a small barbed needle, of course! My Smitten Snowman class showed the girls who wanted to learn needle felting how easy and rewarding it can be. With a lot of patience, and a deft eye, you can create beautiful soft sculpture with minimal tools, or experience. Take a look to see how things turned out!

We began with a lesson on needle felting tools, and the dos and don'ts about how to avoid stabbing yourself. Fortunately, we only had one minor stabbing incident, and one major one that happened to me (OUCH!) That is pretty much the number one thing we discuss in class. lol.

After our snowman shapes were created, some of us decided to give ours a cold tea bath, and laughed over jokes involving peeing too much tea (ok, I digress!) Here are the tea bathers sunning themselves dry...

We worked on making the base, and I heard many comments that the base took more work than the snowmen. See, I just knew you would all love the needle felting part so much :o) Everyone's base came out incredibly beautiful They were each a work of art, and I wish I'd photographed the bases before we attached the snowmen.

Here are the finished products, aka Snow Friends! (except for mine. He's the naked one on the left. I guess I was doing too much talking to keep up with everyone else!)

You were an amazing and talented group of crafting girls, and I enjoyed my day so much! Come and take a class from me again soon. I'm thinking up a fun project for Valentines Day...

Happy Holidays to everyone!

x, Val

I'm on papernstitch!

Hello Blog Hoppers! If you are new here, click this link to go directly to the post that tells you what you need to do to enter my giveaway. If you are back for another visit, welcome back! I will be working on plenty of new and exciting adventures, and hope you will return regularly to see what's going on in my busy studio!

Tomorrow is the Smitten Snowman class, and it's all filled up. If you are interested in taking a class like this from me in the future, please leave me a comment and I will add you to my class email list. (Make sure to give me your email address) That way you will get first notice when I have a brand new needle felting class on the schedule!

In other news, I am in the brand new Papernstitch exhibit that just opened! Click here to see all the wonderful shops in this exclusive online temporary exhibit, or here to go directly to my Papernstitch page. You will see that I am offering a special promotion for all papernstitch shoppers! So many great shopping opportunities. Wow, buy handmade, and you don't even have to leave the comfort of your home! "Shop Small, Not Mall" is my motto this holiday season, and I feel really good doing just so :o)

Have a magical weekend!

x, Val