Artisans' Alley is This Coming Saturday!

Artisans' Alley is this coming Saturday, Dec. 5th!

I hope to see you at this Saturday's 37th Annual Holiday Craft Fair, Artisans' Alley in Coronado, CA. You can find me in the same spot as last year, booth 66, down from the main entrance on G Street, and across from the "food court" area.

The fair is held on the corner of 7th and G Street, on the Village Elementary playground. If you are driving to Coronado, take the bridge, then a left on Orange Ave, and a right on 7th Street. Go 4 blocks and look for the big crowd on the right!

Artisans' Alley is one of the best Holiday Craft Fairs I've ever been to. Mostly everyone's items are handmade, unique and original! You can find something lovely for everyone on your shopping list, and you will have an enjoyable day in the process. So, come out and bring a friend or two,

and stop by my booth to say "Hi!"

Counting My Blessings

(Photo courtesy of MondoBeyondo. Thank you, it's lovely)

It's nearly Thanksgiving, and I can't help feeling the time is right for counting my blessings. To reach out into the world and offer some quiet ~thanks~, to spend some time considering all the goodness in life, and to put forth my ramblings in the right here and now. Perhaps even inspire you to take some quiet (or not so quiet) actions of thankfulness in your world too. :o)

~thanks: for having such an understanding and kind mate, one who never complains about my (sometimes) lack of helpfulness around the house, and doesn't mind cooking AND cleaning up the dinner

~thanks: for my everlasting environment of peace and happiness, close to the sea, living in the place where my heart feels fullest and happiest

~thanks: for the gift of health

~thanks: for nimble fingers and a creative mind

~thanks: for girls in my life who lift me up on wings of hope, laughter and love

~thanks: for allowing understanding in a sometimes seemingly unforgivable world (momentarily speaking)

~thanks: for giving me boys, when I was certain I needed girls

~thanks: for amazing Linda, who kneads the tightest knots out of my weary back and shoulders

~thanks: for the sweetest, most lovable dog ever on this entire planet

~thanks: for strangers and lovers of craft who support those of us who can't help but work with our hands

~thanks: for the hopefulness of tomorrow, and the promise of a beautiful, bright and shining day

A Little Snowman Told Me

...He needed to make an appearance on a sweater. So, what was I to do, but get going on this sweet sweater featuring Mr. Snowbuddy in a wooded glen of snow and fun. This is the true start to my holiday happenings, when the snowbuddies start to make an appearance.

Snowbuddies and felt making are being ungraciously interrupted by a family trip to Washington DC. Though excited about our trip, I'm nervous about being all ready for Artisans' Alley, which falls on Saturday December 5th, just one quick week after my return. My snowbuddies might be in short supply this year, so if you are thinking of coming and visiting me and a few snowbuddies at Artisans' Alley, come see me early in the day. I'll be where I was last year, in booth 66, right across from the entrance to the food court area.

I will also have a lovely selection of glorious needlefelted handpainted silk scarves at Artisans' Alley. I've had a hard time keeping these lovely scarves in stock at Austin's Gallery.

So put Artisans' Alley on your calendar, December 5th from 9-3 pm because is a fun time, and not to be missed. You can get all your Christmas shopping done all at once! Happy Holidays!

Attention: Artwear Enthusiasts!

... Etsy's Guest Curator for Wednesday (11-11) on the Storque is Beth Livesay! Who is Beth, you might be wondering? She's the Managing Editor for Altered Couture, and Haute Handbags, and my Special Friend at Stampington & Company. Beth has been my Main Gal, the person who has been accepting my work into those fantastic Somerset Publications.

And the Storque? That is Etsy's official blog about all things Handmade. There's one sure thing about Etsy, they offer so many tools and support systems for setting up your shop for success.

So, check out the Storque tomorrow and catch Beth's article. She'll be talking about Altered Couture, and it's trendsetting statement. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

FCC's Golden Hanger Awards- WOW!

And wow! again. I couldn't sleep this morning because I kept seeing those images of the fantastic clothing designs running through my head. What an evening!

Fashion Career College's 23rd Annual Golden Hanger Award and Fashion Show was last night, which showcased 18 student designer collections. Who stole the show, you might wonder? Well, for me, it was Jeffrey, hands down! All the designers were so very talented, but Jeffrey, of Junq Boutique in South Park, had such a trendy, edgy New York style. Have you visited Jeffrey's store? It's just down the street from the Grove, and it is a must visit the next time you're in that neck of the woods. (I do apologize for the photos. When you're going wild and

crazy for your favorite designs, it's hard to snap a decent photo!)

I was a vendor at the show, and I want to thank each and every one of you who stopped by my table and complimented my work. I was even asked if I'd graduated from FCC! (No, I didn't, but sure wish I had. What a fantastic program they offer!) I'm pretty much self taught. But, what a treat for me, to be in the midst of all that fashion talent.

My scarves were the big hit of the night. Here's a photo of a gracious model wearing one of my scarves. (sorry about cutting her head in half... yikes. My photography skills were obviously way off last night!) I'm trying to fine tune which sort of wearable art to make for the ladies, and I think the scarves are the clear winner. So, that's what will be in store for shoppers at this year's Artisans' Alley, coming up on December 5th.

And, on a side note, please contact me ASAP if you are interested in placing a custom order for holiday gift giving. I received 5 custom orders last week alone, which generally isn't a problem. But given the fact we've booked a 2 week family vacation to Washington, DC over Thanksgiving, it's now throwing a wrench into my works. So get those orders in ASAP! so you can reserve your space in my working time table...

Along With Busy Comes The Mess...

And that's what's going on around here! Busy, messy, and fluff are my constant companions. Probably will be from now 'til the end of the year. It's not pretty, but what comes out of it all is actually quite nice indeed. Take a look...

Here's the all purpose area for sweater, skirt, purse and pillow making plus countless other miscellaneous things, aka: the entire dining room table...

On the back side of the dining room table is the needle felting area. This is the spot for fluff galore. Also for the sneezing, eye itching, eye watering, etc. Geez, did I forget to take my allergy medicine again??

This is the sideboard. It's become my jewelry making station on one side. The other side is

display practice set up.

Do you see how nicely my Halloween decoration area looks in the center of both the

sideboard and the dining room table?! Don't you know those decorations just have to be a part of what's on display!! (Lord only knows how anyone can see anything with all the disarray)

Okay, enough of that! Here are a few of what's come out of the mess:

Here's a custom order just waiting to be picked up. This is sweetie Rosie, a lovely needle felted painting of a dear pup on recycled wool, made into a very special pillow...

Here is a new skirt I've recently designed. You know how girls love "circle skirts"?

Well, this is my answer to circle skirt times about 10. There's no way in heck this skirt will lay flat. It's just the most fun, flounciest skirt a girl could ever hope to wear. This skirt is getting a fabulous whimsical birdie + birdhouse sweater that is currently on the dining room table, pre fluff. I made up another fantastic skirt that's already at Austin's Gallery. That one is all in cupcake and sprinkle fabric. It looks like you are wearing a cake!!!

And here's my favorite... Mr. Friendly and his constant companion, Mr. Pup. Mr. Pup is actually a pocket. And, of course, in case of any question, the description of it all is on the back of the sweater. Isn't it nice when we're all so Friendly?!

Advertising 101

That's what I'm all about today, Halloween Day. Between the pumpkin carving, the sewing up of my youngest son's spooky costume, and the roasting of pumpkin seeds, guess what I did? I decided to place an ad on a favorite site to visit; Kelly Rae Roberts' blog page! There's my little ad spot up there. So, you can see that I am a true multi-tasker. One part of my mind is on the business at hand, and the other one is freeform planting (+ roasting ;o) seeds and dealing with irons in that fire. Aren't we women amazing?! Oh, the things we manage to do with our compartmentalizing minds! My husband just shakes his head!

Happy Halloween to you and yours! I'm sure you'll be multi tasking too, while you take your little ghosts and goblins around. Enjoy every minute :o)

It's Good To Know

Do you know about Amy over at Pikaland?

Amy publishes the "Good To Know" zine, which is full of advice and inspiration from artists/illustrators/designers on creativity, business and life. The current issue is #6, and is all about the dreaded JEALOUSY and ENVY that somehow go along with being an artist. The questions Amy posed were:

Do you get jealous / envious when you view other people's work?

-Does it make you a better artist?

-How do you get over it?

Well, I sent in my thoughts on this touchy subject, and Amy added them to her publication. So, thank you, Amy! I really appreciate your including me. Lord only knows; it's something I've dealt with on a daily basis... or at least ever since I decided to make ART my profession.

I'm actually pretty good at being downright jealous when I see someone else's work that is just too good to be true (I look a bit like the girl on the right ;o) Well, that is, I think I USED to look like her. Now, at this stage in my life, I try to learn more about what makes me feel so jealous and insecure, which in turn inspires me to do better and work harder. Here are my thoughts, and what's been published in Good To Know #6:

"I do get a little jealous and envious when I see another artist's wonderful work. Mostly I think that situation inspires me. I find that I have to keep looking and studying what it is about the work that sends me off in this direction. Then I try to bring a little of their magic into my work as best as I can. Sometimes I make a trial "copy" of the work, and then see how this influences my future work. I love that these exercises force me to broaden my horizons, and push my boundaries in new directions."

Check out Amy's wonderful publication, especially if you're one to brood and stew about other people's talent. There are 39 artists sharing their refreshing and timely advice over 48 inspiring pages. And believe me; everything in there is definitely Good To Know!

Wool: Sustainable, Warm + Breathable

I like wool. I really do. In fact, I'm pretty much in love with wool.

I love that it comes from wooly sheep in the form of a haircut. I love that the sheep locks are what're washed, combed and dyed for making into wool yarn, or wool roving. How can you resist this curly face?! (Lola looks like this right before she gets a haircut :o)

When I order a batch of dyed locks, they come with bits of the barnyard in them. (Love that too) First the cutie pies... then a hair trim... and the wool can end up like this...

I love the fact that you can change a wool sweater into felt by washing and drying it. And I love the fact that wool is sustainable. It is warm and cozy to wear. And it breathes, making it a wonderful all weather clothing choice. Wool is one of the most natural resources available to us.

Wooly Baby made these adorable bootlets. Ooh, I wish Wooly Baby would make some for ME! They looks so cute and cozy.

Here's one of my latest wooly creations. Made from recycled wool and cashmere sweater scraps, they are cozy lovables. I'm making lots of these "Wooly Baby Stuffs" to sell at Artisans' Alley.

Have a warm and wooly fall day!

Altered Couture; I'm In It!

It's so very exciting; all the publishing that's been happening!

I've barely recovered from the thrill of Haute Handbags, and now we have the Altered Couture article. It's another lovely spread, in a beautiful, high quality coffee table style magazine. I really feel blessed to have this opportunity come my way. Thank you all for your support, and good wishes, and for helping me find my way to where I am today. I'm sure it wouldn't have happened without THAT!

Have yourself a woolie-wonderful day!

PS. I tried to link the pages so you could click on them and they'd get big enough to read. My skills in this department are sorely lacking, so you will just need to put on your most powerful readers. ;o) Oh, just go buy the copy, and then you can show it to all your friends!

A Reason Not To Sleep

Two reasons actually. A dress and a necklace. Both good reasons, right?!

Here's the dress. It's one I saw while blog surfing. I check in at A Diary of a Sewing Fanatic's blog every so often. I just love people who are sewing fanatics! (I guess I'm one too) Carolyn was also inspired by this dress from Banana Republic. It's so interesting to see how my inspiration pans out compared to Carolyn's inspiration. You can't see mine yet, because, well, it's still in my HEAD, but I think it might begin popping out sometime today. I was about to put the women's vests on the back shelf for a while, but now that I've seen this dress, a new vest style is in the works. I'll post my progress here, so, if you're even a wee sewing fanatic, check back soon to see the progress. Also, if this dress inspires you, or keeps you up at night, well, I hope you'll have something to show for that too!

And this is the necklace. Marcia again. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. Now you rob my sleep at night. Oh, what have you done to me, Marcia? The beads... it's the beads. I struggle and try to stop. Try to stay away, but the beads keep calling me back. The colors, the combinations, the possibilities galore. Okay, I'm about ready to throw in the towel and admit to the fact that I have become a beader. Yesterday, I was at, yet again, Lost Cities, and a woman came up to me to remark on my amazing earrings. Yes, I answered, I made them from a MARCIA design. But the good thing was that I made them also a little bit "Val". They are about 2/3 Marcia and 1/3 Val. So, that counts, right? I am proud of my beautiful earrings. I am making them by the bundle now. I can't stop. I'm figuring out how to put the bead colors together so they "pop" and "sing". It's not easy. It's involved making several designs, and cutting them up the minute they are done. Hate them. Pressing on, I'm learning what works. And soon, I will have a new photo to post. "Singing" earrings... has a nice ring to it, no?

Welcome New Friends

You are always welcome over here at our house!

I met so many new wonderful people yesterday at the Mission Hills Preschool Craft Fair. I appreciate all your comments and support for all things handmade (and wool), and I look forward to hopefully seeing you again very soon!

As promised, a mention of Artisans' Alley, which is a wonderful holiday Craft Fair that takes place on the first Saturday in December each year. The fair lasts from 9am until 3pm. I will hopefully be situated where I was last year, in the booth across from the entrance to the food area. In any case, let me know if you have questions that I can help answer. And, in the meantime, put the date on your calendar. You'll not want to miss Artisan's Alley. It's great fun, with great shopping, and will get you right into the holiday spirit. See you then!

Falling Into Fall

Hope this finds you in fine form, and enjoying a few leaves crunching under your feet.

Even though it seems unlikely in Southern California, we do have Fall. Like everywhere else, our days get shorter, and the nights get cooler. We enjoy lovely "Indian Summer" weather, which makes visitors ooh and ahh for days after arriving in our coastal town. It's the nicest time of the year here, and we love it very much.

Fresh for fall, a few Falling Leaves for you to enjoy in the form of scarves and wrist warmers, all made from refashioned felted wool, and adorned with lovely needle felted falling leaves.

Happy Fall :o)

Hamish and the L.F.

That would be the Lady Friend...

Her name is Penelope, or Penny for short. She and Hamish have been thick as thieves.

They jetted off to Paris on Monday...

Later, I see that they are in Egypt!

Then today, I get this photo. They are in the desert visiting a Graveyard.

Will the fun never cease? All I know is they'd better be back in time for the Mission Hills Craft Fair on Saturday morning. Did you both hear that, Hamish and Penelope? No kidding around now. People want to meet you, so you'd better show up. Or ELSE!

Meet Hamish, My New Love

Hamish is as Hamish does. And whatever Hamish does is all-righty-right with me!

Hamish, and a few of his friends, have made their sudden appearance in my studio this weekend. Hamish is pretty much full of attitude. He's come right out and stated that he's planning on being an Architect. And, he is planning to design a famous monument as grand as the Tour Eiffel (just wait and see). I have no control over Hamish. Once he appeared, he's quite taken over. Wow, no telling what the rest of this week will bring...

So, in my last post, I said I'd been taken over by aliens. (Um, well, that's what the beading was like!) It's taken me exactly 4 days, 3 hours and 26 minutes to feel like a human again. That is one sort of back pain I cannot possibly endure on an ongoing basis. Marcia, just how do you do it? I loved it, but I definitely do not like it. The side effects, that is.

In the interest of regaining my back's sanity, I moved in an entirely different direction. That's how things go 'round here. One day it's one thing and the next it's entirely something new. I can barely keep up... The sewing, needle felting, and stuffing have all come about because of Saturday's Mission Hills Community Preschool Craft Fair , which lasts from 9am til 12 noon. This is the 2nd annual Pumpkin Patch (yea!!)/ Fine Crafts fair, with a performance by Classics For Kids (love, love, LOVE them), a puppet show, and a kids area. How cute is that?!

I took one look at my overflowing sweater scrap bag, and out popped the 'Stuffs': Hamish, along with Toasty, and Little Miss Mommy Sassy-Pants. Like I said before; Wow, no telling what's in store for the rest of the week. So, the deal is, we invite you to come and meet Hamish and his friends this Saturday morning. Better get there early, cause one of those little kiddies might just have to sashay him home. And I hope they do, because I'd rather Hamish boss somebody else besides me... he's mightly bossy 'round here!

I Blame It On Beading

... my pain, that is. It's my shoulders, my neck, and my poor, poor fingers; stiff and swollen after two entire days of beading. I also blame it on me for not stopping myself, but mostly on Marcia, aka Beading Guru and Friend-who's-teaching-me-beading. It started with our recent Girl's Weekend Retreat where we were to be knitting and beading both. Both. That means switching off. Well, did it happen? No, it did not. Not really. There were a few token knitting attempts. But it was the beading that stole the show. That's when the hurt began to set in.

Marcia just shows up with these INCREDIBLE IRRESISTIBLE beaded items she makes. That's when the ogling and eye-popping begin. Then we move into the questioning phase; Can WE make THAT? and, WE HAVE to have THAT! and finally, Will YOU show US how? (How can she resist us?!) What she has, we all want. It's that simple. She's our Guru. Our Beading Guru, and she's taking us places we never dreamed we'd ever go.

We are making Under The Mast. Guess what? It's new, not even in her brand new book. We were guinea pigs for Marcia that weekend, so she could work out the kinks of teaching this project for an upcoming class. I am so happy to say that I am NEARLY DONE with this gorgeous necklace. I can't wait to wear it. Besides that, I have been making a modified project from the book, Teracita Earrings. These are the items that have stiffened my poor fingers, because I'm making them in every colorway from my stash possible. I cannot stop myself, I'm possessed by the beads... sigh.

Lastly, along with everything else, I am beading felt. The felt is being shaped, and embellished with beads. Did I mention that felting is my one true love (practically!). Well, the beads are making a stand, and it's not pretty...

Okay, well, yes it is. Very pretty, and I like it. Come see me at the Mission Hills Preschool Craft Fair on Saturday morning, Oct. 17 from 9am -12 noon. I will have these lovelies for show and sale. If you like them, do get them now. I have promised myself I WILL NOT be a beader, and I WILL NOT be a jewelry maker. However, as a Felter, I will sometimes allow myself a foray into the jewelry world, but I promise you, it's NOT FOR LONG!

Happy beading! And as far as for me... wish me happy kneading out the kinks from my shoulders and back...

Felted Ball Tutorial(s)

I will forewarn you that I don't understand a thing she says. But the pictures and idea come across really well. So, if you are "dyeing" to know how to make a felt ball for jewelry or for anything else, turn down your sound and watch the video. About the "dyeing" part, well, that's a whole different tutorial, and will have to be addressed on a different day. :o)

Okay, if you need translation, go on to this next video. Warning: you will notice the woman lets the water run for more than 6 minutes. Since we are in drought conditions, I don't recommend letting your water run the entire time you are working on the ball. Try to get a bowl of hot and cold water, and move between hot and cold in this fashion. Sheesh, I guess there's no such thing as a water shortages in Europe (or wherever she's from)...

I was going to add a third video. It's in Japanese with an English translator, but there are bathroom activities happening in the background which could gross some people out. I'll spare you that one, but can let you know where to find it if you're curious!

Happy felting!

Thanks to Trish

So, are you getting excited, curious, jealous (just kidding!), or maybe a little of all three!?!

The newness you are seeing around here is due to none other than Tricia Shiel of StreetDesigns and StreetCards. Trish is an oh-so-talented graphic designer, and she really shines in the World of Whimsy department. Trish is from London, but she used to live here in San Diego, and that is when she met my husband, Greg, and quickly got mixed up with our lot of friends. It was a sad day one May when she packed up her bits and bags, and her 1967 right-hand-drive cherry Porsche, and returned to her homeland. We still see Trish regularly, as she can't stay away, and joins our group whenever there's something too fun to pass up. She's a true gem, and we miss Trishie so much over here!

So, when Miss Heartless Etsy Designer closed up her shop and delivered her dose of negativity my way, I found a way to remedy the situation by hiring Trish. And, look at me now! An entirely new logo package, with a brand spankin' NEW Website that's so professional, yet whimsical too. Trish managed to capture my business model perfectly, and the nice thing is that she told me she had so much fun while she was at it. I couldn't be happier! And, really, you have to admit the site is full of whimsy and fun. It is actually still a work in progress, so if you keep checking back, you'll see small changes taking place here and there. And, guess what?! The site is going to be animated by Flash! (Okay, I don't really know what that's all about, but it sure sounds fun!)

So, if you're in the market for a web designer, give Trish a holler. Don't let the fact that she's in London scare you off. We managed to iChat and email every day, so the time difference didn't matter a bit. Don't worry about phone calls, because iChatting doesn't cost a dime. You simply must heed my advice, and forego cheap labor. Remember; pay peanuts, get monkeys. Pay a bit more, and get the best quality that you never knew would come your way.

So, thanks Trish. It just couldn't be any better! :o)

A Preview of Cuteness to Come

Yep, here's a glimpse! Oooh, it's very exciting...

So, do you remember the "Etsy, I'm Not On Sale" post? The one where I spilled my guts about the etsy designer who refused to sell me rights to my logo design? Well, doesn't every bad situation have a silver lining.... because now I have a brand new logo, and all sorts of goodies to go along with it!

Wow, it's just like Halloween night 'round here with a fresh new batch of sweets!!

Now, I'm supposed to keep part of my excitement a secret, but it's OH SO HARD TO DO! But, for now, you can see my new banner on my blog, and there's a new banner in my etsy shop too. And, stay tuned for the next part of the Big Unveil, coming very soon!

And as for these cutie pillows, well, they are in my etsy shop too. But they are in my BM (that's Brick + Mortar) shops as well... that's shopS, did you notice? For one is at Austin's Gallery in Coronado, and the other is at Hello Bluebird,

way out in Pennsylvania. I'm bi-coastal, and

that's kinda cool...

All righty, so there's my excitement for the day. Now I must get on with the truly important stuff, and that's bodywork. For today's the day for that. The chiropractor and the massage therapist will nudge, knead, and beat the knots from my over needlefelted shoulders and upper back. Then it's on to teacher conferences, and kid duty. These cutes here are what keep me sane, I tell you :o)

My FIRST Publication!

Guess what?! It's out, and I'm in it!! Haute Handbags,

that is. I can't tell you how excited I am about this; the very first ever publication of my handmade creations.

I just feel like things are taking a new path now. Kind of like I've been following along a straight and strong road with juts and potholes here and there. Now, all the sudden, a paved road has appeared, and I'm on it! It's filled with rolling hills and curves, there's lovely landscaping and scenery now, and it's definitely taking me towards a new direction. How exciting!

The other truly wonderful thing is that Deb Hodge's beautiful purses are on the cover of the magazine. Deb is a friend and the mom of my older son's best friend. I knew Deb's son for a year before I ever met Deb. I used to ask my son what his friend's parents did, and he'd reply "She's just like you, she makes stuff" Hmmm, I thought. What kid has a mom like me, who sits at home and sews and crafts the day away? Well, he sure did, and now I'm friends with this amazing and talented woman. We have SO much in common! So, Deb, you rock! And I couldn't be happier sharing my accomplishment with anyone other than YOU! :ox (kisses to Deb)

I will sell the magazines at Austin's Gallery, so you can find them locally if you live in Coronado. I know they will be for sale at Paper Tales over in Pt. Loma too. You can order them directly off the Stampington & Company's website, or by calling their toll free number; 877-782-6737. You won't be disappointed by this wonderful issue. It's filled with creativity, wonderful ideas, love, and especially, Deb's and my purses.

**Notes worth noting:

~ Those cutest ever pillows will be posted next. The publication excitement overrode the posting of the pillows... sorry!

~ I only write novels here because I try to fill up the space around the pictures. It's my Virgo need for order and feelings of symmetry... sorry!

~ Stay tuned for the launching of my NEW website. It's the biggest deal in the history of Val's Art Studio. This is going to be BIG, I tell you. BIG!!!