dang. cute. holiday!



Please, Rain, do not rain on me this Saturday! It's hard to do a dang cute show in the rain... Saturday is Artisans' Alley, which is a super fun outdoor holiday craft show... See, Rain, it's outdoors, and it just won't be a good day for you, Rain. (I'm sorry) It would be really great if you could just take your rainy business away from Coronado for the day. Yep, just go somewhere else to play for the day, and you can come back anytime after 4 pm on Saturday. Ok?  Then we'll be good, Rain, and I promise we can play together very soon!

Rain or no rain, I invite you to come on over to Coronado this Saturday from 9-3 for Artisans' Alley. Maybe, bring your umbrella... just in case Rain decides to show up. (He and I have been talking, you know, and I'm working on him, hard!) And, I have been working like a non-stop fiend to get as ready as I can be. Lots of new... dang. cute. product. ... which would make fantastic holiday gifts!

See you on Saturday :o)
x, Val

Shop Small This Saturday



Psst! Did you know this coming Saturday, Nov 24th is "Shop Small Saturday"? The idea is that you support your local merchants and small shops instead of doing all your holiday shopping at the big box stores, or at the mall. Then, your favorite local small retailers can get a piece of the financial windfall pie, and that helps to sustain them, and keep them in business. It's win-win!

It's so important to shop at those sweet mom-and-pop shops you love to frequent, or pretty soon, they will close up without our much needed support. Last holiday season, I did ALL my holiday shopping at small retailers, and golly, they were SO appreciative! Plus, the gift recipients were touched by such a personal and "out of the ordinary" gift.

Etsy shops are also a great way to "Shop Small", and many are offering special deals this weekend, Black Friday through Cyber Monday. So, I  decided to get in gear with this too, and so...

I am offering a 25% discount in my Etsy shop this long weekend ONLY! 

Just head over to my Etsy shop by clicking here**, and select any ready-to-ship item (NOTE: SALE Pricing is NOT valid on custom orders!) Enter this coupon code at check out to receive 25% off your entire order! Shipping is one low rate to US states! (Please note: All orders will ship beginning 11-28-12)

HOLIDAY12

Happy Holidays, Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy "Shop Small" shopping :o)

x, Val

**PS. A secret for you: Blog readers get an early entrance to the sale. Coupon code is actually valid now!

Willing ... and so Thankful



We ask a lot of ourselves on a daily basis, don't we? We start by getting ourselves out of bed, and into the day, and it just goes on from there, doesn't it?! Heck, yep, it's all downhill from there!

As I watch the transformation of my very brave son(s) right before my eyes, but particularly Drew, who is away from us right now, ... I am awed by both of their spirits, and willingness to change, to accept our love and help, and to understand the whys and the hows and the reasons behind our will that put Drew into treatment, and living away from us during the time he gets the help he needs. I am knocked to my knees with love and respect, and wowed by the path God has sent us on. I still find myself challenged by my will to remain hopeful, which I do, yes I do. I will myself to trust anew. I can now embrace and better understand our fierce love for him, and our willingness to go to the ends of the earth to help and support the very fine young man we have always know him to be. To help our younger son, Kyle, gain the understanding to best help his brother on the path towards recovery. And we are getting there, God willing, Drew is doing so well, so fine, and he is getting to where he needs to be .... one day at a time.

We are getting ready to move Drew to a "step down program" next week, and we are all so excited by this development. Drew is a little nervous, because he will have more freedoms, but he is ready for this now. The medicine he is taking for his brain trauma allows him to plan ahead, and think before he acts, something he wasn't able to do before. This next placement is the step before he comes home, which will still take some time. To date, he has been in treatment for nine long months (!), but in the past 4 months since he's been at Meridell Achievement Center, he's grown by leaps and bounds. We are beyond thankful.

So, as we move towards the day of Thanksgiving, I cannot be more thankful that we have our son back, and he is more beautiful than ever before. His brain is functioning so that he is whole now. We are beyond grateful as a family that we are "whole in spirit" once again. It feels beyond fantastic.

I wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving, and hopeful that you too may take time to reflect on what is important and good in life. To be willing to hope and dream, plan and enjoy the fruits of your dreams.... God is willing if you are.

x, Val

PS. Still heavily involved in my busy SHOW SEASON with two shows this weekend... Local Color on Saturday, and Talmadge on Sunday... Please see the links on the left sidebar for more information, and directions to both these events. I hope to see you there!!!!

PPS. New works are being created like mad, and I promise to post photos very soon