Finally! Scene 7 Style Awards Video Posted!

Okay, you asked, and I finally managed to figure out how to post it. I had to upload the Style Awards Fashion Show, scene 7 video to YouTube, and after two failed attempts, it worked perfectly! Greg was doing the filming so I could watch the scene, and run back stage to meet the kids after their part finished. My four outfits are the first four you see in the scene. You can see photos of the outfits here. The other outfits are by sisters Kit and Heather Haas, of Five Loaves Two Fish.

The singer is a 13 year old boy. Oops, young man. Isn't his voice amazing? Unfortunately, Greg got a bit bored with the song, so you can see how he assuaged his boredom. Sorry. Just had to get to the part where I stepped out on stage on my two tall towers! Too fun!

If you want to see the video of me walking the catwalk, click here. That was scene 11, where all the featured designers came out to walk the catwalk and hear applause for all their HARD WORK. Yep, there's plenty of hard work in putting together a line. Now, I have full experience in this department, and I know just what goes into it. Heck, Project Runway, here I come! (jk)

Scene 7 of the Style Awards Fashion Show-The Kids!

It's pretty boring to see nothing but a black screen at the start of that last post, so I'll put the Scene 7 video of the kids on the runway at the end of this post...

Well, to say the least, Friday night at the Style Awards Fashion Show 2010 was definitely one of the best nights of my life! I really thought I was going to start crying when the kids came out on the catwalk! My clothes were "on" first, followed by Heather Haas and her sister Kit's line from Five Loaves Two Fish. I enjoyed every single moment of the entire event, from the fancy sophisticates and their "arrivals", the models being coiffed and groomed according to the designers fancy (my models too!), to being photographed by several magazines, to showing off the beautiful showroom setup to my husband, mom and friends who came... up until about 11:30 when I was desperate to remove those dang high heels!! But, my friend Judy warned me NOT to change into flats, she said my only recourse was to walk out barefoot. Believe me, it took all of my will to not do just that! I'm finally feeling a bit more normal today, and the feeling is beginning to return in the middle toe in my left foot. Yikes, those shoes were killers!

Here's my favorite picture of the night; the four kids who modeled my creations backstage

just before "Scene 7", the section of the show called Stand Up For Kids. Sabrina B. is on the left, then Sundra, then Sabrina D, and her brother Michael. Don't they look incredible?!

I really worked hard to

bring my entire line together with colors, patterns and texture. The fabric I found for the skirt and pants (Michael's and Sabrina's outfits) is a wonderful Japanese linen fabric, with a lovely weight and drape. Judy ofJudipatudi Fabrics is looking into carrying that lovely line in her fabric shop at The Grove.

The other tricky factor was in finding

wool and cashmere sweaters in the color groups I wanted. Let me tell you, this was no easy feat! There are about a million different turquoises, greens and peaches, and there's no guarantee the ones I find at my local thrift store, or the one's my sweater shoppers find at their local thrift stores, will match each other. So, consequentially, I have lots and lots of orange and teal sweaters right now! The ones I used for the show have been hacked up into the smallest tiny bits, and are all used up!

Well, all in all it was a hugely rewarding experience, and one I won't forget anytime soon. As far as the top I

created for myself, I was very proud to wear it, but feel it needs a few modifications. I'm going to make another one based on my experience with the first one. Who knows, I might actually create a pattern, and maybe I'll blog about it too. It's a great example of how things come together in my mind on the pattern making and creation process using recycled wool. I have a big event in Rancho Santa Fe in two weeks, so that gives me the perfect amount of time to perfect this lovely pattern. Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement in my standing up in my two tall towers!

Last, but not least... that video... Well, I've been working on this post on and off for the last two hours, and that video has been loading this whole time! I'm going to give it a bit longer to see if it will finish up. Sheesh. The video isn't THAT long. If I can't get it to load, I'll have to reduce the size and try to reload, or load it to YouTube, and link it here... Ok, I'm tired of waiting... **UPDATE** Video is now loaded. Click here to view.

Please God, Don't Let Me Fall Off These 5" Heels!

Dear God, I really need your help tonight when I dress up for my very big fashion show. I bought these special shoes for my big night so I can look very sophisticated and fancy. There is just one small problem. I never, ever wear high heels. I am the queen of flats, and am quite happy about that. But, tonight being what it is, I thought I'd go out of a limb with something extra special.

God, I've been really good about prepping myself for walking around in these shoes. For the past two days, I've been wearing them with some thick socks around the house. I'm getting pretty good in these two tall towers! I have been trying to do all my normal activities while wearing these shoes. Since my normal activities lately involve sewing, sewing and more sewing, I have even tried doing that too.

It's been challenging trying to push the pedal while sewing, so generally that one shoe has to come off. But I put it right back on, because there's no walking around with one shoe off and one shoe on in these babies!

God, I was doing fine with all this shoe prep until I got the call from Gretchen at 9 pm last night. The organizers of the show thought it would be special to have the designers come up on stage to be honored after their line is shown. God, she said I will be walking up stairs and onto the catwalk stage in front of everybody and their mother (well, practically). God, I wasn't trying to be rude when I was silent for a full minute. I was just picturing me doing a full body flip in front of the crowd in these now-oh-too-fancy-shoes.

So God, I really need your help here. Please, please, please do NOT let me crash and burn in my big moment. Please let me navigate the stairs successfully. God, let me look graceful, and not like an Amazon since I'll be about 6'1" tall in those shoes. God, please let it all be good, and go well. Thank you, God, for I know so well that if I ask, I will receive, and for that, I am eternally grateful!!

Breakneck Speed

Yes, that's about what my neck is doing right about now... breaking. But, please don't tell my head about it, I just don't want to give myself any unwanted ideas, or a reason for a problem! Lord only knows, I do not need a repeat of what happened 4 days before Artisans' Alley; door slammed by a car when riding my bike. I am being extra careful, giving myself a wide berth around any cars, and attempting to stop and stretch my neck and shoulders throughout the day. I think it's working, and I'm keeping myself on track body-wise, at least so far.

So, with 4 days to go until the Style Awards Fashion Show, I have managed to complete the four main outfits, tops, bottoms, socks, and only still have to worry about accessories. I have one more boys vest to make, and my special top. But, I have found some glorious super high heeled shoes (I NEVER wear these, but this is a special occasion, right?!). I have to loose a tiny bit of weight to fit into my skinniest green pants, and Marcia finished my Under the Mast necklace for me so I can wear it on Friday night, hooray!!! I am getting SOOO excited! Yep, bleary eyed and near exhaustion, but so excited. :o) Stay tuned, photos of my creations are coming very soon!

Well, just in time for a little break, my long awaited copy of Poetry in Stitches arrived today in the mail. I preordered this lovely book about 6 or 7 months ago, and it finally came. This is truly the type of knitting and designing I'm meant to do. I must have been Scandinavian in my last life, because I cannot resist this lovely way of working wool. This book is sure to be an inspiration to me for months and years to come. I can't wait until I have a bit of free time, and less on my knitting needles awaiting my attention, so I can begin one of these lovelies.

The designer's inspirations are glorious, and I love how they are photographed and paired with the most beautiful and creative of sweater creations. One is more lovely than the next.

Busy, continued

Nine days and counting, yes, 9. Out of the ten sewn garments I need to have finished by the Style Awards Fashion Show... yes, 10... I am currently on number 6 right now, it's about 40% completed. #7 is nearly designed, and should go together fairly easily. Numbers 8 and 9 are the outfit for the 10 year old girl, still pretty much undesigned... just a bunch of sketches at this stage. Then, there's #10 - the piece de resistance (pee-ace day ree-sis-taunce, say it slowly). It's what I am going to wear :o) I am most excited about this one, but am most unsure about it's construction at this stage of the production. Things always manage to come together somehow. It's still just a sketch in my head, sweaters on the floor, and miscellaneous silk scarves floating about in a confusion of colors. I can't wait to get this one finished and post it so you can see it!!!

Okay, I'm keeping the kids outfits secret until the show, when I will show them off all at once, so you can see the entire line. Yes, I said "line"! I'm so excited I'm making a whole line of clothing for the show, I can't stand it!!

So, I should be sewing, but I'm taking a little blog break, in order to show you a little of the other things that have been going on in the studio. Here goes...

Meet Michelle!!! She's my awesome new helper. Michelle worked for/with me at Artrageous, but had to be let go when the Del Mar store closed due to the economy. We thought she was leaving town, but come to find out she's still here, and looking for a job. So, I told her I'd keep her employed at my home office for as long as I can afford to/she wants to work/learn what I do, etc! Here Michelle was working hard trying to duplicate the essence of Toast, and I think she got it just right, don't you?! Welcome, Michelle!

Meet my new Needle Felting machine, the

infamous BabyLock Embellisher! Woo hoo! I am sooo excited about this addition to my studio, and how it brings a measure of relief to my poor, aching shoulders.

Next, something in the jewelry department, my newest needle felted earring design. I've stumbled upon a new bead design that I really like. I call these "From the Outer Galaxy". Don't they look like something that would be worn by an extra pretty automaton woman?! I'm thinking on the order of Outer Limits. Okay, maybe not that severe. How about on the lines of what Judy Jetson would wear? That's more like it!! Humm, I think you can see these details more in real life than in the picture. I'm talking about the pink earrings, in any case...

Now, this next photo on the right is one of my sculpted felt necklaces that can also be worn as a brooch. I'm a little bit on the fence about the pink flower color, 'cause I think the pink is too strong... or maybe takes too much attention from the lovely green leaves... I don't know what it is. But, it's an "in progress" piece, and will probably be changed up to suit itself just right later on today. I am hoping to have one or two of these lovely creations completed by this weekend, and the art opening at Art n' Soul. Don't forget, it's this Saturday night in Encinitas!

Last but not least, here's how things were coming together on my cutting station of the table. I glanced up and saw that the Pirate toast pillow had gotten wedged under sweater fabric I was about to cut. With the turtleneck, and the sleeves pointing up, as if to say "Oh My!" I nearly stopped and declared the piece to be a dress, for a pirate girl no less! But, no time for wayward designs right now. Best get back to the cutting table, and turn that "dress" into the vest it's intended to become.

Stay tuned for more excitement and busyness, continued yet again! Thanks for checking in, and for sharing my excitement about Val's Art Studio in the Style Awards Show!!

New News

And it's all so exciting!

First of all, I have been invited to be a fashion participant in the Style Awards, Night of Stars 2010 Fashion Show. Okay, the word "participant" means that I have been invited to provide four children's outfits for THE FASHION SHOW. Yes, I will have four of my children's outfits walking on young sweet models down the runway!

You may not know what this means to me, but just let me tell you! It has been my life long dream (whoop!). Remember how I told you I would work all day at my job, and then stay up all night sewing at my little old Singer sewing machine during my non-boyfriend days in my 20's? What was going through my head in the wee hours of those mornings? Yep, you guessed it! "One day my fashions will be featured on the runway", and "My name up in lights; 'Val, Fashionista Extraordinaire!' ", and "Just this side of Vogue; Val!" Hey..., a girl can dream, right?! So, yeah. This girl's dream is coming true. I am so thrilled, I can hardlystoptalkingandthinkingaboutit, and, Ican'tsleepatnight, andI'msooooexcitedddddd!

Okay, shush! Onto other exciting news now.

I'm joining the goodness at Art n Soul on 101, up in Encinitas, CA! Yea! I have been wanting to become affiliated with a gallery up in North County in San Diego. Cindy Blumkin saw my booth at Artisan's Alley, the holiday craft fair in Coronado, and she has been wooing me to her shop in Encinitas ever since we met! She really won't take no for an answer, and she's very engaging, and her shop is all about doing for very good causes... so I couldn't say no!

This means that each and every purchase from Val's Art Studio at Art n Soul on 101 will include a donation which benefits a local charity. Also, this gallery speaks the language of supporting refashioning and using recycled materials, which, of course, I am ALL ABOUT! Though this gallery is a little offbeat (their words, not mine), it's offbeat in a good way, with good hearts, support, giving, and sincerity, and those things are right in line with what I believe in. So, Cindy, I'm coming on Tuesday, with my first shipment of handmade goodness, and I know we will be successful together. It's all about Art 'n Soul, isn't it?

PS. Thanks to JudiPatudi for helping me get involved with the Style Awards Show. I am forever grateful to you, Judy, for your friendship, and confidence in my fashion abilities. I will be ready to Wow! ;o)