Nurturing Our Artistic Passion

Did you read "Eat, Pray, Love"? If you haven't, well, you should! It's an amazing book. This Ted talk by Eat, Pray, Love's author, Elizabeth Gilbert has made the blog rounds, but I thought I'd share it here just in case You haven't heard it or want to listen to it again.

What's your creative process like? Do you have an inner genius? Do you have a creative fairie who follows you about? How about a thunderous poem?! I love that part about the poet, Ruth Stone, and about how she caught her poem by the tail, and when she wrote it down, it was backwards. What a visual! But mostly, I was moved by the story about Tom Waits and how he took the bull by the horns and released his crazy creative genie.

Well, I'm not going to be daunted, or afraid over here. I showed up for my part of the job today. I put in my time, and I'm meeting my deadlines, and even though I may not be God-like today, I might be tomorrow. So, ole!

PS. Only two more days left in the Girly Giveaway, so send me your comments. If you win, the giveaway is going to be as girly as you tell me you are!

Girly Giveaway!

How Girly Are You?

(If you're a guy reading this, well, I'm sorry. But guys can be a little girly too!)

If you read my last post called 'A Few of What's New', you might've read all the way to the end of the post where I talked about the Girly quiz I took on Facebook. On the spur of the moment, I decided to offer a Giveaway for everyone who adds a comment to my post! It's my first ever Giveaway, and I'm all excited! All you have to do is to tell me how Girly are YOU! You don't have to take the quiz on Facebook, but if you do, please list your score. Sheesh, don't even worry about those dang quiz scores on FB, they are hardly ever right. Heck, I don't even know if I'm really 100% Girly, but sometimes I'm about 1000% Girly, especially when it comes to my sewing and crafting. The truth of the matter is that I always thought I'd be a mom of girls, but when God gave me boys, well, something had to happen with all that unlimited Girly-ness inside of me!

So, give me a holler, a jingle, or post a comment, heck! send me an email... so you can be added to the giveaway. I'm going to make the cutest, girlyest, needle felted something cutiepie. When I choose a name on Friday, August 7th, well, it might be you!! So, tell me; Just how much of a Girly Girl are YOU??!

A Few of What's New

I have had a few very creative weeks as of late, and would love to share some of the "What's New" with you! Take a peek, and then take a moment and let me know what you think :o)

New for the Fall will be Women's Vests made from a combination of recycled felted wool, cotton designer fabrics and recycled fabrics. Here's the first one, titled "Peaceful". Each will be unique, one of a kind, only available in a One-Size-Fits-Most format. I am very excited about this development, and only hope I can manage to crank out several in time before the Holiday shopping season gets underway.

Most beloved and beholden (for me right now :o), a Book Cover Creation for an upcoming Needle Felting class at Paper Tales. Though it's been many years since I was an avid scrap booking person, I still have fondness in my heart for this creative endeavor. When Michelle and Diane asked me to come up with a book cover for the chipboard books they sell, it was an easy task to accomplish, and I loved creating this felted cover. The Needlefelted Book Class will be offered Sat, Sept. 19th from 2-4:30 pm. The cost is $58.00 with all materials included, except for the needlefelting mat and needles/needlefelting pen. (You can purchase these supplies on the day of the class at a discount) Sign up early since the class will be limited to 10 people! Call over to Paper Tales to enroll; 619-222-2510.

Oh, Nellie, will you take a look at this! This is a sweet creation is made from one of my very favorite old tablecloths. I took it out to use it last week, and low and behold, the patched hole in the very middle of the tablecloth had come apart, and was now a gaping Black Hole, ner' to visit the patching wand again... Just not able to bear putting it into the give away bag, I decided the tablecloth needed repurposing as something very sweet and girly. Add a singing needle felted bird, and voila! The most adorable girlie-ish dress (made from a top and a skirt) possible! Now on sale over at Austin's Gallery, but certain to not remain there for long!

On a side note, I took a quiz on Facebook called "How Girie are you?" My result said I'm 100% girlie. Now that didn't surprise me one bit! How about you? If you are on Facebook, take the quiz, and let me know your result. If you're not on Facebook, just let me know what YOU think your Girlie level is. I'll plan a drawing for everyone who comments, and the winner will receive one very girlie needle felted item from my shop. The drawing will take place Friday, August 7th. Good luck, Girlie girls!

This One's For The Ladies

Finally, ladies, here they are! The photos from our fun Felted Birdie Pin class. We had a busy and fun class last (last) weekend at Paper Tales, and everyone's birdies came out beautifully!!

Holly and Nancy are a mom and daughter pair, one of two mom and daughter teams who took the class. I just love the mom and daughters, for the way they work together, and help each other out. Poor Nancy had only just found out she'd broken a bone in her hand two weeks ago. Holly and I were there to step in for Nancy when the needle felting became too much. Ouch, poor Nancy. I sure hope you're feeling better by now...

Sandra is a very accomplished crafter and doer and lover of all things handmade. She has had this fabulous shop called Under The Sun, and we keep running into each other for many Paper Tales events. It was a real treat to have Sandra take my class :o)

Mom and daughter team #2, Wendy and Diane arrived from the hot Arizona desert to cool off at the coast, and take in a felting class. How I wish I'd written down the name of their scrapbooking store in Phoenix. It sounds like such a fun place, with a great product mix.

Irene was a fast worker, and kept the group's pace up so we didn't fall too far behind with all the talking!

Lisa and I were the slowpokes of the group. Lisa was the careful worker, while I did all the talking. Well, okay, so I taught the class... But, I love that Lisa! She has attended every class I've taught. Pretty soon I'll be able to hire Lisa as a helper since she'll know all the tricks up my sleeve! You go, Lisa!!!

There were a few ladies who I missed taking pictures of (I'm sorry!), but you are here with us in spirit. How I wished I'd taken a group photo of all the Birdies. They were so dang cute!!!

Thank you Kiddlins!

Well, here's a spot to visit if you are into cutie pie kiddie clothes and more; kiddlins. I didn't know about kiddlins, but Shirlene contacted me to let me know she featured one of my birdie pins on her cute site. Good golly, you can find everything from the shoes to the clothes to the accessories to the furniture for your special wee ones on this site. Give kiddlins a visit and see if there's anything there you can't resist! (All I can say is that I'm glad my kids are teens now, so I can't be TEMPTED!)

I've Been Missing You...

... But it's not because I haven't been thinking about you! I've been putting a proposal together for the new Rady Children's Hospital, and my mind has been in the clouds of to-do's and what-if's. When my mind is in that location, well, there's just not much room for much else. But my proposal is wrapped up, CD'd, mostly all printed, and ready to be tied with a bow, ready for delivery tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me :o)

And next on the agenda; the Birdy Pin class pictures! So stay tuned...

Thinking About Weddings...

Well, it's been nearly 18 years since I married my sweetheart honey Greg, but I couldn't help but think about all the wonderful times we had planning our big day when I visited this fabulous wedding site, Once Wed. I love the premise of "Designer Weddings for Less", I love the recycled wedding dresses for sale, I love the homemade style invitations from Bird and Banner. I love the just picked bouquets from the sweet garden flower arrangements.

But what sent me over the edge was the DIY section, and particularly the Rustic Wedding Cake Stand. Okay, now THAT about makes me want to get married all over again! Either that, or have a Wedding Cake Party where everyone wears white and dresses up in flowy garden dresses... walking around and sipping champagne, eating slices of this yummy cake... sigh... Just how DO I get manage to get myself into these sidetracked situations?!

Okay, back to the real world...

I want to thank everyone who signed up to take the Felted Birdy Pin class tomorrow at Paper Tales. The class is full, with two people even coming over from AZ(!) to take the class. Wow, now that's needle felting dedication! I have received several requests for a class in Coronado, and will put my thinking cap on about where and when to schedule this. We could really have the class right here in my own back yard. I'll keep you posted about this. Be sure to let me know if you're interested (if you haven't already), so I can add your name to the list.

Just a side note about Once Wed... they are located in PA. Seems like all the cool stuff is happening out in PA... What's up with that?!

Needle Felted Bird Pin Class This Saturday!

Hello all, and Happy Summer to you!

It's a joyful day for me when it starts out with the birdies singing from the treetops. Well, that is, if they don't get going too early in the morning! I really cannot take the mockingbirds with their all night songs, but we're not going there now...

So, here's how you can put a singing bird in your heart, or at least close to it, with a sweet needle felted bird pin. I am teaching this class on Saturday, July 11 from 2-4 pm at Paper Tales in Point Loma. The cost for the class is $33, and includes everything for making up this pin

except for the foam needle felting mat and needle felting needles. Please bring your own, or you can purchase them from Paper Tales for a 10% discount on the day of the class. Also, I recommend a 3-5 pronged needle felting needle holder for flat felting. You can also purchase these from Paper Tales if you don't own one.

Here's the beauty of flat needle felting: You can make pins, or felt onto sweaters, or anything wool, OR, you can use flat felted sweeties to adorn about anything your heart desires! Think scrapbooking, flower vases, multi media canvas art... why, the sky's the limit!

So, call over to Paper Tales at 619-222-2510, and reserve your space today! Happy felting!

PS. If you are a Coronado resident, and are interested in a needle felting class held in Coronado, please email me, call me (I'm in the phone book), or leave a comment here. If I have enough interest, I will schedule a class here in town. Thanks!!

Take a Sweet Peek

Sweet, Sassy, Sleepy...

=^_^= Hi there!

Perhaps you are a new visitor 'round these parts, and are a little curious about what goes on over here in Val's Art Studio. No sleepin' on the job! I am busy, busy, busy with the sewing, the creating, needle felting, thinking, drawing, painting, cutting, ironing, and the dreaming (most important step!).

Sassy critters, sweet singing birdies, crazy monkies, sleepy kitties... yep! You can find all that and more 'round here. What's most exciting is that they are all finding a home on recycled

and refashioned wool sweaters. The rounding

up of the old throw-away sweaters (coming mostly from donations and my special sweater shoppers- Thank you!!) is a very exciting part of the process. Open up a box postmarked "Colorado", and low and behold, warm and cozy woolens! Open a box from Aptos, Ca, and I might discover the finest of Japanese sweater cast-aways. Ohhh, what to make? What to do??

Toss them into the washer, and a spin in the dryer. Here they come, transformed like magic into a whole new being; felted! Off to sit and be pondered, then under the sewing scissors,

where the old sweaters become a new sweater, or maybe a purse, or a cuff, or a pillow...No one knows for sure, certainly not me! But soon they are transformed, and then they are whisked along to be placed under the needle- ...The needle felting needle, that is! Roving, fluff, yarn, embroidery floss. It may cause a stir and a sneeze or two, but what emerges is definitely a pleasure and a cause for a smile.

When you are in San Diego, take a visit to the lovely beach resort town of Coronado (just over the bridge), and stop in and take a look at my needle felted art creations at Austin's Gallery. Let me know if you need directions, or a suggestion for lunch or a spot to sip a glass of wine. You can generally find me at Austin's on Friday mornings between 11 and 2. I look forward to meeting you one day soon :o)

*Please visit this post for a more recent update. Thank you for your interest in what I do!

xx
Val

A Beautiful Blog to Visit

I just love this pendant, don't you?!

You can have a chance at winning it (me too!!) by visiting Cindy Wimmer's beautiful new blog, Sweet Bead Studio. To celebrate the revamping of her blog, she's offering THREE giveaways; two pieces of her beautiful jewelry, or a special jewelry tool. Check it out and leave a comment to be entered in her giveaway. You'll be glad you did!

Wow, I could spend an entire day just looking a people's beautiful blogs and reading up on what they are all about. I love looking at the artful photos, and seeing how they are marketing themselves out there in our big huge wide world. I never cease to be impressed by you all out there. You inspire me to do better each and every day.

Publication Update + New Horizons to Explore

Yes, the Sisterhood of the Traveling purses will have their 15 minutes of fame. They have been selected to grace pages in the Fall '09 issue of Haute Handbags, a Somerset Publication, on newsstands October 1, 2009. I am very excited about this development, and thrilled with this media vehicle for getting the word out about my handmade, recycled, repurposed and "green" art and crafts.

When the Editor originally told me my Mr. Cabernet Birdie Purse had been selected for publication, she mentioned the other purses would be placed in Altered Couture, another magazine they publish. Well, I quickly sent her pictures of my sweaters, and low and behold, the Traveling Children's Sweaters (Sisterhood and Brotherhood for both girls and boys sweaters!) will have their moment of glory as well. That publication will hit newsstands on November 1st. Just as well, because all the purses ended up going into Haute Handbags.

It's funny how things work out. I remember checking

out Altered Couture the last time we were at the Tattered Cover in Denver. I remember thinking how great it would be to have your artistic clothing featured in such a nice magazine. Well, the moral here is; be careful what you wish for, because it just might be the next thing down the pike for you!

Last, but certainly not least... I will be a part of a new gallery opening up on the corner of 3rd and Herr in Historic District of Midtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The HodgePodgery will be focusing on recycled, repurposed functional arts and crafts. I am thrilled to be involved with such a smart gathering of like minded individuals

dedicated to working with the existing resources we have in the here and now. PLUS, the fact that the gallery is located in a climate that supports the use of wool, NEEDS to wear wool... well that's just great by me!

So, if you are anywhere near Harrisburg, PA, and you are a supporter of things green and repurposed, stop into the HodgePodgery, and tell them that Val sent you! Then, be sure to give ME a report, because... well, I'm just so dang far away! How am I ever going to get to go in and see for myself what The HodgePodgery is all about?! I know it's going to be grand, and that Dawn and her daughter are going to do a marvelous job there. And, one day, I will go to see for myself what they are all about...

Kids Craft Along At Val's Art Studio

Jarret's "OctoSteve" A Big Success

It's summer vacation and that means lots of boys at my house on certain days. Sometimes the boys want to know just WHAT am I doing with the sewing machine, all the scraps of fabric, bits and fluff of roving and yarn about. The high intensity Ott Lights everywhere... what's it all about??? (It's about me being able to SEE what I'm doing with these old eyes!!) Well, Jarret, who's a friend of my 11 year old, Kyle, is quite handy and crafty himself, and was excited to get into the action. Hmmm.... how can I satisfy his curiosity, while still working and keeping my sanity, I wondered to myself.

Remembering a post a while back from Little Birdie Secrets, reminded me that there's a great child's project that can be suitable for nearly any age of child. Why, even adults can get into this. It involves making a drawing of a monster or a creep, or a fairy, whatever! And then cutting it up from felt, and sewing it into a stuffy toy. Well, Jarret drew up his OctoSteve in about 4 minutes. Coloring took another 8. (11 year olds get things done in no time flat!) With my sewing know how, we cut out the felt shapes and I sewed while Jarret stuffed. We finished OctoSteve in about 40 minutes! Jarret learned to sew on buttons, watched me work the sewing machine, and left with the know-how of making a stuffed creature from start to finish. THAT was about the best hour I've spent in a long long time!! Try one with your bored summer vacationer. Believe me, you'll both have a great crafty time!

Muchas Gracias, Mis Amores!

Thank you, Mari! And Happy Birthday to you!!!

Sweet Mari is having a birthday, and is offering a treat from Val's Art Studio as a gift to people who respond on her blog! Go check it out, and give her a response, and maybe you will be the winner of a colorful pincushion giveaway. Be sure to wish her Feliz Cumpleaños while you are there :o)

I met Mari in "blog land" via Marcia DeCoster's blog page. Mari and I have stayed in touch by way of our love for beading and all things handmade. Blog relationships are so special, and I'm thrilled to cultivate a relationship with you, whether you live next door, or half way around the world. Thank you, Mari, for your warm gift of friendship. And thank you too! For your readership, comments, and heartfelt wishes of goodwill... xo...

Welcome, Alvy!

Look who's come to live at my house! I am so very excited to meet Alvy. He is the most amazing needle felted creation by Jenn Docherty. Jenn is the guru of needle felted friends, and, for me, has been a leader in establishing the worldwide love for needle felted cutie-pies. Her techniques can be found in her book, Sweet Needle Felts.

Well, when Jenn posted that she was listing a few new friends in her ebay shop, I really didn't think one would come to live with me. It was just serendipity that I happened to remember checking out her listings when I thought the auction would be ending. Well, I checked in moments before the end of the auctions, and on a whim, decided to place a last minute bid. Whoa! and behold, the auction ended, and I was the winner of my favorite character, Alvy!!! And then, he arrived at my house this morning, in all his needle felted glory. We are happy, happy, happy that Alvy has a place of honor amongst all the wool and fluff in Val's Art Studio. We are making him feel right at home!

Fabric Excitement in The Studio

Sweet cheeks, good golly, oh my,

New fabrics have arrived to try.

A fun frolic here

A color splash there...

They make me so happy, I'll cry!

Okay, so yes, I'm excited about my shipments from Heather Bailey and Scarlet Fig. Some people are thrilled by cupcakes, others by puppies. With me, it's fabric. I've been known to develop quite a secret fabric stash. I like it because fabrics fold flat, and are easy to hide away under a bed or couch. A tidy Virgo like me can actually pretend they don't have a secret fetish about fabric, when it actually is lurking within many nooks and crannies around my house. (Shhh, don't tell Greg!) Then, when you use them, you really get to enjoy them in all their lovely colorful glory.

What's to become of these fun prints, you might wonder. Well, stay tuned, and you will soon see. Do you have a secret stash? Well, do tell! Part of the therapy is just in the talking about it... Have a color-printed day!

My Happy Camper

Okay, the nightmares I had last night about Kyle at camp and under the water have thankfully been resolved by today's pictures from Camp Surf. All is well, and surfing was one of the orders of the day for Kyle and his fellow campers.

This resident YMCA camp is every kids summer dream come true. Check out Camp Surf, and you will see why. Visit Camp Surf, and you will wonder if you can come and stay for a week! The sleeping huts are straight from my childhood dreams, and look like they belong on a white sandy beach in the heart of Mexico. The activities are so full and varied, a kid never has time for homesickness. Time with friends and learning new skills; priceless. Camp food; tastes yummy to a hungry camper. Even a campwide theme dance come Thursday night... something every 11 year old should experience... dancing with the high school girls; exhilarating! Have fun, fun, FUN at camp Kyle. I'll get my lovie boy back at the end of the week!

Reality Check

I woke up this morning with my head spinning from little sleep due to crazy dreams and nightmares about my youngest son (who's spending a week at Surf Camp), nighttime sleep interruptions, even a rain storm (unheard of in So Cal in June). I felt disconnected and disoriented. Greg's mumbling of 'we're out of coffee' didn't help matters much. These types of mornings just start me out in a doubtful sort of way, a do nothing, go back to bed sort of way. Must... pull... myself... together. Stumble to the computer, and I found this in my inbox:

“The most significant thing a woman can do to boost her self-worth is be conscious of her thoughts. Her thoughts inform everything around her. If she believes in herself, the world will too. Our most important job on this planet is to proactively clean up our thoughts.”

~Gabrielle Bernstein, founder of HerFuture

Ah, yes. Hello wake up call. I truly believe these words, and must remember to keep them in the forefront of my being each and every day.

Who is sending me these timely gems? Thank you, Daily Worth. You seem to have picked me right up out of the doldrums, and set me back in the right direction.

A Memorable Garden Market

Such a special place for a very special day. 

Thanks to you all who ventured out to Jane Pollock's incredible Coronado Beach House to visit Marche dans la Jarden last Sunday. It was a venue that I was very excited about, and I was thrilled to be amongst the company of so many beautiful and talented women. The energy that day was pretty amazing. I could feel it all around me in the hearts and souls 

of so many amazing people. All the women Jane has brought 

into her fold to help work the magic for her cause... they are some very special people. I met so many new faces, and wish I was more organized to mention all of you here. Sadly, it's not so. But I'd like to take a moment to give kudus to some who touched my heart...

Allyson Raskin tickled me and told me of her story about being a Survivor. I fell in love with Allyson, and felt we needed many more hours together to get to know each other. Sweetness abounds in her life.

The ladies from Domestic Bliss were a little chilly, having arrived from Mesa, Az, but they sure knew how to set up one charming booth. I loved their style, and had to partake with a cutie top made from old pillow slips. 

Linda from La Maison Rustique had the prettiest display with her vintage furnishings. I think I wanted everything in her "shop" and was dismayed to learn that several choice pieces had already sold before the event really got underway. Vignettes Home Couture, The Vintage Rabbit, Tamerie of A Little of This, That and The Other, (my booth mate- we rocked, Tamerie!), and many other amazing shops... everything was very eclectic and special. I must also mention Dana from Tutu Monkey- don't you just LOVE her shop name?! Makes me want to ditch my totally uncreative shop name and go with something like... 

sheesh! I can't ever come up with anything that goes with Val! 

Lastly, another very special woman and her sister that inspired me so much, makes my head spin. Julie Haymaker Thompson, and her sweet sister Lorrie. Julie did the most amazing pieces of constructivism artwork, kind of 3-D whimsical collages. My golly, those art pieces were something. I coveted, coveted, coveted each and every one of them!

I wish I could name everyone... I can't forget about YOU, who made time in your busy lives to come, see and experience. Thank YOU for helping to make this event happen, and happen in a most *very special* way. :o)

Thanks to Jean!

Queen Jean was the one who asked me to try to mesh the needle felting with a painting. This is my first venture, and I think I like it. I have been experimenting with some collage paintings lately, and along with my preoccupation with needle felted birds, I had to figure a way to blend them both. I have added a ribbon trim to the border, which I think helps set the fiber addition onto the painting. 

This painting is called "Loves With Her Whole Heart," and is rather sweet. I have recently been influenced by Kelly Rae Roberts and her collage techniques. Trying to NOT copy her style, and work these wonderful techniques into my own work... it's a process, and one I'm enjoying very much.  Now, all I really need is more time with Jean... she's a great influencing force for me when it comes to painting...

Getting Ready For Sunday's Market!

I'm getting ready for this Sunday's Market In The Garden over here in Val's Art Studio. There are going to be charming Birdie In  My Garden Pillows, made from handmade wool and recycled sweater felt. I have also made a beautiful collection of 

Felt and Lampwork Glass Earrings featuring birds and beach shells. I am debuting some new Collaged Paintings which will be available as originals or prints. If it is a cool day (as they sometimes are on a June day in Coronado), my Children's Recycled Sweaters will certainly be out for a visit and a chat.  

You are invited to come and join us. Bring a friend along, and socialize, snack, shop and support a special cause, Art Takes A Village. This catered event is sure to be extra special. I look forward to seeing you there. Let me 

know if you need more information, or need 

directions to this beautiful Coronado Beach house.

Let me remind you, I've already confessed, so there's no feeling guilty on my part ever again about always being about the birdies and the garden specimens. I did try to switch it up a bit by going with poppies instead of roses, so, see?! I modify!