Pattern Perfected

**Update: Here is the link to be able to purchase this pattern: click here. I couldn't figure out how to rework the link on my Ravelry page, so I'm sorry but you will just have to keep clicking links. I promise, you are almost there!

The pattern for Cathy's Chemo Cap has been reworked and I am excited that it is now good to go! I like this version much better than the first one. This cap is so lovely that I will be making one for me to wear when I'm having a bad hair day. It's comfortable, cool, easily adjustable with the cotton tie band, fashionable, and well, I think it's quite pretty too!

The other thing that I was considering is if you do not knit. The band could be modified, and made from any stretchy fabric. You could buy two stretchy headbands, and sew them together, or you could buy a knit fabric from the fabric store, and make it using that.

In any case, this pattern is now available for purchase in my etsy shop for a very affordable price of $8.00, and will come as an immediate download once you purchase the pattern. The link is here: pattern  The pattern is for sale, but if anyone wants the pattern for free because they can't afford buying the pattern to make for themselves, then I will give it to them (or you) for free. ***PLEASE NOTE: The free pattern offer is available ONLY for a single use option, for the person suffering from hair loss. Requests for multiple use/making the pattern for groups, etc. does not qualify for a free pattern request. Please leave me a message here, or email me at valsart@me.com. Though I'd like to be paid for my efforts to design this pattern, it's important to me to help people in need. To especially help anyone who is faced with all that goes along with cancer treatments, and the angst of loosing one's hair. I am here to help in whatever manner I can. Thanks to you, too, for caring…

Please note: this pattern is intended for one time use, meaning I ask you make it for yourself and/or a friend, but you do not make it to sell or intend to distribute. The pattern is copyrighted, and all rights remain with Val's Art Studio. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

Time For A Cup of Cute

Pretty soon the weather will be cool enough for a cup of tea, so for now, a cup of cute will have to do.About the cutest thing I've seen. Studio Violet made these sweet porcelain pieces, but it appears that they have already all sold out. Seems that lots of people are smitten by "cutes". That's good :o)This Tea and Owl print by MarmeeCraft can be purchased in her etsy shop. What lovely and imaginative illustrations. I fell in love with her beautiful felted owls as well. Click on the link and take a lOOk. Woot!

I couldn't resist adding a sweet birdy in his cozy cup of a nest... Enjoy your day!

Stylin'

Just how do they become so stylish minded the minute they turn 13? First, they are just a big kid, and then, a few days/hours/moments later, it's all about the "look". Things their mother wouldn't dare them to wear have all the sudden become the cat's meow!

I suppose this can be said about boys as much as for girls. I thought I got off scott free being the mom of two boys. It was always "time to get dressed, and here's what to wear", as they dutifully stepped into the suggested outfit. My friends who have daughters complained about scuffles over the clothing issue, and mountains

of cash spent at stores like Abercrombie. Well, I spoke too soon. Now, all the sudden, with the teenage years upon us, my oldest son has stepping into the realm of "Fashionista". Or, would that be "Fashionistor"?!

Here is Drew modeling his summer stylin' beach day look. I really couldn't believe he was going out like this, but he was proud of it... so, okay. At least I got him to pose for a picture! This past week, the temp has been in the high 90s and 100s, (so hot for our San Diego beachside town). Drew and Kyle are back in school. The outfit of choice? Skinny cords. Yes, corduroy jeans, skinny style. Hot x 10... Ask me about back to school shopping for clothes. Abercrombie? He wouldn't be caught dead. No, it's a half hour drive to a special skate shop in Rancho Penesquitas called Willie's Workshop. I said try on everything and I'll buy you anything you promise you'll wear. Well, about $400 later, I'm sympathizing with the Abercrombie moms and wondering if I can find Willie's Workshop slightly used clothing on ebay... Okay, I'm eating my words here. I'm eating my "so glad I have boys" attitude. I guess it must be a teenage thing... Well, here we go. Strap in and enjoy the ride!

Honesty Counts

Thank you, Mari, from Mis Amores, who sent me this thoughtful gift. I love being honored with the tag "Honest", because I hold honesty and truthfulness in very high regard.

Here's how this tag works:

1. Make a link to whomever sent you the tag.

Mari has a beautiful family, filled with love. When I read Mari's blog, I feel the most jealous about not having a daughter to share my love of craft. Mari and her daughter do so much together. I can only imagine their special time spent beading, working clay, and learning new crafts. My heart is warm with love after a visit to Mari's blog. Thank you Mari!

2. Disclose ten truths about yourself, known or unknown. (I'm not sure how you can list a truth you don't know about!)

- I have a wonderful husband and two sons, aged 11 and 13

- I have a Portuguese Water Dog named Lola, who is my sweetie girl and all around best friend :o)

- I have a 22 year old cockatiel, named Birdita, who is a boy, but I gave him a girl name before I learned his sex. He's had gender confusion for 22 years!

- I am a Virgo, semi organized, but a lover of all things orderly.

- I think I drive some people crazy with my persistence. (I really don't mean to!)

- I teach craft classes, and I really love doing so.

- I am 100% girly and a lover of all things cute, especially if it involves a birdy or two.

- I worked in the art field for 20 years, and quit to start my business two years ago. I am loving every minute of it, except for waiting to hear back from the proposals I've sent out :-# urrrgh!

- My birthday is on Monday, August 31st!

- I'm a loyal, supportive and true friend, and I believe I was a healer in my last life...

3. List ten blogs you feel deserve this honor and announce it to them in an email.

Here are ten blogs I love to visit. I hope you enjoy checking them out too!

- A soulmate breathingbesideus.blogspot.com

- About my favorite store (and person:o) swellsknits.blogspot.com

- Another irresistible stop with the best people EVER around there papertales.typepad.com

- She always makes me laugh tutumonkey.blogspot.com

- Filled with creativity alittleofthisthatandtheother.blogspot.com

- I can't get enough of her beadwork maddesignsbeads.blogspot.com

- I love to visit their blog AND their local shop theatticgirls.blogspot.com

- A breath of fresh air littlebrownpen.blogspot.com

- I love both Abby's blogs abbytrysagain.typepad.com

- Filled with inspiration sweetbeadstudio.com

For An Ocean Loving Girly Girl

This one's for Flor...

When she was selected as the winner of the Girly Giveaway, I wanted to make something, well- girly, and something that reflected the winner (Flor), and what she loves. Reading her blog is a big treat. Flor is very a versatile artist with all the things she creates. And I do mean things! She is a very busy girl over there, that Flor! Well, reading all about her loves and passions showed that one thing in particular stood out. Her love for the ocean, the sand and the waves, and her glimpses of the mermaids that reside in that special place. So, a mermaid it is! This lovely mermaid needle felted wall hanging is for you, Flor. I'm packing it up and off it goes in tomorrow's mail, hoping to arrive quickly and bring a peaceful wave of the sea... to you from me.

Etsy, I'm Not On Sale!

As some of you know, I've had a Love-Hate relationship with Etsy. The things I love about etsy are the ease with which you can open an online shop, the assistant tools etsy offers to help you get started, and the encouragement and love shown to etsy sellers on a regular basis. What I don't like about etsy is that so many sellers sell their wares so DANG cheap. I think this practice only serves to cheapen etsy's reputation as a whole. I lose faith in etsy sellers on a regular basis when I see something I know takes an hour or more to make, and the seller is charging $10.00. Now that makes no sense to me.

As an artist and craftsperson, I work hard to price my items according to the time I spend making them. I quit my job working for someone else where I was paid handsomely for my time. In order to make ends meet by working from my home studio, I've had to think long and hard about what I'm worth, about what to pay ME! Believe me, when I take into consideration the materials I've bought and the time spent shopping, the label that goes onto the finished product, the business card hangtag, the marketing, let alone the actual time in making the product, AND the time it takes to take a few reasonable photos and then list the product on Etsy... How in the world could that ever be done for a $10.00 sales price, and, more importantly, how could I ever feel good about what I'm doing, that I'm even making what I'm worth???

This lesson was brought home to me this week when the etsy designer I "hired" to design my logo, business card, product tag and labels suddenly closed up shop, and hung a closed sign on her etsy shop door. No forewarning, and no concession to the fact I'm in need of a few more designs. Just a response of "Closed, and no more using your design because it's my 'art' and to do so would be copyright infringement". No reasonable response to my offer of buying the rights to my design. Okay, I know... pay peanuts, get monkeys. I guess I'm guilty of my own foolish pleasure here. I was so thrilled to get my design for such a deal... now I'm really paying for it because I lose out on something I love.

So, the moral here is to spend a little more and get the quality you deserve. If you pay bargain basement prices, expect to be treated like a bargain basement shopper. Pay for quality and get quality. Let me tell you that if you spend the money for one of my products, you will get something that's completely unique, beautifully made, with exquisite attention to detail. And, if I were to ever close up shop, I'd never shut the door in your face. My integrity is more important to me than that...

Out, Out, Damned Doubt

Trouble...

Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble

Feels like every time I get back on my feet

she come around and knock me down again

Worry...

Oh, worry, worry, worry, worry

Sometimes I swear it feels like this worry is my only friend

I woke up with this Ray LaMontagne song running through my head this morning. Other than fact that I love, love, love this song, it's words are tripping a trigger with me today.

What's to worry and fret about? Well, the truth of that matter is I'm no longer worried and troubled. I am just suffering the lingering effects of my last two worry racked days. I have been waiting to hear back about two proposals I put out within the last month. The first is the Rady Children's Hospital project, and the second is the Lark book proposal. Somehow I got it into my head that I'd hear about both of them on August 18. Finally, I looked over both RFPs on the 19th, and found out I'd hear about one through the mail beginning on the 19th, and the second, I won't hear about until the week of the 24th. So, worry and trouble be damned!!

Worry, fret and trouble go hand in hand with the Virgo personality, well, at least MY Virgo personality! It really is something that's "been doggin' my soul since the day I was born" Okay, it's out there now, another fun fact about me! Well, I know we all have days when worry and trouble get the best of us. It's just that the last two days have had me paralyzed by fear, and that's about the most counterproductive situation ever. So, get out Doubt. I've looked at you and talked to you. Now leave me be so I can get on with what needs to get done around these parts!

Side note about this post: Sorry about the weird line breaks... it's nothing I can figure out how to fix. Somehow the editing mechanism within this post is all messed up today. Must have something to do with all the worry and doubt. Well, get ready; I'm going to stamp it OUT!!

A Summertime Post

Here's a great message from Daily Worth that showed up in my inbox today. A perfect message for a lazy day. I think that's what I'm going to do today. Finish up a few beloved things, perhaps sit and knit for a bit, maybe take a trip back over to Paper Tales to visit their Junque and Trunk Show and Sale. Maybe I'll even splash out and whip up this fun Watermelon Pie, a perfect dessert for a summer evening... or for when special guests come to visit... like tomorrow night. My best friend is coming with her family... they are here visiting from Wisconsin. I can't wait!!!

A Time for Rest Our minds and bodies need rest. We're nicer, happier, more productive women when we feel rested. We see you nodding in agreement. In Italy and other parts of Europe, everyone stops working in August! While we in the U.S. don't embrace such luxury, we at DailyWorth toast the European tradition and encourage you to emulate it in any way you can. So here's your assignment for the rest of the summer: Take a few days off, sleep an extra hour, read a mag, go to the beach, drink an extra glass of Riesling — whatever relaxation means to you. So enjoy the dog days of summer, and get some rest!

Pincushion Friday at Paper Tales!

Make and Take a Sweet Pincushion this Friday from 5-7pm at Paper Tales!

Hooray! I am teaching this pincushion class again, but am adding a different color group for this class. You can choose to make a lavender bouquet or a hot pink bouquet of Itty Bitty Roses. I will have extra kits that you can purchase if you want to go home and make extra pincushions. The gift giving season is right around the corner... Hint, hint!

So, call over to Paper Tales, 619-222-2510 and sign yourself up! We'll have an action packed two hour class, a great way to start off the weekend. See you Friday!

A Gift For A Very Brave Friend

Well, I'm supposed to be doing lots of things around here except for what I am doing, which is to help take care of a friend. Sometimes certain things make all others pale in comparison, and this is one of those things. My sweet brave friend has breast cancer, and had a double mastectomy in June, followed by chemo. She lost her hair last weekend, which I think has been one of the toughest things of all because it somehow announces her plight for all the world to see.

I have decided that there must be a way for people who need to wear head scarves to find a very cute and fashionable solution. Sadly, after combing patterns on the web, it doesn't seem so. Plus, many of the patterns out there, while being pretty unfashionable, are costly as well. It seemed like the thing to do would be to design my very own cute chemo cap! So that's what I've been doing. I have made the first one, and here it is on me:

This Chemo Cap (bad name, I know) is perfect for the summer because the scarf part doesn't hug your head, and it has some gathers and tucks. It looks like you are just having a bad hair day. Then, the super soft Blue Sky Organic Cotton knitted band keeps the hat in place. You can tie it as snugly as you please. What do you think? Do you like the design?

There have been some design flaws, which I'm working out. Even though the back is very cute, I gathered the fabric together and added elastic. There turns out to be too much fabric, so the gathered bit puffs out too much above the bow. My revision includes cutting out sections of the fabric so there's not so much fabric to deal with at the back of the head. My friend also had long hair, so she wants fabric to trail down the back of the neck. I'm modifying the design to include that as well.

In any case, I love, love, love the combination of the Amy Butler fabric and the soft Blue Sky Organic cotton. I bought this lovely combination at The Grove, where Susan and Judy of judipatudi are working hard to put beautiful combinations of yarn and fabric together. It sure makes coming up with a design solution so exciting. I couldn't wait to get home and start knitting and sewing! My husband thought the fabric would be too busy for my friend, but when she saw the yarn and the fabric, she got so excited! Hooray! If I can give my friend a gift which makes her want to get up in the morning, and get dressed so she can feel pretty going out into the world, well, that's the best gift I can ever give, isn't it?

**Update: Please click this link here to view the perfected pattern, and this link here where you can purchase the pattern for yourself. Thank you!

And the Girly Giveaway Winner is.......!

Winner, winner, I'm so excited!!!

Flor Larious Art

... was pulled out of the hat this morning by my World of Warcraft playing son before suiting up and headed out for sailing camp. Hooray, hooray, for Flor! All you need to do is to get in touch with me so we can finalize a couple of girly details, along with your address so I know where to send off your girly prize :o)

I want to thank everyone who entered my First Ever Giveaway. Stay tuned because I might offer another one very soon, as this has been alot of fun! It was a great adventure to meet so many new bloggers out there. I tried to visit each and everyone's blog so I could see what YOU are all about, and I sure liked what I saw. Our blogging world is filled with the most interesting group of creative people, isn't it?! I really enjoyed 11 year old Sabine's blog, all about potatoes, well, sort of. She said she really wasn't very girly at all, and didn't like pink. Well, that's okay, Sabine. Just so you know, if you'd won, I'd probably made you something with purple beaded potatoes on it!!!

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