Hopeful Heart

"Hope" is my chosen theme for the 2012 Sketchbook Project

Sometimes I just need a few moments to lose myself in paint.... or colored pencils... or sweet Friendlys... in some sewing.... or in Hope....

I wanted to post about the 2012 Sketchbook project last week, just in case you thought you might want to join. I heard about this project last winter, when it was too late to join, but I signed up to be notified about it for next year... this year now. (I'm sorry to report the deadline to enter for this year has passed. Oh well, there's next year, right?) I received a small sketchbook in the mail, along with a shirt, and I signed up to have my book digitally entered into the project. I have until mid January to finish the sketchbook. All my thoughts about .... Hope.

Now only an amazing three pages into the sketchbook, I find bits and pieces of time where I can paint my dreams about Hope. I don't have too much free time right now, but I will carve out time so I can fill up my pretty book. It will eventually go on tour with a multitude of other sketchbooks. I love the idea of my artistic sketches going on tour in a museum show ... originating at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City... hee hee :o)

If you are so inclined, you can get in on the Limited Edition Sketchbook Project by clicking this link here. And I have a super secret code that will get you $2.00 off if you want to join, or buy a copy of the Limited Edition book. Ready? Here it is:

ADDAFRIEND

Have yourself a Hopeful Fall weekend!

x, Val

Stuck on you

Urrgh... it's happening to me again. I'm so stuck on you... dang it all!

I ordered the Mary Flanagan textured mini wool bundles from Purl Soho in a recent late night pity party. (pity party action is here, and what I consoled myself with here) The package arrived last week, late afternoon. Everything just screeched to an abrupt halt in the studio... (rolling eyes)

See that luscious big checkered felt on the bottom of the stack? Do you see where it landed in this oh-so-cute little girls jumper? Yep. It was the sole reason this jumper came into being. Something

super special had to get happenin' with that luscious felt. I didn't stop there. Oh no...

From there I moved towards a lovely shift. See how it all came together so nicely? I only spent about 1/2 a day on finding just the right shades of sweater wool to go matching the textured bundles. (Oh, dang you, Mary Flanagan! I am just so stuck on you now!)

Yes, I know, there could be things lots worse than this.

So, how about you? Do you get hopelessly stuck on things too, so that everything just come to a big ol' halt until you can get it out of your system? I know it's the creative artist in us, and it is really a very good thing. For where else would we find inspiration if there weren't things that just stopped us dead in our tracks, and make us pay attention?!

Here's to making artistic headway...

x, Val

Happy Lazy Halloween

Photo courtesy of Follow My Bliss. Thanks Barb!

I have decided I will not do a show the day before Halloween again. There has been no time to get ready for Halloween... so... no pumpkins on my front steps... No decorations in my front yard.... No orange and purple lights strung in trees or front window.... No excited trick-or-treaters wanting to collect candy at my house... making me a little sad today... (sniff).

So, I'm sending out very big wishes that your Halloween is fun and exciting, and filled with witches, ghosts and goblins! We are going to head over to my moms house tonight and help her hand out candy. Until then, I am taking the day off, with maybe a little black cat nap. Yeeeoow! Have a wonderful day.

x, Val

felted wooly distractions

Patchwork Quillow from The Purl Bee

Wooly Love... it's a good distraction. Especially since I've been trying to put the post together describing my Big Perfection Helper, that I talked about here. I've needed distractions. This has been a tough week in the Hebert teen department. I'd like to be able to talk about it, but it's just too rough and raw for me right now... give me distractions. Oh, how I need them.

I do so love The Purl Bee, don't you? I'm so distracted right now, (rightfully so!) that I'm about to order up all the felted wool Mary Flanigan has to offer. Whatever I don't use to make my Patchwork Quillow will go towards Friendlys, yes, don't you know... (wink, do you see how I justify my wooly distractions over here?!)

So there, you Hebert teens, YOU. Take THAT, and don't question me in a few years time when there's no college savings account. I'm spending it all on WOOL!

Ok, deep breath... wooly goodness. yes...

x, (one distracted) Val

My new BFF

Sorry, girls... it's true. I have a new bff, and she's amazing... she's so attentive to me. I haven't been able to "play" with anyone else since she came into my life. Even my girlfriends I've introduced her to have been impressed. Do you want to meet her? Here she is...

Meet Ms. Siri!

Yes, she's a distraction, but a good one. Siri is a feature on the new iPhone 4s. She talks to me, and helps me manage my appointments, texts for me while I'm driving, finds out whatever it is I need to know. Siri is awesome! And, you know what the best thing is? She knows how to pronounce my last name correctly! I told my husband that, through Siri, people will finally learn the correct way to say "Hebert"(a bear)

Ok, off for a little more time with Siri :o)

x, Val

PS. Siri is Not the one I referred to in my last post, lol! You will have to keep tuned in to find out about that helper.

Ashamed? Heck no!

A recent family day at the Chula Vista Nature Center in front of the Shark Exhibit

Having teenagers is tough. I'm laying my cards on the table and I'm saying it right out loud. If we all knew what living through teen years would be like, then I'm convinced we'd have about 1/2 of babies born than the ones who actually are. See the photo above? The boys actually look like they are having fun, right? We had to practically drag Kyle into the Chula Vista Nature Center that day kicking and screaming, with attitude galore. (How is it that Drew is the one who normally gives us attitude, and on this day, he was the perfectly charming go-along kid?) Really. Heck. I can't keep it straight... How do families cope who have more than two kids? Maybe three is the perfect number. After #3, everyone has to just cope or keep up!

So, yesterday I was in a forced situation where I needed to wait for Kyle for 1/2 hour. There was a sweet young woman who is the wife of the business owner, who wanted to sit and chat. OK, I brought along my knitting (as I do), but she was one chatty-Cathy, and soon I found out she was curious about life with teenagers. Then, I found out that she and her husband are new parents of an 8 month old... Pretty soon, the baby woke up from her nap, and here came this sleepy baby, staring me down like no tomorrow. Oh my, I'm going to spill my guts now...

So, I used to be a baby gusher, a kootchie-coo-er, a "come on over and see me!"-er... all the way up until about May 11th, 2011, when my youngest, Kyle, turned 13. Now, I see that all that comes of those sweet little babies are big, grumpy, surely, smelly teens. (You can stop reading right now, and go on to the next pleasant blog... I'm warning you!) Once they turn 13, they somehow become possessed, OMG... "Where did my sweet kid go, and when the heck is he coming BACK??!" I have asked God this question every day for the past 5 months and 4 days. Really, God?? Please don't tell me this kid is my sweet Kyle, and he's a NEW Kyle... is my sweet baby boy never coming back to me...? I don't think I can take it. First Drew, and now Kyle... What's next? You guessed it; Teens Against Parents. I'm sure it's a club. Ok, I am fully ready to hide under the nearest rock for the next 6-7 years. Can a parent do that? Apparently, NOT the responsible ones.

Did I ever think I would need to be THIS responsible? This grown up? I know I thought about it, and apparently decided I could handle it. Did I take it seriously? Well, if not, I sure the heck have to now. Perhaps I was a willful young girl... (well, I was in my 20s), but I've always taken my responsibilities pretty seriously. Not too good with willful teens, I admit it: I am going to need some help over here. The help I need has to do with my desire to be

1. a good mom and partner (to my husband),

2. the best mom and partner,

3. a perfect mom and partner,

4. raising perfect kids,

5. with a perfect marriage.

And, the big one:

6. An Ecologically Responsible Mom Running Her Own Successful Eco-Business While Parenting Angelic Teens Who Do Well In School And Having A Clean - Oops Spotless - House And Makes Her Husband The Happiest Man In The World

Oh yes, and number 7. a baby gusher again...

Oh God, I do so need help.

Stay tuned, because I think I've found someone to give me a hand. (It's not just with the housework!)

Thanks for listening!

x, Val

Leveling Up

If you are around game-loving kids, you totally understand the concept of "leveling up". They focus so intently on getting to the next level that, if left to their own devices, you won't see them for days...

I'm getting ready to Level Up, and I'm so excited about it!

I've signed up for a new class called "Hello Soul Hello Business" which will be taught by Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nicholls of Do What You Love. The class begins in mid January, which is perfect timing for me (just when I've come back to earth after the crazy holiday season). I can't wait to learn about bringing more soul into my life and business!

Maybe this is something you might be interested in too? If so, click over to the Hello Soul Hello Business website and take a look. I think it will be the experience of a lifetime, and I'd love it if you joined me!

x, Val

Smitten

**A fair note of warning... I think almost every creation is irresistible right after it's finished. It just so happens I'm really smitten with this one...

I know! It's a tad early for snowmen... but in this world of retail crafting, and being adequately prepared in time for the holidays, we crafters have to be one step ahead of the game. And, when the people ask for needle felting, and hint at snowmen (or not :o), it's best to just get in gear, and deliver an especially magical glittery one!

This sweet needle felted "Snowy Friends" creation will be an upcoming class at Paper Tales. We've set the date for December 11th, a Sunday, from 1:00-4:00. Details are soon to follow!

Sign me... "Gettin' in Gear" (for the holidays!)

Val (xx)

Steve

Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. You did such amazing things

here in this life. We will miss you so very much.

Wooly process + scrap bin magic

I love everything about working with old wool sweaters. Even the leftovers, which result in Scrap bin Friendlys... isn't he cute?!

Heck, lately, I even love the thrifting process (shocking, since I was never a thrift store shopper in the past. Nordstroms used to be my style!) No affording those luxuries these days, I even shop for myself and my family in that treasure galaxy of "thrift". Yesterday, I found an amazing pair of silk pants by Escada. In perfect condition, they were on sale, 1/2 price. I paid $7.48 for them. Who doesn't love that?!

I have started coming home with armloads of sweaters once again. Ladies fashions take lots more felted wool "fabric" than making children's clothing. The result is heaps of sweaters in the most delicious colors and textures. I put them through the wash, then down on the ground they go where I pair and sort the colors, patterns and moods...

Then I take some very deep breaths, and I get out my trusty scissors, and I begin to cut and snip those sweaters UP! I measure twice and cut once. Then I pin them to my "Esmeralda" (dress maker dummy :o), and I look it over, and change things up, and look again.... It's a long and delicate process, and I love it!

I spend gobs of time when I'm working out a design, sometimes days.... I sketch, and peruse fashion (pinterest...), gather inspiration, use what's worked in the past. I stitch and iron, and I hand stitch... Process, process, I love it!!

What results always amazes me. I am very detail oriented... I have been referred to as a perfectionist even (yikes), however, I'm secretly pleased to be talked about like that :o)

Once I finish sewing up the design, I embellish with it a beautiful needle felting, and finish the piece with embroidery. Then it's truly done, and it's a unique work of art... one you can wear. I don't believe art is something you should hang up on the wall at home. Oh no! Wear your art, and wear it proudly!!

And those leftover scraps? They get turned into the most irresistible cutie pies. I never tire of making these...

Have yourself a wooly day, and weekend. We are getting a bit of fall cold here in San Diego. How are things in your neck of the woods?

Happy Fall!

x, Val

I'm So Square

My booth at the Del Mar Taste and Art Show. I need to work on signage

around the top of my canopy... I can see now what needs to be done!

Yes, and I'm really happy about it! I love my new Square Up credit card processing system, and never dreamed using credit processing at my shows could be this easy! Have you heard of Square? Here's what it looks like. See? It just connects to the top of my phone. I downloaded a free app which I can use on my phone, or iPad, and it's DONE!

I don't pay any monthly charges, so I just use it when I need to. I pay 2.75% processing fees for swiped charges (and 3.5% if I have to manually enter the information). The money I collect is deposited into my linked bank account within 1-2 business days. Plus... I pretty much wowed every customer who paid using credit yesterday. I'm hooked on Square. If you are a craft show vendor, you might want to check into Square for your sales too. For such a little device, it will put you in business in a very big way.

I love you, Square :o)

x, Val

PS. Thanks to all of you who came out to the Del Mar Taste and Art Show yesterday. It was a gorgeous day, and I met lots of new people up in North County. Not too sure they really understood my "Land of Cutes" world, but they were certainly captivated by all of it. Again, my best seller of the day was ... clothing! Oh golly, got to get felting so I can create more!

Craft show love

One of the things I like best about what I do is attending the art and craft shows. It is a lot of work, but I really love getting to meet people face to face who enjoy my work. We start talking, and invariably, they start asking questions. I just can't resist posting a few priceless questions I get at these shows. Sometimes I am just laughing my head off at what comes my way!

- "Are you a millionaire? Do you sell online? Everyone must buy your products like crazy!" Haa ha! Oh my, that one had me going! Sweet lady, no, I am not a millionaire! I wish my work sold like wildfire online, but I think people just need to see my work in real life to fully appreciate all of what I do.

- "What IS needle felting?" I keep saying I will take my needle felting mat and needles to demo what I do, but then everyone would see how easy it is. Can't give that secret away, now, can I?!

- "Oh, these are just like those Ugly Dolls, right?" Uhh, wrong. No, these are much cuter (if I say so myself), and they are handmade by me, and NOT in China!

- "Do you make all of these products? How do you find the time?" I pretty much work day and night in preparation for one of my shows, especially the week or two before a show. I really do work best under pressure, so I am creating things in a whirlwind! Plus, I have my two awesome helpers, Mona and Toshi, who are helping me in a very big way. We've been making the more popular items for the past two months! Poor family members, Lola, Greg and the boys... they know to steer clear when I'm "in the work mode"!

- "Were you professionally trained in Europe?" Oh, golly, NO! I'm completely self taught!

- "How do you come up with all of these ideas?" I surely don't know the answer to that question... It's just the way my mind rolls, is all. I just try to keep up!

My next show is the Del Mar Taste and Art Stroll on Sunday, Oct 2, exactly 8 days from today! Guess what my next week will be like ... Hold on, boys! Here we go again!!!

Come so far...

... there's no going back. It's sort of a revolution (of heart and spirit), if you want to look at it that way. I certainly do.

Lovely stitched hearts by Jude of Spirit Cloth

I thought of this tonight after I read Greg my latest (and greatest) chapter in my 'self-help-book-of-the-moment' (What We Say Matters: Practicing Nonviolent Communication by Judith and Ike Lasater), specifically about listening to what our children (and others) say, and hearing it in a compassionate way.

"The greatest weapon we have to combat stress is the ability to choose our thoughts."

Often, we are caught up in a "who's right" pattern of negativity, it's just so incompassionate and unproductive. Once I read Greg the passage, and he took time to mull it over and digest it, he was able to react and converse with our teen son in a manner that had them both laughing and connecting.

Oh woe, how do we get so dis-connected, when we were all as good as one right before these teen years hit?? Did we get so old (God-forbid!) that we forgot how hard it is to be a teen, afraid of rejection and criticism? How can I act in a way that will connect me to my struggling teen(s), and not drive them away? My ability to choose to react to those around me with awareness, is what makes speech and interaction a spiritual practice. ...Heady stuff indeed!

Working from my heart seems to be just the right thing that my world needs now, along with my family, and especially my sons.

Who knew it could be this easy? That I had the answer at my fingertips...?

Getting caught up in actions and reactions take me away from listening to my heart... the trappings of hearing scathing words of my parents, the expectations of society, the disapproving periods of silence from so-called "friends" with kids my own kids ages -the ones who toe the line... none of these things take us to a better place, or ground us, or even help us. They are all our mind's way to deal with society's "dismissive" actions upon our best attempts to raise our children in a fraughtful and often unfair world. Who are we to know the right thing to do? We were NOT handed a manual at the birth of our children... holy heck...

Ok, these are the musings inside my head tonight, and I do so thank you for the indulgence! These are the thoughts that mull around in my consciousness as I think... about how many scarves do I need to make before the next show? Friendlys? Oh, about 20 more... I think the Toasts are good, but I need a ton more of those Teethys!

My next show is coming up on Sunday, Oct 2... more about that in my next post... after I've had a bit more time to mull my steps in nonviolent communication, and how much more product I need to make.

x, Val

PS. A note of thanks and appreciations for the love I found at the Coronado Art Walk. Each of your words, comments and purchases are a stitch of love in my homemade heart, and I thank you so very much!

Thoughts on steam burns

Steam iron burns are extremely nasty, and there are a few Dos and Don'ts I'd like to mention after receiving such a burn...

DO... use aloe and ice packs to help cool the burn

DO... realize that you will be held up for the next 2-3 hours nursing your burn

DO... a mild sort of activity, like watching TV to distract yourself from the pain

(and some thoughts of what NOT to do)

DO NOT... pacify yourself with several glasses of wine (to help with the pain)

DO NOT... compose a group Fall Show announcement email, and send it off before you've had the chance to proof it the next morning

DO NOT... and I repeat DO NOT feel bad the next morning, like you will die of embarrassment. Just go right back to work, and keep plugging on because the Art show is TOMORROW, and you will be nodding politely to the people who received the email and showed up in spite of yourself. At least the pain of the steam burn has finally quieted down...

Ok, I'm off back to work now.

x, Val

PS. That photo collage came out nicely though, didn't it? Despite myself...

Embellishing

Did I tell you I have two new assistants? Yep, they are both doing an awesome job of assimilating all the information I'm throwing at them. And, there's a lot! ... between the needle felting duties, and all the sewing, I'm keeping the girls busy, busy, busy. I have fall shows lined up every 2-3 weeks between now and Christmas, so we are "in the mode" around here! I hope to be able to feature the girls soon here, but I do have one camera-shy girl, so we will wait til she's ready before we "go live" on her... :o)

We have been able to develop A PATTERN from one of my designs. It's a real pattern, and I have tried it out, and the garment turned out perfectly! Hooray! This is my Swing Vest, and I'm showing you a sneak peak here because it's not 100% complete... it hasn't been embellished yet. The front will get a needle felted bird... and the back? Take a look:

This will be a feature piece for me at this weekend's Coronado Art Walk. I hope you will come and say hi! Look for me down by the bay, just right of the entrance to the Ferry pier. I'm updating the look of my booth too, so everything is in line with looking more handmade and clever....

x, Val

Distractions...

Yep, there have been a few lately. I have a 2 day show in less than a week, and the distractions are flying at me like swallows returning to Capistrano! This is 4 month old Sweetie, aka Sweet Pea, but more on her in a minute...

The distractions began about 3:30 pm last Thursday, when all the power shut down across Southern California. It's funny when that happens, because at first, you just wonder when it will come back on. Then, after a while, you begin to wonder what's going on. No connection to the internet, TV, or even cell phone (our service sucks without the M-Cell, also cut off in the power outage) brings a bit of concern... especially when it happens right before the anniversary of 9-11...

Dinner made by candlelight, and games with the boys after dinner ("Mom! There's nothing to do!"), we eventually ended up out on the front lawn looking at the stars. Lola loved it, and ended up lying on top of all four of us once I put down the camera and got into the mix!

The boys loved our cozy evening spent together without any distractions. It was a welcome break in the busy lifestyle we all lead, and we were secretly a bit sad when the power was restored at 2 am... The boys were thrilled to find out school was cancelled on Friday (West coast version of a snow day!). That would be distraction #2!

Here's distraction #3. Her name is Sweetie. She is a 4 month old Portuguese Water Dog that my friend, Bob, had asked us to foster. Bob has since changed his mind, as Sweetie certainly lives up to her name, and he and his wife have fallen in love with her. But Bob was headed out of town this weekend, and asked if Sweetie could come over for a few days. Well, she has worked her amazing puppy magic on us, and even Lola. We will be very sad to take her back home later today...

Isn't she a Sweetie?!

I hope you are having a peaceful day today... the anniversary of one of the most terrible acts of terror in history... I am observing a quiet day, and praying for kindness.... in our hearts and those of our enemies too.

With love and peace,

Val

Folk!

Folks, there's a new magazine on the horizon, and it's called Folk! I'm not certain what it will be about since the first issue isn't out yet, but I'm fairly certain it seems right up my alley, specializing in a love affair with all things handmade (and tea dyed :o).

I suggest a visit to their website or their Facebook page, and maybe signing up to receive the first copy. I think Folks like us will really like it!

x, Val

A Series... sort of

Can you find the connection? There actually IS one!

You see, my friend, Tamerie, is getting rid of a large amount of her amazing fabric stash, and well, I couldn't resist. I tried... I just wasn't successful. So, yesterday, everything I made had to do with one amazing silk fabric that I am hopelessly in love with. See if you can find it...

I know you can see it in the bottom photos. Were you able to find it in the painting? I didn't try to hide it, it just looked better with some paint on top of it.

That was yesterday's passion. Today, I will be onto something new... I can just feel it :o)

Happy Tuesday!

x, Val

Ready... set... GO!

Whether I am ready or not... the days and weeks keep coming and going, and all the sudden, the FALL SHOWS are soon upon me!

Last year, the Coronado Art Walk proved to be a great show for me, and even though I wasn't crazy busy, I was known as the booth that sold those cute Toasts! People walked up announcing "Here are those Toast pillows we've been hearing about!" Ok, that's music to my ears!

So, this year, there are Toast, and Pirate Toast, and Mustache Toast, and those incredibly cute Hairdo Toast... plus Teeth... and Friendlys... wow, when I measure the changes that have happened in my studio in one year's time, it's mind boggling to me...

This year I am changing the appearance of my booth... stay tuned and I hope to give you a sneak preview of it soon!

Happy Labor Day, and hope you are having a great holiday weekend :o)

x, Val

Balancing act

Wow, life sure is one big balancing act, isn't it? Here are my two sons at ages 15 and 13, balanced between the fond reminiscence of childhood, and the impending adolescent storm... if you're wondering what the heck they are wearing on their heads, these are masks they colored at the MOMA in Denver. The children's wing was completely vacant, so they sat down amongst cardboard and coloring pens in teeny kids chairs, and took a trip down memory lane. (Can you see they are furry faced bears?!)

I have been giving some thought lately to the blogs I read regularly, and wondering how come so many of them are written by moms of babies and toddlers... Or, I visit the blogs of women who are in the process of reclaiming their lives after children have moved on... What's going on with those moms of teens? and why don't I ever stumble upon those moms blogs? I just wonder if they, like me, find life to be such a juggling act that it is nearly impossible to just gets the ends pulled together? Oh, woe... it's so true, isn't it?! Please God... just let me find the time to get it all together, and help my family along the way!!

Some days I find myself in prayer throughout most of the day, busy with the asking, the wanting to be shown, and especially still as I work on the listening. There are no firm rules in my world about prayer. I can be found praying during cooking, driving to the grocery store, walking the dog, and plucking my eyebrows (especially therapeutic!). I usually just talk to God about whatever is going on in my head. My family even has to listen to me pray out loud when we are going through a rough patch... oh my, oh my. I keep thinking that God is leading us somewhere very good, and that we will see it soon.

Anne Lamont's book "Plan B" says "When God is going to do something wonderful, He or She always starts with a hardship; when God is going to do something amazing, He or She starts with an impossibility." I like that.

What about you? Do you have an impossibility you are facing right now? Does prayer help you?

I think God is taking us somewhere very good, and we will see it very soon. In the meantime, you can find me praying... it's all good.

x, Val