Aftermath

I don't really like that word "aftermath" because it implies something like a Holocaust, or a tornado, or a thing that is big and horrible, and somehow you survived. Perhaps I need to take myself just a little more seriously BEFORE the event so the after part isn't such a big, freaking deal. Ugh... note to self, Val.

I won't say I didn't enjoy the Renegade LA show, but I will say it was a TON of work. I am used to attending shows close to home, AND I admit, I am a natural control freak. Close to home means I have something to hold in my back pocket like a security blanket.... Home. hOmE... H O M E. 

I liked meeting new people and the exposure LA brought me. It was all very good. I made some great new friends, had a few fantastic offers, an invitation to debut my Robot Friendlys in the Stuffed magazine (one of my favs!), and more. I know I will continue to venture out past my beloved Home, just have to go into it knowing exactly what to expect next time...

I loved seeing friends who cannot always come so far south to see me in my hometown. Here is gorgeous Mira with her friend. And who can resist a pirate face painted boy, Really?!!!

Finally, I cannot resist taking pictures of things people bring INTO my booth. This woman let me photograph her darling motif on her shirt. Now, really, how cute is THAT?!

Thanks to all who came out for the Renegade LA show. It was fun, it was HOT, it was an adventure and it was a thrill to be involved. I loved every moment!

x, Val

Renegade LA Fun!

If you're close, come by and get in on all the fun!

Last minute details

Ugh, there are always those dang last minute details right before a show, including some crazy figuring out. Tonight, it's along the lines of attaching "legs" to a robot plushie. Sometimes I shake my head at myself. Really... Do we really need a last minute robot?

Why, yes, I think we do!

Come visit me this coming weekend at the Renegade LA show. I will be in booth 85, along with my booth share mate, Emmie Bean. It's sure to be a weekend full of fun. The show runs from 11-7 both Sat and Sunday. Hope to see you!


x, Val

Quirky Cute

Lately, I've been all about the Quirky, and all about the Cutes... well, my work is, as least! I go through phases of letting my artistic painterly side shine, to my crazy whimsy side, to my tailored-artistic side. Right now, it's Quirky-cute.

How about these girls dresses? Holy-moly, I literally am going crazy in my fabric stash department! I could put these fabric mixes together 'til the cows come home, I swear!

And, how about the back sides? As fun as the fronts! Check out those spotted zippers! Who thought of that? I love them!

Renegade LA is creeping closer... just 5 more days. I will save my story about the hawk and my sewing machine for another day (it's a doozy!) but will leave you with this picture of me and Kyle. At 14, he has just passed me in height! And he doesn't mind posing and being with his mom, even though she likes dressing like a 6 year old. LOL!

Have yourself a good week!
x, Val

Readying for Renegade LA

At this point, a week and a half before an upcoming new show, things start to get a little bit frantic in my art and craft life. I start sleeping only about 6 hours a night. I make about 15 mental lists a day. And my work desk takes on the appearance of a tornado touching down. It's not exactly pretty...

I thought I'd just take some "snippet" photos so you can get a glimpse of what's in store for the Renegade LA show. I am getting SO excited! I am making clothing like mad (more photos of clothing coming soon) Today, Toshi learned how to make the birdy brooches. I've changed up the design a bit so they are more lively in color... Aren't they adorable?!

These big XO Lovie Friendly's are such a piece of work to make. But, they are so irresistible, and all the ones I made last fall have sold. So, I am making 4 more, and only 4. I swear, I've worked on them for at least 4 days now... Here they are before stuffing, and final stitching. Plus, they are still armless :o[

And, all finished up...

And, of course, the Friendlys. I have made stitched Friendlys, Tattooed Friendlys and overall Happy Friendlys. All too cute, if I do say so myself :o)

I ask myself, why the heck didn't I name my business "Studio Val: Crazy For Cutes"... humm.


Renegade LA... July 28 +29. Look on the left sidebar for the banner, and click for directions, etc. It is going to be SO MUCH FUN!!! I hope to see you there.


x, Val

Caddie

Every time I do a pet portrait, I have to brace myself, for I know I will fall in love. By the time the portrait is finished, my heart strings will have been tugged on, and hard. Even though we have never met, and, in most cases, I have never laid eyes on the pet, my connection runs deep. Such was the case with this sweet pet... Miss Caddie.

This pillow was ordered by a close friend of Caddie's owner. Meant as a gift, I didn't know much about Caddie, just that she is especially cute, AND photogenic. I fell in love with this adorable photo...

The woman who ordered the pillow said there was "no rush", and waited patiently as I attended to many other things life is currently throwing at me. Finally, as I knew she was coming back to Coronado for July 4th, I made an effort to finish Caddie's pillow. 

I told Gail (modeling fashionably with the Caddie pillow. Thanks Gail!) this is (again) my favorite dog pillow. sigh... Each one is my favorite once I finish...

When she picked up the pillow late yesterday afternoon, Caddie's "aunt" told us that Caddie had passed away that morning. Awwww, heck. No one is prepared for that news.... Sweet Caddie off to heaven on the day her pillow is delivered. Well, all I can say is that I am so glad she will have a beautiful and warm remembrance of her sweetest lovie, Caddie. And, to be a part of that makes me feel extremely blessed and grateful. 

Rest in peace, beautiful Caddie.

Caddie's mom, I feel your loss, and hope this gift from your sweet friend brings you a measure of relief from your grief.

x, Val

Vintage Geekery

Fabric fun + Vintage style + Geekery = A Very Winning Combination in my book!

I have an ongoing love affair with Melody Miller's fabric, and sadly, it's taken me some time to get in gear with fabrics I bought from last year's collection. Oh well, better late than never is my motto, along with the fact that I made myself promise to NOT buy any more fabric until I use what's in my stock... sheesh, girl.

These fabrics are on printed on beautiful Japanese linen, and the weight and quality are like nothing else. Melody's patterns inspire my quirky side, and I cannot help myself with delving into the inner vintage goddess that resides in my soul. I pair it us with some yummy upcycled wooly goodness, add the quirk with the needle felting, and things just feel so right! Can you see it?

These are pieces I would be proud to wear for myself, and hopefully I will get a chance to do so. I am making these and many more for my upcoming shows, the first one coming in a few short weeks... Renegade LA.  I am pulling out the stops on my creativity, and hoping to make a mark when I bring my work to LA. I hope it pans out. 

Perhaps you will come by and check things out if you are anywhere close to LA during the weekend of July 28+29. You are sure to see lots of original and exceptional work by all sorts of artists, and have a great deal of fun too!

x, Val

So Past Perfect

"Past Perfect" Oil on collaged base by Valerie Hebert, 2012

Abigail was about the most interesting grandmother a girl could have. To you, and everyone else, she was Dr. Dickson, Ph.D. To me, she was a wealth of really interesting information, sporting a fashionable black beehive hairdo, wearing cat eye glasses, and usually dressed to the nines. 

She always spoke of somewhat morbidly fascinating topics of conversation due to her interesting line of work. She lived alone, never owned a TV set, instead preferring conversation with an old tabby cat named Peter Bierce, and for a time, an affectionate and over-exuberant brown labrador retriever named Ping. She was a forensic psychologist before there were such things as women forensic psychologists, and especially before grandmother versions! I have missed her dearly since her passing nearly 10 years ago. She was a rock in my life.

detail, Abigail's house

Abby, or GG, as we referred to her once her great-grandchildren were born, had a secret side. Sure, she was the respected and revered Doctor Dickson, but rarely did she invite others to her home or office. I can count on one hand the number of times I was invited over to her home as an adult. Too many secrets swimming around in there.... Indeed, upon arrival at her gracious and historic home, instructions were given to "Turn sideways and walk like a crab!" Grandma, aka Dr. Dickson, was a hoarder. Long before it was a spectacular obsession via the A&E TV network, we had a true life obsession at our fingertips. Let me tell you, it was interesting, but it wasn't pretty.

Once, shortly before her passing when GG was in hospital (she'd always had lung problems, and eventually succumbed to COPD) my mom got her house key and took me over to have a look at things. Boy, was that an adventure! We had shared many a tea party at GG's house when I was growing up, and after so many years, I could see the same bedrooms, unused and untouched, and sealed off my a mountain of "treasures." Eye candy vs. trash? I was torn. Looking back after cleaning it all up, it was such a mixed bag. But, I know one thing for sure; it was from Abigail I received my vintage appreciation, and affliction towards historic homes. Poring through a lifetime of possessions and collections allows one to get to know another like nothing else. Pity we can't do this during their life, before they've left us. So many more stories they'd be able to tell...

Teabag as part of the collaged base!

I painted this work as a gift to myself and my husband, who have spent the last 10 years lovingly restoring and caring for this glorious home... a final remembrance of Abigail, and the great lady she once was. We are finally moving on now. Our work here is done. Though we'd love to be able to keep this home, it is beyond our means, so we are selling, and move off in a new life's adventure. Hopefully one that is historic and vintage challenged. Then, I know our hearts will feel at home!

x, Val

Creative slave

Today, I came upon this great post by Austin Kleon about creativity in writing and drawing. (You can read more about this here.) This really resonates with me. A lot of people ask me where I come up with my ideas, and I have my stock answers... "My mind just overflows with new projects, and I am the creative slave," etc. Heck, that's the something smart and sassy that wants to come out of my mouth. Thank goodness I can put a lid on it :o)

What IF I said I steal my ideas? Well, that is a big no-no in our creative world, isn't it? With the advances in Pinterest, and in the interests in protecting all the valuable ideas floating around in the universe, how can we keep things straight? I mean, really... can I help it if I see something especially mind-blowing (like a sweetly stitched doll eye) (yes, those are the sorts of things that thrill me!), then I go to sleep and dream about the doll eye. Two months later, after that doll eye has been percolating around in my sub-consciousness, I make a doll with what I think is a doll eye like the one I remembered seeing. Is that "stealing?" Often, if I come upon the original doll eye, it looks nothing like the one I created. 

So, as artists, we have a path we must continue on. Because our inspirations are all our own, and each affects us uniquely, and comes out of the path we have walked up until this point. It doesn't matter if you are making a little coin purse, and there are simply hundreds of thousands of little coin purses out there. There is a little bit of you in your sweet coin purse, and your essence will speak out to someone who wants it. And they will buy your sweet coin purse, and take a little of your essence home with them.

The world needs you and me awake and alive, and creating some of our essence in every little thing we make. Whether it is the sweetest coin purse, or the wackiest drawing on the planet. It's you and it's me. And all the inspirational stuff life has to offer is what makes us come alive, and remake it, and put it back out there as something new, original and lovable. Now that's what I call being creative!

x, Val

Read All About It!

Have you heard about the new "About" page on Etsy? The creative masters in charge of the Etsy online world have instituted a fantastic new feature. The new About pages are a fantastic addition to each sellers online presence, allowing for several rotating photos, and an impressive new format. I love how it looks, it kind of feels like you are entering into a special storefront ...all about me (you)!

I hope you will head over to my shop by clicking here and take a look. And, if you have your own etsy shop, make sure you take some time to set up your own About page. I think you will be glad you did!

As a quick reminder, the Birdy Box 2 part class begins tomorrow, and there are a few spots left. Call over to Paper Tales 619-222-2510 to sign up!

x, Val

A Matryoshka Bloghop + eBook Giveaway!

Sailor Nesting Dolls by Val's Art Studio

Can you resist those delightful Russian Nesting Dolls? I, for one, can NOT!

A couple months ago, I was approached by a couple of indie publishers, otherwise known as   FabPub, who are venturing into the world of craft ebook publishing. They invited my sweet needle felted Russian Dolls to join their Matryoshka party. I couldn't resist, and made not one, but TWO sets of nesting dolls.

The book offers fun and fabulous Matryoshka doll projects, everything from a fantastic wearable costume, to tea towels you can print yourself.

And, my two projects are included, with full directions that you can make at home, in your spare time! 

Russian Dolls by Val's Art Studio

Following is a list of all the artists who are participating in a celebration of the book's completion, and we are doing a Fun Bloghop to set all the excitement in motion! I hope you will hop around to other Matroyoshka makers, and learn a little about their craft as well.

May 28	Margot Potter
May 29	Joanna at That Thing I Made
May 30	Vikram at Craft Gossip
May 31	Kathleen Dames
June 1	Samantha at Geeky Sweetheart
June 2	Redd at Dame Named Redd Designs
June 3	Renee at My Ugly Kitty
June 4	Val at Val’s Art Studio
June 5	Jessica at Ballston Arts & Crafts Market
June 6	Shayne at Trans-Craft-Inental
June 7	Jean at Pretty Kitty Dog Moon Jewelry
June 8	Leesandra at The Sweet Spot
June 9	Jo at Feeling Stitchy
June 10	Lori at Pretty Things
June 11	Paul at G33kopolis
June 12	Alexis at What The Craft
June 13	Anna at The Weekly Enthusiast
June 14	Chrissy at Muse of the Morning
June 15	Susan at West Coast Crafty
June 16	Tonya at The Trouble With Crafting
June 17	Sherezada at Hand / Eye / Mind / Mouth
June 18	Shayne at Geek Crafts

photo courtesy of fabpub.com. 

YOU can win an eBook version of the book simply by "liking" FabPub's Facebook page (click here), then make sure to leave me a comment at the end of this post. That's all you have to do to enter. So simple! I will be selecting a winner on June 15, so make sure to check back and see if you have won! Your eBook will be emailed directly into your inbox, and you will enjoy a summer ahead filled with every Matryoshka project imaginable :o) 

Good luck!

x, Val

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day to you all. I hope you are spending time with your nearest and dearest today, and will share a few moments of quiet contemplation for those who have fought for our country... 

And ... Hello Summer! Wow, can you believe it's right around the bend??? 


I can't resist posting Stephanie Ackerman's beautiful flag project from her inspirational blog. I just love this, and know I will have to try this patriotic project very soon! So, maybe you have a few uninterrupted hours for doing a bit of creating today, and can whip this project out. hint, hint :o)


Have a lovely day,
x, Val

PS. Check back soon, for I will be offering a GIVEAWAY of a newly released book featuring a few of my needlefelted projects. Yay!

Hello, My name is ...

ADD Val


Yesterday, my husband called me that. 


I slightly rolled my eyes at him, but then I looked around at what I had going on. Ok, I noticed I had about 5 projects going, all in a 1/4 - 2/3 finished state. I took a deep breath, and moved on. 


Then, this morning, as I look around at the start of my day, I can count exactly 9 projects that I have begun in the last hour, all by 10:19am.


Of the 9, I have finished 3! I think that counts for something, right?!


So, in trying to figure out if this name is truly indicative of me, which now,  I believe it is... I will leave you, and get back to my other 6 things that are in pending mode. At least, now I can cross one more thing off my list... blog post, Done!


Hope you have a productive day too!


Signing off,
ADD Val
(sigh)

Prickly progressions

Seems to be that kind of day... that kind of week. After returning home from our wonderful visit with Drew in Az last week, things just turned kind of ... well, prickly. Not only for us, but for others close to me too. And my days seem to be caught up in pulling thorns out of my feet so I can walk steady once again...

I have been working towards peacefulness and acceptance of "the stuff" in my life, and amongst the mercies of Pema's writings, have lately returned to a place of compassionate self love. I find it's easier to navigate the challenges life places in our path when we loosen up those deep rooted patterns of attachment, give them a solid look, and then set them free.  It's not easy, but I'm better about it now....


 I just look at the next fear or challenge, size it up, take a deep breath, and walk slowly towards it.

Lynda Watson's dimensional felted cactus brooch. Isn't it beautiful?
Here are some ways that I'm dealing with my "roadblocks" today:

• We have no way of knowing what we will be faced with tomorrow so we must trust what God hands us today, and know that we are on the right true and correct path, and that tomorrow it may all make sense.

• When what we are faced with looks ugly and difficult, we can try to break it down into something that feels simple and basic, and that might be an easier way to look at it.

• If it looks really bad, see if we can find a little bit of "acceptable" in it...

• Or, perhaps we can look at how it is challenging us, and work on finding the peace in that by stepping into the challenge. 

• A new twist can mean more work, but if we can just put our head down (like a work horse) and start getting what must be done, done. If we feel like we need a break, take one, and treat ourself with kindness, but then start the task. 

• If we feel the need to escape, take some time in offering compassion towards ourself, and try to sit quietly with our feelings. 

And the one that seems to be my number one strength and guide: 

Visualize our fears in a bubble, and gently push them away with a feather.

Just hope they don't land on a prickly cactus and the bubble pops! LOL


Hope your week is prickly-free :o)
x, Val

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms!

We are enjoying a very special Mother's Day with our son in AZ, and learning all about life on the horse ranch. It's a beautiful healing weekend, and I can't think of any better place I'd want to be today. I hope your day is equally special.
x, Val

Renegade, Here I come!!

Yeeee-haw! I am so excited to learn that I have been accepted to the Renegade LA Craft Fair this coming July! 

I applied last year, but was put on the waiting list. So I worked extra hard this year to alter and tweak my product mix, as well as work on my photography skills (PLUS buying a very nice new camera), and it's all paid off! I am V E R Y excited about this show, because I think it fits my "Who", or the people who will feel good about supporting my work. I am just over the moon about this girls, can you tell??!!

Now, for all you Hoppers, I am going to spill the beans about my process on that sweet Birdy Box (more pictures are here)! Get ready...

This piece was inspired by the-most-darling-ever songbird pair that is nesting inside a corncob birdhouse at my mom's house. We have been watching them as they shyly build a nest and spend time inside that darling place. My mom commented, "That birdhouse is so old that it's got to be a mess inside!" and that's all it took for my mind to whir into action... a birdhouse on the front and a skimpy messy place for the nest "inside"....

Sadly, I did not take any photos during the making of the piece, so you will need to get your "visualization glasses" on. Are you ready?! (Remember you can click here to see more photos of the project)

• First, I bought a 3 x 3" block canvas from Dick Blick http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-artists-boards/ Somehow I don't see the 3 x 3 size on their website, but I found it in stock at the store.
• I gessoed it on all sides and inside the back of the box
• I used tissue paper and printed it with cursive writing stamps to look like the tissue paper Junelle used in her video. I Mod-Podged the tissue in place 
• I cut scraps of fabric and glued them down in a pleasing tree arrangement on one side, and made a bird house on the back side.
• I used Christy's rad pen to outline and define all the fabric scrap shapes
• I added buttons and leaves I cut out of felt, plus a cute yarn bow on the birdhouse
• I added some text I cut out of the magazine, or if I couldn't find the right sentiment, I drew it on a piece of paper and cut it out.  I Mod-podged these in place
• I gathered up a bunch of fabric scraps and using that super duper fun Tim Holtz stapler, I just stapled them all together, then glued the nest into the box
• Then I needle felted the sweet birdy*,
• I made a couple of wings out of my trusty fabric scrap bin (isn't it empty YET???!), and stapled them like mad
• Then sewed those sweet wings in place with some contrast embroidery thread
• I put the birdy in the box, and just lookit' her! She's ready to hatch a couple of sweet babies. Awwww!

* A note about needle felting... It's rather hard to explain, so I intend to make a short video to show how the bird is made. If you would like "notice" that I posted the video, just leave me a message at the end of this post and I will make sure to get the word to you the video is up so you can come back then and see exactly how needle felting is done, with great instruction and detail. People who take my classes say they learn so much from what I teach :o) I am so happy to share this with you too!

I thank everyone for the sweet comments you left on my blog. What an encouraging group of like minded souls we are. I am so happy to be in your company :o)

x, Val

It's a Bloghop!!!

Ok, girlfriend, I will admit this, and I know you know what I'm talking about: I am addicted to blogs! I love to get that sweet peek into another's life, and if they are artsy, and sprinkle in beautiful photos, and maybe chit-chat philosophically about things that matter to me too, well, I am hooked. Oh, yes, I am. And then... I will stalk you, yes, I will!!! So, don't say I didn't warn you! Lol!


One of the richest blog journeys I have shared started about a year and a half ago when I stumbled upon Junelle's blog; Yes and Amen. I have laughed and cried, while sharing Junelle's sweet stories of life, sheep, farming, growing up boys, a miracle of a girl, and the journey through life a heart takes. 


It has been rich, oh so rich, and it has changed me. Yes, it has. 


Junelle has helped me more than she knows in getting in touch with my heart, and my God, and my art, and helped me return to my compassionate side, and get a firmer foothold in how the things that really matter in life are sometimes the smallest things. 


Yes... those things. 

So, long story short... here I am with all of Junelle's (and Christy's) beloved peeps, from the online class we have shared together, The Art of Wild Abandonment, and we are sharing a Bloghop! 


And, girls, aren't we blessed in this journey?! Even though it's been a journey of art, it's also been a journey of the heart. Or, as I like to refer to it, a heARTfelt moment, and I am so happy to have shared this time with you together, learning, loving, sharing, and Junelle-ing while journaling, hehe! It's been just grand :o)

All in all, I took away some fantastic things from this class: I gained a new freedom within my art, and permission to be playful.

I learned to look at art materials with new fresh eyes, and that's fantastic for the artist in me! Yep, "the one" who has chained herself to traditional art materials and ways of making art. Well, she's gone, and the New Girl is in charge! This New Girl is learning to fly inside her art world in a whole brand-spankin'-new way!


Junelle, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Honestly, going into this I was open to anything, but mostly I wanted to support you in this big new artsy online place. You exceeded my expectations. I loved every minute, every video, every bit of you. Plus, I love my new "art tribe". So glad we shared this time together!!!


xxxxooo, Val


PS. I really meant to talk about my art process, but this post came together differently than I imagined it would. I will write a follow up post that talks about my needlefelting the birdie, with his so cute Tim Holtz stapled wings, and how I decorated my art box. But, girl, you already know how I did this, don't you?! You are so clever!!! x


PPS. If you are following the Art of Wild Abandonment Bloghop, you have probably come here from Becky's blog. After you have read my post, please click here to follow the bloghop over to Valerie Weller's blog. You are in for a treat! If you haven't yet started the bloghop, why not join in the fun by visiting Claire's blog and finding out all about it. Happy hopping!

Planning ahead for a busy weekend!

Two biggie fun events are coming up this weekend, and the first one that is so exciting is a Bloghop from my Art of Wild Abandonment girlfriends! 

We are going to share in each other's art worlds as we hop from blog to blog and see how the creativity has been flowing since being so inspired by Junelle Jacobsen and Christy Tomlinson online class. You can hop along with us by visiting Claire's blog here, the first stop on the tour!


And the second is the Talmadge Art Show, happening this Sunday, May 6, from 10-4. Would you just lOOk at this super cute mailer?! And, in the top left corner... one of my Owl Cuties!! Whoot!! Here's where you can find out more about the Talmadge show, just click here.

I hope to see you one way or another this weekend... Hop by my blog, or come and pay me a visit at Talmadge! Happy Hopping!!

x, Val