New Class: On Pins + Needles

Ever feel like you're on pins and needles? Heck, I do ALL the time. (Probably doesn't help that I'm generally stepping on the pins I drop all over the floor!) So, that's the inspiration for my newest Embroidery Hoop Art class, "On Pins + Needles".

I'll be teaching Pins + Needles at The Grove later this month, April 18th, to be exact, from 1-4pm. Call over to the Grove (619-284-7684) to reserve yourself a place. We'll be needle felting, learning about piecing wool together with hand sewing techniques, and all kinds of embroidery patterns. It's a great class, and you'll have a finished piece of art framed up in a 6" embroidery hoop to tote home, sassy bird and all! I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

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

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

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

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

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

I really worked hard to

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

The other tricky factor was in finding

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

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

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

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

Val's Moment of Fashion Fame

I'm not sure if I did this right, so I'm loading the short video first, the one of me walking the catwalk. If this posts okay, I'll load the longer video with the kids. Just click on the video to watch. Please let me know if you have a problem, so I can get one of my kids to help me fix it!

I"m off now to teach the Honey Bunny class, back later to post the photos and the rest!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Breakneck Speed

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

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

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

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

Busy, continued

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

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

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

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

Meet my new Needle Felting machine, the

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

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

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

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

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

You're Invited To An Art Opening!

... at Art N' Soul on 101, in Encinitas. There will be 4 featured artists, and one will be ME!

When? Next Saturday, March 20th, 5:30-8:30

Where? 633 South Coast Hwy. 101 in downtown Encinitas

Phone? 858-442-8666

Extras? YES! Live music, door prizes, Hors D'Oeuvres, and Good Vibes!!

The following nearby restaurants are offering 5% off the cost of dinner:

Ogata: Japanese Cuisine

Vigillucci's: Italian Cuisine

Jamrock: Jamaican Cuisine

Come and join in the fun, and see what's new in Encinitas. I hope to see you there!

Knit Happy

My brother's girlfriend, Shannon, just returned from Barcelona, and she brought me this... a fantastic photo with the best sentiment ever;

all you knit is love.

How true is that?! Guess it's time for me to quit being so selfish by only knitting for myself, and knit a few things for other people, like Greg!!

Relaxation Day

It's definitely good to have a "forced" relaxation day thrown into the mix every so often, like today. Heck, things have been pretty frantic lately at Val's Art Studio, with this upcoming fashion show and all the preparations. See, this is how things normally look over here when I start a new project...

One thing or another happens, (like a phone call, or I turn my back), and generally this is the next thing that happens. (She is hypo-allergenic)

The organizing of the felted sweaters into color groupings, felted finishes, and pattern possibilities is the first step of many. I have finished one outfit, and am starting on outfits 2 and 3, and have all the others designed and planned out. Just wait til you see them. The whole line is going to be ultra fantabulous!!! Just knowing that gives me... peace...

And now, today, after all my bodywork... (chiropractic care and massage therapy)... I'm feeling as peaceful as this...

Have yourself a peaceful day...

It's Been A Good Day, A Really Good Day

I can't help myself, I just want to shout out! I'm feel as jumpy as a playful lambie. Then, the next minute I feel like I'm a kettle ready to boil over, tooting my horn all over the place. Good things are abounding all around me. I feel so thankful, um humm.

I am gearing up for what seems to be the biggest event of my life, the Style Awards Fashion Show on March 26th. Today, I found out who the models are that will be wearing my creations. They are perfect, and I'm so excited to work out my designs! Yea! I will have a sweet brother and sister team, ages 5 and 7, with golden curly hair. Then, two girls who look like sisters, tall and dark, olive complected, ages 8 and 10; perfect! I've been offered two additional boys to outfit. You know what? I'm going to try to fit everybody in. It's not a crowd, it's a party!

So, that goodness was actually preceded by the following fantastic happenings;

- I have been invited to be a featured artist at Art N' Soul's open house on March 20th. Yea!

- I finally ordered my needle felting machine today, a Babylock Emellisher. Oh my golly!

- I hired a real life true assistant today, Michelle. Michelle worked for me at Artrageous, and she is amazing, really truly amazing. I feel so lucky that she's available to come and help me at the busiest time of my life. She starts on Monday, hooray!

- I learned my lovely sculpted needle felted floral necklace on the Shibori silk ribbon is being featured in Belle Armoire, a high end Stampington publication. Wow, ...wow... wow.

I think that's enough for one day. Really, it's about all I can handle. I am so thankful. I am so happy. I am honored to be able to create, and that you peeps out there like my creations and recognize what I'm doing to be special and worthy of appreciation. And, I am so happy that I now have a HELPER!!!

-xx

Honey Bunny, Honey Bunny, Huuu-ney Bunny!

All the sudden I'm all about Embroidery Hoop Art. It has to be small, very cute, and must incorporate stitched writing. If there's attitude included, that's an extra bonus. Please don't ask me to explain this any further. It's just a particular phase I'm going through, and I'm sure it will pass. But for now, it's all the rage in my brain, and I'm just going with it...

The girl in the orange shirt is "cheeky". That says it all. Soon to follow will be more along the lines of "peaceful". I have plans for "calm", "tranquil" and "quietude". Then, there's this one; "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto". Um-humm, see, that's how my mind works!

By the way, there will be CLASSES for these Embroidery Hoop Needle Felted Art pieces. Paper Tales has scheduled Honey Bunny for March 28, 1-4. The Grove will have a different piece, which will be scheduled in April. Stay tuned for a sneak peek of the Hoop Art for the Grove, and a sign up date!!!

Needle Felting Class This Sunday, March 7th!

Learn to needle felt this sweet Birdie Brooch on Sunday, March 7th from 3-5pm. I'm teaching this fun and informative class at The Grove in North Park. You can give them a call at 619-284-7684 to sign up. Now, they are closed on Mondays, so make yourself a note to call them at 11:00 on Tuesday, right when they open up! Soon you'll be able to wear a sweet cheekie birdie just like this one, and show off how much you love the cutest things in life. By the way, you'll have the option of making this brooch in either a turquoise combination, or pinkie/purply/reds! Doesn't he make you feel so happy?!

Oh, and by the way (again), if you want the pin, but not the class, you can have that too! Just click on over to my shop, where you'll find a listing for several color ways of this sweet pin. Click here.

Mermaid's Mercantile This Sunday

Do you know about Mermaid's Mercantile? It's a one day, outdoor, beach inspired event that looks like it's going to be lots of fun! This will be my first time selling at Mermaid's Mercantile, but I have some friends who just love selling their hand made wares there, and being a part of this very creative environment. This event happens just once a month at Out of The Blue on Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach, the last Sunday of every month. If you're in the area, stop by and see what all the commotion is about! (I have some new items that I think are just plain irresistible. I'm going to take some photos, and will post them before Sunday to entice you to COME!) -x

Meet The New Kid on the Block, Jewelry Affaire

Somerset Publications and Beth Livesay have done it again! Another fine magazine is set to hit the newstands on April 1st, which will surely inspire the creative genius in all of us. It already has set my creative mojo in action! You'll be able to see my felted earrings in this, the premier issue. You'll be looking for them in the "Artistic Affaire" section. I'm so excited to be a part of this publication. Now, don't ask me why, for I promised myself I wasn't going to become a jewelry artist. A felt and fiber artist yes, but definitely not a jewelry artist. I guess the problem cropped up with needing something fantastically felted to wear with those fun felted sweaters and scarves. So, yes, I admit, the jewelry bug grabbed ahold of me, and I had one of those late night flings with beads and felt, rather an "affair" of sorts! Here, take a sneak peek, and let me know what you think! And be on the lookout for Jewelry Affaire on newstands in April...

Hail to Heather

Uh, no, it's not the little ice balls that fall from the sky sort of "Hail". Heather did nothing, I repeat; NOTHING wrong. No, this is the "I love you" sort of hail. Or, maybe if that's too strong, it's the "You're the Greatest!" sort of hail. Yep, Heather did everything fantastically right!

So, who is Heather? Well, we haven't actually met. We are friends in blogland. Heather asked me to help her with pattern making for the nuno felted panels she creates. Heather just needed a little push and some coaching, which I provided. In thanks, Heather created some lovely scarves for me out of her carded and dyed roving. Here's how she did it, click here to see. One scarf was, she warned, a bit scratchy, so she said I mightn't want to wear it as a scarf. She assured me I could do with it what I want. Well, I hope I didn't go too far, for here's what became of that lovely scarf:

It's made a "nest" around this beautiful bird on his flowering branch. It is so dang pretty that I can't stand it! When I received the scarves from Heather, I had just finished making several pillow fronts, and was struggling with what finishing technique this particular pillow needed. Well, there sat those newly unwrapped scarves, one with a warning attached. Well, the color couldn't have been more perfect. So, one thing led to another, and now it's as perfect as it can possibly be. Don't you agree? And don't you agree that Heather is the top dog in the nuno felting scarf border fabric arena? I wonder how she feels about this honor. And, um, Heather... how do you feel about making up some more of these for me? Isn't it about time you need more help with that pattern?!!! Heather?... :o) You're the best!

Uncanny

I was looking at some of the photos we took while we were on our trip in DC. I keep coming back to these two photos, and marveling at how uncannily similar they are. The photo on the left is from a Portrait Competition held by the National Portrait Gallery. This image was painted by one of the finalists, Laura Chasman. It's titled Nicholas. I can only assume it might be Laura's son. I'm pretty sure he's 13. It's so typical... see what I mean?

On the right is my 13 year old son, Drew. When Drew saw the photo of the portrait (what? You're surprised he didn't tour the Portrait Gallery with me? Ummm, that would be a No!), Drew asked if that was a picture of himself. The similarity just drives me crazy! This picture of Drew was taken outside Mt. Vernon. Guess you can see how he felt about visiting Mt. Vernon.

- Um, ok, not fair. This is pretty much a 13 year old boy's response to just about everything...

And, yeah, Drew and Kyle were busy at the Spy Museum with their dad while I was touring the Folk Art Show at the American Art Museum, and sneaking a brisk walk through the Portrait Gallery. Believe me, gallery tours were way better without the boys huge sighs following our every move. I did miss having my art buddy, Greg, with me though. Oh well, next time!

New News

And it's all so exciting!

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

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

Okay, shush! Onto other exciting news now.

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

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

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

Needle Felting Classes Galore!

Are you ready to learn to needle felt?! Well, I sure hope so, because I have a bunch of upcoming classes, and there's bound to be one that's just right for you! We have lots of fun during class, make a few new friends, and hopefully everyone stays injury free - those needles are dang sharp... I promise I'll remember band aids next time!

Making Birdie Brooches last weekend at Paper Tales!

You can always visit my website at ValsArtStudio.com to see a current list of classes. Look for the News section, and then click on Classes. That page will give you all the necessary information you need to know!

Upcoming classes include:

** This Saturday, Feb. 13 from 1-3 pm: Needle felt a lovely Silk Scarf. Held at The Grove in North Park, this is a great class for the novice and seasoned needle felter alike. You will buy a kit of the most glorious hand dyed roving, and we will artfully needle felt it onto gorgeous silk. Call over to The Grove to sign up, and get directions; 619-284-7684

**Sat, Feb 20th from 3-6 pm: Felted Book Cover Class at Paper Tales in Pt. Loma. This was an incredibly popular class the first time I taught it, and it will be just as good the 2nd time around. You will learn all the tools of my trade, no secrets left unturned! Lots of needle felting and embroidery, with a lovely covered book to take home. All that's left is to fill up the inner pages with whatever your heart desires. Call over to Paper Tales to enroll, 619-222-2510.

**Sat, Feb 27th from 2-4 pm: Stuffed Toast Pillows at Paper Tales in Pt. Loma. Hooray for Mr. Toasty! He's so cute and cuddly, you won't want to leave him be! We will be making a fun stuffed Toast, with a needle felted face. You will learn some sewing skills in this class, and have lots of fun and frivolity bringing your Toast to life. Call Paper Tales to get signed up, 619-222-2510. Note, the class price has been lowered to $28.00.

As always, you will have the opportunity to purchase supplies and extra kits on the day of the class, just in case you are so inspired you want to go home and needle felt up a storm! Please remember to make these Val's Art Studio designs for your own personal use, and not sell them for profit. I really appreciate that. Also, be prepared to model your creation at the end of the class. Here's last week's models with their fantastic Birdie Brooches.... so cute! I'm looking forward to seeing you at an upcoming class soon!

Hello Bluebird... My Favorite Shop

... though I've never actually set foot in the store! But who can resist a shop with a cute name like that?

Hello Bluebird!

For me, it's Hello, did you see that shop? Hang on while I go and check it out!

Well, Hello Bluebird is where I perch my east coast presence. You can read about it here. Alex has been a most gracious host to my felted wool creations. I (we) are hoping that peeps in PA fall as in love with my needle felted recycled wool as peeps here in So Cal. Since they've had a mighty snowy start to the year, lots of little peeps are sure to need some extra cute needle felted warmy goodness. Ahem, that's warm-y, not worm-y, okay?!

So, if you are anywhere near West Reading, PA., stop in and give Alex a shout, (she'd probably prefer a smile and a hello), and -please- tell her I send you. I think you'll love her shop's wonderful product mix, including my wooly goodness.

Crochet A Heart For Your Valentine!

What a sweet and simple tutorial from Little Birdie Secrets! It's so fast and easy to follow, that even I think I can now go and crochet a sweet heart. I promise, I'm going to try. I am really a very resistant crochet-er, because it messes with my knitting brain. I swear, after a simple chain of crochet, I totally forget how to knit. I am seriously not kidding. But these hearts are so cute, that I just have to try it out. Wish me luck!