Busy chickies over here

We are so busy over here, that I feel like I hardly have time to take a breath! Greg and I are getting ready to head off to the Bay area to pick our son up from his Outward Bound excursion, and man, are we excited to SEE OUR SON! He will have been gone for a whole month. We are so excited, nervous, and hopeful for his updated outlook on life... are we expecting too much??? We love him so much, and want the best for him. Nothing can be harder than seeing your beautiful child falter and fall in making his way through life. Sending him away to a wilderness program is hard, but it's a step that will hopefully help give him tools to realize he can achieve anything in life he puts his mind to, anything he wants. We have such high hopes and dreams for Drew. He is an amazing young man, and is destined for so much goodness. (Drew, you are the man!!!)

We have found renters for our North Park house, and are busy readying that lovely historic house for a new young family. They will take possession of the house the night before we leave to get Drew. It will be such a load off our minds to know we have done all we can to bring that house back to the brink of "perfect"; painted all the sashes, cleaned behind the washer, updated all the yard clocks, etc. Yes, it feels so good to get all that work done!

I am trying to find a moment to post pictures of the wonderful Needle Felting class I taught at Paper Tales on Sunday, the Russian Doll class. Just wait to see the fantastic photos of all the dolls. There's even a Frieda doll!!! You just won't believe how cute they came out. Stay tuned, I will post the photos before I leave on Friday, I promise!!!

And, speaking of the Russian Doll class, we have added another class. So, yea! You can still sign up to take this class!! The date is Saturday, April, 23 from 2:30-6:30. Call over to Paper Tales to sign up. Last time I checked, there are still 5 spots left. So, get goin' girl!!

Tattoos, etc.

I never thought it would happen to me, but it has. I am consumed by tattoos. The idea of the tattoo. The art of the tattoo. The inking, the drawing, the look.

Except not on me. On the Friendlys... I am obsessed.

OB: Land of Wild Parrots

We really enjoy exploring our new neighborhood in the historic Loma Portal area of Pt. Loma. We've always known this area has long been home to several flocks of wild parrots. Obviously pets that flew the coop! We see and hear them flying overhead in squawking groups of 5, 10, 20 or more. They are so "talkative" that you can hear them blocks before they come into view. They perch in the neighborhood trees, always choosing the tallest and bushiest trees. They call down to Lola and I as we walk by on our daily walks.

Last evening, we took our youngest son and a couple of his friends to dinner at our new favorite pizza spot in Ocean Beach. Pizza Port is as loud and busy as a flock of parrots, with families, college kids, young kids, and even grandparents ranging around, eating that yummy pizza, drinking Pizza Port's own beer brews and their homemade root beer. It's a fun filled place, and we like it very much.

Finding a parking spot was tricky, but finally we did. Upon getting out of the car, it sounded like we were in the middle of the rain forest! Parrots clamoring on like there's no tomorrow! Looking up there were only two parrots in the tree! OMG, it sounded like an army of them!

Photo courtesy of San Diego Pictures

What a hoot! Except I'm not sure you'd be too happy about it if it was your house at say, around 6:15 am... I have heard complaints from people who have flocks of these parrots nesting in trees outside their homes. Now I can see why. They are as loud and boisterous as banshees. Talking to them does no good, they just get louder and more playful! What a happy bunch. I'm glad we got to meet the parrots up close and personal. I'm just glad they perch in OB, and don't take much stopover time passing through Loma Portal!

What wild thing have you had the pleasure of meeting lately? I hope they were as tame as the OB Parrots!

Custom Lovables Continue

I've been working on several custom needle felted dog portraits lately. Leo is a dog whose photo I immediately fell in love with. What a kind and caring face. Certainly a dog one would fall in love with at first meeting.

Needle felting Leo's portrait has been no easy task. Similarly hard to photograph a black dog, it's a daunting task to create a black dog's portrait in wool roving. Creating gradations of black has helped, along with the addition of brown. I felt I had to zero in to Leo's eyes to capture his spirit.

The other thing that is extremely helpful for me (making sure I am on the right track) is to take photos of the needle felting and double checking the nf photo against the actual photo. Since I've started this post, I have made 3 adjustments to the needle felted portrait and re-uploaded the new photo. (I'm sorry I didn't leave the 3 discarded photos on the blog so you can see my subtle adjustments-already discarded. Note to self for next time...)

I think I'm ready to proceed onto the next step now, turning the portrait into a pillow. This is a birthday gift for an unsuspecting friend of the purchaser. I think she will be pleased with her timeless portrait of her beloved friend. What a friend Leo is... indeed.

day dawns...

steel grey day blooms in

natures brightest palette. sun

peeks, chasing brilliance

off. colors hide in wait for

dawn's next muddy colored day...

Why Wool?

My total inspiration is wool.

I guess it starts with the wooly sheep I can never get enough of,

Photo courtesy of Yes and Amen, a favorite of mine!

progresses to the fantastic woolen yarn I so love knitting with,

Follow Jarret Flood's fantastic mill tour creating his wonderful Shelter yarn here

to the endless supply of discarded wooly sweaters that I felt,

and that dare me to cut them apart and make into new goods.

This wonderful swing vest was created as a show piece for the Talmadge Winter Show, and it sold. Heck, before I could wear it once, or even take a quick photo with me in it. Based on lessons I learned from knitting Liesl, it's a piece that fits any woman from XS to pretty Large. I must make more of these. As I know from past experiments, my second piece will be much easier. And I know next time to make a pattern, so I don't have to keep inventing the wheel each time I make something new over here... (sheesh, Val)

So, I am s l o w l y, s-l-o-w-l-y, slowly recovering after taking my oldest son up to Northern CA this week, and dropping him off for a month long Outward Bound Intercept course. We are hoping and praying that he comes home knowing more about the maturing boy inside his young man body. Hoping and praying he finds the way towards making more positive choices. Hoping and praying he finds his true heart and his strong character, and learns they are enough to help guide him in this life of his, so filled with promise. So filled with goodness, so filled with people who love and care for him more than words can ever say...

I hope you will say a prayer for him too, our sweet Drew.

xxoo, Val

How's The Creative Flow?

I think we all are creative beings, no matter whether we paint, craft, bead, computer program, design gardens, manage people, etc. I believe that if we are enjoying what we are doing, we are in a creative state of mind. Some of us don't feel creative at day jobs, and search to nourish our creative spirit "after hours". Hopefully, we all find the way to our best state of being, nourishing that creative state of mind, the zen spot where time, place, and even our own sense of self melts away. If we can manage this, life is oh - so - good!

Time, events, obligations, people in need, even our own self doubt are some things that get in the way of nourishing our creative being. It can be such a struggle to tell your creative side to wait, to hold on, to hold that thought.... while you are busy attending to the more insistent situations life throws our way. Kind of like sprinkling cold water over a boiling pot to keep it at a simmer, pushing and keeping those creative voices on the back burner can be so frustrating.

Nurturing ourselves during those frustrating times can help. Carrying a small notebook to jot down the important ideas, to sketch a simple truth, to quell an insistent thought. To just calm a busy mind. These are things that can, and do help. I am planning to nurture myself with several sketch books this upcoming week. It's going to be necessary, for it's going to be a week of compelling emotions.

How about you? How is your creative flow? What are some tools you use to nurture yourself during anxious days? How do you calm a busy mind and get back to the place of zen.... ?

A Dress Inspired By A Lexus Ad

I'm not proud of being inspired by a commercial, but I'm pretty proud of the outcome...

If you stop the ad at the 8 second mark, you will see my momentary flash of inspiration. On TV, that frame only lasts for a second, and I found myself watching for that ad so I could catch the glimpse of my current muse, my passion du jour... it's the colors, the mood, the intensity. Then scroll down to see how my inspiration manifested itself...

Recycled wool, needle felting and embroidery. Sorry about the photos... not so good. I usually prefer to take them in the daylight. But it's late, and Talmadge is tomorrow. Just had to post my last minute inspiration. Did I mention that I work best under pressure? Just give me a deadline, and I jump through hoops to get things done :o) Now off to packing up and all the rest of what needs to be done at 9pm the night before a show...

See you tomorrow!

Talmadge!

Is this Sunday from 10-4! Yep! Have you been to the Talmadge Art Show before? What? You haven't?? Well, let me tell you, you are missing out, girl/guy! Heck!!!

Woodpecker+Bug quilt style art pillow by Val's Art Studio

Talmadge's winter show will be held at NTC Promenade at Liberty Station, at 2875 Dewey Road, building 177. Click here to get more information on how to find the location. If you are good with maps, here's one for you to study...

So, I have been a l i t t l e - b i t - b u s y with life lately... you will notice my new items are a bit sparse, so make sure to get there early if you want a Val Original. The few new pieces I have are extra special. The magical Woodpecker+Bug pillow above is made in a quilt fashion, and I am in love with it. I know you will love it too as soon as you see it in it's wonderful glory.

So, come out and have a visit, see some art, check it out! Talmadge... makes for a creative day :o) See you there!

Time for a Little Bling

(hee hee!) I bet you thought I was talking about jewelry! Am I right?! Well, Bling is a jewel in her own right. I know you agree with me. What dog in the world is more adorable than little Bling? She's just the cutest! This photo (right) was taken when she was just 9 weeks old. Sheesh, what a pose. I can't stop staring at this little lovable!

I met Bling's owner when she came into Austin's Gallery to film me for an internet spot. I had no idea this was going to happen,

and since I'm at Austin's so infrequently, it was amazing she happened to come in on the right day and time. The interview was all about the pillows I make out of recycled wool, with irresistible needle felted art. Of course I had to talk about the custom dog pillows I make. They are truly more special then you can see in the photos. The texture of the felted wool, the tactile quality of the needle felted art, the wonderful finishing details in ribbon and trims... these make a wonderful gift, even if it's for yourself. :o) Well, Bling's owner fell for my spiel, hook, line and sinker. So, now she will have this awesome pillow to last a lifetime. I know Bling is still a pup, but now she'll have Bling to hug forever in this pillow.

So, did you watch the Westminster Dog Show last night? We did, and we love watching this wonderful production each year. I can't get enough of seeing all the dog breeds, and love the short historical descriptions of each breed, as well as what they have been bred to do. We were so thrilled that our beloved breed won best in class for the Working Dogs: yes, the Portuguese Water Dog won in it's group! We tried to rouse Lola from her nap to celebrate the prancing pup on TV, but she had no interest. However, when we turned on the TV at the beginning of the evening, she couldn't take her eyes off the Curly Coated Retriever... we see where her tastes lie...

Happy Dog Days to you. It's that kind of day for me today :o) and that's a good thing!

From the Val in Valentine...

Photo courtesy of Going Home to Roost. Thanks Bonnie!

Not really. The Val in Valerie, but I just thought I'd take the opportunity to say it. Just because of the day :o) I hope your day is the sweetest, most lovable, huggable, pinkest, kissable, cuddliest, red-hot day. Ever. That's what I wish for you.

xxoo, Val

Upcoming Classes + A Show!

Heck, yes! Finally... I've lined up several classes over the next couple of months at Paper Tales, so get your groove on and sign up now! Paper Tales is a place where you can meet like minded souls, learn all kinds of crafty things to make your heart sing, and find the cutest things on the planet. Paper Tales is the creative place, and a great place for classes!

Here's what you can find on the schedule now:

* Feb 20, Sunday 12:30-4:30: Mixed Media Art Journal class. Prepare your journal cover using a multitude of artistic techniques, and embellish your journal withinspirational images or words. Add a painted heartfelt scene, or a hand stitched element. All the techniques you will learn in this class can be applied to painting, scrapbooking, card making and more! More about this class here.

* March 12, Saturday, 12:30-4:30: Mixed Media Art Painting class. This class is similar to the Art Journal

class, but you will be creating a 6 x 6" painting on board. Painting instruction includes paint mixing and some color theory. Add ons (like the flowers you see here) can be purchased the day of the class at Paper Tales. Find out more about taking this class here.

* March 27, Sunday, 12:30-4:30: Needle Felted Russian Doll class. Learn to make one of these fabulous dolls by needle felting, a wonderful craft involving pushing barbed needles through loose wool. Then take your new skills home to finish making the other two. We will make the medium doll in this class, which measures 2 1/2" tall. Embellish your doll with colors or patterns you love. You will fall in love with this amazing and surprisingly easy craft. More here.

And then, a couple of classes where I'm trying to gage interest level. The Needle Felted Birdie Brooch class (by popular demand!). It's the best class for learning the flat needle felting technique. More here. **Please note, that link takes you to an old class date. Just let me know if you are interested in attending an upcoming class. You can leave a comment here on the blog, or email me at valsart@me.com.

New class! A laminated felted wool heart in any shape of your choosing. Embellishing techniques include beading, needle felting, embroidery, button sewing, wire wrapping... the sky's the limit. Turn your woolie creation into a pendant, a brooch, or a woolen wonderful to gift a heartfelt message to a special friend. Once I determine the interest level, I will figure out the cost for this class. The class will contain a kit with the basics. Add ons can be purchased at Paper Tales for a discounted price on the day of the class. Email me or leave a comment if you are interested in this class.

Then, I will be at the Talmadge Art Show at Liberty Station, which is coming up on Sunday, Feb. 27 from 10-4. Mark your calendar, and don't miss out on this great Art Fair!

An Amazing Journey

Photo courtesy of Follow My Bliss. Thanks Barb!

What a gift this life is! Every single day, we have a choice. No matter what the circumstances are, we have a choice. A choice for goodness, a choice to help, a choice to smile, a choice to love. And the best part of it, is that when we choose positive things like these, they all come back to us! Sometimes not right away, and sometimes not in a way we even notice. But, we get the goodness gift in return! Just think, the more goodness we choose, the more that comes our way. Wow, that's powerful.

I just had to put that out there, in case you needed a little reminder :o) Next up, classes! So, stay tuned ... yes! They are finally on the schedule. Hooray!!!

No Bitchy Bunny Today

Sweet bunny today. But yesterday was an entirely different story... Here's how things went down.

Watercolor paintings were the order of the day, and I managed to get 5 done. Wow, that's a great day of work for me! Pirate friendly sorts were how I began. Things got a little fierce by the end of painting #2. A good fierce, though...

Then, well, things got sort of messy. Bad cats, etc. You can see here how it went.

Just went south from there...

I hope I got it out of my system. Today my first painting is titled, 'love me with a big heart'. It's kind of a relief, back to being me, and all. Not a nasty me, didn't like that much...

Tiny Bug Underneath

Thankful...
... to be a tiny bug.
Thankful I can hold the "underneath" on my strong shoulders, and manage to push up to the sunshine.
Thankful... our little house covers us wherever we need to go, or be, whatever the day of the week.
Thankful my bird voice can sing a song, whether it be a sad song, a mad song, or a glad song, and there are others who respond. Ask, and receive.
Thankful, my artistic hands paint sad days away, and allow beautiful sunshine into my heart...
So thankful....

God doesn't give us something he knows we can't handle

... so how come He thinks I'm so strong?? Sheesh, He must think I have the strength of an ox. Perhaps a mega-bodybuilder, a stone mason capable of building the Taj Mahal. Someone who can pinch grass like it was a cheek.... Heck, what?

Each day, a new adventure, some less pretty than others. Some, like those lately, are down and dirty-dog bad... Thank you, dear blog, for being my sounding block. Reader, if you are there, don't take pity on my words of woe. Just send me a silent prayer, in hopes I am capable of summoning the strength of heart, the braveness of soul, to keep plowing through and pulling up the socks of my family's life right now.

If you are wondering (as I would, naturally), here is a one minute recap of events of late. Please note this is within the last two +1/2 months...

1. Move to step father's house in order to help restore order in his Alzheimer's fueled state of disrepair (he hasn't lived here for the past 3 years).
2. Learn that 14 year old has been getting into trouble.
3. Work like mad (successfully, thankfully) to accomplish 4 holiday craft shows in a 2 week period, and a madness of custom holiday orders. (Did I thank you for that, you and the universe? Thank you!!!)
4. Move my studio to our new home right after the holidays. Yea, this is good.
5. Austin's gallery.... s o o o s l o w after the holidays.
6. Teen gets into bigger trouble :o(
7. Husbands business is ....s o o o s l o w :o( Not good.
8. Teen... in trouble at school. Tells the principal we have moved from Coronado. Yikes...
9. Learn (today) that both sons are dismissed from the Coronado school system at the end of the day. Yes, that would be TODAY, end of the day today. OMG.....
10. Get my mom to legally take over as "Caregiver" for my boys in order for them to continue in Coronado school.
11. Realize this means that the boys are supposed to move in over at my mom's house....
12. (Ok, my mom is 76, and is caring for my step father with Alzheimers... I can't ask anything more of her. Really.)
13. Learn that they do "bed checks" in Coronado, where the asst. principal and a Sheriff arrive unannounced at your door at 6am to make sure your child is in the bed at the caregivers house... (Freakshow, sheesh)

So, amongst questions of moving again-back to Coronado, different school solutions for my boys, house swapping with my mom and step father, moving IN with my mom and step father, ways to help my wayward son, sanity of continuing my business in lieu of getting a real job.... I need God to help me handle this. I'm sorta wrung out here. God, are you listening?....

I've Fallen & I Can't Get Up...

Well, that's really just how my spirit is feeling these days... I am getting up, slowly, and putting one foot in front of the other. My spirit is happiest when I can paint, create, work with color... I feel like I can float away on the power of creating. It's such a good feeling, and I love it when I have that. Yes, that!

I have had that this last week. Just here and there... Painting in the "warm up style" of Kelly Rae Roberts is always a good way for me to start. I think what happens is that painting the girls (me) gets me in touch with what I'm going through right now. Once I get that out of my system, I'm ready to move on. I do so love this...

The most powerful painting for me in this group is "Own your Truth". It's so hard sometimes to do it; own your truth... It's the thing that makes me want to bury my head and heart under a rock right now. This truth is busy rearing it's ugly head, and just when we feel like we have a handle on it, it raises it's head in a whole new way. Plus, it keeps coming at us at warp speed. That's why I feel like I can't get up. But, Michelle, my magic elf helper came and worked in my studio today, and she helped me feel a little bit more sane (Thanks Michelle :o) So, on that weepy note (not the part about Michelle), I will leave you with this. Especially because when I later read it back, I will remember this last, and this is what really matters....

Creativity Inspiration 101

Are you feeling like you are in a creative rut? It certainly happens to the best of us from time to time. I know all my "outside obligations" (aka family drama) have recently left me feeling drained, and like a worn out washrag when it comes to finding my creative energy... I decided to sign up for a class taught by Terri Brush and Julie Haymaker Thompson at Paper Tales. Wow, it was the best thing I could have done! And guess who was taking the class too? My good friend Dana, of Tutu Monkey. Yea!

So, Dana and learned all about creating multi-media deep shadow boxes, with fantastic soldered charms inside. Wow, talk about creative rejuvenation... everyone in the class felt like new women after that. It's amazing that a class can have that effect on you. I can't believe I have stayed away from classes for so long. What in the world was I thinking?!

Here are my and Dana's nearly finished projects. I was a little stuck at the end of the evening how to finish my piece, but woke up this morning and knew just what to do with a little turquoise blue paint. The photo at the top of this post shows the finished piece. I just love it and can't wait to create more shadow box glory!

Hey, Terri and Julie are teaching some awesome classes this weekend at the Urban Barn in Escondido. Click on this link here and check it out. I only wish I had the time to go and spend another day with these fantastic and creative women. It's the best 8 hours you will ever spend...

Blogger Love

My dear friend, Marcia, finally has the Transportation backpack in her clutches, which she's been lusting over since it was "under construction". She is such the travel bug that this piece will suit her just fine! She has instructions to refer any interested customers back to me, along with a big stack of cards. She is soon off to NYC, what a perfect place to show off this bag :o) Right, Marcia?! (hee hee, I'm so excited of the places this bag will go, and the things it will "see") Marcia was nice enough to feature the bag on her widely read blog too. Thanks so much, Marcia!

Other exciting blogging news is that I was recently featured on Melody Miller's Ruby Star Rising blog! Well, actually the Transistor Radio purse was featured... and I did get a mention. What a nice wrap up to all the excitement over that bag, and especially that fabric. Love, love, love it...still :o) Thanks ever so much, Melody!

What makes me Happy? Heck, these Curtains do!

Following up my "Ruby Star Rising fabric bliss" has been a big serving of excitement over here- a fabric organization session in my new studio! I have been dreaming of the day when all my fabric swatches and cuttings could come together in one place, showing off their patterns and colors alike. Well, it finally happened this week. They were all released from the cabinets and storage boxes where they'd been hiding and biding their time. They have come to be placed right next to my lovely yarn collection. Just like at the Grove, where Susan's yarns and Judy's fabrics are like one happy marriage, they can be sisters together on one fabulous colorful shelf. Yes, we are all very happy indeed over here in the studio. :o)

Well, the fabric arrangement lasted for no more than 5 minutes. Humm... I'm actually not convinced the arranging was actually finished before fabrics were ripped out of place, and combined together with the Ruby Star Rising Dishes fabric that was awaiting a new purse design. My 1/2 yard of Dishes in turquoise was soon cut apart and sewn into these likenesses of oversized dish towels in my favorite color combinations... turquoise, reds and oranges.

I know many of you don't know me very well, but if you did you would know that I'm very big on using old linens and tea towels for curtains in my old, historic home. Wringing my hands over how to design curtains was quickly solved in our last home when I pulled out a collection of grandma's tea towels and matching table runners. They are simply glorious when pinned into an old window. The light shows off every lovely stitched nuance. This Dishes fabric made me think of old style tea towels every time I looked at it. I suppose it was only a matter of time before this was sure to happen...

Here's the Before:

Now... here's the After:

I am so happy I could scream! When I walk into the room, my whole being cracks into a wide smile when I see these magical curtains. Isn't amazing how, when faced with a myriad of life trials and tribulations, something as simple as curtains can make us want to dance?!

Ok, I know, I'm weird like that. Now, please excuse me so I can sit and feel blissful amongst my evolving studio. More photos coming soon!

x, Val