Welcome your change

Isn't amazing how one influence here or there is enough to change our life's course? The sweetest thing in life is just being open to newness, to other ways of thinking and doing, open to pondering... to dreaming.... to change.

I returned last night from my wonderful week in Santa Cruz. My friends, Jean and Mike, live slightly south of Santa Cruz in a small town called Aptos. We spent the week taking a class at Cabrillo College, where I concentrated on wet and needle felting taught by the amazing Lynda Watson. The classes and teachers at this community college are taken from a very talented pool of Santa Cruz artists, and I found the entire experience to be filled with art awe. Jean took a challenging abstract painting class, where she mastered her thought process towards acceptance during the first afternoon. I love when that happens. Change, and a force towards new thinking is so good for us!

Here we are: me, Lynda, Mike, Jean and super sweet classmate, Liza

We could wave to each other from our classrooms across a large grassy lawn, and go off for lunch to a wonderful local spot called Carried Away. Our days were spent talking art, teen struggles, and life philosophy, and laughing over how old we are getting (we've been friends for over 20 years), dissolving into hilarious tears about doing everything in the world NOT to google when we just couldn't remember even the most mundane things. Oh, heck! Our week ended as our visits normally do... feeling like there just wasn't enough time to do all we wanted to when we are together. Oh, Jean (and Mike!), I just love you to death!

I want to tell you all about my felting adventures, and will be sharing some amazing photos of the work our class did last week, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, I just wanted to check in and say Hi! and see how things are going in your neck of the woods. For now, I will leave you with a very short video from our next-door classmates, lighting and electrical. This was not created during their 3 week class, but from a Santa Cruz artist who shows his work at Burning Man. He is Todd Williams and he creates remote controlled shark lights called Land Sharks. They were a crazy hit during the Art Opening on Friday night...

More about Todd's amazing Land Sharks here:

Sharks signing off for now...

xx, Val

A creative mess

Photo courtesy of Austin!

Every single aspect of my life is in full, unbridled swing, and I find myself in the biggest creative mess possible. Ooh-eee! Have you been here too, girlfriend? Do you know how messy and wild this feels?!

I am busy beyond belief in the Hello Soul Hello Business class, and am certain I will be soon bursting out of all my seams with growth and potential. Oh, yes! I can feel it! I didn't realize how all-encompassing this class would be, but it's come at the perfect time, and I really did try to structure some o p e n time, so I could put my whole heart and soul into getting to know me better. Yep, Hello Me!! Though we are not to post our exercises, I am dying to share all I'm learning with you, but I will certainly be able to show and tell about my growth leaps in ways without divulging course content. All I can say, girls (boys too!), is that this class is blowing my socks off! Take a trip over to Kelly Rae's blog to find out a bit more by clicking here, and Beth's blog will tell you how you can still join in all the fun. Nope, you do not want to miss out on this...

This next week will find me at my dear friend, Jean,'s house, where we will share a week of art and friendship. Jean and I have been friends for about 20 years (wow, heck!), and we have done so many things together, though at different times in our lives. Now that we are older, we support each other artistically so well, and never quite have enough time together. Every parting is left with longing that we just need more time together. So, now we are to have a whole week! Yip, I'm so excited for this!

I will be taking a felting class from Lynda Watson, while Jean takes mixed media painting, (another true love of mine, don't you know!) I don't know anything about Lynda, really, but Jean assures me she's the cat's meow when it comes to specialty felting. A visit to her website tells me I am in for a really big treat. I can hardly wait to get busy. I am taking along my Tylenol PM, so as to make sure I can get my shoulders relaxed properly each night after long days felting and needle felting! That's something I struggle with, oh my golly... and isn't it crazy how we prioritize our travel needs. Sheesh! I'm also taking my brand new camera that I treated myself to after my super busy holiday season, a Canon Rebel t3, so hoping I can share some fantastic new pics on my blog and website very soon....

Off on my wild and crazy, out-of-my-normal-element adventures, you won't be hearing from me for a bit, but I promise to have some amazing stories for you upon my return. Happy creating to all my bloggy friends!

x, Val

House of 2 Hearts

Sometimes, miracles come out in the making, unbeknownst to me. I simply listen, and make art. When I touch a heart, then I feel I've given of my gift in the best possible way I can. A special commissioned painting turned out just so, and the person who received the best gift of all? Me!

The couple has been married for over 50 years, and she wanted to present her husband with a special gift on their anniversary, a painting of their beloved home near the Coronado coast. It just so happened to be the day after Christmas, and, most unfortunately, painting was at the bottom of my holiday to-do list after all that sewing and needle felting my busy fingers had been creating for months leading up to Christmas.

Weary as I was, I couldn't let her down. My painting was worked on frantically as Christmas approached. The text had to be something special, and so I presented her with several fitting choices, throwing one last possibility in at the end. I loved it, but not sure if they would.

House of 2 Hearts. She absolutely loved the sentiment. I delivered the finished painting the day after Christmas, on their anniversary. They were the cutest couple I'd ever seen as they held hands and lovingly gazed at the painting. Her husband turned to me (we had only just met), and gave me a great big bear hug.

It was the sweetest, most heartfelt gift I'd received in a very long time.

Art just doesn't get any better than that. Thank you Mr and Mrs P! I hope Greg and I are as happy and joyful on our 54th wedding anniversary. You two truly live in a House of 2 Hearts :o)

xx, Val

Birdita and Pastina

Most afternoons in my house are filled with alarm bells going off. Literally, the bird in my life acts like he is dying of starvation, and begins shrieking his birdy head off. How can a small bird make so much noise? Lordy. Only one thing will save the day... Pastina.

I run to the stove and boil water. Quick! Add the pastina (small pasta bits), and a bit of salt. Even after only a few minutes of boiling, I must take a spoonful out to feed that screaming bird! Heck already, will he please shut up?!!! (Other people in my family don't put it quite as nicely as that)

Ahh, peace and quiet at last!

Birdita has been with me for over 25 years now. Really! Wow, I never knew cockatiels could eat so much pasta, or live this long. On days when he's particularly annoying, my family asks the unthinkable... "MOM! When is that bird going to die???" Oh, I tell them they are breaking my heart. Birdita was my first true love. When I met Greg, he said the bird's only redeeming quality is his love for pasta (Greg is Italian, by the way). Heck. What about his sweet whistling? Or his garbled words he's trying to talk. When you take the cover off his cage in the morning, he says "hello birdita" in a low, manly voice (like Greg's!). How sweet is that?!

I thought he was a she bird when I got him/her, and, I admit, I wasn't a very creative name giver... I was going for the name Wolfgang, aka Mozart, which turned into Wolfie, then Mot-zita, then finally Birdita. Then, after a year, I learned she was a he. By then the name had stuck. Poor bird has had a lifetime of mixed gender issues.

The boys have had their moments when they've actually liked Birdita (BIRD... that's what they call him). Unfortunately, when they got a bit too chummy, he's hauled off and bit them on the lip or nose. Well, that took care of that. ("hate you, BIRD") Ok, they are teenagers now. I like to remember the happier times...

I'm sure he's lived so long due to his fastidious pasta diet, with a side of edamame. He's in heaven with that combo. He's getting so old now, and some days just sits and sleeps in that covered corner of his cage. He's such an old man birdy now. I kiss him on his old birdy head, and rub his beak and neck, which he especially loves. I can't think of the day when he won't be with me. Though I love him so, I have made my mother promise me she won't get a cockatiel, and leave him to me. I can't take another 25 years of making pasta at 3pm each afternoon. Nope, a pair of parakeets will work just fine for me. Take note, Mom!!

xx, Birdy-Lovin' Val

Sketchbook Saturday

As the brave new year takes shape, I find I am in a state of sluggish discombobulation when it comes to getting back to work... As much as I'm dismayed by this, I know it's because I pushed myself beyond belief over the past 5 months. My mind, body, and spirit are asking me for a renewal break. Yes, I know it's so, and I'm listening, yes, I am...

My break is in the doing, but it's the peaceful doing where my mind finds rest. Sketching suits me just fine. I doodle with colored pencil, and watch the beautiful colors blend and images take shape. It's amazing what appears...

When my mind is all a-flutter, and I am in turmoil, I find the things I create so restorative, refreshing and beautiful. I just don't understand the connection... must I be in despair for true beauty to flow? What about when my mind is calm, will it mean I am barren of creation? What's with that?

In an effort to renew my soul and self, I have signed up to take two online classes, yes, I know I need help to jumpstart my creativity flow! One begins very soon, called Hello Soul, Hello Business. I think this class will be simply amazing. Taught by the innovative Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nicholls of Do What You Love, I've signed up for this class because I am certain it will help me take my business to the next level. I am so ready for this! Now, if I can just get the muscles in my shoulders to relax, I think my body will be ready to forge ahead too!

The second class I've signed up for is called The Art of Wild Abandonment, and will be taught by Christy Tomlinson along with sweet Junelle Jacobsen of Yes and Amen! I just couldn't resist this class. Junelle asked me to take Christy's Three Hearts class with her last year, and it was so good for me to get out of my little shell, and get all messy and wild with paints and papers and scrapbooks, and new art tools galore! This is a gift to myself - a just for wild fun - class... don't you need to gift yourself too? Head over to Christy's blog to check out this class. I would love it if you took the class with me! Plus, get reduced tuition if you sign up before Feb 29th!!! Go ahead and treat yourself :o)

Hoping your new year is off to a good and restful start, and a creative one too!!

xx, Val

Today, I'm all about...

Patchwork! I'm so in love with it...

Quilt by Angela Webster, Ruler by James Michael Starr, Beehive photo, Doll by CocoonDesigns

If my husband and sons wouldn't object, I'm

sure my entire life would be adorned in patchwork. I'd have patchwork quilts on my beds, patchwork curtains on all my windows (I do have them in my studio, and you can see them here :o), patchwork wood furniture, and I'd knit happy evenings away on these glorious patchwork chairs (from Sundance) ...

I have made myself promise that I will not, will not, WILL NOT start quilting! (stern reprimand to self) But I will put patchwork clothing together and I will wear patchwork clothes, I will make patchwork Friendlys, and even patchwork trees...

Yesiree, it's a patchwork life for me! Just wondering if you have the same feeling about patchwork? If not, what are you all crazy about these days?!

Just sign me,

Happy Patch :o) ...aka Val xx

goodbye control freak, hello faith

As we prepare for the start of a brand new year, I find myself pondering some of the quiet thoughts that were my constant companions over the past year. A few so called "friends" with names like Shame, Blame, and Unreal Expectations. Certain aspects of my past year have been particularly mind-breakingly hard... Do you know that feeling too? We're together in this, girlfriend...

I want to start a brand, spankin' new year off right, yes-siree! I am going to leave my 2011 brain baggage behind, leave it forever slowly spinning on the 2011 carousal. Yep. I will start my year with an open mind, with fresh Hope, fresh Faith, and looking towards new possibilities. I just can't wait!

Before I judge, I will listen (to my heart)

I will work towards speaking softly, and let Faith be my guide

I will smile more, and fret less

I will cheer each day as I awake with Hope in my heart

I will work to sooth away angry words and thoughts

And, I will let Nature be my spiritual healer.

I wish you and yours a wonderful and Happy New Year, and hope the blessings of the season reveal themselves to you, so that you can take the best of yourself into the brave new year!

x, Val

A Pop Up show TOMORROW!

Birds are flying in... It's a flock, I tell you... Not only am I all about the world of birdies, but many of the women who support me are too. Well, birds of a feather flock together, right? Welcome friends, is all I have to say!

Tomorrow is a Pop Up Shop at the home of the Talmadge Show organizers, Sharon Gorevich and Alan Greenberg. You can find out more about it here. The show runs from 10-4. I will be one of 14 artists, and though I am pretty much all holiday needle felted out, I am excited to be included in this wonderful venue. A last big hip-hooray before Christmas. I am praying the weather cooperates. It's supposed to be windy and wintery. A festive Pop Up Shop day! Come out and join the fun, and do your last minute gift shopping! Pop on by :o)

The birdies and I will be there to say "Hi!"

x, Val

Blog Hop Winners!

Image courtesy of Sea Dream Studio

Hi Blog-hoppers! Thanks for checking back on my blog to see if you won! Here are the three winners of my giveaway. (I just put all the comments in a basket and picked. No method to my madness over here!) The winners have one week to get in touch with me, and if I don't hear from them, I will pick new winners. So, do not fear, you may still win! And don't forget to keep coming back, because I am planning another After Holiday Giveaway with overflow from all my holiday happenings!

Ok, ready? Drum roll, please.....

1. Rose Red!
2. Marfa!
3. Natasha of N's Whims!

Winners, here's what you need to do to claim your prize:

Email me at ValsArt@me.com, and give me your

• your first and second choice of prize (yes, it's first come, first served!)
• address where you you want me to mail your item

Remember, if I haven't heard from you in one week's time, then I will choose a new winner to fill your spot. So you have until next Wed, Dec. 21st at midnight to contact me!

Thanks again everyone. I really enjoyed all your comments, and meeting each one of you on Facebook, and the blog. Hope you had fun!

x, Val

Hey, Beautiful Girl!

Today I did something really special. It made me laugh and cry at the same time. It felt full of giving and remorse, but it was beautiful all the same. Do you know what I did? I downloaded a song off iTunes that I used to listen to with reckless abandon in high school... Is that weird? Heck, it made me feel so good, and brought me right back to what I was feeling at that time in my life. Wow... A 50 year old dropping in on her 15 year old life... what a trip!!! I felt like I was a teenager again... all that angst and heartache...sheesh... it's just so good and so bad! Takes me into the world of my teenage sons. Well, maybe just a little bit...

Girl, have you heard about the Brave Girls Club? No? Heck, girl! You need to know about being a brave girl! It will get you moving.... off the couch and downloading your songs from when you were 15! (just kidding- really, I did that before I read today's post.) Being a Brave Girl is about touching your soul with kindness. Sign up for the daily emails. You will be so glad you did!

Today, I honored myself. Wow, I tuned into me. It totally felt so good. Now, please excuse me, cause I'm gonna go listen to that favorite song again. And I'm going to turn it up really loud! That's the way it's gonna be :o)

Live in happiness!

x, Val

Wooly wizardy

How is it possible to turn a ball of wooly fluff into the cutest version of a snowman possible? Wooly snow wizardry, with a small barbed needle, of course! My Smitten Snowman class showed the girls who wanted to learn needle felting how easy and rewarding it can be. With a lot of patience, and a deft eye, you can create beautiful soft sculpture with minimal tools, or experience. Take a look to see how things turned out!

We began with a lesson on needle felting tools, and the dos and don'ts about how to avoid stabbing yourself. Fortunately, we only had one minor stabbing incident, and one major one that happened to me (OUCH!) That is pretty much the number one thing we discuss in class. lol.

After our snowman shapes were created, some of us decided to give ours a cold tea bath, and laughed over jokes involving peeing too much tea (ok, I digress!) Here are the tea bathers sunning themselves dry...

We worked on making the base, and I heard many comments that the base took more work than the snowmen. See, I just knew you would all love the needle felting part so much :o) Everyone's base came out incredibly beautiful They were each a work of art, and I wish I'd photographed the bases before we attached the snowmen.

Here are the finished products, aka Snow Friends! (except for mine. He's the naked one on the left. I guess I was doing too much talking to keep up with everyone else!)

You were an amazing and talented group of crafting girls, and I enjoyed my day so much! Come and take a class from me again soon. I'm thinking up a fun project for Valentines Day...

Happy Holidays to everyone!

x, Val

I'm on papernstitch!

Hello Blog Hoppers! If you are new here, click this link to go directly to the post that tells you what you need to do to enter my giveaway. If you are back for another visit, welcome back! I will be working on plenty of new and exciting adventures, and hope you will return regularly to see what's going on in my busy studio!

Tomorrow is the Smitten Snowman class, and it's all filled up. If you are interested in taking a class like this from me in the future, please leave me a comment and I will add you to my class email list. (Make sure to give me your email address) That way you will get first notice when I have a brand new needle felting class on the schedule!

In other news, I am in the brand new Papernstitch exhibit that just opened! Click here to see all the wonderful shops in this exclusive online temporary exhibit, or here to go directly to my Papernstitch page. You will see that I am offering a special promotion for all papernstitch shoppers! So many great shopping opportunities. Wow, buy handmade, and you don't even have to leave the comfort of your home! "Shop Small, Not Mall" is my motto this holiday season, and I feel really good doing just so :o)

Have a magical weekend!

x, Val

Handmade gift giving, an easy Tutorial!

Hi there! If you find this, or another of my

tutorials helpful and would like to make a monetary contribution 

to help me keep my woolie ideas flowing, I would be most grateful.

By clicking the "Buy Now" button below you can 

choose your own price for the tutorial. 

It's completely optional, but so appreciated! 

Hey there! How is the holiday season treating you so far? I hope you are not feeling overwhelmed with it quite yet - it's too soon! I just try to take one day at a time, and do things now, rather than waiting til later. Somehow, most things manage to get done!

I thought I'd offer a quick and very easy tutorial on an easy-to-make handmade gift; kitchen hand towels! Everyone uses them, and everyone is always up for having a few that are especially cute. Plus, they make wonderful hostess gifts, or girl-friend gifts!

As you may know, I am a big lover of Spoonflower, a special online shop where you can upload your designs and make them into fabric. What fun! Well, you can also shop from about a million other fabric designers, and find some fantastic art fabric you'd never find in your local fabric store. Take a look at this fantastic print I stumbled upon... I knew I just had to make something with these fun designs:

Designcrafty's 4 fat quarters pattern can be found here. *Update: Oh no... this pattern is no longer available :o( For an equally fun Spoonflower site, visit DennisTheBadger's page: here, or click here to see a page of kitchen inspired fabrics.

I ordered the yardage in the Linen/Cotton blend, which is a wonderful weight, just right for tea towels. I cut the 4 quarters apart, double folded under each edge, and ironed flat.

I used some of the salvaged edge fabric to make a hanging tab by folding the cut edges into the middle and machine stitching the open edge closed. (*Note: you can also use white Bias Tape for this step, which means no extra folding and ironing... bonus!) I then cut this into 4" long pieces, and pinned them into the backside corners so they would be sewn in once I stitched the towels up.

1-2-3, easy as pie! Well, easier in fact... once I got rolling, I could make a tea towel from start to finish in about 15-20 minutes.

Fold them in a cute way, and tie a sweet ribbon around them, and they are all ready for gift giving. Now, you are free to go visit with your girlfriends and enjoy that cup of tea :o)

Happiest of the holidays to you!

x, Val

Blog Hop Newby

Yep, I'm a newby at this! ... Some of you have asked if I'm participating in the Blog Hop, and yes! I am. I'm a wee bit late to the party (sorry!), plus I've been a bit unsure how to proceed. But I'm going to give it my best shot, so, here we go! ....

Here is a list of the amazing and talented group of artists who are participating in this blog hop. You should visit each blog to be entered into each artist's drawing. Hey! There are 7 chances to win, and some artists are choosing a winner everyday!

Beverly Gilbert http://beverlygilbert.blogspot.com/
Val Hebert http://valsartstudio.blogspot.com/
Jeannette Cook http://beadyeyedwomen.blogspot.com/
Carol Dean Sharp http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/
Marcia DeCoster http://www.maddesignsbeads.blogspot.com
Cynthia Deis http://shinylittlethings.blogspot.com/
Lori Anderson http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

My plan is to give away two items from my Handmade shop (YEA!), and one selection of sparkle topcoat nail polish so you can have some crazy bling nails, just like this:

I will be giving away one of my most popular prints, Be Strong and Soar, pictured here:

Plus, one of my Mr. Toasty pillows, which is the cutest dang Toast pillow you have ever laid eyes on!

You can enter the giveaway by doing one or more of the following:

- Like me on my Facebook page, to do that go here

- Become a follower of my blog, by clicking on the Follow button on the left sidebar

- leave me a comment on my blog

Each action item will give you one entry into the giveaway. The blog hop lasts for one week (until next Wednesday, Dec 14 at midnight). I will be selecting the three winners from the comments, and I will announce the winners on my blog on Thursday, Dec 15th, so be sure to check back next Thursday to see if you are a winner! Also, if you commented in my last post, you will automatically be entered into the drawing, never fear :o)

**Remember to leave a note in the comments which actions you chose to do, maybe even all three!

Ok, time to get blog-hopping. Good luck!

x, Val

Holiday Hopping + a BIG Thank You!

New Sparkle Santa art pillow by Val- so elegant and fun!

Sounds like something you do at Easter time, but no! This is a Blog Hop, and it's happening during the holidays, and I am really excited to participate :o) I am awaiting all the juicy details, so I can tell you all about it. It involves something we all love; a Giveaway- actually, multiple Giveaways! Plus, some exposure to a few new and creatively inspired blogs. I can't wait to get started! I'll post about it just as soon as I can.

On a different note, I want to thank you all for a great weekend. Both events were a big success, as the Handmade Revolution in my neighborhood continues to grow stronger and thrive. "Buying local", "supporting handmade" and "giving back" were things people repeatedly told me they want to support. And I want to support it too! It's music to my ears, and to all the local talent out there. We depend on your support to thrive. It just doesn't happen unless you help make it happen. You are so awesome!

xx, Val

Artisans' Alley

Guys, it's the honest truth, I'm too dang tired to write a post... so you will have to bear with my ramblings...

Here's a very small sneak preview of what's in store for Artisans' Alley tomorrow. Come and see me in Booth 93 *** I've been moved from where I've been for the past 5 years!*** If you look for me at the old spot, walk two rows west (away from the food area) and turn right, I'm 5 booths down on the right!

This is my newest "larger girls" sweater, made completely of upcycled wool with a gorgeous needle felted bird. Now fitting size Large! Woohoo, I did it! (big helper Mona saved the day with her missy sweater pattern for the larger woman. Thanks Mona!)

And, can't forget about these... be prepared to shield your eyes :o)

Ok, I'm off to bed now. Hope to see you, and say hi tomorrow. It's bound to be an extra fun day!

x, Val

Whoo's News?

"Me, that's whooo..."

I've been working out some new designs for sweet plush friendly owls. (aren't they cute?!) I had made up a few as a trial, and they all sold at my last two shows. That's a pretty good sign that I should do a small production run. The production trial run is tricky, because I try to fine tune all the steps in order to make them in as little time as possible, with as few steps as possible. Keep in mind that I am doing all the work myself, so I look very carefully at whether this new item will work into being a being a new category in my "line", and if I can train my helpers to do some of the work... Most importantly, can I make them for a price range that people will support??

I start by rummaging through my scrap bagS (there are many) At least I have them organized according to color! Once I get everything thoroughly messed up, patterns and colors sort themselves out, and I begin cutting and piecing. Ears and wings were giving me trouble... , but it's my mistakes that usually help pave the way towards discovery of a better way. I just love that indecision and mistakes always seem to work in my favor!

This one has the "before" ears and stick out wings...

And, here's the "after"... Oooh, I do love this one so! Isn't he extra Friendly??!

It's the skinnier ears, (and I LOVE that they are cheetah :o), and am so, so, so much happier with these new wings, close to the body with a big of fluff stuffed inside. The next step is making a couple more, and see if I can get the production time down. Right now I'm at 1.5 hour from scrap hunting to last finish stitch. I'd love if I could make them a wee bit faster.

It's the process I love. That, and the sewing. Oh yeah, all the colorful fabrics, and the yummy recycled felted wool too ... I do so love to stitch it all up, with the mish-mash of colored embroidery floss. I just love it all!

Have a HOOT of a week!

x, Val

PS. These new Owls (plus many more!) will be for sale this Saturday at Artisans' Alley. What a fun holiday shopping event. Mark your calendars. It runs from 9-3...Or, don't be shy about popping over to my etsy shop, and you can pick one up there! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ValsArtStudio?ref=si_shop