Valori Wells

Fall is here......

There is fresh snow on the mountains and it didn't get warmer than 48 today......Fall is officially here! A perfect time to cozy up with some flannel......As I promised here is the whole collection of Urban Flannels.

Blue Medallion

Pink Medallion

Multi Medallion

Blue Friends

Pink Friends

Multi Friends

Blue Roses

Green Roses

Pink Roses

Orange Roses
All of these designs (above) are large - 22"wide x 24" high repeat....I do like to work big. I really wish that you could feel the how soft this fabric is......it sure doesn't come through in the photos. Anyway - on with the collection.......

Aqua Birds

Blue Birds

Pink Birds

Yellow Birds

Green Circles

Multi Circles

Pink Circles

Blue Circles

Blue Diamonds

Green Diamonds

Orange Diamonds

Pink Diamonds

Blue Dots

Brown Dots

Orange Dots

Pink Dots

Yellow Dots

Blue Stripe

Pink Stripe

Yellow Stripe
I just realized that I didn't photograph the Green Stripe.....darn it! I thought I had it all done.....
I spent most of the evening sewing together a quilt out of the flannel for a free pattern...I will share as soon as I get the instructions done. That should be Monday - I think....The girls and I went to the Harvest Fair in town today with Mimi (my Mom).....then we had pizza....it was fun. They are such good girls. Ross is at the UofO game (Go Ducks!) he would be proud. I am not really a duck fan but I am not a fanatic  sports fan anyway - just neutral for the most part....but I do always cheer for the Oregon teams.
Well, I am rambling....I think  am tired - so off to bed...but I must first cuddle with Sophie - my sweet kitty - and finish my wine....
Have a great night! and Day tomorrow.....
Val

Urban Flannels......

AHHH, I thought that I was getting over my cold the last time I wrote but I was wrong......I have now been sick for almost three weeks. I finally went to the doctor and got some antibiotics - I figured that it had been long enough to be sick.I am so tired these days - working late at night and still trying to get in time with the family......I am going to be so happy when some of these deadlines are done. Burning the candle at both ends is probably part of the problem with getting better. I think I am coming out of it......now I just have cramps!!! Lovely!!!
    On a great note I received my sample yardage for the new collection of fabric I have coming out this fall - Urban Flannels.......it is so yummy......





These are some snap shots that I took....I will post all of the designs in a nice clear format soon. I have to get them scanned and the larger ones photographed......I have started working on a couple of free patterns that I will have available....the one above is the Urban Baby - the other one will be an adult size.......I also am getting together a couple of patterns for this fall. I have some stuffed animals pillows with a throw - a cute owl and elephant - and a new quilt pattern. We have to get everything ready for market at the end of the month. The fabric is a little late in delivery but I just have to make it work.
    In the mean time I am also working on some new designs for this spring.....it is going to be a surprise!!! You will see soon......
    I promised photos from the skirt class and have disappointing news - they didn't turn out. I am going to e-mail all of the girls to have them send me photos.....totally bummed....forgot to reset my camera and the images were all blury......some days I wonder where my head is.
     Hope everyone has a great day!
Valori

on the recovery.....

Well, I have been remiss in writing because I have been sick for 10 days.....last weekend was the worst - Ross was out of town and I could barley function...luckily the girls were so good. It made it a bit easier. I have a whole new respect for the single parent - I am so happy to have my husband, even though he was gone. The darn cold is still lingering but the work must go on. We did a entire re-arrangement of the yarn department at the shop. Getting ready for winter and our yarn tasting that we did on Friday. Which ended up being so great! Lots of people sitting around eating and trying out new yarns. It was so rewarding to see our customers having fun. Then yesterday Carolyn and I taught a Barcelona Skirt (by Amy Butler) class. Which turned out wonderful. There were 4 students and us - we all finished our skirts. I will get the photos soon! It was so rewarding to see everyone go home with a skirt and feel confident in making another one. It did help that Amy's pattern is easy and will fit anyone!!! Thanks Amy! I now have three Barcelona skirts.......
I have lots to catch up on from the sickness.....once I get Miss Vi down for a nap I am heading to the studio for a work day.
Have a great one!
Valori

Back in town......

Well, I am finally back in town....I came home late on Wednesday, ran errands on Thursday and then the family went to Washington to my cousins wedding on Friday. We came home last night...I have to say those girls did so good being in the car all day. We did stop in Vancouver, WA to see my dad. He is finally home and looking pretty good. I really thought that he was going to die....he is pretty tough - our genes are tough!  It feels like I have been gone for ages...I love coming home - I love my home.
Before I share lots and lots of photos from my trip.....I have to brag that Miss Vi walked for the first time this weekend!!! How exciting!!!
OK - first photos from The Quilt Show.....


It was a live audience on the show...I have never done a show in front of a live audience - it was fun!

I guess that every session they do a dress up day - the day I was there it was Pirate day....here is the crew all dressed up....they were very silly.

Ricky Timms........

Alex Anderson.......


This is Ricky's studio....La Veta is a beautiful little town. Lots of artist and such character..... after the show I hit the road to Taos.....


I looked in my mirror and saw what was behind me....it was too cool.

The drive to Taos was on a great highway, not a lot of traffic and a beautiful drive. Living in the mountains in Oregon is so different from the Southwest....I love the landscape.

I stayed at the Historic Taos Inn....right in the middle of down town. Great place to stay - you are surrounded by galleries and beautiful architecture.  It was very inspiring....I couldn't believe how many galleries there were. I don't think I made it into all of them.

On my hike to Williams Lake in the Taos Ski area.....



The creek along the hike......

Williams Lake.......


It was beautiful - surrounded by the mountains. There were only a couple of people at the top...I was glad I went early in the morning because on the hike down I passed a lot of people. It was nice to get the place almost to myself.

And it was convenient to have someone take a photo of me, rather than my holding the camera and taking a photo of myself. Although I think I have mastered the self portrait.....

This is where Katie and I painted....we took this road off th beaten path....a gal at this Fabulous Weaving studio gave me the directions. It was perfect! Nice sandy beach the river and canyon.....
As we were setting up a forest service truck parked on the middle of the bridge next to us....we heard a splash and realized that he was stocking the river with trout.....

Never seen that before!

Being able to have Katie bring all of her stuff....we had it made with the easels, chairs, all of the essentials when you are plein air painting....I learned a lot.

This is the beginning of the painting....Katie's is on the left.

We did get a visitor fisherman....but he kept to himself...we figured we probably disrupted him more that he did us.....

Here is my first painting.....fun to do - it is hard for me because I want to make it realistic and I am not  that good of a painter to do that  but it was a good first try......when I paint at home I  can take the time to make things look more realistic - but I am not  painting landscapes I paint large  flowers....that is  more of my comfort zone....anyway....

I started a second painting - I would of worked the other one to death and then I wouldn't of liked it...and Katie told me to stop and go again...it is good to have someone teach you and help you out. It was so fun to be out there painting, immersing myself into where I am and what I was doing...

This was the second view that I painted and I made myself work in unlikely colors.....push myself a bit.
And I only had a half hour.....

So this is what I ended up with....I might add a bit more now that I am home but I don't know - it is important that I just did it and explored something new.

This was Katie's painting when we left....she will finish it at home and then she stitches on the canvas...it is really cool - she promised to send me a photo when it is done. I will share it with you.

Like I said I have mastered the self-portrait.....anyway, after our painting - which we both could of stayed for hours but it was time for lunch...we went back to Taos had lunch and a little wine and then went shopping.... I really had a great time....too much fun!!! Thanks Katie!! She taught me so much.....
I will end with some cute photos of the girls from this weekend and all of the dahlia's that Molleigh had for her wedding.....it was amazing.

It is so tough to get a photo of Liv without her making a cheesy face...I hope that passes....but she is a beautiful girl....




Vi taking steps.....the dress is from Miss Amy Butler....she made it for her when she was born....I can't wait to tell her that she took her first steps in her dress....

She was so proud of herself......


Although she is still a bit nervous about the walking  she goes really fast with holding our hand....I figure I have a couple of weeks before I am chasing her around.....


Alright....I have to get to work......Hope you have a great day!
Valori

Plein Air Painting.....

OH my gosh!!! I had the best day....I can't even begin to explain how cool it was to do something that I was so scared to do and be sucessful!! WOW! So Katie and I went out to this great place with the river and the canyon and set up at this little beach area.....I so didn't have a clue how to do this but she is a great teacher and I came away with two paintings (sorry I have not had a chance to download them) and a lot more confidence! I really want to go again it feeds the soul! I just had to let you all know - I can't wait to go again......as soon as I get the photos downloaded I will post them...I have great photos of Katie's painting also - it is amazing that two people looking at the exact same thing can come up with two totally different looks! I love it! WOW I am fired up about it all.....I am on the road in the morning back to Colorado Springs to fly home. Boy, I miss my family - I can't wait to see them.....
Thank you all for all the support of the new designs. I am so happy with them. Once I get strike-offs I will scan them and post for you to see....the fabric will be out in the Spring....I still need a name - I have had some great suggestions keep them coming.....
Love to all!!!!
Valori

PS If you get a chance check out Katie's web site....she is amazing!

Taos, NM.....and new designs......

I am sitting in the Historic Taos Inn enjoying dinner - my three days off…yeah! Yesterday I finished taping The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Timms….it was too much fun. I took lots of photos but those are to come tomorrow - hopefully I can get them downloaded...I also have a painting date with Katie...we are going to go out and do Plaine Air (ok I know I misspelled that one) painting - you know where you set up in some place beautiful and paint what you see. I have never done that and am so excited for the challenge......
    I went for a hike this morning up to Taos ski area - the hike was to Williams Lake. It was a  2 1/2 mile hike to the lake - I figured no big deal…..well as I was huffin' and puffin' my way up I couldn't help but think I am not out of shape what is my deal…..well as I reached the lake there was a sign - Williams Lake 11,040 feet. Well no wonder I was out of breath!!! I don’t think I have ever hiked at that level before…..beside the altitude I was alone and a little nervous about bears so I was singing the girls favorite song…."I love you bushel and a peck, bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck"……if someone would of come up on me they would of thought I was some crazy girl. I did meet a great couple from Portland of all places. I had lunch with them at a great little German restaurant at the base of the chair lift. One of the better Caesar salads I have had. Maybe it was the altitude at any rate a great time. I will get some photos posted soon. I took a lot with my Roliflex (medium formant, twin lens camera that takes film) I shot black and white...
    I have lots to share today…..before I got on the plane on Saturday I finally finished my newest collection of fabric - the ones with the Dahlias…I am still trying to find a name for the collection…maybe you all can help. I am just horrible with names. Carolyn and Mom helped my name the designs and the come up with color names. The designs are painted in the Mediterranean Palette - clean clear colors. Like the photographs that I took of the dahlias last summer. The second palette I am calling High Desert - it is reminiscent of Central Oregon with a little sass….anyway I took some quick - I mean quick not great - snap shots of the designs before they went to get scanned.  They are not the best quality but it will give you an idea of what they will look like……….

First we have In Full Bloom….this is a big design - like most of my designs but very colorful and clean lines. This is how much these are snap shots the background of this is white.....

Pom Pom - this is my new favorite Dahlia…..they are so cool - I painted this on canvas because I wanted a bit of a different look - I am excited to see what will happen in the printing process…….
Can't wait to see this in all blues….wouldn't that be cool!

This design is called Tango - it is one of the last ones I did - I just wanted to incorporate butterflies….I had been seeing so many around the house that they were inspiring…(again White background)

This is the Paisley….I wanted to create a design that looked like my drawings before they are painted - the lines with a background color. One of the colors I want to do is white lines and a red background….I have a lot more strike-offs that I am going to have them do than I can actually have in the collection but I just want to see what will make the best variety and outstanding collection.

Ok….you might have seen Tapestry before on one of my other posts….I just love how this one turned out. I haven't done a design like this before and it worked just like I imagined - is always so cool when that happens…….

Chandelier - I had to look up how to spell that one - is one of the elements from Tapestry….I love how it turned out.

Flora is another element from the Tapestry - I actually did a sketch of these flowers about a year ago and thought it would be a great element to the Tapestry.

Monarch is another of the designs I just did - I wanted to make the butterflies look like they were all flying in different directions….yet still make it simple and stylized.

The last design is Stones…..the other day I had cut up some of the roses from Olive Rose and one of the pieces was just the dots…I loved the look so I took that idea to create the stones. You can never have too many dots…..and these dots are defiantly not perfect circles so I thought stones was more of an appropriate name.
     I feel like I have to say these are my designs and unpublished (so to speak) at this time - Please don't use them in any form.....I want to share what I do with you, my process - the whole package so to speak I hope that this is not misused - Ok, I had to get that off my chest......I hope that I didn't offend anyone I just felt that I needed to say that....so I will quit going on and on......
I hope every one is having a great September - can you believe it is September!
More to come later.....
Valori

All gone......

Ok you guys are so quick......I think that I got my first response with in 15 minutes.....Thanks so much! So the give away is closed for the time being but as you know I have new fabric coming out soon........and I can't resist giving some of it away!!! Keep in touch!
Thanks again Carmen!!!
Have a great day.....
Valori

Cool necklaces from Carmen......

So my weekend got away with me and I didn't get this posted so here we go.......

I have 5 of these gorgeous necklaces to give away......if you don't make the first 5 to EMAIL me then check out Miss Carmen's Etsy page to buy your own.......love her stuff....Love her!! THANKS CARMEN!!!
Have a great day........
Valori

New news.....

I have been meaning to tell all of you about this great online quilt shop, QuiltHome.com. First they carry all the great designers and when they carry a line they carry all of it. Very cool . Anyway, they have all of my patterns and fabric - great place....check it out.
Now, what else is going on in my crazy life......well, I am getting ready to get some new flannel sample yardage....

Here is Miss Sophie laying in my strike-offs...she is so funny how she must lay in anything that I am working on.......But the new flannels should be in my hot little hands soon....I have lots of great ideas for patterns......I will show you some swatches soon...... 
I am going to be taping The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Timm's early September...it will be a Spring airing of the show. The taping is in LaVeta, Colorado and then I am going to drive to Taos and have a couple of mommy days filled with art and hiking. Katie Pasquini Masopust is going to drive up from Santa Fe to paint with me and do a little hiking. Should be a blast!!!! I can't wait......
The new fabric is going really well....I just have to quit doing more drawings...Although I should not argue with the creative bug!!!! Hopefully I will turn it in the next couple of weeks...I will give you all a sneak peak at the paintings before they are off in the mail.
I also have a special give away that I am going to be doing this weekend......my good friend Carmen - has made these beautiful necklaces out of fabric and she sent me 5 to give away to all of my loyal bloggers!!! I will take some photos of them tonight and start the call for 5 lucky readers to get them......Keep checking.....
Have a great day - I have to get to cleaning my desk here at the shop!!! As you can tell I am procrastinating.......
Valori

Back into the groove of things......

Well, we are back into the groove of things around here. Liv had her third birthday on Thursday. She was so excited. This was the first year that she got it......fun to watch her open presents and have fun with her friends at daycare. We are having a party for her on Sunday - lots of adults and a few kids.....we don't know a lot of kids her age. Should be fun....it will be a hot day so we are going to have three kiddy pools out for everyone to enjoy along with beer and sangria's, bubbles and lots of laughing.......

So, I have to report that I have had a recent e-mail of someone giving up on my blog because of my grammar......I was a bit offended but I realize (and Ross continues to tell me) that it is one person. I am here to share what I do - my studio, my work and of course my family. My family is a huge part of my work so it will become a part of my blog. I feel like I need to apologize for my grammar....I am not writing this blog to show my skills in writing but to share who I am. OK that is off my chest and if you don't want to read my blog because of the way I write just look at the pictures..........
Enough about that......how about some photos from our trip to Burney, California......

This is Burney Falls, absolutely beautiful....Liv loves waterfalls, she was so excited!

Manzanita berries..... I have never noticed berries on the Manzanita bush around here - I guess I didn't look hard enough.

This is Clark Creek, nestled just below the cabin where we stayed.......

Very cool leaf in Clark Creek.

I have always been very inspired when we come to the cabin. I will take my paints and paper and just have fun painting. Liv joined me one morning. What a great moment for me to have my daughter paint with me.

Every year we have stayed at the cabin - we have been there 5 times now - we put the camera on the hood of the car and take a photo on th front porch. I love seeing the transition of just Ross and I to now. It makes me smile......
Have a great day!
Valori