Valori Wells

The Bird Paintings........

I have been meaning to post the recent and earlier this year bird paintings. I finally got some decent photos of them to put on my website when the shopping cart is finished. Not sure where my obsession with the birds have come from but I am OBSESSED!!!! Next springs fabric collection that I am working on has birds.....
It is interesting how much I notice birds now - their shapes, colors, positions they sit in, or perch in, how they look when they fly........ I am not very good a photographing them the way I want, the little buggers move to fast! I think I just need practice, flowers don't move nearly as fast.
Here you go......

Ruby - the latest......

Three Little Birds.....this little guy came from a photo that mom took of a cute little bird in on her trip to Italy - he was all puffy and kinda looks like an owl.

Tweet......my mom recently purchased this one from me. My first sale of a painting......funny it was my mom!! She liked it because it is five birds and she is going to have 5 grandkids......my brother and sister-in-law are due any day with a baby girl and then with my little guy that will make five. Didn't even think of that when I painted it. I don't think I was even pregnant. Odd numbers seem to be my thing......Ross thinks it is "odd".

Scarlet - this one and the next two are small paintings 10" and 8" as the others are at least 24". I am not as comfortable working small.....as you know from my fabric....but think it is a good idea to push myself and I really like little paintings so I am trying to paint little paintings.

Tango.....

Last but not least - Violet. When I brought the paintings back from hanging in Bend at NorthSoles, my Violette picked up this painting and says to me, "Mine". How did she know?!?!? Although she says anything is hers...."mine" is one of the favorite words.
Well, I am back to work.....we are almost set up for quilt show and I need to get a posting on our Stitchin' Post blog.....I have been TOTALLY slacking on that one.
Have a great day!!!
XOXO
Valori

Pregnancy, sickness, moving, oh my.......

It has been a crazy few weeks......my mom and step dad moved into a new home. Ross and I were the helpers in moving and unpacking. It was bittersweet for me. The house that they moved out of I grew up in since I was six, Ross and I got married there. A lot of memories!!! Strange not to drive down that road to go to the house and just be in that space. I know it is good to move on and for them it is great. They have downsized, and moved into town. Their new house is amazing - all "green" and very them. I am happy for them. Makes me want to live in town sometimes rather than 10 minutes away. Like right now when I need to go to the grocery store and am blogging instead of driving into town. But we have a great place and I really do get a lot of ideas when I drive........during the move and getting them settled in (we had our employee dinner at mom's new house one week after we moved her) I got the stomach flu and a cold. OH MY.........being sick while you are pregnant is the worst and it seems to last FOREVER. I am still fighting snot!!!!  I hope to be done by next week as it is the beginning of Quilter's Affair classes and then Quilt Show on the 11th. It has come up fast.....

We are finally having some nice days after the weird weather in June......these are the first Zinnia's from my garden. Now I am just waiting for some veggies!!! and sunflowers!

While my "shopping site" is being set up for my web site I have my new shirts and cards on the Stitchin' Post site.....come check them out.

The pregnancy is going well, minus the sickness......I am almost six months. Which seems crazy - it went fast but at the same time it seems to be forever. I was thinking today how I am really looking forward to meeting the little guy. Seeing what his personality is going to be like and how it will change the family.  Oh, it will be interesting.......I still have moments of thinking, wow we are having three kids, just seems unreal. Does that ever go away? 
Ok, I really have to get to the grocery store.....
Have a great day!!!
XO
Valori

It's a.........

I am at work taking a quick break from our HUGE move in Twigs and yarn......thought I would pass on the good news........
BOY!!!!! OH, BOY!!! I think Ross almost fell out of his chair......it will be a good mix to the Kennedy household. The girls were very excited....Livvy said to me, "it has to be a brother because I already have a sister." Anyway, he is right on track with all of his growth and measurements...always a relief when they tell you everything looks perfect!

Ross and I went out after the ultrasound and bought him an outfit! Too cute - from Zutano, Ittsy Bitsy collection.
Back to work.....
Have a great day!
XO
Valori

Nesting or Cleaning.......

I just finished cleaning my studio....wow what a feeling having everything put away and vacuumed....Mom recently passed down her cutting table to me as she is moving into a new house in a couple of weeks and wont need it. Now my cutting takes place on a nice big table rather than my flat files. With this new piece of furniture in the studio there was a lot of re-arranging to be done. At first it seemed so overwhelming but once I got into it.....so rewarding. Now I just want to do the rest of the house...especially the girls rooms! Soon....the nesting will get to the rest of the house......beware un-used stuff in this house!
On another studio note........I have a new baby......

My serger......I am so excited!!! Carolyn and I drove to Portland last week to get lessons on our new machines. She has a new sewing maching and I now am a proud owner of a serger......Oh, the clothes I am going to make! I have lists for the girls. Heather Ross' new book Weekend Sewing has SO many great projects. What a wonderful book......now I just have to find a few hours.....HHMMM!
Olivia had her first dance recitle last weekend......

Isn't she cute?! Part of me wonders if she is too young to be having recitles. But she loved it.....mom came over and curled her hair. Not sure she would of let me get that close with a curling iron......I was very proud of her she knew the dance and barely looked at Miss Lonnie.
We had the camera out the other day as the girls danced in the living room....

.....she told me she was a mermaid!

I love that the dresses that we make pass down from Liv to Vi. I forgot how much I adore this dress...

My sweet girl.....although she is nearing 2 and the signs of terrible two's are emerging.....AAAHHH! Life is interesting around here......Tomorrow we will get our ultrasound and find out what we are having...very exciting!!!!
So, many things to share but this will have to be it for today......I am running out of energy and I should spend a little time with my husband.......
Have a great night!!
XO
Valori

Memorial Weekend = Yard work! YEAH!

With all of the hub-bub of market I didn't get a chance to post before I left.....more than anything I wanted to say........ HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! To all of those mamma's out there I hope you had a great day!!!! We sure did....I had Mom and John over for breakfast for sourdough crepes. OH, they were so good! One of those cravings that just had to be full filled. I hadn't made them in ages - I don't know why so easy and so yummy!!

The girls on Mother's Day! I realize when I look at these images how much we all look alike.

Now onto market....it was a busy week! I think I am still recovering took and hour nap this afternoon.....it was not as busy as last spring but still the booth was busy. Amy and I were across from each other - we have too much fun having booths that close. We are going to request being close every spring....nothing but trouble and the busiest row around.....

Miss Carolyn and I in the booth on Sunday. There wasn't time to take photos on the other days... Sunday is one of those mellow days that we can take photos, chat with people and goof off.

My booth.....we try to keep it simple when we have to travel so far. We used canvas curtains, the back wall was painted and swatches of the entire collection were stitched onto the canvas.  I would of loved to have wood walls but that is a whole other task......
I have to say I am a little disappointed in my Leica point and shot camera, the photos weren't nearly as good as I would of liked. I think I am just spoiled by my Cannon....ok, random, back to market.

My friend Amy......it is hard that we only get to see each other a couple times a year......someday that will change!

Diane and Mallory - two of Amy's wonderful girls that work in the studio.....
Since Sunday was so mellow we went to the roof of the convention center....beautiful....

Brandon Mabley - an extremely talented fabric designer and knitter....

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city, architecture mixing the modern and historic, the lines were amazing.

It was so nice to have Carolyn there....we have fun together and get along so well I couldn't ask for a better friend, rooommate and co-worker.....Love her!
Since the plane landed on Monday it has been catch up at the shop I am really looking forward to this weekend and a few days with the family. Ross and I are laying sod in our newly expanded back yard. We are so excited to get the yard going........ the vegetable garden, new grass, flowers, a sand box and best of all a fence to keep the deer out.  I think we will live back there this summer. It is great to have some warm weather to get out and prepare the soil......although there will be no veggies in the ground until the snow is off Black Butte. Ross finished the sand box tonight and the girls are so excited to play in it......perfect while we lay the sod. He has been on a mission the last few weeks......putting up the fence, staining the deck, building the sand box.....I have an amazing husband. I haven't been so excited to work in the yard in years......Have a great weekend and  where ever you are I hope that you are surrounded by sunshine and family.......
XOXOX
Valori

New projects........

I sent off the booth today - YEAH! Except the quilts, we will pack them in our suitcases. It has been a long week getting everything together and making sure we don't forget anything. The "list" comes in handy during times like these. I am hoping to get everything else together and ready to go by Saturday so that on Mother's Day we can have a fun family day. I can't wait to just hang with the family for a day without any thoughts of work. Sounds like heaven.....
One of the projects that I have been working on for a few months now is a series of graphic t-shirts and cards. Let me show you some photos......first there are three shirt designs......

My AWESOME girlfriends are my beautiful models.......

The shirts are made in Canada and printed right here in Bend, Oregon. The company that I am working with in Bend has connected me to the Canadian company that can make custom shirts. This first series is a pretty simple shirt; white, form fitting, 100% cotton and yummy soft.

Tapestry

Red Bird

Leaves
The designs are inspired by my paintings and some of my fabric designs. They do seem to go hand and hand.......I am working on long sleeve designs for the late summer - early fall!

This is the first series of "Artful Cards" - images of some of my favorite paintings printed on recycled paper, blank inside. I do love sending cards, writing letters.....it is a lost art at times with the convince of email. It is so easy to fall into the email communication - I am guilty of that - but there is something about sitting down and writing a letter to someone you love.
After market I am going to be adding a shopping cart to my website - long awaited! And start sending out information of the shirts to boutiques around the country. I am excited - and totally scared - for this new adventure.....I figure this is normal emotions....More to come as I get this ball rolling.....
Anyway, these are a few of my newest projects......besides the full time job of baking a baby. It is amazing that in two years you can forget what it is like to be pregnant. Not that this is much different than the other two just that I forgot some of the wonders of the pregnant body!!!! I am at that "oh so lovely" stage of not looking quite pregnant, a bit more like I have drank too much beer and am bloated! Can't wait for that to pass.....luckily I have only put it on right in the front of my belly and my boobs. Trying to keep my butt from joining in on the growth aspect of the whole thing......at least as long as I can. It will be nice when market is over and the weather around here gets a bit nicer to be outside hiking.  For now it is the treadmill in the gym......oh so boring.
Rambling.......I seem to do that a lot with this pregnancy....or maybe just chatty tonight!
Have a awesome evening!!!
XOXO
Valori

OH - Totally forgot to mention that Del Hi arrived in the shop this week.....

Sewing day.....

Time is just flying by getting ready for market - whew thank goodness we are almost there. It seems like no matter how prepared I think I am, there are still things to finish the last week. One of these days it will not be like this.....well, at least I strive for that.
Anyway, I did get a awesome day of fun last week. On Saturday my girlfriend, Trea, brought over some of her college friends for a little sewing day. There are a group of us that try to get together once a month for sewing in the studio, Trea, Julie, Sondy and I, we eat, chat and work on projects. It is so fun and relaxing......well, when Trea's friends were coming to town she wanted to teach them how to make project bags - one of my sewing card patterns - so we all gathered at the studio and had a great sewing day.........just what I needed - a day away from market and my day to day to just play!

Trea and the girls with their bags......

It was a great day it reminds me how important it is to spend time with your girlfriends how much it can refuel you and complete your life. We do need women in our lifes to support you, laugh with you, cry with you and be there no matter what. Thanks girls!!!!!......now I am back to work......lots going on - I have more to share but the curtains in the booth are calling to me to finish them! One more thing  off the list.....
Enjoy your day......
XOXO
Valori

More new patterns.....

A bagel with cream cheese is sitting just fine this morning luckily the nausea of pregnancy is gone but the hormonal headaches are not. I have one every morning and every night before I go to bed. Really annoying but that too shall pass.....Olivia was up at 5:00 am. this morning and once I am awakened by "Mommy, mommy, what time is it?" then it is all over for me. We are going to get her a digital alarm clock so that she can read what time it is and unless it says 6:00 she cannot come upstairs and wake us up. Not sure if it will work but maybe....worth a shot.
Anyway, I have two new Sewing Cards coming out this spring. Here they are.....
Daphne Throw......

And out of the other color palette......High Desert

It is so simple and great gift....I was thinking that they would make a great picnic blanket. Last Sunday we went out and had a picnic and it was wonderful......the weather was great and it was so fun just sitting together and munching on sandwiches and fruit......just great to hang out as a family. I sure do treasure those times - especially when I left the house this morning at 7:00 to get to the shop.
Ok, the other Sewing Card is......
Little Wallet

My girlfriend has a little credit card wallet that she uses all the time and I thought that the idea was great.....of course made it different but the concept of a little wallet to take out to dinner or to put in your jacket pocket rather than taking a purse or diaper bag is wonderful. They are easy to make and you can do it in an hour.......great gift....I think my friends will be getting them for birthdays!!!
Well, I am at the shop early to get some work done on the booth for market......
Have a great day!
Valori

Exciting news......

I have some great news to share......I am pregnant! Our discussions of having a third came true.....Surprise!!! Good surprise, but we were both shocked as we were not trying. My husband likes to say I wanted a surprise for Valentines.......Here you go!  There are times that it seems surreal that I am pregnant again. I swear my belly just popped out, knows what to do I guess.....Even the morning sickness, just like the girls, I never know when it is going to hit. But I am coming out of the first trimester and sailing into second trimester bliss. Olivia is so excited. She was giving me a hug one day and I told her that when she hugs me she hugs the baby so now she always asks me if she can hug the baby. It is so cute, she is such a good girl. Vi doesn't really get it, she will soon! The baby is due November 1st......but as both of the girls were very early we are thinking it will be in October. My doctor encourages me to lay low this fall. Not that easy to do with the girls and work but we will make it work......we are very excited and blessed!
Now, I have been meaning to get some new photos up of the projects coming out this spring.....
This is Carmen.....

It is a simple quilt that can be translated into many colors. I really want to make it out of solids using white where the dark brown is and then using oranges, lime greens and yellows in the pieced strips. I just think it would be a great spring quilt to put on the bed...brighten the room. Since it is so simple I figure I actually have time to do it. I doubt it will go on our bed the shop will get it first.....maybe next year.

Carolyn and I shot the quilt at Brittenbush Hot Springs. It is on the way to Eugene from Sisters.....I had actually never been there. Great place! So close that it could be a day trip from here in the summer for a change of scenery........
This is Delila........

Delila is a combination of the traditional with the contemporary twist. The large prints mixed with the log cabin block make for a great quilt that is easy to put together.

This was a little house at the lavender farm....very cute.
The last pattern is my favorite.....

Pillows, Pillows, Pillows.......My girlfriend made a great statement to me one day that inspired me to do a pillow pattern. Andrea said, "Recovering pillows is a great way to change a room with out adding more stuff." How perfect is that! Who needs more stuff.....we don't! But our living room could use a change so I made a bunch of covers for our couch pillows.  The pattern has directions for my pillows and basic directions to cover any pillow you have.......lovely little Jewels for your Home!
Well, more later.........Have a great evening.......
XOXO
Valori

Lazy Sunday....

Just finished cleaning the house - I am not sure why Sunday just seems like a day to clean. We finally have some nice weather and I think we will get to the park today.....the girls will be SO excited.
We woke up on Friday morning to the electricity being out! As much as we rely on power it was a wonderful day - with a fire burning and the house quiet except for the kids playing. Kinda nice - well maybe not the part where we couldn't flush the toilet. I ended up spending part of the day finishing a painting. It was very meditative to just paint in quiet. I normally have music on but I think I might try this quiet painting again. That night I had a showing of my work in Bend for the First Friday Art Walk in Downtown.  My work is hanging in my favorite shoe store, North Soles....It looks great!!! I can't believe that I forgot to take my camera and take photos. I am going to take my mom in to see it and take some photos then.....it was a busy night will all the "art strollers"  out and about. It was great to get to see my work in another venue.....thanks to Margaux!
Well, the laundry is calling so I will leave you with a few photos......

These were shot off the canyon at our house.....love how they look on the rocks.
Have a great day!!
Valori