Valori Wells

Portland Market....

Back from market and finally feeling like I have caught up....well, at least on the market stuff now onto the next deadlines. I am reminded that I don't like to be bored so new projects are always good. Keeps the creative juices flowing.

Before the new projects how about some photos from my booth at market?! WISH!

I love a corner booth...it is open and very inviting...

I wrapped twigs with Wish fabric and hung little wish birds and the lyrics of Jena's song on the branches. The old (working) typewriter was available for folks to type their wishes...

Here is the little wish bird pattern for you to make your own birdie! Download Little Birdback

A jar of wishes from my friends at market...

I also had all the wishes from my friends and family that make up the Wishing Tree print.

The new Jillie Wrap skirt and Amelia Shawl...

My Wish chairs and knitted pillows.....

Close-up of the other pillow.... pattern to come soon!!

Trinity.....

Wish Bird....

I love my birdie vase...perfect for a peony....

Can't end without some beautiful Peony photos.... I could take photos of these flowers forever and ever and ever!!!!

Thanks to all the great peeps that visited me at market! Makes me feel great to see all the wonderful smiles and get all of the great hugs!

Have a great day!!!

XO

Valori

 

Off to market....

We are heading to Portland tomorrow for market. If anyone comes to the show come by my booth 2254. I would love to meet you.

I wanted to share a couple more bits from Wish....

Living in Sisters we are so blessed to be surrounded by talented people who love to collaborate. My friend Jena is a musician and when I told her about Wish she asked if she could write a song about it. It is being put together as we speak and will be going on her new album. So exciting and flattering. As soon as I have the song available to me I will post so you all can hear this talented girl.... in the mean time here is her blog Cabin Time Sessions.

She was kind enough to give me the lyrics.... So beautiful!

This is the quilt Wish.... it uses a designer 2 1/2" roll from Free Spirit but you could also make it with fat 1/4's or 1/4 yards. It is a free pattern download. Download WishFreePattern_web

I will be taking lots of photos of my booth and market. You can always find my recent photos on my Valori Wells Designs facebook page or @valoriwells on Instagram and Twitter....hope to see you there.

I have to finish packing....

XO

Valori

 

Wish Patterns...

Happy Saturday....

We have a huge lacrosse tournament in town this weekend and my oldest has two games today. It is amazing to me that she is 7 and we are already this busy with sports....can't imagine what is going to happen when all three are in sports. Before I head out I thought I would share some Wish projects...

When I have  new collection of fabric released I always make patterns - sewing cards or clothing - to give you ideas on ways to use the fabric. One of the most important things is that what I create can also be translated into other fabrics.... making the pattern useful for shops and customers alike for a longer period of time than just the life of the fabric. It is sad that a fabrics lifespan on average is 6 to 9 months. There are times that if it is really popular it will last a year.

Several years ago when I introduced my Wrenly collection I made a twin size quilt out of the voile called Betsy. It uses big pieces of fabrics that in turn make a quick quilt to piece. I thought it was a perfect "off to college quilt" and out of voile it is so soft and cuddly. I re-created Betsy out of Wish voile...

The original...

Wish version....

One of the other patterns that I recreated was the Lanie Dress....LOVE LOVE LOVE this dress. Originally I made it out of Novella rayon...which flows beautifuly.

For Wish I made it out of the Knit...talk about comfortable...

The knit is so amazing to work with I had to take the two Girlfriend patterns that I had done out of Karavan knit and make them out of Wish....

The Original Sondy...

The New Sondy...

The Original Isabelle....

The new Isabelle...

Since Wish is such a special collection to me and it connects me to my favorite people I had to make Wish Birds for my booth and for my friends....

I do love re-creating patterns but I also have lots of ideas for new patterns....

I did four new patterns for this season. First is the Jillie wrap skirt...

This skirt is so quick and easy to make and is very flattering. I LOVE maxi skirts and dresses so this skirt is long. I have made it out of knit, voile and rayon. They all have different qualities of drape and coziness.

The next is the Amelia Shawl...

This awesome shawl is a big rectangle that has buttons along both edges to create sleeves....I love to knit so I included a knit version in the pattern. When the Amelia Shawl is made out of the voile it is the perfect summer cover up.

Pockets of Wishes is a small wall hanging created with pockets for "wishes" or dreams, kids drawings, etc.

All of the pieces are top stitched onto a background rather than pieced.

The last pattern is my favorite by far....Trinity spent a lot if time in my head before I was able to create what I saw. I just love how the variety of creams and whites in the background create a great texture as well as the different substrates that I used; linen, cotton and embossed fabrics.

This card is not a beginner sewing card it is more of an intermediate technique card. I show you how to make the strips and cut them into triangles free form so your quit will be your own not exactly like mine.  I enjoyed it so much I am going to be doing more of these technique cards to go with the beginner cards.

I am being called to head to the lacrosse game.... Have a great day! More Wish projects and inspiration to come....

XO

Valori

Sew Red and Valentine's.....

Happy Valentine's Day!!! I think it is one of my favorite days because it was my grandmother's birthday, Clara Valentine....I miss her! This day is to be full of love and happiness...it isn't about gifts and roses and chocolate to me but the beauty of loving...

"We are reminded how short life really is, and how we are just passing through. So,all the people you haven't told you love lately, tell them, and live your days like you mean it." - Hal Sutton

I am excited to be posting about a great project that I was a part of.... Sew Red and the Sew Red blog tour....What is Sew Red? It is a really cool book with beautiful projects from a variety of folks in the Quilting and Sewing Industry... and everything is in RED....this book was created to raise awareness of the risks of heart disease in women! How amazing to be a part of such a great cause. I am blessed to not have lost any women in my family to heart disease. It is such a huge issue for us and it takes people like Laura Zander - the founder of Jimmy Beans Wool (btw an awesome yarn shop) to take a step up and make us all aware. Laura's from the knitting world and started her quest for awareness with Stitch Red... a needlework book that was filled with projects in red... This is an fun and important blog tour I hope you have the time to visit some of the other blogs for their projects and thoughts on heart disease....I have added a list to the end of this post on all the other folks contributing....

But I thought I would first share some pics.....

The book....

The quilt I did for the project....Love their photography!!!

Turned out so beautiful.... I really was honored to be part of such a great book.

Have a great HEART healthy Valentine's Day!!!!

XO

Valori

 

2/11 - Kay Whitt - http://blog.sewserendipity.com
2/12 - Marcia Harmening - http://www.happystashquilts.com/blogs/news
2/13 - Ty Pennington - He'll actually be posting on Stitch Red Blog, as he does not have his own blog - http://www.stitchred.com/blog.asp
2/15 - Patty Young - http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com
2/18 - Mark Cesarik - http://homeecny.blogspot.com and you!
2/19 - Amy Butler - she'll also be posting on the Stitch Red site
2/20 - Sweetwater - http://www.sweetwater.typepad.com
2/21 - Brett Bara - http://www.brettbara.com
2/22 - Saremy Duffy - http://www.saremy.typepad.com
2/23 - Nancy Zieman - www.nancyzieman.com/blog
2/25 - Tula Pink - http://tulapink.com/blog and Kaari Meng/French General - http://frenchgeneral.blogspot.com
2/27 - Anna Maria Horner - http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com
2/28 - Kristen Ashbaugh Helmreich - www.marinade.wordpress.com

Novella Indigo...

AAAHHH Monday! I love my Monday's...I tend to spend the day in the studio working on the latest obsession.

But alas....I must share my Indigo palette with you. The photo shoot that we did with Indigo was my Favorite. My assistant and I planned a dinner party late in the summer with all of our peeps. I knew I had to use my peeps others may not wear the clothes I ask to match the palette. The entire party was based around Indigo and the colors. I planned the food to match, and cooked it all.... I love cooking! Especially for friends.

We sent out invitations to the party indicating what they would wear. Then all they had to do was arrive be willing to let me take their pics and enjoy a lovely dinner.

But first the fabric....

this is in cotton sateen

this is in cotton sateen... yummy!!

Rayon...

Rayon...

Cotton Sateen and cotton

I have to warn you I have a lot of photos from the Indigo Nights Dinner Party.....it was just so fun. I can't tell you how exciting it was to pull it off. There are times when you have ideas that really are not going to work. This one did and it was perfect!!!! 

This pic was done by my lovely assistant, Sondy! She is getting good at catching a moment. So proud!!

Didn't really have any Indigo food but all of the accent colors were perfect for cooking!

Wine infused pear over peaches with a little marscapone cheese....all I have to say is OMG YUMMY!!

Without planning it we had a full moon! It was a beautiful night!

In the cool of the evening the girls ended up cuddled in Novella quilts. Made my heart fill with love and gratitude for these amazing people in my life.

Novella Indigo free pattern.... Download NovellaFreePattern-web

Finnelopy sewing card....

Tomorrow....Booth shots....I love how my booth turned out and am excited to show you. If you happen to be local...we are going to put the booth up in the  shop after our annual PJ sale on Saturday. The crate should be arriving on Wednesday.

Have a great day!!

XO

Valori

 

Novella Spice...

Happy Sunday! Today I am going to introduce you to Novella Spice.... A Marketplace full of Indulgence.

This was a fun photo shoot with two of my closest friends. They are such good sports helping me by modeling and dealing with my ideas...

But first what we all love THE FABRIC....

Finnelopy... Spice

Heart de flur..... Gypsy

Peony... Gypsy

Peony... Scarlet

 

Peony...StoneScarlet this is in rayon. Makes a beautiful dress or skirt....

Rain... Cinnamon

Rain... Gypsy

Rain....Raspberry in Rayon....

Zigzag....Gypsy

Novella Spice photo shoot was based at our local farmers market. Late summer when it is packed with yummy goods....

Some of my favorite shots from the day with my girls...

Sondy's dad has this amazing Ford that was eggplant - I mean of all colors...it was meant to be photographed with Novella Spice quilt...

Finnelopy quilt in Spice.

Novella free pattern in Spice..... Download NovellaFreePattern-web

Tomorrow.... Indigo...

Have a great Sunday!!

XO

Valori

Hello Novella....

College game day....the Oregon Ducks are playing at 4p.m. we are gathering to watch the game at my parents. Ross is out showing houses and the kids and I are in the studio....a great Saturday!

While the monsters are occupied I thought I would introduce you to Novella. My newest collection of fabric that I am truly in LOVE with. Novella has three color palettes with some pieces that cross over to other palettes.

The introduction will start with Driftwood.....Where Earth Meets Elegance...

This is Finnelopy....in aqua

in Curry...this print is cotton sateen. Cotton sateen is a heavier weight than quilting cotton but not as heavy as a traditional home decorator fabric.

Heart de flur.....charcoal

Heart de flur.....Gypsy

Peony.... Aquastone...this fabric is a yummy rayon. Like butter to sew with, I think it is my new favorite substrate.

Peony... Gold...this comes in the cotton sateen and rayon.

Peony... Gypsy

Rain...Aqua...this comes in cotton and rayon.

Rain...Gypsy

ZigZag.. aqua

Zigzag... Stone....this comes in the cotton sateen.

For the photo shoot of this color story I had a beautiful couple that is truly in love and I took them to a lake... Here are some of my FAVS from the shoot...

I have this vision of creating an canopy over a boat with a quilt....this is a start but my quilt was not big enough or my boat was too big. Someday I am going to get it to work.....

And now for some quilts...

This is a new Sewing Card called Finnelopy...

The Novella quilt is a free pattern... Download NovellaFreePattern-web

I created Annie several years ago...I felt it would make a great sewing card.

The Greenwich bag is so easy and versitale....fits all my needs - sketchbook, pens, camera, wallet, phone, and all those other random things the get in your purse.

My favroite picture of Lanie and Jordan...they were amazing!

I am being beckoned to play legos and barbies.....Have a great day!

XO

Valori

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show 2012....part 2

Hello.......

Here is the second instalment of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show photos......

It was only 8ish and town was full....

Even the Cowboys were out looking at quilts! How often do you see that?!

My friends little boy "Water Doctor" out for the day keeping the visitors well hydrated!

I always love the line outside the Sisters Bakery on Quilt Show day....all across the street.

Another look of Cascade Street.....

The first Annual Man Land Exhibit.....way cool to recognize our Men Quilters!

I will end with the Wizard of Oz....

What is truly amazing is that I started this blog in the morning and with all the interruptions I am sending it now..... I came upstairs to finish......hope nobody has noticed that I'm gone!!!

Have a great night!!!

XO

Valori

 

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show 2012....part 1

Happy Monday!!! I got my first canning lesson today with my step-mom. We made dill pickles! So domestic of me...in between the canning process I started working on my Spring 2013 collection of fabric. Makes my brain hurt to think that far ahead right now. I have spent so much time trying to keep myself in the now it is hard to think out that far.

The pickles are done, the lids popped (I guess that is good). Teague is still sleeping. It is peaceful so I thought I would share some Quilt Show photos from this year......

The day always begins with the Sisters Firemen hanging our Employee Challenge Quilts.

Mom and I out for our morning walk.....

I love the look down Cascade St, aka Highway 20, first thing in the morning. I think it was about 7:30ish.

I LOVE this quilt!

Rob Appell....sporting his Quilt Rescue t-shirt. He volunteers every year to help with Quilt Rescue. Very Cool!!!!

Still hanging.....

Rob hard at work fixing a quilt.....and we have barley made it 2 blocks.

I will have to end here...my little monster is calling! Keep your eyes out for part 2 and part 3....

XO

Valori

 

Picnic in the Park....part 2....

Hello......back from vacation! Wow a fun trip but I am tired.....why does that have to happen? I am happy to have the house and studio to myself! It is quiet no one needs anything from me and I can catch up...think a little!

Now back to the Picnic in the Park......after the showing of the Employee challenge quilts we were ready for the main event! The FOLK ART CHICKS.......

Gwen Marston, Sue Spargo, and Tonye Phillips......

The little helper.....

The Chicks did great....and all of their quilts are beautiful!

I love this quilt that one of our wonderful quilters made out of past t-shirts! Too cool!

Have a great day!

XO

Valori