Valori Wells

May 8th......pic(s)

Mom and I headed out this morning to meet up with the ladies - very talented ladies - that participated in The Quilt For Two Rivers. This project is a collaboration of quilt artists and the forest service..... I don't have the best words to describe it so here is what is on the blog....

Quilt for Two Rivers celebrates the outdoors in a classic American art form

 By Maret Pajutee, Ecologist, Sisters Ranger District, U.S.ForestService

To date, the Tale of Two Rivers conservation campaign has generated an original microbrew, an annual cycling event, a plein air paint-a-thon and a movie screening.

Now up: a modern quilting bee.

A collaboration between the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, the National Forest Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service, Quilt for Two Rivers brings together 20 leading Pacific Northwest fiber artists who are combining talents on a single work; a 40-foot quilt with Whychus Creek running through each individual segment.

Fulfilling one aim of the Treasured Landscapes program, the project is strengthening community connections to the outdoors, specifically to two Wild & Scenic-designated Oregon rivers, Whychus and the Metolius River.

“These are not your grandma’s quilts, they are works of modern art,” notes Ann Richardson, Executive Director of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, a co-sponsor of Quilt for Two Rivers.  “And this is a unique, inspiring way to tell the story of how salmon and steelhead are making a comeback in these important waterways.”

Jean Wells, founder of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (the world’s largest outdoor quilting festival), named her segment of the quilt “Coming Home,” honoring restoration work that is bringing back native fish to Whychus Creek.  Her project is a family endeavor:

“My son Jason took me to the magical place on Whychus that you mostly see in the piece.  Other elements come from a hike to waterfalls in the upper reach I took with my six-year-old granddaughter, Livy, who took some of the photos I used in conceptualizing the work.  My daughter Valori is going to paint steelhead in the water section of the quilt.  My dream is to see them coming home to Whychus, and having Jason be able to go fishing there.”

The 17-panel final masterpiece will be sold either as a complete installation or as individual quilts.  A second, smaller quilt (four panels, seven feet long) along the same theme is also in development.  Half the proceeds from sales of the quilts will go to restoration projects on the two rivers, with the other half going to the quilters.  Both quilts will be unveiled June 1, with the large work exhibited at the Sisters quilt show as well as in Portland and Tacoma.

One goal has already been met: encouraging people from different walks of life to visit outstanding natural areas they may not know about in their own back yards.

Stay tuned for the upcoming “name the quilt” contest, blog posts and a short video by Liking the Quilt for Two Rivers Facebook page.

I was lucky enough to be a part of this awesome project.....I wanted to make one of the panels myself but it just wasn't douable so I got to be a part of moms....I painted the steelhead.

Today we took a picture of all of the quilts and some of the artists.... I had Ann take a quick pick for me for my pic of the day....well there are four.

This is how the quilt will hang ..... If you put the two together you would see the river flow....isn't that cool!!!

We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful area.

XO

Val

 

Purging....

Purging..... As a VERY sentimental person and avid collector purging is hard! Ross and I have been working on the house. Just feeling like less is more! It is a process especially for me. The house is starting to feel so good, so light.

I felt like my studio has been weighting me down. I keep having dreams about packing and cleaning. It is amazing all of the anxiety I feel in the dream and then when I wake up. Conclusion..... I am purging my studio. Trying to get rid of things I don't need and packing up some of the sentimental objects the are cluttering my space. It is a process and I have such a short attention span (no wonder my kids are that way) that I get bored easy.... Find myself doing other things. Like blogging! I look around and even the places that I have purged and cleaned still feel full. Frustrating! I am just trying to work my way through the space then go back if I need to. Oy Vey!

Now back to cleaning.... And PURGING!!! That needs to be the key word!
XO
Valori

In the studio.....

I am back in the studio today. Always feels good to have a quiet day with the kitties. As I walk around my space I realize how many projects I have in progress. Some for personal satisfaction and others for work. Besides my looming fabric deadline here are a few others that I have calling to me.

This is a quilt that I started a long time ago...I embroidered one of my favorite quotes on it......

" I tell you, the more I think, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people" - Vincent van Gogh

Now if I can only get Sophie off of it I could quilt it.....on my new Bernina 550 QE. Oh my, it is so amazing to sew on....its like butter! Quiet, smooth, and the stitches are perfect. I am in love!  Totally excited to quilt with it...which is one of the reasons that I haven't started quilting my "quote" quilt. Maybe tonight.....

These are two paintings that I started when Ross and I were in the City. He is so awesome about letting me have personal creative time when we are on a trip. I am very lucky! I do hope to finish these soon. It had been months since I had painted, felt so good!

And now for my beautiful Cocoon Linen all folded nice and sitting on my table waiting for me to make skirts and pillows and bags.....OH MY!  Cocoon is my spring collection of fabric, inspired by butterflies and my daughters. They love to watch the butterflies on our wild flowers and chase them around, laughing! Just makes me smile thinking of it. The rest of my sample yardage should be here soon.... yummy cottons and voile. I am planning lots of fun projects for a Cocoon Simply Made Summer.

The projects are endless....I have several more in progress. Can't seem to do just one thing at a time - I float around my studio sometimes getting bored with one project and starting another then going back to the first one. Is that normal? I wonder if it is not the best use of my time be so scattered but I am not sure how to change it.

Well, I must focus.....back to the fall collection....feeling a little stuck at this time but it will all come together, doesn't it always!

Have a great day!

XO

Valori

Oh La La!!! Knits....

A freshly washed pile of Karavan Jersey Knits!!! LA LA LA!!!! Just got my hands on the knits and I'm dying to make some yummy clothes! Since Quilt Market is two and a half weeks away I had to make a call into my girls for some help. Thursday night we are going to have wine and cheese and sewing, I love it!!

I'm off to plan what to make, get myself organized...
XO
Valori

PS I had to include a picture of Miss Liv on her Hello Kitty machine, sewing away!

The beginning...

I am computerless today. Amazing how weird it feels to not have a computer. So I am checking in by iphone... But it is good because it makes me focus on Karavan sample yardage that is stating at me. Begging me to play with it, cut into it, create something beautiful! That is what I'm going to do.... Now where are my scissors.....
XO
Val

A quilt along.....

Hello - this is a exciting day for me...I am going to start doing a quilt along with Elizabeth Hartman - an amazing quilter......

I have never participated in a quilt along before and I am thrilled to try something different and I don't have to write instructions....Elizabeth did it for me. She started this quilt at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show this year and I love the idea. Please join us!!!!

This is Elizabeth's Quilt and it is the basis of the quilt along.....

Now I do have to finish up my fabric before I can start so I am back to it.....

XO

Valori

Quilt Show 2011....part 1....

Ok, the beginning of Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. We always begin with the firemen hanging the quilts on the side of the building..... this has become such a spectacle that I even think the firemen get a kick out of it. I swear there were at least 8 of them supervising the event.....

I have also included some of my Hipstamatic iPhone photos...love that App!

Love this shot...I have to admit that the idea for the image came from one of our local photographers, Gary Miller, who did a shot similar to this last year. I loved it.....perfect way to show us!

Hipstamatic....

some new quilters.....

Early morning....the day begins!

Love this with the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show t-shirt quilt hanging below...

My brother and nephew helped hang the Gee's Bend Quilts.

nothing like a pig drinking a Black Butte Porter....

 

 

Cindy Young our excellent, featured Machine Quilter....and an employee at the Stitchin' Post.

 

 


That is all I can do today....I have a fabric deadline and I have to get back to it! Next...the Teacher Tent!

Have a great day!!

XXOO

Valori

 

Friday Night....before Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show....

I am gradually getting all of my photos from last weekend edited....I find that Quilt Show doesn't end on Saturday for me...we have Save it for Sunday. Wait till you see those photos, amazing display of mom's quilts hung in the pines of Five Pine Lodge. And then it is catch up for the week...But I am getting ahead of myself.....

Friday night was amazing...Jennifer Keltner, editor, of American Patchwork and Quilting gave the lecture and a sneak peak of quilts that are coming in the next year.....Now enough chatter....time for photos.

 


My kiddos.....and the wonderful Grandma Jo.

My brother and nephew...Braden! Nice to have them here for the weekend!

And now the Employee Chalange....

We had a great selection of quilts from our employees...

Now some quilts from Jennifer....

On a side note I was in the front so there are not a lot of full quilt images...but these are good too!

 

 

The evening ended with the lovley women from Gee's Bend singing....

I will get some more images edited.....till tomorrow! Have a great Summer Day!

XO
Valori

Friday Night Picnic in the Park....

The finale of our Quilters Affair week.... Picnic in the Park.... The amazing Jennifer Keltner the editor of American Patchwork and Quilting will be speaking. Going to be a great evening!!!!

If your in town tomorrow I have cleaned out my fabric stash, 14 years and 25 collections later it is time to get rid of some of my fabric. Even done from my first collection. It will all be for sake behind the Stitchin Post!!!!

XXOO
Valori

The new sewing patterns....

Hello my friends.....first and foremost THANK YOU to all of our service men and women! We are lucky to have you.....

Now, as the end of May arrives and the weather is only 62...I mean really, our spring has been SO cold and icky!! Good thing I have so much to do and I can't really be outside anyway.....

Taking a quick break from drawing to show you the new sewing cards....

This is Betsy...named after the old Cadillac in the photograph. We have this wonderful Wine Bar in Sisters (Cork Cellars - if you ever make it to town) and Betsy is the owners car...Carolyn and I were able to take it out and shot some photos with the ol' girl.....too fun! The quilt is made out of the Wrenly Cotton Voile but the simple design could be used for a variety of fabrics. It is a twin size...I thought it would be a fantastic dorm quilt, easy yet looks so cool!!

Bird's Eye View is a great quilt that utilizes a large print and solids. I used the Wren Gypsy fabric and picked solids to accent the colors in the fabric and used a white so that the background would flow. It looks complicated but the solids and background fabric are put together with a simple formula which takes away all the little piecing of the squares.

This quilt was very popular at market....I was plesently surprised.

Most of you have heard about my Little Wallet pattern....well, this is the big sister, Little Cell Phone Wallet.  The design is longer and has a pocket on the back with a snap to put your cell phone in. I also added the option of a strap...which is nice for when you just want to go out with a few things and not your whole purse.

AAHHHH, the sweet Wish Bird....she is a gem. Easy construction with a pocket on the top that you can place a wish. The bird is a great way to start embroidery and play with beads, these accent the bird and make her a one of a kind gift. A more adult stuffed animal for all of us who still love stuffies and want to having something special in our home.

Mina Bag....this is your new favorite bag! SO, easy to construct and the perfect size. I really played with sizing, just big enough for all your stuff but not so big you feel like you are packing a diaper bag. The handles are the perfect length to have the bag on your shoulder but still get your hand in to find you cell phone or keys. I made the one on the cover with home decorator fabric from Wrenly and the accent fabric is my cotton linen, Jenaveve.

There you go....the new sewing cards. I really feel strong about these patterns, they are great projects yet not overly priced....ranging from $4 - $6 retail, can't beat that.

I will show you the new clothing patterns in the works soon......

Have a great day...back to drawing.

XXOO

Valori

PS Wrenly should be up on our site for Pre-Sales soon! I will let you know....