Valori Wells

January 20, 2012....

I find that when I go through change I retreat, into myself, into my studio, but that is when my best growth comes out of me. I can honestly say I have changed so much over my 38 years. Or maybe change is not all that has gone on, I have discovered so much about myself, who I am and who I want to be. Not always an easy road for me.

Recently I have been wanting to get my tattoo for Teague. And the only person I want to do it is a old college friend, Cheyenne Sawyer. He gave me my arm band in college…. I love that piece no matter how simple it is. I think about who I was in college….I was….uummm, in my 20’s and still trying to find myself. I was a bit of a basket case at times and I really went through a ton of growth in college. But I am so different now than then.  Really only recently can I say I have  truly found myself….REALLY….38 and finally feeling secure in who I am, loving who I am. Finding my balance and feeling grounded. And with this new found confidence my creativity has soared.

I have been in a “retreat” mode for several months…..thinking…….but still trying to get work done. As I come out of my cave I realize how much I have neglected my blog and my photography, my art, painting etc….just been off. Time to rectify that….

Step One - start blogging again rather than just thinking about blogging and then not making the time for it just do it!

Step Two - Find your love of Photography and Painting again.

To accomplish both of these Ross and I have gone away for the weekend....we find ourselves in Portland. We are sitting 7 stories up at the Vintage Plaza on the corner of Washington and Broadway. Working….Yes, working. I have a fabric deadline and worked this morning on them but this afternoon feel the need to blog. Show some of the cool city shots I have taken with the new addition to my family….the PEN.

My new camera.....LOVE!! It is compact but packs a punch - the Oympus Pen E-P3.

Our drive over Mount Hood. We traveled over this pass because there was a landslide on Hwy 20 - Santiam Pass.  Nice to have a change of scenery.

Yep - THE STAG.....we were so tempted to stop!

Of course there are some Hipstamatic images included...just can't help myself!!!

Foggy, rainy, beautiful Portland! I really do love this city!

Mother's Cafe is one our favorite places to eat. We decided we would sit in the bar because we don't get to do that much...I didn't have to ask for a booster seat and I got to enjoy my meal with out scolding a child. We are on vacation!!! WOO HOO!

My beautiful, wonderful sister-in-law, Stephanie got us a suite at the Vintage Plaza downtown. WOW! Love!

Our View.....

I love the grey light of the city in the winter...sounds funny but the color is amazing and the rain can be great to shoot in. I don't miss living in the rain but LOVE to visit.

I find the city to be a new source of inspiration one that I haven't explored in a long time.

See Ross worked! I swear he is not on Facebook!

This is what I worked on......

Then we had afternoon cocktails.....

So I will leave you heading up the spiral staircase to get dressed for dinner in the city.....

with thoughts of water named FRED......and....

little metal moose on the wall......

Sweet Dreams!

XOXO
Valori

Quilting Arts TV....

Mom and I are heading to Cleveland to tape two programs each for Quilting Arts TV. Should be fun.... I will share more of what we are doing when I can. I shot these photos as we flew into Portland at 6 a.m.
Now off to the Chicago flight!
Have a great day!
Valori

Good Morning...

Olivia, John, my brother, nephew and I are heading to Indianapolis to see mom being inducted into the Quilter's Hall of Fame. Should be fun.... Had to include an early morning (5am) shot of the mountains and a quilt in progress of mom' s....
Have a Great Day!!!
XO
Val

Beach trip...

Enjoying a little sunshine on the Oregon Coast in our favorite little town, Manzanita. The whole family is here, we are staying in these awesome condos just across the road from the beach. It has been so nice to take a little break and spend some time together... I love watching the kids play in the sand and the cold, cold ocean! I even have had a little time to draw on some rocks!!! What a great day!
XO
Valori

To market...

We are off to market.... Waiting at the airport... On the adventure is John (papa/babysitter), Sally, Lawry, mom, Teague and I. I nervous as usual and I miss having Carolyn. She is my rock... Keeps me grounded and out of my head. I can get so self conscious it is silly!!
Have a great day'
XO
Valori

Market.....

Well, home again but not quite here yet......we had a great weekend at market in Portland but it is so nice to be home. I am such a homebody. The whole family is happy.....anyway, then I had to change hats Monday morning while Kaffe and Brandon were here for the week to teach. We had a inspirational hike on Monday morning - Vi and I went with them to the Metolious river -anyway I am getting distracted....Market.....I didn't get out of the booth much over the weekend - it was so busy that Carolyn and I didn't get much break. I did get a chance to take a few photos....here we go........

Miss Carolyn as we start set up........

My sign and a couple of rose photos that I had printed on canvas and stretched....

in progress.....

Finally......all done. We actually didn't take all that long to get set up.....Carolyn and I actually went back to the hotel painted our toenails.....went shopping then to our dinner date....but back to how the booth ended up.

There is Carolyn....isn't she cute in the Barcelona skirt out of the medallion in Olive Rose?

The other side of the booth. Looked pretty good......

Carolyn and I on Saturday.......here are some detail shots in the booth.

The aprons are from our Lifestyle book.....

Pincushions......

easy pillows but look so great........

Grocery Tote from Lifestyle......

Project Bag sewing cards.........

I saw a lot of friends....Amy Butler, Kaffe Fasset, Brandon Mably, Rob Appell....and many new friends that I look forward to getting to know more as we continue to see each other at market....Anna Maria, Heather Bailey, Heather Ross......

Miss Amy in her BEAUTIFUL booth...she is classy and professional and always so generous....gotta love her!!

Amy and I....she had on this beautiful dress that she is going to have as a pattern soon....I love her clothing patterns they fit so well. I don't know much - ok nothing - about designing clothing patterns so I have used Amy's.......

The trio.....Liza, Kaffe, and Brandon......

Mom and Brandon.....Mom left for Italy on Sunday...lucky girl. She has wanted to go for years and finally her and John are off to Tuscany.....I do hope she has a wonderful time she deserves it - she works so hard. Anyway, I am back to figuring out how to do the Flickr thing - I have always downloaded my photos and then changed size, and cropped, and possibly adjusted the image in photoshop and then pulled them up into my blog....I kept hearing about Flickr and thought I would try to figure it out maybe it wont take me so long to post anything and besides that I was recently invited to join Ravelry....those of you who don't knit it is a knitting forum type..... my space sort of place...and to upload photos onto it you use Flickr.....so...that is something I am trying to do this evening...tomorrow is another Kaffe and Brandon class...today they painted, tomorrow and Thursday are patchwork - they use that word rather than quilt, I kinda like it - and Friday is a knitting class with Kaffe and then I will take him to Portland to catch a plane....Different hat to wear this week....it is hard to change my gears so quickly. But it is what you do. Have a great night!!
Valori

Travels......

Last week Violette and I traveled to Cleveland Ohio to tape a internet program, Behind the Seams, with the dynamic host Sara...
she is great! I really enjoyed getting to know her and the rest of the team....the show is sponsered by Pfaff
I had not spent much time on a Pfaff before - my friend Rob Appel is a big Pfaff fan and dealer and has always tried to get me to try one - well, I quilted on the Pfaff and I have to say it was really nice!!! I might be looking into one........
Baby Vi was a great traveler...... even though on the way home she had her first cold.
now the whole house has been sick.... I seem to have it worse than anyone else. I figure it is better to be sick now than at Christmas..... I just have to get the rest of the presents made..... never a dull moment around here.
Wishing all of you a happy healthy holiday season.
Valori