Valori Wells

Flying Carpet

Happy Saturday....

This is Flying Carpet, one of the four quilts made out of Mystic Fabric, for Robert Kaufman.

Flying Carpet was inspired by the rugs and carpets in Morocco.

The variety of styles and colors were amazing....each style representing a tribe or area in Morocco.

 

No rug was exactly the same because they were usually made by one woman - their skills passed down from generation to generation and no pattern is used just their knowledge. I loved that you could see two rugs from the same village with similar patterns still be very different.

I had to include this cute little guy. Kitties are well revered in Morocco... they take care of the rodents since most of the markets and homes are open air. You will find them everywhere.... I was in heaven.

In honor of Flying Carpet I am giving away a fat 1/4 bundle of the "extract" palette....just leave a comment below and the winner will be chosen on Monday. My manor of choosing winners is not scientific, I collect the number of comments (say 35) and write them on little pieces of paper and let one of the kids draw. So it really is quite random. Don't worry this isn't your only chance to win....I will be giving away a bundle of fabric with each quilt.

Hope you have a great weekend!

xoxo

Valori

The flying carpet pattern will be available mid January from The Stitchin' Post.

Good-Bye Color of the Week...

Good- Bye Color of the Week... you have been good to me.

Over the past year I have been pushed at times to find images of a certain color.

I found out that most of my photographs of blue are of the sky. It was my hardest color to find photos of. Which I find very interesting because my favorite color is turquoise.

All of the neutrals were the easiest and I loved finding just the right ones.

Sometimes I had to call my husband to ask him what he thought of a color because I had no words.

I made a point of posting at least 7 photos of the color. And at times I know I took creative license in picking photos...

I tried to make sure that not all of my photos were of nature. My favorite thing to photograph is the natural world. I wanted to show color in unexpected places.

I loved using my Hipstamatic App on my phone to take photos, sometimes they ended up perfect for colors others not so much. It was unexpected and exciting.

I saw color in more depth than I ever have....

I have been overwhelmed with the response to Your Favorite Color of the Week... thank you so much for all of your kind words. They make my heart so full....I wish I could give some fabric to everyone who took the time to comment.

The kiddos and I picked winners and I will be emailing you directly.

Have a great day!!!!

XO

Valori

 

 

I am in LOVE!

A friend recently forwarded me a blog with the most amazing photography.... I am truly in LOVE with Kristy Mitchell's work I had to share....

All of her work looks like a master at photoshop but she doesn't use photoshop to edit.... she makes everything, uses the world around her, it is mind blowing!

Kristy Mitchell Wonderland

 

You can see her collection of images on her website....

She will inspire you! Her story reminds me to follow my dreams and don't give up on a vision....I will continue to follow her work and be inspired!

Have a great day!!!
XO

Valori

A time of Thanks....

The holidays are fast approaching and my FAVORITE holiday is this week, Thanksgiving! Food, family, laughter, wine, food, family.... you get the picture. There are no expectations just to be together, at least that is how I approach it.

I thought I would share some of my images of thanks......
I am thankful for this man.... we just spent a wonderful vacation celebrating our 10 year anniversary in Mexico. It was a well needed rest and re-group. And I fell in love again....even more so than when we go married. Funny how that happens in the chaos of life, work, kids and marriage.

These beautiful babes...all silly and all mine!

Mother Nature and her endless supply of inspiration...

Art....my work... I truly love what I do!

Friends.....

Laughter..... silliness!

Learning to let go....

This woman.... my mom!

Clouds... And Sunsets....

Thank you for being a part of my life.....

XO

Valori

When you are out for the count....

I am working on day 10 of a cold... quite hard for this girl who likes to do things as well as has lots to do. Alas when your sick your sick....I found myself in our big red chair watching TV. I have finished the series Orange is the new Black. Interesting...series, I am curious if they will come out with a season 2.

What do I do while I sit and sneeze...

I cuddle under lots of colors to make me happy...

I knit.... and pick up knitting projects that I haven't worked on in ages but think I might be able to finish. Wishful thinking...

I think a lot about all of the unfinished projects in the studio....even wonder around thinking I might have enough energy to work on a project but find myself back in the big red chair but now with a sketch book and paper.

Got some great sketches with this cold.....and once I am bored with that I move onto embroidery....

I am doing this embroidery out of the sketch above for an Artist Satchel that I want to make to take on a trip to Mexico with my husband in November. We are celebrating 10 years of marriage with a trip to a beach to do nothing... except I will have my sketch book and camera and possibly knitting - yes, for sure knitting. I hope that I can get it done. I have this great vision in my head of what it will look like. Now it is just bringing it to life...

I think I am on the upswing of this cold...and at least it was somewhat productive time in the big red chair.

XO

Valori

Sunday Cleaning

It seems like every time I have a new fabric collection coming into the studio I do a cleaning......As much as it is my new collection "Novella" (due to arrive any day for me to dive into) I have to create a better place for my computer. I have worked on a lap top forever.....I am finally committing to a desktop. My new Apple Baby arrives on Thursday. I am so excited to have a bigger screen to work on and a faster computer. 

The problem today is that my original idea for moving my desk doesn't fit....I have been moving furniture since this morning and still haven't figured it out......My studio looks like a bomb of "stuff" went off....which makes me want to cleanse even more. But I find myself pacing around the studio trying to decide what to do.....Figured it would be a nice distraction to blog.

The mess......and I have bolts of fabric that have to find a home because the next batch will be here soon! And I admit I am a stacker. I stack things all the time. It is one habit I have that I am starting to find very annoying. Tough one to break but I am determined to at least minimize it. 

Must get motivated to keep at it!

Have a great Sunday!
XO

Valori

Sketchbooks.....

I love my sketchbooks....I carry one around where ever I go. Kinda like my phone and wallet. The sketchbooks that I have found from Rag & Bone are the ULTIMATE! Perfect size, great paper, and beautiful covers.....

Rag & Bone use designer fabrics to cover their handmade journals. All of their product is made in the US. So cool! We send them my fabric and they cover the books and then we have unique journals in the shop. Kinda cool.....

Starting today Rag & Bone is doing a trunk show of limited edition designer books, journals and so much more! They used the Liv print from Cocoon for a series of books. I might have to go shopping.....

I have filled one sketchbook and am working on my second......I used to have a hard time keeping a sketcbook and journal but now I love it....

Images from my book.....

The paper is awesome....I travel with a little watercolor set and pull it out and paint in the sketchbook.

My new book is filling up quickly.....some new ideas for fabric.

Have a great day!

XO

Valori

PS.....not just a trunk show of amazing books but also a sale!

 

Simply Made Summer.......

Happy Friday! As summer continues I am hoping for warmer weather for my garden....luckily we have missed the frost but there is not much new growth.....Looking forward to July when we have warmer days.....

I have been working on the instructions for the knitted edging for the Summer Nights Shawl and am happy to say they are done and ready for you......

here is the download able version Download Knittedlaceedging

This was my test version....on this I used two colors and make it longer. The pattern is for the original shorter version.

I used Shibui variegated sock yarn......as my obsessive personality continues I am now knitting the edging out of 4 ply yarn for my voile Fina skirt. To adjust the pattern so that the lace is long enough I measured the bottom edge of my skirt and added stitches in multiples of 12 to make it the appropriate length. I will share when it is done!

This is the back side or other side of the knitted lace edging.....I think it is just as beautiful as the front. Just in case you didn't get the Summer Night Shawl pattern here you go.....

 

and if you want to share..... Download SummerNightsShawl-web

Another great weekend project the Sassy T-Shirt Dress for your favorite little girl. My girls love their dresses and love it when I make them something out of my fabric. I am not sure at what age this ceases to be fun but for now they love it.

For market I took a picture of the girls in the field and added butterfly kites to the sky. This was blown up to a 4' x 8' panel and became one of the walls of the booth. I just love it!

So easy to make.....all you need is a t-shirt and some voile or cotton and about an hour....

Have a great weekend!!!

XO

Valori

And the Winner(s) are.....

Good Morning.....Wow, I had a great turn out on comments for the We Love Color book....104! Since I have two girls and so many comments I decided that I would pick two winners one will get the We Love Color book from C&T and the other will get some of my new Cocoon fabric.

Vivi picked first....for the Book....

The winner is......Adele....I will be emailing you!

Olivia's pick.....for Cocoon Fabric....

And the winner is.....Debbie....I will be eamiling you!

Thanks again to all of you that commented! Keep looking back at my blog....more give aways this summer!!!

XO

Valori

The end of May....

As this month comes to a close - honestly I can't believe that it is almost June...almost Quilt Show in July. Wait I have to remember not to get a head of myself....there is still a lot of fun to come about in June. June 1st I am starting "Simply Made Summer".....every Friday for 12 weeks I will post some great projects, recipes and free downloads...might even be some giveaways!!

My goal to do a pic everyday and post everyday has somewhat fallen....I do take the pics but just don't get to posting as much...... I thought I would share some pics from market. It was a great time!!! Coming home is always good......the kids were excited to see me as was my husband! The morning after I got home I was up with Teague early and we were in the kitchen listening to music. The song Kandi by One Eskimo came on and he puts his sippy cup down on the floor and stretches out his hand to me to dance with him. My heart melted! What a sweet little boy he is....such a mamma's boy! (I love it)

Ok Pics from Quilt Market!

The beautiful Amy Butler....Love that girl!

waiting for take down.....there is always a lot of hurry up and wait! Of course as I look through these few images I realize I need to take more....Have to remember that for Houston when "Novella" comes out.

Have a great weekend!

XO

Valori