Valori Wells

Highlighter Rocks with Sunflowers & Lemons

Happy Friday!

This week really flew by...Quilt Con is just around the corner and I am just about ready to go. A few more bundles to fold this weekend. Today I wanted to share with you my Highlighter Rocks with Sunflowers & Lemons Quilt.

Highlighter is Kona Cottons Color of the Year!

I found photographs a huge inspiration for my Highlighter quilt since the color was so hard for me to grasp. It makes me pucker and smile at the same time. By looking for photographs that used that color it started me thinking about palettes to play with. I came across an abstract painting with yellows and grays, drawings of lemons, sunflowers and yellow doors.

These photos inspired the palette and then I began playing with ideas for design. I carry an embroidered pouch with me full of colorful rocks and it got me started on the “rock” idea for the quilt. Rocks of course, because they are gray and that was a part of the palette. Inspiration can come from so many different things and when all those little bits come together a quilt design emerges. Next came pulling together the gray rocks and the yellow stripped background to give the quilt subtle lines and movement - similar to the color essence in the abstract paintings. The goal was to balance out the intensity of Highlighter but still make it the dominate color of the quilt. The top is just part of the quilt, quilting can stand out or blend in depending on your motif and color of thread. I wanted a little of both because I just had to quilt sunflowers and lemons.

This is a free pattern at Robert Kaufman...soon! Like in the next week they will have it up to download.

Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments about Mystic and all the blogs that I did this last month about Morocco. I loved getting to share all of it with you.

Have a great weekend!!

XOXO

Valori

PS The 3 bundle winners have been emailed.....

 

 

Mystic Blue

Happy Friday!!!

It is a beautiful blue sky day here in Sisters...perfect day to share with you my Mystic Blue quilt that is made out of the blue palette in the Mystic collection and Kona Cottons.

This quilt is a mixture of design elements seen in the rugs and the variety of blues you experience while visiting Morocco.

I already love blue... and now I am completely enamored by blue....

I really enjoyed quilting this quilt... embracing the solid areas for Moroccan elements of design.

Mystic Blue will be a Sewing Card available late January.

And now for Moroccan blue inspiration....

The Riad Idra in Marrakesh.

The doors...

Amy and I....

Jardins Majorelle - this garden was incredible with the marjorelle blue everywhere.

How could you not fall in love with blue!??

The winner of the last blog post is Ann (you have been emailed)...

A bundle of blue Mystic up for a giveaway... Just leave a comment and the winner will be picked on Tuesday....

XOXO

Valori

Gypsum

Happy Friday!!!

I wanted to share with you my Gypsum Quilt made out of the black and white palette of Mystic, for Robert Kaufman.

Gypsum was inspired by the Berber Rugs in Morocco and the gep carvings throughout the architecture in Marrakesh. Geps are the carved plasterwork used for upper wall, ceilings, tops of pillars, arches, or peaks... they can be ribbons framing windows and doors. I first saw geps in the Riad Idra in Marrakesh.

I love the Berber rugs... and what is surprising to me is how few photos I have of them. They are very simple and usually geometric, two color designs. The rug designs mixed with the stenciling at the Peacock Pavilions, I was bound to be inspired to do a black and white color way of Mystic and a quilt.

My room at Peacock Pavilions was even neutral....

Once this quilt was done I decided to quilt the Hand of Fatima mixed with designs reminiscent of the geps.

Mayram has an amazing collection of Hands of Fatima at Peacock Pavilions.

I love how the quilting turned out....

So does Ollie....

I have to share a few more images from Morocco that inspired the black and white palette in Mystic.

I hope you enjoyed the inspirational journey of Gypsum. The pattern for Gypsum will be available through The Stitchin' Post this month. I will keep you updated.

The winner from the Kantha Stitching blog post is... Solange (you have been emailed).

As with each quilt and project I share of Mystic there will be a bundle of fabric to win. Leave a comment to be entered... I will announce winner on Tuesday.

Hope you have an Awesome weekend....

XOXO

Valori

OH... One more really important thing. My good friend Amy has her newest Blossom Magazine Live... If you want to be inspired...find some love....some meaning... go check it out. Our trip to Morocco is in there and the exciting announcement that there is a new Morocco Artist Retreat in November 2016... and I am going to be teaching with Amy.....

 

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.

Interrupting the silence...

I am interrupting the recent silence on my blog (haha) to talk about a friend of mine’s new book. I am very lucky to be friends with some amazing people in our industry and Sarah Filke is one of them. Sarah is a resident of Australia. She came and taught at Quilter’s Affair last summer and was given rave reviews from her students.

I am excited to share with you her new book… Old Quilts, New Life

 

In this book Sarah selected 9 quilts from the American Folk Art Museum in New York and used them as the inspiration for her 18 quilts. She asked me if I had a favorite antique quilt that I would like to share…. Why yes I do!

I love this quilt! The contrasting fabric used in the chevrons intrigued me. I loved the varying widths of the rows and how the fabrics were all over the place but the way they are arranged made the quilt work. (I was privileged to see it in person at the Houston International Quilt Show in the Kaffe Fassett showcase.) I was so inspired by this quilt and my recent collection of fabric Mystic, inspired by Morocco, that I had to make something.

My something is this….

The Souks

The souks are the market place in the center of Marrakesh that I enjoyed winding through, finding treasures and seeing the craftsmen at work. The colors are vivid and the smell at times intense but so full of life I found myself sucked into a magical place.

The antique chevron quilt was a maze of color but yet felt organized…. That is the Souks!

Stay tuned for more about the Souks of Marrakesh and the new Mystic fabric!

XO

Valori

Inspired by... Paths of Peacock Pavilions

Happy Friday!

Today is my first post of Inspired by....

I had the honor of staying at the Peacock Pavilions in Marrakesh, Morocco. This place is MAGIC... While staying there you travel from house to house and tent to tent through the olive groves over paths. These are unique paths, each step is either too close or too far apart so that you are conscious of every step you take. You are present! My biggest goal and desire while I was in Morocco was to be present, soak in every moment. From my room in the morning I walked through these olive trees to the main house for breakfast. Starting my day being present in the moment.... this has stayed with me and I am so grateful for Maryam and Chris for creating such a unique and magical place.

My Path through the olive grove.

The Path to the artist tent.

The Path to our house.

I knew I would make a quilt at some point based on my love of these paths and the colors of Peacock Pavilions.....

At the beginning of the year Robert Kaufman asked if I would design a quilt out of their Essex Linen to show at market. Of course I said yes.... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE working with Essex Linen! As I looked through the colors I realized that this was the quilt that I would make to honor those paths!

Some of the beautiful colors from Peacock Pavilions...

Dinner in a traditional Arabian Tent.... This was our first night there and was the most fun experience... the floors are covered in soft Moroccan rugs you sit on firm embroidered pillows... with soft lighting and bougainvillea hanging from the lights. The tent is covered in traditional Moroccan stencil designs. Seriously how could you not start off your experience with this and not be in LOVE with Peacock Pavilions!!

The Main house...

From the rooftop of our house looking towards the main house over the olive grove.

I loved the nights at Peacock, the pool would darken as the sun went down, the lights would start to glow in the seating area and everything would slowly turn into an Indigo night... so beautiful.

So.... drum roll...... the quilt....

Paths of Peacock Pavilions (photographed on the canyon at our house)

I quilted Olive leaves and Olives all over the paths. I am truly in love with this quilt... the memories of such a special place that helped my path to changing the need to always think about what is next or what I have to do or, or, or to being present and in the moment. Enjoying my children and my husband in the moment! It brings tears to my eyes because I am so full filled by this by the love I receive and give by being in the moment.

I hope you have a magical day!!!

XO

Val

Here is a great description of Peacock Pavilions   from their web site. They are amazing people!

"Peacock Pavilions is a handmade, artisanal boutique hotel in an olive grove on the outskirts of Marrakesh.  Part of the M.Montague offerings,  Peacock Pavilions  was designed and built by American blogger and designer, Maryam Montague, and her American husband, Chris Redecke.  

The hotel, like the rest of M.Montague brand,  supports Project Soar, a non-profit organization established the couple to uplift underprivileged communities, especially its girls and women, through art, and fitness. 10 % of profits from Peacock Pavilions go to sourcing Project Soar.

Maryam, her husband, and two children continue to live at Peacock Pavilions where they share their own slice of a Marrakesh oasis with resident peacocks Maurice, Persephone and Gigi, five cats, one mischievous yellow lab, and any guests lucky enough to be stopping through."

Learn more about MMontague products and experiences at www.mmontague.com

 

Color of the Week... GIVEAWAY!!!!!

 

Color of the Week started with my collection of fabric, Blueprint Basics, and the desire to share my color inspiration through photography. I mixed in some Kona Cotton Solids to complete the color spectrum. The 52 weeks were split into the four seasons...

Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter....

I designed a quilt for each season ending with a trip around the world quilt, Celebration, that uses all 52 pieces.

All of these quilts are free pattern downloads on Robert Kaufman...(left to right: Winter, Spring, Celebration, Summer, Autumn)

To Celebrate the Color of the Week I have 12 of these babies to give away, 52 fat 1/4's in each bundle....

To be entered in the giveaway just tell me what your favorite Color of the Week was? I will close the giveaway next Sunday night and pick 12 winners next Monday.

Thanks for your support!

XOXO

Valori

Around the World Blog Tour...

Around the World Blog Tour...

Sue Spargo invited me to play in the tour.... Sue is a very talented lady and someone I admire.

This is Sue's recent class on Craftsy....Embroidery Texture and Dimension by Hand

Her embroidery and applique inspire me to be free when I create. Taking risks with mixing mediums and techniques.... Which fits right into what I am creating in my studio.

The studio is very busy and very messy....I wish I had a cleaning fairy! Fabric is exploding in here as I received all my Ashton Road fabric. I am thinking that I need to cut some off and give it away....wink, wink!

My new collection of fabric for Robert Kaufman - In The Bloom - will release at the end of the month. I am working hard in the studio with my sample yardage, creating quilts and projects to photograph and create a look book for the release of the fabric....

I can only give you sneak peak.....I promise to share more once the fabric is released. I am so, so, so excited about this collection.

I spent the weekend in Seattle with my girls and my mom. I was teaching at a shop - The Quilting Loft - in Seattle. It was so fun to be with Olivia and Violette experiencing all of the new things a city can offer...staying at a hotel in downtown, the American Girl Doll store, the Spaceneedle, Chihuly glass garden and of course Pike Street Market...I loved every second.

 

Teaching Silk Screening out of my new book....My Life in Fabric

Pictures from my class on Saturday. We had so much fun printing and playing with color.

My new work fills me with so much joy....teaching the silk screening class reminds me to do what I love and my work will show it.

My desire to work is as much about me as it is about my family.....they inspire me to be better at everything I do and everything I am....

Traveling this weekend with these two filled me with so much love and happiness I know I can do anything...they are my world.

My wish for you is inspiration and love.....to enjoy every moment!

XO

Valori

 

 

My Life in Fabric

I am so excited to introduce my new book to you....

My Life in Fabric with Valori Wells

My life has always been in fabric. The Stitchin' Post opened in May of 1975 by my mom, Jean Wells. I was a year and a half. I don't remember anything else. Although I strayed from fabric as I studied photography and printmaking in college. Coming home and being in the shop or mom's studio kept textiles in the forefront of my life. After college and photographing two quilting books for my mom  I found myself embracing fabric in a new way.... I wanted to design it. To create beautiful fabrics. My first collection of fabric was released in 1998 - Shades of Serenity a collection based on my black and white photographs. Fast forward.... 2014..... My life in Fabric is a collection of projects and techniques based on my love of fabric and how I like to create from Silk screening to block printing... painting and embroidery and recycled sweater owls....

I hope you enjoy a peak at my book....it is full of my love of fabric as much as my life...

Trinity....

This was my favorite photoshoot on the edge of the creek.....Just how I imagine a romatic picnic with someone you love.

Baker's Twine....

Screen printing and embroidery...

Block printing....

Studio Birds

Waterside

The Wave....

Painting on fabric...

Karavan

The Owls...

Sundresses.....

I have to end with these two.... my beautiful girls. My family - including my village - have been so amazing during the process of creating this book. It is a long journey and I couldn't of done it without them.

 

XOXO

Valori

 

Ashton Road Candy Picnic...

 

Ashton Road was released the end of July....for my collections to release complete I like to do a "look book" for the salesmen and women to show to shop owners when they show the fabric for the first time. The look book is full of inspirational photographs and projects. Some of the projects are free pattern downloads and others are recreated Sewing Cards. I try to come up with a theme for the photo-shoot that reflects what the fabric means to me. To get the look book to Robert Kaufman in time I receive sample yardage about 4 to 6 weeks before my deadline. That being said I try to be really prepared for the projects that need to be made and the photo-shoot. I received Ashton Road in the beginning of June. In the images below you will see all the work that goes into getting ready for a release. I have some of the most wonderful staff at the Stitchin' Post and friends that help me with all the sewing and pattern writing as well as the photo-shoots. I could not do it without them!

For Ashton Road the photos-hoot had to be with the kids....it had to be outside on a summer day. The colors in the fabric remind me of candy so we created a "candy picnic" for the kiddos. Two of my good friends helped me with the shoot. We each had cameras - perfect for three kids! It was the best day and one of the funnest photo-shoots I have ever done. The images are priceless and really express the happiness and love that created Ashton Road.

The Round-table...

 

My Tent...

Playtime Treehouse Quilt (free download).... made out of the flannel.

Vivi loves her Cruzin' Everyday Skirt....(new sewing card)

The Everyday Skirt pattern will be released at Fall Quilt Market.

Playtime Bikes.... out of the cotton sheeting. (free pattern download)

Urban Baby Quilt... (free pattern download) Flannel...

Three Times Around... (free pattern download) Cotton Sheeting...

This quilt is adapted from one of my patterns - The Zoey Throw.

That was our day.... lots of laughing... lots of sugar and LOTS of great photos!!!

This is my other new pattern coming out at Quilt Market, Diamond Lane.

I am doing the final touches for Quilt Market next weekend....My booth will be featuring Ashton Road... Photos to come....

Hope you have a great day!!!

Enjoy those little things in your life.... like laughing kids with lolipops!!!

XOXO

Valori

PS We are working on getting all of the Ashton Road free patterns up for download by the end of Ocotber.