Anita Dawson rendering of the curtains.

detail of the printed fabric.

cardboard layout to create the composition

curtains up

This was a collaboration with ANITA DAWSON DESIGN GROUP, IN San Diego. 15 feet long custom accent curtains, for a living room. Burnt orange and pepper red dots floating up on silky cream fabric. The idea to make the design look effortless but also giving a statement to complement the strong bones of the room. I printed each dot separately. I made templates of each shape on different pieces of card, placed them on the fabric to create the composition before starting printing. Giving the illusion that the dots are floating up, there were more at the bottom and less at the top. The red dots are perfect circles and the burnt orange ones more like loose egg shapes, a simple idea but that gave the design just the right amount of decadence.

I was asked to join the Makers Arcade Team to discuss the ins and outs of a local hand made business.
Maureen Cavanaugh at KPBS invited us to talk and was so good at making us at ease.
It was a wonderful experience.
to listen to the interview click on link

Jen, Colleen and me with our KPBS mugs!

oh and for more information about makers arcade go to http://www.makersarcade.com

I will be attending as a vendor the Makers Arcade at the GlasHaus in Logan Height on the 26th April. All sort of talented artists will be exhibiting they goods from apparel to home goods. Please join us to raise money for a good cause.
The GlasHaus
1815 Main Street, suite B,
San Diego, CA 92113
Saturday 26th April 2014, from 10am-6pm.

New waist aprons dipped in indigo, I am having so much fun with it I am thinking of doing indigo dipping parties. I had no idea that the actual dye was green when mixed with all the fixers and once you remove the fabric from the dip to dry, it oxidizes to blue. You literally can see the transition as it oxidizes, it’s mesmerizing!!! so I started dipping bags, dish towels, scarves, I might be hooked…to see indigo items got to this link

waist apron

indigo tote, 100% usa organic cotton with leather straps

dish towel, indigo dip with mandala print

by public demand we needed a pig!
‘Tout Est Bon Dans Le Cochon!’.
This No nonsense dish towel comes in blue, brown or dirty pink, 28 x 28 inches.
Available for sale on www.valentineviannay.com website, click here

I will be attending the Fair this year, my first time to show my fabric designs, fabrics and products. very exciting stuff!

I was commissioned to paint the scene of the ‘Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes’ from the university of Notre Dame in Indiana this month. The mural was to be outside on stucco. I though because of the theme, the grotto and the place, it would be nice to paint it with venetian plaster. It will also last longer once sealed compared to paint. It worked out really well and the large stones seem to have more depth being painted with venetian plaster. the venetian plaster I use is of travertine and marble base. There was also real stone work on the top of the wall and the sides, which I mimicked color and shapes gradually to balance with the mural.

I am starting a line of city dish towels, this is the first one, I am actually not sure which will be next, possibly Seattle but maybe give me some ideas.
It was fun figuring out what to put on the dish towel, it really made me appreciate where I live, there is so much to do and see! I wanted to also add a little history, like the tuna can (San Diego was the biggest exported of tuna in a can from the 50’s to the 80’s), skate boarding was invented here, our unique Torrey pines, san dollars, pelicans, our historical land marks like the Coronado Hotel and Balboa Park, Del Mar race track. I ran out of space and had to choose to let go the zoo idea, seals, La Jolla land scape, the pier…it was tough i tell you!
Year ago I designed musical scarves for the opera houses around the world, like 20+ years ago, what I learned from that experience was how to work with a square layout and design something with the less colors (less screens) as possible. There is something about the shape of a square, it is already very dynamic as it is, adding different patterns inside a square can be very challenging. In the end I realized I should not worry about scale and made four small rows and three large ones, the eye suddenly can rest and enjoy what is inside.
you can buy these in my shop with free shipping in the US.

Please call me if you are looking for a unique custom dish towel for you or your shop.
1858 336 6332

The beauty of this plaster is not just for walls, you can apply it on any surface really. It’s all about preparing the surface correctly for a good grip. Marmarino is a thicker version of venetian plaster, once applied it is about 1/16 to 1/8 of a inch.
This particular counter top is outside. I also decorated the surface using venetian plaster to give it a fresco look and to match some italian vintage pots in the garden. It also is going to be more durable since the design is incrusted in the plaster.
I also chose to apply a darker layer first to add more depth. Its’s clean looking and smooth to the touch, a little bit like cement but softer and has a light sheen to it. The surface is waterproofed with a sealer for stone you could also use wax if you wanted more sheen.
you can see more pictures of the before and after of this project on the plaster finishes page

Call us if you are interested in revamping old concrete or tiled counter tops at
18568 336 6332

the Mural was painted in 1947 by James Reynolds an irish writer and artist. The mural is located in the Palladian Ballroom of the historical Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C.
My job is to restore the mural to it’s original splendor. With time and ware the mural is faded in many places, scuffs and scratches from probably moving furniture, graffiti and doodles to take off and food in some places! there is much to do, so far I have restored half on the mural and will continue in august.
I have posted more photos of the process on this page