Valerie's Workshop

Friday started normally for many of us. We woke up early, went through our normal routine of breakfasting, dressing and beginning our day. Some of us went to work, some of us stayed home, but for many, we went to school. My son and I arrived early, as we normally do after a long commute from Madison to Ixonia. I walked with him to the doorstep of the school, where I left him while I signed myself in as I do every Friday. I chatted with the school secretary, wishing her a happy holiday as I admired how festive the school looked. I said hello to the nurse and gave her an update on my sons condition, as he had been home sick with the flu for the last three days. After a quick pitstop, I returned to the entrance of the school, where I met up with the 4-k class on our walk into the classroom. We walked down the steps single file, hung our coats up in the appropriate cubby and made our way into Mrs. R's cozy classroom. Just like children all across the country, we gathered together a

Well, it's official folks. Not only is my artwork for sale at the Mineral Point Artist's Annex, but it is now available on Etsy! Check out my shop here to see my first few listings. More to come in the future. You can search for my shop by looking up @ValeriesWorkshop. Just in time for the holidays, I've listed Christmas postcards and framable prints. I even listed my beanstalks, for those of you who have friends or family with growing children. Please feel free to share this page with friends. And make sure to check back often for additional listings.

Did you vote yet? I did at 8 o'clock this morning and was voter number 185 at my local polling place. Please take some time today to make your voice heard and your vote count.

A s I was serving coffee to the residents at work last Saturday, a woman who is commonly quite grumpy stopped me in my tracks and asked me if I always smile. I filled her mug, smiled back and told her that I try to smile as often as possible. As I worked my way around the table, I explained to her that if I wasn't able to do anything else all day, all I wanted to do was make at least one person smile. I looked up from the last mug I filled and turned to her, inquisitively. Low and behold, a smile crept across her face and my heart filled with appreciation. Her rigidity melted away and for the rest of the day, I could tell he mood was a little more lighthearted than previous days. Each time I walked by throughout my busy day, a little chuckle would escape and she would shake he head in confusion. Why would little Miss Valerie keep smiling all day? From a very young age I've been an uncontrollably optimistic person. I always try to make the best of every situation, find the goo

Mother Nature, herself ... Valerie S omething I'm not often able to share with the outside world is my love of the outdoors. Over the last few years, my love for nature has been allowed to blossom, mostly due to the fact that I live with hunting, fishing, mud tromping, gun slinging, manly-men twins, that inspire my almost five year old to tromp through mud, sling plastic guns and fish until he's on the verge of tears. (Please don't let them know I'm flattering them this much. It might go to their heads!)  And we do this all with two high energy dogs that love the woods more then we do. On an almost weekly basis we pack our backpacks with snacks, water, hats, sunglasses, and my camera gear, and head to the sight of that days adventure. This past week we went pheasant hunting in Spring Green, West of Madison, and despite all the times my little man asked 'are we to the farm yet?' , I was thrilled. Each week I am pleased to realize what an amazing family

The final step of prepping all of my artwork for sale was creating and attaching tags for everything. I designed, printed, cut, whole punched and tied bows all day for the last two days. What a process! I now have everything done and packed in a box waiting to take the journey to Mineral Point. In the meantime, I'm going to run to St. Vinnie's to try to find some display boxes of some kind and design an artist's statement to be displayed by the artwork. Maybe by the end of the week, my products will be in stores! Keep your fingers crossed, everybody. And, besides all my paper and wood crafts I've been creating lately, I've been a busy photographer, too. This past weekend we went hunting at a beautiful hunting preserve in Spring Green. To help this growing business, I'll be photographing hunts and events at their property over the next few weeks. I might even help with a bit of graphic and web design. I'm so happy my freelancing has been paying off latel

So my hands don't cramp, I thought I'd take a break to show you what I'm working on today. In order to look more official, and to carve yet another linoleum block, I decided I'd make a linocut stamp/block of my new logo for Valerie's Workshop. Nothing huge, the block itself is only 2"x3", but super detailed. As I sat there carving, I wondered to myself about how my style has become too intricate. My next block is going to be something simple. Geometric shapes, here I come!

I have been hard at work, folks! In the last week I have put countless hours in creating art in the workshop, kitchen and garage, and I am proud to say I feel like I'm actually getting something accomplished. Colorful card sets have been compiled, 8"x10" prints have been photographed, and the Etsy store is being refilled piece by piece. And, with any luck, I will even have my products for sale at the Mineral Point Artist Annex in the next week or so. Before I get back to work, here's a peak at what I've been working on and what will be available for purchase sometime soon.

My blog has almost had 3000 visits! I can hardly believe it. In honor of the occasion, I've decided to spruce things up around here. Don't be surprised if there's a new look, shortly. And please, share my blog with your friends. Monthly reader give-aways to start in October! I know, you can hardly contain yourselves ... On a completely separate note, here are a few things that have me smiling this afternoon: - It's sixty degrees, overcast and drizzly. Autumn is arriving and today is the first day it has really felt nice in a while. Jeans, wool sweaters and boots, here I come! Not to mention our fall mushroom hunting season is here, grouse hunting is just about to begin up North (and I can legally hunt now!) and  our cabin is getting an addition. Just a few more weeks and I'll be lost in the north woods.  - I have a crock of pumpkin chili with rib eye steak simmering away in the kitchen. When my other half gets home, I'll heat up the cast i

A s this summer comes to a close, the sun setting earlier, the days cooler and refreshing, I find myself busy with all sorts of projects. Whether inside or outside, brief or time consuming, these tasks have been satisfying. For the first time in what feels like years, though is actually months, I'm taking time to do things I enjoy and that make our home feel more ... home-y . The kick-off project was overhauling the back yard. I spent three days pulling, digging up and all together obliterating the weeds from the gardens, and gave them a satisfying kick to the curb with what used to be a patch of overgrown hedges. Once the back yard was complete, I turned inwards, to the house, that is. I put away all the flip flops and Chacos that littered the floors and then corralled all the army men, cowboys and action figures back to their baskets. As the house returned to it's organized state, a sense of calm settled over everything. (Or maybe that was just the breeze coming in

As I sit here typing, I can't help but gasp as I think how fast time flies. It feels like just a short while ago I was changing my son's diapers and taking him for walks in the stroller on crisp fall afternoons. But just like that ... poof ... five years fly by, and, boy, how things have changed! Yesterday, I dropped my son off at his first day of four-year-old kindergarten. To say I was having a mommy moment is an understatement. I have never felt more proud of being a mother and have never been more proud of my little man. I am so happy he has reached this milestone in his life. I feel like the entire universe is at his fingertips now, and I cannot wait to see how he grows. And as I realize all of the other things he has experienced in his short life, I cannot help smiling. We have shared so many incredible things as a family. From bike rides to the park on sunny spring days, camping trips on the Wisconsin River in the summer and sledding trips in the winter, w

Earlier on this dull and dreary Thursday, I was lucky enough to sneak in a hot shower while Bodie was sleepily watching cartoons. As I stood there under the water, snarled red hair clinging to my shoulders, I was reminded of the title of my friends blog, and the idea of finding ' clarity in the chaos '. That's exactly what I've been doing lately; trying to make sense of this crazy thing we call life.  I've found it to be extremely empowering and cathartic to share my story, so here's a little more ...  ... T he day before Valentine's, I ended my position at the inn and started my transformation. For months, if not years now, I've been suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since I'm not one to sit on my laurels and let the world take me for a ride, I decide to take bake the control of the reigns of my life. I began talk therapy with a great counselor, returned to my Survivors of Suicide support group, started meditating

A s hard as it is to do, we have finally decided to off-load a couple of bikes. As the seasons pass our garage fills with more and more toys, and we've begun to run out of room. Below are two of best bikes from our collection that we must bid farewell.  The first, a custom Sherpani Trek Wasabi, complete with embroidered leather saddle and grips.  This is a well taken care of, but well loved bike, perfect for a cruising down to the the farmers market or coasting down the streets of your neighborhood. View the Craigslist Ad here . The second bike for sale is a vintage Schwinn Collegiate circa the 1960s. With it's bright blue paint job and slick, classic frame you're sure to be noticed on your ride to campus. Complete with the original seat, this bike will help you ride in vintage style. Click here to see the ad on Craigslist. Please feel free to pass this post on to friends! As sad as we are to see them go, we'd like them to go quickly. What grad wouldn&#

  F ew things bring me more joy then receiving packages in the mail. What I received today was no exception. Quite frankly, nestled within the folds of a recycled paper envelope, was one of the most heartfelt, moving gifts I've ever received. My dear friend L., who recently moved to New Zealand, mailed a locket, adorned with a forget-me-not. Forget-me-nots have a very special meaning to L. and I. Both of our brothers commit suicide. Although we no longer have our brothers in our lives, we have each other. Something that we both recognize and appreciate greatly. Our friendship has grown so intensely over the last year that we are beginning to feel like sisters. We wear our lockets not only to remember the love of our brothers, but to draw strength from each other. L. ... if you are reading this, I love you! Thank you for being a part of my life. And thank you for reminding me to give in every once and a while. Which leads me to the image above; my afternoon snack. I gave in and

I started this year with lofty ambitions, just like many others. I made a list of resolutions and hoped that this would be the year I'd actually follow through with them. But a few hours into the new year, things seemed to unravel. I broke down mentally and physically. I realized I was feeling worn down, trampled,  defeated, invisible. I had been pushing myself so hard, so long, that I reached my breaking point. What was I doing with myself? To myself? Why wasn't I trying so hard to make myself happy as I was to make everyone else? So, finally, I gave in. I let the emotions out (read: I cried, and blubbered, and cried some more) and got real with myself. I was just as worthy of true happiness as the next gal. And, I am in control of that happiness. Not my family, not my friends, not my neighbors.   Me. So, here we are, almost a month into the new year, and I am resubmitting my resolution for the year. As much as I'd love to stick to my original list, I've realized

  I am a few weeks behind on posting this recipe, but better late than never, right? This winter, one of my closest friends made a special request in a letter she wrote to me. She is fortunate enough to be working as a chef in New Zealand, but the warm summer weather and lack of free time left her cookieless and craving a holiday pick-me-up. So, my son and I pulled out the digital cook book (a.k.a. my laptop) and found a satisfactory recipe for gingerbread men. We measured, whisked, patted and chilled. We rolled, cut, baked and decorated. Before we knew it, we had a legion of gingerbread men and snowmen. We picked out a dozen of the strongest looking fellows, wrapped them in waxed paper and nestled them in a tin. Along with a few other items, we shipped our batch of Christmas Cheer to the other side of the world. As of our latest update; our package arrived safely in New Zealand, ready to induce a highly contagious case of Happy Holidays. The gingerbread men have been goi