My Grandmother, the Artist

My grandmother, Socorro del Rosario Valencia (nickname Coring), was the most influential person in my life. She inspired me to cook, sew, make things with my hands, be a lady, and most importantly to pursue art as my career. This photo of my grandmother was taken on a trip to New York sometime in the 1960s. She dressed so elegantly in a suit, pearls and mink stole. This is one of my grandmother's paintings. She loved flowers so painted them frequently plus other subjects she loved. She was a self taught artist so the style is naïve but charming. She signed her paintings as Coring.

Kyoto Totebag

Cheyanne made this beautiful totebag for me using my Kyoto quilt collection fabrics in the blue/grey color scheme. The sewing pattern is her very own creation including the fabric flower. My trips to Tokyo combined with my attraction to the graphic simplicity of Japanese woodblock prints from the 1800s were the inspiration for the Kyoto Collection. The main motif is a modern interpretation of the chrysanthemum flower symbolizing the changing of seasons as well as endurance and integrity. The brief beauty of cherry blossoms lasting only a few weeks represent the transient nature of life. Bamboo symbolizes strength of character since it can resist the forces of nature.

My Sister, the Prairie Girl

My sister, Cheyanne, is my sewing project designer. She is currently working on some original items featuring my fabrics including aprons, oven mitts, handbags, quilts and placemats. She lives in a small town outside of Bozeman, Montana. She is a very creative seamstress and quilter making baby quilts, Christmas stockings, fabric tree ornaments and prairie clothing to sell in the local farmers’ markets and antique stores. At the markets, she sells her goods out of the back of her vintage Studebaker truck which is quite a vision.

Happy Mother's Day

A mother's heart is always with her children.

Proverb