Valerie Kiser and Design For People Who Love Life

Sugar: a borrowed landscape . . . at the Connell Building, Scranton

valeriekiser — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:12:55 +0000

The Pop-Up Studio invites you to bring one cup of sugar to their space at the Connell Building on Friday, January 21, at 8 PM in a container that they promise to return at a later date, to be added to their landscape. The Pop-Up was established by a new association of young creative professionals inspired by Scranton and the whole of Lackawanna County: the people who live here, its history, its buildings, and all its potential. We are artists, designers, and thinkers committed to highlighting the …

Thank you AFA Gallery for the “shout out”!

2011 Christmas Joy

valeriekiser — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:08:53 +0000

Click to view slideshow.My husband and I had our first Christmas as a married couple. We had the privilege of holding Christmas dinner for some of our family members. This year I decided to use an eclectic mix of dishes, linens and vintage glasses. I wanted to create warm and inviting table. The food we served was simple and healthy.

2011 Christmas Menu

Starters:
- Local cheese varieties from Leraysville Cheese Factory, paired with organic, whole grain crackers
- Backachers Farm organic pork bacon wrapped around dried pitted dates

Dinner:
- Butternut Squash Soup made with homemade chicken stock

- Baking Powder Biscuits using local PA sprouted flour with Cranberry Butter
- Mixed green salad with beet, carrot, apple, ginger, walnuts and lemon juice

- Roasted whole chickens from Backachers Farm with homemade mushroom gravy

- Sautéed spinach and kale from our garden
- Steamed sweet peas

Desserts and Sweet Treats:
- Organic Gooey Fudge Balls made from almond butter, raw chocolate and local Spring Hills Farm maple syrup
- Organic Butterscotch Brownies…with maple sugar and local PA sprouted flour
- And Kiser Family traditional Ice Cream Roll…I used organic ingredients, raw cocoa, local Pennsylvania sprouted flour and vanilla ice cream from our local Mannings Dairy Farm.

It was a fabulous meal and even much better company. I hope that you and yours had as much fun as we did this holiday. Merry Christmas 2011.

First Annual Holiday Open House

valeriekiser — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:51:39 +0000

Holiday Open House December 2, 2011. A huge THANK YOU goes to Tara Atkins’s, of Clever Container, for opening her home to all of us. This space lent itself to be the most beautiful vending space of the season. Vendors on attendence were myself, Valerie Kiser Design, Stella & Dot, Clever Container, Amanda Grace Images, Sweetwater Catering, Treasured Gifts Boutique, The Wheatgrass Grower and chair massages by Margi Spager.

Holiday Vendor Fairs in Scranton, PA

valeriekiser — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:51:18 +0000

I’ve been to two Holiday Vendor Fairs in less than 24 hours. And later today I will set up to vend a Holiday Open House tomorrow in a beautiful home in Dalton, PA. I am getting used to the 8x8ft table set up.

The best part of doing these shows is the feedback I get from the public. It reassures my decision two years ago to start my design company, Valerie Kiser Design. Valerie Kiser Design

So thankful for everything finally coming together. If you are one of my supporters I thank you too.

See you at the next show!

26th Annual Artisans’ Marketplace at the Waverly Comm

valeriekiser — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:12:41 +0000

It was my first time vending the 26th Annual Artisans’ Marketplace at the Waverly Comm. I had a great time among the other 35 vendors. The variety of talent ranged from jewelry, photography, knitting, hand-printed clothing, pottery, painting, felted and woven wearable art, to beautiful Christmas decor and greenery. The homemade food that was available over the weekend in Grandma’s Kitchen was amazing! The entire staff was so attentive and helpful it made the experience that more enjoyable.

I met so many fabulous people and got amazing feedback about my products. Thank you to all who came out to support hand-made, high-quality products. I look forward to next year’s 27th Annual Artisans’ Marketplace.

Time Flies When You Plan a Wedding

valeriekiser — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:23:13 +0000

I haven’t posted since the spring and I have a good excuse! I planned a wedding for early August and then went on a honeymoon. I’m just now getting back to all the things I enjoyed doing before our beautiful day. We both planned and took equal part in making the ceremony and wedding something that was unique to us. It turned out to be a beautiful and rainy August day and night. The rain only added a romantic air to the intimate barn setting. It was perfect in every way. Then we headed to Kauai, Hawaii which was pure heaven on earth. I hope that we will get to return to the islands again someday. The colors, textures and smells were so inspiring and welcoming. We now understand why so many fall in love with the islands and their lifestyles.

Now we are home and inspired by our experiences of the past month. David and I want to do more within our own community to contribute to the cool vibe. Starting in the new year there will be lots of exciting new initiatives that we have helped get off the ground.

The update on Valerie Kiser Design is that it is proving to be a productive year branding/designing for other individual’s and businesses. I’ll also be “Popping-Up” this season doing many holiday shows and artisans’ markets exhibiting my hand-printed apparel, home decor, accessories, jewelry and wall art.

I wish everyone out there Happy Holidays!

Valerie

How I Keep Calm Under Pressure

valeriekiser — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:34:42 +0000

It has been so long since my last post. Just wanted to let everyone know that I am plugging away distributing my new catalog, designing more t-shirts for other companies, starting a large-scale painting for a local business and beginning the works of another interactive/collaborative piece of art with a friend and fellow artist. Whew! And I am planning our wedding for later this summer. So, how do I do it? During this busy season the need for healthy eating, exercise and yoga has become mandatory. I am constantly looking for balance between my hectic schedule and my fun life. When my brain starts to overflow with ideas and responsibilities I have found that physical activity and journal keeping have been able to help the most. And when it gets too hard for me to handle on my own I always seek outside help. My friends are always a great source of inspiration and strength. A friend of mine gave me this quote on a little card to carry in my wallet. I’m so lucky to have her and so many other great people around me.

You are a remarkable woman who accomplishes so much as a strong woman in a man’s world. You are strong but soft, strong but caring, strong but compassionate. You are a remarkable woman and you are loved by so many people whose lives you have touched including mine. – Susan Polis Schutz

I hope that all of you strong woman & men out there who run your own business and are following your dreams have a great rest of today!

Hot Off The Press! 2011 Design For People Who Love Life Wholesale Catalog

valeriekiser — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:58:50 +0000

FINALLY! The Design For People Who Love Life wholesale catalog is finally here! It is 16 beautiful pages that feature the RIDE, CHIRP and SHINE Collections 2011 Apparel, Home Decor and Accessories. So amazed on how freaking radical it looks and was worth the wait. Mariel Morris, my amazing designer worked tirelessly with me to create my vision while putting her own beautiful, fresh spin on the layout. Chala Janpraphasakul, my wonderful friend & photographer used her dreamy aesthetic to make my products come to life on the pages. And thank you to Joseph and everyone at Fine Print in NYC for working with us to create a phenomenal final product.

If you interested in viewing or carrying Valerie Kiser Design hand-printed apparel, home decor or accessories please call 570-575-3962 or email valerie@valeriekiser.com

Sharing From The Studio Today, 3.29.11

valeriekiser — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:22:02 +0000

Every so often I share my working space so here it is today March 29, 2011. You can see that I have many projects in the works. You may even notice that I have taken my desk, computer and all office/business end equipment and materials from my studio. I have found that since I have done so that I am able to divide the time between business hours and working in the studio. I have been working on these paintings using shape, color and texture as my guide.

My sewing, drawing, organizing, brainstorming corner.I

I love my Viking sewing machine – it is smarter than me some days. Those of you looking for a great machine I would recommend this machine. Especially if you quilt, make clothes, “draw” with the stitches and want to cover a large panel with a lot of stitches and sewn lines. This is why I ended up getting this particular model and so far so good.

Piece from the olden days called Preservation that I have hanging above my sewing table.

Doing my best to keep things accessible and organized. Ease of access is conducive to use is what they say. They are right.This is a series in progress. Even though it doesn’t look to related today it will in a few weeks.

Thanks for stopping by the studio today. I have to get to work so see you next time.

xoxo,

Valerie

Mixed Media Paintings From My Past Inspire My Future

valeriekiser — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 19:09:16 +0000

I have been looking through my work recently because I am working on a new series of paintings and mixed work. When I stumbled upon these three mixed media paintings I did for a client a few years ago. There is something so quiet and beautiful about these. The color and texture in these paintings are similar to the new work but with the subject matter is less obvious or figurative. It’s interesting that we are headed into spring and I feel like I am in a state of reflection from another season.