Valarie

I am a mixed media artist who loves all things enchanting, mysterious and magickal! I believe in Love and that we can never find something outside of ourselves that we can't find within! I never get bored with creating art, but I do go through spurts of working with different media. I love beadweaving, making art jewelry, scultpting fantasy figures (primarily Faeries, Goddesses and Whimsical Tribal Totems, I create shrines, wall hangings,collage...oh the list could go on and on!

What I like: I'm not really into super cutesy stuff, but I do love all things rennaisance and medieval, brocades and interesting textiles. I love deep blues and crimson and gold tapestry, but with a bit of well worn or vintage feel. Bohemian Gypsy or Flowing Goddess type styles are so dreamy to me. But I also like the funky feeling of stripes and polka dots black & white. And you'll usually find me in a pair of holey paint spattered jeans and a graphics t-shirt. I love color and there really isn't one I don't like. I love bold combinations of color, but not too many together at once. I'm not a hug fan of lace, but I absolutely love the raw, selvedge edges of fabric. I am addicted to beads of all kinds.

Depending on my mood I enjoy anything from classic rock-n-roll to just plain classical. Loreena McKennit is my absolute fav, I love Danny Elfman- think the soundtrack for Nightmare Before Christmas is brilliant. Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Killers, Audioslave, Live, Stevie Nicks, Patti Griffin, Kim Ritchey, Heart, Allison Kraus & Robert Plant, Sheryl Crow, Eagles, Kate Price, Blackmore's Night, Owain Phyfe, Kellianna, Carolyn Hillyar, Kan nal, Any kind of Gyspy Music, the dark soundscape of Nox Arcana, Jocyln Pook, The Moon and the Night Spirit and last but not least, my beloved husband, Jeff Endemann's soon to be released enchanted acoustic CD debut: "So Far"

All time, hands down favorite is The Mists of Avalon, and all the others that followed in the Avalon series, especially Priestess of Avalon and Ancestors of Avalon (okay can you tell I dig Avalon!); also the Maeve Chronicles: The Passion of Mary Magdelene, Magdelen Rising and The Dark Madonna. I love Terry Pratchett and have a very soft place in my heart for Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and the witches of Discworld, I want to marry Neil Gaimen (don't tell my husband haha!), Book of Shadows by Phyllis Currott, Animal Speak by Ted Andrews and Scott Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Magickal Herbs are all a must! Brian and Wendy Froud's inspiring art books, Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales, and the Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets- all very cool. Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarrissa Pinkola Estes and anything by Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. Just to name a few

Practical Magic, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Stardust, Ever After, Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Coraline, Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings Trilogy,Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Matrix, The Crow, Labyrinth, Clash of the Titans, 300, Jason and the Argonauts, The Mummy I & II, Scorpian King, Big Fish, The Illusionist , It's a Wonderful Life, O' Brother Where Art Thou, Groundhog Day, A Mighty Wind, Spinal Tap, The Others, Pan's Labyrinth

Charmed, Buffy, Angel, Bones, Lost, Ghost Wisperer, Medium, The Office, 30 Rock, Psych, Monk, 24, Reaper, Life on Mars, Bewitched, Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Voyager, Star Trek Next Generation, Deep Space 9, Dr. Who, Battlestar Galactica, The Muppet Show

Art dolls, polymer clay scultpting, mixed media collage, bead embroidery and bead weaving, jewelry making, fabric and textile arts (although not a "sewer"! I can't follow a pattern to save my life! Haha), I've dabbled in soldering and Precious Metal Clay too.