Merry Christmas

So the girls have their handmades complete and ready for festivities. I would show you the dress without the sweater but its really cold out on the patio. It was Isabela's bright idea to turn the buttons to the front because it wouldn't be comfortable to sit in church with the buttons at their backs.



The fabrics are two colorways of the "Small Gathering" print from Good Folks, which should be available next month. Can't wait to show the rest, but for now I have some large gatherings to prepare for!

I wish for you everything your heart needs to have peace of soul and happiness this Christmas. And whether your Holidays are handmade or storebought or the same as last year and the year before, the blessings of the Nativity are unchanging! So celebrate, rest and enjoy!

With love and hugs from Tennessee, be back after a while, xoxo, Anna & family

Could a little birdie tell me....

...where I might find another sweet little chirper like this? I bought 5 of them last year, thinking of our little flock, and now, well, you can imagine I would be so glad if I could find another. The shop where I got them had them displayed with all the pretty glittery snow villages and such, but this year, no birdies. Sigh. It's glittery and sweet and has little wire feet to hold a branch nice and snug.



And it's big brothers and sisters are waiting for it here. So if you should know...? I would be so grateful. (Oh and that artwork in back, in case anyone asks, is from one of my favorite modern artists, Brian Kershisnik. Its called "father and son dancing" and I love it so much.)



Didn't Juliana do a beautiful job with these pictures? Think I might make it my wintry banner.

Hope you're warm, xo,Anna

Today's craving on last week's bargains

What? Don't you eat peanut butter and pineapple sandwiches? Never mind that, look at this cute plowl (kind plate / kinda bowl thing which I can no longer find a link for, guess they're gone)! I was here shopping about for anything that would fit, which mostly were rugs and dishes. Didn't need any rugs, and all my soup/cereal bowls are chipped up (kids and microwaves, kids and anything, really) so I decided to take advantage of the sale. I'm also hosting lots of family for soup and salad for Christmas Eve lunch, and I thought these would be pretty under a green salad sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. So I took 12 to the counter, then remembered the kids+anything thing, and went back for the remaining 4. A'course, I passed a few other things on the way, hang on let me get 'em.......

(takes sandwich and walks off)

(the cupboard is a full 8 feet away, and she might get hungry on the way)



(continues with mouth full)

...look! First, how darling are the new salad/plate things with my existing not so chipped striped dinner plates? I know! Anyway, I passed these print-y little petite bowls (for which I already have a few matching serving size versions) and I only then recalled that I had wanted to purchase them a while back specifically for grapefruit, bc they are the perfect size and shape. So I got those too. On sale? Nope. Twice as expensive as the plowls thrice their size? Yup. Where is the justice, I ask you. I of course used the sale of the one to justify the purchase of the other. Thats what we do.

(polishes off sandwich, puts another slice of bread in the toaster)



Oh wait, I thought to myself, if the plowls will play the part of plates (say that ten times fast), then who, praytell, will be acting as the soup bowls since the chipped numbers are getting booted out of the Christmas Eve play? Why twelve new latte bowls of course (center top)! Microwave safe.

The above picture shouldn't make me so happy. Yet it does, all the same. Chipped bowls included.

xo,Anna

ps, we can thank the almost constant dimlight & rain/ice sitch for the weird colors of the photos
pss, who knew it took so many words and parantheses to say I'm hungry and I bought dishes?

December Friday ~ home visit

~in my sketchbook~ Eleni and I recently shared some pencil time, and I was given strict orders to not cross the middle line. I wouldn't dream of disturbing the beauty on her side. She quickly looked away and got busy coloring again every time I caught her gazing at what I was doing. So sweet. She already has a little artistic pride.



~on my sewing shelves~ All along the back of my long sewing table, I have this 1"x6" plank of wood held up off the table by a few fabric-covered bricks. Works out great. Know what else works out great? These gallon-size clear jars for thread and such. Much better than bags spilling on the floor and getting dusty. Not that I would know anything about that.



~recently unhooked~ This sweater for Eleni that will go over her Christmas dress (which will be made from that fabric there which is part of Good Folks, which I will show you completely very soon. I'm going to make a dress length version of the Prairie Blouse pattern from my book.) For the sweet sweater, I got the pattern download from here, and it was very quick and simple to work up. It's still waiting for 4 covered buttons for the back loops. I manage to forget to buy the button kit every stinkin time I go the the sewing shop. Of course I already have every other size that I don't need in the studio.



~on my hook~ Same as above, but for Isabela. Its been moving a bit slower, because each night I settle into my nest I nod off, just about 10 trebles in. Every time.



~touching the ceiling~ I don't know why I always want it to touch the ceiling, it just makes me happy. Now that Juliana has gotten too big to be lifted by Jeff to put the star on we just let him do it while Juliana and I fuss opposite commands of which way to tweak it. There are considerably less candy canes on the tree than there were 5 days ago.



~on our branches~ This is amazing. We have a snowday today. We usually have to wait all through the winter to get some snow around here. Snowplay began at 6am this morning, and we now have movies and popcorn with one set of neighbors going in one room, oversleeping (read teenage) slumberers with another set of friends in another room, some still snowbooted children having cocoa on the back porch, and I've got one on the computer next to me. Last count, 9 kids in the house. Oh, ten. Sorry baby.



~at my feet~ Always. And even more so these days. Did any of you other expectant or already delivered mommy/doggie mommies out there notice a change in your pup while you were pregnant? Leo seems to think he's needed in the incubation process. If I move just 6 inches away, he'll come with me. He's already a doting motherbear. Good boy.

More tea? thanks for coming. xo,Anna

While the lights were strung, and restrung....

...a holiday story was playing itself out on the living room floor in which a very bossy, glittery angel was encouraging the others to gather snowflakes much faster to save.....something. Not sure what. I missed that part. Prolly cause 2 strands of lights stopped working once they were each 95% strung. I'm so glad Juliana is still in the newly licensed driver I'll-drive-anywhere-for-you stage.

good monday. xoxo. Anna

Technically Speaking

Well, it appears that very often here, I'm sharing what I am only momentarily working on, or that thing which I relished in only for a bit, but not what really is taking up the most time. So I thought I would share what is taking ALL my time these days. Technical drawings. I know. It's glamorous. And easy to put off here in the studio. There are services that I can hire to do this. But. Well. Part of me really enjoys it once I get going. Of course, I had to stop in the middle of my work this morning because, I really wanted to make a cute little layout of them. I don't know why, I just really started enjoying looking at them. Something about technical drawings of almost anything somehow is really satisfying. Maybe this will be our family Christmas card this year, since its the only thing I've been doing. (Actually that gives me lots of ideas....) Anyway, the above drawings are some excerpts from the Socialite Dress sewing pattern which is one of four that I am introducing here very soon. The goal is to get them off to the printer by year's end, and hope for some late January shipping on them. Thought it would be fun to share each of them one by one.



So here's the glamour part. Sweet Juliana smiling right through the savoury band of downtown Nashville characters who were across the street enjoying our photoshoot, and, well, verbalizing such. It was a quick shoot obviously when I finally had to free her from the funny street corner we found ourselves on. But isn't that wall pretty? Think I already blathered bout it here. Anyhoo, the dress. I've made about 4 of them for myself, 2fer Juliana, s'got pockets, easy going fit through the middle (which is working out just fine right now), a pretty structured neckline with yoke and gathers front and back. She throws a huge dark leather belt on her's and wears a cardy over it and it looks so cool. I'll have to show you that. Oh and this is it here too.

So that's the real work these past few and upcoming weeks. I'll show another soon!

Thanks again for more baby-news congrats, its funny how everyone catches it at a different time, since I've managed to mention and announce several times but never in a very obvious way. So in case you missed it last time too: I'M PREGNANT. And feeling great!

have a good weekend! xo,Anna

3 for me, 3 for you

Oh man. What a great weekend. I am in complete and utter denial that its all over, as sitting, eating, crocheting, playing, talking, laughing, watching and reading seem to be just exactly my pace right now. If I had to narrow the long weekend down into 3 best things, they'd be this:

*Toughest decision made: Do I crochet some more or let Juliana give me a manicure?
*Most thankful moments: Those spent watching my husband build the world's greatest treehouse for a mess of excited children. Particularly the morning we both awoke at 5am, unable to sleep so we got up, had quiet coffee and drew up more detailed plans for the treehouse and headed to Home Depot before anyone was awake.
*Most blissful interlude: Getting back in my warm bed in the middle of a cold night after (yet another) bathroom trip, only to snuggle into some seriously flippy and motorboat like motions dancing around in my belly. "Oh, hi", I said.



Now here's 3 for you:

*I finally have the new kitchen goods on the way which means its time to announce our winning Contributing Soup Editor! Here we go:

STEPHANIE, come on down! Stephanie of Loft Creations shared a yummy sounding Tomato White Bean Soup and will be soon showing off her cooking skills in a new apron and cleaning up her mess with some lovely dishtowels. Send me an email with your address, to claim your goods!

*If you'd like a chance to win Seams To Me or some fabric, Jennifer at Craftsanity, has just posted our 2nd interview podcast, so go leave a comment to enter your chance to win before Dec.15th. Listening to the podcast is not a requirement, 'less of course you just want to.

*Also, the fabulous folks at SewMamaSew have offered a chance to win my book as well, so go throw your name in the hat here. I think perhaps they will draw a name Dec. 3rd, so ya might wanna hurry!

That was all very linky.

Now, LOTS of you are wondering when you will hear about the MOTHER of all giveaways, and I am pretty certain that the winners will be getting contacted starting today. I should make clear that I am not in charge of this giveaway, just a happy and (mostly) innocent bystander, who is just as excited as you to see who's gonna win all this stuff! But I did also get it confirmed that the winners will be posted at the sweepstakes site next week for clarification. Exciting!

Photos above: images that I worked on for my new linens (available now) as well as some holiday home goods (rugs, stockings, etc.) that won't be available for another year. Sheesh, that's quite a wait. At least it wasn't too much of a stretch for my model to play with popcorn and cranberries this time of year. We'll be doing that for reals this weekend!

xoxo,AM

Take comfort, give comfort

I have finally managed to put together this little treat for you and for yours (and for me!). With all the wonderful soup recipes that I've been gathering, and all those that I'm sure you'll come across in these most yummiful weeks of the year, I think we should store them in a lovely way. And even more, I think these would make fabulous gifts. So here is a simple little recipe card holder that I whipped up. I chose to first embroider some simple cream linen after I composed the design on the computer. You can click on the little graphic there to bring up the jpg, download it, print one out for yourself, then trace in a window and embroider. Obviously you don't have to embroider this project if you're short on time, just use a favorite fabric. Oh, and big news, this can be accomplished with just 2 fat quarters. I don't know why, but knowing a project can be accomplished in a matter of fat quarters makes me giddy.



So here is a brief synopsis of how the project goes, hope this helps:
1. Cut two fabrics, and one lightweight interfacing in 10.5 x 22.25" rectangles.
2. Embroider on the outside piece first (keep the pocket fold in mind when you are placing the embroidery where you want it) The embroidery is just a simple chain stitch on the text, then some fill stitching on the flower.
3. Layer the lining fabric right side facing up, then the outer fabric wrong side facing up, then the interfacing.
4. Stitch all around the perimeter with a 1/4" seam allowance leaving an opening big enough to fit your hand in.
5. Clip off the seam allowance corners with a 45 degree cut, turn right side out, poke corners, and press.
6. Press in the seam opening 1/4" towards inside. Slipstitch the opening shut.
7. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and press a crease.
8. Open with the inside facing up, then fold in each end towards the inside center so that the pockets are 4" deep. Press creases in these folds.
9. Open folds and from the outside, sew ribbon or twill tape in place with a button over top, just above the pocket crease lines. This placement should put your buttons on the outer edge of the holder after the pockets are folded in again.
10. After buttons and ties are sewn on, pin the pockets in their folded-in positions and take a 1/4" topstitch down both long sides of the holder. Finished!



Simple, right? And while any large size index cards would do, I had to make you some pretty printable ones. There's a Cooking Comfort Cards pdf over there in the "Printable Playthings" section of the sidebar that you can download and print out. They're already set 2-up for 8.5x11. The folk-y floral design is a little slice of my upcoming fabric collection. Enjoy!



Okay, back to comfort...erhhh cooking. I was hoping to have my new aprons in hand for the giveaway before Thanksgiving, alas, it looks like they won't be here till next week. But please don't cook naked in protest, I promise I'll be sharing the aprons and the winner asap!

Enjoy your family and home and all that you are thankful for. Be back here soon. xo,AM

Variation on a theme: Winter Bag

The number 6 must be on the mind as everything I patchwork or crochet these days only seems interesting to me if a hexagon is involved. I think it started with the Patchwork Ball in my book, and then was only driven further home when I came across these Granny-style crocheted hexagons. Well I have started some crocheted hexagons that are slipknotting right along on the couch nearly every night. And now this. My winter bag. Hello winter bag, I love you.



This is the Taxi Tote pattern, also from my book, but with a patchwork variation on the front side. I should say that with such a simple pattern shape, it is the perfect opportunity to get creative with variations. The hexagon is also the exact hexagon pattern borrowed from the Patchwork Ball pattern, and I think I cut around 4 dozen of them. I fussy cut all the hexagons, somewhat centered on florals from the Drawing Room and Garden Party collections. I wanted the centralized positions to sort of emulate the radiating concentrics of a Granny Square/hexagon. I am really happy with how it turned out. And also exercised a bit of restraint by choosing a solid tweedy gray for the back and lining. The trim is that same fine wale corduroy that was used here, and I love the cozy softness of it.



To join the hexagons, I just attached one on top of another to join rows first, and then interlocked each row side by side and joined them with a seam that sort of zigs and zags. (Not to be confused of course with a zigzag stich-it's just that the seam continues to turn corners as you go.) I compared the growing piecework to the bag pattern every now and then until the patchwork would accommodate the size of the pattern piece. Then I top stitched long vertical passes (in that same vertical zig and zag line) of the hexagon patchwork to the interfacing before moving on the follow the rest of the pattern steps.

Have fun if you try it!

Oh and in the-world-is-never-quite-perfect-news, a small amount of book boo-boos have been found here and there, and I am trying to make mention of them as they show up and respond to any questions here at the newly formed Seams To Me flickr group. So before you get frustrated with what you may think to be a typo in the book, scan some of the topics and maybe it'll help you. If not by all means post a question! I will soon have a fancy corrections page to point you to as well.

enjoy your weekend pals, and still (gladly) accepting your soup recipes! xo,Anna

Anything + Honey

At the risk of my cravings and your generous outpouring of soup recipes deeming this a food blog, I shall point you to a new favorite breakfast. Mint tea, with honey. Toast with butter and honey. Pretty much anything with honey. But particularly this bread which is the Organic Seduction (really?) Bread from Whole Foods. I did not name that bread. And I did not eat said bread prior to arriving in my current condition. But I do think that with my fav owl mugs and the clover honey that we could aptly name this sweet meal the Birds & Bees Breakfast, no? Yes, lets. And don't let this shot of one slice fool you into thinking you know what goes on over here.

And those soup recipes! I need a keyboard wet-vac to clean off all the salivating that I've done for the past week. And Jeff (and anyone within a 6 mile radius) needs ear plugs to manage my constant rambling on over this or that soup recipe. Man. Not allowed to say soup again. Ever. Though I shall be announcing a random winner the moment my new kitchen goods arrive (hopefully this week ~ as well as the restocking of current goods-so sorry for the long wait to all you customers who've been asking!), I am thinking I made out pretty cheaply on paying for soup recipes. So I am working on a little gift for all of you that might help you work some of these wonderful recipes into a homemade gift for loved ones. I am mostly glad that we can all feast on these delicious offerings!

More soon, good Wednesday, xoxox, Anna

I want soup and I'm willing to pay for it

All I ever really wanted was to spend my days making homemade soup. Definitely one of my favorite things to make because it is so improvisational, and is a slow simmer all day kinda thing. Not too much pressure. Unfortunately today's lunch was simply one of these, improved by a local bakery's rustic sourdough and some fresh grated parmesan. I need homemade soup, stat! I've been hoarding ingredients in the pantry for some of my favorites, waiting for a good day. Everyday for a few days has been perfect weather-wise, but today with freezing feet in the studio, I can't take it anymore! Soup time. However. I really want some new recipes....and was thinking that maybe you and your wonderfulness wouldn't mind sharing yours.



Now typically when I have a new product launch I try to think of clever ways to do a giveaway that has an appropriate theme. Yet, really this time I am just crafting a clever way to get YOU to give something to ME. I want your soup! And I'm willing to pay! Above is a glimpse of my newest kitchen textile collection that is set to launch in about a week. It's the Cookbook Apron in blue and I think that you would look so good in it! Really! Totally your colors and would look great in your kitchen. And I'll bet that you would also like a set of four new dish towels to go with it, wouldn't you? Of course you would.

Now. Give me your favorite soup recipes, or at least a link to your favorite soup recipe and you'll enter a chance to win some fun new kitchen linen goodies! Take your time, I'll continue to accept comments until I receive my first shipment of goods, which should be next week. I hope that'll give me plenty of time to send the prizes to one randomly selected winner just in time for basting that turkey (or tofurkey, whatever the case may be). And the selection will truly be random as I don't have time to make ALL your soups to determine whether its scrumptious or sucky, so don't worry. (But if its sucky I may know eventually, and you wouldn't want that.)

So its a win, win, win that we can all share in. But mostly I get soup. Oh and I love vegan~but eat everything.

Okay start cookin'...erhhh commenting!

xo,Anna

Oh, yes, the booth!

So above was my special little booknook where I sat happily on my duff for 3 days welcoming book buyers with a chat and a signature. Not one poor soul got away from me without a serious amount of giddy chatter risking overzealousness, I am quite certain. You may recognize the chair from my dining room, which literally had me feeling very at home. The dressform is wearing a dress length version of the Smashing Smock pattern from my book. The fabrics are from an upcoming quilt cotton collection, Good Folks, expected to deliver in January. More on that soon, naturally.



Here's a zoom out from that end of the booth (except without the flowers, dang). My pictures are somewhat stinky, and these are the best of them + some of them (the good ones) are courtesy of my pal Eva from my publisher. I have a really hard time concentrating on getting good photos once the whole shebang is put together. The final putogether always seems like seconds before the incessant chatter ensues. And there's practically no stopping me from that once it starts, for anything. If I met you, you know this.



Oh, look here I am doing just that! See, my European talking hands are a blur and even my earrings fell prey to swinging around dizzily at my ears. I know there's a picture around here somewhere in which my hands aren't moving or my mouth isn't open, but I can't seem to find it. That's husband Jeff talking to Westminster Jeff. I love my Jeff a whole lot, but I really like it when Westminster Jeff hangs out with us, cause he's taller than my Jeff, which I point out every time. Its just that at 6'5", every now and then someone should be taller than you, its healthy. And how about that gorgeous couch from Miss Caroline. I almost stole it and shoved it in the trailer but I am cursed with a small amount of decency.



The frame wall was a default project that was planned somewhat last minute due to assuming I would only have prints of the new fabrics and not actual fabrics. So this modular frame thing was like a conceptual quilt. I was relieved however that 3 days before we left, the fabrics indeed arrived, saving me some printing, and also providing lots and lots of last minute sewing chaos. Wouldn't be market without that.



I had lots of fun with flowers against this teal wall color, and naturally I wanted to echo the new collection's palette. A detail about booth planning which practically renders me psychotherapy worthy, however is how I labor over the candy decision. The color and the flavor and the wrapper and the taste and the mood have to be right. I went with butterscotch. It was warm and aromatic and glowed from the antique alabaster compote. (Free mind analysis anyone?)



Bloomy. Oh and a big thank you to my pal Val for helping me arrange the bouquets with minutes to spare on the bathroom floor. Good clean fun.



Oh blurry loveliness. This is the other end, where the concentration was on the upcoming line of sewing patterns. Lots of excitement generated for the patterns, almost enough to make me actually finish the final development and printing. Marketing your products is good for that, you should try it! Seriously, though, I will show you the actual pattern covers later this week, non-blurry-like.



Slightly closer up, the poster here shows the back detail of the Socialite Dress sewing pattern. This is my favorite shot of all the images I've worked on for the sewing patterns. I drove up and down every downtown Nashville street (3x) looking for a charming architectural relief detail of some sort. And wouldn't you know I ended up next to a Greek restaurant that I'd never heard of. It was serendipitous how much the building detail answered the fabric design details and made for a great shoot. Hm.

So that's mostly it, I suppose. I owe so many of you a huge amount of thanks for stopping by the booth and spending time with me, sharing the excitement of current and upcoming projects. But most importantly, sharing in our joy as we prepare to increase the love in this house. Through hugs, squeals, emails, letters, calls and comments, I am so honored that my happiness is also yours.

Thank you, thank you. From every last little one of us.
xoAM

Taking my time

These past few weeks I have been so conscious of the time that things take, to the point of wanting time to go away a little, or just retreat. I've been wanting it to not have any bearing on reality for a bit so that I can absorb what I feel needs to be absorbed and leave the rest. Even the extra hour this weekend didn't give me enough, as I'm still holding a grudge from Springing forward. Alas, it passes anyway, without permission.

There were many many hours spent preparing for market, obviously, which accounts for most of my absence from here. And sorry about that. But Fall Quilt Market could not have gone better. I am so thankful. Jeff and I drove all the way to Houston and back (28 hours round trip) with the only hitch being the one pulling a trailer containing my booth display. A booth display, in fact, that won first place (again!) in the double booth category. I couldn't tell you what the award criteria is, but I am very honored, of course, to be recognized. And it certainly doesn't hurt in patting the strong back of my husband who labored tirelessly on the construction details. Good man. I will share all the goodies with you that all the attendees got to see as this week rolls on, promise.



As wonderful and enjoyable as it was to meet up with all my pals in the sewing circle, and have some time away, there is never anything quite like the return. We both miss the kids an awful lot when gone. All the monotonous details of family care suddenly take on more appeal from afar and we miss the little things, like Eleni skipping out of a room.

The first full day back, Allie and I spent hours and hours catching up on orders and I am happy to say that we are caught up. All the books ordered thus far have been shipped! And that's sayin' something. Whew. I'm glad to be back in a more normal flow with the shop and can't wait to share new stuff coming soon. Thursday my parents came in to celebrate Joseph's birthday which we concisely took care of with a skate, a steak and a cake. All to his choosing. The kindest boy ever is 9 years old.



Having Mom and Dad here for those few days forced me to take it easier than I might have, which I'm mighty glad for. Mom worked on embroidering one of her quilts interspersed with baking and handwashing my dishes. She is so easy to love. Dad pondered the beginnings of what will be the first painting he's made in about 25 years. He is a beautiful painter, and I'm relieved to see him stir up the brushes again. He has saved the above picture from a summer spent in Greece for more than 30 years with wavering thoughts of someday making a painting from it. I'm the healthiest looking one between my sister Eleni and my brother George. My cousin Eleni is the one keeping that poor donkey humble by sitting on his neck. Anyway, his current plan is to rather paint a landscape of the gorgeous terrain and olive grove surrounding his home in Greece. So, I managed to get Mom to the local needlework shop to get her all the colors she needs to finish her quilt, and Dad to the local art supply store to stock up on all the colors of paint he'll need to get started, provided he doesn't spend another few years recomposing the plan.

I suppose worthwhile endeavors do take time. I've certainly managed to take enough of yours with all this catching up! So I might as well let you know that I'll be spending 29 1/2 more weeks bringing our little #6 into the world. Time well spent.

are we caught up a bit? best to you! xoxo, Anna

The Debate, Poll watching & the Vote

The BIG DEBATE~ Do I go with a magenta Sharpie or a black Sharpie to sign all the books that'll be flying outta here any day? Oh, the agony. The books are getting here sooner than anticipated, and some people are already getting theirs from Amazon and Barnes & Noble ahead of the official publication date. And not that I'm a poll watcher or anything (that would be my husband) but Seams To Me has been the #1 seller on Amazon in the sewing category for several days now. I can't believe it! Wowwee. N'kay, nuff book bragging, let me brag about something else....



The BIG VOTE~ A group from my Garden Party Home Goods collection has been nominated for Best New Color Story by Textiles Today TiA Awards. So power to the people! You can go vote for my collection here (or one of the other nominees if you so chose...but, come on).

So what debates, polls & votes did you think I was talking about?
(although, doesn't watching those other debates make you want to play with Sharpies!?)

good weekend pals, lots of sewing to do here!
xo,Anna

I can't believe it - it's just like a book

It's here. At least a few advanced copies. It's just exactly what I thought it would be, and then its a surprise all over again. I wrote all this? Seriously? Actually no, I wrote WAY more than this, and this is to represent the best of all I wrote. And drew. And photographed. And designed. And dreamed. And cried. And lived. For days on end, and nights alone in the dark in the studio with a quilt on my lap, a plate of something encouraging, and very often a beer, or two, keeping me company until 3 or 4 in the morning, until I started the countdown of hours till the feet would be stomping all over the house, and called it a night. Or a morning. The two or three hours of sleep left to me after a night of writing and rewriting, were never enough to warm my icy right hand that had to stay out of the warmth of the blanket, extended out on the desk and clicking on the mouse. My computer table is against an outer wall and above the garage which is not particularly well insulated, so its a risk to work late in the winter.

But today, the warm Autumn sun is rushing itself through all the studio windows making a sunny comfortable place for this little project of mine. So I sit and I flip and I flip again and again. And I'm terrified and thrilled that so many of you will do the same. And I hope that you know that through many of the struggles with this book, I thought of the collective you. I thought of how if I could just sit you down here and we could make all this stuff together over stories and shared experiences, then the risk wouldn't feel so great. It would feel like just having you here for a sewing day and so much more. And in the end, that's what I feel like this book became. Something I made for and with you and something that I hope warms at least your hearts when you take on any of its projects knowing that all of it is inspired by my desire to share. And to celebrate. And to teach. And to care for this gift that was given to me by the all the talented women in my family. Thank you for all the encouragement that you leave here for me everyday. Its proved to be a soft handknit glove that kept my little hand warm and clicking away.

All emotion aside (as if that's possible), what are you doing between now and November 14th? Well you could be entering your chance to win a sewing machine, the book, fabric, thread and so on! My publisher has set up a landing page for the book here, and it includes a gianormous sweepstakes thanks to Wiley Publishing, Singer, FreeSpirit Fabrics, Coats & Clark. And you can enter once a day and you don't even have to buy the book to do so. Exciting stuff!

Wishing you the best weekend, and I'll be sitting on the floor with that stack again now.
love from here, Anna Maria

Ahh, Shoot!

Lots of photo shoots to wrap up this week in prep for market, then on to lots more sewing etc. While the pace doesn't look just like above all the time, it certainly feels just like this. I always snap a few of my models entering and leaving the scene, and I always love how those shots end up.

This here is letting one little kitten out of the bag. I'll be introducing four new sewing patterns at market, and its been an awful lot of work getting everything just so. But in a lot of ways, after the book, one sewing pattern doesn't seem quite the work it once did, its just a different format altogether-one that allows a bit more space and explanation for a given project, so it feels luxurious as I write and illustrate.

Speaking of the book, I am overwhelmed at the amount of people who have pre-purchased a signed book from my shop. Thank you soooo much! You have no idea how much that means to me, especially when me and my small business can't offer the same price breaks as the big guys. Just knowing that you want to bring it into your sewing room means a great deal, no matter where you buy it! Oh and there is going to be a big publisher-size sweepstakes very soon that I can't wait to point you too!

More kittens escaping here soon!

xo,Anna

Whats gray & cream & pumpkin all over?

The newest instalment of my Quilt Market furniture is in progress! I'm sure you remember the fancy chairs from Spring Market, which I hope are still being enjoyed by their owner (hi, Rhiannon). It was so fun to connect with a fabric lover to achieve those chairs that I've decided to make it a market tradition.



This fall, however, as Houston is our market-hosting city, and with all that city and that part of the country has been through....it felt only a little odd to blog a title such as "Hey Houston I know you don't have power or anything but who wants to upholster a couch for me?" Yea, see, not so good or thoughtful, really.

BUT, it never feels wrong to bother a friend or a family member, so in that annoying spirit I called on my friend Caroline, a Houston native and the proprietor of JCarolineCreative.com. And might I say she rocks upholstery, and she does it herself!! Anyway, she scored this lovely traditional sofa (digital mock-up above) for 15 smackers at a garage sale, and had yet to decide what to do with it. I decided that for her and she was totally game. What a girl.



I went to my fav local fabric shop to find a posh piping fabric, knowing I wanted something pumpkin-ish, and was pointed to this fine wale corduroy, which I think is perfect. I love how light hits fine corduroys and matte velvets making them milky from one angle and deep and rich from the other. I think it will catch the light beautifully as edge piping for the sofa and give it a warm, cozy detail. Oh, and I did offer to cut the bias strips before I sent them, as I know most people hate doing that. Enjoying bias strip cutting is strange fact #241 about me.

One market couch, check. One husband on board for booth modifications (while I stand and stare), check. Lots and lots going on, and can't wait to share a few things that I've had up my sleeve for a while now.

Happy October, people. xoxo, AM