tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346778872008-05-15T09:06:04.480-05:00Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comBlogger230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-62554157241455148402008-05-13T14:37:00.004-05:002008-05-13T16:05:46.451-05:00

I am not even going to list the number of things I have sewn in the last 4 days for Quilt Market because you simply would not believe me and you would be certain that I lie. (I should say too that I do not recommend hand sewing for 13 hours straight. I can't feel my right thumb but it looks like its still there.) And speaking of lies, who, praytell, was that person blogging here under my

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-52662918137054287492008-05-11T13:27:00.004-05:002008-05-11T13:47:36.247-05:00

I think what I adore most about Mother's Day is that there always seems to be an ample supply of love translated through drawings, words, bean plants, handpainted ceramics, and the like. And I am so warmed by all the levels of artistic development in our little brood from scribbles to skilled. I want for nothing. Mom, I made you this clutch bag, Happy Mother's Day! Sorry you're not

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-8451058724403113542008-05-05T09:13:00.005-05:002008-05-05T09:43:05.534-05:00

These are the invites I made for my friend Julie's baby shower that I hosted here on Saturday. I printed the card stock first then cut little fabric ovals, cut about a 1/4 of them out for the buggy shape and stitched them down to the card. Then I glued the buttons on for wheels. I received lots of rsvps that were accompanied by squeals over the invites, so I highly recommend the process

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-33341314267607748682008-04-29T16:35:00.003-05:002008-04-29T16:59:18.017-05:00

I can see it. The finish line. But here is a highlight from the race to Quilt Market which is in full swing. My living room is kinda starting to look like a what my booth will look like. I found an old brass lamp, spray painted it red and covered a shade with the Nouveau Bouquet/Eccentric Cool. I trimmed the edges of the lamp with bias cut from Shadow/Eccentric Warm. If you want to know

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-61804437061688383622008-04-23T11:43:00.008-05:002008-04-23T12:55:20.470-05:00

So I should set something straight. While the recently shared bunny rescue may convey a sort of gentle nobility where all things small, helpless and creature-like are concerned, I am personally subject to being easily grossed out by anything in nature. You name it. No, I'll name it. We once again have a family of wrens in one of the flower baskets on the patio. My parents were visiting

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-38027054921915143592008-04-17T08:56:00.004-05:002008-04-17T09:20:37.704-05:00

Spring Rescue Squad Jaws of Death Moral of the story: If your dog learns no other command, learning "DROP IT!!" should be the one he does learn. This has been a Spring-in-Tennessee Public Service Announcement.

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-38614109723919103812008-04-15T13:03:00.007-05:002008-04-15T13:32:35.631-05:00

who? me and my book photography what? spools of thread, silly when? ongoing where? in my studio why? cause Juliana's not here and there's no one else to whom I can point out how silky and luminous these 50 year old spools of thread are, yet it needed to be done just the same. They are beautiful, aren't they? Oh, why yes, they are! How nice of you to notice.

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-81398614696742927072008-04-11T08:11:00.003-05:002008-04-11T08:23:23.349-05:00

:: Early morning storms in April and the glowing light they cast. :: This clever stitcher keeping me company. :: Her hushed whisper of counting stitches under her breath, tracking her progress which is every now and then followed by a proud and not so hushed announcement of "17!" or "32!!!" It almost knocked me outta my chair the first time. She's even smart enough to take a break

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-12879696738290194482008-04-09T13:19:00.004-05:002008-04-09T13:41:29.118-05:00

.....I think they dream of being this. I know the thought of it is keeping me awake. Just a mock-up of what I'll likely be lounging on at Quilt Market. okay, back to it. xo,AM

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-9800637671934122082008-04-07T09:19:00.010-05:002008-04-07T12:55:52.835-05:00

This morning's first light on the swept brick. Every muscle in my body protested getting out of bed after a weekend full of weeding, pruning, hauling, digging, tilling, sweeping, lugging, hosing, dusting, wiping....and lots of other -ings. But Jeff and I enjoyed coffee on the patio this morning for the first time in months. Oh but Saturday was filled with studio -ings, like cutting, sewing

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-73443026069801135162008-04-02T10:14:00.009-05:002008-04-02T11:11:38.660-05:00

I was flipping through some photos of our patio from last summer and discovered the beginnings of a few things that I forgot were ever captured. It's warmed up enough now that its time to clean out this space that has largely gone dormant for a few months. And just like last year, I'll have to wait until the new wren family hatches in one of those wall planters before I plant my lantana!

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-64018957170953178682008-03-31T15:33:00.002-05:002008-03-31T15:40:13.791-05:00

Lucky for us we can take care of both any given Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa's farm. Everyone should have the chance to do this at least once. So many giggles. How was your weekend? xo,AM

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-23427858586719783382008-03-28T09:17:00.006-05:002008-03-28T12:04:59.137-05:00

Four little birdies are going to market. And they need your help! I have a proposition that I thought would be fun (if nothing else) to throw out there....specifically for those of you who live in the Portland, Oregon area. And I've read my blog stats, so I know there are a bunch of you! Cutting to the chase here it is: I will be exhibiting at the Quilt Market May 16-18 and would really

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-52485394805450103432008-03-26T10:29:00.007-05:002008-03-26T10:54:23.784-05:00

Right now I am immensely pleased with any color that is happening in the yard. I think mostly because I haven't had the chance to tend to anything, yet some things just appear, and I feel like thanking them every time I walk by. Even the weeds. I'm always scooting by so fast, arms full of this or that, on my way to something that has nothing to do with flowers. Every year I have mixed

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-59032053651641232002008-03-21T08:29:00.003-05:002008-03-21T08:37:50.830-05:00

I love them both. These aren't the final ad shots, but we did get that done. In the nick of time, naturally. Designed it, she did. Now if I could just get her to not surf on my computer while I'm drafting the pattern she might learn a little more. Not complaining. I do have to say something mom-like. Have a Bright and Beautiful Easter. Eastern Orthodox Easter is still a few weeks away

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-7165236375119541912008-03-20T09:00:00.005-05:002008-03-20T09:19:49.048-05:00

I was up late and I'm up early, feverishly finishing this dress that Juliana designed. It'll be the part of some magazine ads for Drawing Room, and I have about 24 hours to complete the whole shabang, including the sewing, final fitting, styling, photography, any photo editing and final art for production. Started at about 9:30 last night. So go ahead and ask me, should I have dropped

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-89911530392270208912008-03-16T19:47:00.005-05:002008-03-16T20:54:32.475-05:00

It's been the baby hogging olympics here.  I think I'm winning, but here is Juliana, the matriarchal cousin, with the newest little cousin. Introducing grandchild number 11, Grace Kalliope.  I can barely stand to let anyone hold her, even for a minute and I even hover while she needs to nurse.  Luckily we're a close family, so no one minds. I just noticed that Jennifer posted my interview

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-74128414799328110092008-03-14T10:31:00.010-05:002008-03-14T12:40:45.400-05:00

Well, okay it's not mine, exactly. But I am fortunate enough to be able to use it like it is. Here's another corner of my friend Tracy's house where I spent all day yesterday working on more book photos. Whenever we get together, we always drag each other around our houses asking the other's opinions about this and that, colors, furniture, ideas. etc. We like all the same stuff generally,

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-13043951497644714822008-03-10T07:52:00.007-05:002008-03-10T08:24:54.973-05:00

You have to be the sweetest bunch of blog readers. Mean it. What a soft cradle my thoughts rested in as I read all your comments and relived all your experiences with you. Some days go by without a hitch. Other days you're stopped in your tracks and question something as simple and seemingly normal as putting your child on a school bus. On a bus? Are you kidding? What I am thinking? And

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-42128640447792342172008-03-07T10:26:00.007-06:002008-03-07T11:11:17.262-06:00

It was sunny in the living room yesterday afternoon and I was making progress working on some book photography, hoping to accomplish just one more good one before the kids got home. Right on schedule at 3:34 I heard the scuffle for the doorknob and the usual chatter of young voices and the bus breaks releasing and accelerating down the road after dropping off my middle three. But. There were

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-20077631054043331672008-03-05T10:30:00.011-06:002008-03-05T11:41:43.349-06:00

That warm breeze that blew through the house over the weekend has indeed gone into hiding, leaving us with a chill again. I've been hiding out in the studio the past few days, with nothing but music, sewing and photography. Its been a gooooood few days. And somehow all that fresh air did more than clear away stale winter air, it refreshed my whole attitude and inspired a bit of sprucing. The

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-66812390108929447802008-03-03T09:34:00.005-06:002008-03-03T11:37:32.072-06:00

Did you feel that? It feels as though life itself just blew in here. I believe its commonly referred to as sun and wind. Be back soon, xo, AnnaMaria

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-48422162393255543342008-02-27T07:48:00.005-06:002008-02-27T08:01:58.442-06:00

I thought you should know about this post at Craftsanity right away! Go forth and be nosey!!! Now if my bolts of Drawing Room would just clear customs we'd be all set. I had a fancier post in mind for this fabric giveaway announcement, but my bolts are not here for their closeups. Shouldn't be long now, but I didn't want to wait on letting you know how to enter this one! xoxox, AM

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-45072731193470984962008-02-26T09:08:00.006-06:002008-02-26T12:10:44.645-06:00

Have I said yet that finishing the book is really just the beginning of the book? It's true. It is. You are not yet free from reading about the process, and mostly because I'm fortunate enough to be playing several roles in this adventure story. So the projects are drafted and made, the instructions and techniques have all their illustrations, the text is written, the cover photos are taken,

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34677887.post-49593482183218399272008-02-20T16:25:00.005-06:002008-02-20T21:37:59.321-06:00

So we went to the woods. All seven of us left the house with various degrees of excitement. Yet upon entering this forest everyone of us leveled out to the same fullness of joy. No one said so. I just knew it. I felt it. Eleni's steps were quick. Juliana chatted more than normal and not about shopping. Nicolas, Joseph and Isabela just took off. Jeff didn't stop me from hovering behind

Anna Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01562036255369261828noreply@blogger.com