Heirloom Stockings

Between dashing and dancing I've eeeked out family stockings.  Oh has this been a long time coming! And settling on machine embroidery meant that they all happened pretty snappy like!

This is also my newest free project with my pals at Janome! Free embroidery too! We have all of the links loaded onto my Janome + Me page for you.  I talk a lot more about the process over here on the Janome projects page.  Here is a link to watch our video tutorial too!








I love them so, so much! I'd love to see your versions (even if it's not til next year of course!)
xoxo, Anna

Dowry

Dowry.  (ps. putting the finishing touches on the above pattern today! Quilt pattern is now here!) I first learned what the word dowry meant from my mom when exploring my grandparents house in Greece as a little girl.  I came across a small closed up room filled with linens all stacked from the floor to taller than me and a cabinet of dishes, etc. too as I recall.  I asked my mom what it was and she said it was my cousin Eleni's dowry.  Cousin Eleni was only a wee girl at the time, but busy family hands had been making for her since before she was born.  Needless to say it made quite an impression and I wasted no time in asking where we kept my dowry.  (I am sure that was good for laughs, as we didn't practice quite the same tradition here in the States.)
Dowry is my newest feature collection of 24 quilting cottons.  (And only quilting cottons actually for this line.)  Here is my collection description: So often beauty comes to us in the form of tangible gifts, passed on by loved ones who have come before us. Even more lovely is when these goods were actually intended for and handmade with us in mind. This to me is the very heart of the handmade world, and I wanted to honor it with a collection that is very personal and built from the handiwork from my own family. Dowry is a compilation of literal translations of some of my own family heirlooms, some imagery is only from memory, and some prints are simply imagined companions that reference the handmade, hand stitched, and the well-loved. Dowry is at once nostalgic and energetic… a new love with a past life.
Each of the colorways is named for a piece of jewelry I've been given.

Rubies & Pearls (a ring from my great, great aunt)

Charm Bracelet (from my parents for my high school graduation)

Brass Locket (from my grandmother Anna Ruth, holding pictures of my grandfather, mom, and aunt)


Being very literal about the translations of artwork from heirloom to fabric was incredibly satisfying. The process inspired me beyond the actual recreated artworks, but also completely reinvigorated my "mark" making. How I stroked the surface for each print. They are all a little different, and in the end sort of reference and pay tribute to several styles of print processes over centuries of making textiles. For instance, the Twill Bouquet was born out of my first needlepoint project as a child, but the texture inspired a twill motif rather than a needlepoint one. Those twill lines running through the bouquet saw fit to take a few turns in the negative space for some contemporary interest (not unlike my juvenile stitches that went in all directions).  (Mom and I made that pillow together several years ago with my Bohemian fabrics after recovering the needlepoint from missing.)

And the Lineage print. This dear deer of Yiayia's. Dear deer of mine (the story is here). It was important to me to invoke the print with the horizontal runnings of a loom, so all the art is created in line and purposefully a little imperfect in it's printing, slightly thinner here, overprinted there. It feels so special to me that way. Already belonging wherever it is. I love it. I cannot tire of it.

Every print and title in this collection is special to me. Close to me and very personal. I could not have anticipated just how personal when I designed it, barely and secretly pregnant exactly a year ago, and still the daughter of a visible mother. I could not have. Yes, it's only fabric. Only things. But so are all of pieces and gifts that inspired the work. When Pierrette and I were shooting the above photo, the mannequin needed just a little something. I was able to pull out one of my mom's crocheted shawls still tucked in a box full of things I had just retrieved from her closet a few days earlier. Perfect. Only a shawl.
But so very good to hold it, and see it. Like everything we give and receive out of love.
While we do sell it, and it is my living, I also offer this with love.  I hope you enjoy it!
yours, Anna Maria

True Colors

Hulllloo. Happy November. November is great. Particularly this one. It's wonderful enough watching the weather change, the colors intensify through your window, the house feeling like a cozier place to be, and going outdoors feeling more like an adventure than a chore....but this November, two lovely happenings in the form of fabric are happening. The first is TRUE COLORS. People. This was so fun for me. Setting these parameters on my designing was a rewarding challenge and I love the results. I hope you do too!

Here's the schpeil from the website regarding the collection (all true, wrote it myself, so I know): I am thrilled to introduce you to my first collection of not-so-basic basics! True Colors is the latest collection program from Free Spirit designed by a select group that I am so proud to be part of. These prints and colorways are specifically designed to work beautifully along side all of my fabric collections. My twenty True Colors fabrics fill in any color gaps one might have in their stash to complete a full palette of inspiration. A gorgeous spectrum that is always good to have around no matter the style or the project!

And if you haven't noticed yet that you are floating amongst the most heavenly, chubby, sweet little cherub along with a divine assortment of colorful mini pants, I would like to point out the fabulous little knickers that are my latest free pattern for you. Cause I wanted knickers and so did the baby. She said so.

Visit my MAKE page to download the knick-knack Knickers sewing pattern by me. Knick-knack Paddywhack was my mom's favorite song to rock little ones too. So I sing it, and sew these (just twenty of 'em) in her honor of her silly, fun "Nani" self.

True Colors is loaded into our shop, as well as favorite shops all over the globe, so have fun!  I'll get a Flickr group for it going soon and I can't wait to see all the sewing going down!

I'll be back tomorrow to scoop on Dowry after I can figure out a way to talk about it without crying sentimental tears. ;-P (fabric is happy, fabiric is happy, fabric is happy.)
xo, hugs, AM

Escape Artist

(It's true that I really do have the most fun naming everything that I design. Naming is my favorite.  Ahem.)  The original inspiration for this new bag design was to incorporate the possibility of including a needlepoint work into the bag. For me, that dictated the whole look of the bag to be a bit old-timey carpet bag like. And luxurious. But a shape that is simple and modern enough that it would translate well into many other fabrications. Working with velveteen was a must for me on the first few samples.  I simply love that fabric for bags.   Really good weight and something about the texture is just so fancy and perfect on bags.


The clutch (on my way to a wedding last summer with the prototype) was a must when I decided on a variation, but a nice large scale that did not skimp on space. Kind of portfolio like but way more feminine with the shirring. The needlepoints that I used for the two bags above are the perfect size for this bag to begin with, though you could really use any special handwork or patchwork piece in the framed feature spot.  Or something that is only as special as your current favorite print (because we know that changes weekly).

For the cover bag, I decided to do just that, by framing the "Parenthetical Flight" print in my leopard velveteen.  (It makes me think of a cat coughing up feathers of a bird he just ate only more sophisticated.)

Even simpler still is this version that I have used everyday for about a month.  Mary Anna and I share this bag (because I have never taken to the one bag for me, one bag for baby thing very well). I skipped over the framed and shirred front feature all together and just made a simple version that uses the bag back piece twice and same linen fabric all over. The handles are just long enough to slide up to my shoulder if I choose, but comfy at my elbow as I hold other things too, like, uh, a baby. So there she is, my newest bag pattern. Hope you like it! I know that a bunch of you have been waiting for Field Study linens to be back in stock, and I'm here to tell you they are!

In other news, we just painted the downstairs studio, cause there's a new wall in there (the one that created a nursery for MA) that was waiting for paint. It all feels so fresh now with a new coat of "glass of milk" by Martha Stewart (same as upstairs studio). Before I move everything back in I am taking advantage of the empty floor space to layer up two new quilt tops with their battings and backings. I'll be shooting with Creativebug again next week so the fresh and clean is good timing.

Also I just polished off a 1/2 pint of everything but the....

Post-baby eating plan going as expected ;-P
hugs, Anna

Love + Give + Sew = Live

Again this year, I am honored to donate an auction package filled with lots of goodies for some handmade love to help support my friend Alissa and her sister Kate's cause, Action Kivu.  What a gift it is for most all of us when the opportunity presents itself, to pick up some materials and begin making something.  Typically a budget or time constraints are our only hurdles to doing anything we want in our creative lives.

It is a gift to ourselves, and to our children to lead these lives!  Please consider giving, even the smallest bit to help these women do the same, all the while overcoming the hand life has dealt them.

Visit Alissa for all the info you need!
lots of love, and thank YOU for considering!! xoxo, Anna
 

Around our Summer

Hi everyone.  It is so busy here.  I blink and the day is over.  Today I thought we could play match the bullet points to the photos.  Ahhehehehegg-hemm.  Here we go.

:: I am learning to look on the bright side of the garden.  Flowers are blooming in riotous ways.
:: I am learning to ignore the dark side of the garden.  Weeds are blooming in riotous ways.
:: I need to dig up and rearrange a few things, but try not to think of that every time I walk by.
:: By a few things I mean almost all of it.
:: I have hired Joseph as my gardener.   I love stroking his ego from the garden bench nursing the baby by telling him how awesome he is while he pulls weeds as tall as me from the dirt.
:: I could not be more excited about fabric right now!  (This whole year really! Still two more collections to launch this year. )  My Hand Drawn Garden collection is here, there, and everywhere.  They are a curation of my favorite Garden Party & Drawing Room prints, all rolled into one pretty group of quilting cottons.
:: And that pretty quilt- that's the Flight Map Quilt pattern that has been on hold for developing for like ever. 
:: My life stopped for a bit there, remember?
:: It is starting again, and lots of projects that were on hold are getting their wheels turning towards completion. 
:: I made some Pleasant Pathways Shorts for Juliana from one of the new colorways! 
:: That's her up there in that riotous Canna.  I can't wait to shed some baby chub and steal them right off her skinny little rear.
:: Oh and not that she needs me to make things for her seeing as how she has her own stinkin line of fabric now.
:: Yup.  It's over here, and it's called Rosette.  And I love it.  Really love it.  Soooo her.
:: We've used it quite a bit already.  Baby dresses. Baby bloomers.  Patchwork.  Window Panels.
:: It looks so pretty with Denyse's Shelbourne Falls which I absoflippintutely adore.  That is most of what is patching that rocker.
:: That is most of where I spend my time. In that rocker.   Nursing.  And watching documentaries on my phone while nursing.  And drinking Pellegrino while watching documentaries on my phone while nursing.
:: Which has a lot to do with why some other things are moving slow.
:: So my downstairs studio got divided into a nursery and studio by way of a new wall and door.
:: It's pretty great I must say.  I got that pretty rug here.  I got that gorgeous Greek Needlepoint on Ebay.  There's another one of a man playing a flute that I am going to frame and put over the piano.  Because flute art goes over a piano, everyone knows that.
:: Juliana has been home all summer which is so beyond wonderful I can hardly express it.  She has been using baby Mary Anna's new room because baby Mary Anna is of course in ours.
:: Everyone else is generally in their own.
:: Though we spend a lot of time (all of us) (yes that's nine people) in the new nursery.
:: We could have a 20,000 square foot home and I think we would still all cram into 50 sq. feet all day.
:: It's weird.
:: I can't wait to show you more pictures of the nursery.  But the young fashion student turned fabric designer turned hey I can throw my stuff everywhere needs to pick up first.
:: She's really not that messy.
:: Roman is learning to take photos. (Find that one!)
:: I have a new class on CreativeBug!
:: I was quite pregnant during the video shoot for the last few classes.
:: I might look particularly tired in this new class, please don't let it distract you from the awesomeness of needlepointing onto a sweatshirt.
:: Cause it is awesome.
:: Jeff put a rope swing onto one of giant cedar trees in the back yard.  The kids go crazy laughy screamy nuts out there pushing each other on it. 
:: It's the terrifying kind of laughter that borders on I wonder if they are enjoying it or are about to really injure themselves.
:: That tree view above is all I can see from my studio window and all the swinging is blocked by branches.
:: I think it's for the best.
:: Also the little Miss smiles all the time the past few days.
:: When she's not crying or puking or sleeping that is.
:: In other words, she is the perfect baby.

xoxoAnna

Mother Goose Quilt

Anna's newest free quilt pattern is an oversized flying geese motif called the Mother Goose Quilt.  It uses all of the Field Study Linens along with the new Linen Solids that coordinate beautifully with the collection.  This is a simple to sew quilt that uses a no-waste method and has endless possibilities. Be sure to visit the MAKE page to download the PDF! 

Have fun! - Pierrette

New Janome + Anna Maria Projects and a Summer Sale in the Shop!

Anna is excited to have two new projects from the Janome + Anna Maria collaboration to share with you. The Right Turn Bag Project and Pleasant Pathways Shorts are up on the Janome site with free pattern pdfs and highlight videos. Please check them out and be sure to share your finished projects in the Flickr group.

To help get you started on these projects we have tons of fabric on sale in the store! Get your favorite Loulouthi prints at 25%-40% off and a buy one get one free Scrap Bag while you're at it. We are making space in the studio for upcoming releases (of the fabric and baby!!! varieties) so look out for a studio rummage sale with all sorts of one of a kind samples, scratch and dent patterns and lots of other goodies in the coming weeks.

That's all for now :)
-Pierrette

Linen Lesson No. 2

  Study Hall Skirt in Ghost Wing & Domestic Cat

Me &  Linen again.  Ready for more?

Texture:
I have always thought of linen in terms of it's texture- that lovely, woven, toothy quality that makes any color printed on it carry a different depth.  These linens are no different. And part of what makes that texture so pretty is the somewhat inconsistent weave thicknesses that are visible in the light. While they more textured than my quilting cottons, I would not describe them as rough.  The weave is not quite as tight as the quilting cotton, because the threads themselves are a bit thicker and more textured.

If I were going to make a really fitted garment, I might line it with something softer.  I would say that the sheerness of the linen is about the same as the quilting cotton.  Looser fitting garments (including those shown here) should be fine without lining (unless you're really tactile-specific anyway).

Socialite Dress in Flower Circuit & Linen Solid

Weight:
If we're speaking literally on the scale, a yard of linen falls between the quilting cotton and the cotton sateen (home decor).  But in actually thickness between your fingers, it is more similar to the quilting cotton.  For that reason, I've noticed that all of the sewing settings: stitch length, needle size, tension etc. are pretty much identical to what I do when I sew with quilting cotton.

  Multi Tasker Tote in Ghost Wing & Domestic Cat

Durability:
Linen is well known for it's durability, so it makes a lovely choice for lighter upholstery, slipcovers, bags, pillows, curtains, and more.  I imagine this, in addition the the fabric's width and style, is why some of the retailers are listing it with the home decor goods.  Further, linen does not stretch (like, at all) so it hold's it's shape and is resistant to damage from abrasion. The lack of stretchiness to this fabric makes it SO unbelievably simple to sew with- as in you can barely tell you're on the bias when you're on the bias.  Beyond home decor, the addition of cotton in this blend is what keeps it even more versatile in your sewing projects. Which brings me to drape.... 

  Art Student Tote (sans outer pockets) in Parenthetical Flight & Pressed Fields

Drape:
It's important to keep in mind that drape, in my opinion, is a bit relative, depending on who is doing the describing, so take my words here as an impression and not law.  I feel that the drape of the linen is somewhat similar to quilting cotton, however after washing where quilting cotton can get a little starchier in my opinion, I think the linen gets slightly more soft and drapey.  It is never going to act like rayon or voile, but it maintains quite a bit of fluidity for a fabric that has as much texture, weight and body as this one does.


  All Set Kids Blouse (modified to dress length) in Ghost Wing & Pressed Fields

  All Set Kids Jacket in Parenthetical Flight & Voile Solids

All Set Kids Skirt in Flower Circuit & Pressed Fields

I can barely think of a limit for the performance of this fabric in my sewing. Except I would probably hesitate to make something densely gathered that would need to drop nicely like from a skirt or an elastic band... but a little gathered poof sleeve?  Yes, just fine. 

We've made quilts, clothes, home decor, embroideries, bags, and pretty much everything- and I have some upholstery and home decor plans of the nursery variety swirling around in the brain too.  There are also some new colors of Linen Solids on the way soon that look gorgeous with this collection.  I'll share some patchwork and embroidery projects soon too!

xoxoAnna

Linen Lesson No.1

Parenthetical Flight in Deep

Hiya.  Let's do linen.  First up, I wanted to share a full width view of each of the 5 prints in my Field Study Linen collection (which each come in 3 colorways).  This is especially important when the prints are rather large scale. The images show roughly one full yard, with selvages oriented at left and right side edges.  These linens are 55" wide.


Pressed Fields in Poppy


Ghost Wing in Luscious


Domestic Cat in Coral


Flower Circuit in Sunny

Thank you so much for all of your questions about the fabric!  I found that they generally fell into one of four categories:  (1) design layout (2) content, care, basics (3) use as far as drape, feel, texture (4) use as far as durability, weight, weave.   I am hoping that the photos above give you plenty of insight into the scale and direction of the prints to help in planning your sewing projects and answer your design layout quesitons.  In many ways, I designed this collection with decor in mind- speaking mainly about scale and color choices, but not because the fabric is exclusively decor in weight or any other aspect.  It is really so very versatile.



Let's move on to the next category of content, washing, and caring for these lovelies.

Content:
My linen is 55% linen / 45% cotton.  So take whatever you are familiar with in 100% linen with a grain of cotton.  In other words, the focal features of traditional linen (coolness, sheen, wrinkling (no elasticity), coarseness, lint-free) are tempered, and I would say softened with the addition of some cotton.  Which I think is awesome.

Washing + Drying:
As I like to do, I did a wash test this morning.  3 separate exact yards were cut.  One was left unwashed.  The second was machine washed on a cold delicate cycle with basic detergent and left to air dry for a bit before completing the drying with an iron pressing.  The third was machine washed the same as the second, but then tossed in the dryer on a delicate setting, with low heat until completely dry.

The above photo shows you the length shrinkage results of these processes after all 3 were pressed.  You can see the washed/air+iron dried fabric only lost about 1/4" to 3/8" in length.  But the piece that was washed/dried (even on a low dryer setting) lost about an inch in length.  What the photo does not indicate is the width.... they are just layered staggered to see the different pieces.  But reporting on width shrinkage, none was lost on the piece that was washed/air+iron dried, and only about 1/4" of width was lost on the washed/dried piece.

So prewash or not depending on your uses, whether or not you'll be combining these with other fabrics, and how you intend to continue caring for them.  I think my method will end up being a combo....I will likely pull out of dryer before completely dry and finish it with pressing.  Not because I am worried about the shrinkage as much as the pressing will be a lot easier if the fabric is still damp.  My sense is that almost all of the shrinkage will happen in that first washing, but I don't of course have hard core evidence of that.  I also want to mention that both washed pieces, while they retained the lovely texture of linen, they felt softer and even a little drapey-er after washing and I think the machine dried one just a little more so. 

Next, I'll go over categories 3 & 4, covering drape, feel, texture, uses, durability and so on.  And I'll be doing so with lots of pretty pictures of our linen sewing projects so far (!!!!) Can't wait!

xoxoxAnna