Craft South

Things have a way of sneaking up on you. Mary Anna practically hyperventilates from laughter she loves playing peek-a-boo so much. It is almost impossible not to do the same yourself when you have a good round with her. She was 9 months on Friday. March came like a lion just as they say. Ice. Harsh cold. Roman suffered for several days through a regimen of breathing treatments around the clock due to an asthma-like episode. Scary stuff. Jeff and I took turns sharing a bed with him. I was never more than the sound of his breath away for about a week. He is very good now. And we are prepared if there should be a next time. I of course am hoping there is not- at the very least that I can understand possible triggers like allergies and what not. Phew. I have been stitching. My new cross stitch patterns and kits that I have likely not mentioned here are getting close to being ready! You are going to love these. They are little. Six colors. Beautiful and enjoyable. Eight of them! I am already knitting away on my nephew Eli's birthday sweater. I chose a simple v-neck vest, and I'm adding a contrast trim. It's gonna be cool. Cause he's turning 9 and it has to be.  We are about to knock down the wall between our kitchen and family room.  I have been wanting to do this for years and decided that being otherwise busy with everything else was the perfect time to do it, naturally.

Ok, really.  Craft South.  This is what I am here to talk about mostly, though you know by now you never get a straight story.  Look over here.  We have been working on this for months and I can't believe we are ready to go.  I am over the moon with excitement and feeling so lucky and honored to have such wonderful designers & friends to help me share lots of good crafty experiences this summer.  I can think of no better way to begin this journey than sharing it with these ladies.  And just like the posted story says, I am on the hunt for a permanent home for Craft South to live.  As in a building.  One with floors and walls.  Electricity would be nice too.  And my people.  My working studio will move there, and my personal studio will remain at home.  We aren't exactly sure where "there" is but we are hard at work on it.  My hopes and dreams for Craft South aren't so much about a new business as they are about creating a home for all of the work that I do already.  But in a place where any one can walk in, anytime, for any reason, and share what they are working on, learn something, knit, sew, stitch, talk, buy beautiful materials for all of it and be an important part of a community of crafters.  Here in Nashville.   I love my home.  I love this city. And after years of sharing through that screen there that you are looking at, I am giddy about offering a tangible experience for myself and others.  Say a prayer for me.  It's a big step, but I am somehow just not stressed like I have been with other decisions.  I have theories on that.

For now I just want to say thank you so much for your support in whatever form it has taken over the past many years.  Life changes in the most amazing ways, and some days I feel like I am simply watching it with excitement.  Today is one of those days.

Please let me know if you have any questions about Craft South, the workshops, or anything.  Please read all the info provided in the pdfs at the website.  Classes will not be on sale until Monday of next week, right over here, but the schedules are offered now so you have some thinking time.

more soon friends, xoxoAnna Maria

January Gathering

I am ridiculously happy with myself.  I decided to stay color inspired this year by pulling together a group of 12 fabrics every month to reflect what I'm calling the mood of the month.  Keep in mind it is entirely arbitrary, really, but I do think there is so much to the language of color and a common feeling that we all share when it comes to the calender changing.  I am offering them as bundles for sale, but really am most excited about looking at my own prints in a new way.  Pulling from various collections, new or not.  I am hoping it'll inspire you in a positive way too, whether its just the enjoyment of looking at the image or a new direction in your own color stories.    The only rule I am setting on myself is to not create them ahead of time.  I have to be in the month to be feelin' right?  Right.

So for January, my words of inspiration are: wood piles, snowflakes, crocheted blankets, full moon, icicle, mittens and new perspectives.

Happy Friday! xoxoxAnna

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

Midoctober

These last weeks have been so good. Everything feels all painted together in bold, broad strokes that look just right.  The weather has been something that I dream about on days when it's otherwise.  Being at my dad's house to begin going through my mother's belongings was very much what I thought it would be like.  I think my sister and I spent more time giggling over things than we did crying.  We felt her right there with us, laughing.  And we teased her memory over some of the fashion choices she made that hung in her closet.  Of course there were tears.  Over shawls we remember braiding the fringe of to stay occupied during Liturgy.  But thankfully there was one for each of us.  That was the good part.  Choosing things for people.  Thinking about who might like a piece of jewelry or a handknit sweater.  It was like continuing her work to spread some love and gifts around.  That was so nice.  Saving things for grand-daughters, looking forward to a special time to give them each something.  We also set aside things for dad to take to Greece this winter.  For his sisters and his sisters-in-law.  They miss her so much.  Dad has a whole huge crate of furniture and such that he is shipping to his house in Greece.  He mentioned plans of putting a quilt in there a few weeks ago that mom made.  I asked him which and his answer made me realize that it was one Mom and I had chosen the fabrics for in NYC on a trip together.  So I asked if he could leave that one here and I would bring him one even bigger and better suited for the bed it was to go on.  I knew full well as I offered that, that I likely didn't have one that size.  So in the midst of lots of other time sensitive work, for three days I stopped to make a new patchwork quilt for him to take to Greece.  And now the other is safe at home with me.  Folded at the end of my bed.  For extra warmth.  Worth the scurry.

My Aunt Beth from Indiana was here for a visit and to meet Miss Mary Anna Louisa.  This woman is an utter joy.  She exudes such an air of peace and joyfulness that it is impossible to not feel peace and joy in her presence.  So much like Mom.  But of course completely unique and wonderful in other ways.  We played with Mary.  I gave her many of Mom's things.  As we went through items she had stories for so much of mom's jewelry that I had never heard.  It was wonderful.  I showed her my fabrics and everything in my studio.  Described what the process of making fabric it is like.  I tested her to see if she could pick out the print discrepancies in my latest strike offs.  We talked so much.  Talked about all the kids.  We shopped.  We bought little gold leather shoes with bows on the toes for Mary.  Her first pair of shoes.  I'm so glad I did that with Aunt Beth.  We bought new buttons for a knitted romper that I made for the baby.  She had the perfect suggestion of using two sizes of buttons since there weren't enough of one size at the store.  It was so simple.  But I wouldn't have thought of it.  We bought new soup bowls for me.  We ate.  We filled the bowls with chili that night and sat with my Uncle Linden and Jeff and all the children around our long dining table and enjoyed conversation that went in all directions.  Baby Mary gave her a million smiles in just two days.  Fell asleep for an hour or two on her lap.  Passed out cold, all limbs splayed out.  She never does that.

And we are doing so much else in the studio.  We have shipped a painted backdrop and lots of other goodies to Houston for my Quilt Market booth.  I am going over Dowry ribbon samples for a late fall delivery- they are so beautiful- oh how I love them.  I've just finished making corrections to the first round strike offs for the Spring'14 fabrics.  I am making plans with Heather to help her teach in Palm Springs in January. I am making plans to teach at MQG Sew Down Nashville in April.  We are shipping out the first batch of pre-sold prints today, the rest should ship out middle of next week.    Then we should be on track to ship as they sell.  This was so fun to do.  Out of the norm here, and just cool to do something entirely independently.  We are planning the next series of Janome free projects and videos.  I will also be guest posting regularly at their FB page and blog starting next month.

I am in disbelief that our baby girl is more than four months.  She babbles entire symphonies, smiles at everyone, absolutely everyone and is the most kissable, huggable, strong and lovely little bitty human.  She just is.  She is so fun to love.  So easy to love.  And buttoning a sweater up to her fat little chin to meet the cool air on the other side of our front door is really all I need.
Even so, there is a whole lot more.
kisses from here, xoxoAnna

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

About that Quilt

When I designed this quilt I had tradition on my mind.  I also was set on making a quilt pattern that felt a little like a snowflake-y/fair isle-y/navaho-y piece.  You know.  But wanted it to feel modern at the same time.  After a whole bunch of tinkering, sewing, patching, drawing, mathing and swearing, I arrived a block design that I loved, and one that was not insane to expect of someone else.  The Flight Map Quilt.  And like much of designing patchwork proves to be, it was quite a bit of complication to arrive at simplicity.  Layering on to all of that, the pattern only uses one single block, but employs strategic color changes to arrive at the medallion style you see above.  8 solids + 12 watercolor like prints.  I would not label this as a beginner quilt, though I would say that it is largely composed of beginner to intermediate piecing skills.  And I REALLY believe it to appear way more complicated than it seems.  Really, really.  I also wanna show you some variations with different color layouts for some inspiration......




I made the above crib sized quilt from some of the the Hand Drawn Garden collection.  Each of the 6 blocks is exactly the same and the arrangement of them creates the fun little arrows of magenta and coral.  The arrangement also only allows the cream solid to complete a whole diamond in one place which is not exactly center which I think is pretty unique.  The Volumes print cut in a stripey manner gives the print-y prints a nice kick. 




Naturally it seemed the next thing to try was to not only make a version where every block is the same, but also one where the blocks are entirely symmetrical.  Oh how I love this version.  Really so very traditional in one way but a close inspection of the single block feels so quirky and fresh when you see the fabrics up close.  The floating cross elements and the more subdued flying geese rows feels so calming and lovely.  I just adore it.  This one is made from eight different Dowry prints (releasing in November!) and just one solid.  And no, I did not make all three myself!  The original was made together with my pal and stellar quilter, Brittney, the crib size all by me, and the latest above entirely by Brittney.  I cannot let you people think that a lady with a 3month old is doing this much patchwork.  It just wouldn't be right.  But anyway.  I wish I were.

Have a good weekend.  S'pose to be 78 at the very hottest tomorrow and I have already decided that will make it the best day of my life.
xoxoAM

Rose Soup

I recall a recent conversation I had with Juliana about fabric and prints and why we are so obsessed with flowers to the point where it almost exclusively dominates our decor.  We, being civilization.  The two of us concluded that if one looks to nature as a source of inspiration, what else would you choose, really?  Of course flowers.  They encompass every bit of beauty, architecture, color, repetition, metamorphosis, and perfection one needs to stay inspired and never exhaust the possibilities to portray them some other way.  I find myself trying very hard to exhaust roses in my own work, by playing them out every which way and in various media.  Joyously, I cannot. And so I keep at it.

(Pauses to acknowledge baby girl after a mighty squeal of delight as though she agrees.)

I am starting a new personal project that I have been thinking about FOREVER.  My friend Heather encouraged me to push on and do it about 6 months ago.  I'm so excited to say that I am- limited edition prints of my artwork!  Developing the first release has been really fun, and I will be sharing more soon.  I took a little poll on Instagram, and an overwhelming majority seems to really wanna see Roses, Moths, Butterflies in print form.  What say you?

There will be about 4-6 different prints.  I am hoping to have the final works up for pre-sale as we welcome Autumn in just a couple weeks.  And then we will be shipping them out a few weeks later.  This is something that I hope to do about twice a year, with new editions each time.  I'm really excited and can't wait to show you what I've been working on for them!

Happy Wednesday! xoxo, AnnaMaria

ps.  sign up for my mailing list to be the first to know about the prints!

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

Studio Summer Rummage

Beginning now in my online SHOP!

I've been dreaming of putting together a little sale like this for months and thanks to Pierrette and a baby who lets her mommy one-hand-edit while nursing we are ready to go. Here's the blurb from the emailer:

A quick note to let you know that we are having our first ever Studio Rummage Sale beginning tomorrow morning, Wednesday 6/26 at 9am EST! We have been doing lots of clearing and cleaning in the studio and reorganizing to make room for new collections coming in this summer and fall.... not to mention the bit of space we stole from the downstairs studio to make a nursery! We came across so much that we love - art, samples, display items, OOP fabrics and other miscellany, -but simply have no room. So we thought passing along the love to our crafty friends seemed appropriate. First come, first serve!

***Check my FB page and IG feed for a few sneak peeks of items that will be up for sale! (You may also come across a giant pile of newborn baby pictures. Maybe.)

*Please note that all RUMMAGE sale purchases are final with exception to defect and we will ship internationally just like all of our shop goods. SALE ENDS Wednesday July 3rd @ midnight EST.

*The BOGO free Scrap Bags will continue thru midnight 7-3-13 as well. 

thanks peoples.  back soon, xoxoxoxAnna

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