Saturday Wash

We have risen from trash talk to laundry. It's a small yet meaningful move, and I promise there's a point to it this time.

Summer has if nothing else, so far, been a refresher course on the mere maintaining of life. Lots and lots of lives. Little dripping wet from the pool, hungry, loud, fighting, bored, rambunctious lives. Did I say lots of them? The lack of a rigid school-schedule+homework does leave the days slightly more relaxed, but my brain is more crowded as I try to keep up with studio work and the rhythmic chaos of it all. I find myself daydreaming of doing nothing but taking care of the garden, and doing wash by hand, and sewing clothes for all, and home making bread and other things that feel all but impossible currently.

So while on the hunt for something entirely different that I never found at the flea market this morning , I instead came across a way to make one little daydream come true. Lovely vintage embroidered pillowcases which will become beach dresses for the little two. (We leave next week!) I was digging to find pairs for their beds, but all the single cases were my favorite. And way cheaper. Just 1 or 2$ for most of them. The cotton is sooooo soft, and slightly sheer with wear, hence the beach dress variety plans and not the Sunday-go-to-meeting variety. Though you could line them I suppose, but perhaps then they wouldn't be cool enough for the heat.

I take so much pleasure in making something from nearly nothing and also have a bit gratitude for whoever spent the time on these handmade lovelies, years ago. Thank you, whoever you are!

I'll get them done, and share the steps with you. Hope you're enjoying the weekend! xo,AM

TrashTalk

We thought it was the fourth weekend, which is flea market weekend, only to find a gated up fairgrounds then check our cell phone calenders and finally noticed it was only the third weekend of the month. So we settled on the Tennessee Antiques Mall. You know that I have a weakness for folky-ish-things. How adorable is this little trash can? It's older than me. (I would go on to say how that's really old, but ya know, no that old.) Anyway, we have what you could call a waste management situation in this house. All the little bubs love to draw. And also to change their minds about what they should draw, just a few strokes in. I could wallpaper the Louvre in their indecision. This causes said waste management situation. I have worked on the theory with them, that no drawing is ever beyond saving, and that lots of erased lines are cool and provide "texture". Which probably explains the recent giant pile of erase-y pebbles I cleaned off the kitchen counter. Can I win? I can't win.



Back to the prettiness of this little trashcan. Ack! On the inside too! I'm pretty sure the metal is screen printed, but looks almost watercolor-ish when investigated up close. Did anyone have one like this, say, 40 years ago? And if so, did you feel like leaving it empty too? I bet a set of crayolas that it'll stay mostly empty but will be kept company by several half drawn ducks, over-erased horses, and some half graphite/half markered Jedis on the floor nearby.

Yes, I did just blog a trash can.

And look at you, you read it. Awe, I love you. xoAnna

Migration

These little birdies found their way onto Juliana's bed. If any room is a drawing room in this house, it is her's. In the most literal way. (She has forgone a bulletin board of any sort and just tacked her random renderings right into almost every inch of one 14ft. wall.)

I meant to mention the finished size of this quilt in my post the first time and never did. If you make the quilt top, add a roughly 2.5" sashing all around plus binding as the quilt is shown, you'll end up at about 69 x 84". Which covers a double matress pretty well, though, not completely over the L & R sides. Would def. reach the box spring on a twin bed. I have also gotten lots of emails requesting a fabric kit for the quilt pattern. I think that's a fab-y idea! So we're working on it. In fact I thought it would be fun to also kit up an Eccentric version too. The sample one shown is more of a Nostalgic mix with just a dash of the hotter red. Hope to have it in the shop next week. The kits will be made as they're ordered, so they'll take a bit longer than the other usually swift to take flight items.

Hey! It is officially summer today, no? Tomorrow?

Sending you sunshine, xoxo, Anna

When a mother of five goes on a business trip

I feel a refreshing sense of singularity as I pack for one.
One bag to check, and glorious independence - a carry on item.
A quiet contemplative flight. Browsing in the layover airport bookstore for "the Forger's Spell" or "The Rescue Artist". One about a famous art forgery the other about recovering Munch's "The Scream". Didn't have either so I resorted to scribbling on the second leg of the journey.
The reality of what I am about to take part in makes itself known as I hear my name called over the airport wide announcement system while I'm in the bathroom stall.
It tells me and perhaps a thousand others that my Driver is at the information desk by baggage claim. And it pronounces my name right.
After I settle into the black leather and some conversation, he says "God Bless You" when I tell him I have 5 kids. Then he tells me about driving Prince Albert of Monaco and I'm fascinated by all of it. Not 5-kid like at all.
He personally introduces me to the executive hotel staff, and security and wishes me well.
The room is modern, bright, well designed. And empty. Which for now feels fine.
About an hour in something twinges. I need to tie someone's shoe.
The cell phone keeps me busy with plans. Then with changes in plans. Then with talks to the kids. A talk to mom. A talk to my sister. (Of course to Jeff.) Then with plans again.
Then dinner out by the River Walk in the dry, dry blowing heat. I felt like I would eventually find the world's largest hairdryer that was blowing that unforgiving wind. Never did. I did think about the kids splashing in the pool the next morning at the swim meet I would be missing.
Dinner included some pals with SVP. And Martha's security guard who joked that I can't mention his name. Actually the former NYC cop wasn't kidding at all, but we had some fun conversation about his four children and one grandchild, about my 5 and we shared a hi-five when we uncovered that we were both teenage parents. Nice guy.
My bed was waaaay too big and the room was way too empty when I got back. I think it grew while I was at dinner. I also think the quiet got even more silent.
I sunk into sleep quickly without even thinking about the next day. Woke up at 5 am when I thought I heard one of the kids. Maybe I did. But fell back asleep.
Wakeup call. Without a word I brewed coffee that should have been made by Jeff.
I dressed without stopping to talk to anyone or spread butter on a blueberry bagel or apologize for toasting a plain bagel that was suppose to stay untoasted.
I got dressed and contemplated shooting a picture with the belt, one without the belt, emailing them to Juliana for a final decision. I decided against the email and the belt.
The big event went exactly as it should have. Martha was engaging and insightful and it was clear that she truly enjoyed the conversation and I sat in that chair conducting it feeling very out-of-body at the fact that I never got nervous at all. I thought about home a lot. I thought about my mom. She talked about her mom. I thought about mine. I love my mom.
A late afternoon whiskey-sour and spanish ham and cheese croquets at the hotel with my friends from SVP, I was already at home in my mind. After, I packed up in no time. Didn't have to check under the bed for socks or toys, though I took a final look anyway.
The delay in my flight granted enough time to think hard about the gifts for the kids. Its a business trip ritual. I don't think I can ever top the scorpion suckers for the boys up there.
My eyes opened to a golden headed little thumbsucker standing by my bed this morning. After a warm hoist up next to me we both fell back asleep. She got a pony princess tshirt. The other girls got tshirts too. Jeff got some bizarre Mexican goat milk caramel candy that Juliana sampled and okayed the minute she saw it.
I got a ticket home. And what a gift.
xoA

The Stars at Night

The bag is big, the necklace is bright and I'm deep in the heart of Texas. I blog, dear readers, from a hotel room in San Antonio, where I've been lassoed into doing a fun little ditty tomorrow. SVP asked me to join Martha during her appearance here at the SVP convention. Why? Hmmm. Dunno. But here's what I get to do. Sit on stage with her in a cozy setting and interview her one on one about her personal sewing history for about an hour in front of 1500 sewing machine dealers. Sounds fun enough right? Should I have said yes? Dunno that either, but you can bet I'll be reporting back asap.



As I was dashing off to the airport this morning the bag and the necklace where the last things waiting on my bedroom hooks for me. Juliana helped me pick out the necklace the other day on an all-evening shopping excursion. Isn't the detail so dainty and cool all at once? I love it. Speaking of DETAIL. I was actually told by my driver from the airport that I have security detail while here.....?..... Like I said, I'll report back. Hope it doesn't have anything to do with my recent art stealth confessions.

Oh. And the bag, just a smidgen of a glimpse of a prototype of pattern due out this fall.

Oh. Oh. And I'm listening to Edith, and painting my toenails plugged-in-plum right now.

Back soon!! xoxoxo, Anna

Art and Confessions

I've had a random string of things I've been wanting to share with you, just for kicks. And here they are in no particular order along with my personal confessions regarding each.

::1:: I have a new favorite artist (as shown in these three images) that keeps me on the edge of my seat waiting for the latest.
confession: the artist happens to live at the other end of the house.

::2:: I recently watched the best documentary ever on Marc Jacobs with aforementioned artist and was entirely too captivated by it.
confession: I was immensely interested in watching him stare at an inspiration board and think in silence. It was my favorite part.



::3:: The kids have stumbled across what could be the most fun game ever on the computer called LineRider. And there's even a cache of videos that people have produced using the game. This counts as art because you draw a path for the rider guy to ride or crash on. Way too fun.
confession: While looking up the link for the game I was sidetracked for at least 45minutes playing the stupid thing.



::4:: Yesterday, armed robbers in Brazil stole a few Picasso engravings along with a few other pieces from the Museum of Art in San Paolo.
confession: I always am captivated with the notion of stealing art....its weird, and I know its really really wrong, but the idea that someone wants famous art badly enough to steal it, and be willing to hide it and appreciate it secretly, is almost well....I dunno...cool? You'll vouch for me if I get questioned right?

Have a great weekend! xoox, Anna

Allie meet Everyone, Everyone meet Allie

There is a new face in the studio and the kids never want to see me again. Allie this. Allie that. And she's not even here to babysit. Would someone please tell the kids that she is not here to babysit!? She is here to make coffee. Erhh wait. She is here to keep me company and make me giggle and keep me from crying while setting up international shipments.



Oh no, wait...she's here to take care of all the shop orders, cut and fold stacks, answer the phone, answer some customer service emails and run errands. Oh and make coffee. Did I say that already?



Or maybe she's here to make the studio a sunnier place as that seems to have happened ever since she arrived. Wow. How does she do it all? And cuteness wasn't even a requirement yet she insists on being completely overqualified for the job in that department.

Everyone say "hello" to Allie.

xoxo, boss anna

From your Room Mom

Well I will say this. Summer with 5 children home is a bit like walking through 18 inches of molasses. Really slow, kinda sticky but sweet, nonetheless. Keep in mind this is only how I imagine walking in molasses to be and I do not speak from first-hand experience, yet I feel almost certain by the end of this summer, that could change.

Anyhoo. FINALLY something for you big buncha sweeties!! Here is your free downloadable quilt pattern designed for the Drawing Room collection. (Though, as of yet there are no Drawing Room police who would prevent you from performing these quilting tricks with other fabrics!) So enjoy please and share with me when you make one, no matter which fabrics you make it with! Look over there ------>>> in the sidebar to click and download. And please do tell me if you find mistakes! I have become so dependant on an editor, who knows what will happen without one!

If you haven't dropped in already, the Drawing Room flickr group is off to a lovely start and I would love to have some more Roomies join up so we can see what the heck you've been doing with yourselves. Oh and what you've been doing with the fabrics too, of course. It must be something, because we sure have shipped enough of it lately!!

Oh and speaking of shipping, I have someone to introduce you to...tomorrow perhaps.

N'kay, more later, I gotta go watch my sweetie race around a track tonight, which should not be a problem at all. xo,Anna

Growing, growing, but not gone

A few days ago I left the household to Juliana's charge so I could run some errands. Upon my return, as usual in the midst of studio work, I headed straight back to the studio with only a hello to any child who was in my path. A bit later I was looking for Juliana to ask her something. Shout. No answer. Shout again louder. Still no answer.



I went to her room at the other end of the house, only to find it empty. Perplexed, I dialed her cell phone which is never farther than one layer of denim from her. No answer. Weird! She wouldn't have left the house when babysitting certainly...maybe heard me come in then ran to the neighbors' without asking....not unheard of, but unusual. I used my cell phone to call the cordless house phone, thinking it must be near her. Then I noticed her laptop was still in her room. So she wasn't off downloading some music or watching runway reviews.



Once I had no help from the rest of the clan in finding her, I actually started to worry. Where on earth would she be if not reached by some means of texting, dialing, emailing or indoor shouting?



I decided to walk over next door to see if they'd seen her. I gave a faint shout outside as I went knowing full well the chances of her frolicking around outside were slim to none. But then I heard "over here!" way in the back of the property. I can't remember the last time I reached Juliana the 16-year-old 28-year-old by hollering her name in the yard. Wow. It was a relief on so many levels. I found her making a wreath from wild and garden flowers. Just because.



Naturally once I decided the occasion was more than photo-worthy, the little two found us. And the three shared crowning rituals. We played right through the radiant afternoon becoming a glowing evening and I have a vault of pictures I'll cherish forever. I was thankful. Oh how they grow.

Wishing you endless summer days of hollering your children home.
xo, AM

This would be the perfect time to blog if I could narrow down the subject matter

But mostly I can't stop thinking about pearl cotton and how I'd like to sit in a corner in a quiet room and teach myself to be the best hand-quilter ever. I've recently filled an entire bowl full with these little jewels, and my head with dreams of perfect little bright stitches outlining this or that. And how that monotony would be so soothing and perfect. But love is patient, so we wait, the cotton and I. It sits there. I do anything but.

I'm feeling compelled to offer a bullet list here of what's been jiggin, but I shall resist. I do want to say a giant banner-sized (waving back and forth vigorously!) THANK YOU for all the love and sweetness and nice words in regards to my Quilt Market booth and the visits I had there. I am just humbled by the little niceties floating around in blogland about my new fabrics, book cover, etc. With every passing day over the last week, I was continually confronted with more mentions of the experience from so many great perspectives of everyone in attendance that I could barely add to it and do any real service. I will say that overall I had more fun in a booth than just walking. I felt at home. I also realized that all the hard work, frustrations, long hours, postponed outings are the price you pay for inspiration. Or maybe the price you pay for pushing a little inspiration all the way to its lavish resting spot at the end of a long path. And now. Sitting there. I feel inspired again. And here I go. Already working on things that I won't get to sit in the midst of for at least another 9 months to a year. But I'm a girl. I can handle cycles.

Ahhh. There. That feels better, I wrote something.

I warned you with that title, so no whining about the incoherence of this post, people.

Okay, more to share and say about some things I'm working on for YOU! But in the meantime, if you care to immerse yourself even deeper into the abyss known as Anna spilling her creative guts about fabric (which truly knows no end) go and visit the Boutique Cafe (such sweet girls!) link over there in the sidebar under More of Me (oh my goodness and they have their own song too!!). I had the pleasure of taping a handful of interviews from other folks too so, if you can stand it, I'll continue to direct you to them as they pop up. In fact I'll do it whether you can stand it or not.

okay. I'm hungry. I miss you guys. I can feel a regular pace coming on I think, so lets be friends again. xoxo, Anna

So Much

Soo sooo much. All of it. Too much to ever recount, both, the faces and the facets of this trip my love and I took together. Mostly today, I want to share what I was surrounded by for days, and what I almost grew tired of talking about. But really I didn't. It was a necessary thing to be in the physical midst of all the dreams, thoughts, drawings and stitches I've been working at for I don't know how long. Necessary. Because I love sharing all of it, and what better way?



The chairs? Exactly as I asked for. The walls? Exactly how I pleaded from my honey. The Drawing Room proved to be a fabulous place to chat with countless friends, both old and new.



Many of the items that were sewn up for the booth are the prototypes for both a line of patterns due out this fall and a few sneak peeks at book projects.



Speaking of sneaks, here is one corner of the Garden Party half of the booth. I'll be more ready to show the new quilting line in its entirety after just a few more weeks.



And while we're here, and since you can see a bit of it up there, and thousands of other attendees have already seen. Here it is. My book. Aggh. So much emotion over all this right now, dunno know what else to say. I still have so much unpacking and reorienting left to do before I can eloquate just exactly what I was doing for 6 days. OH, and there's a blue ribbon to be unpacked as well for the best booth display in my booth size category. Really didn't see it coming, but it was just enough to get Jeff to help me with this again, so very thankful for that.

More soon, but I wanted all of you patient pals to share in the visuals.
I hope you've been well in my absence!!!
love from here at home, Anna

So as it turns out, I do take advertising on my blog

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 name 2 weeks ago that said there would be Drawing Room stacks for sale in the shop this week? And who said there would be full shots of the fabrics shown this week? That was the liar, and she's not allowed to post any more.

I have heard from tons of you (hi everyone!) that have seen both our Drawing Room ad and the feature that MEHC so kindly did on me in the June/July issue. Thanks for all the nice words I've received on both! There will also be a podcast that corresponds to the article uploaded to this page within just a few days as I understand it.

So 4am is our call to be up and get to the airport tomorrow and not back till next week. Sorry there's no time to post the fabric shots before I go as promised. Bur FreeSpirit has their gallery up, and you can glean a bit of scaling info from the fabrics shown in our ad above too. So far I know the fabrics are ready for sale online at JCaroline, Purl, and Contemporary Cloth. If you know of other shops that have it online, please feel free to post a comment with a link! I am more than happy to let all these kind folks beat me to the punch of selling the goods. I'm lined up to get some studio assistance once I return so we should have the shop stocked and humming here before long.

Oh, and before I forget.... Somewhere in all this there has been an amazingly patient and hard-working man who has single handedly built a fabulous booth display and is too modest to let me take his picture while he's working. So he'll just be my traveling companion of honor who will be sick of my thanking and gushing about 5 minutes in. However seeing as he's a running man I'm hoping he can take the time to visit Nike HQ while in Portland. Anybody know someone who works there? I think that you need to know a Nikeperson to get a tour. Please pass on if so!

Okay pals, I'll see ya in a week, and if you're at market please come see me at booth 1705-1707.

mm-WAH! xoAnna

handmade for mom

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 clutching it right now, but you know how good I am with timing and mailing. Your love of every scribble, every humble piece of pottery and each and every misspelled, handmade card I ever gave you inspired me more than you can know.

Whether you receive or whether you give motherly love, I'm wishing you blessings today!

xoAnna

Showers and flowers

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 should you find yourself hosting a baby shower...or an announcement would be charming too. Weird. I never managed to do anything at all clever when having babies, just long afterwards now for other people. I know lots of moms who both have the baby and correspond in ridiculously adorable ways regarding the baby. I never managed a knack for both at the same time. I have however given birth faster than I glued on all those buttons. That's a knack, I suppose.



I sprinkled the house and patio with these "belly blossoms" before the guests arrived. I thought they evoked a sweet little in-womb view.



The day also proved to be a perfect excuse to buy this gorgeous girl-pink hydrangea when I was at Whole Foods picking up dinner Friday night. Not that I need an excuse, but I'm just sayin' - there was a real reason to buy it. Which always feels good.

Okay kids, back to work, more soon!

xoxox, Anna

Finish Line

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 how to cover a lampshade first get to know a product called Steam-A-Seam. It will be your best friend. Then one of these days I hope to show you how to do all the particulars, cause its really fun and easy. And yes that crocheted pillow started here. Which doesn't have anything to do with the booth preparations but finishing it has been a nice distraction (as though there aren't enough of those). And yes, the living room wall color is now glass blue even though there is proof that I recently painted it sun yellow. Don't ask. If you have to know I will send you Jeff's email address and you guys can make fun of me behind my back. I am a chronic wall painter and I acknowledge it. That's half the battle as they say.



I also thought you would be glad to know that Nicolas hand-delivered all the members of the wren family to the safety of the front yard if they hadn't already found their way out of the porch. It was quite moving to see how gentle and in awe he was. And that little baby bird was as happy as could be on his hand for the longest time. Aaaag, it puts a lump in my throat. So most of the little creatures around here seem to be on their way to health and happiness.



The spring weather has even produced a few monkey sightings.

I hope to have some Drawing Room stacks of fabric up for sale in the shop next week and if you're on my mailing list you'll be the first to know when they are there. I hear the yardage should be rolling out to stores any day now, so thanks for being patient! (No one has been more impatient than me!) I will post some full view pics of the prints to give you a good look at everything as I put the goods up on the site.

Back to it, hoping you are well and sorry for the scarce posts over the past few weeks. Looking eagerly for life to return to its normal chaotic pace.

xoxox, Anna

Sideways Bird

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 over the weekend (house-hunting even!) and we'd regularly bring up how darling it was that we could hear the exchange of twitters and cheeps between mama wren and her babes as she tirelessly delivered fresh worms around the clock. Well, the first day of flight finally arrived today announced by the more than usual chirps in the patio. Just like last year I made sure Jaws was outside, and went to get my camera. I opened one of the kitchen-to-patio windows and was greeted by two little sweetie-tweeties sitting in my potted peace lily. I zoomed in on the little one who was looking right at me. As I turned the camera's lens from blurry to focused, I just as slowly noticed what at first looked like a little worm sticking out the side of baby bird's mouth (how sweet, I thought). Yet as soon as I used my special live view zoom so that the bird's entire little face filled my LCD I immediately realized that little thing going directly sideways was it's beak! I almost dropped the camera at the sight of the mutant baby bird, and had to cover mouth to keep from tossing a toffee Cliff bar. Oh, and then the flood of guilt! The poor bird, I wondered if perhaps it already had its first big flight right into a window! Oh poor thing! But still, eeuuwwwuhh. I couldn't handle it. Closed the window. Went back to the studio. And have resorted to sharing the above bird. Eleni ordered this little birdie to adorn a new dress. Specifically that it be red and fuzzy and walking. That I can do. I have no doubt that if the kids were here they would have already performed plastic surgery on the baby bird and all would be well. Alas, the nature gene, I do not possess.

Anna, who is still feeling guilty

Rescuing Spring from the Jaws of Death

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.

Q & A

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.

:: I will never grow tired of ::

:: 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 every now and then. I have so much to learn.

good weekend, xo,AM

When chairs go to sleep.....

.....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

Patchy

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, patching, folding, etc. Even a little drilling and mounting for a new shelf. I am in the midst of preparing two new quilt patterns for your downloading pleasure. The detail above is the Drawing Room quilt which is called "birdcage on a chain", and man, its fun to make. Can't wait to finish the top and share it with you. And a note to all who have asked, (though I will send some personal ones before the day is done) I have found my Portland furniture for covering! Thanks to so many of you who sent pictures (and pleadings) with very helpful notes and willing wishes. It is so appreciated. I settled on a pair of antique Queen Anne chairs because its going to work out best for my overall space, etc. I was even presented with a fabulous vintage outdoor iron piece that I'll use to display some Garden Party cushions on!



And speaking of gardens, above is the plan for the "garden wall" quilt which will be made from my upcoming line of quilting fabrics, Garden Party. I have fabric coming outta my ears. Hence all the cleaning in the studio this weekend, so I could make room for making. If you want just the tiniest peek at that upcoming line of fabric, Quilts and More magazine did a feature on me in their Spring 08 issue, on news stands now, where there's a few little pics showing the range. I originally thought that the feature was slated for a Summer issue, which is why I handed over Garden Party pics. Woops. There ya go. OH! Also, many of you have already found this, but in case you haven't, in that same issue, farther back is my pattern and instructions for the flower pin cushion seen here. Have fun making it. I've already seen some gorgeous examples out there in blogland.

Okay, my friends. Many, many patches to piece together in the studio on all fronts. My presence here will likely be patchy over the next week or so, so please forgive me. I may be able to throw in a few pictures with just a very few words of this or that. But two quilts, an upcoming show, and my final book edits are all keeping my head down but my heart glad. Be well.

xo,Anna

Patio-Oh!

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! Pesky birds. There's a nest in the garage too. We're quite fertile around here.



During the winter months we clear off and store a lot of the items that are on the patio and leave it pretty bare so that nothing gets more wear than necessary, cause its too cold to enjoy. In fact I think there might still be some cocoa mugs out there from the last snow a few weeks ago.



I do the patio slightly different every year, but always try to make it kid-friendly since they spend the most amount of time out here. I will definitely be redoing our little art supply station made from flower pots of pens, pencils and paints and piles of paper. The picnic table is a great place to send them when I don't want to worry about paint spills. I mean if you can't clean it with a garden hose what use is it really?



I even left my own drawing board out there, and only in looking at these photos did I notice that my first sketches for Drawing Room start on the patio. Fancy that! I had forgotten! (and btw way thanks all you Portland furniture owners for your help...I'll be making that decision this week, and thanks Amy, for spreading the word!)



And when trying to decide how to make cheap, relatively weather resistant art for the patio, I dreamed up the painted silhouettes that went on to achieve Martha fame as we all know now. So funny how innocently some things begin. I can remember sitting at the picnic table with the little ones and making a list of all the different types of animals we see in our yard. This is how we decided which silhouettes to make. When looking online for animal silhouettes to use, we came across a bird identification chart, that I decided had to be on the patio too. So I just printed it out and freehanded the canvas, then painted it.



I also now remember that when I shot the pictures that I had just finished reviewing my first samples of needlepoint pillows that I designed, and the launch of those goods seemed soooo far away. Now its just weeks away!



The other variable on the patio each year is which plants survived through the winter. This year, I think about half of them did. Anyone who knows me well, knows that this is an astonishing accomplishment. Helped in large part by my dear Mom checking on them every time she visits. (Mom, the plants say thank you.)



So that's the job for this weekend, return the patio to its fun and cosy splendor. Its quite encouraging to be able to review last summer, because I was otherwise uninspired to do all the cleaning it'll require. Now, I'm thinking how this space of ours may produce new sketches and ideas that might well blossom into..... who knows what!

xoxox,AM