Taking Turns

Juliana's turn



Nicolas's turn



Joseph's turn



Isabela's turn



Eleni's turn



Daddy's turn

If it weren't for nursing every few hours I'm not sure I'd ever get to hold sweet Roman. Though no one seems to be around between midnight and 8 am. Which is just fine with me. Just fine with both of us.

Promising more pictures and words soon. I just assumed you kind and generous souls would expect a lull here. I so appreciate every comment and email (and gift!) that has been sent this way. We are soaking up every piece of this time and we all thank you!

with so much love, Anna & family

Mama & baby are doing fine

Roman Ambrose Horner arrived Tuesday May 19, 12:40pm

7 lbs 5.75 oz & 20.5 inches

(daddy & lots of elated brothers and sisters are doing fine too!)

Eleni's Spring Accessory Must-Haves

Always a leader and never a follower, Eleni insists that felines on the head are the next big thing. She recently watched precisely two brothers and one sister place live frogs on their heads but decided the side effect of frog-pee on your head wasn't in her current fashion vs. fashion-consequences gamebook. (I decided however that should I want to induce labor via laughter I will ask them all to do the frog thing again.)



She's also noticing Ducks around the neck becoming and important part of the Spring 09 style scene. Classic yet Pop Culture, these charming little quacks are reminiscent of your tub toys yet also provide a nice glimpse of the summer ahead where we'll be floating around on their inflatable cousins.



Feeling a little warm? Try Eleni's pick for cooling oneself on a budget. The obvious solution is at once simple and genius. By recycling your favorite art, you'll have as many one-of-a-kind pieces as your pre-school class can churn out.

Thanks for joining us.

(I don't make this stuff up, I just document it. She really came in "ready" for school outfitted with all three. Which was followed by some some great one on one conversation about form, function, and practicality regarding accessories. I couldn't make this up. Its too good.)

xoxo,Anna

Blue Mama

How did he know???!!!

Okay, despite my blog-begging which would leave no shadow of doubt as to what I might like for Mother's Day, I still can't fake how it actually went down. Real story:

Anna posts obnoxious blog. 10 minutes later, Jeff calls.
Anna: (answers with no assumption in her voice, even though she sees his number on the caller ID): "hullo"
Jeff: "Just get it"
Anna: "Hmm? What?"
Jeff: "the art, buy it, I like it"
Anna: "No, you buy it, that's your job"
Jeff: Pause. Pause. "Anna. Just buy it."
Anna: (defeated) "Okaaahhhyyy."

Which I promptly did. And I was glad about the prompt part, 'cause it was sold out a day or two later. Exactly what I wanted. Maybe not exactly how I wanted it, but I'll take what I can get. I did wait to open it. And my favorite up close detail? That precious little babe's finger (and toe) pointing the way. Love.



Though some contraction action warranted an early check at the OB on Thursday, Friday I was where I said I would be. So glad to have had the chance to see Natalie and have some lovely conversation, book-trading, and sharing. I also left with this too cool stitch-t-shirt-kit which I will be transforming into a layette (the potato sac sort) for the little bub. Anything blue currently is doing the trick.



And I took a picture of my blue breakfast too. These are the kind of antics I get myself into while I twiddle my thumbs. Soon enough though. Having had several babies early makes those who might come on time seem late somehow. My fortune cookie last night said something about patience is joy blah blah blah. Okay.

Hope everyone had a happy Mother's Day!
(I need to make a pedicure appointment to get my toes painted blue now.)

xoxo,Anna

A few sunny things here in Nashville

Many of you are familiar with Natalie "Alabama" Chanin because of her lovely book. Today, I'm excited to let Nashvillians and those in the nearby know that she'll be in town today and tomorrow trunk-showing her Fall/Winter 2009 clothing collection, "Songbirds", at Studio Berry Hill.



From the invite:

"The Alabama Chanin Fall/Winter 2009 Collection has been inspired by what we call "The Songbirds." They include women like Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Allison Moorer, Abigail Washburn, Allison Krauss, The Be Good Tonyas, Elizabeth Cook, Shonna Tucker of The Drive-By Truckers and many, many others."

Thursday & Friday, May 7 & 8, 10am-6pm
Studio Berry Hill
2923 Berry Hill Drive, Nashville, TN 37204

Provided I'm not in labor, I intend to waddle in that general direction sometime today or tomorrow to say hello and maybe pick up some goodies. So excited.



Another favorite. Duy Huynh. My dear friend Meg at Art & Invention first introduced me to his stunning work a few years ago, and I have since been lucky enough to meet Duy, his lovely girlfriend Sandy and watch them spread their wings into more art, and the opening of their own gallery in Charlotte. I am so happy to own one of his pieces (which I would photograph for you if I could move) and even happier watch all the new works that float from his eloquent imagination to gallery walls worldwide.

Though the opening was last week, Duy's works will be showing at Art & Invention through June 14th.

So there ya are.

I often get asked about places to go and things to do here in wonderful Nashville, Tennessee, and will try to make a point of sharing my favorites more often. Who knows, maybe one of these days I'll even start tagging my posts and keeping track by category so you can actually find things when you come here. Sigh. Oh, huge kick! This baby wants out.

xo, AM

Getting Through Today's Rain is brought to you by the color Purple

And its still raining. We did have a break yesterday and I think every soul in middle Tennessee mowed their grass, 'cept us of course. I took this bouquet and a model and a photographer and some other pretty stuff to a nearby park for a photo shoot. My newest big project is underway, (yes, besides the human that I'm growing) and can't wait to share more.



For now though, these royal purple beauties have me feeling like all the rain isn't so bad. If you can indeed reach your weeds its a good time to get those. Not to mention the pitter-patter is so charming if you stay inside.



Look at her in the front. Doesn't she look like she's directing some slickered and galoshed school children across the street? Or maybe she's pointing me to her good side.



Oh yes, I agree. Thank you, gorgeous.



As with most things, its all a matter of what you choose to focus on. Even if RAIN is in the forecast for many days more. (Or it could be that taking directions from and talking to flowers is a serious sign that its time for some sun and fresh air. Hmmm. Whatever feels the most poetic to you.)

xoxoAM

Raining there?

Pouring here. All day. And more to come.
Though it looks like one of those skies now, where a rainbow could suddenly appear.
But just in case it doesn't. Here ya go.

good weekend! xoxo, AM

Other people's babies

(Just to prove that I can talk about more than the yet to arrive baby boy, here are babies, gathered from various sources, that have indeed arrived and do not belong to me - but they are all wearing my fabrics - so I'm willing to discuss....ahem.)



The kind folks at Ottobre were nice enough to share their latest Summer issue with me which includes some of the most adorable uses of Good Folks I've seen yet! (Though there is much Good Folks cuteness to be gandered here too!)



If you've never received an issue of Ottobre, do yourself a favor and subscribe! The seasonal magazine is loaded with nothing but irresistable European sewing designs with the patterns and instructions included. (They even named that tunic up there after me !) I do think that the patterns are intended for the intermediate sewer, as the instructions are very general, but the patterns are all provided within the magazine. Well worth it if you ask me, which you didn't, but you are reading this so its sorta like you asked.



Leila & Grey is a new line of young girls' clothing, based out of Atlanta, and they are producing some seriously smart little items. Lovely clothing, reasonably priced, and their presentation is enchanting.



I was recently alerted that this pic ran a full page in People magazine. Well. Always glad to see a mom with good taste.

Hope everyone is having a good week! xoox, Anna Maria

(ps, I've added some info to the post below regarding curtains & paint colors...)

Make Way Day

A made bed. A rare and welcome occurrence in our (newish) room. (Just ask Martha how rare.) Are you like me and only make your bed when you need to use the bed as a stage for some other task? Please say yes. Anyhoo, the task......



I was almost knocked over with excitement by these two when I asked who would like to help me untag, and sort all the new baby clothes so we can wash them? Where would you do that, but the biggest bed in the house, I ask? Exactly. New baby clothes can't be put on the floor even if you are about to wash them, and the dining room had the ripple growing on it + Nicolas & laptop working some garage band. So.



Oh the squeals and the gasps and the high-pitched little exclamations of ohh and ahh at every little cute (mostly striped it seems) outfit, burp cloth, bootie, hat, crib sheet, sock and towel. They had more fun than me, which is nearly impossible as I have been daydreaming about washing and folding baby clothes for months. I often just stop what I'm doing, stare out the window, and think about pouring in the Dreft, waiting for that smell as it washes, then folding, and humming.



What we now have is that daydream mid-progress. I have passed through the pouring and wash smell part, and saving the folding and humming for tonight.

Yes I did just blog about laundry again.

And the baby again.

And he's not even here yet.

Just wait.

You poor people.

Humm, humm didah didahhmmm.

xo,Anna

A note to answer some questions: Wall color is Behr's "soft heather" and curtains are Anthropologie.

If I could bend over......

I would take the day off and work in the breezy, sunny garden all day long.



Like that weed down there. I would pull that weed. Pull it with joy and thankfulness.



Yes I would. If I only could.



(thanks for all the boy congrats~ we are so excited to even the score around here~ 3 & 3 )

good weekend, xoAM

Little = Happy

A little promise of their very own bouquet of flowers = just enough inspiration for Isabela and Eleni to get their room into a clean and orderly (for now) state. Always works for me.



A precious little blue handknit from my mom delivered in person on Easter Sunday = just enough to let you in on a little baby gender secret.

5 or 6 little weeks to go = one very excited (and not so little) family

xoxoAM

Dear Jeff

Hmm.

Mother's Day is so close to when we'll be having our new baby this year.

Hmm.

This sure is pretty.

Kinda like that one I got you for Father's Day that year.

Hmm.

That was nice, wasn't it?

I'm not sayin' anything, I'm just saying its pretty, that's all.

love, xo, A

(print found here)

Friday Plait-time

Taking advantage of the slow pace of a day off from school, I finally had some uninterrupted time with Isabela's head. One day last week I told Jeff about Jennifer Peterson. Jennifer Peterson was a perfectly beautiful little girl who had a German mother and occupied the seat in front of me in the sixth grade. Almost every single day she came to school with her angelic spun gold hair plaited into a crown of glory that you could not find the beginning or the end of. Even if you spent the entire leftover time after you'd turned in your algebra test starring and looking for it. It was perfection.



I had tried it on my Barbie dolls so many times, but Barbie has quite a lot of hair for such a small head, and though I managed to get it into a circular braid, I never managed to do away with the dairy-queen of synthetic hair on top of it. Jennifer Peterson tiptoed back into my brain last week. It occurred to me that she had absolutely no idea how beautiful she was, and likely still is. She was a quiet, modest, bookish sort, and always looked like a little maiden from a painting, not at all what was considered hip in 1983. And she was everything that I love about a braid. In fact some of my favorite paintings of all time embody everything that I love about a braid. Such an honest and natural effort at adorning oneself.



So today I got to twitch a young girl this way and that with only a few squeaks of discomfort, while my hands played out the process that I've gone over and over in my head. First attempt mind you, but so satisfying. I have no advice on doing this. I just know that if you studied Jennifer Peterson's head the way that I did, you would know how to do it after 25 years.

Our Easter is celebrated next week, but all my love to rest of you this weekend!
xo,Anna

Scenes from Sewing

What are you sewing?

And if you're not, please explain yourself.

xo, AM

April Tuesday ~ home visit

~sewing~ something pour moi. I was entirely too jealous of this shirt that we got for Jeff while in NYC, and it reminded me of these fabrics that I bought in Portland last spring. And yes, I would say that one year is about the amount of time that it usually takes me to get around to making a blouse I have in mind. But I would not say that last year I expected it to be a maternity blouse.



~leaning~ against my studio wall is this old painted ladder that I've had my eye for a while to hang on to the growing collection of studio quilts. I guess that folk dance needs to come off that felt wall if I'm going to hand-quilt it.



~lining~ the drawers of an old chest that we inherited from Jeff's Nani who passed a few months ago. A good cleaning with Murphy's oil and some pretty new lining paper (ala Target) will land this beauty into the girls' room for sharing. I had originally intended to keep it in the dining room to house all the handmade table linens that I planned to, well, hand make, but have yet to. I also had the thought to buy enough lining paper to match the repeat on it where it needed to be seamed. Neither of these thoughts is realistic or unusual for a person such as myself. Sigh.



~sitting~ in my living room is this new acquisition from my favorite local furniture store, which, sadly for me is closing its doors. I'm happy for Carissa though, as she has had her fourth baby and now completely following that path. If you're local, take advantage of the sale! I can't wait to nestle into that corner with a new nursing baby. That is, if Isabela's nose and whichever book she has it in will make room. (Pillows & rug ala anthropologie)



~budding~ everywhere I look. Outside my window this sycamore (I think) has the most gorgeous shade of spring buds every year, and I keep telling myself this will be the stuff of some fabric print somewhere. One of these days.



~waiting~ for his (human) brothers and sisters to come home. Most of the time he sits with me in the studio, but I'm starting to notice he is more particular to the dark foyer on rainy days. We have a huge storm predicted and possible tornado watches for this afternoon. Maybe he's anxious for them to get here. Me too, boy.

thanks for coming , xo, Anna