Inspired

While I was making this with quilt rulers and fabric....



Eleni was beside me making this with quilt rulers and crayons.



And somehow, looking at both, I was hungry for this. Inspiration is funny. This is your window in to where design meets sugary marshmallow cereal. And crayons. Happens nearly every day here, actually.

You've also been given the sneakiest peek of a very tiny portion of my newest fabric collection (which, yes, along with many features includes some solids!). I would call the new fabrics a family rather than a collection, as its varied, related, sprawling and non-stop on inspiration. Total reveal next week!

For now, I need to exit the studio and clean house as we prepare for Roman's Baptism tomorrow and the 90 or so closest friends that will share it with us. Right after the triple-dunk festivities, I imagine I'll be right back to sample sewing for market, continuing work on 3 new sewing patterns, and wrapping up photography for book 2. Whew. Who wants to slow down with me? Me, Me!

Have an inspired weekend! xoxo, Anna

No comment

But I don't want to use my time wisely

Each and every early morning for a few weeks, as I lay in the dark nursing Roman, while the rest of the house is still quiet, I think about pockets. Not side pockets or lined pockets or any other kind of pocket that fun. But pockets of time. I visualize our day in pockets of time, and what can be accomplished in each. Then I further think what else could be accomplished simultaneously if I plan, delegate and think hard enough about it. Thinking this way during the nursing pocket has proved very productive. The book is written. Still loads to do, naturally, to be completely done with photography, and all else, but I am so glad I can say that it is written.



We had a weekend in South Carolina recently to celebrate my sister's wedding, and we had a pocket of time to visit with some friends we hadn't seen in way too long. Though we needed to head home we chose to linger a bit longer and visit them at their temporary home on the lake. All of our children (11 between us) buzzed around the water in canoes, rode bikes in the breeze, fed bagels to the cat (bad idea, I think) while the moms and dads had coffee by the water. Because I wasn't at home, I didn't feel the pull into the studio that I normally would have, but just existed there for a while with everyone and didn't ask one thing of myself. The only thing I got accomplished in that pocket was nothing. It was the wisest use of time I've had all summer.

Flipping through the pictures of our visit several days afterwards, I realized that summer has come and gone. In that time, Isabela has lost a few inches of the dress that was made for her at Christmas, and she is edging dangerously near to becoming elegant. So sure-footed and curious. And after her begging me (again) last night to cut her hair short, that photograph means entirely more to me than it might have otherwise. It's her eight year-old summer-bleached blowing hair that is likely to be gone here very soon. At least a hundred little changes like that have been happening with everyone and I'm afraid I can't keep up, name, photograph or elaborate on them all. I needed to make a note here. Just to stop for a moment and write a little postcard to myself. I'm not really sure where this post is going. With Summer, I suppose. Away.

xo,Anna

My boys

One of these boys makes deadlines so much easier and one of them makes deadlines, umm, uhh, less easy. I love all four of them. Erhh two of them. (Well, I do love all four of my boys, its just the other two are at school right now, so of course I was talking about the two in the mirror. I might be the only human who could make it this confusing.)

I am so so so so so so close to being finished I can taste it. I don't know what it tastes like, but it seemed like I should say something like that for you to know what I mean.

Oh and Roman in jeans. I have mixed feeling about babies in jeans. I feel guilty for putting this stiff fabric on his sweet soft body (even the softest denim is still denim) but I also can't stand his little diaper butt in jeans. It overwhelms me with cuteness almost to the point of having to look away. Can't stand it.

Okay~have a wonderful long, long few days of sweet summer and I will see you on the other side of the weekend and my deadline!

kisses & cute babies to you (better than hugs), Anna Maria

This milk jug just completely freaked me out and slapped me in the face really hard. Ouch.

September? Sept. Tem. Ber!?

I was perfectly happy in book deadline denial until I went into the kitchen to pour a tall cold glass of distraction. And right there, printed at just the right angle for my eyes, and in the snootiest rub-it-in-my-face font, my milk screamed September. Seriously? September is just one drink-by date away!?

Oh geez. I gotsta do what I gotsta do, and I may be a bit quiet here for another week or two to do it. Maybe a photo here or there. I almost always think of a zillion things to blog when I decide I need to not blog for a bit. I'll try to keep a list & get to them after my deadline....ooohpp-no, no I won't, I don't have time to keep a list. You see, there I go.

Be back soon.

(It should be noted that, sell-by dates aside, the milk is likely a much better choice of book-writing fuel for a nursing mother than all the late night hooch snacks that got me through the first book. I am learning.)

xo, anna

3 months

I should begin this meeting with the bottom lip. This is Roman's bottom lip. Should you begin a conversation with Roman when he's not quite ready for your face or the sounds coming out of your loud mouth he does this bottom lip thing. To all of us. Even me, his favorite. In certain situations (like singing to Prince really weird right in his face) the bottom lip will turn out even further and then his whole face turns into a big red crying raisin. But usually after some intense bottom-lip-thinking on his part......



...his face turns into this, for only the fortunate. If you're stupid enough to get really excited about the smile, and show such in a squeal or any other abnormal sound you might be right back at the bottom lip again in a split second. This is just one of the emotional adventures of a 3 month old. I have unfortunately pointed out the phenomenon to the other children and a favorite thing to do now is see if they can freak him out enough to cry. I know. Not cool.



So I've been trying to encourage his other tricks. Like holding stuff. He will give you a huh?-look when you put something in his hand, and think about it very intently.



About five minutes later , since he doesn't know how to let go of the object, it occurs to him to look down at the noise that thing in his hand is making and then hit himself in the head with it a few times. Then we're back to where we started with the evil siblings trying to give him objects that he'll hit himself in the head with (I should state that its mostly just one or two of them, who shall remain nameless, that do this, while the others come to Roman's rescue before things get out of hand). It's all just a lot of silly fun, and he has no idea that he is the only human on earth who can get such laughs out of his siblings. Belly-aching, falling over, rolling in the floor, tears in the eyes laughs. All because he hits himself in the head with a rattle. He's a comedic genius.



My personal favorite is when holding a rattle turns into the elliptical-trainer-marching-band-style-all-four-limbs-going-at-once thing. I love it. Like he had know idea how exciting life could be. Just wait little one....

Oh- and the quilt-in case someone asks-just nine log cabin blocks made into a square quilt, about 38x38", made with Good Folks when I was pregnant. We use it as a floor quilt for him all over the house. Now that he's rolling over, he LOVES sitting up on his forearms and having a good look at the prints. I should have gotten a picture of that too, but I think I've indulged plenty today!

xo,AM

Sometimes I Stitch

And stitch. And stitch. I then I go off to do other things but I think about stitching as I'm doing the other things. Then I finally get back to stitching after I've done other things for about seven minutes.



When I'm stitching I'm not emailing. I'm not texting. I'm not talking. I'm not writing. Not negotiating. Not invoicing. Not shipping. Not receiving. Not cutting. Not even sewing. I'm stitching.



I don't know what I would do without it. I'd go do the other things, I guess, and maybe be just a little less happy. I dare say I would know myself less, too.

Stitch, I love you, don't ever leave me.
your friend, Anna

last light tonight

A shower, one last nursing for the night and then I'm calling it.

goodnight, anna

Greg + Amy (+ Amy's Granny) Are So Cool

**

We recently sent some Studio Scraps to a very happy customer who let us know (in the customer comments section, no less) that she would be using said scraps as part of her wedding decor. We couldn't have imagined it more beautifully, and I was thrilled to receive images of the wedding.

**

Looking through the photos, (which you can find more of at the photographers' website-stunning!) it was evident that every piece of this day was put together with love....from this image of Amy's Grandmother imparting her wisdom to the guests....

**

...to the gorgeous quilts made by Amy's great-grandmothers and aunts that softened the hay bales seating everyone.

I'm pleased as spiked wedding punch that my fabrics were the teeny-tiniest part of such a day.

Perfect. Run off and be happy now, you two gorgeous people!

xo,Anna

**all photos by thenichols and used with permission :: wedding also featured here

A Change

To avoid eye-rolling and a verbal lashing I had to secretly shoot this through a window (and a few trees). To be fair it was a virtual 100 degrees yesterday and that tire jack wasn't the only cranky thing out there. They may still retroactively kill me for this. Its just that I think they'll also thank me one day. Not entirely the point, really, but I'm thanking me for taking these photos.

I have my favorite capture of Summer 2009 (although this one is a tie for first).

What's yours? Photographed or remembered.....

xoxo,Anna

Handmade Beginnings...

photo by angela crutcher

......is the name of my next book. And this book is the project that has had me captivated for almost a year now (and has had me dropping hints either with words or pictures here, here, here....hmmm here, oh and here too.)

Last September while working with my publisher on the second book concept (yes, before the first book was even published-it often works like that) I learned that I was pregnant. I found myself even more inspired to make the book that I'd already had thoughts and some sketchbook scribbles about. Even earlier, as I wrote Seams To Me, I kept thinking of another book that could be devoted solely to welcoming a baby into the world- a book that would celebrate the anticipation, the arrival, the mother, the father, the siblings and give everyone in the baby's life, including the baby, of course, a place and a project.

I have so many feelings about motherhood that are intermingled with feelings about making, and I find the joy that arrives out of each endeavor, to be from the same place perhaps. Its with this spirit of wanting to create things that are good, that are useful, that are beautiful, that are nurturing and loving that I've been developing, writing, sewing and working. Both my belly and my baby have been my muse as I write for maternity projects, baby projects. My family and my home have been my bare canvas, as I write for older sibling projects and nursery projects that will help to welcome a new life into the family home.

How many people do you know that jump at the chance to make something from her hands when she learns a loved one or even someone she barely knows is expecting a baby? I know many! And I am writing this book as much for the aunt, sister, grandmother, adoptive mommy, foster mommy, best friend, or neighbor who loves to sew for others just as much as I am writing it for the pregnant mommy who loves to sew for herself. Its a book that I hope stays on your shelf as an inspiring resource to reach for every time you receive that wonderful piece of news that always makes you smile....the news of new life waiting to meet you. I've been wanting to spill these beans forever it seems, and so glad that I have you to spill them on- mean it. I can't wait to share the book with you! Oh, which won't be until Spring 2010, but you're patient, right?

Now I have a bit of -uhem- new life making a ruckus in the other room, so I better scoot before he loses patience with me.

(and thanks for all the 37 love!) xoxo, Anna

37

And don't I look young for my age??

Roman has been a total blog-hog, so I figured the only way I could compete was to give you little Me. And sucker you into wishing me Happy Birthday! Do you find that you have to remind everyone around you as the years move on?? Thats okay. I just about had to send myself an email reminder, bc lately July 31 just feels like the last day of the month which prompts me into freaking out that I haven't gotten enough done in July. Sigh.

I will tell you, I'm not really sure how I'm suppose to feel about 37. Age seems to be mattering less to me these days and the number feels just obscure. I don't know if I feel too young or too old to be 37, so does that make it about right? Perhaps. I was telling Allie (23) the other day how mismatched I feel with the number 37. Its not like I'm in denial, or that I'm in denial about being in denial, its just that after about 30 or so.... your age really is just that. It starts feeling less like something that can actually describe you. Just you wait, I told her, you'll know what I mean someday. And she seemed to believe me about as much as I believed older women enlightening me about age when I was 23. But thats good. Thats part of being 23.

I went into Eleni's (5) room yesterday morning to wake her up with a hug. Leaning in to her sleeping bubbly face, I scooped my arms underneath her pillow and my right hand ran across about 6 marbles that she had tucked under pillow. How awesome, I thought. She has marbles under her pillow. I wanted marbles under my pillow. I didn't know why I wanted marbles under my pillow in that instant. It just seemed so fun. Youthful. I never asked why they were there, or told her to get the marbles out of her bed. I was just glad she is little. And happy. The HAPPY is the part of HAPPY BIRTHDAY that I have figured out. And at the tender (ha!) age of 37, thats pretty good.

Wishing you marbles under your pillow. xoxo, Anna

Roman Speaks

(Just a quick clarification - the two names in the banners that Roman is holding in the second picture are the two winners of the Ottobre magazines - sorry if there was any confusion!)

Friends in Finland

I was so excited to see my oilcloth on the Autumn cover of Ottobre magazine, but altogether bummed as well that this oilcloth has sold out from every point on the planet. I have answered SO many individual emails regarding the oilcloths and their availability but haven't had a chance to come clean here. So the story started with me showing off the new oilcloths, and promising more, which apparently had such a lovely result that they became unavailable before many stores even received their shipments. Unfortunately the production time on reprinting those and new pieces was so far out, that Westminster chose not to reorder. We could call this the bad news.

GOOD news?

There are two new oilcloths in the works as part of my NEW (thats right, you heard me) collection of fabrics hopefully to be shipping in Septmeber or October. So the fabulous rain slicker pattern included in this issue of Ottobre need not go to waste, but will have the chance to be sewn up in some seriously sweet, slick, little prints. Can't wait to show you!

MORE good news?

I have two extra copies of the Autumn issue sitting here on my much too cluttered desk, and well, just thought two someones out there may want to put them to use, and help me declutter. Leave a comment and I'll draw two names sometime next week and send them on their way. Awe, you're welcome.



My pals at Ottobre were kind enough to also send along this little handmade gift for Roman. How please-keep-me-from-fainting cute is this?? (thank you Tuula and all!)



Ack, that bird is smart and just looks like it's squawking away. Oh, and speaking of squawking, Daria caught me doing such and posted a video interview with me from last fall Quilt market (where I give away a little more about the next fabric line and also lie about it's debut date, which I have become so good at). So you can check that out if you have something more important to do but are procrastinating. I like to be helpful where I can.

Have a great weekend!! xoxo, Anna

Shouting from the moutaintops....

....Mr. Two-months-old slept 8 hours last night for the first time ever.

And this may be an obvious detail, but I slept 8 hours last night too, for what felt like the first time ever.

And naturally once awake, realizing how much time had passed, I jumped up with a start and checked to see if he was breathing.

Looks like he's just fine, no?

xo, Anna (where sleep is such a big huge stinkin' deal)

16 years ago today...

... I married my very best friend on a sweltering summer evening. It was such a beautiful day. It started with my clock radio actually waking me up to hear none other than "goin' to the chapel" playing bright and early. I can still remember smiling at the very idea of that being on the radio before waking up completely, rubbing my eyes and realizing that it really was on the radio. It was just a perfect an unexpected little detail that has been followed by so many others. Falling in love with my husband was the easiest thing I've ever done, only followed in ease by learning to love him more. We are still just getting to know one another in some ways, and in others, the familiarity is the most comforting place we have at the end of the day.



Those unexpected details unfold before our eyes and become our dialogue, our plot, with all of its twists and turns, filled with so many characters that all continue to write the story of us.

I walked out the front door the other day to head to the bottom of our long hill to get the mail. As soon as I had shut the door behind me, I heard it open again with three sets of giggles speeding up to reach my back. I didn't even turn around, but knew immediately who the tag-alongs were by the sound of their mischief. Once I was about 10 feet from the edge of the road, they all stopped at the crack in the driveway that I don't let them passed while I went a little more dangerously to the edge of the road to pull the mail out of the box.

Raising my head up from the pile in my hands after a quick scan of the contents, I watched them race each other back up the hill and was impressed with how well the littlest kept up. In that moment, walking slowly and watching them run quickly, our home in the background holding all the rest of the souls that complete our picture - I was struck - blown over - overwhelmed - at the fullness of it all. How we have become so much more than just us. Not just in numbers. In love. Heavy with blooms like the crepe myrtles that are laying on our front walk when they can't hold up all that beauty any more. It overwhelms them. It overwhelms me.



Over these 16 years there have been countless times when that weight feels more burdensome than beautiful and it causes us to scatter a bit. Last night on the way home from our first dinner alone since Roman was born, we were listening to some exotic, percussion-laden instrumental song, that I cannot remember the name of. I was trying to explain to Jeff how appealing it was to me because all the random, seemingly mismatched elements and beats were happening simultaneously and it gave you the feeling that any minute, it wouldn't work, and the rhythm would fall apart or miss. But it continued just beautifully despite the virtual chaos and all the various tempos happening at once.

And so do we.

Happy Anniversary sweetie, I love you more. xoa

thats MRS. allie to you

photo by rachel williamson

I turn my back for one second and this one runs off and gets married!!! The nerve!

How adorable (and gorgeous and glowing) is our sweet Allie? The day we were off to our vacation last week was the day she was off to becoming Mrs. Allie Murphy. Mike Murphy is one lucky guy, I know that for certain. And we wish them both many, many years of love, health and happiness. (And tons of kids, of course!)

(And Allie- right after that blissful two weeks of a honeymoon in Ireland, its right back to your dreadful work life, young lady! We miss you!)

Did I mention.....

...that we've planted ourselves elsewhere for this week?



And new toes are feeling wet sand for the first time and also feeling the kisses of a dozen cousins, aunts uncles who are meeting those toes for the first time.



Of course we have several experienced grown beach babies too, who know just what to do.



This would be the first ever wave splashed through with Dad.

Here's to thousands more....

sandy hugs and salty kisses from sunny North Litchfield, S.C.
Anna, be home soon

Morning mess, Afternoon Applique, and a little laugh

I have been making one mess after another around here and only cleaning enough in between to keep the brain clear. As it turns out my brain operates pretty well in the midst of a physical mess, which you might have guessed by now.



As long as there is one clean pretty space in the process of becoming something, like the quilt on the board in the background. Roman, no surprise, has a front row seat to all the goings on here in the studio. That sounds easier than it is. It doesn't always please him to sit and watch. It doesn't always please me to do instead of cuddle. But we both give in a little and mostly I am just happy that our days are becoming more routine with each passing one. Small rituals arise out of no where.... like making sure to fold large pieces of fabric in front of him, because he really likes following all the motion and color flipping through the air above him.



I felt myself almost striking that balance today that I haven't known in a few years...nurse, cut, rock & pat, sew, cuddle, sew, diaper change, email, swing, sew, nurse.....and so on. Both of us getting in all our varieties of daily duties alongside each other.



And this would be the binky/swing soothing his afternoon sleepies in the background while the needle/thread soothes my long day in the studio in the foreground.

No day would be complete without laughing a little, and here's what did it for me today:

Listening to our Patsy Cline Radio on Pandora has of course given us some Johnny Cash as well (gladly). Eleni was balancing and walking along one particular plank in the hardwood floor today and when I asked her what she was doing she replied "Ohhhh... just walkin' the line."

hope you balanced along a nice line today xoxox Anna