A seam between Alabama & Tennessee

For the third time I asked " Are you sure I can't get you anything?... I'm Greek, I have to keep asking.". Natalie smiled and said "I'm Southern, and I do the same!" The way that she called herself Southern made me think of the South as a nation more than a region.

She had accepted the invitation to come to my home as easily as I had offered. Florence, Alabama is less that 2 hours away from Nashville and she was clearly looking as forward to the journey as she was the visit. I daresay without insulting myself that she may have been looking even more forward to the drive than she was the visit. Which speaks volumes about this beautiful designer. The journey is everything. The process as important as where you arrive to in the end. And the end? One of the most enchanting places I've been. The end product that I refer to is the amazing collection of clothing, homegoods, accessories of which Natalie is chief designer.

Its not everyone who can afford to include her couture pieces into their wardrobe-though those that do -can know that the women who made the garment are earning a living for their work. But lucky for all of us Natalie has, for the second time, written a book that opens her studio door, her style and her insight. Alabama Studio Style in a word is a lifestyle book, but she thankfully is just as conscious about the life part of the lifestyle. Furthering her story from the first book, she shares not just sewing projects, but furniture inspiration, and home cooked recipes. It is a joy of a book. If you love to hand sew, as I so do, you will love the book.



For our day together, she brought two kits for us to work on and we wasted no time getting started- the sewing or the chatting.


(photo credit Robert Rausch)

We each began one of these gorgeous relief applique chair cushions (kits available here and the project is taught in her book too). Putting together the pattern as it comes in the kit is enjoyable and not too hard. Though we didn't get too far as we both enjoy eye contact in conversation, and we seemed to have endless topics to exchange various viewpoints: design; fabric; children; parents; motherhood at a very young age; motherhood at a less than very young age; embroidery floss; and our affinity for the perfect reusable plastic kit bag.



Chat.Sew.Chat.Sew.Laugh.Sew. In putting together the puzzle of pieces that compose the applique design it really occurred to me that Natalie's design work isn't just designed, or sewn. it is actually built.



In designing for her clothing line, it always begins with selecting fabrics (now available to us too) and then the building of the real fabrics begins. Stenciling, cutting, piecing, stitching, beading, dyeing, appliqueing, and then often the same happens several more times to one piece of cloth to become a meticulously patterned swatch. Those swatches then become possibilities to compose the silhouettes. But sometimes they don't make it past the swatch phase. And it took a lot of work to get them there.


(photo credit Robert Rausch)

What intrigues me the most when I look at Natalie's work is that I am reminded of the infinite possibilities of just one pattern. Witnessing how many ways just one motif can be translated by subtle changes in technique and color is not limiting, but rather freeing. Refreshing.



In fact, as much as I enjoy the writing, the photography and the projects, these few gray technical drawings that are included in the book to show how one pattern can be treated 3 ways are the pages that I keep flipping back to. I don't know if its the drawer, the sewer or the kid in me that loves this so. Such satisfaction. Like a road map getting you to that enchanted place- the fine art of possibility.



Natalie also brought me her color cards for the fall collection. And here is another point of intrigue: as someone who uses color so obviously, I notice how she uses it so unobviously. At a glance you may think of her collections as being composed of a handful of colors mostly revolving around red, white, blue, grey. I was surprised to see so many gorgeous colors dappled onto the cards and then found myself looking for each of them and finding them in her collection images. And rather than quickly processing and understanding a printed fabric image as this or that, her designs force my eyes to slow down and really see what I am looking at. You can't get it at a quick glance. You have to absorb the intricacies, be aware of the work and ultimately come to know the cloth at which you're gazing. Consciously.



She did accept lunch finally. I made us arugula salad with sesame dressing and deep fried eggplant with lemon. I continued to offer other varieties of things to her and instead of no thank you she just replied "I am so happy right now." But that didn't keep her from nibbling chocolate covered almonds with me as we kept sewing, talking, playing with Roman and continuing our friendship. And we want each others' pin cushions.

And that was a very, very good day. Thank you for including me on your journey, Natalie.
xoxo, Anna

(More about Natalie's book here.)

Hello March

March sounds optimistic. I sometimes always have mixed emotions about Spring starting. I welcome the bright green smell in the air, and the warming up, but I am overwhelmed with the obligation to get out in the yard and do all those gardeny things that you are suppose to do in the yard with your garden and your yard in the yard around that garden thing. Its been a few years. I have been busy. For a few years. I think you are only suppose to say that about the few past days or weeks, not years. Tis true though. What was I talking about? March. Gardens. Well, the big news about this Spring is that I don't have mixed emotions. I have one emotion and that is oh good spring is coming. And right here in the spot where normal people would rattle off their revised Springy gardeny yardy intentions, I will rather say that I think I will have some time to make my outer home a more beautiful place and that perhaps there will be some planting and maybe even a vegetable thriving on the premises. Oh such thoughts! Yes, flowers sound good. But so does sewing clothes. Quilts for the girls' beds even better.

What sounds good to you? Happy Monday! Happier March! xxoo, AM

P.S. to locals!! I will be speaking at the Cumberland Valley Quilters Guild tomorrow in Franklin TN. From what I understand, non-guild members (translate to anyone) can attend this monthly meeting for a $5 admission. We're also going to have a little AM pop-up shop with fabric, patterns, books and more. Would love to see you, and sorry for the short notice! More info here.

This very moment::

:: my sweet boy is slumbering under the "sixth time's the charm" quilt that I made for him (and the book) a few months before we ever saw his sweet new face. I am glad. And you might have guessed this already, but I'm going to tell you why I'm glad.

I have found myself somewhere between writing a book and not writing a book. And even though the writingabook part finished up a while ago I am just now settling in to the relief of notwritingabook. I take a lot of joy in designing and putting together ideas in a book format, but I am feeling very glad right now that I am at a place where I can just await the fruits of my labor and enjoy the items that I made during the whole process of it.

When I was very pregnant, I spent hours piecing this quilt and hours writing the instructions and then we photographed a 3-week-old Roman on the quilt between the very frequent newborn nursings. And that was way back when nursing still hurt so badly that my eyes would well up with tears and I'd bite my bottom lip to get through the first few minutes and getting him to sleep when I needed him to sleep was only a dream. And now? Beautiful nursing and sweet dreams. It took me until a few days ago to realize....oh I can use this quilt now. An extra layer of love over the knitted blanket from my mom. I don't know why I've had this quilt folded neatly and tucked into place with so many other studio samples and hadn't put it to use yet. I do so much sewing for work, its like I forget to take pleasure in my own handmades and then I suddenly snap-to and give myself the gift of all those hours of trial and toil. Thank you me. That was so thoughtful of me. I shouldn't have. This must have taken me hours. I will treasure this forever. I'm welcome.

I am glad. xoAM

Excuses, excuses

I love an excuse to buy fresh flowers.... not that I need one.



An excuse to buy a few bowls of treats to brighten conversation and sweeten the day.... lovely.



And tidying up the studio so that even my bolts are on their best behavior? This is a rare and wonderful occasion.



I even plumped up my stock of straight pins that seem to disappear like socks in the laundry.

Why such ado?

Ms. Alabama herself came to spend the day with me. We sewed. We talked. We laughed. We ate. And we also took pictures. More about our very wonderful time together on March 3rd as I share more about her fascinating design process and beautiful new book.

hooray. AM

Taken by Juliana

Juliana completed the last of her art school applications today. In addition to sending in her portfolio, essays and applications, each school has additional projects required. For Parsons, the challenge was to find one thing in your environment that you've overlooked or taken for granted and share it from three perspectives, then write about each. When she read this project aloud to me, I insisted she takes me for granted more than anything in her environment. But I was kidding. But she got that look in her eye. But I wasn't wearing any make-up. But she always waits till the last minute and didn't have time to think of anything else. But I was really tired and hadn't even brushed my teeth yet that day or washed my face or brushed my hair. But I got her a new camera for her 18th bday and she was feeling really snappy. But. But. Okayuhh.



These are just the photos that she used as a basis for her drawings that I am too nervous to share here until after she gets accepted everywhere. But her writing about the images, was, well surprising. She really does love me. She called me things like her fellow artist and friend. She isn't suppose to do that at 18 is she? Oh that stinker, tugging at my heart as she prepares the very process of leaving me. How could she?!



She also wrote about family resemblance, my hair always being in this "work" mode, how much she can learn from me and other things that she will explain like, well, "I had to write something" if you ask her about it. But then she snickers and looks away.

And then my heart breaks a little more.
Only because its swollen with so much love and pride to an indescribably gigantic size that it could explode.
Have a good weekend. Look around you and don't take anything for granted.
xoxo, From your friendly guilt-trip inducing mother

Little Luxuries

Sometimes what I think is the most obvious or simple thing to do with a new fabric ends up being my favorite project. These little receiving blankets are a perfect example of that sweet simplicity and a lovely way to let the fine little prints of Little Folks and Folksy Flannels shine alongside each other. And a thoughtful baby gift in not too much time.



The combination of supple cotton voile on one side and the cozy cotton flannel on the other side is the absolute prefect weight for a receiving blanket. Not to mention these wrap, tuck & swaddle so beautifully without any of the starchiness of a standard quilting cotton (which is better for heavier stroller blankets & quilts). Making nice smooth curves is easy, just use the curve of a salad plate or some such traceable item to trim the corners from your rectangles. The edging is bias cut from the solid voile collection which is sewn on after the two blanket layers are basted around the edges with wrong sides together.



And just because I had a hunch that some of you would ask, Allie has put together some fun little Project Packs of fabric in the shop for making these little jewels! (Everyone together: Thanks Allie!)



I can't believe I'm already nostalgic for Roman's swaddling days. I can usually manage to steal a few extra moments of him wrapped and cuddled in a towel after bath time, but no more bundling for this boy. Sigh. xoxo, Anna

AND MUSHROOMS! GAHHH!!

How could I forget the mushrooms?! Please do add one cup of sliced white button mushrooms to the 2nd section of yesterday's recipe. You will be glad you did. I'll go fix the post here in a sec to add it. Mmm. Just as yummy today warmed up for lunch as it was last night.

This morning I was figuring with the kids how old they'll be once Roman starts school. Which led to further discussion about how long they'll go to school, college etc. I remember that time frame sounding endless when I was little. Joseph then asked if you go to college for 12 years too once you're done with the rest of school.

I chuckled and said- well most people don't and that- I just went to college for four years to learn how to be a designer.

Eleni said- four years!? Were you just drawing that whole time?

I told her -yup pretty much.

Then she seemed to have a look of realization on her little bubbly face and said- oooohhh! you kept drawing and erasing and drawing and erasing and then when you learned to draw without erasing, were you done with school?

I just said- yes. I hadn't had my coffee yet and it was time to get them to the bus stop.

Back to my drawing board. xoAnna

Art & Soup

We were so honored to have Eleni and Roman depicted by artist, Ellen Heck. Her work is thoughtful, provocative and just plan pretty. She can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this print is an example of a multiple-plate combination of drypoint and aquatint on copper over woodcut. Here are others made in a similar fashion as part of an ongoing series. In addition to her prints, and works on paper, I particularly love her canvas collection called Sleepers. The way she depicts the blankets and quilts over the figures makes the paintings become more than portrait but also very modern and abstract-but no less tender. Love. Anyway- I was particularly thrilled (not as thrilled as Eleni) to receive the first edition of 10 prints as a gift from the artist. Thank you Ellen!

Since we have yet another snowday today I'm in the mood for soup again. So I thought I would share my Creamy Tomato Chicken Chowder recipe with you! Sorry no pictures of the process because its not quite kitchen time for me yet, still in the studio! But the recipe and cooking is pretty simple so I'm sure you'll get it right without visual cues. I believe in you and your soup making abilities. When I start mine later today I'll be making it without chicken because we've already begun Lent. I'll point out the meatless variations for you as the recipe goes. Here we go:

Ingredients:
*olive oil to coat pan bottom
*1 medium yellow onion chopped
*1 yellow bell pepper chopped
*1 whole bulb of garlic chopped
*1.5-2 lbs chopped skinless chicken breast
(omit for vegetarian or substitute with clams, shrimp)
*8-10 small red potatoes cut in quarters
-------------------------------------------------
*1 32-oz box of Imagine Creamy Tomato Soup
*1 32-oz box of chicken broth
(substitute with vegetable broth for vegetarian)
*1/2 cup white wine (I know its Lent but the alcohol cooks out....sooo....ahem)
*2 cups frozen yellow corn
*1 cup sliced fresh white button mushrooms
-------------------------------------------------
All spices are to taste, but at least 1 tsp of each:
*kosher salt
*black pepper
*red pepper flakes
*cumin
-------------------------------------------------
*1/2 cup cream cheese
*1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese

Directions:
*Combine all ingredients in first section and cook in a dutch oven over medium-low heat until the chicken is just cooked through or if you are making the vegetarian version until the potatoes get a little tender.
*Add all ingredients from the second section and let the soup stew for a while-about an hour or so, adding the spices (third section) and tasting till yer happy.
*Once you're about to serve the soup add in the cheeses, whisking to smooth if necessary. I also made a small amount of flour rue to thicken just a bit as well. It makes the soup very velvety and delicious!

I hope I'm not forgetting something- this is the first time I've ever written it down-- but I did remember the wine and cheese so it has to be good.

Have yummy fun~ xo,Anna

Character Building

Today was book character day for the elementary among us. Isabela spent about a whole one zillionth of a second deciding who to be. The love of Laura started a ways back but hasn't gone anywhere yet (we even bought some seasons of the tv series on dvd for her at Christmas which she lurves). We knew we needed a prarie-ish style dress of a small scale print and an apron. Since we had about 30 minutes before bed to pull three kid characters together last night, we borrowed this flannel nightie that my mom made for Juliana (mom, pipe up in the comments if you remember the pattern). Its a little big but fit the bill perfectly.



Then I literally took about 10 seconds to cut a width of muslin into an apron shape, no sewing, hemming, nothin' and tied it around her. She looked in the mirror and had the kind of smile that makes her top cheek dimple join the other lower dimples and all was right with the world.

Last year she was the Giving Tree, and we took a lot of time to make a felt-leafed dress, shirt, headband, the works. Upswing: Eleni wanted to be Giving Tree this year. Perfect. Downswing: all we could find from last year's costume was the headband. But I am about to tell you reason #731,683,002 that I love Eleni... she was so excited to get to use my studio stapler that she was more than happy just stapling green poster board leaves to a green shirt for about 10 minutes, wearing brown pants (the trunk, of course) and calling it a tree. Whew. Okay who's next. Right. Joseph. Joseph always wants to be some piece of machinery but he settled on Huck Finn since he is a friend of mischief and its actually a book he's read. And everyone has a plain shirt, jeans to be rolled up, and the ability to make a hobo napsack. Done. I also noticed him grab the straw hat off of our melting snowman on his rush to the bus this morning. My kind of kid.

So. Flannel! I am in love with many gorgeous flannel creations and tutorials that I have been pointed to online and elsewhere and finally set up Folksy Flannel Flickr group for you! I almost called it the Finally Flannels Flickr group, but I am trying to think positively. So join the fun.

I am headed to the couch with my little "Laura" to watch some Little House while we wait for pizza and Pa to come home. (How did Ma survive without the pizza man!? I'd say being married to Pa made up for the lack of modern conveniences. Let's save that for another post.)

Have a great weekend! xo,Anna

The amusement is not mutual

Would you get any work done with these two at your feet? You can hear our printer running in the background as well as Lemon the canary singing his morning song. These two are a constant comedy routine, with Roman playing the lead role as the faithful pet and Leo playing the supporting role as the impatient unappreciative pet owner.

Right after our 3 kid birthdays wrapped up we were hit with a slew of snowdays here which sent me right back into being, well, snowed over. Only more fun and wintery like than the other kind of snowed over. We were quite literally stuck here and I didn't even get in a car for about 5 days. This made me a little crazy and hugely happy. And productive.

During our stuckinthesnow days I made:

: spinach chicken lasagna

: popovers

: two pairs of little girl leggings

: two little girl shirts

: prolly about 20 cups of cocoa

: one little japanese print skirt

: creamy chicken tomato chowder

: butterscotch cookies

: a snowman and a half

: homemade popcorn by the giant stockpot full. twice.

: a snow angel (which was much deeper than Eleni's snow angel so I think I stopped all the cooking somewhere around there)

I also made a video of Roman sledding in a salad bowl that I am too scared to show here for fear of having my children taken into custody. But if you think the baby giggling at the dog is funny...

Missed you guys

xo,Anna

We ate cake

And I dare say it looked like Kitty. It didn't look like the Kitty that I originally had in mind, which was of a more sculptural nature, but it looked like a hand-drawn quickly between skating and Mexican food type Kitty, whilst eating the third layer of cake that didn't want to come out of the pan. Yellow cake with vanilla frosting on the top and in the middle, chocolate frosting on the outer walls and for eyes, chocolate chips for whiskers and glitter gel frosting stripes. Yum.



And we imbued our six year old with a tiny bit more sparkle at the ears. Which of course goes perfectly with the twinkle in her eyes. She's had that since birth. Compliments of her father. Have you ever seen a full family of eight in Claire's watching someone get their ears pierced? Claire's is a very small store. There are people here in Nashville that have now seen a full family of eight in Claire's watching someone get their ears pierced and I would say most of them were either shocked or amused at the scene we created. So be it. Thats what we do. Almost everywhere we go.



And six came and went. Wooosh.

I have received some seriously funny cake pictures from some of you, and I so appreciate you hanging in there with me waiting to see the results. As some of you might remember we have a plethora of January birthdays, Nicolas just turned 12 two days after Eleni's and Juliana shall enter official adulthood in just two more days (which she relentlessly points out ten times a day like she wants me to cry). So needless to say, we've been busy around here with no shortage of cake and presents.

more soon pals. xo,AM

This has to look like Hello Kitty by 7pm

And we need to also squeeze in ear piercing, ice skating, and Mexican food eating before that.

All so that Eleni can turn 6 properly.

I'll report back. soon.

xo,Anna, who never wanted to be a baker anyway.

One of those weeks

Adorable? Yes.

Helpful? Not so much.

Albeit the constant work-sabotage-expert, he was the best part of the week. I'll spare you the blurry-baby-wrapped-around-my-ankles photos.

Very busy here, but I do want to share that sweet scarf/hood combo (scoodie?) that I made for Isabela in more detail, thanks so much for the sweet words about that!

Have a great weekend and we'll try to put ourselves back together over here and be more presentable next week!

slobbery smooches, Anna & Roman

Snowday Pretty

I find it shocking that right before a storm hits grocery stores run out of eggs, milk, bread, but always have plenty of cocoa and marshmallows left. What is everyone thinking?

Have a cozy weekend. xoAM
(ps. I loved reading about everyone else's musical rooms. good, good memories to make and remember.)

Musical Rooms

Eight people. Four bedrooms (plus a small basement guest room). Do the math. We share here. Having 6 years on the next oldest child, Juliana has always managed to have a room all to herself though. And somehow in this house she swung the master bedroom too. Jeff and I opted for the main floor guest room since its on the other end of the house (duh). Which we remodeled last year but have been sharing with Roman until a couple weeks ago. The baby is now, quite literally in the studio, at least his crib is in the studio. So is his sleeping. The 2 little girls share. The 2 older boys share.



And if you're still reading through what could be the most mundane post ever I'll tell you the rest. Isabela and Eleni are moving out of their smaller room into Juliana's master room with bathroom and Juliana is moving into their (much) smaller room with no bathroom. Nicolas is moving out of his and Joseph's room, opting for the basement guest room to himself. Roman will soon join Joseph for a few months until this fall when he'll move into the new smaller Juliana room once she goes to school. So Juliana is moving into what will become a nursery for Roman this fall. At that point all the boys will have their own room and the girls will share the biggest room. And I guess if the snoring improves, I'll still let Jeff in my room. (It is mine.)

There will be a pop quiz on this tomorrow.

The solemn sweeper wasn't too upset, I guess, but downsizing isn't easy. Especially when you're Juliana. There is stuff. Did I mention she has stuff. And because she has been mostly in charge of her stuff ever since we've lived in this house, the stuff seldom gets sorted through. I had resigned to painting over the hand painted wall for her so that the room would feel like hers and fresh and new. But mid-move she decided to keep it. It didn't take much time for the little room to begin looking like a Juliana room.



Complete with her stuff. The process has brought some deep inner sighs out of both of us as we anticipate a bigger move this fall for college. After getting the first of four applications off this week, my mom instincts told me we better start doing some clearing and switching now before there is too much emotion attached. She is getting used to living smaller. I am getting text messages from her in the middle of the day saying that she is realizing how much she will miss everyone. (clearing lump in throat now)



And work on the little girls' big room is just beginning. Last night they wanted their beds right next to each other, feeling a little uneasy in their new big space. And the striped wall paper that we somehow never managed to do anything with in all the years Juliana occupied this room, somehow looks like something we might choose to keep on purpose. Or not. Hmmm.

In Anna Maria's Standard Dictionary, right between the definitions for "optimal" and "optimize" you would find this:

`op-ti-mism n. an inclination towards and the expectation of a favorable outcome due to cleaning out closets, rearranging furniture, throwing away what we all knew was trash to begin with but somehow held off for 2.7 years, giving away that which is not trash, cleaning floors with vigor on your hands and knees not because you have to; sunlight on a freezing day

Look, I'm a scholar.

In 2009

I seldom sit down to review a year, other than making conversation. But this has been quite a year. And I know that its been quite a year because I began saying that around June- this has been quite a year. I am so grateful to have this space to share the biggest or littlest things in my life and work and I'm downright unworthy of all the encouragement and inspiration I am able to find in your support. For that, thank you so so much. And if you don't mind, if for nothing more than my own tiny benefit, here is a personal, albeit somewhat scattered, review right off the cuff....

In 2009::

::My mother's lymphoma was declared in remission. A fact upon facts that I never managed the capacity to talk about here. We all struggled through, no one more than her, and the whole ordeal has just made me feel like I've joined the human race...joined the common suffering of fear, joined the common elation of completely loving.

::I experienced the first slow splitting of fibers in the delicate netting around my oldest girl as she wades through college applications and does obnoxiously independent things, like having dinner with someone other than her family. What!? Sigh.

::We welcomed our beautiful Roman into the family. My deepest, most mother-ish worries of not having the ability to love another as much as those that I already love was...once again...proven wrong....ridiculously wrong~ the instant he quickly and strongly thrust himself into his own world and gave us a lusty newborn cry to sing away my worries, I was proven wrong. And I cried. And my husband cried.

::We had the first and last family Christmas together in which all 6 children live permanently under our roof...they live with us in this constantly messy, untidy, never completely pulled together, often loud and chaotic, sometimes surprisingly peaceful home. Together.

::I learned my limits.

::My children became better friends.

::We celebrated 16 years of marriage.

::I was surprised a few times when I came home from being away and found that my husband was still here.

::Still here. Just checked

::I learned that book writing is hard. I learned that writing a book inspired by pregnancy and babies is especially hard if you are both pregnant and then have a baby. I learned that doing this and also running a business is even harder. AND. I also learned that writing a book, having a baby, running a business and raising 5 other children, one dog and one canary is much, much harder. I won't mention the remodeling.

::In light of the above, I also learned that nursing a baby and using the bathroom at the same time is not unsanitary, but rather its a very good use of time and takes care of two necessities at once. And is really quite comfortable. Don't pretend you haven't done it.

::I coaxed my angry oldest son down from a 30 foot tree to talk to him about kindness and responsibility on the safety of our front steps while he picked at some pine needles that he brought from the treetop.

::I became a Godmother.

::I talked to old friends much less than I wanted to.

::I crocheted more than I had the time to.

::I learned that a hot bath can wash away a lot more than dirt. I do have the remodel to thank for that.

::I said no to some opportunities for the sake of my family.

::I accomplished some unforgiving, self-imposed deadlines.

::I failed at some stuff.

::I succeeded at some other stuff.

As I type this up, I can't help but mention that a funeral procession is driving by our front yard right now on their way to lay a loved one to rest....

2009, rest in peace. You shaped us a little more than I expected you to. Passing time is bitter, but I'm glad we're saying goodbye.

2010, here we are, nice to meet you. I adore the optimism you demand.

I wish each of you all you need in 2010 to care for yourself and those you love, to be inspired and I look forward to our continuing friendship here!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
with lots of love from your friend Anna~xoxoxox

With love from all of us~

One skein + one afternoon +one baby = one thousand kisses

I have been stealing as many moments as possible in the crochet chair ever since Thanksgiving, and slowly everyone is getting a little layer of love added to their wintry accessories. I need to remind you that I have no real knowledge of what I'm doing when I sit down to crochet anything, and typically just make it up as I go. Maybe everyone feels this way. I think this is why knitting has never stuck with me. It seems less like something you can manipulate like I have been able to get away with when crocheting. My mom has taught me to knit precisely six times and I still haven't gotten comfortable with it. But I do have knit envy, especially when it comes to all those wonderful hand knit socks and lovely sock yarns. I have been using several sock yarns (which I would consider the above) for things that are not socks which feels like a guilty pleasure. All that said, I love a quickie. I fell in love with this skein at my favorite local fabric shop turned local fabric/yarn shop. Yesterday after wrapping up a separate but much longer crochet project, I was in the mood for a itty baby hat.



All I did was make a rectangle of half-double crochet and threw a few scattered bobbles into the mix as I went - the rectangle width is 1/2 of Roman's head circumference, and the height is twice the height I wanted the hat to be. Once the rectangle was complete, I simply folded in half lengthwise and yarn-sewed the sides together. Then I crocheted a 5 stitch-length ribbing all around the bottom edge (great tut here).



Making a pompom at each corner became a must once we tried the hat on young Roman. The yarn is so sweet and woodsy and the rectangle shape of the hat naturally gives you these pokey little ears. So I went with the extra creature addition of pompoms (another great tut for those here with a pompom maker and for those without a pompom maker). I also didn't trim them too neatly so they would look a little scruffy. I encourage scruffiness for baby boys, its who I am.



And the result. Well. The cuteness. I can't stand it. Maybe you can stand it. I. Can. Not. Stand. It. And he is doing the Mowgli thing a lot lately instead of knee-crawling which he has yet to really do. I think he might skip real crawling altogether and go straight to walking one day soon.

My little creature.

More warm wearables to be posted soon! But posting this picture reminded me that I need to go and kiss his chubby little face at once. xxxxxxxo~AM

Home for the Holidays (kindergartern style)

School is officially out. Eleni just jingled (really, she has bells around her neck) all the way up the hill from the bus stop and eagerly pulled out some goodies from a giant crumpled paper grocery bag. Here are some favorites:



This is Peanut-Pretzel-Rudolph.



A torn paper Christmas Tree.



A gift from her K teacher. Do you remember this book? I loved it sooooo much.



"Down fell the snow- plop!-on top of Peter's head."

Each of our kids that can write has written a Christmas list and each of these lists has included "a white Christmas". Oh that sounds easy enough to buy. We might just have to use our imaginations for that one.

hope you're warm and calm in the midst of cold and chaos~ Anna

Flannel Fans Unite!

Wowzers! I had no idea the amount of flannel love that was happening in the universe and feel all has been revealed to me (Jeff and I were eating at our favorite Indian lunch buffet today and overheard a woman sitting by herself, saying very loudly at her cell phone "so much has been revealed to me and I can't wait to share it with you, its amazing". We were without a doubt intrigued and wondered over 4 plates of curried vegetables, rice and naan just what she was referring to. This is a long explanation of why I felt the need to use the word revealed in my first sentence. I just didn't want you to be in the dark about my word choices. I am a caring person like that.)

Anyway.

I decided that accompanying the two winning names of my flannel giveaway should be the full reveal on those sweet little chicks. So above is the Henny Penny & Six Chicks project that is one of the nursery sewing projects in my upcoming book Handmade Beginnings. Underneath Henny's soft, quilted wings are strips of velcro that those little velcro baby wings can attach to before all six babies are rocked to sleep. Sweet, huh? I love this project, and it was the perfect opportunity to use the cozy soft flannels. Now on to those flannels and the two winners!

At 11:39 PM Betsy said...

I have two friends expecting their first babies this next summer and I can't wait to make them baby blankets out of these flannels! I'm hoping one of them is having a girl because the Little Honey Heather is my favorite!

~and~

At 3:19PM Andrea said...

I can't believe there are so many comments already! Well, I should have know...you are amazing and all of us want a chance to holds those flannels in our hands. I do love them all and it is so hard to pick a single favorite. They are all just so beautiful and I am hoping that Santa brings me some in a few weeks. Thanks for being so inspiring and sharing little bits of your world with us!

Congrats Betsy and Andrea on winning a big stack of flannels that will allow you to make Henny Penny & 600 chicks, no doubt! Email me at am.at.annamariahorner.dot.com to claim your loot!

I cannot believe we had over 1500 entires- thats insane! I would send you all some if I could, I really really would. For the rest of you, be sure to drop over to Craftzine before Noon PST on Friday, December 11th and sign up on their mailing list for a chance to win a whole pile of other things that I've offered over there. That could knock a lot of presents off your gift list all at once!




Okay, since I shared a little more from Handmade Beginnings I thought I would also share the promo video that my publisher put together for the book which I whined about profusely not so long ago. In all not so bad, please be gentle. I was so nervous and postpartum and not horribly excited about the ordeal. And I think I said the word BABY about 74 times in the last 30 seconds of the video. Or maybe they edited that in to make sure everyone knows that the book is all about BABIES. The best part of all of it for me is seeing all my little munchkins and the gorgeous photography that is part of this book. Lots to look forward to in 2010.

Have a wonderful evening! with love and thanks as always! xo, Anna

Folksy Flannels for you~(a.k.a. a fabric giveaway!)

**Before I start with some flannel fun and a giveaway, I want to clarify something: The Folksy Flannels collection is a completely different collection of fabrics from both Good Folks (44" quiltweight cotton) and Little Folks (54"voiles, dobby dots). It does combine imagery from both of those collections, but is retranslated into new colorways and is printed on 44" wide cotton flannel. It just so happens that the flannels are shipping before the Little Folks collection which I introduced first and should be shipping before the end of the year last I heard. Is this clarification helping anyone? Better stop before I confuse things more.

We are having a little too much fun with the flannels! These teeny tiny chick brothers & sisters are the smaller part of a book project which I can't share completely yet, since the book isn't out till the spring. But just so you know, they have a very sweet mama and their tiny wings are made of Velcro. There. Thats all yer getting, and the rest will have to wait. Stop it, no, no more.



Besides pajamas, soft toys were some of my first inspirations for these flannels. But they have also proven lovely for patchwork projects as well. My friend Alexia made this beautiful wonky star quilt with the entire Good Morning palette for my market booth. She also made one with the Good Night palette, but I didn't get a piccy of it before it was snatched by my German fabrics distributor for display. (Here's a great tutorial on wonky stars.)

Just a few notes about the sewing and washing- it could just be me, but I do feel like these flannels shrink just a bit more than the standard quilting cottons. Anyone else? That said, it is even more important to prewash them, especially if you are using them in conjunction with other substrates, such as lining a jacket, etc. Once the voiles get here (soon, soon), I can't wait to show you some beautiful options of combining them with the flannels.



Anyway, who wants flannel for free? You can has! I'll send out a full collection of 16 fat quarters to two of you precious people. Leave me a comment, tell me your fav if you want, all of them are slide-showing over here for individual reference. I'll keep the comments open til about mid next week, 'kay?

While we all have the warm fuzzies, how about those loverly people over at Craft for considering me a Star Crafter?! I'm blushing. They have lots of giveaways going on to celebrate the launch of their new site, and more to come, which I'll be helping them out with too! I'll let you know when the Craft/AM giveaway is!

Have a great weekend! xo,Anna