Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Picking Time

picking party

If I could send a blossom-y gift to everyone of you, please believe that I would. Enough dreaming, let's get to it shall we? Here are the four winning party-goers with their comments and time posted:

Mo said....Seriously? I have to pick just one?! They are all lovely and they work so nicely together. Your daughters are just beautiful too! If I had to narrow it down to one it would be guest of honor in ice. Fanfare in gold and tablecloth in ice are close seconds though. at 12:45pm

Heidi Ann said...Hi Anna, "Social Climber" in teal, is my very favorite fabric, but they all are simply lovely!...Congratulations on such an "uplifting collection of prettiness"!...heidi XO. at 9:55pm

The Georgia Peaches said...Well, I can't just pick one! I like Centerpiece in the turquoise and olive colorway and Social climber in the green colorway. The little outfit you made in your fabrics is so cute. at 12:29am

Big Red Barn said...You know, I just don't know which facet of you is more inspiring to me. Your fabrics, your home and projects, or the fact that you are mother to 5 beautiful children! I am 9 months pregnant with baby #3 and frankly looking forward to #4 and maybe even #5. Your fabrics have me itching to sew every time I look at them and the vibrant color and creativity in your home makes inspires me to liven things up around here. Oh how I wish you lived in Birmingham, AL so I could have your over for a play date with the kids and a tall glass of lemonade. You seem like so much fun!

Send me those addresses you lucky winners! (and big red barn, birmingham isn't far and I love lemonade, especially the vodka kind, wink)

tea party

Congratulations and my sincerest thanks for all the encouragement and excitement for this lovely craft of designing, sewing, sharing and friendship. All of my favorite things, that wouldn't be nearly as gratifying without your charming and uplifting visits here. One comment that I can't forget is about the Social Climber Ice being "so pretty it makes me want to cry". Oddly enough I was completely flattered by this and totally understood the sentiment. I think that if I can create an emotional response, happy or sweetly sad, simply by putting color to cloth that I am in a fortunate place in the world. I allowed myself imagining the "cry" to be a good one...one that feels a yearning for something soft and comforting and a bit nostalgic. These are the thoughts I had as I composed those colors. Making people cry is not my goal, but I was touched by the idea that someone completely "got it", if you know what I mean. I know you know what I mean.

quilt in the grass

Now before you go off into a corner crying because you didn't win, I have been working away at lots of ways to continue sharing ideas and inspirations for this line. Here's a few:

*the Garden Wall Quilt pattern is over there and ready to download
*the Garden Party Sewing flickr group is set up and awaiting your amazing creations
*our shop is now loaded with Garden Party everywhere, including new rugs!
*and of course if you want fabrics by the yard online, some of my favorite spots like purlosho, sewmamasew, jcarolinecreative, and pinkchalkfabrics already have some listed...more on my find page (which is about to be updated again)

There are many, many other little and not so little projects that I've been working on for you with this line, so stay tuned!

have a super good night, with my love and thanks, xo,Anna

37 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:38 PM

    Congratulations to the winners!
    I'm looking forward to getting my hands on some of this fabric. Will you be at the AQS in Nashville in August?
    Thanks!
    Jennifer

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  2. Congrats to the winners. Can't wait to see what they create.

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  3. Anonymous7:19 PM

    Congratulations to the lucky winners.
    Still waiting for my fabric to arrive.
    Keep on keeping us all upbeat with all of your
    beautiful creations!!
    Thanks!!!

    Ms. Dale

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  4. Congratulations winners! I'm going to go clicky clicky on those links to get my hands on some of this amazing fabric!

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  5. Woohoo for the winners. I'm sure they'll make something lovely if they can bare to cut the fabric! Am I the only one who buys fabric and can't bare to cut it?
    Love the quilt on the grass pics.

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  6. Congratulations to the winners!

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  7. Congrats to all the winners! I can't wait to see the future projects!

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  8. Anonymous8:33 PM

    i think i must be the one who left the comment you referred to in your post (unless there are others out there crying over beautiful fabric.....didn't have the patience to read all 2000 posts to find out) but i just had to clarify that while Social Climber (Ice) leaves me somewhat choked up, it was Guest of Honor (Ice colorway) that left tears in my eyes.

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  9. Anonymous8:55 PM

    I made myself a winner by purchasing some more Drawing Room from your shop today :) I cannot wait to get my hands on this new collection either! Gorgeous and heartwarming.

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  10. Erin, thats what I get for getting emotional!! Ha ha, so we cry at different fabrics. We're girls we can do that.
    xo,Anna

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  11. Anonymous9:14 PM

    congrats to all the winners!!
    man, i need to learn how to quilt just so i can make something that gorgeous!!! after drooling over your fabrics online, i FINALLY got the drawing room fabric!! (funny story, my sister had gone the night earlier to find a fabric for her daughter and the shop owner went in the back and pulled your collection out, it had just been delivered. when she told me what she got i drove out first thing the next morning! of course she says she called dibs on the fabric and that noone else in the family is allowed to have it! too bad for her!) i was so tempted to get some fabrics from garden party, but at the rate i'm going my husband might have to take away my credit cards!! :)

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  12. Anonymous2:22 AM

    Anna Maria - I have to tell you, all these fabrics are just amazing! I adore the quilt, and even though I usually make childrens clothes and have no idea how to quilt, I may just have to, and it's all your fault! It's beautiful - the play of the colours and patterns is outstanding! Congratulations to the lucky, lucky winners! :)

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  13. I can't wait to see these fabrics in person!! I just painted my daughter's bedroom a color called Purple Royalty. I love it, and it is a purple I have seen in a lot of your fabrics. I think I should make her this qulit to match her room. Will you be having Sewing Kits for this blanket available?

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  14. Woo hoo for the winners and a shoot for me! Are you born with the inevitable non ability to win anything? hehe :-) I really am happy for those who DID win! Congrats!

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  15. Anonymous9:27 AM

    Love the clear colors of the fabrics and the free patterns for ideas. Keep it up!

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  16. congratulations to the winners!!

    all your fabric and designs are amazing Anna..you are a true artistic visionary

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  17. Good Morning Anna, I had just gotten up & thought I would sit down to check a few e-mails, blogs entries, etc....OMGoodness! I can't believe it?...but there it is!...my name among the ones chosen to receive your new fabric! Well what a lovely way to begin the day!....Since cleaning my sewing room has been my constant activity these last few days....this is a "treat among treats"!!! Thank you again my friend! Off to post all about it!....Enjoy your day!....Love, heidi XO

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  18. Anonymous10:34 AM

    oh, anna maria, the rugs are just beautiful. I am so excited to see your ideas come to life!

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  19. Anonymous10:51 AM

    Oh you temptress you! I just succumbed and bought a few yards of my faves at jcaroline. I'll place them up with the other fabrics of AMH purchased in the past few months; they're all auditioning right now for various spots in our home.

    Do you mind a quick question? I noticed that some fabrics (like Drawing Room's Nouveau Bouquet and Sketchbook) are about double the cost of other fabrics (like Garden Party's Tablecloth and Centerpiece). I'm wondering if they are different weight fabrics that determines that cost differential? Or is it anything to do with the design? Please don't think I'm whining about cost here, because they're worth every penny - and they can also be procured at reduced cost during holidays at some supplier's on-line stores. :-)

    At any rate, it's just kind of peaked my curiousity, since I was expecting the higher cost for your new line and was pleasantly surprised to find it at the price it is ($8-$9/yard). Woo hoo!

    Thank you, btw, for the free quilt patterns on-line. I'm auditioning different fabrics for Birdcage on a Chain at the moment. Still haven't collected all I desire for it.

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  20. Hi Susan, so happy you're inspired to sew with the goods!

    I would love to answer this question for you, and I hope I can be thorough as I know many people have the same question!

    Drawing Room and Garden Party are two separate collections and each printed on two completely different types of fabric, which are referred to as substrates.

    The lighter weight quilting substrate is only 44" wide and is a mid- to lightweight cotton fabric ideal for a lot of uses, mostly quilting and clothing. This is the fabric I've chosen to print Bohemian, Chocolate Lollipop, and Garden Party on. Very often, as you know if you make garments with these, the 44" across the width cannot accommodate you cutting out both the front and back pieces of the garment or whatever it is you are making. You therefore are forced to buy another full length of fabric. (which provides some fun leftovers though!)

    Drawing Room is printed on a cotton sateen substrate that is 54" in width and thicker in weight. There are 3 factors that contribute to this substrate being more expensive: (1) bc of the width of the fabric you are getting about 25% more fabric with every yard you purchase (2) the fabric is more substantial, and heavier that the regular quilting cottons (3) the fabric has a luxurious sateen finish that isn't shiny but is more luminous than a standard cotton and therefore the colors retain more saturation. All of these factors contribute the the fabric being more expensive to produce and therefore more expensive to purchase.

    I think the overall benefit of the decor weight substrate with Drawing Room is that the applications are so versatile when you can either upholster or make quilts. I've done both in my home and love the results! Also when making slightly more tailored clothing that needs to retain shape, like jackets, pencil skirts, fitted dresses, these fabrics are ideal. While they may be just slightly thick for a lot of little gathered details on a little girl's dress, they still make excellent jumpers and totes! Also the wider goods will often prevent you from having to buy a whole additional length of fabric and in the end save you money. For instance if you want to make a single duvet cover for a bed all you need is the length of the bed for each side and you wouldn't have to put any seams in it. Same goes for some curtain panels.

    I hope this is helpful. I know that so often, your purchases have much more to do with the color,design and price of a fabric and less to do with the width/weight of the fabric. I am no different than you there! My goal is to provide a lot of style and a lot of choices in several price ranges. In fact I am already working on even more categories of fabric types and can't wait to share them with you!

    Thanks so much for your question, and I think I may add this answer to my FAQ page!

    with love, Anna Maria

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  21. Hi Anna Maria,
    I found your article in home companion and just love your eye for color and pattern. Keep up the fabulous job. I'll be reading your blog. P.S.
    Good save on the bunny! Poor little thing.

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  22. Oh poop. Of all the giveaways I've entered (and never won) I was crossing all my fingers and toes and delving into witchcraft for this one. Oh well. I remain a your devoted fan, and will just have to order online like the rest of 'em ;)

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  23. Great pictures and congrats to the winners! Jen R

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  24. Well, I can't believe I completely missed out on all this partying and the giveaway. That's what I get for taking a vacation. The collection is spectacular. It reminds me of the fabrics in the quilts my great-grandmother made. It was so much fun to curl up in one and examine all the patterns one by one that went together to make a completely different pattern. Can't wait to go shop!
    Holley

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  25. Anonymous3:56 PM

    Anna Maria,
    Thank you for another beautiful and inspiring line of fabrics! I have recently received an order from your drawing room line. I love it so much that I took it down to my local fabric store to show them. I said, "look at this... you must order some!" Then I went on-line with them, right in the store and took them to your blog where I showed them your new garden party line. When I left the store they were oohing and aahing over it. Also, my bookclub met at my house the other night and I was showing off my fabric to them. (grin) They were all loving it and asking where I got it. I told this to the fabric store owner too, so hopefully I will be seeing some of your beautiful fabric at my own hometown little fabric store before long.

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  26. Anonymous4:53 PM

    Wait, let me wipe the tear from my eye. I'll just order some fabric...

    I have been interested in learning how to quilt. I looked at your birdcage chain quilt pattern and it was like a foreign language to me. Any suggestions on where to start?

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  27. I don't comment often enough, but just wanted to say how utterly inspiring I find you, your fabrics, your blog, the vibrant colours in your photos... everything! It makes me smile every time I visit - and that's at least once a day :) I think I am going to have to get some of your fabric and make something to carry with me so I can take that happy feling with me wherever I go. That's if I can bear to cut the fabric - bet I'll just want to sit and stroke it instead...

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  28. Just opened up my August Better Homes magazine and saw a feature on a certain "stylemaker..."

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  29. Hi Anna Maria,

    Just to let you know, I sent an e-mail to you with my address. Still on cloud 9 about winning :) I just don't usually get so lucky!

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  30. Hi Anna Maria,
    I've enjoyed reading your blog so much that I'm passing on a blog award to you that someone gave me. It's for being so brilliant and to thank you for giving me inspiration to follow thru on my own little dreams.
    Holley

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  31. Yay winners. We are all winners because we now get to buy this awesome fabric! What a day, cranky toddler tantrums on and off. Frayed nerves, haven't gone to the studio yet...I sit down to eat my (late!) lunch. Pop open my new Better Homes & Gardens magazine, and shreik "Anna Maria". My husband almost spit his food out. There you are featured in one of my favorite magazines. Kinda neat, I got to relax for a minute and read it. Nice.

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  32. just got my first of 3 packages of Garden Party in the mail today. What wonderful colors and prints! I can't wait to make something great with these fabrics. You are a master at all you do--congrats!

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  33. Anonymous12:50 AM

    The fabric looks amazing. I bet my wife will like to have some of them. I really like the looks of them it makes them appealing.

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  34. Beautiful stuff - as usual. I love your shop too!

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  35. Thanks for linking to my shop, you're a sweetheart! xo Kathy

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