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Lucky for us we can take care of both any given Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa's farm. Everyone should have the chance to do this at least once. So many giggles. How was your weekend? xo,AM

Four little birdies are going to market . And they need your help! I have a proposition that I thought would be fun (if nothing else) to throw out there....specifically for those of you who live in the Portland, Oregon area. And I've read my blog stats, so I know there are a bunch of you! Cutting to the chase here it is: I will be exhibiting at the Quilt Market May 16-18 and would really love to have this new vintage sofa I had recovered for display and naps when no one is looking. However. That would be crazy impractical to get it there (7 feet long). So I started thinking. Which typically is cause for concern. But I think I may have come up with a fun plan. Maybe I should tell you the plan now. Here's the plan: Do you live in the Portland area? Do you have a vintage-ish sofa/loveseat/chair/set of chairs that needs recovering? Would you like to cover them in Drawing Room fabrics? Would you like the fabric for free? Would you be so kind as to find an upholsterer to get

Right now I am immensely pleased with any color that is happening in the yard. I think mostly because I haven't had the chance to tend to anything, yet some things just appear, and I feel like thanking them every time I walk by. Even the weeds. I'm always scooting by so fast, arms full of this or that, on my way to something that has nothing to do with flowers. Every year I have mixed emotions about Spring. I am so glad for it, but I always feel like it rushes on without me. I tell myself each and every winter that I will get out in the garden and be ready for it. Plan for it. Nuture it. Alas. I likely don't have to tell you that the above picture is a weed. What is wrong with me? Have I resorted to elevating weeds to picture-worthy status to compensate for my gardening guilt? Hmm. I didn't even know I had a forsythia . I just happen to look a certain direction in the far corner of the yard. Boom. There it was. I love these things! I'm so glad I hav

I love them both. These aren't the final ad shots, but we did get that done. In the nick of time, naturally. Designed it, she did. Now if I could just get her to not surf on my computer while I'm drafting the pattern she might learn a little more. Not complaining. I do have to say something mom-like. Have a Bright and Beautiful Easter. Eastern Orthodox Easter is still a few weeks away for us, but I will be thinking of many of you out there cracking eggs and celebrating renewal! love, Anna

I was up late and I'm up early, feverishly finishing this dress that Juliana designed. It'll be the part of some magazine ads for Drawing Room , and I have about 24 hours to complete the whole shabang, including the sewing, final fitting, styling, photography, any photo editing and final art for production. Started at about 9:30 last night. So go ahead and ask me, should I have dropped everything and taken 7 people on a 30 hour round trip car ride for 5 days just to play with our family's newest baby ? Should I have talked on the phone yesterday for two hours to a dear friend who I've missed lately? Should that coffee be sitting so close to that dress? (Should I really be drinking coffee out of a cracked mug?) I say yes to all. I can't enjoy what I'm doing unless I enjoy what I'm doing and about once or twice a year I remember that. Besides, I could photoshop a coffee stain out. Show ya more soon. xo,AM

It's been the baby hogging olympics here.  I think I'm winning, but here is Juliana, the matriarchal cousin, with the newest little cousin. Introducing grandchild number 11, Grace Kalliope.  I can barely stand to let anyone hold her, even for a minute and I even hover while she needs to nurse.  Luckily we're a close family, so no one minds. I just noticed that Jennifer posted my interview tonight so enjoy if you can stand to hear my babbling about design, fabric, art, making....and babies........but I don't think there's any baby-making talk...can't be sure though. g'nite from NY, anna maria

Well, okay it's not mine , exactly. But I am fortunate enough to be able to use it like it is. Here's another corner of my friend Tracy's house where I spent all day yesterday working on more book photos. Whenever we get together, we always drag each other around our houses asking the other's opinions about this and that, colors, furniture, ideas. etc. We like all the same stuff generally, but we're just different enough that we really benefit by including each other's input. We also match right up where housework and our attention to it are concerned, a relief. My very best friends are the ones I don't clean up for. (Like you!) Anyway the photos. Eleni was with us all morning, as she modeled a few shots. She has been loosing sleep thinking about her big day with Sylvie the white horse. We've been talking about it for weeks, but had to wait for the pasture to be dried out enough, and the weather to be warm enough. Sylvie is an old girl, so

You have to be the sweetest bunch of blog readers. Mean it. What a soft cradle my thoughts rested in as I read all your comments and relived all your experiences with you. Some days go by without a hitch. Other days you're stopped in your tracks and question something as simple and seemingly normal as putting your child on a school bus. On a bus? Are you kidding? What I am thinking? And thats how it goes. Feeling assured and feeling horrified all together in a busy mind. Anyway, let's concentrate on the soft, gentle and fluffy for now shall we? Oh good, thank you. I made cupcakes for a photo shoot this weekend (well okay, I dreamed up the photo shoot thing in the middle of stirring the batter to add to the why-I-HAVE-to-make-cupcakes-list) and I wanted to tell you that if you haven't tried Alicia's most wonderful Cloudburst frosting, stop what you are doing right now and do so. Soooo good. I'm pretty sure they are just about gone and I made them less

It was sunny in the living room yesterday afternoon and I was making progress working on some book photography, hoping to accomplish just one more good one before the kids got home. Right on schedule at 3:34 I heard the scuffle for the doorknob and the usual chatter of young voices and the bus breaks releasing and accelerating down the road after dropping off my middle three. But. There were not three. The boys busted through the door just as I got to it and asked me where Isabela was? Where Isabela is!? Why are you asking ME!? Wasn't she on the bus??!!!! They didn't know. Neither of them knew. How could they not have known. Didn't matter. Got both phones out, dialed one to my neighbor, the other to school. Karen picks up. No answer at school. Karen asks her little Josh if he saw Isabela on the bus. Yes. He saw her asleep on the bus. Asleep! Gasp. I slowly transitioned from the stomach-dropping thought of wondering where on earth she was (though my hands

That warm breeze that blew through the house over the weekend has indeed gone into hiding, leaving us with a chill again. I've been hiding out in the studio the past few days, with nothing but music , sewing and photography. Its been a gooooood few days. And somehow all that fresh air did more than clear away stale winter air, it refreshed my whole attitude and inspired a bit of sprucing. The best part is it didn't cost a dime. It just required me sitting and staring for a while, remembering some things I've been saving (i.e. previously spent dimes), and dusting off a few other items. A handful of those Dresden plates finally got the recognition they deserve (we'll save the actual quilt making from them for retirement, of course). I have this one bulletin board over the drafting table that is painted with the same color as the wall (a highly recommended tip for making the items on it feel like they're floating). I try to change the board every few months whic

Did you feel that? It feels as though life itself just blew in here. I believe its commonly referred to as sun and wind. Be back soon, xo, AnnaMaria