desimms clips 4u

("sinister swarm" print detail in progress) Hoooa No. Man. Thanks for all the moth info . I think. Ick. No really, I'm glad to take a sampling of all the common denominators in those comments and figure out our plan of attack (defense?). In other maybe not so unrelated-to-icky-moth news, I am here to talk more about boys. The boys I currently have in the house- 39, 13, 11 and 2 - keep me exposed to everything from heart-achingly wonderful to utterly disgusting. You can make your own assumptions about that limited information. I knew enough about boys when I was first pregnant with Roman to know better than to actually want another one. After all I was (and still am) married to one and I was (and still am) raising two others (errhhh- am I raising all of them....?) But I did really, really hope that he was a boy before I knew. I dreamed that he was. I felt like I had figured boys out and was finally over the fact that I can't put dresses on them. It was like...

A few months ago, as I began to assemble inspirations and sketches for my 2012 fabric collections, I decided that moths among other naturalistic thingermaggigins would play a feature role in the line. Not much later we discovered we had a serious moth problem in our kitchen. I don't mean a couple of moths flying around. I mean that I open a brand new box of pasta that has never been opened and a few moths fly out. I then almost hurl, throw away the pasta, grab my purse and holler that we're going out. We cleaned out the pantry entirely. Like, scrubbed. They're back. Moth balls? I thought moths liked wool. Or flames. Ours like carbs. My feelings towards that moth art have changed. I almost decided I couldn't handle making moth art. But this collection is a little bit based on throwing yourself into the midst. Of anything. And studying it. So I decided it should not just be a beautiful print, but a shrine-like offering to the moths, depicting the most beautiful moths our...

It blogs . xoam

And how was your day? Why does it already feel like the middle of the summer both in temperature and temperament around here? Does the temperature do that the the temperament? Methinks. xoxo, Anna (who will commence to a cold beer and a comfy couch now thank you) p.s. I so lurved reading all your very thoughtful comments about the dear sweet lace-making Yiayias in the Etsy video. I am in such good company here. thank you.

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 qu...

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 wa...

From my spot at the living room table ~ I saw this through the window~ So I went outside and noticed the marker on her hands ~ A few movies and markers made for a very fun Friday night ~ (above my bed) And a very funny Saturday morning ~ It looks like some shopping was done at the playroom bookshelf ~ Oh, I should get back to nibbling the newborn ~ Hope you're enjoying your weekend. xxoo AM

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...

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 &...

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 )

Rounding out her new skills, Isabela helped me with some layer pinning on the "Folk Dance" quilt. Eleni helped too, but quickly became more interested in the case of T-pins. On my hands and knees, I was reminded of being 19 and preg with Juliana (who affectionately refers to me as "Preg" these days so I have a hard time ever finishing the word anymore). I was attending the Ringling School of Art & Design and had taken on a painting to earn some extra money. I was commissioned by my former HS drama teacher (who swore on my acting potential) back home and it was for a 3x5' watercolor of orchids. Thats big. Anyway, if you've ever stretched watercolor paper, you know that its ideal to staple it to a wooden board after its been soaked, er that's one method anyway. After securing a roll of heavy duty watercolor paper in the appropriate size, I embarked on figuring out what to staple the paper to and where I would find the space for this in my tiny li...