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  Today, needlepoint is on my sewing list.  I am working on some bag patterns that will include needlepoint panels in their design which has me incredibly giddy.  If you are familiar with how to sew a needlepoint into a pillow front, then sewing one into any other sewn good is not much different.  And even if you're not quite sure, it really works out in the most logical way, keeping your machine sewing seam line right into the last stitched row around the perimeter of the work.  This is easiest when you have the wrong side of the needlepoint facing you as you sew it to a pillow back, bag back, etc.  Just pretend like you're sewing with really thick fabric, which is really all it is... so use a bigger needle, take your time, and all those things.  I also think that velveteen is the perfect pairing with a needlepoint as a pillow back or otherwise.  The weight and textures are perfect together.     So if you needed any suggestions about...

I am happy you guys enjoyed some of the foodie love I offered yesterday (and to answer a Q, that table linen is 4 yards of gorgeous fabric that I found in NYC last fall... cannot remember the name of the store, but it was a shop in the garment district that is nothing but linen). I was thinking today about my go-togethers. I have favorite movie genres that I pair with various types of handwork that depend on the focus needed for each.  I should make a chart sometime (it's right there in my head, I just need to write it out). Jeff and I have exhausted almost every single British period piece available in the Netflix instant streaming offerings.  We were so sad to come to the end of all of the Catherine Cookson novel adaptations (where even the low-budget ones are 10x better than most anything on the television).  All the drama.  So entertaining.  The typical British kind.  Wealth.  Poverty. Getting knocked up out of wedlock, etc.  (Why do we rela...

Happy Birthday to my Mama! If you and Dad are up to your usual tricks, sometime later today he'll ask you what he bought you for your birthday, and then you'll go get it to show him because you purchased it last week. I bought myself a macro lens for your birthday. I hope you like it. I took these pictures for you because I know how much you like flowers and stitching and because I forgot to put your birthday card in the mail on Saturday and because I need to practice with this new lens because I know how you always want me to do my best at everything that I do. Thinking of you this morning and the amount of stillness required to take these compared to my regular zoom lens brought to mind the years you spent trying to keep me still. I hope it was worth it, I remain pretty wiggly. I am thinking I might need to by myself a mini tripod as an early Mother's Day gift to you. I love you Mama, enjoy your day, you are to be celebrated. xoxoxo anna & fam

When I was teaching one of my workshops in Sacramento, we had several giggles over me trying to adopt methods of getting everyone's attention while they were at their machines. So we eventually went with me saying NEEDLES DOWN as if they were taking a final exam. While most everyone thought it was funny, there were definitely some sad faces at that command every now and then (but that was sorta funny too- I say that out of love). Late last night after a very long day when I could barely keep my eyes open, I had to say out loud to myself, needle down, Anna. Once you find yourself in the process of having several works in progress, as I always do-whether book developing or not- you become aware that picking the needle up is no longer the hard part. Learning new stitches, trying different techniques and materials can be challenging. But stopping before I see a certain flower (or some other fancy) fully realized still proves to be the greater challenge. Okay, needles up. xoAnna

I've been writing this blog post in my mind for a few months now. This fall will see the publication of my 3rd book title, Anna Maria's Needleworks Notebook . I've casually mentioned it here and there, mostly in other interviews, in some talks I've given, in some conversations and so forth, but its time to talk about it a bit more officially, I imagine,- especially in the string of what I'm looking forward to this year. Because I am really, really, really thrilled with this upcoming book. It is so different than the other two, I think entirely in a good way. Just like hand work is different than sewing machine work- that sort of difference. This book has come about very slowly, I sort of had half the projects designed before I even knew how I wanted to present them. The idea of a book about 18 months ago, just made me sleepy. Not bored, I was just all too aware of that process and how you live it eat it breathe it until its complete. And I guess I just didn...

Suffice it to say I am thrilled . Ranking quite high on the list of things that I am excited about for 2012 are these Needlepoint kits that I developed together with Anchor, UK. For now I am putting them in the "looking forward to" category because I don't have a final final final answer yet as to when they should be shipping- though I believe it to be within the next month or so. We will carry them in the shop , and I am sure that other shops will be picking them up as well, though perhaps not so wide spread as my fabrics. (And woops it appears as though a few prints from my next collection are showing themselves in the top photo (places hand over "o" shaped mouth, eyes widen).) These kits seem so much more available in Europe in general (where they are referred to more as "tapestry" than needlepoint). I am hoping to help turn that tide a bit, that these types of goods, and in fresh design offerings, will become more available here for us. The ...

It is likely just me, but today I feel like anything is a better thing with some hand stitching. I have been cross stitching for days now on a very exciting design, but all on black Aida cloth, which is a challenge on the peepers. I've spent a lot of time on my flickr groups the past few days looking through everything that was made over the past year with my fabrics. So. Much. Beauty. You guys are amazing. I looked through, too, lots of shots of things that I made- searching for my favorites- from market and then some. I just keep going back to this one. Its just a detail of my velveteen Bonne Nuit quilt, but I love it so very much. I really didn't have time to stop to notice it, hurried as I was before market preparations to get it done. I knew I enjoyed it but it was hardly a relaxed, easy going creation, it was all on fast forward, and lovely, but fast. Now, though, those earnest blue stitches, working their way around anything in their path, activating the space ...

(photo is one corner of the girls new room do over, more soon) :: Candy Cane JoJo's + coffee = breakfast (my own special mathamathicals) :: Cookie Crisp cereal was eaten at lunch yesterday by someone. :: And potato chips were layered into a peanut butter & jelly sandwich for dinner. :: Okay, it was me. :: My appetite is 9 years old lately. :: I'm not pregnant. :: Nicolas will not put the guitar down. :: That is generally good except :: There is no other first song to learn on the guitar except Smoke on the Water (or CatScratchFever depending on your generation. But its the same song (almost) and it doesn't seem to ever go away.) :: He did teach himself the Tetris theme music which is awesome except :: It makes me anxious and want to organize everything in the house to maximize space. :: Kristen Wiig could be the funniest person on the planet. :: Roman met our friend the Question Mark. :: It started at my brother's house over Thanksgiving when I asked Roman to ...

I left Tennessee with it still feeling like Summer and came back 5 days later to Fall. The slow, colorful turn towards cool weather and dry air is welcome and beautiful. I left Roman stringing words together, almost all of it in the tone of a question (like, do I have this right? ) and I came back 5 days later to some very concise sentences with not a hint of waver or question in his voice. I left the studio with a calm feeling of getting prepared for Quilt Market at just the right pace, and came back 5 days later feeling 2 months behind (???). But it is good. Bon. Bonne? Not done yet! I'm sharing a glimpse of a velveteen + embroidery project. I am working on two embroidery collections to be released before the end of the year, and hopefully to be previewed as in depth as possible at market. Embroidering in a hurry is the paradoxical happiness/stress that I have found myself in several times over the past months. But somehow pairing embroidery with anything is keeping me int...

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...

I only recently reacquainted myself with the feeling of what its like to have only my work before me. No interruptions. No distractions. Just work. Enjoyable as most of my work is, I have always been one to work best under pressure or to be most prolific when incredibly (unreasonably) busy- not as though I've had the chance at anything else, really. This week has been strange. New. A little uncomfortable. Today's brightest light was the sunlight twinkling in Roman's eyes as he giggled out a proud smile after successfully yanking his shoe over his bulbous little heel. Over his new school socks (because no other pairs are actually pairs at all, just two socks). Today's deepest, darkest, tiniest, and perhaps irrational fear is that maybe for some years now I have forgotten how to just be single, whole, complete and only me. Or worse, that maybe, that's not as interesting as it use to be. It was a surprising amount of comfort when I stacked some things up fo...

There are so many different ways that I want to share how to use the fabrics in this upcoming mini launch that it has nearly rendered me verbally paralyzed (should I just say mute there? speechless? stumped?- see I'm messed up). My heart is beating fast right now, because I am afraid that I'll forget to say something obvious or useful about them and you will be denied the glorious everythingness of this fabric. So lets go through this a little at a time from the beginning. These are what I call Loulouthi Needleworks . They are called Loulouthi because the imagery and the color palettes were derived from my Loulouthi collection. In essence they are no different than any printed cotton that I design, however they are a full 58" wide ( wow Anna that's superwide! I know.) But they are called Needleworks , because the artwork printed on the cloth is comprised of tiny little X's. This print is called Crossing Paths and it is essentially a series of borders stret...

It took me creating a new little embroidery- specifically for a table scarf- to tidy up my dining room, the whole house really, and share some pictures of it with you. I don't remember where I left off in showing the changes that I've made to the mess hall. I know you've likely seen it in its Raindrop blue stages here a few times. I also vaguely recall talking about how I wanted it to be cream colored by thanksgiving one year (didn't happen, it was all I could do to stuff a turkey that year)... and then I still picture these pictures of my boy on crutches sitting against cream walls. Anyway. The curtains are not new, but a patching of two fabrics that I created a few months ago, after deciding that no single fabric was doing the job for me. And I found myself hopping from the one turquoise fabric to another red fabric , deciding on neither, making something out of a whole other piece with some patchwork thingermagiggins across them only to take them down afte...

But sometimes the actual work is fun too. Like getting to let you in on this. Enjoy! xo, Anna (who sucks at blog breaks) Photo by my intern Anna Johnson. Roman is sucking his bottom lip to keep a swarsh of milk in. I am sucking my bottom lip in concentration. Back to that now.

My favorite part about reading the comments from my last post was the utter gentleness that each of you who had constructive criticism exercised in your words. I am here to tell you, that yes, I know. I know. Really. I do. That intro piece is not right . Which is partly why I loved it so much yet definitely have not embraced it as a finished work. It entertains me, and even makes Nicolas laugh after a few days distance. I am thankful that the snazzy interwebuals allow me to share the process in all its quirky glory. And really. An animated intro? Not my biggest goal in life. Silly to begin with perhaps, but sometimes we just can't help ourselves. I will look back on this like I do the photograph of myself at age 2 wearing nothing (really, nothing!) but a football helmut and a little undershirt that was very tight on my chubby belly.... a family favorite yes, but not quite right to share with the whole world. Ahem. But speaking of works in progress, off to my corner of the ...

I don't know why this is making me laugh so hard. Nicolas and I are working together on some needlework videos for the launch of the goods (just a few weeks hopefully), which I am over the moon, no, over the man in the moon excited about. Anyway, we are playing with an intro. I loved this yesterday. Today I woke up and watched it again and it just sounds so funny and drum-lesson-teenagery to me that I think its hysterical. Which might mean it needs some work. Or it might mean its just perfect. (Do you feel like someone is shooting at you?) Either way, he is a regular riot to work with. 3 cheers for 13 year old boys and working at home. (hip hip...) xoxoAM

But also making me sew, too. Of course. By hand. Juliana and I both shed a little tear with this story, only 5 minutes long or so. I think you'll agree how beautiful this portrayal is. What does this sort of thing do to you? As a descendant of this type of work, I feel . As a business woman, I contemplate . I would love to know what you feel or contemplate, even if it conflicts. Perhaps more than anything, as an artist, this makes me want to learn . have a nice long weekend, make something beautiful, and then show someone else how to do it too. xo, Anna Maria (Video compliments of my friends at Etsy )

As many times as I have stuck myself with a pin or a needle over the past few weeks I am surprised that I didn't pop given the amount of excitement that has had me blown up like a balloon. Introducing Anna Maria Needleworks! (awh, phew, I can feel the air escaping out my fingertips as I type). I've alluded to it, shared some of the behind the scenes on projects, and geesh you've been looking at evidence in my blog banner for a while now too. But its almost here (as in a couple of weeks). Now let me tell you what it is. My Needleworks collection right now consists of two boxed collections of Pearl Cotton (Anchor's size 8, which is pretty middle of the road in thickness) divided into two color palettes : Geranium Wall & Reflecting Pool. Each box contains 9 skeins that each contain about 85 yds. I also have two envelope collections of 6-strand embroidery floss the Seafaring palette and the radiant palette. Each envelope has 12 skeins that each have about 9 yar...

I love Friday mornings. Faced with thoughts about what I need to get done in just one day is so much more peaceful than the thoughts I have on Monday mornings about what I need to get done in five days. This morning I am enjoying this. In playing around with these beautiful Pearl Cottons , I realized that in all my experiences with embroidery and hand quilting, there was one venture I had yet to try. And that was drawing onto solid cloth free form (with a water soluble fabric pen), and then hand quilting the artwork. I most often do this sort of thing with embroidery, but I thought it would be interesting to quilt the art instead of embroider it. Using a range of colors kept my interest and felt a little bit more like my embroidery experiences than my hand quilting ones. When I hand quilt, I am almost always, yes definitely always in fact, following the lines of the piece work, rather than using any sort free form stitch style, or template stitch pattern. A pillow is a great pla...

On my walk And on my lap. I guess you could say this is my case for only visiting New York but living in Tennessee. have a lovely weekend, Anna (who is sorta kinda reluctantly managing to barely like her phone camera. some.)