Saturday Wash

We have risen from trash talk to laundry. It's a small yet meaningful move, and I promise there's a point to it this time.

Summer has if nothing else, so far, been a refresher course on the mere maintaining of life. Lots and lots of lives. Little dripping wet from the pool, hungry, loud, fighting, bored, rambunctious lives. Did I say lots of them? The lack of a rigid school-schedule+homework does leave the days slightly more relaxed, but my brain is more crowded as I try to keep up with studio work and the rhythmic chaos of it all. I find myself daydreaming of doing nothing but taking care of the garden, and doing wash by hand, and sewing clothes for all, and home making bread and other things that feel all but impossible currently.

So while on the hunt for something entirely different that I never found at the flea market this morning , I instead came across a way to make one little daydream come true. Lovely vintage embroidered pillowcases which will become beach dresses for the little two. (We leave next week!) I was digging to find pairs for their beds, but all the single cases were my favorite. And way cheaper. Just 1 or 2$ for most of them. The cotton is sooooo soft, and slightly sheer with wear, hence the beach dress variety plans and not the Sunday-go-to-meeting variety. Though you could line them I suppose, but perhaps then they wouldn't be cool enough for the heat.

I take so much pleasure in making something from nearly nothing and also have a bit gratitude for whoever spent the time on these handmade lovelies, years ago. Thank you, whoever you are!

I'll get them done, and share the steps with you. Hope you're enjoying the weekend! xo,AM

TrashTalk

We thought it was the fourth weekend, which is flea market weekend, only to find a gated up fairgrounds then check our cell phone calenders and finally noticed it was only the third weekend of the month. So we settled on the Tennessee Antiques Mall. You know that I have a weakness for folky-ish-things. How adorable is this little trash can? It's older than me. (I would go on to say how that's really old, but ya know, no that old.) Anyway, we have what you could call a waste management situation in this house. All the little bubs love to draw. And also to change their minds about what they should draw, just a few strokes in. I could wallpaper the Louvre in their indecision. This causes said waste management situation. I have worked on the theory with them, that no drawing is ever beyond saving, and that lots of erased lines are cool and provide "texture". Which probably explains the recent giant pile of erase-y pebbles I cleaned off the kitchen counter. Can I win? I can't win.



Back to the prettiness of this little trashcan. Ack! On the inside too! I'm pretty sure the metal is screen printed, but looks almost watercolor-ish when investigated up close. Did anyone have one like this, say, 40 years ago? And if so, did you feel like leaving it empty too? I bet a set of crayolas that it'll stay mostly empty but will be kept company by several half drawn ducks, over-erased horses, and some half graphite/half markered Jedis on the floor nearby.

Yes, I did just blog a trash can.

And look at you, you read it. Awe, I love you. xoAnna

Migration

These little birdies found their way onto Juliana's bed. If any room is a drawing room in this house, it is her's. In the most literal way. (She has forgone a bulletin board of any sort and just tacked her random renderings right into almost every inch of one 14ft. wall.)

I meant to mention the finished size of this quilt in my post the first time and never did. If you make the quilt top, add a roughly 2.5" sashing all around plus binding as the quilt is shown, you'll end up at about 69 x 84". Which covers a double matress pretty well, though, not completely over the L & R sides. Would def. reach the box spring on a twin bed. I have also gotten lots of emails requesting a fabric kit for the quilt pattern. I think that's a fab-y idea! So we're working on it. In fact I thought it would be fun to also kit up an Eccentric version too. The sample one shown is more of a Nostalgic mix with just a dash of the hotter red. Hope to have it in the shop next week. The kits will be made as they're ordered, so they'll take a bit longer than the other usually swift to take flight items.

Hey! It is officially summer today, no? Tomorrow?

Sending you sunshine, xoxo, Anna

When a mother of five goes on a business trip

I feel a refreshing sense of singularity as I pack for one.
One bag to check, and glorious independence - a carry on item.
A quiet contemplative flight. Browsing in the layover airport bookstore for "the Forger's Spell" or "The Rescue Artist". One about a famous art forgery the other about recovering Munch's "The Scream". Didn't have either so I resorted to scribbling on the second leg of the journey.
The reality of what I am about to take part in makes itself known as I hear my name called over the airport wide announcement system while I'm in the bathroom stall.
It tells me and perhaps a thousand others that my Driver is at the information desk by baggage claim. And it pronounces my name right.
After I settle into the black leather and some conversation, he says "God Bless You" when I tell him I have 5 kids. Then he tells me about driving Prince Albert of Monaco and I'm fascinated by all of it. Not 5-kid like at all.
He personally introduces me to the executive hotel staff, and security and wishes me well.
The room is modern, bright, well designed. And empty. Which for now feels fine.
About an hour in something twinges. I need to tie someone's shoe.
The cell phone keeps me busy with plans. Then with changes in plans. Then with talks to the kids. A talk to mom. A talk to my sister. (Of course to Jeff.) Then with plans again.
Then dinner out by the River Walk in the dry, dry blowing heat. I felt like I would eventually find the world's largest hairdryer that was blowing that unforgiving wind. Never did. I did think about the kids splashing in the pool the next morning at the swim meet I would be missing.
Dinner included some pals with SVP. And Martha's security guard who joked that I can't mention his name. Actually the former NYC cop wasn't kidding at all, but we had some fun conversation about his four children and one grandchild, about my 5 and we shared a hi-five when we uncovered that we were both teenage parents. Nice guy.
My bed was waaaay too big and the room was way too empty when I got back. I think it grew while I was at dinner. I also think the quiet got even more silent.
I sunk into sleep quickly without even thinking about the next day. Woke up at 5 am when I thought I heard one of the kids. Maybe I did. But fell back asleep.
Wakeup call. Without a word I brewed coffee that should have been made by Jeff.
I dressed without stopping to talk to anyone or spread butter on a blueberry bagel or apologize for toasting a plain bagel that was suppose to stay untoasted.
I got dressed and contemplated shooting a picture with the belt, one without the belt, emailing them to Juliana for a final decision. I decided against the email and the belt.
The big event went exactly as it should have. Martha was engaging and insightful and it was clear that she truly enjoyed the conversation and I sat in that chair conducting it feeling very out-of-body at the fact that I never got nervous at all. I thought about home a lot. I thought about my mom. She talked about her mom. I thought about mine. I love my mom.
A late afternoon whiskey-sour and spanish ham and cheese croquets at the hotel with my friends from SVP, I was already at home in my mind. After, I packed up in no time. Didn't have to check under the bed for socks or toys, though I took a final look anyway.
The delay in my flight granted enough time to think hard about the gifts for the kids. Its a business trip ritual. I don't think I can ever top the scorpion suckers for the boys up there.
My eyes opened to a golden headed little thumbsucker standing by my bed this morning. After a warm hoist up next to me we both fell back asleep. She got a pony princess tshirt. The other girls got tshirts too. Jeff got some bizarre Mexican goat milk caramel candy that Juliana sampled and okayed the minute she saw it.
I got a ticket home. And what a gift.
xoA

The Stars at Night

The bag is big, the necklace is bright and I'm deep in the heart of Texas. I blog, dear readers, from a hotel room in San Antonio, where I've been lassoed into doing a fun little ditty tomorrow. SVP asked me to join Martha during her appearance here at the SVP convention. Why? Hmmm. Dunno. But here's what I get to do. Sit on stage with her in a cozy setting and interview her one on one about her personal sewing history for about an hour in front of 1500 sewing machine dealers. Sounds fun enough right? Should I have said yes? Dunno that either, but you can bet I'll be reporting back asap.



As I was dashing off to the airport this morning the bag and the necklace where the last things waiting on my bedroom hooks for me. Juliana helped me pick out the necklace the other day on an all-evening shopping excursion. Isn't the detail so dainty and cool all at once? I love it. Speaking of DETAIL. I was actually told by my driver from the airport that I have security detail while here.....?..... Like I said, I'll report back. Hope it doesn't have anything to do with my recent art stealth confessions.

Oh. And the bag, just a smidgen of a glimpse of a prototype of pattern due out this fall.

Oh. Oh. And I'm listening to Edith, and painting my toenails plugged-in-plum right now.

Back soon!! xoxoxo, Anna

Art and Confessions

I've had a random string of things I've been wanting to share with you, just for kicks. And here they are in no particular order along with my personal confessions regarding each.

::1:: I have a new favorite artist (as shown in these three images) that keeps me on the edge of my seat waiting for the latest.
confession: the artist happens to live at the other end of the house.

::2:: I recently watched the best documentary ever on Marc Jacobs with aforementioned artist and was entirely too captivated by it.
confession: I was immensely interested in watching him stare at an inspiration board and think in silence. It was my favorite part.



::3:: The kids have stumbled across what could be the most fun game ever on the computer called LineRider. And there's even a cache of videos that people have produced using the game. This counts as art because you draw a path for the rider guy to ride or crash on. Way too fun.
confession: While looking up the link for the game I was sidetracked for at least 45minutes playing the stupid thing.



::4:: Yesterday, armed robbers in Brazil stole a few Picasso engravings along with a few other pieces from the Museum of Art in San Paolo.
confession: I always am captivated with the notion of stealing art....its weird, and I know its really really wrong, but the idea that someone wants famous art badly enough to steal it, and be willing to hide it and appreciate it secretly, is almost well....I dunno...cool? You'll vouch for me if I get questioned right?

Have a great weekend! xoox, Anna

Allie meet Everyone, Everyone meet Allie

There is a new face in the studio and the kids never want to see me again. Allie this. Allie that. And she's not even here to babysit. Would someone please tell the kids that she is not here to babysit!? She is here to make coffee. Erhh wait. She is here to keep me company and make me giggle and keep me from crying while setting up international shipments.



Oh no, wait...she's here to take care of all the shop orders, cut and fold stacks, answer the phone, answer some customer service emails and run errands. Oh and make coffee. Did I say that already?



Or maybe she's here to make the studio a sunnier place as that seems to have happened ever since she arrived. Wow. How does she do it all? And cuteness wasn't even a requirement yet she insists on being completely overqualified for the job in that department.

Everyone say "hello" to Allie.

xoxo, boss anna

From your Room Mom

Well I will say this. Summer with 5 children home is a bit like walking through 18 inches of molasses. Really slow, kinda sticky but sweet, nonetheless. Keep in mind this is only how I imagine walking in molasses to be and I do not speak from first-hand experience, yet I feel almost certain by the end of this summer, that could change.

Anyhoo. FINALLY something for you big buncha sweeties!! Here is your free downloadable quilt pattern designed for the Drawing Room collection. (Though, as of yet there are no Drawing Room police who would prevent you from performing these quilting tricks with other fabrics!) So enjoy please and share with me when you make one, no matter which fabrics you make it with! Look over there ------>>> in the sidebar to click and download. And please do tell me if you find mistakes! I have become so dependant on an editor, who knows what will happen without one!

If you haven't dropped in already, the Drawing Room flickr group is off to a lovely start and I would love to have some more Roomies join up so we can see what the heck you've been doing with yourselves. Oh and what you've been doing with the fabrics too, of course. It must be something, because we sure have shipped enough of it lately!!

Oh and speaking of shipping, I have someone to introduce you to...tomorrow perhaps.

N'kay, more later, I gotta go watch my sweetie race around a track tonight, which should not be a problem at all. xo,Anna

Growing, growing, but not gone

A few days ago I left the household to Juliana's charge so I could run some errands. Upon my return, as usual in the midst of studio work, I headed straight back to the studio with only a hello to any child who was in my path. A bit later I was looking for Juliana to ask her something. Shout. No answer. Shout again louder. Still no answer.



I went to her room at the other end of the house, only to find it empty. Perplexed, I dialed her cell phone which is never farther than one layer of denim from her. No answer. Weird! She wouldn't have left the house when babysitting certainly...maybe heard me come in then ran to the neighbors' without asking....not unheard of, but unusual. I used my cell phone to call the cordless house phone, thinking it must be near her. Then I noticed her laptop was still in her room. So she wasn't off downloading some music or watching runway reviews.



Once I had no help from the rest of the clan in finding her, I actually started to worry. Where on earth would she be if not reached by some means of texting, dialing, emailing or indoor shouting?



I decided to walk over next door to see if they'd seen her. I gave a faint shout outside as I went knowing full well the chances of her frolicking around outside were slim to none. But then I heard "over here!" way in the back of the property. I can't remember the last time I reached Juliana the 16-year-old 28-year-old by hollering her name in the yard. Wow. It was a relief on so many levels. I found her making a wreath from wild and garden flowers. Just because.



Naturally once I decided the occasion was more than photo-worthy, the little two found us. And the three shared crowning rituals. We played right through the radiant afternoon becoming a glowing evening and I have a vault of pictures I'll cherish forever. I was thankful. Oh how they grow.

Wishing you endless summer days of hollering your children home.
xo, AM