This very moment::

:: my sweet boy is slumbering under the "sixth time's the charm" quilt that I made for him (and the book) a few months before we ever saw his sweet new face. I am glad. And you might have guessed this already, but I'm going to tell you why I'm glad.

I have found myself somewhere between writing a book and not writing a book. And even though the writingabook part finished up a while ago I am just now settling in to the relief of notwritingabook. I take a lot of joy in designing and putting together ideas in a book format, but I am feeling very glad right now that I am at a place where I can just await the fruits of my labor and enjoy the items that I made during the whole process of it.

When I was very pregnant, I spent hours piecing this quilt and hours writing the instructions and then we photographed a 3-week-old Roman on the quilt between the very frequent newborn nursings. And that was way back when nursing still hurt so badly that my eyes would well up with tears and I'd bite my bottom lip to get through the first few minutes and getting him to sleep when I needed him to sleep was only a dream. And now? Beautiful nursing and sweet dreams. It took me until a few days ago to realize....oh I can use this quilt now. An extra layer of love over the knitted blanket from my mom. I don't know why I've had this quilt folded neatly and tucked into place with so many other studio samples and hadn't put it to use yet. I do so much sewing for work, its like I forget to take pleasure in my own handmades and then I suddenly snap-to and give myself the gift of all those hours of trial and toil. Thank you me. That was so thoughtful of me. I shouldn't have. This must have taken me hours. I will treasure this forever. I'm welcome.

I am glad. xoAM

Excuses, excuses

I love an excuse to buy fresh flowers.... not that I need one.



An excuse to buy a few bowls of treats to brighten conversation and sweeten the day.... lovely.



And tidying up the studio so that even my bolts are on their best behavior? This is a rare and wonderful occasion.



I even plumped up my stock of straight pins that seem to disappear like socks in the laundry.

Why such ado?

Ms. Alabama herself came to spend the day with me. We sewed. We talked. We laughed. We ate. And we also took pictures. More about our very wonderful time together on March 3rd as I share more about her fascinating design process and beautiful new book.

hooray. AM

Taken by Juliana

Juliana completed the last of her art school applications today. In addition to sending in her portfolio, essays and applications, each school has additional projects required. For Parsons, the challenge was to find one thing in your environment that you've overlooked or taken for granted and share it from three perspectives, then write about each. When she read this project aloud to me, I insisted she takes me for granted more than anything in her environment. But I was kidding. But she got that look in her eye. But I wasn't wearing any make-up. But she always waits till the last minute and didn't have time to think of anything else. But I was really tired and hadn't even brushed my teeth yet that day or washed my face or brushed my hair. But I got her a new camera for her 18th bday and she was feeling really snappy. But. But. Okayuhh.



These are just the photos that she used as a basis for her drawings that I am too nervous to share here until after she gets accepted everywhere. But her writing about the images, was, well surprising. She really does love me. She called me things like her fellow artist and friend. She isn't suppose to do that at 18 is she? Oh that stinker, tugging at my heart as she prepares the very process of leaving me. How could she?!



She also wrote about family resemblance, my hair always being in this "work" mode, how much she can learn from me and other things that she will explain like, well, "I had to write something" if you ask her about it. But then she snickers and looks away.

And then my heart breaks a little more.
Only because its swollen with so much love and pride to an indescribably gigantic size that it could explode.
Have a good weekend. Look around you and don't take anything for granted.
xoxo, From your friendly guilt-trip inducing mother

Little Luxuries

Sometimes what I think is the most obvious or simple thing to do with a new fabric ends up being my favorite project. These little receiving blankets are a perfect example of that sweet simplicity and a lovely way to let the fine little prints of Little Folks and Folksy Flannels shine alongside each other. And a thoughtful baby gift in not too much time.



The combination of supple cotton voile on one side and the cozy cotton flannel on the other side is the absolute prefect weight for a receiving blanket. Not to mention these wrap, tuck & swaddle so beautifully without any of the starchiness of a standard quilting cotton (which is better for heavier stroller blankets & quilts). Making nice smooth curves is easy, just use the curve of a salad plate or some such traceable item to trim the corners from your rectangles. The edging is bias cut from the solid voile collection which is sewn on after the two blanket layers are basted around the edges with wrong sides together.



And just because I had a hunch that some of you would ask, Allie has put together some fun little Project Packs of fabric in the shop for making these little jewels! (Everyone together: Thanks Allie!)



I can't believe I'm already nostalgic for Roman's swaddling days. I can usually manage to steal a few extra moments of him wrapped and cuddled in a towel after bath time, but no more bundling for this boy. Sigh. xoxo, Anna

AND MUSHROOMS! GAHHH!!

How could I forget the mushrooms?! Please do add one cup of sliced white button mushrooms to the 2nd section of yesterday's recipe. You will be glad you did. I'll go fix the post here in a sec to add it. Mmm. Just as yummy today warmed up for lunch as it was last night.

This morning I was figuring with the kids how old they'll be once Roman starts school. Which led to further discussion about how long they'll go to school, college etc. I remember that time frame sounding endless when I was little. Joseph then asked if you go to college for 12 years too once you're done with the rest of school.

I chuckled and said- well most people don't and that- I just went to college for four years to learn how to be a designer.

Eleni said- four years!? Were you just drawing that whole time?

I told her -yup pretty much.

Then she seemed to have a look of realization on her little bubbly face and said- oooohhh! you kept drawing and erasing and drawing and erasing and then when you learned to draw without erasing, were you done with school?

I just said- yes. I hadn't had my coffee yet and it was time to get them to the bus stop.

Back to my drawing board. xoAnna

Art & Soup

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 quite kitchen time for me yet, still in the studio! But the recipe and cooking is pretty simple so I'm sure you'll get it right without visual cues. I believe in you and your soup making abilities. When I start mine later today I'll be making it without chicken because we've already begun Lent. I'll point out the meatless variations for you as the recipe goes. Here we go:

Ingredients:
*olive oil to coat pan bottom
*1 medium yellow onion chopped
*1 yellow bell pepper chopped
*1 whole bulb of garlic chopped
*1.5-2 lbs chopped skinless chicken breast
(omit for vegetarian or substitute with clams, shrimp)
*8-10 small red potatoes cut in quarters
-------------------------------------------------
*1 32-oz box of Imagine Creamy Tomato Soup
*1 32-oz box of chicken broth
(substitute with vegetable broth for vegetarian)
*1/2 cup white wine (I know its Lent but the alcohol cooks out....sooo....ahem)
*2 cups frozen yellow corn
*1 cup sliced fresh white button mushrooms
-------------------------------------------------
All spices are to taste, but at least 1 tsp of each:
*kosher salt
*black pepper
*red pepper flakes
*cumin
-------------------------------------------------
*1/2 cup cream cheese
*1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese

Directions:
*Combine all ingredients in first section and cook in a dutch oven over medium-low heat until the chicken is just cooked through or if you are making the vegetarian version until the potatoes get a little tender.
*Add all ingredients from the second section and let the soup stew for a while-about an hour or so, adding the spices (third section) and tasting till yer happy.
*Once you're about to serve the soup add in the cheeses, whisking to smooth if necessary. I also made a small amount of flour rue to thicken just a bit as well. It makes the soup very velvety and delicious!

I hope I'm not forgetting something- this is the first time I've ever written it down-- but I did remember the wine and cheese so it has to be good.

Have yummy fun~ xo,Anna

Character Building

Today was book character day for the elementary among us. Isabela spent about a whole one zillionth of a second deciding who to be. The love of Laura started a ways back but hasn't gone anywhere yet (we even bought some seasons of the tv series on dvd for her at Christmas which she lurves). We knew we needed a prarie-ish style dress of a small scale print and an apron. Since we had about 30 minutes before bed to pull three kid characters together last night, we borrowed this flannel nightie that my mom made for Juliana (mom, pipe up in the comments if you remember the pattern). Its a little big but fit the bill perfectly.



Then I literally took about 10 seconds to cut a width of muslin into an apron shape, no sewing, hemming, nothin' and tied it around her. She looked in the mirror and had the kind of smile that makes her top cheek dimple join the other lower dimples and all was right with the world.

Last year she was the Giving Tree, and we took a lot of time to make a felt-leafed dress, shirt, headband, the works. Upswing: Eleni wanted to be Giving Tree this year. Perfect. Downswing: all we could find from last year's costume was the headband. But I am about to tell you reason #731,683,002 that I love Eleni... she was so excited to get to use my studio stapler that she was more than happy just stapling green poster board leaves to a green shirt for about 10 minutes, wearing brown pants (the trunk, of course) and calling it a tree. Whew. Okay who's next. Right. Joseph. Joseph always wants to be some piece of machinery but he settled on Huck Finn since he is a friend of mischief and its actually a book he's read. And everyone has a plain shirt, jeans to be rolled up, and the ability to make a hobo napsack. Done. I also noticed him grab the straw hat off of our melting snowman on his rush to the bus this morning. My kind of kid.

So. Flannel! I am in love with many gorgeous flannel creations and tutorials that I have been pointed to online and elsewhere and finally set up Folksy Flannel Flickr group for you! I almost called it the Finally Flannels Flickr group, but I am trying to think positively. So join the fun.

I am headed to the couch with my little "Laura" to watch some Little House while we wait for pizza and Pa to come home. (How did Ma survive without the pizza man!? I'd say being married to Pa made up for the lack of modern conveniences. Let's save that for another post.)

Have a great weekend! xo,Anna

The amusement is not mutual

Would you get any work done with these two at your feet? You can hear our printer running in the background as well as Lemon the canary singing his morning song. These two are a constant comedy routine, with Roman playing the lead role as the faithful pet and Leo playing the supporting role as the impatient unappreciative pet owner.

Right after our 3 kid birthdays wrapped up we were hit with a slew of snowdays here which sent me right back into being, well, snowed over. Only more fun and wintery like than the other kind of snowed over. We were quite literally stuck here and I didn't even get in a car for about 5 days. This made me a little crazy and hugely happy. And productive.

During our stuckinthesnow days I made:

: spinach chicken lasagna

: popovers

: two pairs of little girl leggings

: two little girl shirts

: prolly about 20 cups of cocoa

: one little japanese print skirt

: creamy chicken tomato chowder

: butterscotch cookies

: a snowman and a half

: homemade popcorn by the giant stockpot full. twice.

: a snow angel (which was much deeper than Eleni's snow angel so I think I stopped all the cooking somewhere around there)

I also made a video of Roman sledding in a salad bowl that I am too scared to show here for fear of having my children taken into custody. But if you think the baby giggling at the dog is funny...

Missed you guys

xo,Anna