End of Winter

By Ann | Published: February 18, 2012

It’s still wet and drizzly here in Portland, but there are signs that winter is at its end.

Tulips emerging.

Sprouting daphne buds.

And my favorites, peonies, with just their tips showing.

Another sign that winter is at its end? The ACC Baltimore Craft Show, it’s always on the last weekend of February.

What? You won’t be able to make it to Baltimore?

How about Paris? The amazing artist Linda Hutchins has a show at the ParisCONCRET gallery.

She sent this photo of her opening, wearing one of my jackets.
C’est magnifique!

Linda is showing one of her wall drawings, created by using silver thimbles [on all ten fingers!] to make drawn marks on the walls. Incroyable!

Or how about stopping off in Baltimore on your way to Paris? That would work.

One of my kimono silk ‘bold’ jackets. It will be there, in booth #104, along with many more jackets, coats, tops, pants, separates and me!
It’s always a great show.
See you there!

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ACC Baltimore Craft Show 2012!

By Ann | Published: February 12, 2012

I’m deep into preparations for the ACC Baltimore Show. Fabrics are flying, my sewing machine is humming, the iron is on and hot.

Some pieces are completely finished and ready to go.

A pink and black Bold jacket, pieced from some amazing kimono silks. Behind is a black and white Swing.

And some pieces are half way there.

If you use your imagination, you can see that these will be the edges of pants.

And some, … well, some are mere glimmers in my eyes.

Kimono silks ready to be cut and sewn into jackets.

Only one more week and I’ll be off! The show is the weekend of February 24, 25 and 26. If you’re close to Baltimore, be sure and stop by.

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To Do List

By Ann | Published: February 6, 2012

So many little things to take care of, I’m scrambling to check them off my list. So far:

Postcards for the ACC Baltimore Craft show. It’s coming up! The best thing? The latest postcard stamps are Hawaiian shirts! They look like little kimonos.

 

My Threads article uploaded onto my website.

So if your dog chewed your copy, or the local news stand has sold out, or the library’s issue has been lost, you can read it here.

 

 

Jackets for the ACC Baltimore Craft Show that are finished.

This one just got checked off the ‘to do’ list. I have quite a few in various stages of completion, but some are completely finished and ready to go!

A jacket pieced from tsukesage kimono silk.

 

Posted in jackets, piecing, shows | 2 Comments

Beaded Cuffs

By Ann | Published: February 1, 2012

I’ve always liked the bold bracelet look. You know, either a few big wrist cuffs like these worn by Coco Chanel.

Or piled on, like these beautiful Navaho silver and turquoise bracelets worn by that midcentury fashionista, Millicent Rogers.

It’s not a new concept. Where there’s jewelry and people who love it, you’ll find wrists covered with many bracelets.

An Indian miniature painting.

Either young and uber cool, like this iconic image of Nancy Cunard,

or glamorous women of a certain age, the amazing Iris Apfel, these women believe: if one is good, then more must be better.

So I’m working on that idea, the look of beaded bangles and bracelets on your wrists.

Beaded cuffs for a new top.

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Art Beat Host

By Ann | Published: January 22, 2012

Jule Gilfillan, of Oregon Art Beat fame, wore a couple of my tops for her hosting duties last December.

Art Beat is Oregon Public Broadcasting’s art program, with stories about artists, musicians, performers, fine crafts,… if it’s in the arts, they’ve probably covered it.

Jule added her own twist by wearing her own sheer top under mine. I love it! Proof that you can layer.

My top, appliqued with narrow strips of a glittery gold silk. And again, Jule personalized it with her long sleeve shirt.

I grabbed these images from the OPB website as the shows were running. A bit of a trick, trying to snap pictures as Jule was in motion and introducing stories!

I love to see my clothes in action, whether in the street, at a party, the office or,… on TV!

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Los Angeles in January

By Ann | Published: January 18, 2012

I went to Los Angeles to relax, see the sights and visit my friend.

Southern California, where, even in January, the sun is out and exotic flowers are blooming.

Where lemon trees grow along the sidewalks and in the back yard shrubbery.

Deborah said, pick some to take home. I asked, which ones are ripe?

The yellow ones.

Magnolia trees! In bloom! So beautiful.

My friend lives close to the beach, just a short walk.

Even in the sun it was too cool for sun bathing. The beaches were pretty empty.

There were lots of people along the boardwalk but only a few ventured out onto the sand.

We spent the weekend going to lots of art shows and galleries.

My favorite? The “California Design, 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way.” A wonderful show at the LA County Museum of Art.

So many different examples of  mid century design.

Fabrics, like this cool one by Alvin Lustig called “Incantation”. [1947]

Or the amazing garden gates designed by Claire Falkenstein for Peggy Guggenheim’s home/museum in Venice. This is the model.

…Venice, yes,….. so many reasons to go to Venice.

And this cool 1968 wooden chest by Mabel and Milon Hutchinson.

Clothes too! I love this 1942 skirt and jacket by Louella Ballerino.

I’d like to thank California, which helped to bring about our new, casual and relaxed lifestyle. Pants for women! Swimsuits you can keep on, just add a skirt and you’re good to go. Mix and match separates! Easy clothes for an easy life.

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Threads Magazine #159

By Ann | Published: January 7, 2012

Do you know the very best sewing related magazine that’s out there? It’s Threads and in the current issue, #159, is an article about my work. And how pretty it is! Stephani Miller, my awesome editor, and the Threads art department, all did their very best for me.

There’s a lot of technical information so you can see, step by step, my process. But what I’m most interested in and I think that the layout and pictures conveyed so well, is the importance of inspiration. The rules are fluid. Vision first, technique is just the way to get you there.

I don’t have a link to the article, but as soon as possible, I promise to have a read-able copy on my website.

Until then, issue number 159 is out and available at your favorite news stand. Check it out!

Again, thank you Stephani Miller and the whole Threads magazine staff!

Posted in applique, misc, piecing | 7 Comments

Happy New Year 2012!

By Ann | Published: December 25, 2011

Christmas came early to my house! Junko stopped by a week ago and brought me an enormous pile of beautiful kimonos. Look at them all! [sorry about the fuzzy picture, instead of paying attention to focusing, I was thinking about all those amazing silks,...]

Junko and her wonderful friends, Eimi and Mari, gave me these gorgeous kimonos. Thank you Eimi, Mari and Junko! They have come to a good home. I’ll recycle and reuse them all. So beautiful!!!

Have a Happy, Fantastic, Inspired, Peaceful and Delightful 2012!

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Last Look

By Ann | Published: December 18, 2011

Can you believe it? In two weeks we’ll be at the end of the year!

One last look at some of my jackets that made their way out into the world in 2011:

A navy “Rugby”, my tribute to those bold stripes found on some T-shirts. WIth beads added in for pizazz.

“Charcoal Jet”, a reverse of my white with red “Jet” jacket.

A sheer kimono silk with a traditional design showing the beautiful arching lines of grass weighted down with dew drops. I added more, all those little green squares are my appliques.

I started this one in June during Portland’s gorgeous rose season. Those swirling spirals were inspired by the petals of a rose in full bloom.

The little square beads in the center of each pieced square look like Sen Sen, the ‘throat ease and breathe perfume’ candy.

A gradated stripe jacket sewn from various silks, all pieced with a gorgeous black kimono silk. [And more grass, see them woven into the fabric?]

“Code”, because all those dots and squares looked like some sort of encrypted message. But no message here, other than a pattern of red on black.

So onto 2012! New jackets, dresses, tops, pants, coats and any other ideas I come up with. I have a enormous selection of beautiful kimono silks to choose from. I can’t wait to get going!

Posted in applique, beading, jackets, kimono silk, piecing | 2 Comments

Holiday Show ’11, a Rousing Success

By Ann | Published: December 12, 2011

Holiday Show 2011! What a great time we all had! It was so much fun, old friends and new, coming together to toast the holiday season.

All my clothes were out and on view. Also, Elisabeth’s amazing shibori pieces, Kathryn and Betsy’s fantastic jewelry and Carol’s so very cool leather bags.

At one point, I turned around and thought, that hat looks familiar,….

It was, I had made it a few years back. I do believe that it has gone to a good home. She looks beautiful, don’t you agree?

Kathryn, she always looks fabulous. Here, wearing a kimono silk swing.

Day 1 she wore it with a little pencil skirt, leggings and boots. She looked fabulous.

Day 2, she proves it can work with jeans. Perfect!

Linda and Emily take a minute to pose for me while modeling “Bold” a kimono silk jacket and my dress “Leaf”. They look fantastic!

Junko! Always looking so amazing in one of her gorgeous kimonos.

You must visit Junko’s blog called Kimono Love. She posts stories about her adventures here in Portland, wowing us natives with her gorgeous kimonos. If your Japanese is a little rusty [or like me, non-existent], then just look at the pictures.

Her blog is funny, beautiful and uber cool, just like Junko!

And a cute dog! Of course! What is a show without a cute dog! This is Manny, Dan and Joan’s sweetie. Way too adorable.

We had a blast! So much fun. So many wonderful friends. People trying on my clothes and looking so beautiful. There is nothing like it!

Thank you to everyone who came.

I’m already looking forward to next year! See you then.

Posted in misc, shows | 2 Comments