Ann Williamson

Handmade Designer Women's Apparel

Holidays, Scarves, Coats and Jackets.

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Here we go! First up, the holidays. They are on their way. And soon!

If you don’t believe me, how about this? It’s the American Craft magazine’s holiday issue. And right there are my scarves. It’s a great way to send out a reminder that I am still around. And my work. And my scarves!

Here in my studio, my table is over flowing with projects. Some are ready to start, some in process and some ready to be sewn up and finished.

Lots going on because, my big news, I’ll be participating in two in-person shows in 2022. One of my favorites, in February, the ACC Baltimore show.

And the second, a great honor, the spring time Smithsonian Show in April. After this long year and a half, [or was it more? 2 years? 5? a lifetime?] I am beyond happy that I have shows coming up. Can’t wait.

So, two big shows needing new work. A good thing!

Making new work, it’s always the same, the first step, I have to figure out what I want to do. Sometimes it’s quick and easy. Other times, a bit slower. For the kimono silk in the photo below, I wanted to make a jacket that highlighted the gorgeous pattern. I spent some time working out how to make that happen. I laid out beads and cut fabric circles, fabric squares, big beads and little beads. It went like this, the uppity design nerd in my head was shouting, “NO! Not good. Nope. Not quite. Do not do that! I mean really. Come on. Try again. A little better. This might work. OK,… I think …. I’ll say yes..” It’s always good when I can sooth Madam Design Nerd. She is so fussy…..

Below, a photo of my final design, everything laid out, beads and appliqué squares, sitting in place. No bumping! Or everything would shift and roll away. I took this photo to help me remember the final plan.

Below, another beading project, this one a bit further along. The light colored dots are beads.

It’s 1/2 half the jacket’s back. Done! Next, other back half, front, sleeves and collar.

Meanwhile, as we move towards the holidays, I’ll continue to add to my web-shop with new pieces going up this week. A link to my web-shop.

I am sending all my happy Thanksgiving wishes to you! And so many grateful thanks for taking the time to read my blog!

Applique and Beaded Jacket

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Finished! A jacket I started at the beginning of the year. Many hours of hand stitching skinny bias strips. Followed by more hours sewing little glass beads.

A detail of the front.

I was working on this one, basting the bias strips in place, last February when we had our ice storm and power outage. I was bundled in wool, sweaters, parkas, knit cap and fingerless gloves with a blanket over my knees as I basted the strips in place. See the magnetic flashlight attached to my light? As the sun went down, I could still see enough to continue sewing.

A thank you to Lee who, after my post, recommended a good, inexpensive head lamp. Next time I’ll be even more prepared. [argh,…. please,…. no next time!]

All surfaces covered with appliqués and beads. Because, if you’re going to do it and it’s a pandemic and you have all the time in the world, why not?

I always have a piece of hand work at the ready for netflix and amazon movies and documentaries, PBS mystery series, YouTube videos about renovating French chateaus, you name it, I’m there, needle in hand.

The back.

At first, I think, ‘this will never get done!’ But, as days, then weeks, then months go by, eventually, it happens. The last stitch and the last bead is sewn in place.

And it’s on to the next project!

Travel, Sew, Travel, Sew

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Instead of a trip to Italy or Japan, how about a trip around Oregon? One thing covid has taught us, we don’t always have to go far for adventure. During the last month or so, I was able to go back to some of my favorite places in my home state.

First stop, a visit to Mt Hood and a sweet little cabin by a roaring river.

Drive down a bumpy dirt road. Slowly, five miles per hour.

Past a rustic fence made with sticks, so cool.

And a yellow ‘Dirt Bike Xing’ warning sign.

At the end of the road, up stone stairs, to a beautiful old cabin. You can just see the roof and chimney. Gorgeous!

I was there for a whole week, plenty of time for hikes through the dense forest and past gorgeous rivers.

And trees so thick with moss, they looked as though they had been covered with fuzzy green pom-poms.

After seven days of long breakfasts, then relaxing, followed by lunch, maybe a nap, a slow walk through the woods and ending with a leisurely dinner, it was time to move on.

I packed up and headed to one of my favorite places, Astoria, not too far from where Lewis and Clark wintered after their long trek across the continent.

Astoria is a sweet little town right on the Columbia River, just before it empties into the Pacific.

The picture above was taken at the top of the Astoria Column. 164 steps up a spiral staircase to the observation deck and this amazing view.

Confession, these photos were taken during another visit. The day I was there it was raining sideways so not too good for photos. Still it was amazing! And I am happy I went up, even though I was soaked to the bone after I came down.

Later, when back down in town, a picture taken next to the Astoria-Megler Bridge. On the other side of the river, four miles away, you can see the state of Washington.

After my week on Mt Hood and four days in Astoria, I headed back home and my studio where I finished some jackets for a lovely mother of the groom.

Below, a gorgeous silvery tsumugi kimono silk over a sweet pink top with cherry blossoms. Pink and silver, I love that combination.

And another jacket, this one sewn from a fantastic blue silk jacquard, woven with traditional Japanese flower and leaf designs. Under, you can see the blue and navy top printed with villages, hills and forests.

A closeup shot to show off the beautiful fabrics.

And a hitoe, my unlined jacket/ blouse, this time in a black and white kimono silk with a design of fans. I used an abstracted pink and black landscape silk inside the collar.

And then! I had one more trip.

I turned around and headed to Oregon’s beautiful coastline for a couple of days in lovely Cannon Beach.

The place I stayed had this view! Amazing! It was cloudy and stormy, my favorite weather at the coast.

The view in the other direction.

This place was beyond spectacular.

Whew! Such a wonderful series of trips.

Back home in my studio, I was fresh and ready to work on new projects.

Such as cutting out new jackets.

And designing new pieces.

Sometimes I start with a sketch or a specific idea, other times I lay out fabrics and see where they take me. I’m thinking a full skirt and jacket appliquéd with little red bits.

And especially during covid times, when my online shop is so very important, I took some time to tidy it up. I removed sold pieces, added new, especially new scarves, and I rearranged and adjusted so that each piece would highlight the one next to it. It’s fun, not quite like arranging my work in a booth at a show, but the same idea.

If you haven’t been to my shop for a while, please check it out here.

We also added both of my little 30 second videos to my website. If you haven’t seen them, check them out at my website under ‘Videos.’