Ann Williamson

Handmade Designer Women's Apparel

Craft Council’s On-line Atlanta/SE Show

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Starting Monday, September 20th, the Craft Council’s on-line Atlanta/SE show will be live and open for members. If you’re not a member, please consider becoming one. It’s a great way to help support American craft.

On the next day, Tuesday, September 21, the show will open to all.

My new work will be there, new coats, jackets and scarves. All online. Shop in your jammies! The link to my shop here.

Below, my newest pieced coat on a beautiful model. I’ve paired it with my meisen striped skirt. The coat, called ‘All the Irregulars,’ [because, the irregular navy and white pieces of silk] will in the show. The skirt is now up in my web-shop.

A cape with appliqués will also be in the show. Worn loose and soft or pulled tight over and around your shoulders. Capes are the best! Perfect for all!

A brand new ‘Hitoe’ in an amazing black and white shibori. Each one of those little dots are tie-dyed.

Really!

Paired with a fabric with abstracted leaves for the collar and black sleeves with a woven tree design.

I’ve been busy piecing new scarves too. Like this one with cranes in beautiful forest-y greens.

The great thing about scarves, one size really and truly does fit all.

A bold red and black with oh so cool traditional Japanese designs.

The silks I use in my scarves are either from old kimonos that don’t have enough usable fabric for a whole jacket, but have spectacular bits that I can use in my scarves or they are leftover scraps from other projects. ‘Mottainai,’ waste nothing. And with these gorgeous fabrics, I absolutely will not.

We’re limited to 15 pieces, so as things sell I’ll add in new. Be sure and come back to see what’s new.

A link to my shop here. Open this Monday, September 20 through Sunday the 26th.

Photo Shoot in the Park

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As a participating artist for the upcoming American Craft Council’s online show, I received a request for a 30 second video about my work.

Video! Yes! I’d love to make a video.

So I gathered my clothes and accessories, a beautiful model, who was able and willing to come and pose for me, my photographer, iphone in hand, and we all headed out for an afternoon at our local park.

What I had not considered is that a public park is just that, public. People use it. And our chosen location, a long flight of concrete stairs, attracted runners. They’d jog up the stairs, sometimes pace and catch their breath at the top, then turn around and come back down. Minutes later they were back again, huffing and puffing all the way to the top, then back down. Over and over again.

I’m sure they were all thinking, “Why go to the gym and stay in one spot on a boring stair-master when you can go outdoors to a park, breathe fresh air and do the real thing?”

Why indeed?

We would wait patiently until they passed. We were usually successful, but did catch a few as they jogged past.

I’ll admit, I did utter a few, “oooh boy….” as we paused between shots….

The things you do not think about when planning a shoot. This is one I’ll pay attention to next time; stay away from a popular spot.

Still, over all we did very well. We had lots of good still and video shots. More than enough for a 30 second video.

We’re working on that video and one other and will have them up for viewing for the week of the show, September 20 – 26.

Stay tuned.

Season Change

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Although we still have a while to go before we are on the other side of summer, it feels like we are coming to the end. Cooler air, plants at the end of their cycle and shorter days, fall is on its way.

I walk through my neighborhood and look around and I see many signs that summer is almost over. I am relieved and not one bit sorry. We had a crazy, nasty summer this year. It was hot, hot, hot. The dried up and burned plants and lawns are evidence of the 116 degree day we had in June and the record breaking heat waves in July and early August.

The promise of fall is so very, very welcome.

Brown lawns.

Scorched leaves.

The western sides of some trees, especially evergreen trees, burned brown from the sun beating down on them.

But not everything died. Dandelions, maybe not beloved, but still pretty, are going strong.

Growing right next to dried patches, others flourish.

Fruit trees planted in parking strips are bearing fruit as though nothing catastrophic has happened at all. What heat dome?

Apples.

Pears.

And these pretty cherry tomatoes, like jewels.

People are coming back outside again, neighbors preparing for a block party.

And yard sales.

Mother Nature has excellent advice, take what comes your way and deal with it the best you can.

I’m reminded of this lovely quote by tennis champion, Arthur Ashe,

‘Start where you are, Use what you have, Do what you can.’