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Ann Williamson

Handmade Designer Women's Apparel

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One last look

March 26, 2023 4 Comments

Before I refocus towards new work, how about one last look at some of the pieces that were sold at the Baltimore show?

A tomato red coat with appliqués in a slightly different red. I posted a story about this one in October when I started it. Check it out here.

I did finish it, just in time for the show.

A jacket, sewn from the remainder pieces of coat I made a number of years ago.

All those little bits and pieces, left over from various projects, that I store away. Eventually, sometimes years later, I use them for a new project.

Waste nothing! A skirt pieced from various leftover scraps of kimono silks, all woven with sparkling metallic threads.

Topped with a black hitoe that was sewn from an amazing ‘rinzo’ kimono silk, a kind of a damask.

A detail shot.

Formal wedding kimonos are fantastic to work with, not only are they amazingly gorgeous, but they also have extra long sleeves, also covered with designs. Those long sleeves mean all the more beautiful fabric to work with. Like this oversized jacket, loose and full.

And enough fabric left over to make a second jacket.

And a red and gold jacket sewn from the remainders of another oversized jacket.

Below, that oversized jacket, the one that I had first sewn from the red and gold kimono silk. I brought it back with me and listed it on my web-shop. You can check it out here.

This is how it goes, I start with a beautiful kimono silk and see where it leads me. I sew up new work and send those jackets, coats, skirts on their way. Then, maybe the best part, I get to start all over again.

Every time it’s different, sometimes a challenge, but in the end, always fun, always rewarding.

Baltimore 2023!

March 12, 2023 1 Comment

It was most definitely back! Baltimore has been the ACC’s number 1 craft show for years. Even though covid knocked out two years and forced a rescheduled event in 2022, we all returned as though no time at all had passed.

Although this years show happened on the first weekend in March instead of the last in February, everything else felt pretty much the same as before. 350 exhibitors came to show visitors and friends their new work.

We arrived at the convention center, set up and waited for the doors to open.

At 10am on Friday, March 3rd we were back at it.

Below, my booth all set up, new work hanging and ready for viewing.

I love setting up, hanging and arranging! Doing my best to highlight each piece as best as I can.

Whew! Such a good show! So many friends I’ve made in the years I’ve been coming. It’s definitely old home weekend. Seeing my old customers and meeting new, some who buy my work, others who stop by to say hi and see what’s new. It’s a three day party.

Then, it’s Sunday night, we pack up and get ready to head home.

On Monday, before the plane leaves, there’s usually a few hours for a walk. And what a beautiful day for it.

Past the Bromo-Seltzer Clock tower,

And trees showing the very beginnings of Spring,

We went down to the water front to enjoy the beautiful day.

Then off to the airport, a flight across the country and back home to Portland.

Below, a last look at my booth.

I’ll admit, shows are exhausting! But despite the intense work to get ready and the stress of travel and worries that come with it, the shows are so worth it. It’s the fun, thrill and joy that keeps me coming back.

Thank you American Craft Council for continuing to put on this fantastic show!

ACC Baltimore ’23 Coming Up!

February 19, 2023 3 Comments

I’m sewing up a storm these days. New jackets and coats are flying out of my studio. Pieced, appliquéd or beaded, each one sewn using a gorgeous kimono silk. No more sitting and waiting patiently on my shelves, these fabrics will be out and about, living their new lives.

I started this pieced jacket a few weeks ago, using fabrics from my scrap stash. From a pile of fabric bits and pieces to a brand new jacket. Magic!

The Met Museum’s Instagram account has a picture of a Japanese pieced vest from the first half of the 1800’s. The caption reads, ‘Patchwork has connotations of longevity, since stitching together the scraps extended their use.’ I love it! Wear a jacket made from leftover fabric scraps and add years to your life. Perfect!

The back.

Below, a new trench coat sewn from an amazing old meisen kimono.

You remember ‘meisen’, yes? Where they weave the fabric, print the design, unweave it, then reweave it?

When it is rewoven, the threads do not line up and you get a soft, out of focus edge.

This stuff is gorgeous!

I started this black and white striped coat with appliqués of thin bias tubes a few months ago.

Finished and ready for the show!

From the side, appliqués on the sleeves.

And the back.

And for a bit of sparkle, nothing beats glittery gold.

From an amazing kimono, a silk woven with golden threads, with beads sprinkled about for even more shine.

And the back.

These and many others will be coming with me to Baltimore for the big craft show.

March 3-5. Which is soon!

Can’t wait!

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Ann Williamson, Designer

Ann Williamson, designer, with models
Clothing Designer Ann Williamson — Oregon Art Beat video.

Upcoming Events

ACC Baltimore Craft Show 2023
American Craft Made Marketplace

Friday March 3, 10am-6pm
Saturday March 4, 10am-6pm
Sunday March 5, 11am-5pm

Baltimore Convention Center
1 West Pratt St

FIND OUT MORE

New Video — At Holocene

Coats, jackets and scarves all sewn from vintage Japanese silk.

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ACC Baltimore Craft show- Today and Sunday Booth ACC Baltimore Craft show- 
Today and Sunday
Booth 215 - See you there!
@craftcouncil 
#annwilliamson
Coat with appliquéd strips. Sewn from Japanese k Coat with appliquéd strips. 
Sewn from Japanese kimono silk.
New for American Craft Made 
ACC Baltimore Craft show.
Coming up!
March 3-5
Booth 215
@craftcouncil 
#annwilliamson
Jacket pieced from kimono silk scraps. New for Am Jacket pieced from kimono silk scraps. 
New for American Craft Made
ACC Baltimore Craft Show ‘23
March 3-5
Booth 215
@craftcouncil 
#annwilliamson
New for ACC Baltimore Craft Show ‘23 American C New for 
ACC Baltimore Craft Show ‘23
American Craft Made 
Beaded vintage Japanese kimono silk.
March 3-5
Booth 215
@craftcouncil 
#annwilliamson

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“I measure the success of my clothing by how it looks and feels on the woman who wears it.
I want each piece to flatter and enhance the body it adorns.”

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