Handmade designer clothing | Ann's blog | Ann Williamson, Portland OR

Photo Shoot in the Park

September 5, 2021 4 Comments

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

August 22, 2021 1 Comment

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.’

New Pieced Coat

August 8, 2021 2 Comments

A brand new coat, finished just yesterday. Pieced from very dark, almost black, navy and white kimono silks.

These are ‘tsumugi’ silks, a gorgeous textured fabric. Unlike a smooth and shiny silk, this kind had a rugged quality that gives it more of a rustic look.

The detail below shows the weave. You can just see the slubs and rough surface. It’s not ‘noil,’ an inexpensive silk woven from the broken ends of the fibers. Instead, Tsumugi is woven from odd shaped and irregular cocoons, so the fibers are thicker and more uneven. It is stronger than the smooth silks used in formal kimonos and is prized for its sturdiness and strength.