Every August the American Craft Council produces their annual craft show in San Fransisco. It’s a beautiful show in an extremely beautiful setting. I love this one.

I pack my bags and fly down, set up my racks, lights and arrange my clothes just so. It can take a while, trying to set off each piece to its best advantage. I arrange and rearrange until everything is at its best.

What a gorgeous place for a show! Fort Mason overlooks not only San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate bridge, but also Alcatraz Island. Can you see it out there?

I can’t tell you enough what a treat it is to visit with the people I’ve gotten to know over the years. Some come every year, some don’t make it every time, but as the years go by and we share stories, connections are formed. It’s the magic part of this business, getting to know these remarkable people.

A charming thing about Fort Mason, it’s dog friendly. People bring them, big, small, pedigreed purebreds, happy go lucky mutts, serious service dogs or goofy friendly ones. I love that they’re there!

One thing I noticed this year, dogs in carriers. In bags, back or front packs, people were carrying their dogs.

It was this guys first time out, he wasn’t totally sure about this new contraption. But happy to try it! So sweet.

This guy was getting attention from all quarters and loving it.

Dogs, a delightful distraction.

In between adorable dogs and their owners, my customers were finding jackets, coats and scarves to bring back to their homes. It’s true, the main reason I go to the shows is to send my work off to their new lives.

But there’s a bonus. Besides the wonderful new people I meet, it’s the customers who through the years, as we’ve gotten to know each other, have become my friends.

Thank You American Craft Council, San Fransisco and all the wonderful people who came to the show!

A couple of new pieces for the American Craft Council show in San Francisco. It’s next weekend!

Just finished, a silver colored full skirt and jacket.

I used a gorgeous Meisen silk with a tortoise shell pattern for the jacket and appliquéd little blue squares to highlight the design.

For the skirt, I pieced this oh so cool kimono silk to mimic the tortoise shell patterns of the jacket. As the skirt moves and light hits in different areas, the shapes are revealed.

Also ready to go, the shawl collar coat with appliquéd squares that I was working on last week.

Hokusai waves for the collar and a speckled print for the coat. What can I say, these fabrics are so beautiful.

The collar is soft like a scarf and can be adjusted so it lays out flat and wide or folded and pulled in close. As it moves, a little surprise, bright purple under the collar.

These and all my other jackets, coats, skirts and scarves will be up and on view at the San Francisco ACC Show. Next weekend, August 2, 3 and 4.

See you there!

I’m on a dot kick, only instead of round, these dots are square.

I cut narrow strips of fabric and iron them into thirds so there are no raw edges. I cut those into shorter pieces which I then fold and iron into little squares.

This batch was for a coat with an oversized shawl collar. I’m using an amazing kimono silk with a gorgeous ocean waves print.

I scattered the dots over the waves like sea foam.

This coat, and more, will be finished [Yes! Finished!] and ready for the San Francisco ACC show in 2 [!] weeks.