Ann Williamson

Handmade Designer Women's Apparel

beading

Kauai and Craft: Fashion+Home

6 Comments

Hawaii dropped in my lap. You absolutely do not say no to a trip to Hawaii, even if you only have a few days between it and the Smithsonian’s Craft: Fashion+Home show.

So I did as much as I could for the show, then packed my bags for the beautiful island of Kauai.

7 days to relax and leave all concerns and worries behind.

Palm trees, trade winds and blue skies.

And a turquoise ocean with craggy mountains behind.

Flowers that do not grow in Portland.

Amazing, gorgeous flowers

And banyan trees.

Banyan Trees!

The Kauai Coffee Estate, the largest coffee farm in the US, where you can wander through the coffee orchard.

And more palm trees and beaches and more ocean.

Even when it is overcast, it’s still warm.

Delightful!

Then back home to finish up for the show.

I had made these before my trip, but the Hawaiian vibe comes through strong.

A jacket with exotic birds and jungle like flowers.

More birds on the sleeves and the back.

And water, this design is usually referred to as a stream, but after Kauai, it’s totally ocean to me.

With beads sewn all over to add a watery sparkle.

A coat with another ocean-y ‘stream’ design. I appliquéd strips of gold bias tubes to emphasize the feeling of waves.

A side view to show a sleeve.

I wasn’t consciously channelling Hawaii, but maybe just the idea of going percolated through to my work.

Next up? In just a few days, Craft: Fashion+Home in Washington DC! October 5 – 8. If you’re anywhere near, stop by!

Hokusai Waves

8 Comments

I absolutely love the iconic wave design by Hokusai, the famous Japanese artist from the early 18th century.

I know you must know his print, ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa,’ with the stormy sea, the three small boats and Mt Fuji off in the distance. It’s everywhere! For a good reason. It’s magnificent.

It’s so loved it’s been reproduced onto everything, from post cards to tote bags, from socks to mugs, teeshirts to iPhone covers. Think of something, anything that you could sell in gift shop and it will have a Hokusai wave on it.

And, happily, that fantastic design has been woven into kimono silks.
For me, who goes crazy for a Hokusai Wave anything, a kimono silk woven with the great wave was a fabulous find. Gorgeous!

And, bonus, in gold and silver on black. Amazing!

I took apart the old kimono, rearranged the patterns so that the design would flow, then pieced it together and sewed little gold beads to suggest a spray of water.

A detail. Gold, silver and a tiny bit of a deep mahogany color.

The back.

There is a tiny bit of the fabric remaining, but not much. I used almost all of it.

It’s now off to its new home.

I have so many gorgeous kimono silks. They are a delight to use. So gorgeous. And each unique. The best thing? After one is done, I can move onto the next.

Watch this space for more.

New Projects, and, Spring!

6 Comments

The closest I’ll ever come to having rose petals tossed at my feet, will be the springtime cherry blossoms that Mother Nature drops onto the sidewalks in my neighborhood.

I walk through as though I am a princess.

Gorgeous!

Meanwhile, in my studio, it’s all about beads. I’m in the middle of two projects. It’s always slow going with beads, but the final result is so rewarding. One in black and gold and the other in blue shibori.

Also on the table, several jackets and a coat. Can you tell? It’s those pile of fabrics in the back. One in reds, one in greens and one in blues.

Stay tuned.

And just in time for the American Craft Council’s on-line PopUp Marketplace, I’ve been working on a few more scarves to add to my store.

Two below, in process.

Maybe you remember my 30 second video of me making a scarf? Check it out here.

Below, one of the scarves finished. This one and others, along with jackets and tops, will be in my store at the marketplace.

The on-line marketplace will be open for ACC members on Monday, May 8th and open for all May 7th – 21st. The shopping pages will be up and viewable when the shown is live. You’ll be able to get there with this link. Click on ‘Online Marketplaces.’

There will be lots of gorgeous work by craftspeople from all over the country. Check it out!

One more thing.

My tree peonies are in full bloom. Last year it snowed when they were just getting going [… I know, snowed… in April. In Portland. Where we hardly ever get snow… ] and some of the big branches broke off. Sigh.

But they are back! Hooray!!! Gorgeous.

Thank you Mother Nature, for the cherry blossoms falling at my feet and for the rebirth of my beautiful peonies!

ACC Baltimore ’23 Coming Up!

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!

Beaded Jacket Finished!

14 Comments

Whew! This jacket was completed in the knick of time. I promised ‘the end of summer,’ which technically won’t be until September 22nd, but because I think that Labor Day is the official end of summer, Labor Day was my goal. I was on a mission to finish. And Hooray! I did it!

I usually keep a hand sewing project next to my comfy TV chair and work on it slowly without a concern or thought for time. It takes as long as it takes and I don’t pay attention to the clock or the day or even the month. I had zero idea how long it had taken me the first time to make this jacket, so it was a surprise to realize how many hours I had spent.

It was a while,….

But I’m on the other side now. Done! Such a good feeling.

Next up, a video. I’m going to be participating in the American Craft Council’s online craft show this October, ‘The American Craft Made Pop-Up Market.’ They sent out a request for a 30 second video about one of the pieces that will be available for sale.

They’re fun to make so we’re on it. Scarves do well online, so that’s my subject. All about a scarf in a 30 second video.

Wish us luck!

Happy Happy Happy Labor Day to you and all my wishes for a lovely Fall, when ever you decide that it begins.