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Ann Williamson

Handmade Designer Women's Apparel

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Scarves

New Video: ‘One Scarf’

September 25, 2022 14 Comments

We are live! My newest video, called, ‘One Scarf,’ is up and available for viewing.

I’m participating in the American Craft Council’s on-line artist’s directory [click [here] to visit the website.] It is a platform listing over 150 craft artists with information about their work and links to their websites and social media pages.

This October 3 -16, there will be an on-line pop-up marketplace with featured artists who will have work for sale at the site.

We were asked to submit a 30 second video featuring our ‘favorite piece’ that will be for sale. Favorite! Yow! Each one I make is unique and loved. They are all my favorite. So instead, as a way to show that every single piece is created with attention and care, I decided to focus on the process. I chose the making of a scarf.

Click [here] to see what we came up with. 30 seconds is over fast. Do not blink!

Pieced coat

Beginning-Middle-End

August 7, 2022 8 Comments

Here in my studio there is lots going on. I have pieces started, pieces in process and pieces finished. It’s my favorite situation. It can be overwhelming when I am finished with all my projects and it’s time to start something brand new. The sky is open and anything is an option. Where to start? It’s easier when I’m on a roll. I can walk into my studio and start right up where I left off. I continue with what I’ve been working on, bask in the accomplishment of what is finished and let my mind wander to think about new projects I’d like to do.

For example, right now, I have new, in process and just finished projects.

Below, a jumble of fabrics, the beginnings of new scarves.

Scarves are a perfect for in-between projects. I have the basic formula down, so the initial figuring out is done. But the finished design is not set so there is plenty room for creativity. All the possible variations of colors and shapes leave more than enough room for creativity. My mind gets lost in all the possibilities.

Also, up on my wall, a new coat with bias tube strips pinned in place. This is the front, next I’ll baste the strips and then hand stitch them down.

The bias strips in the black and white coat above, are leftovers from the jacket below, a special order, placed by a customer who wanted a different size from the original.

I’m right in the middle of the hand stitching. You can see my needle next to the black strip, as I hand sew it in place with tiny pick stitches.

Next up with this one, I’ll sew beads along the edges of the strips.

And one that is finished! This purple crane coat just sent to its new home. I’m pleased with how it turned out. A gorgeous silk from a very special kimono.

There were enough leftovers of the purple crane fabric to make scarves. Check them out at my web shop here. ‘Purple Cranes and Fans’ and ‘Purple Cranes,’

I hope you’re having a great summer, keeping cool and happy. And just busy enough, not too much, not too little.

jacket, beaded with woven scribble design in pale pink

Out on Their Own

June 18, 2022 Leave a Comment

A last look at a few of the pieces I brought to the Smithsonian and the American Craft Made shows.

Like this jacket, a shorter version of the coat we used for the ‘Pink’ video. This fabric came from a very long sleeved, formal kimono. Those traditional kimonos are like western ball gowns. They’re perfect for a special occasion, but maybe not so good for daily life. Fantastic when you want to wear a dramatic and beautiful piece of clothing.

My good fortune, when it’s time to retire it as a wearable kimono, the long sleeves make for a lot more fabric. Plenty for a long coat and a jacket.

The front.

The back.

Enough for a coat, a jacket and some leftover scraps for a few scarves. ‘Mottainai,’ waste nothing!

Can you see, in the picture below, the pieces of the same fabric? The grey leaf like shapes? And part of a green flower towards the center top. At the bottom, a sliver of dark mahogany petals.

The last bits of this gorgeous fabric, this scarf, ‘Blush Ume,’ is still available, check it out here.

A shawl collar coat, this one called ‘Streams.’ Sewn from two gorgeous kimono silks, two different versions of a flowing water design.

Appliquéd small squares, laid out as though they were tumbling through the water.

The squares were cut from the same kimono silk I used for the facing and the under the collar. A gorgeous deep, deep teal/green silk scattered with little odd shapes and dots.

Lastly, a beaded, so very cool, woven scribble design in a pretty pale pink color.

front view of beaded pale pink jacket

I used black beads to toughen it up and give it a bit of attitude.

jacket, beaded with woven scribble design in pale pink

Onward! I’ll finish up some special orders, then start the process all over again.

This is what I do; make stuff, show it, send it off. It’s a pretty good life!

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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

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New coat for Baltimore @craftcouncil March 3-5 A New coat for 
Baltimore @craftcouncil 
March 3-5
Appliquéd Japanese kimono silk.
Booth 215
#annwilliamson
Full skirt pieced from vintage Meisen kimono silk Full skirt pieced from vintage Meisen kimono silk with matching jacket.
#annwilliamson
An Elizabethan Collar for Ms November Greyhound P An Elizabethan Collar for
Ms November 
Greyhound Pet Adoption fundraiser calendar for 2023 
Check out the video of the project at: @gpanorthwest 
Looped bias tubes and beaded collar for sweet Zia.
Photographer @hollyandres 
#annwilliamson
Broken Grid Coat Pieced from a vintage Japanese si Broken Grid Coat
Pieced from a vintage Japanese silk plaid.
#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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