Ann Williamson

Handmade Designer Women's Apparel

shows

New Projects, and, Spring!

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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!

One last look

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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!

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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!