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Ann Williamson

Handmade Designer Women's Apparel

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travel

Since the Baltimore Show

April 16, 2023 4 Comments

It’s not unusual for people to need a bit of adjusting for the clothes they buy from me. Sleeves might be too long or too short. We may decide to take it in a bit or let it out. Some people like a snug fit, other loose. So usually, for a week or two after a show, I’ll take some time for altering.

I’ve cut back on special orders, but there are still a few that I do. Like this one. A customer asked for a jacket in black and white. What a cool idea! It’s finished and ready to ship.

I’m thinking I’d like to revisit this style again.

Below, a snap shot of the sleeve sections in process.

It’s not just altering and special orders, because, as I finish up from the show, I think about new work. I lay out fabrics that are calling to me.

These gorgeous fabrics are inspiring!

I’m also wanting to make a beaded jacket. This pretty blue shibori silk will be the base. I lay out beads of different colors, shapes and positions until I land on one that looks right.

I ended up with this, with the beads clustered towards the ends of the leaf shapes. A photo helps me to remember how I’ve laid them out.

And yes! Always a good idea. A break! Away from my studio for a short trip to one of my favorite places, Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia River.

For this trip I was determined to focus on being there. “No photographs!’ I told myself. Just enjoy the moment.

But I could not resist the scenes down by the river front. This place is magic.

The mossy remains of piers. The miles wide Columbia river. The enormous cargo ships.

The ships wait for their turn to go up river to deliver and/or pick up goods from cities all along the river.

As I walked along the water front, I snapped a photo of a couple of coast guard boats heading out. Because the Columbia River Bar is so treacherous, the Coast Guard’s National Motor Lifeboat School is stationed here. It’s the perfect spot for people from all over the world to come and train for water rescue.

Check out this photo I downloaded from the Coast Guard website. Can you imagine the challenge of rescuing someone out of this?

And this excellent article in the New York Times about their water rescue training program.

Amazing.

All vessels engaged in foreign trade, like this one heading out, are required to employ a Columbia River Bar Pilot. The Bar Pilots guide the ships from the ocean to just past Astoria and back out again. Check out their website here.

I mean, the coast guard folks, the bar pilots, … Yow. I am beyond impressed. You guys.

It was only for a few days, but this trip was the perfect way to clear my mind, think about something completely different, change my focus, look in a new direction and start something new!

Trip to the Bay

January 22, 2023 5 Comments

It’s been over three years since I’ve been to one of my favorite places. Covid put a stop to the annual San Fransisco ACC craft show and I haven’t been back since August 2019.

I’ve missed my annual trip there, so I was very happy to be able to go down for a short visit. This time, instead of August, with the perfect San Fransisco sun and ocean breezes, it was cool January with lots of rain, rain, rain. You’ve read about their flooding? I packed a rain coat and warm sweaters.

Happily, there were enough breaks in the weather for walks in the neighborhoods and visits to parks.

California is not Oregon. They have citrus trees. With oranges. Right in their front yards.

Definitely not Portland.

And lemon trees.

In Oakland, right next to the sidewalk and hanging over fences.

Lemons.

And magnolias blooming.

Portland has magnolias, but they won’t bloom for weeks and weeks.

There weren’t a lot of signs of the heavy rains, except I did see evidence in the lake at Oakland’s Temescal Park.

From all the run off, the water was a muddy brown color and over flowing its banks.

But still beautiful.

No fishing.

Most definitely required for me, a day in San Fransisco.

Did I mention it’s one of my favorite cities???

I still get a thrill when I see its outline cross the bay.

First stop, the Presidio. An army base until 1994, it is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The old army buildings are still in use, except now, instead of soldiers, they are leased to businesses and organizations.

I was there to see the most recent addition, the Tunnel Tops park.

The Presidio Tunnels Parkway, the southern highway access to the Golden Gate bridge, goes through two tunnels. On top is the Tunnel Tops Park.

Below is a 3-D map showing the park. That’s the Golden Gate Bridge in the upper right corner of the picture. Can you see the highway disappearing under the park?

Maybe easier to see in this detail shot. There are two tunnels, you can see them better here.

My photo, showing the highway appearing from under the park and disappearing through the second tunnel in the distance.

This beautiful park has amazing views of the bridge,

and in the distance, the city. Can you see the pyramid?

Here’s a hint, for a relatively empty park, visit on a cool, cloudy day in January.

Next up, a short visit to the Japan Center.

Packed with visitors on a rainy Sunday, it really felt like Japan.

Restaurants displaying their menu selections with examples in plastic.

Rows of gorgeous papers in the stationary store.

And good wishes for a Happy New Year of the rabbit.

The year of the rabbit is the luckiest. It symbolizes hope and mercy, elegance and contemplation.

Which sounds good to me. I’d love a little more hope, mercy, elegance and contemplation.
I send Happy Year of the Rabbit wishes to you!

Trip to the Rogue River

October 23, 2022 4 Comments

Such a great break, a short trip to the beautiful Rogue River in Southern Oregon.

You drive straight south, through the Willamette Valley and up over the mountains to the Rogue Valley.

To the charming Weasku Inn.

Built in 1925, this log cabin lodge was a favorite of Clark Gable, which feels exactly right. Most certainly a place that a 1920’s movie star would love to visit. It is secluded and far from any pressures or commitments.

You can stay in the lodge or rent one of their cabins, all with a beautiful view out into the forest. Not a bad deal at all.

And a short walk to the Rogue River. I’ll have to agree with Clark, it’s the perfect getaway.

Mid-October, summer was over and fall was in the air. The grasses were done.

And the trees were starting to change.

But still warm enough for this guy to fish.

And for this guy to try his luck at a little gold panning.

Such a nice break. A few days of nothing but quiet walks, long breakfasts, naps and lots and lots of deep breathing.

Perfect.

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Black and white jacket pieced from kimono silk scr Black and white jacket pieced from kimono silk scraps.
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Full skirt pieced from vintage metallic kimono sil Full skirt pieced from vintage metallic kimono silks.
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Coat with appliquéd strips. Sewn from Japanese k Coat with appliquéd strips. 
Sewn from Japanese kimono silk.
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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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