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stitched rutabagas and floating ships : sweet paul makerie 2017

October 6, 2016

by annwood

The Sweet Paul Makerie is coming to Brooklyn! And not even just Brooklyn but my neighborhood – a couple blocks from my place – so good. I’m offering 2 workshops- ship building and an intro to 3 dimensional sewing (a stitched rutabaga!).

The rutabaga is a good introduction to sculptural sewing and working with spheres ( there is a free sphere pattern here if you’d like to experiment). And they have a secret ingredient that makes them perch in kind of interesting and root-vegetabley way.

If you’d like to try the rutabaga get the sewing pattern here.

I taught a stitched botanical class in 2015 at the Philadelphia Makerie and had a marvelous time – it was a beautiful event in every way – every detail thoughtful and lovely – so looking forward to the spring retreat.

Do you get my free weekly-ish newsletter? There are tips and tricks, ideas, stuff to try, all the latest news and blogposts and extra stuff, just for subscribers, delivered mostly on Friday. Pretty much.

October is for sewing

October 5, 2016

by annwood

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Maybe it’s my favorite – or maybe tied with March – I like the blustery months. It is just so extraordinarily pleasant – perfect days. And I’m sewing a ton – hours and hours of hand sewing every day after a longer than usual phase of other things – planning workshops for next year, teaching, making sewing patterns etc. – there was a lot to swim through so I could sit and sew again.

I’m making lots of songbirds- some Fortuny – like the birds above and some from antique garments.

I’m also making owls, and rats, building ships and working on a new shape – a new creature.

make this songbird

Most of the finished things above are headed off on a special mission in the UK but I do plan to have lots of things in my shop soon and will be sending creatures to the Fortuny showroom in Manhattan next week.

And check back for progress on the new shape I’m working on – it is another of the often less loved creatures and one I have a complicated relationship with…….

doll experiments from the workshop and tiny rag doll : print-edition

September 22, 2016

by annwood

a moth doll madefrom antique clothing in progress

Briefly – as there is much to cover today – the very first print pattern is in the shop. I’ve turned the tiny rag doll sewing pattern into a 16 page hand illustrated booklet accompanied by three pattern sheets.

It’s the first day of fall – it doesn’t feel like it but it will by Sunday and I’m looking forward to it – it’s been an airless summer in NY. I got an excellent dose of forest, air and space at The Squam Art Retreat and so did mr. socks. I also came back with lots of creative energy – I love watching people move through their process and getting glimpses into their imaginations. I taught two experimenting with dolls workshops and was impressed by the willingness to truly experiment and try things – to pick up a thread and follow it. It certainly isn’t easy but can take you to interesting and unexpected places. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who participated for their willingness to be open and vulnerable – I loved being part of it. I’ve shared many dolls below and some were still being worked on – I hope to show you those soon- good things were happening…..

Sondra’s enchanted fish

Autumn’s gentleman moth –
“my name is Cedric Randolf. i am a moth, I fought in the Boar War. i am quite wise and quite old. in one eye i have a cataract, with my other eye i see only goodness”

Rabbit Girl (in process) by Tricia

The moon – and all her phases…. by Jaime (fancy tiger crafts)

Vanessa’s Edwardian lady

(lots more photos after the jump)

handmade postcards and a sneak peek: the first print pattern

September 21, 2016

by annwood

For a brief moment – a while back – I was making hand drawn postcards to include in packages. Lovely to do and they made packing and shipping more fun but not a super rational or realistic time management decision. A good exercise though – it woke up a drawing muscle I don’t use often – simple line drawings. They are quick and definite and it’s a kind of drawing that is peaceful for me and I can get deeply focused pretty quickly.

It started wheels turning in my head about making illustrations for my patterns and getting them in print. The wheels started turning and that was pretty much it – one of those things that felt too big and scary to start – I sat on the idea for a few more weeks. I could and maybe should out- source the illustrations but I wanted to do at least one pattern myself. I have illustrated in an official capacity before – it is a little known fact that I illustrated a cook book – Jasper White’s Summer Shack Cook Book – A Complete Guide To Shore Food. All Jasper’s cookbooks are great and this one is my favorite – it has a gazillion illustrations – all pen and ink – I did the “how to” technical stuff as well as the fun stuff. I ate so much lobster I couldn’t be near it for two years.

Since there is nothing like a credible threat for productivity I decided to take tiny rag doll kits – with full printed instructions – to my doll workshop at Squam last week as an extra for my students (more on that soon). It is amazing how quickly you can figure things out when it has got to get done. I decided very late the Friday before my Wednesday departure and started drawing like a madman – all day – everyday and usually into the night. I formatted the pages in photoshop and figured out how to turn it into a booklet – quickly. The deadline was magic – I brought it to the retreat (so glad I did – it’s a fun travel project) and had a chance to tidy it up and make some adjustments when I got home. It is done. And I am happy with it. There may be a fancier iteration in the future but I kind of love this hand drawn version – hoping to have it available in the shop tomorrow. I don’t have a clear idea what the appetite for printed patterns is – if it’s significant I’ll do them all – probably starting with the mushroom pattern. What do you think – do you prefer PDF or printed patterns?

an immodest doll in her scandalous entirety

September 8, 2016

by annwood

Except for her jewelry and 18th century silk slippers – she is unabashedly and completely nude. And just when you think she couldn’t be any more scandalous she even drops her diaphanous wrap.

Please meet Esmé – my first naked lady – a recent doll experiment.

I put the sketchbook practice on vacation for a couple weeks to free up time to experiment with dolls – in preparation for my Squam class next week. I have had a blast. I wanted to practice some things I’d like to demonstrate, come up with some templates and practice pattern making on the fly – quick and messy. I also wanted to try to get a sense of what this class will feel like to participants and look for ways to help people feel free and playful.

I’ve made a bunch of things I’ll show you in a couple weeks – spontaneous things. I sit down with a little pile of material and try stuff. The bad wolf above was an exercise in quick pattern making – making a super rough sketch and turning it into pattern pieces in about 30 minutes. I sewed up the parts and it had all sorts of problems but I accidentally landed on some things I like too. Now I’m sculpting from the outside and adding details.

The quick experimenting has been good for me – given me a million ideas. If you are attending the workshop you are getting a doll maker on fire. And some of the things I’ve been working on will eventually become sewing patterns (the mr. socks – one of my other quick experiments- pattern is in the works). So looking forward to the class and the whole retreat next week – I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.

P. S. I’ve been collecting lots of inspiring doll images on pinterest you check out here if you like.

a sweet 19th century ghost

September 1, 2016

by annwood

It has such a spirit about it. And it even smells and feels like it was just unpinned from the clothesline. A lot of the Edwardian garments I get are formal, often black or brown – somber or special occasion things. The everydayness of this ensemble paints such a picture – the generous side pockets in the polka dot skirt, the wear on the front of the pinafore apron where hands were dried a thousand times or a laundry basket rested.

And that little straw hat – it’s tiny – pure style – not a sunshade – it would have been pinned to her head at an angle for walks in town.

There is another pinafore apron that came with the group that was very stained and is already soaking – I start with just hot water – sometimes that does the trick – then ivory laundry soap and if necessary a mild dose of oxiclean. All the buttons and fasteners are gone and lots of seams have let go but the quality of the fabric is extraordinary and much of it is sewable – the skirt has a bustle and that fabric is quite good. I love it. After pinning it together I did put it all on and swooshed around for a while.

I’ve had a string of good luck lately with garments after a long drought – I’m expecting more soon. The black skirt below turned up about a week ago – it’s ideal in every way. It has a big bustle and the fabric is good. The fades and patina are glorious and the brown lining is excellent – I’m already making dolls and owls.

And fresh from my worktable : miss rose, miss parsley, miss iris, miss carnation, miss pearl and miss birch.

Find The sewing pattern to make your own tiny rag doll and wardrobe here.

tiny rag doll and wardrobe pattern

August 25, 2016

by annwood

She’s fits in the palm of your hand, just the right size for a dollhouse, and she has a tiny wardrobe : dress, reversible pinafore apron, bloomers and a camisole.

There are full instructions for all. It’s a huge pattern with more than 80 color photos and tips to make small sewing easy and beautiful – like turning tiny pieces and hiding your knots.

How about those little clothespins? They might be the best thing in the world.

And she has perfect tiny hair – the pattern shows you step by step how to create it easily – and the technique would work for other dolls too. Plus the trick for turning tiny doll parts will change your life.

There are also patterns for a winter and summer wardrobe in the shop plus there are tons of free patterns and tutorials for your tiny doll like the miniature dishes above in the miss thistle society.

I hope you make tiny rag dolls and lots of outfits for them, if you do I’d love to see – send photos to info at ann wood handmade dot com or use #annwoodpattern and #missthistlesociety on instagram.

mosquitos on my work table and a pattern sneak peek : turning tiny doll parts

August 18, 2016

by annwood

*update – the tiny doll sewing pattern is in the shop.

The tiny rag doll sewing pattern is pretty much ready to go but I’m waiting until next week to release it – just to make extra sure it is all I want it to be. I’ve looked at it so long and so hard I can’t see it any more – you know? I’ll review it with fresh eyes in a day or two. The big challenge of the pattern was the littleness and looking for the easiest and most effective ways to deal with tiny sewing – like turning the little arms and legs right side out after sewing. I included the simple method below in the pattern. Maybe everybody already knows this trick but I didn’t until a couple years ago and it works fabulously well – so just in case you haven’t tried it:

Besides pattern and workshop making work I have some mosquitos on my worktable. Mosquitos are slow, detailed work that involves lots of pins and stabbing myself repeatedly with various instruments – the five below have been in progress forever and are finally in the homestretch.

They suffer such indignities – this poor girl is having her proboscis hammered. I hammer the wire parts on a tiny anvil to stiffen them after shaping and make them a little textured and sparkly. Three of these Edwardian pests will end up in the shop sometime in the near future and the other two are going on special missions. If you’d like to be notified when I have new pieces available you can sign up here.

sketchbook : week 73

August 17, 2016

by annwood

Week 73 in my sketchbook practice.

experimenting with dolls : meet mr. socks

August 11, 2016

by annwood

Sometimes it’s hard to shift out of production work and into true experimenting – really letting go of outcome. Production work is predictable – there is a definite beginning and end and the repetition and familiarity can be kind of comforting. I love to play and experiment, I love the adventure of something new but it takes effort, patience and practice to be able to get my head in that place when I need to. Part of it is the anxiety of all that isn’t done – it interferes with the meandering quality of experimenting. The anxious part of my mind protest the gentle open ended nature of the experimenting.

My sketchbook practice helps – I try to spend my sketchbook time in that place – sometimes I get there and sometimes I don’t but it is always good practice to try – especially in a very unideal moment. I gain more skill all the time at quieting the call of pressing tasks and worries that will absolutely always be there – the perfect moment for experimenting will not ever appear.

A lot of my experimenting lately is around dolls and figures – preparing for my workshop at Squam this September. I want to bring a few things that demonstrate different techniques – like building from the inside out. I began without much of a plan – I had a vague idea of maybe trying to make something similar to an odd figure I like that appeared in last week’s sketchbook.

I started playing and trying things, building a little shape by winding batting over a simple wire form and then stitching fabric on top. I love the spontaneity of this method – one thought builds on another and interesting things happen.

By the time the shape was halfway covered I had shifted direction – the little shape had it’s own idea what it wanted to be and mr. socks began to appear. He is not what I planned on at all – I think my tiny rag doll brain crept in – but I was happy to meet him.

Hello Mr. Socks!

And his posterior. I’ve also been making lots of tiny rag dolls and seedpods while working on sewing patterns for each ( at least one of those patterns will be out next week) and I put a couple tiny rag dolls and seedpods in the shop today.

sketchbook : week 72

August 10, 2016

by annwood

Week 72 in my sketchbook practice.

stripes make a sailor and the easy way to make sails

August 4, 2016

by annwood

When I first started making ships I was doing little handkerchief rolled hems on the sails. They were pretty but drove me crazy and took forever. When I put together the paper mache ship pattern I wanted something easier and I found it. It’s super simple and has other benefits too.

I cut two pieces of fabric for each sail (not usually the same fabric – I like the front and back to be different – even just subtly), pin them right sides together and stitch around – leaving one little section open. Trim the excess off the corners, turn it right side out, press and stitch closed. I add a whip or blanket stitch around the edge and layers of patches and lace. You can click here to download the sail pattern below if you’d like to give it a try.

This method is much quicker than the tiny hems and makes a very tidy sail. Also the double fabric helps the sails hold their shape when you fill them with wind.

I’m making an owl to captain the ship I’m working on and used my favorite piece of antique ticking for his front. Putting a horizontal stripe on an owl transforms him instantly into a gentleman sailor. The owl below is the medium size from the little owl pattern.

And ticking stripes are nice for sailing mice too.