sketchbook 1/19 – 1/25
sketchbook 1/12 – 1/18
the big 2019 review and what’s coming for 2020 : predictions, wishes and plans
let’s start with what’s new
The second annual international scrap festival is in the works and it’s expanding to an entire month. February will officially and forever be International Scrap Month. That’s one of the nice things about inventing a festival, you get to be the boss of everything and do stuff like that. If you have met me then you know I have freakishly strong hands and I like to be the boss of everything.
*The magic fabric above is courtesy of my Brooklyn neighbor Sri threads. There is more about it at the bottom of the post
Stay tuned for details, I’m gathering a bunch of cool projects for scraps and creating a couple new tutorials for you.
And I wonder what you think of a scrap swap? Is that something you’d be interested in participating in? Tell me in the comments please. If you’re into it I’ll try to hook you up.
I’ve just added part 2 – embroidering the details to the bat appliqué – find it here.
More about what’s coming up in a minute – let’s look back
2019 went by so fast. And negativity bias is real. When I looked back my first thought was – what happened? I only made one new pdf sewing pattern and one new booklet for the shop. It seemed like an extremely unproductive year but then I scrolled through the year of blog posts and saw I published a record breaking 13 free tutorials. That was not my plan but it is what I did. Here’s the list in the order they appeared:
needle book
easy rag doll shoes
dollhouse fireplace
tiny dishes
little pants
doll bed
doll quilt
straw doll hat
bat -updated!
paper boat
penny rug
paper swan box
wax paper crystal ornaments
I’m already working on more tutorials for this year. You’ll see the first couple during the February Scrap Festival.
a couple other 2019 highlights:
*365 little paintings – I stuck to it, didn’t miss a single day. I found a rhythm and I feel like a voice is emerging. And I’ve kept going with the daily practice, still making a little painting (or drawing) everyday. I put them in the shop about every 6 weeks and there will be a new batch on Tuesday 1/21.
*And I made a paper ship installation at the Squam Art Retreat and taught workshops in Los Angeles, New Hampshire, Vermont, France and Kentucky. Such a big year.
what’s coming in 2020
In addition to planning the second annual scrap festival January is for organizing and finishing. I get very spring cleany in January – do you? There are too many unfinished projects and too many piles of things waiting to be sorted. I’m tackling those things first.
And by the time you’re reading this, I will be deeply focused on getting new sewing patterns across the finish line: the large scandalously nude rag doll, captain charmley (currently headless above) and the crow. Probably not in that order. And news is coming soon on 2020 Workshops – I’ll be in France in June and July and at Squam (spring session) in New Hampshire but those are both waitlist situations. You can join me in Vermont in March though for a super cozy workshop with French General and there will be more workshop dates for the fall very soon, I’m working out logistics now.
predictions, wishes
Looking ahead – I think and hope in 2020 we will see a resurgence of blogging. Blogging like it used to be. So many disappeared into social media. I love seeing people’s creative lives and homes. If you have a favorite blog please share it in the comments – I’d love to see. I also think smaller networks will continue to emerge – online meeting places where conversations happen and algorithms don’t choose for us.
And for me: there are all sorts of things I’d like to make this year and things I’d like to try – like printing fabric and sewing more clothes. I’ve got lots of ideas percolating and I bet you do too. My biggest wish for 2020 is margin. Putting some space between things. I’m very happy in just about everything I do as long as I don’t have to rush. I’m making a rule for myself to never rush again. I will definitely fail at this but I’m trying anyway, keeping it at the front of my mind when I’m planning things. I think it’s a discipline and will take practice. And I also believe it’s a choice.
I hope your year is full of ideas and projects and lots of time to make things.
And as always, thanks for showing up here – it makes all things possible,
ann
PS – Fabric is almost always where I start, and often fabrics that finds me. The glorious fabric at the top of the post appeared on my doorstep, a magical gift from Sri Threads. So much to think about, color combinations I would never have thought of, mending by other hands, all sorts of serendipity and endless places to start. You can see more of it on my instagram story today and check out the Sri Threads instagram feed here – there is lots of inspiration there.
PPS – Don’t forget to tell me about the scrap swap – if it’s something you’d like to participate in please let me know in the comments and I’ll get to work on it.
bat applique part 2 – embroidering the details
Find part one of the bat appliqué tutorial right here. You’ll find a template for the shape and tips on making really pointy appliqué points. Below I’ve got some super simple embroidered details and ideas for finishing your bat appliqué.
Download the template and cut out the shapes outlined in black – the body, wing line and optional heart. Don’t worry about the little finger and toe lines.
Place the templates on the appliqué and trace the guide lines. I used a light colored pencil that erases easily. Because I appliquéd before I embroidered the shapes don’t fit precisely so I pivoted the little body shape and traced it one limb ay a time. You could embroider first if you prefer.
For the face poke through and make guide dots for placement. And the fingers and toes are straight stitches radiating out from the ends of the arms and legs.
download the bat embroidery template
I used back stitch for my first bat. It’s simple to do.
1. Begin by making one small straight stitch and bringing the needle back out one stitch length away.
2. Put the needle back in where the first stitch ends.
3. Bring the needle out a stitch length away.
4. And bring the needle back in where the las stitch ended – repeat one million times.
I’m going to appliqué a little heart on this bat but otherwise call it a day. I like the simplicity and feel like it works with the vintage linen he is appliquéd on – simple and a little folk arty feeling.
I’ve made another, also on a vintage linen. I used a straight stitch for the details and I’m appliquéing a wreath of flowers all around from some vintage curtain fabric I got last summer in France. You can find some great tips for needle turn appliqué right here.This will take forever. But it’s the kind of slow stitching that can come with me on trains etc that I’m attracted to right now. Plus I’ll eventually end up with an awesome new throw pillow.
I hope you embroider a bat! And stay tuned for more tutorials – plus embroidery and appliqué kits will be coming soon.
sketchbook 12/22 – 1/11
sketchbook 12/8 – 12/21
little gifts to make and sweet wrapping ideas
*The links below are affiliate links – meaning I get a small commission if you purchase through the link.
lets start with simple package ideas
One of the byproducts of making a little painting everyday is the little section at the top of the paper where I off load paint and test my brush and colors. They are entirely unintentional and I usually end up liking them. For me anyway, they often have that magic that the universe delivers up when we get out of the way. I like them enough to save them. And lately put them to use – they make sweet and cheerful gift tags.
I like them even better cropped using a die punch. You can get one here. I have a few of these punches and love them. The stamp doesn’t have a hole for the string so I used this mini size hole punch and added bakers twine. I just got this baker’s twine.
What if you don’t make a painting everyday? You can still make the tags. The key is to make some marks on card stock or watercolor paper before cutting the tags. Cropping is magic. Experiment with making marks without thinking about the tags. That freestyle experimenting is fun and good exercise and the tags are a bonus.
The tags go perfectly with my signature paint splattered brown paper wrapping. To keep things interesting I also painted some stripes and dots this year.
and little gift ideas
Little gifts and sweet touches that don’t take very long to make or cost much. Very much in the spirit of Christmas. Sweet things you can make from scraps mostly.
Woebegone pines – make a bunch. As an alternative to the wooden base you can use a cinnamon stick and add a hanging string at the top.
Stitch a little mouse from scraps. The pattern is designed for felt but is works with other fabrics too – this guy is made from linen.
Needle books make great gifts. And you can do a mini version, just a page or two, if you’re short on time. I have a bunch of pages in progress that I’m going to assemble into a couple little books.
From the paper department – make paper sail boats or wax paper stars and snowflakes or swan treat boxes.
Check out the free pattern page for lots more little gift ideas.
Happy Christmas to you! I hope your holidays are lovely,
ann
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.
wax paper crystal snowflake ornament diy
You can make these wax paper snowflake “crystal” ornaments in about 5 minutes with stuff you probably already have. You gotta love that. And you don’t have to use wax paper. I happen to love it though. I wanted something simple and light for my norfolk pine this year and I’ve always found wax paper magical. These were quick and easy and I had fun making them, I hope you do too. If you do I’d love to see – use #annwoodpattern on instagram.
You will need:
- wax paper
- stapler
- glue stick
- pinking shears
- scissors
- thread for hanging
- optional – hot glue
1. Cut a strip of wax paper. My strip is the width of the roll and about 5 inches wide.
2. Fold the length of paper into pleats – accordion style. The pleats should be 1/2 inch or a little bigger. You want them to be consistent in size and firmly creased.
3. If you end up with a little extra paper carefully trim it off. Staple the center of your pleated paper – the staple needs to go across the center.
4. Apply glue stick to the top layer of paper.
5. Fold the pleated paper in half – glue inside. Trim the tip with pinking shears.
6. Cut a couple little notches along the folds.
7. Apply glue stick to one side.
8. Un- fold into a circle – brining the glued side around to meet the unglued side and press together to attach.
9. Add a string if you like and you’re finished – or… Add a whole other level of awesomeness…
10. For extra dimension and fancyness make a smaller snowflake. I used a strip of paper about half as long and half as wide. My pleats are about 1/2 inch still but there are less of them.
11. Use a dot of hot glue to attach the smaller snowflake to center of the larger.
So sweet! I hope you make wax paper snowflakes!
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.
/div>sketchbook 11/17 – 12/7
make a paper swan treat box : free tutorial
For little treats and treasures. This swan favor box is super easy to make. And I’ve made the template in two sizes for you (I demonstrate below using the larger size).
*This tutorial contains affiliate links – meaning I get a small commission if you purchase through the link.
download the template
You will need:
- the large or small swan box template
- heavy paper – mixed media paper, card stock or watercolor paper all work
- exacto knife
- masking tape
- glue
- paint (I used water color)
- pencils
- scissors
- paper clips
- clothespins
- optional – hanging string or ribbon
Notes before you begin:
The boxes are easy to make but tracing and cutting accuracy are very important. Also, please read through the steps before beginning.
1. Cut out a swan template (I’m using the large) and use the pencil to poke holes through the three dots on the pattern. Use the exacto knife to cut the tab slot lines on the pattern. Place the template on your heavy paper and use a few little pieces of masking tape to keep it in place. Trace around the edge.
* click the images for a larger view
2. Mark the 3 dots with your pencil.
3. Lift up the tab slot and trace that edge.
4. Using the tail dot as a guide draw the straight score lines.
5. To draw the 2 curved score lines cut the line and trace them. You can tape the template back together after.
6. Use the back of the exacto knife to lightly score all the lines you drew.
7. If you would like to add a hanging string use a large embroidery needle to poke holes through the two dots on the tab. Gently erase all the pencil lines.
8. Turn your swan over and paint. I also made the smaller size and painted that one black (for that one I painted both sides.
I like simple, quick gestural painting for the swans. Make a few quick strokes in shades of gray water color and used just a little orange for the beak. I’m using a koi water color box and mudder water brushes. I love both of these items deeply. *FYI – I get a small commission if you purchase through the links. Add some lines on the feathers in pencil or pen. I used pencil and sprayed them with a fixative so they won’t smudge. I made a curvy line for the eye with a black pen.
9. Beginning with the tail gently fold along the score lines.
10. Next fold up the sides.
11. Gently shape the curved score lines too.
12. Apply glue to the front as shown and press the sides together.
13. Use paperclips or a weight to hold the sides together while tit dries.
14. When the front is dry apply glue to the tail and bend one side of the bottom tail feathers over the back.
15. Clamp with a clothespin and gently curl up the end with you finger. Let the tail dry.
16. Repeat for the other tail feather.
17. Curl the ends of the middle feathers over a pen.
18. Add a string or ribbon if you like.
19. Tuck the tab into the slot by pressing down to close the box.
20. Finally curl the feather under the top feather up a little.
I hope you make lots of swan boxes!
cats in pants and other lovely things made by customers
meet gustav! by MelanieYou get at least 2 levels of awesomeness from this post: links to makers I think you’ll love (click the images to find the maker) and ideas for little gifts. I love seeing what you make from my patterns, your details and your stories, I love that these things are in the world, cats in pants, woebegone pines, enchanted mushrooms etc…
The mischievous fellows above are made from the mr. socks pattern and free little pants pattern.
The trees are made from the woebegone pines pattern. I love whole the table!
And I love that they are very often gifts. Handmade gifts that surprise and delight. The songbird pattern is breaking records in that department. Also – FYI – I am a big fan of cottage industry and selling things you make from my patterns is not only OK but encouraged. If you do sell stuff I so appreciate if you let people know where you got the pattern.
Find the mouse pattern here and the mushroom pattern here.
The world’s tiny doll population grows every single day.
And there are lots of free patterns for tiny doll accessories. checkout the miss thistle society collection for those.
There is lots more to see – check out #missthistlesociety and #annwoodpattern for more.
Also in the little gifts department I’m making you something! Look for a free diy and template for this little paper swan treat box next week.
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.
sketchbook 11/3 – 11/16
