Category: on my work table

ship work

April 10, 2014

by annwood

I’m working on several new ships – it’s been ages and I especially love to make boats in the spring. The first is made from tattered antique gowns, layers of silk, tulle satin, lace and sheer cotton – stitched and stitched in a meandering way – inspired by the eccentric mending and layers of boro textiles.

The 2 below are paper mache. I start with a layer of brown paper, torn up paper grocery bags (very old lady of me to save them) for the first layer over the cardboard armature and then layers of newsprint. I usually let some or all of the newsprint show so I divide it according to type size and style and I have a box of clipped out words saved (also very old lady of me).

The next is a translucent paper mache ship – a big one – in its beginning stage when it looks like a cocoon. I’ve hung it to dry and I can start to apply the finish layers in the morning – I love waking up to dry paper mache.

And my rat problem has gotten worse……

march

March 11, 2014

by annwood

I love March. Especially after a winter like this has been – and it’s not over – but the last couple days have been glorious. The sun was out, the windows were open and I worked on little birds this morning.

I finished the little group of camper birds this afternoon and started photographing things for the shop.

(after their official photo they went off to enjoy the day)

I got such a late start on photos I had very uneven light – I have found that a sheet of cheap drugstore white poster board makes a very serviceable reflector.

Checkout the difference with and without:

(The birds and lambs will be in the shop tomorrow 3/12)

botanical experiments

January 20, 2014

by annwood

I’m working on botanical shapes including some small toadstools – little experiments in color and texture. They are a numbered series -with signed hand sewn tags with the number and date for each. I’m using mostly Japanese garment fragments (courtesy of Sri Threads) with rich color and history.

I like the idea of these turning up unexpectedly (as mushrooms sometimes do) on a hook or knob or a drawer pull. I’m also working on others- flower and seed pod sorts of shapes. These will be in my shop very soon and next September I’m teaching a class at Squam on making botanical shapes with textiles – you can get more info here.

If you’d like to be notified when they are available you can join my mailing list here.

sweet things

January 19, 2014

by annwood

I designed a new cake topper over the summer: Flamingos in Love.

I painted miles of crepe paper in very particular shades of pink and coral.

They are available in my shop now as well as at BHLDN. I’m also thinking of putting a “make it your self” kit together for these – what do you think?

I loved working with crepe paper and I’ve got something else for the cute department in the works – here are a couple sneak peeks:

a new shape on my work table

December 17, 2013

by annwood

I started working on a new pattern in October.

It’s a long process for me – experiments and trial and error – I enjoy it immensely. I make piles and piles of prototypes and duds – learning a little bit from each. It wakes me up early and keeps me up late. This is the first finished lamb:

A Fortuny lamb – he was auctioned in November at The Littlest Lamb gala here in NY – The Littlest Lamb is an incredibly inspiring organization – they ‘re building an orphanage in Egypt.

The next lambs were made from vintage tablecloths.

I love vintage linens and I very particularly love vintage linens with roses. I had 2 that wanted to be lambs – both had some staining in areas making them not so desirable to use as tablecloths – otherwise I would have saved them for the country home I will ultimately have.

I also used a depression era drape I found upstate last summer and one little black lamb is made from edwardian garments. I’ve finished a little flock now and they will arrive in the shop tomorrow 12/18 (noonish EST).

Whenever I post about creating a new creature or pattern I always get a ton of email from people who would like to do the same – looking for a course or a book. I haven’t known of a great resource until lately: Abby Glassenberg has written a comprehensive guide to sewing in 3 dimensions and I’ll tell you more about it in my next post.

on my work table

October 22, 2013

by annwood

Some strange stems – for new mushrooms- they are getting curvier and curvier.

I started 2013 with the intention to draw and paint more and another effort in that direction ia a class I’m taking with Lilla Rogers Studio. My assignment this week was to create art for plates using botanical imagery ( bromeliads or something similar). I made this little painting and below that you can see my plate mockup.

And a painting – I started 2013 with the intention to draw and paint more (and I definitely have) and another effort in that direction is a class I’m taking with Lilla Rogers Studio. My assignment this week was to create art for plates using botanical imagery ( bromeliads or something similar). I made this little painting and below that you can see my mockup for a set of plates – I named the set Utopia.

on my work table

September 24, 2013

by annwood

Owls. And a blue velvet songbird.

I get pretty excited about fall and to celebrate I pulled out my houndstooth wool. I’m also working on a blue velvet songbird and another owl made from a textile from Sri Threads. It is one of my all time most favorite fabrics – I can barely stand to use it. I think if I had miles of it I would never get tired of it. Here’s a closer look – it’s a thick heavy weave and the pattern is incredible.

And I made a little more progress on the songbird.

Another fall ritual for me is taking a group of little birds out to prospect park for a photo ( I do it every spring too). It was a big adventure.

on my work table

September 17, 2013

by annwood

A group of little birds – I’m finishing them right now and they’re going to Prospect Park tomorrow for a photo. I’m working on toadstools tonight as well – made from the antique quilt fragments.

And a recently finished piece – Emile – a gentle rat made from mrs. brown’s skirt.

owl and songbird progress

July 9, 2013

by annwood

I spent the fourth of july holiday way upstate sewing. It was misty and moist and super hot.

I worked on some pieces I started 2 years ago – made from antique garment linings.

Get the sewing patterns to make your own owl and bird:

I’ve also been working on some other songbirds, I’m finishing the teal bird this evening.

And this pink girl- also begun years ago then put away and finished lately. I guess some things need to percolate. She has a fancy bustled bottom.

on my work table

April 30, 2013

by annwood

I worked up-state this weekend – warm days and freezing nights – perfect.

A rat with a very ratty back made from mrs. brown’s skirt. The remains of that skirt have been languishing in deep storage but it occurred to me last week that the strange weave would make a fabulous rat. It’s difficult stuff to sew but that difficulty inspired this new back detail/ texture I like, especially in profile.

And a delicate songbird – I began about a year ago.

She made a lot of progress over the weekend and this may finally be her week.

I also spent some time wondering around and looking at stuff like this down on it’s luck house.

There are a few more weekend photos on instagram. And even so early in the season there were a couple great yard sales and a friend with a glorious old farmhouse was down sizing before a move and gave me some marvelous things, so I hauled back a toyota full of treasures I’ll show you later.

on my worktable today

March 14, 2013

by annwood

I’m finishing up boat orders this week – if you’re waiting for one they will all be off by Monday. Merry Wobblers are preparing to board their boats, raise their sales and depart.

So long Wobblers.

I’m also working on a collection of new Fortuny creatures for their Venice showroom. I stopped by the New York showroom last week and got lots of beautiful and inspiring fabric to work with.

P.S. If you are in NY or will be before March 30th there is a wonderful exhibit at the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute curated by Oscar de la Renta of of the work of Fortuny y Madrazo (1871–1949).

a new shape on my worktable

February 25, 2013

by annwood

I’m working on a new shape, a new creature. For me this is all about persistence: lots of drafts, prototypes , experiments, failures and adjustments. So many failures and adjustments – these are just some:

Over the weekend I felt close enough to the shape I was looking for to cleanup the pattern and try one in good fabric. After a few more pattern refinements and adjustments I finished a little fellow made from beautiful silvery grey Fortuny fabric tonight and I’m going to photograph him in the morning – here’s a little shadow preview of him on an evening stroll through the toadstools.