the ann wood handmade 19th anniversary sale! Begins now and ends 3/26
For fun, I asked AI to write a blog post about the 19th anniversary of Ann Wood Handmade. It wasn’t bad. Pretty serviceable, actually. But it used the word journey a lot, had a certain flowery tone, and didn’t sound like me.
One thing I did appreciate, though, was how it zeroed in on community as an essential element—you all showing up here. Some of you for the whole 19 years.
Here’s what ChatGPT had to say:
“But what has made Ann Wood Handmade truly special is the incredible community that has grown around it. Over the years, makers from all over the world have connected here, sharing a love for handcraft, resourcefulness, and storytelling through materials. Whether you’ve been visiting for years or just recently discovered this creative space, your enthusiasm and support mean everything.”
And it does. I love knowing there are paper-mâché ships, earnest little birds, and dastardly owls scattered across the world. That they’ve mattered to other people too.
In an increasingly AI-driven world, the weird soup of human experience and imagination feels more magical than ever. It can’t be reproduced. I had to have a father obsessed with sailing, tall ships, and books, which led me to an early love of shipwrecks in literature. That had to collide with an image of a crystal chandelier shaped like a Spanish galleon, plus a lifelong devotion to paper-mâché (so accessible).
a wedding in prospect park
mr. tibbles and mr. wickles
The little birds, and the owls, the general mood of it all? That doesn’t happen without a deeply poetic, Beatrix Potter-loving mom who took me to see this film at an apparently incredibly formative age. It doesn’t happen without mountains of scrap fabric and a sewing needle in my four-year-old hand.
It all layers together. And that mix—uniquely human, entirely unrepeatable—is what makes handmade things, and the people who love them, so special.
So happy anniversary to us! I’ll leave you with some customer/ reader projects that I love. And as always, thanks for showing up.
onward!
ann
Crow in progress by Gail
songbirds by Sue
song birds by Lynn
The collection above by Margaret includes her own modifications to the song bird pattern to create the larger robin.
A stitched vessel by Cookie – I love the button and pouf!
A magical ship by Teirney.
A sweet elephant by Lindsay.
mushroom by Steph
I’ve made so many Elegant Rag Dolls! In fact I just received a wonderful Civil War reproduction fabric from Two Bees that will be my next lady’s dress!
Congratulations on 19 amazing years! I came for the fantastic ships about 9 years ago. I stayed for the playful creativity you bring to this blog and the inspiration in your newsletter. Thank you!
Happy 19th, Wow, so much creativity over the years, I have enjoyed every email, project and daily paintings, you have inspired me to just start a project and it always falls into something beautiful, so here’s to many many more creative years
Happy 19th anniversary. Your blog is one of the only ones I’ve never tired of through the many phases of my life. When I started reading my kids were 7,8 and 9 and now they are married with babies in the way. Your simple, joyful style has impacted me more than you could imagine.
I have receive so much inspiration from your blog and designs. I am a nature lover and have a heart for birds and animals. I decided to follow your hundred days of stitching this year and try my hand at making a book. Thank you for sharing. I also love your dolls. Congratulations on 19 years!
I made the wedding birds for my daughter’s wedding cake at her request- they were so much fun. Then when she had her first baby I made the boats into a mobile above his crib. Thank you for your lovely work. I also love Beatrix Potter and find her most inspiring. Congratulations!
I have truly enjoyed all of your projects, I have some of the patterns. I am so happy for you. I
thank you are a wonderful creator, and crafter. Thank you so much for sharing, all these years.
GOD BLESS YOU MY FREIND.
Oh so many years ago I was lucky to participate in a workshop with you in @athandstudio Fran Menely. Yesterday I came across my collection of seed pod’s & mushrooms from that time & the pleasure of that class swam over me!
Congratulations on 19 years! I started following you 10+ years ago. Made a galleon for a owl and a pussycat, many owls, mushrooms and bugs… You are an inspiration and I love the simplicity of your designs! I have loved hand-sewing since childhood and I’m so happy you are keeping this artform alive.
Well I’m a newbie in that I showed up some 8-9 years ago and stayed for the animal patterns, sweet mushrooms and little outfits for my dollhouse bunnies. Well done…all 19 years worth
Congratulations! Your blog always makes me smile. Years ago I made a few ships and there is a story behind them. We have four kids…now only one in her late 40’s. Norm and I think our kids are now older than we are…certainly wiser! Our first was a boy. I say first but my sister was going through a hard time and 6 weeks before he was born we added her two boys to our home. They were 9 and 11…and stayed with us for a year while she took self care. We then had three girls. If Norm ever saw two of the girls together he would ask where Cinderella was!! So of course all the ships are named Cindy.
Keep on creating and sharing. I’m still making things and need to craft every day. It is my happy place and I thank you for being a part of it xxx
It sounds as though we only have one child left! Not true…the other three are in their fifties!!!
Two ships hang in my dining room window, a sweet little doll lays in a sweet little bed in my studio with a pin girl nearby. Across the room there are chickens in nests and I know I’m forgetting a few other things at the moment. Thank you Ann for 19 years of sharing your imagination with us!! (The ships are my FAVORITE) (No, maybe the wire bed….., nope, the ships.)
Ann,
I just finished reading your blog from the beginning. What a lovely 19 years of doing what you love. Thank you for sharing your magic with us!
I have enjoyed your posts for years, can’t remember how many. But I began with a paper mache sailboat, and have the owl and mushroom patterns. Thank you so much for being here for us all! Hugs
Congratulations on 19 years, Ann! You’ve blessed me so much with your projects and patterns <3
Congratulations on 19 Years! This is no small feat. Thank you for making it such an enjoyable journey.