Growing

I had snapped this photo on Mother's Day from way across the yard at the patio door - marveling at the sweetness between the two of them, unprompted, no instructions to Bela to let Roman have a go with the hose.  Perfect gift for my day.  Over the past week of being gone, I scrolled through my camera photos more than once just to look at it and imagined (hoped) something just as good was happening at home without me.  And it must have been.  Because the garden is robust and twice the size it was when we left.  I believe all the children are too.

It is so good to be home.  More soon on my time at Quilt Market.  Hoping you are well.
xoxoxAM

Notes on Needlepoint

 

Today, needlepoint is on my sewing list.  I am working on some bag patterns that will include needlepoint panels in their design which has me incredibly giddy.  If you are familiar with how to sew a needlepoint into a pillow front, then sewing one into any other sewn good is not much different.  And even if you're not quite sure, it really works out in the most logical way, keeping your machine sewing seam line right into the last stitched row around the perimeter of the work.  This is easiest when you have the wrong side of the needlepoint facing you as you sew it to a pillow back, bag back, etc.  Just pretend like you're sewing with really thick fabric, which is really all it is... so use a bigger needle, take your time, and all those things.  I also think that velveteen is the perfect pairing with a needlepoint as a pillow back or otherwise.  The weight and textures are perfect together.

   

So if you needed any suggestions about my favorite pairings, here you go.  And please don't allow yourself to believe that I have single-handedly stitched up these two tapestries in the time since their release in April.  No, dearies.  Anchor was kind enough to send along some finished samples.  (Phew.)  Though I have to say, I am about 1/3 of the way through that Polka Dot Rose, because I couldn't hold out longer that about 5 minutes once the kit samples arrived late last fall.  I am so patient.

On the note of the actual stitching, I wanted to clarify something for those of you who might be using the kits in conjunction with the Needlepoint Know-how pdf that is available on my Make page.  The "tent stitch" which is used to complete these needlepoint designs can be made with 3 different methods, which the pdf illustrates.  Each method takes a different amount of wool to complete, so many use the simple half-cross stitch because it uses the least amount of wool.  However, I asked Anchor to include enough wool in the kits to be able to perform at least the continental stitch method which uses a little more wool, so that stitchers could have their choice of at least two methods.  While they did include this amount of wool in the kits they did not amend their kit instructions to note this, but rather they suggest using the half-cross method.  I was thrown off at first until I got confirmation form Anchor that there is indeed enough wool to do the continental method.  So this is why even our descriptions of the kits mention the same because I didn't want my descriptions to be in conflict with Anchor's.  Okay?  Okay.  Anyway, I think that they will amend the instructions on the next printing so that it reflects this fact.

Back to it,
stitches & kisses, Anna

Frolicking on Command

I am mid-thigh deep in Quilt Market preparation, layered in with book completion, final new pattern tweaking and what feels like everything else. I am only now getting sample yardage of my newest fabric collection, Field Study, which was suppose to be here in its entirety about 3 weeks ago.  So sewing it up in all that we had planned for booth samples has been interesting to say the least, as we have changed plans about 82.3 times now.  With less than half the time to sew that  I normally have, I've pulled in twice the help and every day there is some new plan about what exactly we are sewing depending which of the 36 total quilting fabrics has arrived.  Because there is such a rush, the mill is sending them piece by piece, sometimes 6, sometimes only 3 prints at a time.  It. Is. Kooky.  But somehow, it is keeping all the creating spontaneously chaotic in an entirely good way.  Like this little skirt might not have come together just like this yesterday afternoon if it weren't for the fact that these are 2 of the 6 fabrics that arrived yesterday, promptly creating some head scratching, then swift cutting and sewing, and of course last minute frolicking courtesy of Eleni for a pre-sunset photo. This is the All Set skirt, part of my first kids pattern collection (and I can safely say my first pattern bearing a kangaroo pocket).  Can't wait to share the rest of the new fabrics and patterns.  And I'm not even hiding anything.  I can't wait to see them either.  As in I'm camping on the front porch waiting to attack my poor Fedex man with scissors, needle and thread.

Also, I ate a strawberry out of our vegetable (fruit?) garden yesterday.  I've never tasted anything like it.  It was sweet spring perfection.

Happy May! xo, AM

Via Glittersmack

Where I leave notes for myself on her current hair color(s).
A mother has to keep up.
xoxoam

Dredged in Flower

Biltmore's conservatory.  What an indulgence it was for me to be able to take my time and just snap, snap, snap. Maybe these little souvenirs will hold you until you get the chance to see it yourself one day.  This is likely enough inspiration for me to draw pictures of flowers for at least a decade.  Sigh.

Thanks for the workshop sellout that happened pretty lickitysplit today.  I am so honored that there is that interest out there, and I promise to be a good hostess to those of you joining.  I simply cannot wait.  If you missed this one, let me know, and I'll add you to an interest/wait list for the future.

In other news:

:: My husband can not stop making tofu scramble like this.
:: I cannot stop watching/listening to this.
:: Somebody help me.
:: I can't get sick of it.
:: Tofu scramble on the other hand....

xoxoAMoxox

Lady on the Hill

I adore the nickname given to the Biltmore.  The structure is really quite stunning.  And it does seem to be a graceful lady of a house.  You feel permitted to love it as you tour the inside, because you learn of George Vanderbilt's legendary kindness.  So you can unapologetically love the beauty of it all.  Anyway.  I took so so many photos.  Not so many of the house exterior (you can't photograph the interior), but the several of grounds as I have for you below. I took even more of the conservatory and dozens of intoxicating greenhouse blooms which I'll share next. I could have kept snapping for another few hours. Above is me with mom, and Eleni, my sissy. Enjoy the rest.


If you've been waiting for more in depth info about the fall needleworks workshop, here's a pdf:

Needleworks Nashville

The info pdf is also now located at the shop page where the event will be on sale Wednesday morning.
xoxo, Anna

Add stitching and combine gently

I am happy you guys enjoyed some of the foodie love I offered yesterday (and to answer a Q, that table linen is 4 yards of gorgeous fabric that I found in NYC last fall... cannot remember the name of the store, but it was a shop in the garment district that is nothing but linen).

I was thinking today about my go-togethers. I have favorite movie genres that I pair with various types of handwork that depend on the focus needed for each.  I should make a chart sometime (it's right there in my head, I just need to write it out). Jeff and I have exhausted almost every single British period piece available in the Netflix instant streaming offerings.  We were so sad to come to the end of all of the Catherine Cookson novel adaptations (where even the low-budget ones are 10x better than most anything on the television).  All the drama.  So entertaining.  The typical British kind.  Wealth.  Poverty. Getting knocked up out of wedlock, etc.  (Why do we relate so well?  Hm.) I get frustrated when I have lots of handwork to do and Jeff wants to watch something with subtitles.  Although, maybe not as frustrated as he does, because he begins reading the movie out loud to me if he notices that my eyes are cast on the fabric and not the screen.  So funny.  He really does love me.  Documentaries are really good for handwork that requires a lot of focus because while its nice to see everything, it is just as good to listen.  Today I've been watching (listening to) Wild China.  Utterly fascinating so far.  I'm finishing up the works that will be featured on the front of my new embroidery patterns.  Anyone who drops by, lives or works in this house will tell you that I pretty much always have something in my hands.  My left arm felt no pain, not even a twitch, at holding a candle through midnight service for 3 hours at Easter because it is so used to holding a hoop up to my face.  It might become permanently bent.

But before it does.... I have a big announcement!  I've been working away to put together a really, really fun needleworks weekend for this fall!  I love Nashville.  So why don't you come here?  I am so excited about sharing it with whoever is able to join me.  And I am loving my new book so far too, so I am beyond excited to celebrate it's publication during this special weekend.  I've put together preliminary information here.  I'll also be sending out an email to everyone on my mailing list today.  I'm letting you know a week in advance of the workshop being available for purchase so that hopefully anyone who is interested will have time to plan and see if it's a possibility.  I can't wait!  I plan to post more info on that store page on Monday that will hopefully answer any of your questions.  Stitching goes really well with friends.

I'll be packing my needles and threads tomorrow to head for a weekend at the Biltmore with my mom and sister.  Just the three of us.  I am hoping they will speak English so I can keep my eyes on my work and not read the subtitles under their heads.

smack.  AM

On the Menu

Xristos Anesti!
Care for lunch?
Here's what we had (and are still having):

Lamb: 2 rolled boneless legs from Whole Foods (8 lbs or so).  I rub salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and lemon juice on them, and made small incisions with a knife to insert garlic cloves in several places.  Then I seared them in a hot pan of my dad's olive oil and placed them in a crock pot for about 5 hours.  A very delicious alternative to roasting on a souvla (spit).  I drizzled a bit of red wine on them about midway through cooking.

Kefthedes (aka meatballs): I used ground beef from the cow that Jeff's step dad, Ben,  gave us for Christmas.  It was already butchered.  But we were still really happy about it.  Anyway- 3lbs ground beef hand mixed with salt pepper, parsley, oregano, cinnamon, chopped garlic and onion, 1 cup bread crumbs, 1/2 cup parmesan, 2 eggs.  And a douse of red wine.

Red Potatoes: chopped and mixed with fresh garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, lots of fresh lemon juice and some fresh sprigs of rosemary- oven roasted for about an hour.  I sprinkle that with red wine mid way through cooking too.  Ahem.

Spanokopita and Tiropita: the "spano" version is a mixture of one large container cottage cheese, 2-3 eggs, steamed and squeezed spinach, and a small block of feta.  I spoon that into a tri-folded length of filo dough which is then folded (like flag folding) into little triangles to trap the cheese.  The "tiro" version is the same but without the spinach.  And both are generously brushed with melted butter before baking at 400 until golden.

Asparagus:  Because we've been eating so many vegetables for forty days, these bundles of asparagus were asked to wrap themselves in half a slice of bacon before being invited.  First I rub olive oil and salt and pepper all over the freshly trimmed and rinsed springs before wrapping about 5 or 6 together with bacon.  Then I broil on the top rack at 465 for about 10 minutes. 

Green Salad: Fresh greens, mini tomatoes tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper.

Tsoureki:  My mom brought the sweet bread so I'm not sure of her recipe but here is one example, maybe she'll enlighten us in the comments section if she sees this.  When I asked her she said, Oh I don't use a recipe.  Show off.

Yellow cake: Also brought by my mom but I never asked about it because my mouth was full.

Family:  I sprinkled them with kisses and candy, and doused a few of them in red wine too.

thanks for coming,
xoxoxo, Anna

Alicia, my children think you're a genius.

Of course I agree with them. Eastern Orthodox Easter is one week later than Western Easter this year, so in addition to getting all your Easter candy on sale (thanks for leaving some), I also have an extra week to absorb some really good egg dying ideas.  In addition to our traditional solid red eggs, as soon as I saw my friend Alicia's botanical eggs, I was dying to do it (pardon the pun).  Falling in line with their typical kid selves, the children did not trust me when I explained the process.  There were smirks, huhs, quizzical brows, rolled eyes, and every manner of mom-yer-dumb looks on their faces.  Then I pulled up Alicia's post on my laptop and a chorus of aaaahhhoooOOOHhh came over the room.  Why do I always have to prove myself to this bunch.  Hmpf.  This is one rare occurrence where I am totally happy to give someone else the credit (even if those stinkers shouldn't need proof).  (Anyway, Alicia, and then they kept reading your blog while I did most of the work.)

I am so excited about this weekend!  Juliana is coming home tonight, my parents are coming Sunday and we will break the fast in every delicious manner possible.  But first, Saturday we will plant all our Spring veg in the newly built raised beds in the backyard then take big long naps before we wake everyone up for a midnight Resurrection Liturgy.  I have such sweet memories of giving in to sleep on my mother's lap at midnight service, using her crocheted shawl as a blanket. 

I hope you have a lovely weekend.  Should you need to mess around with fabric, Bianca has started a Quilt Along for the Patchwork Prism quilt as well as gathered up some incentive for playing along!

smack! AM

Hello There

How was your weekend? And the past few weeks? I hope good and happy.



I am so excited to finally be able to share these projects with you- they are the Patchwork Prism Quilt & Sham that I designed for Janome. And they're ready to be downloaded, viewed, flickr'd and all! Visit my Janome page or Janome's Anna Maria page - either way you'll find everything you need to make your own. I loved making this project so very much.  I included mostly my own prints + Liberty + some Denyse + Kaffe too.



We even have some print by color stacks in the shop for you if you're so inclined. The sham has gotten quite cozy on my bed.



It is such a lot of work to get things just the way you want them, especially in the format of video, but I really hope you enjoy watching it.  Mostly I hope that, together with the pattern pdfs, it makes building this quilt easier and more exciting. All the linkies should be working but of course let me know if something isn't doing what it's suppose to do. I've been in a house full of kids on Spring Break for 10 days so I can handle it. Hit me.

Next, lots of catching up to do with you. xoxo, Anna

Brain via Bullets

* hihowdyho

*I'm sorry this post title sounds like a surgery documentary that I would cover my eyes through.

*That Anna (the other one) is too nice. What started as her making fun of me to my face (which is what helps her keep her job) ended with her saying very nice things on my blog.

*She was promptly scolded for that.

*Kidding. I wuvher.

*If you were to photograph the inside of my brain right now, I am certain it would look exactly like the above.

*That is my book cover.

*Kidding again.

*Last night I walked by Isabela hunched over the dining room table trying to draw something with her left hand and I overheard her mumbling I wish I was both-handed.

*Good thinking, I told her. Then I spent five minutes staring at the ceiling and wondering if I were both-handed would I also then have enough coordination to be able to type with one hand and sew with the other? Which would do which? Hm.

*I am so looking forward to getting on the other side of my book deadlines for many reasons not the least of which is the fact that I can actually hear that giant expanse of prepared soil that I worked on all last summer begging me to plant, plant, plant. I hear it. It has a kinda whiny voice. That could be my own voice in my brain I imagine.

*But reporting back on how that cardboard method of weed control is going: AMAZING! Just a few weeds that are the springy type kinda sitting on the surface and really easy to yank out.

*We are planning a vegetable garden in the back yard which we've never done, and thinking it will be a built raised bed, and also the kids' responsibility. The weather is telling me we better get going. They seem excited, and especially when we all talk and plan together. I'll report back.

*The neighbors are getting chickens.

*No fair.

*I told the kids if they take good care of their vegetables this year then we will consider chickens next year.

*I know that chickens are not much like vegetables. But they will both be in the back yard. And they do taste delicious together. Although we just want their eggs. And to give them swanky old fashioned names. The chickens, not the eggs. Yea. I'll do some reading. Promise.

*Some kid called the house the other night and asked for Nick

*I told him he had the wrong number

*Pause

*Pause

*Is this #xxx-xxxx?, he asked

*Yes, I said (duh)

*And Nick Horner doesn't live there? he replied.

*ooooooooohhhhhhhhh NICOLAS? I exclaimed. I'm sorry I thought you said MICK.

*I didn't think he said MICK. I made that up fast because I was too embarrassed to admit my denial and therefore mental incapacities with regard to my son's NICKname. I really had no idea who that kid was talking about. Nick?

I do hope you're having a good day, xoxoxoAM

The Devil Wears Pajamas, Chapter 1

Hi Folks!

Anna here. And by Anna, I mean Anna Michelle, not Anna Maria. That's right, today while Anna Maria Horner is in crazy-person-writing-a-book-on-a-deadline mode you get to sit through the ramblings of her intern Anna Michelle Johnson.

Some of you may have read our interview from this past summer, and know that I started habitually reading this very blog several years ago - which means that I was completely, totally and absolutely over the moon when I had the opportunity to become an intern. I had a general idea of what a day in the life at designer's studio would look like, and the thought of working alongside someone as known and recognized as Anna Maria was literally a dream come true for me. So naturally I felt every initial fear and insecurity that would expectedly come from a young girl meeting and working with her role model. Luckily for me, those feelings were all completely unnecessary, and quickly overcome. Unlike my expectations, AMH has made it evident from day one that her goal is not running a business but simply to create beautiful things, and inspire others to do the same (and I think we can all agree that she more than lives up to it). This has made for an extremely interesting and rewarding work environment for me.

On any given day I can be found cutting fabric stacks, helping AMH prep for classes and trips, assisting (or modeling) in photo shoots, or filling orders for the shop; so basically it's an ideal job for a fashion design student and all around craft lover like myself. However, you might also find me picking paint from a quilt market project out of my hair and fingernails, sweating in the attic over boxes of pillows and patterns, or chasing down an escaped dog (or toddler) or two. Glamorous, I know. But despite how much fun and how useful it is for me to be getting this much experience in my field (or out in her field), that's not the reason I've stuck around to graduate from summer intern to part-time. I keep coming back for the craziness that is Anna Maria Horner. She's kind of a freak, did you know that? Mother, wife, daughter, friend, business woman, painter, stitcher and all around magician. Now how many people can say that they've successfully accomplished all of those things? And all before the age of (don't tell her I told you this) 40! How does she do it? Well, after almost a year of close examination, I have made almost no earth shattering discoveries. She is just a woman doing what she loves and was called to do, and she has motivated me become that kind of crazy as well.

So whether or not it comes as a surprise to you, my "Devil" wears pajamas. All day, almost everyday. And in fact, she would encourage anyone to do the same.

And now back to Isabela painting my nails for a book photo shoot which Anna asked me to do once she saw what I was wearing today. She is waiting impatiently for my nails to be ready as the sunlight fades. She's doing that in her pajamas.

xoxo
Anna Michelle