1. Collaboration with Sid – My friend Sid is 10 (almost 11) and she is a creative super star. Our imaginations vibe hard and for a large part of last year we collaborated on a painting.
We each did some work and then delivered it for response – penpal style… We’re gearing up for our 2026 Edition now. A solid collaboration is creativity boosting magic.
2. A new shape on my work table – I spent a lot of time this past summer in the woodshed with Octopus friends. I’m definitely a process person, working out a new shape, watching a presence emerge is my happiest place. I’ll share more about these guys soon.
3. Lonesome dove – Oh boy. I read (and loved) all 864 pages of Lonesome Dove. It has left me with a serious book hangover. I miss my friends on the trail. Somebody call Augustus McCrae! I can’t go on without him…
4. Stationary – Who knew? All of a sudden the stationary department had explosive growth. This is year 8 of a painting every day. I’m thinking about all sorts of new ways to make things from them. There is definitely going to be a 2027 Calendar (already in the works) and new cards are in the shop now. Most ambitious – I’m starting to roll around ideas for creating patterns from them and making fabric… What do you think?
5. The 2025 stitch club projects – The 100 day stitch book challenge and the 2 smaller challenges. The small daily stitching practice is so fruitful in generating ideas I added a couple smaller challenges to stitch club.
6. I’ve pretty much stopped using my dryer – If a crispy towel is wrong I don’t want to be right. Full disclosure, a few things still get dryer dried- anything that looks stretched and weird if air dried- some t-shirts etc. Mostly I just like the feel of air dried clothes. I also tend to keep stuff for a long time and the dryer is tough on things. Plus I prefer linen sheets and learned the hard way to never put linen in the dryer. I’ve yet to fulfill my life long ambition of having an outside clothesline but using a folding drying rack works well. Incidentally, I was surprised to see my electric bill drop a bunch. Such a win.
7. A cozy spot – Speaking of sheets – so much joy. It’s the cozy headquarters of ann wood handmade and my fortress of solitude… I love super early mornings with coffee, correspondence, percolating ideas and wordle.
I love hanging out clothes and air dried towels is nature’s way of exfoliating our skin, plus they smell so good.
I was fortunate to find a vintage retractable clothesline at an estate sale a number of years ago, for only 50c! It’s not big enough to hang a ton of laundry, but I do hang up what I can. We live in an old house and as I use the clothesline, I like to think that it connects me to the families who lived in our house before us.
I ought to get an indoor clothes rack for the wintertime too!
I love that you included what you were reading lonesome dove is on my shelf for over a year!
Can’t wait for the octopus
I have a really hard time using my dryer. Even n winter I will hang my bedding & towels out. If they don’t dry completely I bring them in and hang them over doors, the smell is soooooo wonderful.
Jeg vil ikke eje en tørretumbler! Jeg bruger Vor Herres store gratis tumbler = et tørrestativ udenfor. Og jeg nyder duften af tøjet, når det kommer ind.
Annette
Have you seen the YouTube videos on “The coldest place on earth”? They literally freeze dry their clothes!!
Can’t wait for a new octopus friend….
My “Sid” is Maddie. She is also 10 going on 11 and is my bonus granddaughter. Even though we live in the same town, she has lots of other activities that keep us apart. I would love to collaborate with her on an art project such as your drawing that will keep us connected. How do you share the project? Is it online?
A big fan of yours in Pennsylvania,
Susan
Your newsletters are SO nurturing, fulfilling and INSPIRING. THANK you for all you do to share this goodness— my heart is bright thanks to YOU<–!!
I’m a passionate cothes hanger outer, love Wordle, and love planning my day in bed with Wordle, my planner, phone, and coffee! Its the warmest place in our house.
Sy Montgomery wrote a lovely book – “The Soul of an Octopus” which is very thought provoking and I am only 1/2 way through. It would go well with what is on your worktable.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a lovely (fictional) Octopus read too!
Ann,
I fell in love when I first found your page. You’ve inspired me to be more creative and enjoy the beauty in using up what I have.
Living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has been a perfect move for us. I handwash, line dry, and plant a huge garden, all Living as simply as I can. I designed my own style of dresses years ago, easy to sew and comfy. Keep up the great work!!
Did you mean that you are going to have fabrics printed with some of your drawings? Your paintings would make fabulous fabrics!
I’m in Australia, home of the famous Hills Hoist, so almost everyone hangs their clothes out. I have a dryer but use it mainly to dry finished quilts. I have a line under the pergola and one in the garage if the weather’s wet or frosty. My daughter lives in Ohio and I was surprised there were no clotheslines to be seen, and she used the dryer every day.
That octopus is looking fabulous.
Hi Ann, I’m in Perth West Aus, I love my washing lines outside down the side of the house, under cover of the roof extension my husband built for me. They run the length of the house so I can do 7 loads and leave them to dry without worrying about the weather. Also perfect for keeping our harsh sunlight off to prevent fading and ending up like cardboard.
I have a dryer but rarely use it, maybe just to ‘finish’ off something in the winter that I need but I really hate using it. I can’t imagine drying my weekly washing in it, that must cost a fortune! I’m happy I don’t have to
Western Australian here who uses a dryer maybe four or five times a year. Mind you, we do have a much warmer, sunnier Mediterranean climate here, which helps. If your towels dry hard and scratchy, it’s because you’re using way too much laundry powder. Try halving the amount. They’ll still wash perfectly clean. Adding white vinegar to the rinse water (the smell quickly dissipates) and hanging them out on a windy day are also instant softeners.
Outside clotheslines were all I knew in my young life in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Yes, I’m OLD! And for my old age in a retirement community, I purchased one of these. The small size holds a full load of laundry.
https://sunshineclothesline.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqVUCjC9meTEFfY7qyNnyQ-vjQ4SrHi4oCy6PAMTLtyUKQyi2Ff
Thank you so much for all the wonderful inspiration! Continued happiness and success to you in 2026.
My youngest daughter had a canopy type bed without the top canopy. It’s metal and it’s my indoor clothesline for all the things we don’t want to shrink. With the ceiling fan right over it, it’s perfect for drying many items
Lonesome Dove is a favorite. Living in Houston and near Rice University where McMurtry taught at the time, he debuted his book at the well-known independent bookstore. I was lucky to get to meet Larry and have my copy of his book signed by him.
Hi Ann, l live in windy wellington, new Zealand, so drying clothes outside is the norm,everything smells fresh!
I live in the Highlands in Australia with shorter cooler days but still hang my washing outdoors. If needed I move them inside to an airer, where the warm air from the heater finishes them off. Summertime brings a joyful warm dry wash.
I live on MDI off the coast of Maine and I love my outside clothesline and inside drying racks. My mom and Grandmas all had clotheslines. Hanging clothes on the line is my favorite chore…doesn’t even feel like a chore!
Your work is an inspiration, and SO enjoyable. I made one of your dear circus elephants over the holidays, then immediately two more- such wonderful little ladies! So, (can I say this without being naggy – heaven forbid!!!?) is there another circus animal pattern to be purchased? I have looked on the Etsy site, but wonder if I am missing any patterns? Just thought I would ask. If not, I will patiently wait for the next one! Thank you for these amazing patterns!
Have always been a fan of yours Ann, but now that you are a publicly acclaimed Lonesome Dove fan, even more so!! Larry McMurtry channelled characters and stories in such a magical way.
I am inspired by the fortress. Might have to reframe the language for my space… Looking forward to what comes next – surely good things will come from mornings that start there!
Wishing you a beautiful 2026.
I air dry many of my clothing items, and have a clothesline I use when weather is nice. I line dry all my sheets and quilts in the spring and summer, but my family does not like “crispy” towels. (My 3yo’s proclamation many years ago! – he’s 17 now.) Your posts always inspire me to go make something. Thank you.
Octopus is my spirit animal so I always know when I’ve landed in the right place when I see one. Seems like Lonesome Dove is having a rebirth among the book community. My husband just read it for the first time and he is PICKY and loved it.
If you haven’t read Broken Country HIGHLY recommend. A lovely story. Also available in Audiobooks and has a very good reader which makes or breaks a book in my opinion.
I sometimes compromise- 10 minutes in the dryer to beat out weird shaping and then hang dry for the rest 🙂 Also, just commenting that it’s nice to read someone’s thoughts on a blog post still 🙂 Always enjoy your newsletters and seeing what you’re working on!
Omg just thought you could sew buttons on the octopus tentacles to represent their suction cups
With the current state of our world, I rebel against the rising cost of everything . I refuse to give in . So my first, easiest let go, was my dryer and oven both electric. These appliances use a lot of power. I use a small counter top toaster oven and you would be amazed ! I have cooked all our favorites including bread. I now use a drying rack for clothes and have additional hanging space in our small laundry room. My heating bill and electric bill currently have a credit . It’s been a thoughtful process of assessing true need, not giving into the utility power grid, and making an environmental impact .