annwood – ann wood handmade

All posts by annwood

the february report

February 27, 2026

by annwood

2 Journal sticker sets with whimsical animal characters.

Greetings from the depths of winter. March and climatological spring (I’ll take it) start on Sunday. I’m so ready. Lets close out February with a look at what’s on my work table.

This blue guy was the first successful octopus attempt. He’s made from a super soft old drape I got in France a couple years ago. Half of it was dyed blue with woad. His legs have a light wire armature. I experimented with lots of different gauges of wire before I landed on what feels like the right amount of bendability. If it’s too stiff they lose that octopus melty quality.

I love their presence. They inhabited my living room as a native species. In short- they act like they own the joint.

I’m still in the woodshed with these guys – there is more to learn.

I made a few to celebrate Fortuny’s new collection Polpo.

ceramic owls and ornaments

Fresh from the kiln – the first little owl vessels. I’m so excited about these and there are lots more in the works. And I’ve got a bunch of rustic delft-ish ornaments too – houses, cats, fish, owls and fleur-de lis.

I’m putting together a shop update now for March – stay tuned.

stitch book

Today is day 43! Of the 100 day stitch book challenge. And tomorrow – Saturday – finishes page 9. The halfway point is almost upon us. It’s going by too fast. I’ll go on and on about this in the next blog post. The page above is page 8. I started with a folk arty shape that’s been appearing in my experiments for a while. She has turned up in paintings, ceramics, and in the stitched scroll.

*This post contains an affiliate link – meaning I get a small commission if you purchase through the link – marked with an asrerisk.

journal stickers

Perfect for your correspondence or journal or calendar. Punctuate your ideas with a reclining asparagus spear or strolling fish. I’m in my third year of using an old school day planner – still the *Hobonichi Techno. I love using these stickers to dress up my to do list and calendar and notes. The day planner works super well for me as a functional thing but there is also an element of delight and the stickers add to that. They’re made from imagery taken from 7 plus years of daily paintings. There are more sets in the works including a miss thistle collection.

Also from the painting department – I’m trying to find joy in the snow…

“If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow”

Are you ready for spring? How does 43-ish days of daily stitching feel? Do you find Joy in the snow?! Let us know in the comments.

stitch book : the secret ingredient

February 6, 2026

by annwood

Group of 5 stitch collages on my worktable- all abstract compostitions.

Challenging yourself and pushing your thinking expands your thinking. That’s what we’re here for. The goal of the 100 day stitch book : think more, think better, let your voice emerge.

At first glance the challenge is about commitment, making the time. But time and commitment are just a container. Now we bring energy and intention to that space.

Creativity is associated with being free and uninhibited but it’s constraints that most efficiently power the engine (this is especially true if you’re feeling stuck). Your imagination is a muscle and working with limitations is calisthenics. The secret ingredient – limits – energize and focus your process. And limits don’t eliminate playfulness. For me they expand it.

learn about the stitch book challenge here

To that end, we’re working with page prompts in stitch club this year – one for each page. The prompt is a boundary and an invitation. Our page 4 prompt was circles:

circles – page 4

Limit yourself to circles. They can overlap or not. They can be partial or full. You can play with scale and the negative space they create.

Simple right? Spend a little time with that idea and you’ll find out how challenging and motivating it is.

Stitched collage in progress -all design elements are circular.

day 1

day 2

day 3

day 4

page 4 – day 5

I found it incredibly difficult. I worked harder and it was the best kind of work – focused entirely on the feeling, the composition. Composition is a big subject and we’ll talk more about it in another post.

Also yellow is a surprise this year. It’s never been a prominent color for me and all of a sudden this year its a real player.

make a valentine swan box

I made this free swan box DIY for you ages ago. You can find it here. Thanks to Naomi from Material Studies for noticing it would be a super sweet valentine to make for your people – red ribbon and maybe little heart chocolates – so dear. This is also a remarkable instance of creative blogs linking to each other like they did in the good old days of the internet.

Is there a paper swan valentine in your future? As we begin page 5! and the 1/4 mark in the stitch book challenge how are you feeling in your process? What limit could you apply to challenge yourself? Let us know in the comments.

stitch book challenge 2026 – day 1

January 16, 2026

by annwood

colorful vintage fabric scraps and sewing notions on my worktable

Congratulations. You have created an excellent situation. You’ve got some fabric scraps, an assignment and a small, daily, dedicated chunk of time. Wonderful conditions for having ideas, trying stuff and listening to yourself.

Are you nervous? Excited? This is my 5th stitch book challenge and I’m both each time. But mostly I’m curious, and I hope you are too.

Follow your curiosity.

let’s get started

Before you begin please read both of these pages completely:

1. Begin here and don’t skim – you will miss stuff.

2. The tutorial for how to cut your pages and make the book is here. The book is assembled after the 100 days of stitching but it’s essential to know where we are headed. Take special note of how the pages will be stitched together and where you might want to leave a margin.

please keep in mind

* You will have the option to finish with raw or turned edges. The book on the right has raw edges and the book on the left has finished edges- you can do either when we assemble at the end of the 100 days. It’s good to decide which you want before you start.

*15 minutes per day is a suggestion – a minimum – overachievers are very welcome to do more.

*The stitch book process lends itself to improvisational stitching – start without knowing – work without a plan. It’s not the only way to approach the book but it’s my focus and when I offer suggestions and inspiration sources that will be the context.

*Community helps. We are each other’s accountability partners. Showing work in progress keeps you on track. It’s not mandatory to post every single day but it’s helpful to take a photo of each day’s progress for yourself.

*Speaking of sharing – you can share on insta etc with:

#stitchbookchallenge2026

FYI – Hashtags can take a while to show up on social media.

You can also – totally optional – join the stitch club community – it’s the private sharing space for ann wood handmade.

Accountability, feedback, support and fellowship. All that human stuff.

You don’t need to join stitch club to participate in the challenge but it does offer the aforementioned benefits plus:

New this year – optional page prompts! If you’re feeling unsure about getting started this can be the perfect approach. Your work will still be entirely self directed but the prompts can get your wheels turning. Also, it does not have to be either/or – you can choose which prompts to use and which to skip.

day 1

the part where you have to start

One thing leads to another if you let it. To set yourself up for success remove as many obstacles as possible. Have your supplies ready ahead of time. Have a to-go kit. Have a plan for the bad days. Daily practice is hard. Congratulate yourself for showing up.

As soon as you start a feedback loop begins, you get information. That’s what we’re here for. Listen carefully for the magic – it is there- waiting to be noticed…

Good luck! Are you ready for 100 days of stitching? Let us know in the comments.

7 things that brought me joy in 2025

January 16, 2026

by annwood

stitched octopus shapes in progress on my work table

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…

water color painting of a vintage feeling white cake ringed with cherries and candles on a green crystal cake stand

water color painting of a vintage feeling white formal cake with candles on a crystal cake stand

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.

What brought you joy in 2025? Are you a fan of a clothesline? Reading anything great? Are you a wordler? Let us know in the comments and a happy 2026 to you.

get ready for stitch book 2026 – and community signups are open

January 9, 2026

by annwood

group of four textile books on a work table with art and sewing suplies

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working,”

Pablo Picasso

Boom. That’s it. That ‘s the reason for showing up for this (entirely doable) 100 day discipline.

Don’t wait for ideas. Don’t wait until you feel like it. Make the time, make the space and show up and listen to yourself.

Listening to yourself is a skill. Getting unstuck requires strategy. Ideas need a place to show up. Daily practice makes that space. Keeping the practice small puts it firmly in the doable zone. Your ability to listen to yourself grows in those conditions.

That is what this challenge is about: intentionally creating an environment for creative growth.

Committing to a do-able assignment and applying small consistent effort is as close to a magic formula as there is for growing creatively and getting unstuck.

will you join us for the 2026 challenge?

To set yourself up for success on day one- Jan 16th – take some easy actions now. Download your checklist here. Then begin with the overview here.

Community helps too. Accountability, feedback, support and fellowship. All that human stuff.

You don’t need to join stitch club to participate in the challenge but it does offer the aforementioned benefits plus:

Also new this year – The membership will close on January 20th. It will remain closed for the duration of the challenge.

stitch club membership is open

What happens in stitch club? It’s the private ann wood handmade community, a great place to get inspired, share what you’re working on and make sewy friends.

If you’ve visited here before you already know that I’m a cheerleader for daily practice. I’ve just begun year 8! of a painting everyday. My ideas show up in those paintings and in the stitch book. The stitch book form has been so productive that I added similar smaller challenges to stitch club: the summer scroll and fall stitch journal. We wrapped up the fall journal in December and I’m thinking about page order and assembly now.

I approached the stitching the same way I approach the 100 day book – improvisational, yes and, see what turns up.

stitch book challenge 2026 begins 1/16 and ends 4/25

Daily practice does not always feel good. For me it is the best of days and the worst of days. The bad days are part of the good days though and that is inescapable. It’s the habit I protect and this mantra gets me through the bad days:

“Reduce the scope, stick to the schedule “

James Clear

I protect the habit because it’s easier to keep going than to start. I protect it because it supports my momentum. And I protect it because I am most creative within structure.

I’ve gathered some ideas and lessons learned from the previous years to help you get ready.

thinking of the pages in pairs

Totally optional but I have loved having a second chance at compositions by treating 2 pages as one image/idea in previous book. I mostly did not work on the two pages consecutively. When I wasn’t happy with what I’d done, putting the idea aside and letting it percolate helped a lot.

I’m also leaning towards leaving my edges raw again.

Support the 100 day stitch book project and the always growing free pattern library.

Click here to add your support.

make it easy

Make it easy to show up. Have your materials accessible and transportable. 15 minutes is even more doable if everything is already set up.

plan for the bad days

This is so important. There will be some bad days. Some too busy or sick or too something days. The secret to those days is a predetermined, minimally acceptable effort.

Protect the habit

protect the momentum and do something.

and if you do miss a day?

Keep going. Maybe do an extra 15 minutes when you can.

warm up

Putting things in a box is a great way to begin.

I’m putting things in a box now and I’ll be back on the 16th with some ideas and encouragement.

Will you join me in 100 days of stitching? Are you a stitch book veteran or thinking about diving in for the first time? Let us know in the comments.

onward!

ann

happy goose ornament : sewing tutorial

December 12, 2025

by annwood

Small stitched ivory goose ornament with a green flannel scarf.

The feet are so happy! And because of how they are assembled the placement is a little bit of a surprise every time. The little differences are extra sweet when you’re making a whole flock. Which of course you should. Your people need happy geese.

Plus they are easy and quick. And kind of shockingly cute, if I do say so myself, and apparently I do.

let’s make a whole bunch of happy geese

You can sew by hand or machine- I’ve done both and prefer to hand stitch them. If you’re new to sewing find some tips for small hand stitching right here.

Please read through the steps before beginning.

download the pattern

You will also need:

fabric scraps – light cotton or linen
felt
embroidery thread
stuffing
a basic sewing kit
pencil

: 1.

: 2.

1. Pin the body pattern to 2 layers of fabric with the right sides together and cut out.

2. Mark the wings, eye, and the two small dots on the bottom on the right side of the fabric. You can also skip the wings if you like- it’s cute without them too.

: 3.

: 4.

3. Mark your seam allowance on the wrong side of one piece. Note where to leave open. Your seam line should be precisely at 1/4 inch for the best result.

4. Cut out one beak and two feet from felt.

5. On the piece without the seam line place the beak and feet as shown on the right side of the fabric. The feet go between the dots, they can overlap a little. Make a couple little stitches very close to the edge to tack the beak and feet to the fabric.

: 6.

: 7.

6. Pin the other piece over- right sides together. Catch the beak and tips of the feet with the pins.

7. Stitch around the goose with small straight stitches. Leave open as indicated.

Support free patterns like happy geese! It’s been a priority here for years to create high quality free patterns (there are tons) on an ad free site. There are not very many of those left… Help keep the awesome free projects flowing.

Click here to add your support.

: 8.

: 9.

8. Clip little triangles from the seam allowance around the curves.

9. Use your chopstick to turn the goose right side out.

: 10.

: 11.

10. Stuff- start with very little bits- all the way up into the head.

11. Fold the edges of the body opening in and whipstitch closed.

12. Use this method for hiding your knots for adding the details. I added a couple little stitches on each side for eyes.

: 13.

: 14.

13. These details are so optional- it’s cute with or without. The wing line is back stitched with a light tan embroidery thread.

14. For the tail I stitched through both sides with straight stitches. The last stitch is knotted at the seam.

handmade christmas 2025

December 12, 2025

by annwood

Stitck christmas tree with a variety of vintage and handmade ornaments.

I like my christmas with extra christmas on it. There are 5 “trees” this year. Let’s start with the kitchen tree. Orange slices and ceramic ornaments. This was a pretty spontaneous assemblage and I love it so much.

The little norfolk pine has mini, neutral colored glass ornaments (estate sale find) so pretty.

I decorated and then knocked this stick tree over twice. Adequately weighting the base is so key. I added a bunch more ballast (pennies, nickels and dimes) to the vase and it’s solid now. Another Pro Tip for stick trees – don’t look for one perfect stick- bundle a couple excellent sticks together. Packing tape works really well and you can cover it with fabric or ribbon.

The tree garland was knitted by my sister- i love taking it out every year.

The cardinal is made from the merry wobbler pattern with these modifications.

If some is good then more is better does apply to christmas decorations. I added another little stick tree for overflow – and it can hold the silly amount of happy geese I’m making now.

And the big guy. All my Mom’s antique ornaments. So twinkly. It’s got a new base this year – an antique cast iron mini tree stand. I’ve been looking for one for ages, it’s brilliant. The star on top is made using this method but with paper and foil.

I’m basking in all the christmas and making plans for 2026. The first big event of the year will be the 100 day stitch book. If you plan on doing it now is a great time to join the (totally optional) stitch club community. You’ll have a chance to get oriented and you get the remainder of the 2025 for free.

I’m also shipping lots of calendars, making gifts and working on a couple top secret projects I’ll share in the new year.

I’m pretty sure I’ve got one more blog post in me before we close out 2025 – I want to share one of my favorite projects from this year and some more percolating ideas for next.

Merry Christmas to you! I hope your season is peaceful and bright,

ann

christmas project ideas

November 29, 2025

by annwood

hand painted brown paper and tags and ornament extras

Crows are definitely Christmasy! The stitched crow was heavily featured in my 2023 holiday decor- it’s one of my all time favorites.

little holiday project ideas

I love a sweet package and painted brown paper and bakers twine is my all time favorite gift wrap. There are so many possibilities for a little stitched extra on top to finish it off. Some favorites are : woebegone pines, stitched fish, minimalist chickens and little owl ornaments.

The cardinals above are made from the merry wobbler pattern using these modifications.

This post contains an affiliate link- meaning I get a small commission if you purchase through the link – it’s marker with an *asterisk.

Make a batch of jingle stars (free pattern) for your tree. *I got the bells here.

The lace spout is everything. Find the whale ornament pattern here.

Like an elf on the shelf but way judgier – find the free frog pattern here.

Just wax paper and a few craft supplies make these “crystal” snowflake ornaments. The result is truly magical.

The mini size from the mushroom pattern makes a perfect ornament or gift. It’s available as a downloadable pdf or a booklet.

The mouse pattern is free and he sails in a little felt boat – pattern.

Happy thanks giving and stay tuned for the 2026 Christmas tree! Do you have a favorite little holiday project? Signature giftwrap? Let us know in the comments.

acorn pouch sewing tutorial

November 21, 2025

by annwood

I’ve made you something! Stitch little acorn pouches from scraps. For little folks you could add a face or string a name tag on the ties for extra special thanksgiving table place cards. The truly ambitious could embroider names.

You probably already have everything you need to get started.

A couple notes:

Acorns can be sewn by hand or machine – if you’re machine sewing they only take about 20 minutes to make.

They work well in batches- sew up a bunch.

Please read through the steps before beginning.

DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN

you will need

- the template
- cotton scraps – for the cap and bottom
- twill tape or ribbon – about 30 inches
- a basic sewing kit
- optional – pinking shears

: 1

: 2

1. Pin the acorn top and bottom templates to 2 layers of fabric- right sides together – and cut out. Also cut a strip of the acorn top fabric that is 2 inches wide and 12 and 1/4 inched long.

2. Pin each acorn top to each acorn bottom – right sides together. Stitch a seam across the top with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

: 3

: 4

3. Press the seams open.

4. Pin the acorn pieces- right sides together – and mark the seam line and sew one side – highlighted above in white.

Support free patterns like acorn pouches! It’s been a priority here for years to create high quality free patterns (there are tons) on an ad free site. There are not very many of those left… Help keep the awesome free projects flowing.

Click here to add your support.

: 5

: 6

5. Press the acorn top seam open.

6. Fold over one edge of the strip 1/4 inch.

: 7

: 8

7. Fold again- 1/4 inch and stitch the fold in place.

8. Fold the strip in half the long way- wrong sides together.

: 9

: 10

9. Open the acorn with the right side facing you. Pin the short stitched and folded end of the strip on the acorn side (1/4 inch in from the edge).

10. Pin the strip along the edge – fold and stitch the other short end (2 small folds- same as step 7 above) so it lands 1/4 inch from the edge.

: 11

: 12

11. Sew the seam- highlighted in white above – at 1/4 inch. Optional- trim the seam allowance with pinking shears.

12. Fold over and press flat.

: 13

: 14

13. Fold the acorn with the right sides together and sew the other side seam.

14. Clip little notches around the curves and tip.

: 15

: 16

15. Turn right side out and run a chopstick or similar around the inside of the seam to push out the curve.

16. Put a large safety pin on the end of your twill tape and push it through the top folded edge.

Finished! Fill with treats or treasures. I hope you make lots of acorn pouches! And a happy almost Thanksgiving to you!

an embroidery download to try, what’s on my worktable, and calendar pre-orders

October 29, 2025

by annwood

Let’s start with the embroidery template. It started as a drawing, become a daily painting and then my first embroidery pattern.

You can download the fleeing hen template here.

And a guide to some basic embroidery stitches here.

I used backstitch for the little hen scene. This would be so sweet on a tea towel – super gifty…

*this post contains an affiliate link – meaning I get a small commission if you purchase through the link – it’s marked with an asterisk

How can you transfer the template to your fabric? You can trace it- use a window or a light box – or- I have been using *transfer paper.

The paper comes with little ball headed styluses in a variety of sizes that work beautifully. My plan is to have templates available in the shop as pdf and iron transfers soon.

If you try it I’d love to see! You can tag me on instagram @annwood or email an image to ann at ann wood handmade dot com.

crow progress

My wings and tail are pinned and ready to stitch. You can hand or machine stitch the feathers, I’m going to machine stitch. I did use a vintage tie for some shiny black accents with my dark blue striped crow.

Check out a couple sew-along crows below – the winner (1 year of stitch club membership) will be announced right here on Friday!

UPDATE 10/31: The winner of the up cycled crow contest is – Ruth!

Counter clock wise from top – wings with hand written text by Ana, crow by Ruth and crow by Kelsey

on my work table

I’m just gonna go ahead and say it- I love the calendar. I love it hard. I love thinking about it, choosing the collection and seeing it come together. It’s a mysterious and intuitive feeling around process. I change my mind a thousand times but when it’s just right I know it for sure.

PRE-ORDER YOU 2026 CALENDAR HERE

I’ve already started the 2027 calendar. This year’s addition is in the shop now for pre-order. As of this moment it’s about to sell through the first printing. I will be doing a second (probably shipping 11/19-ish).

I’m also working on the stitch club autumn journal project. For me it’s an improvisational, yes and process. I cut some blank pages and play with a pile of scraps. You can check out last years here.

and ornaments

One of the things that attracted me to ceramics was the idea of forcing myself into more simple and gestural painting. Immediate and loose – these ornaments are headed for the kiln this week. Stoneware also involves a lot of letting go – fingers crossed for a good firing.

What’s on your worktable this October- are you making ornaments? Is there an embroidered hen in your future? Let us know in the comments.

happy cozy season!

ann

new embroidery work and an upcycled crow sew-along

October 10, 2025

by annwood

textile book with heirloom scrap and folio for scraps

Happy October! We’ve got a lot to talk about : a crow sew-along, embroidery designs, and the French General retreat in Vermont.

I took this crow to Vermont with me for an autumnal portrait. If you look closely you can see how I’ve discreetly attached him to the tree with black ribbon wrapped around his ankle and then anchored to a branch behind.

Jump down to the bottom for the crow sew-along details (there’s a prize and everything). And let’s get into Vermont and embroidery.

For the past few weeks I’ve been turning imagery from my daily paintings into embroidery designs. In a couple weeks I’ll share some tips I’ve picked up along the way and a design for you to try. Serendipitously, French General offered me a last minute opportunity to teach at their Vermont retreat. I almost never rush for anything but the stars aligned and it was the perfect opportunity to teach my first embroidery focused project.

It’s a little stitch workbook and also has places for collecting textile treasures.

The students made beautiful, personal and imaginative stitched books with their own designs and the templates I brought. The stitch club community is also test driving designs with great results. It has left me feeling like this is going to be a thing.

Check out some more textile books from the retreat below

the crow sew along

What’s a sew-along? It could be many things, in this case it’s lots of people working on the same project at once and sharing their work.

The project is – a crow – with a focus on using thrifted materials. I’ve started a one made from a XL men’s shirt I got at goodwill. The striped shirt is darker on the inside and I’m using that side. I’ll mix in some of the lighter side too and play with the angle of the stripes for feathers. My crow might be made entirely of the shirt, or, I’m going to look around this weekend for ties to incorporate in the feathers. I’ll be posting progress in the facebook sew-along group, insta stories and in stitch club.

Where can you share? In the face book sew-along group, on instagram and the stitch club community. Or you can email an image of your finished crow to me at – ann @ ann wood handmade dot com

And to make it interesting there is a prize for best crow – a one year membership to the aforementioned stitch club community. Please post your finished crow by October 29th and the winner will be announced on Halloween.

When you share on instagram please tag @annwood and use the hashtag #annwoodpattern (The hashtag by itself is not enough – you gotta be sure to tag me please.)

For some extra crow sewing tips check out the 2022 crow sew-along – all posts are linked at the bottom.

in other news

Look for an email next week for new cards, stickers and the 2026 calendar.

Save the date- there will be a large daily painting sale Thursday October 23rd – noon-ish eastern time.

I’m about halfway through Lonesome Dove and don’t want it to end.

I’ll leave you with a late bouquet for the little garden. and some embroidery in progress.

Will you join us in the crow sew-along? Are you an embroidery addict? (I’m surprised at how much I enjoy it.)

Let us know in the comments.

onward!

ann

the squam report, perfect tetras and 2026 retreat registration

September 26, 2025

by annwood

stitch book with applique of forest scenes

Note- pre registration for next year is open now- go straight to that or scroll to the bottom for more about my 2026 class (squam stitch book).

I’ve been teaching at the Squam Art Retreat in NH almost every year since 2012. This was the first time I attended as a camper. I don’t recreate, I don’t vacation, I came out of the womb with a couple side hustles. This was a new situation.

I did all the things.

That’s me (in my new/very old beloved army pants – major thrift score) by the lake with my friend Katy on picture day.

Summer camp is the perfect life situation for me. I like some structure, love being in the forest and responding to a bell for all meals is glorious.

I learned to machine embroider on a Bernina. The instruction was excellent and the machine is astounding. It was way less intimidating than expected. It also made me start thinking hard about embroidery – machine and hand.

And you know- one thing leads to another… Expect to see some hand embroidery templates soon. We’ll be test driving designs in Stitch Club and I’m bringing some to the French General Retreat in VT next week.

And I took Zine Magic with Tona Bell. You know I find tiny publishing and book form magic. Tona is a fantastic teacher and she opened up a whole new world of intriguing possibilities.

kz stevens round bottom bag with tetra charm

supplies for making stitched tetras on a table

On Saturday I offered a 1 hour sew-along on (I can’t help myself). We made Tetra Charms. It was so much fun I might do it again next year. FYI if you want to make one used a fabric rectangle that is 3 inches by 1 and 5/8th inches and find a tutorial here.

PS – the yellow bag above is made from the KZ Stevens Round Bottom Bag Pattern.

Another favorite camp tradition is running into the Sock’s cousins and their annual family photo.

And My friend Ginny’s perfect tiny ragdoll.

I have always undervalued breaks. I feel like things are slipping past me if I’m not pushing onward. The change of pace and place and thinking and the no pressure situation had an effect I can’t deny. Also people. I connected and reconnected with all sorts of interesting people. Since the retreat I’ve been super productive and had tons of new ideas.

I’m teaching next September and I’m excited about the class

We’ll be making a mini stitch book.

What will your stitch book be?

Look for inspiration in the materials we’re working with (mountains of scrap fabric) our surroundings – the squam environment and experience and our imaginations. This is a playful and process driven day. The little book is a place to experiment and generate ideas, one thing leads to another if you let it. Ann will share tools to get you moving creatively, generate ideas and access deeper parts of your imagination. What do you see? What do you hear and feel? How can you translate your experience into stitch.

Your work can be abstract, representational or in the shimmering space between…

In addition to fabric, shape templates, rubber stamps, buttons, lace and other vintage notions will be available to work with.