Category: on my work table

I’m just back from France where we made stitched vessels and scrolls. Both would make excellent summer travel projects. We took our vessels a step further with embroidery and I love the line over the variegated background or as an edging detail.

We also created scrolls as mini travel journals. The scroll is perfect as a slow stitch project for summer. And it’s a great way to test drive daily practice – just do a few minutes each day. We are about to embark on the second annual summer scroll in stitch club.

If you’d like to make one it’s super simple to start – just cut (or tear) a strip of fabric (linen is great ) and stitch a little every day.  I used a strip about 2 and 1/2 inches wide and a yard long. I like to tear linen for the soft raw edge. You can add more length  as you go if you like. The size is perfect for summer, it fits in your pocket. You can add a stick for rolling it on or just hem the edge. Stitch every day –  june 1st – august 31st – to fill your scroll. Checkout my finished scroll from last summer here.

What should you stitch? Let it be improvisational. Look for inspiration in your day – what did you see? Was it sunny or rainy? What bloomed in your garden etc. etc.

France delivered lots of inspiration and ideas including goats. They seemed to be around every corner. I love their expressive faces and mysterious quality. They are turning up in my sketchbook and paintings and have me thinking about a goat doll pattern I abandoned ages ago.

Speaking of paintings- I have not had a daily painting sale in a very long time! I’m getting them ready for the shop now and planning on Thursday 6/4 – noonish eastern time. Stay tuned.

Happy Juvenile Raven season!

It’s a thing I love about late spring in Guilford. And it’s a robust year – there must be a nest very near by. The young ravens are pretty full sized but still being cared for and fed by their mother. They have not figured out their call (or anything else) yet and let out extremely loud humany sounding screams all the time. Beginning at about 6AM… If you’re curious you can learn more about it here.

well that’s depressing

You may have seen some weird and obviously AI generated videos advertising the crow and owl patterns on facebook and instagram. It’s not me. They are made by a Chinese company that steals patterns. There’s not much I can do about it. I sell my patterns on Etsy and here at ann wood handmade. That’s it. The theft has been going on for a long time and it’s always been difficult to fight. The AI part makes it nearly impossible. I’m trying anyway though.

It’s super disappointing and frustrating and I may go on and on about it in a future post.

surprise bouquet

On a cheerier note – I guess things self seeded last year and I came home to a patch of blue flax and other flowers I was not expecting. The first bouquet of the year is such a nice surprise.

PS – What I’m reading – I missed Larry McMurtry! I’ve just stared Streets of Laredo

PPS – I’m significantly behind on correspondence! And apologies if you’re waiting to hear back from me. My computer died suddenly right after I arrived in France ( logic board – I should have seen it coming). Anyway I’m finally back up and running with a new one. Major disruption though…

Will you try a stitched scroll? Have you heard a juvenile raven scream?! Are you ready for garden season? What’s your summer read? Let us know in the comments.

1. a dress for the elegant rag doll

She has needed one forever. I’m also getting a lot of joy from their palpable discomfort in this photo. He looks uncertain and she seems sort of less than impressed…  The dress is part of an ensemble including bloomers and a bag and shawl. It will be the next sewing pattern released to be followed by the other circus animals this summer.

2. refreshed work table and  lavender cleaner

The actual area available for work has been getting smaller and smaller. I’m so happy with my new expanse of space and it affects my thinking for sure. I also completely emptied the table and wiped it down with my signature lavender cleaner so it smells good too.

And the windows are finally open which is also pretty life changing. For the cleaner I use equal parts distilled water and cleaning strength vinegar and about 20 drops of lavender oil (my container is 16 oz). I use it for everything – so good.  Also – according to the internet- lavender oil repels ticks so I put a little on my gardening boots. No idea if this works but it can’t hurt.

3. stitch book homestretch

100 days goes by so fast. Page 16 began yesterday (4/1). I’m definitely a process person (I’d rather be in it than through it) but I do get excited about seeing the book finished. Especially if it’s your first time doing the challenge, assembling all your pages has a magic effect. The book feels substantial. I’m starting to think about assembly but  my page order is still a mystery to me.

I do plan on having raw edges again. If you want raw edged for your book follow the assembly instructions and at step 11 in the slot section place the wrong sides of the pages together. And again for the tab section in step 9 you place the wrong sides together.

4. birthday candle holders

It’s maximum joy. I’m thinking of quitting all my jobs and just making birthday candle holder animals for the rest of my life.

5. reader projects

I love seeing what you make! You can send me photos at ann @ ann wood handmade dot com or post on instagram and tag @annwood and use #annwoodpattern (the hashtag takes forever to show up so tagging me helps).

Find all the sewing patterns in the shop.

Bright mushrooms stitched by @inmyownimagination

Crow and blackbird stitched by @eroeboeroe2

Elegant rag doll by  @marilinalittlecraft_handicraft

Are you spring cleaning? What’s on your work table? Are you excited to assemble your book? Let us know in the comments and happy spring!

ann

Longer days, increased bird sounds, and a strong desire to get organized (my work table is a mess). March is my favorite. I’m currently engaged in my favorite seasonal activity –  recreational ironing and scrap fabric sorting. And I’ve got ideas for you! Lot’s of little spring projects to sew.

stitched vessel – Make it with the stitched vessel pdf. I love this little one by @zoezu_sew And you could even add a handle for an easter basket situation. Then you could fill it with…

chicks and eggs! – Little chicks and eggs to tuck them into.  Find the chick pattern here and the egg pattern here.

bunnies –  Just big enough to fit in your hand. This sweet pair was stitched by Lisa. Pro tip – f you choose to work with wool make sure it’s pretty thin – thrifted men’s suiting is a good source. And you can get the forest folk pattern on sale for the remainder of March.

french hens – Make french hens and nesting boxes with the merry wobbler sewing pattern and the modifications in this blog post.

dancing hares – I love this parade by Jennifer– the parasol! The pompom tails! Make it with the free dancing hare pattern.

stitched mushrooms – These are the most cheerful mushrooms ever. I love the fabrics and the pompom trim. These were made by @thimblewinber from the little mushroom sewing pattern.

And these pastel toadstools by @sharonpstanley  have an easter egg hunt vibe.

shop note- new note cards!

patchwork pouch and needle book – Get ready for summer road sewing with a mini needle book and a pouch just big enough for the essentials. Find the sewing pattern here.

And finally my favorite – tiny bunnies! Just add long ears to very nice mice.

What’s on your work table this march? Have you got spring fever? Let us know in the comments.

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.

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

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

Stitching vessels is a pretty satisfying and addictive process.  Adding wool to the mix takes it next level. It surprised me. The form is so perfect.  The edge trim is a pretty heavy cotton that gives even more structure. I used scrap from menswear mostly, pants, suit jackets etc.

There is also a lot of straight stitching through everything after it was assembled. I like the way it looks and it helps compress the layers of wool together.

I like it so much I took way too many pictures and  I’m pulling out the big box of wool scraps to make more. I think this will be a wool  stitched vessel winter for me. #thriftysewingchallenge

I’m also making  little owls-  this guy is made from a suit jacket and thrifted curtains. He’s the smallest from the little owls sewing pattern. This little fellow took about 2 hours to make. I did leave off one pattern piece because I liked his white breast showing. Pro tip – I put three nickels in his bottom when stuffing to help him stand on his own.

I’ll use the same wool for a larger owl. I love an owl with a bold head to toe look like this houndstooth guy (dastardly owl sewing pattern).

sneak peek

Check out some new things coming to the shop soon. Including the 2026 Calendar! So excited to offer it in a more timely fashion this year. I’m also hoping to have enough ( but not too many – it’s expensive to produce) It will be available for pre-order soon and they will start shipping before November.

There are also some new cards and little items including journal stickers. I’ll let you know when it’s all listed in the shop.

And I’m looking forward to little bramble pots from the kiln soon. More about those and last week’s Squam Art Retreat in the next post.

Happy National Sewing Month!

ann

PS – thanks for all the great book recommendations and I am loving Lonesome Dove – it’ really takes off around page 100.

PPS – Checkout Meg’s (Sew Liberated) beautiful fleet of paper mache ships