Category: on my work table

happy goose ornament : sewing tutorial

December 12, 2025

by annwood

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

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

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.

click here for squam registration

PS- I’m postponing some new shop items until I get back from teaching in VT (around 10/7)- look for an email then on all that and 2026 Calendar pre-orders and a long overdue daily painting sale – stay tuned!

wool on my worktable and a sneak peek

September 12, 2025

by annwood

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

fall thrifted fabric sewing challenge

August 22, 2025

by annwood

basket of laundered thrifted clothing for sewing - mostly menswear

I’ve been picking things up all summer from the local thrifts and yard sales. It all gets laundered. All of it- suit jackets too – but I don’t put them in the dryer.

When I hit a thrift store hunting for fabric my first stop is always the xl men’s long-sleeve shirt section. Men’s wear in general is rich with possibilities.

Feel is important. This pin stripe shirt is worn to perfection but not falling apart. The cotton is excellent. There are a few stains and little holes but that’s easy to work around. My first project was an elephant rag doll. The sleeves were more than enough for one doll.

I used a bit of another striped shirt for her cap and a mr. socks’s doll.

I love this wool but I’m not seasonally prepared to work with wool just yet. I am planning on owls and owl ornaments and something for the tiny rag doll. And definitely some vessels. Stay tuned – I’ll be posting more finished projects through autumn.

Are you up for a thrifty challenge this fall? It’s super simple. Just take a photo of what you made, and let us know (or even take a photo of) what you made it from. And you don’t have to buy anything – you’ve probably got stuff lying around. Tag your post with #thriftysewingchallenge – you can also tag @annwood in your caption on instagram.

Where to post? Instagram, facebook and in the stitch club community.

fall approaches

I’ve got ambitious late summer/early fall reading plans. First up, Lonesome Dove. It’s giant.

try this

Edward Gorey House is hosting an all ages envelope decorating contest! They’ve just announced the theme – Evil Garden.

So good. Find all the details here.

Are you a thrift store fabric hunter? Are you reading anything great? Let us know in the comments and happy remainder of summer!

ann

the finished stitched scroll

August 8, 2025

by annwood

The sides of the linen strip are unfinished and frayed, when it’s rolled up it has a plush, carpet feel I like.

And the size of this scroll project was magic for me. It was such a low pressure, pleasure to stitch. The small, consistent effort kept my hands moving and ideas flowing. You know the rule:

“A middle aged craft lady in motion tends to stay in motion and a middle aged craft lady at rest tends to stay at rest.”

Don’t see a video above? Click here to view.

I approached it improvisationally and the imagery evolved in a fabley direction I like. It could have gone on forever but I felt like the ideal size was reached at about 4 feet.

Another has already begun, this time experimenting with staying abstract. I usually fail at this (some image creeps in…) but that does not matter, the shift in thinking is valuable, it wakes up different parts of my imagination. This would be a great kid/beginner project to start a little stitcher.

The scroll was inspired by Artist Aitor Saraiba. If you don’t already know of his work please go have a look- you will be enchanted.

Check out some scrolls from Stitch Club members – so energetic, personal and imaginative. Excellent work.

Barbara

Heather

Roberta

Laine

whats next

Get ready for the fall thrifted fabric challenge. It’s less about what you make and more about what you make it with. Stay tuned for details in the next newsletter. For now have your eyes open for thrifted clothing (menswear is rich territory) you could transform into owls or crows or elephants or vessels etc.

Did you make a summer scroll? Are you up for a thrifty challenge? Let us know in the comments.

what’s on my work table: birds, rag dolls and other UFO’s

June 20, 2025

by annwood

What’s your UFO situation? I’ve got tons of them (unfinished objects). They are all resting quietly in neatly labeled boxes in a closet waiting for their shot. My plan is to work my way through everything this summer. So ambitious. And working my way through does not necessarily mean finishing. Abandoning/letting go is also a valid choice. Finished or permanently let go they will be removed from the shadowy edges of my mind. Forever.

It’s a good thing I’m in a very sewy mood because the pile of stuff to finish is huge.

Let’s start with birds. I’ve got lots of almost done birds plus a little collection I’m making for Fortuny (they’ll be available there this fall).

find the songbird sewing pattern here

Pro Tip: I’ve been coloring the beaks with sharpy. The wood absorbs the color really well and it has a little translucency. After it’s dry just a little polishing with a soft cloth gives it a beautiful waxy sheen – super realistic.

And the summer scroll continues. I love this project and I’m probably going to end up with 2 or three scrolls by labor day. Committing to a thing but not putting a lot of pressure on it is a creativity sweet spot. The mini size helps too. Stitch club members are making lots of super imaginative scrolls – I’ll share some on the blog soon.

The latest entry in my scroll commemorates the soggiest spring ever. The garden is so sad. I added fertilizer a couple days ago – organic fish fertilizer. It’s the worst thing I ever smelled in my life. By far. It’s as if somebody mixed up all the bad smells in a bucket and then left it out in the sun for a week. I hope it helps the pale pole beans and stunted peppers and tomatoes.

More UFO’s – rag dolls. Mostly circus folk and captains. These are super fun to finish – they just need little details. And as I work on patterns this summer I’ll be producing lots more (the elephant pattern is already available and all the other animal patterns and the captain are in progress now). As dolls get finished I’ll add them to the shop.

The first sample sale will be ~~next week ( I’m thinking Thursday~~ and I’ll update this post with the time and date when I know for sure). And I’ll send an email when the shop is stocked

UPDATE – the doll sale will be noonish- eastern time on Monday 6/30

Do you have some UFO’s in your closet? Is your garden soggy? Let us know in the comments.

Onward!

ann

PS – I got the wordle in 2 today!

the finished 2025 stitch book and 5 things I did at my job this week

May 30, 2025

by annwood

I’ve had this job for almost 20 years. It’s changed a lot but there’s a constant element of it feeling like an amorphous squishy blob. The worky stuff is so intertwined with my life stuff it gets blurry. That has its advantages but it can also result in wheel spinning and not having clear priorities.

I think it’s valuable to get super focused about what “working” really means. So here are some things I accomplished this week that are my actual job.

1- worked on the 2026 calendar

Last year’s calendar was a big hit (thank you!) But I wished I had released it earlier. I’m working on 2026 now. Still messing around with images – it takes forever to choose. If you’ve got a favorite painting, leave a comment with the date and your suggested month!

Don’t see the video above? click here.

2- finished the stitch book – there’s a video and everything

I love putting the book together. The process feels magic and the book feels substantive in my hands. I I’m already percolating ideas for next years book…

3- started the summer scroll project in stitch club

After a very brief post stitch book breather we have started a summer long mini project in stitch club – scrolls. The idea is simple, just cut a strip of fabric (I used an old linen table cloth) and stitch a little every day. The size is great for summer- it could fit in your pocket.

The stick (or spool etc.) is optional. We plan to stitch until labor day. If I keep going at my current pace my scroll is going to be huge. If you join in, tag your work with #summerscroll on Instagram!

4- worked on patterns

There are so many in the works and patterns will be the main focus of this summer. Next up will be the soldier (at last) and circus cat. Stay tuned.

5- blog post and newsletter

I love newsletter day! which almost always coincides with blog post day. And the moment I hit send I start working on the next.

bonus – a few things things that aren’t part of my official job description but I act like they are:

Staring at seedlings and willing them to grow faster.

Monitoring bunny and squirrel activity and generally messing around in my tiny garden. Please make the rain stop- it’s too much.

Re- arranging things…

Recreational ironing- I wish it was but it’s not.

Internet based research (pinterest). It a little bit is… I organize newsletter ideas there but it mostly is not. I start with the best of intentions and end up looking at gardens and country houses and quilts.

The NY Times puzzles. We’ve talked about this before. It really is like they are my job. I might need an intervention.

What do you accidentally spent big chunks of time on? Have you assembled your stitch book? Is there a stitched scroll in your future? Let us know in the comments.

8 simple joys this spring and the stitch book homestretch

April 11, 2025

by annwood

a roof over miss thistle’s head

Big news in tiny world: Miss Thistle’s house finally has a roof! Fully shingled (with cardboard, of course). I’ll be sharing all the DIY details soon—it was super easy. Still to come: a few charming touches on the exterior and shutters (I think) stay tuned for a dedicated cardboard doll house post.

aroma- a layered approach

I’m all about a good smell, nothing too loud or perfumy, I describe it as earthy and fresh. After years of experimenting I think I’ve perfected it:

A bunch of fresh eucalyptus – I get one every Friday.
This handmade soap by Saipua. All the scents are glorious but my top pick is clay and dill.
Santa Maria Novella Potpourri – I’ve got little dishes of it all over the place. I’ve had the same bag for over a year and it’s still going strong. It’s pricy but good.
Lavender cleaner. So simple. There are lots of ways to make it, I used equal parts vinegar and distilled water and about 20 drops of lavender oil.

bramble

It gets me through the winter. I get an outsized amount of joy from wandering around outside looking for exquisite little sticks and dead plants to bring home and put in my tiny vases.

happy plants

You know I love a houseplant. My collection has officially tipped into “plant lady” territory—and I’m fine with that.

new story bottles

New little delft /early american inspired rustic bottles. After a few more get fired I’ll put them in the shop. There is a giant artwork shop update in the works.

daffodils

They almost don’t look real! A magical occurrence every time. It’s still so wintery when they make their magnificent appearance.

NYT puzzles

Now I’m also a puzzle lady. My goodness. But I can’t help it – I love wordle, connections and strands. Obsessed. A huge amount of my discretionary time budget is spent on them. Who knows – maybe it’s helping my rapidly aging brain.

the stitch book home stretch

Friends! We are less than 20 days away from the finish line!! I will be a little bit happy and a little bit sad when this is finished. I’m excited about putting the book together and overflowing with ideas for my last pages. The process builds idea generating momentum and I don’t have enough pages left for all the things I’d like to try. It’s exactly the problem I hoped to have. The official end is Saturday 4/26.

What’s bringing you joy this spring? Are you a puzzle lady? A plant lady?!? Let us know in the comments and a very happy spring to you!

celebrate 19 years! of ann wood handmade

March 21, 2025

by annwood

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.

paper mache ship pattern

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

little bird pattern

mr. tibbles and mr. wickles

dastardly owl pattern

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.