the finished 2024 stitch book and 5 things bringing me joy

stitch book open to 2 page spread- graphic collage with a vintage feel

finishing the 2024 stitch book

The pages traveled with me all summer and were assembled a little bit at a time by hand. I love the finished book, it feels substantial in my hands, and it’s evidence of how powerful small, consistent daily effort is. I’m already looking forward to the 2025 stitch book challenge. Look for details at the end of this year.

Don’t see the video above? Please click here.

circus doll production work

Circus folk sewing patterns are in the works. The dancing elephant will be the first released this fall. I’m making lots of circus dolls in preparation for the workshops in LA. I learn a ton in the production phase- after the pattern templates are pretty solid – just churning them out and making little adjustments, trying variations etc. It also helps zero in on the best material choices and testing hand sewing and machine sewing. All super valuable for the workshops and sewing patterns.

I also love this kind of production work. In short spurts anyway. I haven’t had any sewing in the shop for ages and some of these dolls will be available in the shop this fall.

bachelor buttons in a small rustic white round vase

bachelor buttons

Bachelor Buttons were the clear winner in the garden this year. Nobody ate them and they didn’t get any weird plagues. The color is unimaginable. They are definitely on my list for next year. I was also delighted by Mexican Sunflowers and Nasturtium leaves.

creative sparks

A place to start. We have a new one in the Stitch Club every month. The creative sparks (prompts) are medicine for stuckness. They give you:

– A place to start, a shape to contain your ideas. The spark gives you a specific starting point, that’s magic when you’re feeling stuck. The little push drops you into the process instead of waiting for inspiration.

– A fresh perspective on ideas you’ve been sitting on but haven’t gotten your hands and head around yet. A completely novel intersection can appear.

– The spark can push you to explore new themes and styles, expanding your creative and visual vocabulary.

– In the community there is a sense of shared experience and energy. The Sparks have been huge for me – the circus patterns, my workshop at Squam all incubated in creative spark work.

Give it a try – last month’s creative spark was MOTH. I’ll show you some moth inspired work when I get back from Squam.

favorite  painting supplies

*This post contains affiliate links- meaning I get a small commission if you purchase through the link. They are marked with an *asteriks.

I’ve got a handful of favorite painting supplies curated over the past 5 + years of making a painting every single day. It’s super easy to travel with and it’s a huge help in the daily habit department that it’s simple and always ready to go.

paint box – I have a *couple of these. I love being able to curate my own colors. I was finding that I only used a few colors in the prefilled boxes. Plus having an extra white is super handy. This box has removable little pans I fill with watercolor from tubes. I use lots of different brands but *Koi is still my favorite watercolor.

paper- I love Fluid 100. Mostly *hotpress (very smooth) but lately I’ve been loving the *cold press (less smooth).

brushes – The *water filled brushes were life changing. I got them for traveling but have been using them all the time for years.

french overalls

Ignore the mess around me and focus on the majesty of my vintage french workman overalls. They turned up at the last flea market I visited in France this July. I’ve been on the hunt for them forever. The joy is real.

ann wood in her messy painting studio taking an awkward mirror selfy in vintage blue overalls

What’s bringing you Joy this September? Would you rock these overalls? Will you give the creative spark a try? Let us know in the comments and happy almost Fall!

15 Comments

  1. Love your posts and thank you so much for the tips about paper – I’ve struggled to find smooth paper for my own watercolour experiments. Love the overalls, great style and they look a good weight too. I wear denim ones loads myself, but when they wear out am planning to have a go at making my next pair in something less heavy. (Placing a beloved garment on paper and tracing all the bits + seam allowance to make a pattern is a great way to copy something you enjoy)

  2. Hi Ann,
    In England “Bachelors Buttons” is an entirely different plant from the cornflowers from your garden. Here it’s the yellow flowers of Kerrie Japonica, a spring flowering shrub. Two nations divided by a single language and all that!

  3. Hi Ann,
    In England “Bachelors Buttons” is an entirely different plant from the cornflowers from your garden. Here it’s the yellow flowers of Kerria Japonica, a spring flowering shrub. Two nations divided by a single language and all that!

  4. Hi Ann,
    I love your creations so much, I almost can’t wait for the circus folk patterns! Would you consider selling kits, complete with fabrics and trims? It is difficult, if not impossible to find the charming ones you use in your samples! Thank you and keep up the amazing work you do!

  5. Jan Hebert

    Thank you for sharing your favorite watercolor supplies. I will check out the koi brand. I love your overalls, they look so comfy! Jan in MA

  6. Helen Blake

    Hi Ann
    Ooh those circus patterns are a delight! Can’t wait for those!
    Love the overalls too.

  7. Heather Smith

    Oh! The French overalls!! So jealous. I think if I had a pair of those and one of those vintage chemises I would just wear those and get rid of the rest of my clothing. Thanks for sharing your painting supplies, it might be just the inspiration I need to get back to paper, I miss my little tin pallet and water brushes. Ah, that circus spark was something huh?!

  8. I love overalls!! I have 2 pairs of these – one came with lovely embroidery and the other with red bandana accents under the shoulder ‘straps’. Sadly, now I am too fat to wear them….Waaaa 🙁
    Still have them in my closet because you never know…Yes, I know.

    • Can you cut them down the side seams and add “racing stripes”? That’s how I embiggen beloved items of clothing that are snugger than they used to be. You could use leftover or thrifted denim (or whatever they’re made of) and near-match the originals, or it can be a nice chance to add some contrast. I’ve even cut open the entire inseam of a pair of jeans and added a looong rectangular panel of denim to make them pleasingly baggier.

  9. It’s nearly5 am in New Zealand and typically I’m awake already. What a lovely start to the day! And yes…the overalls are amazing. I had a Temu purchase recently which brings me that joyous felling. A heavy ish cotton Japanese style apron! Crossover straps and the skirt wraps around. I almost sleep in it! It’s a plain dull grey and although I know a great many people don’t like the essence of these online outlets, it was just what I’ve been looking for. There’s not a huge choice in our local shops.
    Thank you for an awesome start to my day xxx

  10. Lily Mc Donnell

    Hi Ann
    I remember picking Bachelors Buttons as a child here in Ireland. They are a wee double daisy,, I remember them in shades of pink. I am going to look for them again for my garden,, thank you for sparking the memory. Love the overalls.
    Lily

  11. Oh my, did not know about French overalls, they are lovely. I would make myself some if a nice indie pattern designer would design these!!!

  12. Love blog posts like this one, with a little bit of this and that like the olden days. Your photos are scrumptious and the overall cuuute!

    It’s still summer here, and I am sitting outside going through my library of creative books to make more room on the shelves!

    Cheers
    http://www.ihanna.nu

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