ANN TILLEY HANDMADE

2012-01-18T17:50:00.000-08:00

It makes me feel good to look at my wall at the end of the day and really notice the progression. It's also helping me see that my light-to-dark gradient is coming through. I've had problems with finding just the right lighter shades to fill out the top, so it'll be nice to eventually see how the top will look once those issues get resolved...

New design wall!!!! Yayyyerrr!!!

Now if only that new quilt top will start appearing!

2012-01-02T17:30:00.000-08:00

Really happy with this one. Learned how to edge with I-cord and finally got to use an antler button.

2011-12-20T19:32:00.000-08:00

I've managed to lay out the framework for the entire surface of the quilt top; 7 across by 8 down. I can't even begin to explain how amazing and useful it is to have a design board like this to work on. No more standing on furniture while laying out pieces on the ground! I have another quilt I need to start at the beginning of next year and, instead of putting this quilt away for the time being, I believe I will build myself another design board on the adjoining wall. Ah...sweet, sweet, spacious luxury!

2011-11-28T21:50:00.001-08:00

So happy I found cold ears to prompt me to pick up my needles. Of course, I'll become obsessed, and fly right through it, and be forced to begin my quest again for more cold appendages.

2011-11-21T19:56:00.001-08:00

I keep on trucking'...

2011-11-14T19:51:00.001-08:00

Yep, apparently I am capable of making furniture and, even more exciting, collaborating!

The insanely-talented Adam Joyce was so kind as to share his wood-working skills, and general furniture-making know-how, with me, and help me make an awesome birthday present for my girl Megan. Last year's gift seen here.

Adam built the box and I was in charge of upholstering. The knitted piece was a lucky find in the bottom of a trunk that I happened to open at the right moment. It was originally going to be made into a pillow but I wasn't happy with it for some reason and can be traced back to 2009.

Adam had the idea for the storage container inside and had the forethought to make it big enough to fit a standard book size. Everything came together fluidly all in one beautiful day, probably 9 hours in total. It's amazing how much faster you can move with another pair of hands! I really loved working with such a fully-capable craftsman and can't wait for our next project together.

And then finally, my favorite part: the bun feet. Home Depot had only 3 of the 4 feet we desired, so desperation and overall stinginess flung us into the back shed where we procured a lonely roller skate whose wheels were the perfect size and quantity for finishing this project. GENIUS!

This piece is being called a foot stool-settee-storage container-tuffett thingy. Any suggestions on a more streamlined name for this guy?

2011-11-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Memories are Forgotten (Flotation Device)

20" x 24"

acrylic, spray paint on canvas

October 2011

Started this piece after the flight home from Pittsburgh at the end of September.

Found the perfect sized canvas out of the back storage room and eventually got over the guilt of covering up my brother's art from waaaay back. I know it was a masterpiece, Laurence!

I love starting on a not-blank canvas. It gets you past that complex of making the first mark.

I would've never thought to place the moon behind her head if it wasn't already on the canvas! I love the halo feel to it. Circles have to be my favorite shape (that's right I have a favorite shape) and I love to incorporate them as much as possible. So many meanings behind circles, rings, moons...

I have to credit Megan Burchett for getting me past this stage and helping me resolve the treatment of the sky. I ultimately spray painted the moon to keep his face from taking the focus away from the woman, but I had to leave it transparent enough to remember that he is there.

~

2011-11-05T05:43:00.000-07:00

COMING SOON

My first foray into furniture fabrication...

Watch out now!

~

2011-10-12T07:15:00.000-07:00

Finally found my way back to the studio...

This is what draftsman's tables are for, right?? Endless, meticulous cutting leads into endless, meticulous sewing...good thing for those Virgo traits.

This is definitely the most ambitious quilt/sewing project I've ever undertaken. Gave myself a long deadline and keep repeating sayings in my head like "Enjoy the process!".

Also, funk you, Blogspot, for recording my procrastination so accurately. March, seriously??

Batting-covered/foamcore-backed design wall finally getting used! Only like 100 more of these to go...

2011-09-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

A birthday present for my love, Mackenzie Craig. He's a second in a series of stuffed animals from Donna Wilson's book, The Odd-Bod Bunch. I took more liberties with this pattern compared to Racoon-Fox man. I changed the ears completely, to resemble a more authentic dauschaund, using a stockinette stitch and starching to control excessive curling. The rainbow pattern was me, changing colors every two rows....a damn pain! A lot harder than the previous animal but absolutely striking. And I closed the eye to make my life easier, I quite enjoy his peaceful look in the sunshine.

2011-08-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

New quilt completed this past weekend

This one has a great story to it: I was working in the Scrap Exchange one day and a lady brought in these beautifully hand-embroidered squares with each state represented with their bird and flower. That means there were 50 amazing squares sitting there on the table, abandoned by their original maker to her daughter-in-law who, after 10 years, finally accepted the fact that she was never going to make them into a quilt and brought them to us. I took them immediately, pained by the fact that the tedious, mind-numbing hours spent creating these might go to waste potentially forever. This quilt was made in conjunction with Julia Gartrell and myself, as a befitting addition to the silent auction at TSE's last fundraiser party. It's beautiful and I love it.

2011-07-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

Real life's been a little hairy. Got pictures, will post soon. Until then, enjoy Anna Dewey Greer...

DEWEY for President

2011-06-26T06:57:00.001-07:00

No!

Amelia, modeling a most crucial goddess headdress. I loved the fact that after I put this on her head, she proceeded to wear it for the rest of the day, channeling her goddess powers all the while, of course.

This was a piece I created after my mythology teacher senior year allowed us to do whatever we wanted for our final project. The persisting imagery used to represent the goddess throughout mythology were my inspirations -- the phases of the moon, feathers (birds were often connected to females), and, snakes -- I don't know how I feel about the snake connection but I guess we aren't all sugar and spice, and everything nice...

It became quite a striking prop for Nick Mendise, a photographer buddy who also went to SCAD. It's always fun to pose, especially when you know you're gonna get a crazy cool picture of yourself in return!

2011-06-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

My favorite pair of jean, or, as I like to call them...

...a time-lapsed fiber art installation. They keep rippin' and I keep patchin'!

2011-06-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

Malone, making good use of all the Spoonflower fabric on the floor.

2011-05-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

Found these on my desk Wednesday morning, needing a patch job. Seriously?? Talk about honky! What's also honky is then saying to your boss that you fixed the Skoal Hole...

2011-05-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

A most crucial find at The Scrap Exchange

2011-05-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

Break My Body, Hold My Bones
Circa 2009

(Francis Black from The Pixies)
Bezeled pin, peyote-stitch details, hand-embroidery on wet felting

2011-05-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Watch Him As He Goes

circa 2008

Some bezeled, Dave Grohl love.

2011-05-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

Finally!

Two years after I sketched this idea for a scarf, the final product has been completed. Has it really been that long?? Having a creative drive can sometimes be quite burdening; discipline, commitment, energy, forward movement -- all can be very elusive and not the most exciting qualities to maintain, but the thrill of completing an idea will always be there for those who can make it to the end!

2011-05-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

2011-05-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

Current installation on view atop my fridge...other people do this too,....right?

2011-04-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

My Things Aren't Making Me Feel Any Better
circa 2005

2011-04-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

I thought I was gonna be a repeat-pattern designer once.

2011-03-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE = I AM MORT DA TORT

2011-03-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

The beginnings of my next quilt project. My client loves to scuba dive and that became my inspiration for fabric choices. She also specified that she wanted a double wedding ring pattern so I'm now familiarizing myself with this style. It ain't easy! But I'm happy for the challenge and I know those curved seams can only get easier with practice!

Ultimately, there will be several rings interlocking, covering the span of the quilt top. Some wedding ring inspiration via Google Images:

The double wedding ring is an old and traditional pattern, extremely popular in the 1940's.

A modern, sawtooth variation

This looks to be an older quilt but with a modern aesthetic. I love the choice of creating stripes within the pattern and the quirky orange as the background.

2011-02-15T19:35:00.000-08:00

Finished arm warmers--100% wool, they're almost too hot.

I also made a pair for my boss, Sarah, and since she's out of town till next week, I think it'll do just fine for me to enjoy them while she's away! I was very hesitant about the color changing yarn but, now that they're finished and I've been wearing them around, they've really grown on me.

2011-02-09T17:23:00.000-08:00

An amazing donation got plopped on the doorstep of TSE last week: an incredibly talented knitter's ample collection of unfinished projects! Whether it was that she couldn't stand to look at them anymore or she had sadly passed before these creations were actualized, we don't know, but the knitting enthusiasts who work there (ie-me and Julia!) were a little gaga over them! Probably the most spectacular piece in the collection was the beginning of, what we can assume, a Fair Isle sweater. Julia and I couldn't just let it get thrown into the 50 cent bin (GASP! the yarn alone is worth more than that!!) so we hatched the plan to complete the second repeat of the pattern and end it, making into a cowl neck.

The pattern was easy to decipher because she had already completed it once, so, with Than's help, we transcribed the circle. Oh, and did I mention that the yarn was also donated with the piece?? What luck. Unfortunately we didn't have all the colors but it still made it easy to fudge.

Such a fun project! This was my second attempt at Fair Isle and it was definitely harder than the rug I made. The complexity of the pattern and the teeny tiny needles made it difficult but not wholly scarring! I'm already dreaming up more Fair Isle in my future.

Quick project when you inherit it 75% finished!

Onto the next unfinished knitting project...

...an Entrelac scarf made of beautifully variegating Noro yarn.

I've heard that Entrelac is no easy feat, but I found a similar Noro yarn to finish it with and can't wait to take on the challenge!

2011-01-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

Workin', workin', workin', the jeans never stop piling up at the factory...

You know you've been working a lot when you dream of yourself working. I was sewing bar-tacks onto belt loops all night.

2011-01-13T05:11:00.000-08:00

Casting on a few whist watching 'Young Frankenstein' and enjoying a warm cup of coffee!

My inspiration for making wrist warmers. I've always felt like they weren't really my style but Donna Karen's neutral colors and scrunched style is making me think otherwise...

(Donna Karen Pre-Fall '11)

2011-01-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

This was my favorite present to give this year. A home-made set of boot ornaments to my sister-in-law, Jess. I always associate her and my brother as 'boot people' so when I ran across a couple of little, plastic boots at The Scrap Exchange, I got the idea. I kept hunting for more in the depths of the toy barrell until I had plenty to drill and string up. This idea could really work for any grouping of like, small items -- I also ran across a bunch of Mr. Potato Head mustaches, which could be fun if you're one of those people who still enjoys ironic mustache imagery.

2010-12-17T04:19:00.000-08:00

Another budget-friendly Christmas present. Grandma loves to decorate the dinner table for the holidays so I thought I would freshen up her place cards for this year! We thought we would keep them neutral from any Christmas theme so she can use them year-round.

To kick them up a notch and make them really special, I used an alphabet stamp kit to write out everyone's name and brushed them with an embossing powder, to give them a finished look.

We all stay at Susu's house, which is surrounded by Sassafras trees, so it was easy to choose their leaves as decoration. We weren't sure if a glue stick would keep them from falling off so stitching them down with the machine was helpful in knowing that they would stay and also add a nice decorative element. I love when resourcefulness and neccessity can also be beautiful!

2010-12-08T11:01:00.001-08:00

New quilt finished!

This quilt was so fun to make and the long-arm quilting machine is a blast! Think about doodling and then think about being able to doodle using a needle and thread like a pencil. An awesome tool for anyone who loves to draw.

2010-12-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

This was my very first quilt, made Fall 2007 at SCAD in the Art Quilt class. After all these years and all the quilts I've made since, I still love this one so much! There are definitely technical errors in the sewing but I still enjoy the design and the fabric choices.

After finishing the class and coming home, my mom quickly announced that 'these were her colors!' and 'did I make it for her?'. I think it's genius how she put it on her all-white guest bed and has made use of it despite its size.

The Little Mermaid fabric came from bedsheets from the thrift store and the figures are raw-edge applique. The back is made up of the sheet as well.

2010-12-04T05:44:00.000-08:00

This month, I started working once a week at this amazing, crafty, unique store in Durham called The Scrap Exchange. It's a non-profit that collects industrial waste from around NC -(think unneeded science equipment from Duke or surplus packaging from Burt's Bees)- and resells it for practically nothing, all for the sake of keeping this stuff out of the landfills and accessible for anyone to use in any creative way the choose. It really is the best place to shop for fabric in Durham!

Anyways, it's a good thing I'm only there once a week because I can never leave without finding some sort of totally random thing that I just can't live without! This week it was:

~ 2 doll heads on a stick
~ a Brunswick Stew magnet
~ a shimmery candle

How could I just pass these things up??

2010-11-24T05:51:00.000-08:00

This piece was for an illustration competition Selvedge magazine hosted, whereupon the artist was to document a place with textile history in the format of a travel journal. I was inspired at my family reunion, to sketch this christening gown my cousin was baptized in, after it was discovered in a mason jar at her great-grandmother's house, smelling eerily of buttermilk. It was rolled up with a note, describing its history, and 4 other jars, containing various garments with apparent historical significance to Lorraine. I just love the fact that she chose to preserve not fruit, but clothes, in jars!

I'm not really sure I fully realized the prompt but it was fun to dabble in a sketching project, and actually get it finished in time to hand in. I haven't heard anything back from them in a couple of months so I think it's safe to assume I didn't win and can now post it here!

2010-11-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

I love this fiber-licious picture! This quilt was sold in Los Angeles to a woman, who was gifting it at a friend's baby shower. I hope there's a baby under it somewhere, snuggling under it, and enjoying it as much as I did making it!

2010-11-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

Mr. Raccoon-Fox pretending to be a sunset. Happy birthday, Megan! Hope you like him!

2010-11-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

A new pillow, finished in time for the Craft Fair on Saturday. It's made from a modge podge of various felt pieces, given to me so generously from a fellow neighbor crafter. It's based off the Lucky Strike logo, honoring Durham's tobacco roots. Durhamites can't get enough Durham paraphernalia!

This was the first time I have ever sewn faux fur. It won't say it's necessarily easy but it certainly can hide a lot! I love how you can't see the zipper.

2010-11-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to start a new project out of Donna Wilson's book, The Knitted Odd-Bod Bunch, and today I finally settled on the Rill Raccoon-Fox pattern. Of course, I can't just copy the thing, I have to come up with some complicated way to make it my own. I decided on making a rainbow gradient run throughout the entire body -- this gets me out of having to have a certain amount of any one color! This picture is of the tail.

I put my work down to go eat dinner and, when I got back, I found Mortoise had gotten herself caught around my ball of yarn and it had followed her around the whole room, no joke! She is such a character. I wish I could've gotten a picture of the entire room.

Donna Wilson (right), with some of her knitted creatures.

Her blog here -----> Leaves and Twigs

2010-10-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

I'm really loving how these flags turned out. Than helped me screen-print the yellow and blue, and then we cut a stamp for the stars.

I had enough leftover red linen -(from my senior collection in '08)- to make 6 prints.

2010-10-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

From a series of conceptual ideas involving garments made out of pantyhose.
Fall '07

2010-10-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

A new venture into some original fashion design. I love designing knitwear! There's something so primitive and straight-forward about the whole process. You're literally making the fabric as you're constructing the garment, so there's so many wonderful possibilities. This skirt started formulating in my head after I discovered a stash of funky, hairy, ribbon yarn at work that I had to do something with. There wasn't enough of it for a whole skirt so the striping was based out of necessity as much as an aesthetic choice. I knew navy and black was a good combo when I saw this Proenza Schouler collection...

Proenza Schouler Fall '10

It's funny how the collective subconscious can work.

2010-10-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

A funky mash-up woodcut I found in my portfolio case. I pulled out a bunch of old fashion illustrations and sketches I'm hoping to sell in the craft fair, in order to make room for new stuff. This piece was actually part of a larger work that I completed in the summer of '07. The right-hand side was ripped off and sold as a smaller piece -- tearing it in half made the composition for the 2 smaller prints way more successful than both as a whole. I can't decide if I want to sell this one or not, yet.

2010-10-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Kiki Mariko Rug pattern from the Mason-Dixon girls' second book (Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines)

Dimensions pre-felting = 37 1/2" long by 25" around

Betcha never saw a tubular rug before! Ok, I'm not finished but I had to document my work before I got the hot water and suds out and get this knitwork felted! Once felted, it will shrink in ways that I can't really predict, and will become so tangled that I'll be able to de-tubularize (ie-cut down the middle) and this rug will be a whole lot more rug-like.

I finished it en route from LA to NC but still haven't gotten around to the felting part yet. I want to do it by hand to control the shrinking as much as possible but that's more work than throwing it in the washing machine!

2010-10-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

A couple of new ALMOST finished pin cushions, ready to sell. They just need a little cinching, like the green and blue one. This patter is so fun to make and allows you to play with so many different color and patter variations.

2010-10-19T06:55:00.000-07:00

Log cabin pillow, inspired by the Mason-Dixon ladies and, always, Sasha Ross. The first in total completion, ready to sell at the craft fair. I made one just like this for myself, a while back, and I just love the way it looks and it's so fun to put together with any amount of yarn laying around.

It's lumpy and colorful and FINISHED.

2010-10-18T07:56:00.001-07:00

2010-10-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

I'm knitting like a crazed beast! gearing up for the Troika Craft Fair held in Durham in November -- it also coincides with the music festival they host every year so it's going to be a whole weekend-full of things to do. I'm a big fan of craft fairs but never actually been in one before so this will be a new experience for me -- hopefully positive and with a little money going into my pockets!

No rest for the crafty!

2010-10-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Check out this cool signage from the Homelands exhibit at the Gene Autry Museum! I thought it was so genius -- the whole show was excellent, must've had a great art director. I'm getting a lot of cool ideas for my own projects using this idea.

2010-09-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

Just made a huge move from Los Angeles back to North Carolina -- a 7-day journey with my best friend, a tortoise, and, of course, my California cactus garden...

I've been neglecting this site (and avoiding the computer, in general) for a while during this whole life-uprooting process, but, now that I have some time, I would like to make a few changes...

This is going to become my "professional" site --(I'm using that term very loosely) -- where I want to post all my current textile work and projects in the making.

I've started another site, too, that's going to be a fun, whatever-I-want, inspiration blog, posting all the pictures that catch my eye on the internet.

Find it here ----> ANN's Inspiration Blog

2010-08-07T21:31:00.001-07:00

Peyton's quilt completed!

2010-06-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Finished Phillips quilt
I had a lot of fun making this one and can't wait for my brother and sister-in-law to get this!

2010-06-05T00:16:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from Stephanie Pollard's rockin' Desert Pea quilt

........................
I started a new blog here.

2010-06-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why, but I need this new print from Rifle Design (aka Anna Bond). Their stuff is great and I love to look at their blog.

2010-05-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

I am so proud (and relieved) to finally say that I finished this quilt top! Needless to say, I won't make my June 1st deadline in getting the whole shebang done, but a good quilt is something that should never be rushed...they take too damn long! You have to enjoy the process and love the outcome when you finally get there!
Total shirts used: 58
And all the blank fabric is T-shirt as well! I couldn't have done it without my walking foot, ballpoint sewing needles and lots and lots of pinning.
Sasha, my lovely helping hands.
My other recently-finished quilt top taking a break up on the wall at Hands On 3rd. I can't wait to finally get this one quilted!

2010-05-27T22:55:00.000-07:00

Via An Ambitious..

2010-05-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

Heather Ross & Echino fabrics

Via True Up

2010-05-25T15:21:00.001-07:00

The girls at Kid Craft making leis with fresh flowers. It makes the store smell so good! Megan, the teacher, is amazing with coming up with fun and new craft ideas. These kids don't know how lucky they are!

Check out all our fun classes at Hands On 3rd

2010-05-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

2010-05-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

"For a minute, perhaps, my mind was wool gathering."
-H.G.Wells

2010-05-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

Just finished decorating the window at Hands on 3rd with the help of Than and Sasha. They're letting me set up front to work on my current and upcoming quilt projects, taking the quilt revolution to the streets! And I get to make awkward eye contact with everyone on 3rd Street. Come say hi!

(Special thanks to Than for making this vid!)

2010-05-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

A great article this week in the New York Times about an upcoming fiber artist in SoHo, Dana Barnes. She makes giant crocheted granny squares, that are then felted and shaped into contemporary floor rugs, among other things.

Her studio looks so inspiring!

At work, with her 3 assistants. What a dream job!

A felted bedroom: felted blanket, felted slippers, and multiple felted rugs. Read the article here.

2010-05-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

My second commissioned t-shirt quilt this year! I just finished laying everything out and the sewing will begin tomorrow morning. It is truly a dream that I can be making a living doing what I love, I'm so blessed!

2010-04-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

2010-04-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

Uncle Byron's quilt top

2010-04-26T09:49:00.001-07:00

2010-04-25T22:26:00.000-07:00

2010-04-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

Viktor and Rolf Fall 2010
Glamour Factory

After she teetered out wearing three times her body weight in layers, McMenamy was joined by Victor and Rolf, who proceeded to remove one piece of her clothing at a time and dress the younger models in those items for their marches down the runway. First off was a giant tweed cape that turned into a coat with a few tweaks here and there, followed by, among other things, a leather coat that reversed to a beaded one and a crystal-studded number that unzipped down McMenamy's back and zipped up the second girl's front. Once McMenamy had been stripped down to a nude bodysuit, the process resumed in reverse. The give and take culminated with a slinky silk strapless dress that with a few pulls of its drawstrings became a cape, and a ball skirt that turned into an Elizabethan ruff of absolutely epic proportions." - Style.com

"This time around, we want to show that something can be both wearable and extreme at the same time. It goes beyond a mere idea; it is literally ready for production." - Victor & Rolf

You have to watch them in action! Click on the videos below.

Viktor & Rolf - Fall 2010 Part 1

2010-04-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

Click on the 4 arrows to watch the video bigger.

Viktor & Rolf - Fall 2010 Part 2

2010-04-23T15:32:00.001-07:00

2010-04-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

Love you, Denyse Schmidt!

2010-04-10T17:21:00.000-07:00

I just got hired to make a t-shirt quilt for a big-time LA movie director and this was one of the shirts in the pile. Nostalgia! It's from an old record store in my hometown of Durham, NC (that's been closed for years now) -- turns out he's from Raleigh. It made me smile.

2010-04-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

2010-04-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter, everybody!

2010-04-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a wild spring break.

2010-04-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

Almost finished with the quilt top I'm making for my brother and sister-in-law to give to a newly pregnant friend. I was attempting to get it finished before my friends came in town but didn't quite make it. It'll be done soon!
The colors and the elephants touch on the parents' college degree from University of Alabama.

The one orange triangle is Laurence and Jess' UT Knoxville nod.
...............................
Where are the SCAD Bees??

How to Make a Mordor Cake

2010-03-26T23:08:00.001-07:00

My new favorite 4th cousin, Julie, inspired me to make a cake for Than for his birthday earlier this month. When she pulled out the bundt pan I was to use, the only thing I could think of was the flaming towers of Mordor, from the Lord of the Rings. Of course, I was reading the book at the time, so that helped my imagery. I went for it and had a blast drizzling hot chocolate lava and piling on menacing rocks of sprinkles.

I burnt the edges of the chocolate chip cake but I thought Sauron would be okay with that.

Even an authentic Shelob the spider wedged into her cave.

Not surprisingly, the paper evil eye started burning with all 25 candles lit but we went with it to effect!

It was a great success and tasted amazing, especially with a dangerous dose of vanilla ice cream.

2010-03-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

Saw good dogs and bright colors at the LA Marathon on Sunday. It went right by our apartment on Santa Monica Blvd so we were able to roll out of bed and get a look at the first place runners.

Good dog!

Everybody else and their orange peels.

2010-03-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

Than and I went to this gnarly old bookstore in Burbank this weekend. And I mean gnarly, dusty, packed to the ceiling with back issues of Life and every kind of Hollywood/movie book you could imagine. We found this awesome edition of the Lord of the Rings series with some crucial cover illustrations.

2010-03-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

I want this book to be not out of print.

2010-03-17T16:25:00.001-07:00

I love this shot Than got of me working on my latest crochet project. I was incredibly efficient with this afghan and got it done in a week. The zig-zags were addictive! I only used yarn that I had on hand, in true scrappy crochet fashion, and it really made me more open-minded about the colors I chose to put in it. It's so warm, being that I chose natural fibers over the acrylics our grandmothers used, and last week I welcomed its warmth. But this week...the California sun is in full force and it will have to be simply eye-candy on the sofa till I stop sweating.

Mortoise, the tortoise, came out of 2-months of hibernation on Saturday, just in time for Daylight Savings. She knew the heat was coming! I was pleasantly surprised when she joined me on the floor while I was crocheting and waddled her way through my yarn stash.

2010-03-07T13:05:00.000-08:00

"A man's got to do what a man's got to do."
Via Digg Images

2010-03-05T17:13:00.001-08:00

2010-03-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

2010-03-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

My neighbor's dog, enjoying the warm weather with a new friend I got in a package from Nebraska. Thanks Anna, for the awesome Valentines present! Wish you were here soaking up the sunshine with us!

2010-02-25T00:57:00.000-08:00

2010-02-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

Whaaaaa? Too cool.

Via Etsy's Spinthread. Unfortunately she doesn't have any currently for sale -- I got these images out of the sold section. Hopefully she'll be back with more!

2010-02-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

Anna Dewey, I thought about you when I saw this picture.

2010-02-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

Beginning of the Phillip's quilt...a University of Alabama-themed color story. This pattern has proven to be a great way to use scrap-sized pieces of fabric.

2010-02-17T20:27:00.000-08:00

Dottie Angel's got it right.

2010-02-15T15:20:00.000-08:00

The dandelion kids quilt I made about a year ago has finally found a body to warm. Keishly Richardson was born to my first cousin around the holidays, officially taking the pressure off my brother and I to start having grandchildren. I used a fabric stamp pad and alphabet stamps to personalize the corner. And I can't wait for her to break it in!

2010-02-12T21:41:00.001-08:00

2010-02-09T12:29:00.001-08:00

2010-02-06T21:26:00.000-08:00

A preliminary sketch of the Phillip's baby quilt. I was inspired after watching Sleepy Hollow, the quilt on Ichabod Crane's bed was fantastic and exactly the triangle motif I was looking for. Turns out the design is called Japanese Triangles.

2010-02-04T23:07:00.000-08:00

Jenny started these dresses and I'm in the process of finishing them. We're both finding the joy in collaborating: she had gotten to a block in working on them and I received a project halfway finished! I love all the fabrics she chose; very girly and youthful yet fresh and classic.

2010-02-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

A little eyelet detail added to the bottom of my knitted cardigan in the making. I've finished the body and now I have the collar and sleeves left. I'm amazed at how simple this project is considering how complicated it seems, but the catch is that there's no way to make it go any faster. It's such a manual process and there's nothing you can keep doing when your hands start to hurt.

I also added some ribbing to finish the bottom.

2010-01-31T20:50:00.000-08:00

Sonia Rykiel's knitting.

I'm seriously wanting to make a knitted bathing suit. Is that crazy or what?

2010-01-29T23:49:00.000-08:00

I'm becoming obsessed with knitwear.

Rodarte's knitting.

2010-01-28T23:39:00.000-08:00

My first venture into knitwear. A green cardigan, knitted top-down with raglan sleeves. The coolest part about working this way is you can try it on as you go. I can use some of the fashion skills I learned in college but, creating the fabric while your structuring it to fit on a body is a whole new challenge.