Anna Maria Horner

Yesterday, I happily attended Anna Maria Horner's Trunk Show at Keep Me In Stitches in Tampa, Florida. Anna Maria shared some of her designs, completed projects, inspirations, and recounted how she came to license these designs, make the fabric and patterns we love to sew, as well as how her craft has evolved over time.

She's warm, genuine, and a pleasure to listen and talk to. As of course I knew she would be. And it was amazing to see her work in person.

Naturally, these photos don't do her work justice. I also didn't take nearly enough of them...

I've never met a celebrity before, and I readily admit being awestruck. It's not every day you meet, in my opinion, a creative genius. I was most eager to have her autograph my book and take a photograph with me, which she graciously did.

Lucky me! I'm so glad Janome gave me the opportunity!

Crafts: Pooches and Pickups

I made this pillow out of Laurie Wisbrun's Pooches and Pickups fabric many, many months ago (see Cluck Cluck Sew's fabulous tutorial):

I had some fabric leftover, but I only got around to making something with it this past week. I didn't have enough to make a large quilt for Cole, so I made a baby-sized one for a neighbor. Although my model, Leia, would probably like to keep it for herself...

I cut and sewed five-inch squares - nothing fancy. The quilting is equally simple, but it makes the prints and colors focal points of the piece.

All washed and ready to go. I hope mama and baby like it!

Crafts: Graduation

My son graduated from preschool today, and he took cap and gown pictures mid-May. I had no idea this was done for preschoolers.

Despite my surprise, I knew Cloud9's Happy Drawing owls (designed by Ed Emberley, my childhood artistic hero) would make excellent graduation attire.

I used the Little Man Tie Tutorial from Very Homemade, and Cole's graduation tie is simply perfect. The velcro neck strap makes it painless to put on and take off - essential for an impatient mommy and child. Plus, it's just right for the occasion and looks great.

I thought: Cole is going to be the smartest-looking kid at graduation! But I bought two yards of the owls. I only needed a fat quarter to make the tie. Then I decided: I need to be a grown-up and share. So I made two more ties (not pictured) and a graduation dress for Cole's friends.

For the dress, I used the Frog Legs and Ponytails Caroline pattern (purchased here), which is ideal for novice apparel sewers like me. I paired the owls with Emberley's black scribble, for a graduating owls meet composition notebook look. I'm really pleased with how it turned out, and I think the little beauty and her mother are too.

I still have over a half yard of the owls fabric left. Who knows? Maybe Cole will want another Happy Drawing owls tie for high school graduation.

Congratulations, Class of 2012!