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yarn shop love + weaving resources

January 26, 2016

Winter has set in here and I am really ready for it. Ready for it in that bring me all the crafts kind of way. And in that pile on the fleece and play all the Grey’s Anatomy kind of way. But most of all ready for it in that BRING ME A SNOW DAY kind of way. You know, so I can craft wearing all my fleece watching Grey’s Anatomy ALL DAY. :)

I have really been having fun with this weaving gig I’ve got going on. The texture and colors are my favorite part and the relaxing nature of it all is the most wonderful bonus. I love how I never know how my weavings are going to turn out in the end. It’s a fun surprise every time.

I have been happily sharing photos of my work on instagram and the feedback has been so encouraging! Nice people giving nice comments and I am so thankful for that. A few people have asked if I’ve ever considered selling my weavings and my first thought is always BLESS YOUR KIND SOULS and my second thought is maybe! Someday! Possibly! What a fun thought. For now I am truly enjoying the creativity of it all but if I ever do decide to sell a few you will be the first to know.

I’ve also been asked about the yarn I am using which is the best question of all! Below are links to my favorite shops and the specific fibers I’ve purchased. It’s been so much fun collecting colors and weights and textures of wool. I’ve also added some other weaving topics including instagram accounts to follow and some basic online tutorials. I hope you find something that you love here today and please let me know if you have favorite shops or great weaving resources of your own. I would love to hear and am always looking to add to my knowledge bank. Weaver Fever is for real. ♥

YARN SHOP LOVE

Classes, Yarn, Looms, and Supplies…

Maryanne Moodie
{where I first fell in love with fiber art!}

Yarn…

Knit Collage // Cast Away Yarn {pictured above}

Jill Draper Makes Stuff

Reyarner // Muted Coral, Lace Weight

1AZColorworks // Robin’s Egg Blue + Seafoam

Miss Knit Yarns // Sari Silk with Sparkles

Beautiful Mayblossom // Mint + Pistachio

I have also gotten a good amount of yarn from Michael’s and Joann Fabric. My first choice is to support small artists and shops, and I often find the quality better albeit pricer, but these bigger chain stores have a few options as well.

Storefronts I have visited…

Gather Here // Cambridge, Massachusetts

Purl Soho // New York, New York

Fancy Tiger Crafts // Denver, Colorado

{Visiting an actual store is SO special. Feel free to share in the comments if you know of any gems out there in the world.}

Roving…

Grey Fox Felting

Mohair and More // Mint + Salmon + Turquoise + Coral

Loom and Spindle // White

LOOMS + Supplies…

Maryanne Moodie on Etsy {I use this one!}

Insatgram inspiration…

Maryanne Moodie + Smoothhills Weaving + The Weaving Kind

Paige and Roy + Krystle Weaves + Jeannie Makes

Meghan Shimek + Leeleeazz

Tutorials…

{I want to quickly say that I haven’t really used any weaving tutorials myself. My skills and knowledge of weaving came from taking Maryanne’s class and from lots of experimenting and practice! I have viewed the tutorials listed below and think they might be a helpful start to anyone who is willing to take the time to learn on their own. I always work best with a hands-on lesson from an actual human so paying the money for a class was worth every penny to me and I highly recommend it to anyone who can find the means to get to Brooklyn or perhaps is lucky enough to find a class in your city!}

Weaving for Beginners — really good videos!!
One + Two + Three + Four + Five

Weaving Basics + Getting Fancy

DIY Woven Wall Hanging Tutorial

For kids, too!

Weaving 101

Hot damn! These posts always have a way of turning out so epic.

I hope these links help any of you out there looking for supplies and inspiration. I have found over the last few months that if you look hard enough the resources are endless. It’s so exciting, all the creativity out there, isn’t it?

♥♥♥

“Oh, it’s delightful to have ambitions. I’m so glad I have such a lot. And there never seems to be any end to them– that’s the best of it. Just as soon as you attain to one ambition you see another one glittering higher up still. It does make life so interesting.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

8 Comments · Filed Under: handmade, weaving ·

the first christmas letter.

December 24, 2015

Happy Christmas, everyone!

Our very first Christmas card! Our very first Christmas letter! Our very first Christmas spent together! It’s all so exciting, I love it. Here’s to what I’m hoping is an annual tradition— an update of sorts and a wish for the happiest of New Year’s to one and all. We have had the busiest, most exciting year together yet– An engagement, a wedding, and the cutest puppy you ever did see. :) With the internet these days, and my devoted love for instagram, an old fashioned piece of paper seems hardly necessary, but I have looked forward to writing my own typed letter to friends and family for years and YEARS and so I will begin our tradition right here, right now because dreams are always best when they come true.

Speaking of…. ! We’ll start this letter off on the very eve of the New Year, 2014. Zan and I made plans to head into the city for Boston’s First Night before we’d be hosting our own New Year’s party with family close to home. While walking through the Public Garden, Zan surprised me (yes, very much surprised me!) with a beautiful diamond ring. We celebrated eight and a half years together with the promise of forever and I cannot remember a party so joyful.

From there our days were thrilling and b-u-s-y. We knew the way you just know that summer is our season, and so we set the date for June. Six months to sign seal and deliver and we did it with sparklers to boot! I had the best time planning our day, from designing the invitations with my Aunt Heidi to dress shopping with my mom and Meg. I printed (almost!) every single piece of paper on our home computer, and spent plenty of hours with the paper cutter after school.

If you were at the Mandana Barn that pretty summer day you know that the sky was bright and a little bit drizzly, that flowers were placed in every nook and cranny and that love filled the space like magic. We said our vows under a beautiful (Zan-made!) arbor and danced and danced until the very last chord of “Don’t Stop Believin’”. We loved that day and the people who were part of it. The Best Day Ever, the Twentieth of June.

Do you know what happened next? We took ourselves to Europe! 21 days in Italy and Croatia— the best company, the best sights, the best food! In Italy: Venice, Rome, and Positano. In Croatia: Dubrovnik, Korcula, Hvar, Plitvice Lakes, the hills of Istria and Rovinj. Our time away was fantastic and overwhelming and exhausting and amazing. Rome was agreeably our favorite, and the water off the coast of Croatia! We have never seen anything so blue. Bitten by the travel bug, we’re already pumped for wherever our adventure will lead us next. Suggestions are always welcome!

August brought us lots more excitement and a little bit of scoundrel when Pennylane Winchell became part of our family. Zan’s aunt Crissy rescued her in L.A. and sent her east to be a companion for Nell’s dog Rue. Except, lucky us! After a weekend in New Hampshire we brought that cutie pup home to our house and can’t imagine it any other way. She’s the sweetest fluffiest little love.

After Summer came Fall and we’re back into the everyday swing of things. We are still living on the 2nd floor of the big house on Summer Street, where I’ve enjoyed creating the coziest space to call home. Zan is doing well and keeping busy at work and I still love teaching those littles– my third year in 2nd grade, having fun every day of the year. On weekends we like to explore, both near and far and every place in between — we spent time in Nantucket, Denver, New Hampshire and the Berkshire’s, Tampa, NYC, Maine, North Carolina and Syracuse, New York! When winter comes we’ll be on the slopes in Vermont, Zan loving the mountains and me, the hot chocolate. :) I can’t say I love the cold but I do love the cozy. Cozy we are and happy we’ll be.

We love you all very much and think about you often. MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY 2016!!

Wishing you the happiest! Lots of love,

Anna and Zan

Merry Everything.
Happy Always.
Joy to the World.

2 Comments · Filed Under: celebrations, holiday, life, nostalia ·

our wedding day.

July 27, 2015

Oh my. How do I even begin to describe this day? I suppose the more I sit here and think about it the more I know that no amount of words will ever do it justice. But the photos just might and for that I am beyond thankful and so excited to share them with you. Our wedding day was magic. It was more than I could have dreamed and better than I ever imagined. We were engaged on the coldest and brightest of New Year’s Eves and although we will always now have a special place for winter in our hearts, summer is where our souls are meant to be. So on a gorgeous day in June we were married. We planned our celebration in just over 6 months and both agree we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. We have been together for what seems like forever. So many summers and falls and winters and springs. And are thrilled to keep loving each other until forever and a day.

I grew up spending my summers on Skaneateles Lake, a gorgeous little spot tucked right into the Finger Lakes in New York. When we started to look around for venues the Mandana Barn in Skaneateles literally dropped right into our laps — or maybe I should say we dropped right into theirs. I knew I wanted a simple wedding. One filled with green grass and flowers and family and friends. I worked hard to bring the vision I had in my mind for this day to life. And with the help of everyone around us it was more than I could have hoped for and then even better still.

The morning of the wedding Zan and I met up for breakfast on the water. We went to the bakery in town, got donuts and coffee and sat quietly with our feet over the edge of the lake. We weren’t nervous or anxious, only completely and wonderfully at peace. I am so glad we got that time together the morning of our day– before the hustle and bustle, before the thrill of it all.

My cousin Paige gave us some of the best advice before our wedding day. “Stay together the entire length of the day,” she said. Someone had given the advice to her and I will forever pass it on to others. It seems kind of obvious, but there are certainly times where we could have become separated during all the excitement. So many different friends to talk to! Such a big family! But once we came together for our first look we never left each other’s side.

Although much of the wedding was planned by yours truly (and thankfully my mom who was able to be so close when Boston felt so far),there was certainly a team that helped the magic come alive. Our vendors include… Venue: Mandana Barn / Catering & Planning: James Hares, Mandana Inn (James help was immeasurable. Since we didn’t have a traditional wedding planner, James took over so many of the important venue details and truly helped the day come together perfectly.) / My dress: Ceremony Boston, designed by Karen Willis Holmes / Bridesmaid dresses and my blue suede shoes: J.crew / Zan’s suit and Groomsmen attire: J.crew / Groomsmen Ties: The Tie Bar / Band: Silver Arrow Band / Officiant: Emily VanLaeys / Flowers for tables, arbor, and ceremony: Fifty Flowers {with help from a massive team of my family and friends} / Bouquets, flower crowns, and garland: Laxton’s Florist / Hair and Make-up: Melissa Evans, Arabella Salon / Boat Rental: The Sherwood Inn / Wedding Arbor & Best Day Ever sign post: made by Zan, decorated and hand-lettered by my Aunt Heidi / Invitations and paper: designed by me, hand-lettered and illustrated by my Aunt Heidi ♥

And last but absolutely not least— an amazing photographer was my number one requirement {besides the groom, of course!}, and if there’s a word stronger than incredible then that would most certainly describe ours. Chad and Rebecca Hansen from First Mate Photography were a dream. They captured our day exactly how my memories keep it — beyond perfect. These photos are everything to me. A celebration of love, indeed…

I gave my bridesmaids each a monogramed necklace from Barberry and Lace
and these adorable cards are from the Etsy shop First Snow Fall.

Cheers!

Our wedding music…

Wedding Prelude // Annie’s Song, John Denver

Moon River, Andy Williams

Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles

Bridesmaid Processional // A Thousand Years, The Piano Guys

Bridal Processional // Pachabel’s Canon in D

Recessional // Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours, Stevie Wonder ♥

{Wedding favor succulents from The Succulent Source.}

Our cake topper is from Lovely Grain Studio and guest book {not pictured!} is from Starboard Press.

First Dance // Today, Joshua Radin

Father-Daughter Dance // Charlie, Milk Carton Kids

Mother-Son Dance // Cracklin’ Rosie, Neil Diamond

The most beautiful, joyful day.

Best. Day. Ever.

♥♥♥

41 Comments · Filed Under: celebrations, family, wedding ·

dear 2013 // a year in review

January 4, 2014

year in review 2 year in review 8

Dear 2013,

Even though you’re technically gone, I still wanted to take a moment here to recognize you. To thank you for being such a big, challenging, joy-filled year for me. I am SO THANKFUL for all the adventures this year brought me. When I look through these pictures I get this crazy strong nostalgic feeling. Happy and sad and everything in between. Happy because you brought me so many significant memories, and sad because you’re gone for good.

I opened Dear Friend Shop. I can’t believe I got my act together and really did it, but I did! It proved to be fun, but also overwhelming for me. Since it’s not my full-time job, I haven’t spent as much time with it as I ultimately would have liked to {or more honestly, had the energy to}, but that’s okay because it just means I can work on it more in 2014. I think I’ve started to find my niche, and will use this new year to build on it and bring it alive in my creative work.

I visited Denver, a brand new-to-me city with the very best of my friends. This showed me how much my heart wants to see so much of the rest of this country. I want to see the world, I want to see everything!, but it was this trip that made me realize how much of the US I yearn to see. Oh my goodness, I want to see it all. It also showed me how much I love my friends. How much happiness I feel when I’m with them, and how much it means for me to find the time {and money} to see them. I’m really pretty terrible at keeping in touch {on the phone and email front}, but I am committed to making get-togethers happen, so this I will try for each and every year to come.

I left my old teaching job, and began a new one. This was probably the biggest and most significant change for me in 2013. It came upon out of the blue and challenged me to my core. It was both sad and exciting to leave, and honestly a little hard for me to transition, but I’m really coming into my own now, and I know it will just get better and better with time. I miss my old teaching friends {but can and do still get together with them} and am also starting to make new ones. I look forward to the day second grade feels as natural to me as first grade did– the curriculum part of it I’m still getting the hang of– but the kids are still as fabulously funny as ever. I can hardly wait to see how far they’ve come in June!

I have so many amazing people in my life. The photos above speak volumes to that. Zan, my sister, my parents, my extended family, Zan’s family, my friends. I love them all so much I could cry. How do you measure a year? In mighty, mighty love.

And! I turned 30. I feel… kind of different? Not really different at all? Some days I feel older. But mostly, I feel the same. My eyes have been opened to how lucky I am. How much I have and see and do. How blessed I have been with my experiences and also with my sense of appreciation. I hope I never lose sight of that. I want to be grateful until forever. And long after forever, too.

Oh, life, I can’t help but think– it really is so amazing.

Here’s to the good, here’s to the better, here’s to the best.

Cheers to you, 2013. So long, sweet memories.

17 Comments · Filed Under: life, nostalia ·