About Me

Hello, my name is Anna. If you're American, it doesn't rhyme with banana, but if you're English, it does. I grew up in Minnesota, where long, cold winters perfected my nearly-pigmentless, pale compexion. When I moved to the UK, I was able to move freely, surrounded by my pasty new British comrades. After a few years of that, however, I longed for a climate which can kill both by windchill and by heat index, so I've returned to the Twin Cities.

I live in a little house in Minneapolis, where I publish books. I am proof that teachers are sometimes wrong when they tell you that scribbling in your notebook will never get you anywhere. Now I can demand that people pay actual money for my scribbles, which is slightly unbelievable. I also take photographs. And edit. And every now and then I put a book together from scratch.

I do love living in Minnesota, but there's no denying the influence my time in London had. For example: I write 'colour.' Also 'flavour,' 'favourite,' and 'neighbourhood.' But not usually 'metre' or 'centre.' Some Americans say I speak with an accent; none of my English friends would ever assume I was anything but American (okay, maybe Canadian). I see the world as one big place, so I don't suppose there's any reason my vocabulary can't too!

I'm passionate about most things domestic: cooking, baking, sewing, making my house a home. I ramble. I get excited about silly, small things and won't shut up about them. I listen to MPR. I have two cats and a dog.

About Twelve22

I've been keeping a blog since the year 2000. It's relocated a couple of times, and I certainly don't make the complete archives available, but I've been at this for quite a while. The content of my blog has changed with my interests, and my interests are all over the place. Generally, this is a journal of my adventures in crafts, my love of food, the work I've put into my house, and the occasional holiday I take to far off lands.

I hope you enjoy it!