WOYWW...

 I noticed when I put the two bears on last week that I had forgot to show you the first 4 I made for this customer....

These were made for a Dad/Grandad who died far too young and were made from his favourite clothes.....each item holding special memories.

The clothing for these 4 arrived Tuesday afternoon from South Wales....aren't they bright and cheery?

They are made in memory of my customer's son to give to his siblings and she is coming up from South Wales to collect them at the end of the week when she visits family members.

I think I was very missed while I was away on my holidays because since I started back on Tuesday morning I have.....

• Made 2 memory bears with personalised labels
• Removed belt straps from a dress.
• Shortened a pair of trousers
• Shortened 2 skirts
• Rehemmed 3 pair of trousers
• Replaced a concealed zip in a skirt
• Shortened 2 Nurses dresses
• Made the 4 memory bears [above]
• Repaired the underarm seams on a waterproof jacket
• Shortened 2 pair of nurse's trousers
• Shortened a pair of jeans
• Repaired a seam on an evening dress and
• Shortened a pair of jeans

This was all done last week and that also included a day sewing with the twins on Wednesday.....the customers kept coming but the jobs were put in a queue to do Thursday and Friday :-)

This week has started very differently as I have had no sewing to do for my customers as yet [I know I have some coming] so I have made the best of my break and....

I planned and cut out all these pieces.....I bought a new bag while I was away on holiday and fancied making another one from denim.

Hey presto....one new denim zipped bag with a zipped pocket on the front  and it's fully lined with two open pockets and another zipped pocket inside too......I'm really pleased with it and it has been made totally with fabrics/ zips/ webbing etc that I had in stock.....and that pleased me all the more.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you have enjoyed your visit and will leave me a little message so I know you've called in and I will do my best to pay you a return visit as soon as I'm able.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Two weeks are never the same here at Sewing by Annie's.  This week I've been under demand for my services and with having to close for all these Bank holidays there just aren't enough hours in my days so I allowed a young lady come for a Wedding dress fitting yesterday, on my day off, and spent the day altering her dress and also removed the pockets from a pair of linen trousers because my customer didn't like the way they showed through.

I have also made two memory bears, put a new zip in a waterproof jacket and repaired a tear in a dress....I do love the variety that comes through my door.

I love to see my rail full....especially when all the jobs on there are done and just waiting for collection :-)

This little bear will be going to sit at the head of a table at a Wedding where Grandad would have sat.....I love how special the little bears I make are.

This little bear is made from a Dad's shirts and is being given to a special needs young man on his birthday.

That just about sums up my week so far but I have a Prom dress coming today and have 4 more Memory bears coming before the end of the week too....It's all go here and I'm loving the buzz

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Hello all.  I've had a busy week but, until yesterday,  I had virtually no customers so I have been using my time to make bunting.

I now have a table full of jobs waiting for me...

• 2 pair of school trousers needing shortening
• a Burbery cost needing the pocket flaps stitching back down
• a referees badge to sew on his black shirt
• A panel to stitch in the front of a dress and the sleeves need shortening and
• snap poppers to sew onto the front of another dress to raise it at the front

As you can see I will be head down clearing my jobs this morning but I will then be making a start on other makes for the charity I'm sewing for.  I have made patterns in brown paper ready to make a reversable bag, little poppered purses, glasses cases and a couple of ideas I've got for key rings....can you tell I'm having fun being creative?

On my desk at the mo is this little lot...

I think I've made about 24 lengths of bunting...they are each about 2 metres long with 10 flags on each and I've used different combinations of the fabrics for them [there are 2 different fabrics on each]....then I ran out of tape to make them with so have ordered more.

I'm selling each length for £10 to raise funds for The Harry Johnson Trust.

I've photographed several of the combinations and have got permission to put them on my Facebook page....which I will do soon.

As you can see I've been using my time well...thankfully I'm feeling rather better now.

I will pop over to see what you've been up to in between my sewing jobs.  I hope you've all had a good week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all.  You're here to see what's on my desk today and surprise surprise there's only one little school Memory bear this week....but I do have another one coming later today :-)

This little school bear brings the number of schools I've made bears for up to 36 from all round the world.

It also brings the total number of Memory Characters up to 643 now....I've actually made 22 bears in the last 3 weeks!!

I was brought this jacket this week...it had a 7" zip in the top to be pulled over the head but my customer struggled to get in and out of it so he asked if I could add a panel down the front and put a full length zip in it.....I get asked to do all sorts of jobs and always love a challenge :-)

I will show you a few of my home made decorations that I have up in my sewing room now [no I didn't make the mat but I do rather like robins].

I will be shutting up shop on 23rd and will then be closed until Wednesday 4th January so will hopefully get a good rest and be able to enjoy lots of family times :-)

Hope you're all having a wonderful week.  I will call by to see as many as I can in between my sewing jobs later.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all.  Did you miss me?  I was MIA last week while we had a few days away in our motor home on a wonderful, adult only campsite in Llanidloes....it was one of the many Tranquil Sites that can be found around the country and it was simply perfect.

I'm back this week and have been playing catch up with all my sewing. ...it's been coming out of the woodwork this week so I've been kept very busy.

These are the latest 3 Memory bears I've made but still have two on my desk waiting to be made and many more due to come very soon.

These three were made from a Grandma's favourite jumpers/tops.

I was asked to repair a seam on a settee but as you can see it would only stand on it's end in our hall because of it's size and I had to sewing it by hand, with a curved needle and using extra strong thread.....never again I say!!

I have also, in my spare time, been working on my ATCs for the up and coming swap.  I have made about a dozen so am willing to swap with anyone wanting to [first come first served].  Jo and I will be sending our swaps together to save on postage so please anyone who wants to swap please send ours to either Jo or I...we wont fall out as to who gets them :-)

Please send your addresses to wipso2310@gmail.com to save me hunting out the details.

That's all from me for this week but I must say the system here has been playing up for sending comments and there have been several blogs that I have visited that wouldn't let me leave a comment....I promise I do try.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week459

 Hello all and a happy Friday to you all.  I'm here to catch up with the smiles from the last week and I'm lucky to say there's been plenty to smile about.

On Wednesday I had Gina here [hense the photo of me!].  She sat crocheting and I sat making bunting in bright colours for Theo's bedroom.

Here's the proof that I finished making it and just how pleased he was when he came home from school to see it....it makes everything worth while doesn't it?

Here's Gina sat in my sewing room crocheting her ripple blanket.  I'm so proud of her progress with her crocheting and just look at that gorgeous baby bump in her lap....I actually felt him kick this week  :-)

I thought you would like to meet our next grandson....it's a 4D scan of him now at 30 weeks. He's about 2lb 14oz now. Modern technology is amazing isn't it?  We have also seen videos of him moving and really feel like we are getting to know him before he arrives.....he's sooooo like his big brother.

The next generation are progressing well on their sewing machines....these are 19 hair scrunchies that Lexi has made for their school performance of Joseph.

And this is a project that Phoebe is working on at school....it's a design of a crisp packet and she has used free machine stitching on the front.

I'm so proud to see my grandchildren sewing.

Finally here's a funny I saw on Facebook....it could have been written about Milly.  Every new toy she gets she shakes it till she 'kills' it and I don't think she has one with a 'living' squeaker in it now lol.

I hope you have enjoyed sharing my smiles and will share yours by linking up at the bottome of the page.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 I'm sure some of you will be pleased to hear that we are slowly winning the fight with the Winter bugs....it's slow but hopefully it's going in the right direction at least.

I've been doing some of this this week. It's a crochet baby blanket for Theo's little brother when he arrives in April.  It's slow progress but I am enjoying all the rows of different stitches and the colours I've chosen to work it in.

Gina is off work with Covid and fancied learning how to crochet so I sent her my crochet hooks and some wool to learn with and we have enjoyed a good giggle over the internet together while she's learning.  I must say she is doing very well and managing to get the tensions right already.

Sadly Theo has now tested positive too and has been enjoying 'having a go' with some wool and a hook but says 'it's really tricky Nanny'.

He really loves having a go at anything creative but maybe we need a session together when he's out of isolation :-)

The only other thing on my 'desk' for today are these two men's coats.  The navy one on the left I've had to shorten by 7" but it was all top stitched so was a really tricky job [especially when you're not feeling 100%].

The brown one is here to have a new zip put in but I had to order the zip [I order from Cari Crafts on line...they are brilliant and always very quick and reliable]. The new zip arrived yesterday so that's the job I will be working on today.

I also have fabrics coming through the post to make 2 memory bears and another one coming on Friday morning so I'm guessing I will be busy this week [busy enough for now anyway :-) ].

That's all from me for this week.  If you leave me a little message I will do my best to pop over to yours to say hello.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles ....week 446

 Here we are at another Friday's catch up of the week of smiles.  My aim is to share my smiles and to make the world a happier place and hope everyone who can will link up at the bottom of the page and share their smiles too.

By biggest smile this week is that I am soooooooooo thankful to say I am now feeling much better and more like 'me'.  It has been a long haul to recover from the Covid virus...I guess when something knocks you so hard and you're getting older it takes longer than it used to but I have been very sensible and have listened to my body and only done what it was telling me and have rested lots.

As promised last week I have photos to share with you of our babysitting at Amy's last Thursday night...

I set up their Singer sewing machine on the one side of their table and my Janome on the other side and the three children all made a haloween pumpkin out of felt.....they cut out their paper patterns, pinned then onto double thickness felt then stitched carefully around leaving a small gap.  They then stuffed them, stitched up the gap and then decorated the fronts.

I was so proud of all three of them and they were all really proud of their finished projects.

My biggest smile came the following day when they set up their sewing machine themselves and each made halloween black cats and/or bats totally unaided using the same method and then sent me the photos.

Theo's birthday treat from his one uncle was a day at Chester Zoo.  They had a really great day and sent me lots of photos of all the animals they saw there.

Here are some of the outfits from the Halloween weekend....they enjoyed a bit of trick or treating and some Haloween parties....a fun time was had by all.

Saturday Shell treated me to some birthday fun. We had a mother and daughter session at a Kinkiglass workshop at Ironbridge and then she treated me to lunch out. The rainbow was mine and Shell's was the mermaid.  They have to be fired and will then have holes drilled in the top so they can be hung in a window.  It was a really lovely couple of hours and we had a good giggle together.

Finally here is the latest collage of colour from our garden.  Yesterday we had a good frost so I'm guessing these flowers wont last much longer but it was really lovely to capture the colour before it all drops.

I hope you have enjoyed my smiles and will now leave me a little message before you link to your own smiles below.....everyone is welcome to join in.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...week 444

 I'm here with some smiles today.  I'm running at about 60% energy levels but I'm getting there thankfully.  I can still nod off at the drop of a hat but I guess that is more to do with my age and recovery than anything else....we don't bounce back the same as we get older do we?

So here's my smiles for this week...

Theo had his first session at the forrest school this week and just loved it.  He's been a little gem Facetiming me too to see if I was better...It works like a tonic to see his smiling little face.

Whilst we've been poorly it was Stephen's 10th birthday.  Sadly we had to miss joining in the fun this year and his birthday presents were rather late but he said he was just glad to have us better....such a kind caring thoughtful boy.

Lulu had done tie dying at school and couldn't wait to send me a photo of the results.

Both Lulu and Phoebe have had commendation awards at school this week for their sewing....that sewing machine really has helped their confidence.  Their teachers were very impressed with their ability....so proud of them both.

Finally I thought this one would make you laugh.  This is me at the mo.  I saw the pic on Facebook and it seemed so appropriate I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

I must say a big thank you for all the lovely get well wishes from last week and for the gorgeous card that Angela sent me....I really do feel loved.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all. I was MIA again last week and if you check out my Friday post you will see why.  I was determined to not miss a moment so make no apologies that I didn't have time for blogging....I just know you will all understand.....Theo starts school tomorrow so time was simply running out.

Since coming back from Wales I have been run off my feet catching up with work.....

I've a rail still heaving and some of it has already been collected. In two days I...

• Did fittings and all the sewing needed on two bridesmaids dresses including 5 hems, taking in a bodice and taking one up on the shoulders.
• Shortened a lined dress
• Shortened a holiday dress and took it up on the shoulders
• Shortened another holiday dress and reduced the length of the straps
• Shortened the straps on a jumpsuit and
• Shortened a pair of gents suit trousers.

Quite an achievement in 2 days eh?

I've even managed a little time for playing with my paints :-)

I would like to share these paintings with you that our 11year old granddaughter Lulu has been doing.  She is a rather talented young artist and I love to encourage youth with their crafts.  She has a set of painting pens like mine but her mummy has just set her up with some acrylic paints and she has been painting these pics on canvasses...I think they are rather gorgeous too.

Sam and Lexi have been in isolation whilst Sam got over his Covid.  He had signs of a cold and was rather washed out with it but he has now recovered and it was really lovely to see them both enjoying fun in their garden pool.

Whilst at home they both did a bit of wood carving and painted them all up too...Rather good too I think.

I'm sorry my desk was rather boring this week so I hope you have enjoyed seeing a little of the talented grandchildren's crafting too....it's such a lovely way of them choosing to spent their time.

I have another busy week planned...I had a customer contact me asking me if I can make her 14 Memory bears in memory of a much loved Grandmother who has just died and all being well the clothing should arrive tomorrow....oh happy days.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Happy Wednesday to one and all.  It's been another busy week here at Sewing by Annie's....or should I call it The Ark?  Everything has come here in pairs this week.  

I've had two riding jackets

• ...one to replace it's 28" open-ended zip in [a tricky job because it wasn't put in to ever come back out and every single stitch had to be undone one at a time!....putting the new one back in was no easier!] 
• .....the second riding jacket was bought as a seconds because the one inside pocket was missing so I had to make a pocket and sew it in by hand because there was no way to get it under the machine to do it...so this was another tricky job to get right.

Then I had a steady flow of Memory bear requests...

This pair were the ones I said I had waiting on my desk to be made last Wednesday.  They are made from a fleecy pair of pyjamas and the result was two really gorgeous bears.

These were the next pair.  It never fails to amaze me just how different each bear is depending on the items of clothing I have to make them out of.

This lady asked for just the one but when she saw the result she loved it so much that she asked me to make another one :-)

The next pair were made from a Grandma's pyjamas to hold special memories for her two Granddaughters.  Two very different bears but both are very cuddly because the fabrics are fluffy and the message on the personalised label was what their Grandma used to say to them.

This now brings my Memory Bear count up to 443.

So, as you can see, everything came in in pairs....all that was missing was the floods.  It was actually a really lovely sunny week.  I hope you've all had a happy and healthy week and have lots of creating things to share with me when I pop round to see you later.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Its a conveyor belt type sewing post for this week.  One of my customers asked me to make her some face masks as she was struggling to buy any for her family so I made a few and put them on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page....within a couple of hours I'd sold them all and requests were coming in fast and furious so I've spent my week delving into my stash and doing my best to keep up with demand....it's been rather hectic but I'm buzzing.

I have a system worked out where I iron all the fabrics first [or my darling hubby irons them for me] then I cut out all the required sizes [I've made batches of adult and children sized masks].  I then cut all the elastics for each one and pin them in place on one side of the mask.  I back each one in a contrasting/matching fabric and sew around each one before turning right sides out, pleating each one and sewing around a further twice to securely hold everything in place....what fun I've been having.  I have posted out many orders and others have been collected by local customers while they have been on their daily walks with a strictly contactless transaction....what a hoot!

I'm really missing the friendly interaction I have with my customers but in these difficult times we can do anything if only we try.

I'm pleased to report that Elizabeth is making good steady improvement each day.  Her husband, Alan is making slower progress as he is still convalesing from his surgery too but he's gradually moving in the right direction ....so keep those positive vibes heading their way folk and we will get them there.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Date for the diary alert....

The hall for the crop 2020 has been booked for Saturday June 6th....same venue as last year.....details to follow.

Now the important bits are done here's what you came here for....my desk [or what's not on my desk today]....as many of you will know I was away last week on holiday travelling around Scotland in the motor home and if you'd like to see more please scroll to the post below....you just may see a few faces there you will recognise :-)

Since we got home the only sewing I've done is to shorten these two dresses so nothing really exciting there for you to see.

But......

....on my desk this morning is a lovely new purchase that I can't wait to have time to play with.  Jan had been using hers to make little purses then Catriona showed some little bags she'd used some of hers to finish off beautifully so of course the temptation was just too much to bear and I just had to have some.

My creative juices have been flowing as to the 101 uses for my new poppers snap fasteners [no don't search for poppers on Google as you may get more than you bargain for!!].  I'm thinking of ideas as to what I can use them for to make the little Christmas tree decorations that I make each year for the Grandchildren so watch this space.

That's all I have to share with you for this week....hopefully, now my batteries have been recharged, I will find some free time to be creative......but who knows?

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Well, please don't blink or you will miss it today.  On my desk is pretty much nothing.  I'm guessing everyone is on holiday cos its been really quiet here at Sewing by Annie's since last Wednesday.....that is until yesterday and all I can say is it certainly wasn't quiet.  There were several cups of coffee/tea drank and there just might have been a few cakes eaten.  There were ladies that lunched and pretty well non-stop chatter.  Why? I hear you asking......we had a visit from our friend and yours, the one and only Margaret from Glitter and Glue fame.  She called by, picked me up and we joined that much older sister of mine for some really quality time together....it was so lovely to see her and we had such a good catch up that none of us even thought to take a photo....sorry.

So here's my desk....

The only thing waiting for me to do today is this pair of torn jeans needing patching and darning.

I will have the company of my darling hubby today too.....he now only has to work tomorrow and Friday and then he retires and I will have him as my full time assistant stuffing bears.

Hugs all,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Here we are at the last Wednesday catch up before our Crop10 celebrations.  I have lots going on here but sadly not a lot I can share with you as its in preparation for Saturday and I like to keep surprises.

We were away on another little Motor home adventure last weekend so there was a lot of....

...rest and relaxation in the day time in between enjoying lovely dog walks and enjoying amazing sun sets each evening before pulling the blinds down and snuggling up each evening.

I'm sure in a former life Milly was a traveller because she loves the life in the Motor home and really enjoys watching everything going on around her.

There's nothing on my desk I can share so I will just let you know that replacing 39 white buttons with black ones so he can wear them while playing in the band was quite a challenge.....its not all exciting sewing here :-)

The last thing I'm sharing this week is the two lovely ATCs that have arrived with me this week from friends who wanted to share but can't come to the crop on Saturday.  The left one is from Zsuzsa and the one on the right is from Angela....thanks so much both.  I love them both.

That's all from me for this week....I will try to post a smiley post on Friday but I may be a little busy sewing and baking so we will see.  To those coming to the Crop10....see you there.....wahooooooo.

Hugs,

Annie x