WOYWW....

 Hello all.  I hope you're all keeping warm, well and enjoying creative fun.  I love Wednesdays [guess I just love being nosey and seeing what you're all up to each week].

This week I have...

Been painting little peg dolls for next Christmas...it was a special request :-)

They have now got tiny ring hooks in the tops and have ribbon hangers.

I've made three more lovely Memory bears in memory of a special Dad/Grandad...all the more special to make because I knew the man they were made in memory of.

I have another one coming Friday :-)

I've also cut out and started to make some little mice...I like to have something to do while I'm sitting in front of the telly [to keep me awake in the evenings :-) ].

I will be dressing them and making them into Christmas mice probably.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you have enjoyed your visit.  If you leave me a little message I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what youve been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 394

 It's been another lovely week filled with smiles here at Sewing by Annie's.  Our Grandchildren give us reasons to smile every week.  We went to watch Lexi perform in her Christmas dance show and she was amazing...she dances with an older group of girls now and is the smallest but she really keeps up with her performance and even won the team player award for her attitude with other dancers...

Here she is with her dance teacher recieving her award....so very proud of her.

We enjoy our time with Theo and Louie each week and I couldn't resist snapping them playing so nicely together.

We have put our Christmas decorations up and each year these go on our tree....my Mum knitted them all from the same pattern, yet they are all quite different.  They always make me smile.

We saw this postbox topper when we were out the other night and I couldn't resist snapping it from different angles...isn't is fab?

That just leaves me to add a few funnies to make you smile.  I hope these do the job and you will leave me a little message before linking up to your own smiles below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all.  Hope you've had a good week.  I've been keeping busy here...I find it's that best way when I'm struggling to get through difficult times.

I made another kneeler  from the wadding from a Hello Fresh box...this time it's for my son, Mark.  I hate to see these things thrown out and it makes a fab kneeler.

I made a pretty length of bunting for a friend who is expecting a new Granddaughter any time soon...she chose the fabrics.

I've made lots more Christmas tree decorations and they are being fast chosen by my Grandchildren...I will probably make more to replace them and will then give them to the charity I support.

That's all from me for this week.  I will do my best to pay you a return visit if you leave me a little message.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

It's not been an easy week here at Sewing by Annie's.  Sadly our little Milly, having played happily outside all day on Saturday had a heart attack very suddenly and died at my feet early evening.  She was only 8 1/2  and, having 6 mthly checks at the vets, had no health problems so it was a huge shock to us...she has left a huge hole in our lives.

Needless to say I have been doing my best to keep very busy and I have a couple of things to share with you...

I was commisioned to make this lovely quilt for a lady who had previously had 3 others made for her other grandchildren...this is for the latest addition to the family.  I loved making it but I have to say it was a labour of love because it took many hours to make.

I've been kept busy with sewing for my customers but in between jobs I've made a few more Christmas tree decorations....still lots of beads etc to add yet but I've enjoyed having a bit of creative time.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you've had a better week than me and have lots to share with us.  I will do my best to pay you a visit as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Hi all.  It may be early in the year for some but, because I usually get busy leading up to Christmas, I am making a start with a few Christmas makes so that's what is on my desk today...

As most of you will know, each year I make something for each of my grandchildren to hang on their Christmas tree so I got my felt box out and made a start....I decided to make several different designs so they could choose.

Here they are...with a few stitches, beads, bows, wadding, a ribbon hanger and backing.  I have a few more designs in mind and all that are left will go to the charity I support.

That's all from me for now....I will be finding time to craft in between my sewing jobs.  I have a Memory bear to make this morning :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 I'm back.  Did you miss me?  We had a lovely week catching up with our Dutch friends that we met in 2000 and, because of Covid haven't seen them for 4 years.  We hired a lovely French Gite near Abbeville in the North of France ......my batteries are now well charged which is just as well :-) I will do my best to share a few pics on my Friday post if you'd like to see.

Before we went away I made this lovely Memory bear using a favourite Dress that belonged to a much loved Mum.  The dress had a lace over dress so I used some of this to make a lovely lacy top for the little bear...and I was really thrilled with the finish as was my customer.

As I'm sure many of you will know, I always make each of our Grandchildren a little 'something' to hang on their Christmas trees and this year I've made little felt Christmas trees...they were fun to make from carefully shaped felt that once folded up and, when sewn and stuffed, cleverly make the tree. I then stitched buttons on to decorate.....Of course this year I had an extra one to make :-)

Last minute before we went away I was brought the clothes to make 5 Memory bears using the shirts and jumper of a much loved Dad.  Sunday I cut out the interfacing, ironed it onto the fabrics and cut out the bear panels then on Monday I had a busy day making them all.

Plus clothing for a further 4 Memory bears arrived.

So yesterday [on my day off], I cut out more interfacing, ironed it on and cut out the panels for the 4 Memory bears which I will be sewing today....plus I have some skirts to shorten and at least 4 more Memory bears are coming today!!!

As you can see I am in demand and I think I was missed last week so I will be head down sewing today but will do my best to pop over to as many as I can as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Oh  what a lovely day we had linking up with everyone on zoom on Saturday.  It was to lovely to see so many joining in the fun.  Many thanks must go to Julia for making it possible.

I have now finished the little Covid safe gingerbread men I was making and half of them have already gone to their new homes.  For those that didn't see them on Saturday here's the ones I still have here....

I'm sure they will put a smile on faces as they are hung on their trees this year.

The only other thing I have here to share with your today is my rail full of sewing that I did on Monday...

• I made 4 Christmas face masks
• Shortened 3 nurses dresses
• Put a new 28" open ended zip in a man's coat
• Shortened 3 pair of trousers

Not a bad start to my week eh?  I love it when I'm busy.  I have 5 shirts coming in the post from Cornwall that should arrive today for me to make 5 Memory bears out of so that should fill the rest of my week hopefully.

I hope you're all happy and well and will leave me a little message to let me know you've called by.  I will do my best to pay you a visit in between my sewing jobs.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Another week of self isolation has passed and we have been enjoying some really lovely sunny days in the garden.  No weed has felt safe in our because the minute he pops his head up he's pulled out....our garden has never looked better :-)

I've moved a lot of the fabric off my desk and have even put some of it away to make room for the activities of the moment.....

I know it's far too early to mention the C word but I decided now would be a good time to do some painting while I can get it all out and leave it on my desk until I've finished what I'm doing with having no customers to disturb me.  At the begining of the year I ordered some wood slices to make some tree decorations with so that's what I have been up to.  It's something that I will enjoy dipping in and out of over the next couple of weeks.

I have also been sewing but as they are for birthday presents later in the year I can't share those with you yet and we have both enjoyed a few baking/cooking sessions together....

...fruity flapjacks and naan breads this week.  I think like most of you we are using up things from the store cupboard and finding recipes to adapt if we don't have all that's needed.  The naan breads were made without yeast as we didn't have any.  We found a recipe using baking powder instead and I have to say they were really yummy....and what we didn't eat were frozen and are ready for the next curry we make.....it's surprising what you can do when you try eh?

That's all from me for today.  I hope you are all staying home and are well and happy.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

My post comes with a warning today.....I'm in Christmas mode!  I know it's early but when you get asked to make something special you just can't say 'No I'm not ready yet' can you?

So.......

.....out came my plentiful supply of Christmas fabrics and I set to.

These were the first I made. They are the same sort of tags I make to hang around the necks of my Memory bears but these are to hang on the Christmas trees of 3 family members who have lost their Mum and Dad this year.

Then I made these personalised Christmas tree hangers and even made one for a special cat and attached his name on using my new poppers  snap fasteners.

Even though it's a bit early to want to get in Christmas mode I'm rather pleased I've got customers who don't leave everything to the last minute.

I found these in my fabric stash so may well make more cat tree hangers and also found some Christmas fabric with dogs on so will have to make a few doggy ones too.

I have many jars of ribbons and trims but, as always, there's never quite the right thing you need so had to pop to Watson and Thornton's and treat myself to a few firmer ribbons/tapes that I can use to machine embroider names/messages on to personalise the tree hangers.

I intend to attach some of them using my poppers snap fasteners but it's a work in progress as yet so watch this space.

There you go.  That's what's on my desk for today but I have also altered a dress, put a new zip in a denim dress, taken in a pair of trousers and shortened 3 pair of trousers already this week so I'm being kept busy....oh and of course yesterday we had little Theo here and he's here as an extra day today so there may be a delay in my comments this week but I will aim to get there as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 247

Hello all.  I hope you've all had a lovely week filled with smiles and you will share them with us all by linking them at the bottom of the page.  Many thanks to those who join in each week....I really love to see what's making you all smile so please keep up the good work.  It's good for us to smile so consider it your therapy for the week  :-)

It's been a rather trying week here but as always I have smiles I can share....

My little twinnies have been trying on their angel outfits they will be wearing at the school end of term nativity.....cute little angels eh?

Milly has been getting to know a new toy we treated her too because her little brown dog favourite is alas perished and I'm struggling to get it to fit inside the replacement covers I make.....I'm sorry to say that even though this is meant to be a tough toy it may not be tough enough for our little Milly as I've already had to repair it twice!!

I thought this pic might raise a few chuckles....I'm making some Christmas fairies/angels for the fayre that's up and coming....here they are hanging as glues are drying waiting for their wings to be made and if you listen very quietly you can here them singing.....'I wish I could fly'.  For those that don't know the song I mean here's a link for you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGnuMxFnc1k

I have a feeling you will be humming this for a while now.....I have been  :-)

And finally I thought I'd share a few pics of the autumn colours in our garden at the mo plus a few of the flowers that as yet haven't been nipped by the early morning frosts.....such gorgeous colours out there aren't there? Sorry if some of the pics are a little blurred but it was a blustery day and the flowers wouldn't sit still for me.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today.  Please leave me a little message so I know you've called in and if you can then link up to your own smiles.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW......

Hello all.  I'm afraid to say there is C*******s activity going on in my sewing room this week.  I have a craft fair at the beginning of December and as this week has been rather more quiet so far I have been using my time wisely.  As some of you wont be ready to see festive items yet I have stood back to take my photo so you don't have to see in detail if you'd rather not.....

You can of course click on the photo if you want a closer snoop but I'm going to list what's there for you.....

• My two latest Memory bears awaiting collection later today.
• My store boxes with my Tooth fairy pillows, P E bags etc etc at the back.
• A stack of baby activity cubes
• A pile of doggy bandanas I've made this week.
• 6 Fabric covered pin boards I've made this week.
• 41 Fabric letters I've nearly finished to hang on C*******s trees...they just need little bells attaching.  I made one of every letter of the alphabet them made a few more of the more popular letters.
• Of course there's all my jars of ribbons, a few special cards and clutter on the shelf above.

That's about it for this week.  Feel free to have a good snoop and if you have any questions I will do my best to answer them.  Hope you all have a great week.
Hugs,
Annie x

WOYWW...

Phew! Where did that week go?  I seem to have been on the go all week making memories, making Christmas gifts, sewing for customers and generally keeping busy.  I know most of my callers today will have called by to see my desk to here goes....you have been warned!

Yes its rather chaotic in my sewing room isn't it? it's organised chaos I promise you but chaos none the less....and that's just the one side.  Here's the other...

...just as bad isn't it?  There is lots there hiding that I can't show you but for those wanting to see some of what I've been making here's a few pics...

I've just finished an order of personalised Christmas tree stars [I've deleted the names just in case].

I'm working on filling this basket with Sylvanian clothes for some little people in my life...and for those that don't know what Sylvanians are...

Here are three tiny characters modelling some of the new clothes....the grid next to them is in inches so you will see just how small they are [and these aren't the babies!!].

It has certainly tested my sewing skills.....and my patience!  :-)

I have many of my Memory bears ordered now and for those that didn't see it over on my Facebook page here's the latest.

I feel really honoured to make something as special as a Memory bear from clothing that belonged to an obviously much loved Nan and this week has been no exception.  I love the fabrics and it's new owner says it made her a little tearful to see what I'd made and that she will really treasure it.  :-)

As I've said there is a lot more going on that I can't share and of course there is customer's sewing too but I'm sure you wont want to see that. :-)  I hope you're enjoying your week as much as me and you will leave me a little message to let me know you've called by so I can pay you a return visit as soon as I'm able.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Phew....I've blinked and turned round and here we are at another Wednesday drop in when we all travel the world through the blogs to see what our blogging friends have been busy creating in the week....whether it be paper crafting, painting or fabric crafting they are guaranteed never to be boring and you never know just what tips you might pick up on the way so why not pop over to Julia's for more details and link up to join in the fun.

It's a picture heavy post from me today cos there's been lots going on as always but I will be as brief as I can...

 I was in need of new supplies so here are a couple of the things that have arrived this week to make me smile....
Two boxes of new threads and...

Three packs of Christmas fat quarters.  Plus I had two huge bags of new stuffing to fill my memory bears with.

After seeing the lovely Christmas coasters on Jan's [LLJ] last week I was inspired to make a few with some of my new fabrics.

I've made a few Christmas minions to go on Christmas trees....they are just waiting for hanging loops now.

Here's my latest Memory bear made out of a little girls first babygros....I'm rather pleased with how she's turned out.

I have 4 more Memory bears to make  at the end of this week out of a very special Great grandad's shirts to give to his 4 great grandchildren to keep in his memory....the idea is proving very popular.

This is my latest idea that I'm plotting and planning with.....Naked bear!

Some events that folk want to remember don't have items of clothing sufficient to make a whole bear with so I'm thinking of offering a naked bear that I can dress for them in clothing using the treasured items......

.....possibly a Christmas party dress or.....

....a pair of dungarees?  I am still tweaking the pattern to get them right but what do you think of the idea?

I'm open to suggestions so please tell me what you think [as long as it's not too rude of course :-) ].

There you go I did tell you I'd been busy....and that's just what I've been doing between my customers sewing!

Please leave me a little message and I will do my best to pay you a return visit when I can.  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x