My latest new header picture...

Our garden is full of beautiful flowers at the mo and these tulips are some Shell and Brent gave us.  The sun.....yes sun!!!...we have had today has really opened the blooms out and I just couldn't resist using the photo to brighten up my blog....aren't they stunning?

I've put a pic here too cos I'm sure when something else wins my heart in the garden my header pic will change again.  :-)

This week's smiles...week 18

It's been another fab week full of happy posts so many thanks to all who joined in.

 I have chosen Nan Gs blog over at Froggy Designs this week to feature with the photo of her chilled out cat.....If only we could chill out the way only animals know how eh?  :-) Love it.

As most of you know a month ago I was diagnosed as being diabetic and last night I went for my first weigh in.  I have been very sensible with what I have eaten and to be honest although it took me a little while to get my head around it all I really haven't missed much.  I came home from the Dr's with a huge grin on my face cos I have lost.....

wait for it.....

12lbs!!!!! 

 I am so thrilled and am  already feeling the benefits  :-) :-) :-)

 I have another little video to make you smile this week.  I know they are only 19 months old but our little twinny munchkins love to play make believe.  Here they are going shopping together....I think you can tell who is playing Mum  :-)

They really do give their Mum and Dad so much pleasure and make so many people smile.  I'm sure you are smiling now too  :-)

The other thing that has made me smile this week is the beautiful blossom that is coming out on our crab apple tree [my new header picture].  I just love the gorgeous deep pink colour and the dark colours on the leaves.

Hope you have enjoyed your visit today and will now snap away and share a pic of what has made you smile this week.  I have to go to the hospital for my first diabetic eye test today so might be a little late calling by to see what's made you smile this week but I will call by ....I promise.

Hugs,
Annie x

What's On Your Workdesk Weddings Day....

What's on your work desk Weddings day.......

Jo and I spent the afternoon on Monday brainstorming ideas for Wedding keepsakes.  So today this is what is on my work desk......

I have an ironing board full of Wedding fabrics.....there is silk, satin, lace and frills of all sorts waiting to be transformed into bride dollies, posy bags, special book covers etc.

.....Well that's the theory. 

 Neither Jo or I have much Mojo at the mo but hope playing with all this beautiful fabric and trimmings will kick start something.  If anyone has an up and coming Wedding that they would like something special designing and making for please let us know.

The other thing I have to show you today is this...

Do you remember the last LillyBo quilt and bag I made a while back that needed a little someone to go in the pocket?  Well here it is....

Now come on little bunny they really are a friendly bunch that visit me here and there is no need to be shy.

That's much better.  I'm sure they will all love you as much as me and the little person you are given to will know you were made with lots of love so will treasure you.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today and will leave me a little hello comment.  I will do my best to pop to yours to see what you've been up to this week in between my sewing jobs later.

Hugs,

Annie x

Another gorgeous parcel has arrived...

I feel so very blessed to have such special blogging friends.  Our good friend Jo from Jozart has been really busy making silk scarves for all who have made LillyBo quilts as a thank you for our efforts and for supporting the very worth while cause......there really was no need Jo as I just know we have all loved our quilt making but thank you for your generosity.

Here's mine...

 

Thank you for the heart headed pins too  :-)

It's in my favourite colour Jo so you really have put special thought and love into making it.

My quilt making has had to slow up a little with all that has been going on here but it hasn't stopped....after all I still have several little bags with fabrics all sorted into to make several more yet  :-)....it's just that life sometimes gets in the way.

Please follow this link.....LillyBo Quilts..... if you would like to have a go at quilt making for this very special cause or just to find out more about it.

Thanks again Jo xx

Hugs,

Annie x

This weeks smiles.....week 17

I hope you all had a great week.  Lots joined in last week by linking up pics of what made them smile....thanks to each and every one of you.

My featured blog this week just had to be Linda's at Such is life with her picture of little Max who had made himself at home in her pyjamas while she was out!!!  Such a little cutie he is too.  :-)  Thanks for joining in Linda and sharing your photo.

This week has been spent mowing lawns and tidying up out in our garden [I hasten to add most of the work being done by my wonderful hubby  :-) ].  I'm pretty good at being a supervisor and supplying the refreshments [sugar free ones of course! ].  I have been out with the camera on my mobile phone snapping away at all the gorgeous plants coming into life out there at the moment and thought I'd make you smile to by sharing a collage of them with you.  You should be able to click on the pictures to get a closer look if you'd like to.

Isn't nature wonderful?

So,  I've shown you what has made me smile this week.  Why not look at the world around you and snap a few pics of the things that are making you smile to share with your blogging friends.  It really does make the world a happier place to be.

Hugs,
Annie x

My postman came knocking :-)

I have just had a lovely surprise and just have to share it.  My postman has just brought me a little parcel from overseas.  

Here it is...

The front  :-)

The back  :-)

Don't you just love happy mail?  :-)

And inside was a wonderful set of cards made using photos that Kay had taken.  I won them on a quiz over on her blog.  I had no idea what it was that I had won so what a lovely surprise it was when my parcel arrived.  I love them all but especially this one...

For obviously reasons  :-)  How fab is this old sewing machine.

Thanks so much Kay.  I'm not sure I will be able to use the cards....will certainly have to stroke them a while first and the one of the sewing machine just might find it's way on the wall of my new sewing room...that is of course if we ever manage to move. :-)

WOYWW....

Hello to all my wonderful visitors this week.  Another Wednesday means another day of showing and telling and sharing our spaces with blogging friends all over the world.....and yes I do mean all over the world.  I have so far had 19 requests to swap ATC with me for the 4th year celebrations of this wonderful group and at least 8 of those are from over sea friends [and yes I do consider you as friends....just ones I haven't met as yet].  If your name isn't on my list to swap and you'd like it to be please email me at wipso@toucansurf.com with your details.

This week saw the situation changed for one of my WOYWW friends.  On Thursday my darling hubby took me to a local pub to stalk Neet who was in the area [ I had warned her first of course :-)  ] and wahooooooo I can now say I have met her....... trust me when I say she is just as lovely as I though she was.  We sat and chatted as though we had known each other for years [which of course we had!].  Life should be filled with days like that.

And here's the proof  :-)

I haven't had a lot of time for crafting this week but will show you what I have been up to...

My work rail has filled and emptied several times.  

 

Here there is...

• 9 pair of shortened trousers
• 2 altered dresses
• a jacket that I've shortened the sleeves on

and that's not all.

I had to redesign a couple of chair pads to make a fitted seat pad for an elderly gentleman to use in his can to aid with comfort after hip surgery.  This all had to be hand sewn!

A trip to Ikea resulted in a new Expedit storage unit....alas not for crafting storage though!

This was needed to house toys for the grandchildren.  We had bags and boxes full of toys everywhere and needed to tidy things up for all the house viewing we are hoping to get now we have reduced the sale price  :-)

Keep your fingers crossed for us please.

On top of all that...

• You might have seen on Jo's blog that we have also fitted in a theatre night out to see 'Made in Brum'....a brilliant night out.  
• We have visited our good friend in her care home...she is always thrilled to see us on our fortnightly visits.
• Caught up with the family
• Oh and I've done a bit of dusting, cleaning, tidying, ironing etc etc....you know, all those little things that need keeping up to date when your house is on the market  :-)

So....it's been just a normal sort of week over here.....how about you?
If you leave me a little hello comment I will do my best to pay you a return visit in between this weeks activities  :-)

Hugs,
Annie x

This week's smiles....week 16

We had several more joining in the fun this week so I must thank you all for your efforts in helping to make the world a happier place.  Lin in the Pink Chaves was one of my new bloggers but I was unable to leave her a comment so I would just like to say thank you for joining in the fun.  The other new name to join in the fun is my featured blog for this week....

Kerry from Kezzys Crafty Journey joined in for the first time this week with a gorgeous pic of the blossom in her garden and the most humongous ice cream.  Even though I can no longer enjoy an ice cream like that I am allowed to share the enjoyment of others having one  :-)  Thanks for joining in Kerry.

This week I am sharing a video with you. Turn your sound up and I just know you will be chuckling when you've watched it.

I guess you are now grinning from ear to ear and if you are like me will have listened to it several times.  I wish I could bottle that giggle....I'm certain it would sell well.  :-)

Thanks for dropping by this week.  Please do your best to snap a pic of something that has made you smile this week and link it up below.  Not only will you feel good for focusing in on your happy times but you will feel the benefits of sharing it with others.

Hugs,

Annie x