Wednesday 20 July 2011

WOYWW.....

There is so much going on over here at Sewing by Annie's at the mo.  What with theatre visits to see some pretty hunky young men work their magic on Sunday night [see post below] to a really wonderful workshop on our Funday Monday [see Twiglet's blog to catch a glimpse of the pretty dress she made].  There is always something going on here.
On Saturday, whilst in Shrewsbury, we popped into a few charity shops looking for pillow cases to make some dresses to be sent to Africa.  If you check out Louise's blog at Sew Scrumptious you will see she is a collection point for these dresses and has now gathered over 100 [50 of which have already been taken out to Malawi ].  I have been watching this collection growing but had been really busy with the sewing business til now but was determined to join in by making a few.  I was unable to find any suitable pillow cases but managed to find two single quilt covers [just £4.50 for the two so the charity shop benefited too] and after cutting curtains first thing Monday morning Twiglet and I set to and cut out 10 dresses from the quilt covers.  Our friend T arrived for our Funday Monday armed with her own pillow case and we set about making.  What a brilliant afternoon we had.  There was much laughter and learning going on and of course the compulsory drinking of coffee/tea and eating of chocolate [thanks T].

Here is what was achieved in just one afternoon.  3 pretty little dresses. [Would have been more if I hadn't been disturbed by customers...they are just so thoughtless aren't they?  :-) ] We cut self fabric bias strips for binding the arm holes and straps and these were easily pressed into shape using my clever bias binding making tool. [wouldn't be without it].
[ I am imagining them being worn maybe by 3 little girls in one family and a very proud mum pointing them out to her friends.]  
As you can see the material to make the other 7 is close by and I promise I will make these as soon as I have cleared my mountain of sewing that is waiting for me.....


This is my 'to do' rail today.  I know....boring boring boring but the, now 1098 customers, I have seem to like coming back for more  :-)  I'm still getting 2/3 new customers every week....where do they all come from?



...and yes, that includes curtains  :-(  huge ones that I have to shorten and join together back to back to make a door curtain!



And of course I have to leave you with a bit of colour out of my garden for this rather gloomy week.

Hold on to your hollyhocks girls!! 
 

Thanks for calling in.  Please leave me a comment if only to say hello and then pop over to Julia's blog to join in the WOYWW fun.

27 comments:

Twiglet said...

WOW what big hollyhocks you have Wipso!!OOOOooooo and as I type, I can just see those 4 handsome young men below!!x Jo

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I saw the dress at Twiglet's and remembered the project from last week. What a sweet gesture you two are making. And I love those hollyhocks. They don't grow well where I live, I suspect because it's too hot and dry. Have an awesome WOYWW. Now I'm really off to bed!

Sue Pinner said...

Cute dresses and love the Hollybhocks...didn't stake mine so a bit bent hehe but just starting to flower..love them
Hugs x

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Great pillowcase dresses - fun pattern and a really worthwhile cause. Your hollyhocks are glorious - very rampant :) Have a good week!!

Helen said...

Love the hollyhocks, but what pretty pretty dresses, and such a lovely idea. Like I said on Twiglet's blog, you put us to shame.

famfa said...

Lovely hollyhocks. Well done those dresses are fab.

Angie said...

Those dresses are so cute ...great idea....and the Hollyhocks are stunning.xx

akilli melek said...

those dresses are fab!
I hadn't seen hollyhocks until i moved to Turkey. I dont think the soil is good, or maybe the cold in Scotland for them, but i love their vibrant colours and big flowers.....if only they would fit on my Layouts!
caroline #50

Neet said...

Beautiful flowers and absolutely gorgeous dresses. You two are so clever and doing such a marvellous charitable deed. I take my hat off and bow to you both.
Thanks for sharing - Hugs, Neet x #3

JoZart Designs said...

Those dresses are so lovely and I too hope to make some soon. Love the hollyhocks.. never have success with these in my garden.
Thanks for your wishes and try to pop back as I've thought to add some of our ancient wedding pics! Go on... have a larf!
JoZarty x
hope the babes to be are being good for their mums!

April said...

Ahh such cute dresses, you must be so fast! Glad to hear you are getting lots of customers, I can imagine they get in the way of your hobbying a little :o) but it's all good! Your flowers are looking very impressive too. Thanks for sharing.

Cardarian said...

Oh I loved this post and the one bellow too - ha, ha especially the "very handsome bit" Those dresses are soo cute - colors are almost the same as the hollyhocks! Sewing curtains is a boring job to me! Huh!
Hugs,
Cardarian

Berry said...

Fab work with the dresses and the hollyhocks are great! Happy WOYWW Hugs Rebekah #60 xx

Lisa said...

Lots of work to do there!! fab and cute dresses and gorgeous blooms too
:-D

Lisa
#66

Jingle said...

Lots of fun stuff going on! Pretty flowers!

Sue said...

Hi hun
those little dresses are gorgeous, my niece has just come back from two weeks in Malawi,busy to do rail again, fab hollyhocks, thanks for the mooch, happy WOYWW, sue,x

SueH said...

It always leaves me feeling tied after reading your blog Annie because you and Twiglet are always so busy. Loving the cute little dresses and for such a good cause too!

Happy Sewing!
Sue
x
Loving the Hollyhocks by the way. They are so pretty!

ScrappnBee said...

The dresses are coming along fabulously! It is so cool that you are doing this...and twice as cool to do it with friends! Love the hollyhocks! They are gorgeous! Good luck with all the sewing!-Amanda #45

Anonymous said...

What a fab project to take on! I agree (although I am so late I see the next post, not just WOYWW :)) the blue ones are so sweet there will be no problem with multiples!

Happy WOYWW!

Mary Anne

Sew Scrumptious said...

Thanks so much for the mention. I love your dresses! They are gorgeous. I love the sound of your bias binding making machine too. I want one!! Thanks again. Louise x

Pam said...

Busy lady, love the little dresses. Hugs Pam x

Bernie said...

Good heavens do you ever stop! Those dresses are amazing! Love the hollyhocks!
Blessings Bernie

Di said...

Oh my - those dresses are so pretty. I saw a bias binder machine being demo'd on C & C TV the other day - I stood there with me iron poised (guess what I was doing!) totally fascinated by it. And the hollyhocks are just beautiful - gorgeous WOYWW post Annie! Di xx

Kirsty.A said...

Congratulations on your growing business. Love the dresses for Africa

ShazInOzCardsCalligraphy said...

sorry Wipso wee bit late this week wow you are busy so many posts above this too...I really love the dresses for Africa and have two sets of friends over there so know what you mean one in Rwanda and the other in Zambia. So much poverty!
..and I do so adore those hollyhocks...I always think of my Yorkshire grandmother when I see hollyhocks she had a private feud with her neighbour for years.. boring neighbour did not like them.. think she just enjoyed being mean! Nanna was the cheeriest soul and would not hurt a fly but did not like her hollyhocks being attacked if they grew 1cm too close to the wall. love and God bless Shaz in oz.x

Julia Dunnit said...

I'm very very late this week, but no matter, it means I've caught up with all your doings without panic reading!! How like you and Twiggers and T to enjoy a day of charity work - great great dresses.
And oo err mrs, thems big 'olly'ocks!!

lisa said...

Gorgeous Hollyhocks, Wispo. I've never had any success with them.
Glad to see you are keeping busy and those charity dresses are great.
I'm very envious of your Blake trip. I love them too.
Happy WOYWW and sorry for being so late visiting.
Hugs Lisa#72