WOYWW....

Hello all.  Happy Wednesday.  I've got a manic week this week with lots of sewing so thought you'd like to see a few things I've been making and can now share with you as they have been seen by my son and daughter-in-law.

A few weeks back I showed you a moses basket that I had lined for the next little family member due soon.....well, here is the little quilt I made for it.

Under the hood were three fabric loops just crying out for three little matching elephants to hang.

I found enough fabric to make a matching snugglefant [to my own design] and cos I had just enough fabric and, in case he looses the one of course, I had to make two the same....it's what I do :-)

Here it is all ready to snuggle little 'Bert' in it and now it's been handed over at the baby shower last Saturday I can say his mummy and daddy were thrilled to bits with it.

They have also seen the Advent calendar I've made for him so I can share that with you too.

Forgive me for all the Christmas makes but I am now working on my first batch of Christmas cards too... a bit of applique and machine embroidery so far....more details to be put on before finished.

Sorry if it's all a bit picture heavy today but I knew some of you have been patiently waiting for the show and tells.  I have moved my normal sewing workshop from Thursday to Wednesday this week so will be busy all day today and have a very special visitor coming to see me tomorrow with rather a lot of sewing jobs for me......our very own Neet has been saving all her sewing jobs up and is driving all the way from Bolton to bring them to me.....I can't wait.

I will do my best to pop over to yours when I get the chance but please be patient with me this week as I may be a little late.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 184

Hello all. What a wonderful amount of happy posts last week.  Many thanks to all who joined in but special thanks to Barb who's blog Milly and I are featuring from last week.  Barb shared a pic of Myrtle a new addition to her family ....I loved it and I wasn't alone.

The pic I'm sharing this week is this one of Milly.....

I put Barb's photo on my Ipad and you can see just what Milly thought of her new blogging friend.  She's such a little character and as you can see Milly makes me smile....a lot.  We would both like to thank you for sharing Myrtle's photo and hope she's settling into her new family life Barb.

Please leave me a little message to let me know you have called in and try to find a few smiles of your own to share with us.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Hello all.  Happy Wednesday to you.  Here we are at another fun catch up with all our creative buddies from around the world.  I love my Wednesdays.

So you're here to see what's on my desk this week aren't you?  Here you go...

I've been busy in between the shortening of trousers etc cutting out and making up little Memory bears from two little girl's first babygros.....I'm thrilled to say the orders for my Memory bears are coming fast and furious...everything from first baby memories to memories of a much loved Mum's clothing.

Here are my latest two, now finished, sitting on my table with the two I made to perfect my pattern.  I'm rather chuffed how they have turned out too.

The other thing I've been working on this week is an Advent Calender for our next Grandson....due in under a month now. [Excited!!!!]  I've made Advent calenders for all my Grandchildren so was keen to get one ready for him.....will show you more when it's finished and Mark and Gina have seen it.

The other things sitting on my desk today that I'm really excited over are a stack of ribbons that has just arrived through my door and.....

....some packs of interfacing ready to use for my next Memory bears.....the interfacing stabilises the stretch fabrics of the babygros if you're wondering.  I'm sure you wont be as excited as me to see these but I share your excitement when you share new papers or stamps :-)

There you go.  That's my desk, now show me yours.  Leave me a little message to let me know you've called by and I will do my best to pop over to see what you're sharing as soon as I'm able.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 183

Hello all.  Happy Friday to one and all.  I think many of you are on holidays at the mo because there were only 4 who linked up last week so I would like to thank Angela, Robyn, Kate and Neet for doing their bit to make the world a happier place to be....I really do appreciate your effort girls so am sending you all a special big hug this week.

I have had a week full of smiles this week so will share a few pics with you all....

Shell took Lexi and Sam for their first night camping this week....as you can see it was a big success.

'Look Nanny....my lolly has turned my tongue blue'. :-)

'We are on a dinosaur hunt Nanny....I hope we don't meet the one that made these footprints!'

No dinosaurs found thankfully but holding each others hands to keep each other safe....just in case. :-)

Phoebe loves her books and has already read many during her school holidays.

Steve is enjoying playing with the box of Lego we had when our three were little....it never dates does it?......and Grandad was having just as much fun. :-)

More cousin fun times....all 5 play so well together. :-)

And last but by no means least here is Phoebe and Lulu enjoying a special little girl's pamper day with their mummy.....they really enjoyed the chocolate face packs and having their nails done as you can see.  :-)

As you can see I have many smiles to share this week.  It would be really lovely if a few more would join in the fun by sharing their smiles.  If you link yours below I will pop over as soon as I can to see what's been making you smile this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Hello all.  Here we are at another Wednesday catch up with our crafty blogging friends from all round the world....if you want to know more then please pop over to Julia's where our leader will share details.  I love my Wednesday's.

There has been lots going on here at Sewing by Annie's but I have no sewing on my desk today....yet.

It's not a great photo because I framed it before taking the pic and the glass reflects too much to share the details with you but I have now finished my latest dumfing pic and it's now proudly hanging in our new hall opposite the roller blind that I took the inspiration for it from.....I'm chuffed.

We have been emptying more boxes now we have room to put the contents [a lot has been boxed for 3+ years so has come out like long lost friends].  I have filled one wall in my sewing room with home made treasures.... everything from wood carvings my dad did when he retired and embroidery I've done to lots of little cross stitch works of art my three did when they were little....I love each and every one.

I'm also sharing this with you.....it's one of my new business cards with my newly extended hours on....many customers were wanting to come out of hours so I have changed my hours to suit....exciting times eh?  I have printed off and laminated lots of new business cards and posters to put in public places to let folk know.....that's taken most of my creative time up this week  :-)

So there you go.....sorry it's not more creative but these things have to be done.  :-)  Let me know you've called in and I will pop over to yours as soon as I can to see what's been keeping you busy this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles.....week 182

Happy Friday to one and all.  Many thanks to all who joined in the fun last week by linking up their own smiles.  They all help to make the world a happier place to be.  The world is full of sadness and bad news so it's really lovely to do our little bit to put a few smiles on some faces.

I am featuring Ashley our latest newcomer from last week.  She had new wheels to share with us and it was really lovely to see a new face joining in the fun....thanks for sharing your post Ashley, do come back again soon.

I have a few smiles to share with you today...

Our little Milly is growing fast as you can see but she still thinks she's a tiny puppy and likes to climb up onto my shoulder for snuggles.....she's such a cutie and makes me smile all the time.

Our five grandchildren had a play date this week....as you can see they all have fun when together......

....and are full of fun when posing for a photo.  :-) :-) :-)

Hope you have enjoyed my smiles this week and will share something that has made you smile by linking them below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Where do the days go?  It only seems 5 mins like I was snapping pics of my desk last week to share with you.  Since then there has been lots going on here at Sewing by Annie's.  As you know our son Mark and his wife Gina are expecting a baby in September [wahoooooo that's next month!!!!] and during the summer they have built a new dining room extention on their house.  Mark works away from home most weeks so finishing off the decorating etc has taken a long while so at the weekend we helped with the push to get lots of the jobs finished before the imminent arrival of little Bert [my name for him til they announce the official name].  This included painting and putting up new curtain poles......I bet you can see what's coming!

So on my desk this week is....

Curtains, curtains and more curtains......talk about a labour of love eh?  :-)

I've also shortened some really pretty window blinds to make them more just window dressing......rather more tricky than planned too cos the main fabric pulled out of shape while trimming the bottom [cut into a 'v' shape] and both blinds [yes there are two little windows] had to be done twice!!  I'm rather chuffed with the finished result though and now just hope they look as pretty as we hoped when up at the windows.

 This is the other project I've been working on this week. It was something I had in mind to do at some point but a friend gave me a shove in the right direction and this week has seen me designing the pattern for a Memory bear and making a few prototypes to get the pattern how I wanted it.  Plus I have designed a label for those wanting special details on the bear.

The idea is to use special fabrics to make them out of to keep memories together...

• A first babygro
• A special outfit from a toddler
• A junior school uniform when the child moves on to big school
• A special family member's clothing when they die

....in fact any clothing can be used [up to 4 different garments] to keep a memory safe.  I have put the pics in my Sewing by Annie Facebook site and have already got orders for 6 so they are proving very popular.  :-)

There you go....that's all from me for this week.  If you'd like to leave me a little message I will do my best to pay you a return visit as soon as I'm able.  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 181

I would like to thank all that linked up their smiles last week and to say I am featuring Tilly's post with her gorgeous Lilies....I am unable to have lillies in the house as they cause me to have an asthma attack so it was really lovely to share Tilly's beautiful ones....they were stunning so thank you for sharing them Tilly.

My smiles for this week are a few pics of my grandees enjoying their school holidays....

Lexi and Sam are proudly showing off their first swimming badges....well done little munchkins.

On one of their many days out they both found a giraffe to hug :-)

Here you can see Phoebe, Lulu and Steve with a couple of their little friends enjoying a typical British summer day in the rain. :-)

And here is little Steve taking his turn to help his mummy get the tea.  :-)

As you can see my little grandees never fail to make me smile and hope you have enjoyed sharing them with me.

Please leave me a little message then link up your smiles below and I will pop over to check out what's made you smile this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Well here we are at another Wednesday catch up with our creative blogging friends around the world and I'm late again posting!.....I will be put to stand in the naughty corner to have a think if I keep doing this. :-)  In truth there is just rather a lot going on here at Sewing by Annie's so I'm pretty sure the boss will let me off.

So in my desk today is...

Hmmmm now this isn't one of my favourite jobs and it's one I have been putting off since April when my Tax form arrived so this week I have bit the bullet and have now got all my books up to date and can now send off my Tax return....wahooooo.  I was terribly behind with it all and it really didn't help when I lost half of what I'd typed onto my spread sheet when I did a copy and paste!!!  Yep I must admit I said a rude word.

Just so you don't think this is all I've been doing this week here's a pic of my sewing rail....I've done everything from waterproof jackets to posh frocks.  No two days are the same and now I've caught up with my book keeping I can now say that I've had my 100th customer at the new bungalow [some have already come back many times too].

Well girls I do hope to that by next week I will have something more creative to share with you but until then I will wish you all a fun week and say thanks for calling by.  If you leave me a little message to let me know you've called by I will call over at yours ASAP.

Hugs,

Annie x