This week's smiles...week 201

Phew....another week has passed....and what a week eh?

Many thanks to all who joined in last week....I really do appreciate you taking time out of your busy lives to link up your smiles.  I know it does me good to spend some time focusing on the happy times in the week so hope you all feel the benefits too.  I guess it's the age I'm at now but I  have lost many friends and family members lately [two more this week!] so time spent thinking about the good things is what gets me through the sad times.

I have a few smiles to share this week....

Shell enjoying Christmas morning with the twins.....as she said 'what more could she ask for?'

Big Pud with his little pud enjoying a book.

Steve digging up a dinosaur fossil....making a mess and having the time of his life [and yes it was part of his Christmas present from us].  :-)

Our newest family member, Theo in some of his Christmas outfits.....he's such a cutie.

Our 'family together' celebrations on 27th....I just love it when we can be together [sorry you couldn't join us Shell but glad you enjoyed your pantomime].

That's some of my smiles from this week.  Hope they have made you smile too and you will now link up your own smiles below.

A very happy New Year to you all and here's to linking up many more smiles in 2017.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...and a catch up of my Christmas makes

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are now ready to see in a New Year.  2016 has been a difficult year of losing many good friends and close family members so I'm really looking forward to closing the door on 2016 and starting fresh in 2017....hold close those you love and tell them you love them often.

So? You are here to see what's on my desk are you?  Well, I only have clutter on my desk today and no sewing has gone on since last week so I have decided to do a round up on all the sewing/making I did leading up to Christmas that I can now share with you......be warned it is picture heavy so I will understand if you don't reach the end and will now wish you all a very Happy New Year before I start.

 

A fabric book and it's pages that I made for little Theo.

Two dolly 'baby carriers' I made for the twins.

A little rabbit in dungarees I knit for little Theo.

Two different table centres I made as gifts....the one is adapted from a pattern Jozarty shared with us.

The Sylvanians are modelling some of the clothes I made for both Shell and Amy's families.....I filled a little three drawered chest with clothes for each family....dresses, trousers, shirts, knitted gilets and knitted hats.

Plus made 5 teepees for the Sylvanians to go camping in....and I made two sleeping bags for each tent.  :-)

And last but my no means least these are the three Christmas cards I made for out family.....made in felt, stitched and beaded.

So there you are.....as you can see I kept busy here and I know each is loved and will be played with/treasured for many years so that makes all the hard work so worth it.  I hope you enjoyed my catch up.

Here's to a very Happy New Year ahead of us with lots more linking up, fun and friendship in 2017.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 200

Wahoooooo I'm back and just look at the big number at the top of the page! That's certainly something to celebrate eh?

 Firstly I have a few thank yous.....

• To all who have joined in each week by sharing their smiles....I just know sharing smiles make life easier for others.
• For all the lovely comments each week....your support is very special to me.
• To the very special blogging friends [you know who you are] who contacted me last week to check I was ok.....you really are very special friends even though many of you I have never met in person.  We had gone AWOL to spend a few days away with little Theo and other family members to celebrate his first Christmas and spend some very quality time together.

 I'm back with recharged batteries now and am sharing a few festive smiles I've found on Pinterest with you.....

Of course....what else would I be doing?  

😃😃😃😃

Hehehe  Only joking darling....but some new fabric always does make me smile.
😃😃😃😃

Apparently they can't arrest you for it.

😃😃😃😃

Which just leaves me to say a very Happy Christmas to you all and here's hoping we can enjoy many more smiles together over 2017.

Much love to all,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Well?  Did you miss me?  I was AWOL last week enjoying a few days away with family at Centre Parcs.....and a fab time was had by all :-)

So? What's on my desk today?....

 Yes....it's a Christmas wrapping station.  :-)

....and every surface is covered in wrapped parcels but I shall be working today so these will all have to be hidden away in the spare bedroom for now.

Some of you may remember last year Shell and the twins had Bob the elf move in for December and all the antics he got up to?  Well, this year he has brought his girlfriend Betty with him and here are a few pics of what they have been up to.

Of course Nanny Annie likes to play along so yesterday morning I spent some time making outfits for the mischievous pair....[Bob and Betty of course not the twins! :-) ].

....and on my desk you can see 2 mermaid tails, 2 ballet tutus, a nurses outfit and some troll wigs I've made for them....as you do!  :-)

That's all from me for today.  I just want to say Happy Christmas to one and all and wish you all you wish for yourselves for 2017 but first and foremost that it's a happy and healthy one for you all.
Hugs,
Annie x

This week's smiles...week 199

Hello all.  Here we are at another Friday catch up of happy moments of the week.  Many thanks to the 5 who joined in last week...you're all very special people giving up your time each week to share your smiles.  I really do appreciate your efforts.  I'm not featuring just one of you this week because when there is only 5 of you it doesn't seem fair.....just big thanks to you all.

I have spent a lot of time over the last month or more on Pinterest searching for ideas for Christmas gifts and found a few funnies I thought might make you smile this week.....

The grandchildren have all been writing their letters to Santa and I thought maybe this one should be mine  :-)

This one really made me chuckle.......I've been so busy making that my 'nest' is full to overflowing.

And this one is for all you animal lovers out there.  So far our decs have survived the mischief of Milly.....shes looked but not touched.....yet!

That's all from me for 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.....

So you're here to see what's on my desk today are you?  Well here it is in all it's glory but it would be a shorter list to say what isn't on my desk today....

There is.....

• a pile of felt
• a box of beads
• a pile of now written Christmas cards.....and most have now been posted
• a box full of fabric....too big to throw away but too small to fold
• a diary
• a box of note papers
• a bag of wool
• a selection of Memory bears
• a new pack of blue tac
• my Memory bear pattern

As you can tell it's a busy desk today [but I'm sorry to say the finished projects can't be shared as yet].....and I have customers coming later so guess who is going to have a good tidy up before they come?

 That's all from me for today.  Short and sweet just the way Julia likes it but feel free to have a good rummage on my desk.  Hope you all have a good week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 198

Hello all.  Thanks to all who joined in the fun last week.  It really does you good to spend a little time focusing on the good things in the week when times are difficult and I really enjoyed sharing the smiles of my blogging friends too.

I would like to feature Robyn's post from last week with her Christmas wreath on it.  I have to say that it by far topped any wreath we have over here...what stunning little birds.  Thank you for sharing it Robyn....it really made me smile.

I have a few pics to share with you this week.....

This is my little boy with his baby boy....yes Mark you may be 29 years old and a daddy but you will always be my little boy.  Theo is having his first swimming lesson with his mummy and daddy and really loved it.

My little buddy, Milly insists on sitting on my knee while I'm knitting.  She never fails to make me smile....who could resist that gorgeous little face?

 And finally I just couldn't resist snapping a pic of a beautiful sunset we had this week.....I actually think the photo doesn't do it justice because the colours were even more vivid in real life.

I hope you like my smiles for this week and will all leave me a little message so I know you've called by and if at all possible will then link up your own smiles below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Hello all.  Here we are again catching up with all our creative friends around the world.  It's my fav day of the week because I really love seeing what you're all up to....basically I'm just a really nosey person hehehe.

I have had a busy week with customers sewing this week. everything from...

• Wedding dress fittings....she looked amazing and it fitted to perfection. :-)
• Shortening 2 lined long dresses for Christmas parties
• Shortening new jeans for a lady who has lost over 2 stone and looked amazing in her new clothes
• Shortening nurses work uniform dresses....took off  9"! I have no idea who they make these dresses for because she was an average height lady.
• Shortening the lining in a lady's fur coat....by near 3"!  How can manufacturers get things so very wrong?

There you go.....a full rail, sewing now all done and just waiting for collection. :-)

The other thing I'm sharing is little Sylvanian bear [just over 3" tall!] modelling one of the little knitted numbers I've been knitting this week....they will be the best dressed Sylvanians in the area.  Jo and I worked out the pattern for the little gilet....it's pretty simple if anyone wants to knit some so give me a shout for the pattern.....I've even knitted some for the 'children' Sylvanians [only 2"tall!]. 

I'm finishing off by sharing my beautiful flowers sent to me by Amy and family to help me through some difficult weeks.....thanks darling I love you lots. xxx

They were far too gorgeous to keep them all to myself so hope they have made you smile too.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 197

Happy Friday to one and all.  Here we are at our weekly catch up with our friends to share our smiles.  If you don't have smiles of your own to share then it's OK just to share ours....we all need a smile from time to time to make life happier.  Life has a way of challenging us and as the saying goes...'what doesn't kill us makes us stronger'.

I would like to thank all who joined in last week and I would like to feature Kay's blog.  She has recently moved into her new home and has shared a photo of her new neighbour....all I can say is wow!  I would really love to see that when I looked out of my window.  Thanks for sharing Kay and I wish you many happy years in your new abode.

I have a couple of smiles to share with you today.  It was Children in Need last Friday as you will know and my little Grandees paid to dress up for their day in school to raise money.

Phoebe, Lulu and Steve had a spotty day at their school so went dressed in t shirts they had decorated themselves....plus a few extra spots on their faces. :-)

Lexi and Sam had a onesie / pyjama day.....what fun.

I hope you have enjoyed my pics for this week.  Please leave me a little message to let me know you've called in and if you have smiles of your own to share then link them below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

We are creeping ever closer to Christmas and my desk has seen lots of action this week....as always I can't share it all but I'm snapping away and may do a show and tell post after Christmas.

For now here's a few bits I can share...

My desk has been full of Wedding dress this week.  I've had to take all the bodice apart to reduce some pleating, take it in and hand stitch on some diamante trim so it's needed several sessions at it to complete the work.....but I will add it's all back together now and looking good.  :-)

The other project I can share with you is a few snaps of my Christmas card making.....

Using Pinterest as my inspiration I bond-a-webbed the back of some bright juicy coloured fabrics and chopped them up into coloured piles.

I then ironed them down into place to look like little Bethlehem scenes and.....

....machine embroidered them to finish them off.

Hope you like them.  

That's all from me for today.  Leave me a little message so I know you've called in and I will do my best to pay you a return visit.  I'm sorry to say I didn't manage to get round all last week as I had a sad week having lost a dear old friend and had to make arrangements for her funeral etc........but I will aim to do better this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...week 196

Phew....that's another week passed and we creep ever closer to Christmas.  Many thanks to the six who joined in last week by sharing your smiles...you don't know just how much I needed them!  I'm not featuring any one of you but just thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time out of your busy lives to share your smiles....you really are a special bunch.

Life has given us a few challenges this week but as ever, with the support of our wonderful family, we will get through it all and even through difficult times I can find something to smile about.  Most of you will have read all about Kevin the carrot that I shared on Wednesday....for those that don't know he is here is a link to the Aldi's Christmas advert featuring Kevin.  He is proving very popular and is a firm favourite of the twinnies.  Here is the pic I shared of the two carrots I made....

And here is why this Nanny takes the time to make special things for my family....

Such a happy little face cuddling up to her Kevin the carrot wouldn't you say?  And......

.....you can see little Sam is still clutching his Kevin the carrot in his sleep.

The thrill I get from making for my family is like nothing else and never fails to make me smile.  I really hope you're smiling too now and will leave me a little comment below before linking up and sharing your own smiles.

Thanks for calling by.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Here we are at another weekly catch up with our creative buddies all round the world to have a good snoop at what they have been up to this week.....if you want to know more then pop over to Julia, the Queen of snoop's blog to check out the details and why not join in the fun.

My desk today has seen a lot of action but I'm sorry to say I can't share most of what's been going on there but I do have something I can share that will make you smile.

I shut up shop on a Tuesday which gives me chance to catch up on a few jobs without the interruption of customers.  Of course this asks the question....What does a sewing lady do on her day off?
Answer....She sews of course.
My 5yr old little grandson, Sam, rang me Monday night to ask me if I could make him a Kevin the carrot (off the Christmas advert). He said his real carrot went yucky if he cuddled it 😄....and yes he had taken a real carrot to bed with him the night before so he knew this was right!  I said of course I could make him one and would make it on my day off. His reply was.....".Love you Nanny, you're the best". 😍

So first thing Tuesday morning I pulled out appropriate carrot coloured fabric and set to...
Of course I had to make one for his twin sister too and thought you might like to see the results....

Cute eh?

My desk today is seeing some Christmas action but as yet there's not much to show for it....if you're lucky I will remember to snap a pic of the finished project and share it with you next week.

That's all from me for this week....short and sweet just the way Julia likes it.  Please leave me a little message to let me know you've called by and I will do my best to call by at yours to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 195

Hello all.  Many thanks for all the get well wishes and smiles to make me feel better last week...you're such a lovely bunch.  Thankfully I'm on the mend now...slow but sure as they say. :-)

I would like to feature Lynn's blog from last week for the amazing faces of her neighbours she shared from the Halloween celebrations.....I really was impressed so thanks for sharing them Lynn.

It's been a week full of life's challenges with special friends coming to the ends of their lives.....the old ones are inevitable but the young ones are harder to deal with so I have had to focus my thoughts on the happy times a little harder this week.  I have a few photos I thought would make you smile though so here's my share for today....

Sam has been to the opticians and now has to wear glasses.  As you can see he's very proud of the two pairs he's got and is being a really good boy wearing them.

He did decide to launch a stone at his own face though this week [thankfully he wasn't wearing his new glasses at the time] and now has a lovely black eye to show for it.....get well soon little man.

Amy's eldest, Phoebe, has had her 8th birthday this week and here she is having her hair and nails done ready for her party....I can't believe just how quickly those years have gone.  She is growing up into a beautiful young lady to be very proud of.

Phoebe's little sister, Lulu, has lost her front tooth this week so I guess she will be singing....

'All I want for Christmas.......' now.

And for all Milly's followers here's a pic to make you smile....we had her neutered this week and here she is lay back on the sofa showing you all her wound!  She has recovered extremely well you will all be pleased to know.  She has to keep her 'collar of shame' on and not to jump up for 10 days.  The collar isn't causing her too much trouble [apart from when she tries to get in small places lol] but stopping her from jumping up really isn't easy.....she such a bouncy little character.

There you go.....I've shown you mine now please link up below to show me what's been making you smile this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Hello all.  For those that call in on a Friday I wanted to say thank you so much for all my get well wishes....it's worked and thankfully my cold has now dried up although I still have a cough and my asthma is a pain at times.....I'm sure it will go given a little time.

Now onto what you've come here to see today....my desk!

Yes....not a lot has changed...the stack of Memory bears has grown a little and there are another two bags on the front full of babygros to make two more.  The bear I showed you last week was loved so much that I have made two more for the same family since then.....

This one and....

....this one.  They are to keep special memories of a much loved Nan for her three granddaughters.  Such a lovely idea eh?

These are the other exciting commission I was given this week. I had a phone call from a lady looking for someone to make Topsy and Tim dolls for a special young lady and wondering if I could make them....they needed to have red tops and blue dungarees on so I set to to make the pattern for the dungarees and here's their results.
They were really loved by the customer and....here's the exciting bit for me....they are now flying off to their new home in Northern Ireland.  I'm conquering the world slowly :-)

That's all from me for this week.  I will be playing nursemaid this week for my little fur baby as she was neutered yesterday and has to be kept quiet for 10 days.....wish me luck on that one :-)

I will do my best to pop over to see what you've been up to as soon as I am able.

Hugs,

Annie x