This week's smiles....week 394

It's been a crazily busy week for me with work....definitely one of those 'when you're waiting for a bus two come at once' sort of week's.  I've had very little work for the last 3/4 weeks so I offered 10% off the first bear orders over on my Facebook page and Wednesday I had 8 arrive and today today I have another one coming...there's still one spare space if anyone wants a bear making.

So my pics of my smiles this week are of the wonderfully knitted things we found on our walk around Attingham Park this week...I think they are intended for the children to find but I certainly enjoyed spotting them too...

So much work had gone into each and every knitted item.  Sadly a few of them had been spoilt by the wet weather but it didn't spoil my enjoyment.

Our six grandchildren have been enjoying a bit of spooky dressing up indoors during their half term holidays....they certainly weren't going to let Covid dampen their enjoyment even if they can't go out trick or treating this year. 

Lexi had to dress up for a spooky session at her dance and drama classes and she won the best dressed competition.

Yesterday afternoon I cleared the work off my desks and filled them with crafty fun so I could enjoy some quality time with Phoebe and Lulu.  We used some huge paperclips to make bookmarks with...[.their choice was to spend an afternoon on the side of a cold football field watching their brother Steve play football or spend a fun afternoon with me....no competition!]

We had such a lovely afternoon....I know I'm biased but they are such lovely girls and really good company....a real credit to their mum and dad.

That's all from me for this week....I failed hopelessly to do any visiting of the blogs on Wednesday but if you like up I will do my best to pop over to check out your week's smiles in between my bear making.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Having had very little sewing in from customers for several weeks I put a special offer over on my Facebook page and then decided I would find something creative to do while I was waiting for work to come in.

I pulled out my Christmas box and found 5 Advent calendars that I had in my stock of 'to do' projects.  As most of you will know, I have made an Advent calendar for each of my Grandchildren and know the pleasure each of them has when they get them out each year and have the little pockets filled with special treats.  I know many folk cant sew so I decided I would make these 5 Advent calendars to see if anyone would buy them...at the very least I am keeping busy and enjoying being creative.  They take ages to make and I've wadded and backed each one so I'm rather pleased with how each one is turning out.....

This was the first one I've finished...I've added tabs at the top so they can either just be pinned up or have a wooden stick put through the loops to hang it up by.

This is the second I've finished.  This one was rather more complicated to make because lots of the pockets are made box style so are rather fiddly to do....but I rather like how it's turned out.

This is my desk this morning....there's two more Advent calendars cut out and waiting to be sewn...... but as I mentioned I had put up a special offer on my Memory bears at the weekend and today I have 7 Memory bears arriving [and another coming Friday] plus I have 2 nurses dresses coming needing shortening.

It's the old two buses arriving at once situation isn't it?

I will be kept busy for a few days plus tomorrow afternoon I have Phoebe and Lulu coming for a crafty afternoon....it was a better choice for them than standing on the side of a football field while their brother plays 3 football games.  If you leave me a message to say you've called by I will do my best to pop over to see what you've been up to as soon as I am able.

Stay safe and well and have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 393

 Firstly....Today is my birthday so please raise a glass and help me celebrate.

It's my 21st [3rd time round but who's counting?]

These are strange times we are living in but let's not let that stop us celebrating.

I always write my Friday post on a Thursday so I'm sharing a few early birthday presents with you.  Shell and family bought me the top left set...I will enjoy the jigsaw over Christmas probably, the new Luna Lapin and friends book is gorgeous and the Monopoly game will be put to good use I'm sure.

My big sister gave me the top right lavender bags [the one in the middle was made from her Wedding Dress] so those are very special plus of course a few pennies to go with them.

The flowers came from our special friends, Ellie and Alan from Scotland.  They came in a flat packed box all wrapped up individually 'sleeping'....aren't they gorgeous?

Last Saturday we went with Shell and the twins to watch the Salmon jumping up the weir in Shrewsbury.  This happens at this time every year, of course, but it was the first time I had ever been to see it.  The power of the water was amazing so you have to really feel for the fish having to jump over to weir to reach their spawning grounds.  As you can see in the photos a few actually jumped so high they jumped out on the side but very quickly got themselves back in the water.

Nature is truly amazing.

Pre-lockdown we usually went for a walk at Attingham Park on a Sunday but to go now you have to book a slot to visit and as you never know what the weather is going to be like so we haven't been for probably 7 months.  Sunday this week we decided to book up and go and oh how I have missed it.  The grounds are all in their Autumn colours now and it was so lovely there.  These are a few pics I took to share with you.....we hope to go again soon...weather allowing.

So, that's my shares for you today.  Don't forget to raise a glass with me and share a few smiles by linking up below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

 Hi all.  I'm showing my desk warts and all this week...

It's a case of what you see is what you get this week.  This is my sewing machine on the left of my desk that's set up for mask making and, as you can see, I've made a couple of Christmas ones....after I had made the ones I had on order.  My Luna Lapin rabbit is sat quietly in the back busy on her sewing machine.  On the right you can see the two school Memory bears I've made this week using my other sewing machine that you usually see that's set up on the right of my desk [out of shot]....I hadn't made any for a little while so I really enjoyed making these.  And that's about all I have to share with you creatively for today.  

It's been a week of trips to the hospital for blood tests and sadly my diabetes is not well controlled at the moment so the blood tests have then been followed by phone calls from my Dr to get further medication sorted out....I have the diabetic nurse paying me a visit some time soon.  I'm hoping they help me sort it out soon cos I'm feeling rather thirsty and very tired and would like my get up and go back.....It's not how I want to feel when I have a birthday at the end of the week.

This week's smiles ....week 392

Well?  Did you miss me?   I'm sorry about the lack of contact last week....Our week away meant no internet even though the cottage we were in advertised that it had it! [And yes we did leave them feedback].

So what's kept me smiling over the last 2 weeks?

I thought I would quickly make a couple of collages of the photos I took while we were away in Cornwall.  Most were taken through the car window as it rained at least some of every day but as you can see we did lots of sight seeing during the week and even managed a ride on a steam train.  It's a beautiful county and I'm sure it's even better in the sunshine.

It was Steve's 9th birthday this week and as you can see his Mum and Dad treated him to a new Arsenal goal keepers kit which he loves.

Each year Amy adds a new photo to his birthday collage....doesn't time fly?

Milly enjoyed a holiday at the kennels while we were away and here she is back home soaking up some rays on her favourite chair....think she's enjoying being home.

I thought I'd share a few snaps of the garden delights before the frosts come and kill lots of them off....don't you just love the Autumn colours?

Finally for those with my sort of sense of humour.  I took this photo on holiday and sent it to our family with the title....Found him!

For those that don't get it I will explain next week :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Hello all.  This wanderer has returned to the fold this week.  I was away on holiday down in Cornwall with my darling hubby last week with no internet.  Our cottage was advertised as having internet but sadly there was none so I had to rely on my phone for the week....not easy when you run a business! It rained every day but we made the best of our time together.  We saw most places from the safety of our car so the photos I hope to share with you on Friday are mostly taken from the car window.  The world is rather strange out there but we scanned all the track and trace codes, wore masks and used hand gel everywhere but we felt safe.

So, on my desk today.....

I was asked for some special face masks so had to buy more material....such a hardship isn't it? [and I put another order in for more Christmas fabrics yesterday too].

I came home to orders for more masks so I spent Monday filling my box of every day and Christmas masks.

Monday afternoon I was brought 3 nurses dresses to shorten.  My customer had just had promotion so needed her new dresses shortening by 15"....yes she's only little!  Of course yesterday was spent looking after Theo and Maisie dog so these didn't get get done then and are waiting for me to do today.

That's all I have to share today so I will say thanks for calling by and if you leave me a message I will do my best to pop over to yours ASAP to see what you've been up to.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles ....week 391

 The weeks keep flying by...we are already in October!!  Madness or what?

Here are my smiles for the week and hopefully you will leave me a little comment before sharing your own smiles before linking up below.

This made me chuckle....Our beautiful little ballerina on her skate board....the two didn't quite go together but just look at the pose :-)

Wednesday saw me accompanying Dod doing deliveries for Big Value Banners [our daughter Amy and her hubby's banner printing business] in their van all round London...the photos were taken through the window so not the best. It was a long day but any day spent together supporting the family is a day well spent.

Our little Milly has had her hair cut this week [and so have I :-) ].

Amy took these photos while she was looking after her for us on Wednesday and sent them to me with the slogan...'mum, who is this lady who has just made me go out in the rain for a wee?'

The last pic today is of this little rhyme I saw on Facebook....I think it says it all don't you?

I will be missing in action next Friday as we are recharging our batteries so I hope you can manage without me.  Keep smiling.

Hugs,

Annie x