This week's smiles....week 423

 Here we are at our weekly catch up of the smiles and news.  It's been another wet week but so far today [I'm writing this Thursday morning]  the sun is shining and it's warm....wahoooooo

We had a lovely day with Theo on Tuesday....he's so ready for school now and is such a delight to spend time with.

We are making a dinosaur world on the tray with some chick peas, lentils and rice....so much fun was had ....he has an amazing imagination.

It was an early start so after his lunch he wanted a snuggle up with his Grandad under one of Nanny's quilts....I was taking bets as to who would be asleep first :-) :-)

Milly is very cuddly too at the mo and she loves to sit on the arm of the settee and rest her head on my chair next to it....she's a mummy's girls really and, if she can, she sits between me and the arm of my chair [not much room there!!]

My other share for today is a collage I've made of all the colour in our back garden.  The rain has affected many of the plants but they are now fighting back.....It's beautiful.

Even our new pots of strawberries are blooming and the first strawberries can now be seen....we just need some sun now.

That's all from me for this week.  Thanks for calling by and for leaving such lovely comments each week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 What a lovely week of celebrations we have had.  I managed to get round everyone last week though I think blogger was playing up a little and I missed to leave a comment on a couple....sorry.  We sent out lots of ATCs and have had a steady flow of swaps back through our letter boxes....sharing them out as they have arrived has given us an excuse for a coffee and catch up :-)....Like we need and excuse :-)

These are the ones I've had so far...

I've snapped them all, made collage and then added the names by each.  Thank you to each and every one of you.  It's so lovely to receive such a lot of happy mail.

Last Thursday I spent my day in my sewing room sauna steaming all these dresses....by the time I'd finished I was rather hot and bothered and my arms and shoulders felt like they had had a work out :-)

Since then I have made my chair, that I sit on to sew, a new cushion pad....if I spend all day sitting sewing the base of my spine suffers so I needed a little more padding :-)

The other things I have to share with you this week are these two fluffy Memory bears made from two favourite blankets....they have voice boxes inside too [not sure how I feel about those!].

I had so many responses over on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page to the two special bears in memory of the baby girl born sleeping that I have launched a special offer for 10% off the first 10 Memory Bears ordered as a thankyou and to welcome all my new followers so if any of you are wanting one making please give me a shout.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 422

 Another week has passed and it's been a really busy one for me with sewing so there's been lots of happy customers and many smiles for me....I know I'm very lucky to love the job I do and get a lot of job satisfaction out of each and every sewing job.

I've just a couple of pics to share with you today as life is pretty hectic.

Lexi is showing me the huge bruise she has on her face but you will be pleased to know it's just makeup for her to play the part of a moody orphan in her performance of Annie....she really loves all her dance and drama classes and we are so proud of her. :-)

The other photo I have to share with you is this one of Phoebe, Lulu and Steve. They are all growing up so quickly and are such gorgeous children...inside and out.  One very proud Nanny Annie here.  :-)

That's all from me for this week.  Hopefully I will have more to share with you for next week and maybe a little more time to do the sharing too.  :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...The 12th anniversary.

 Happy anniversary to one and all.  Twelve years of fun and friendship really is something to celebrate. I've been making ATCs ready to swap so if you've said you'd like to swap with Jo and I [we are posting ours together so please return ours in the same envelope to either one of us to save on postage] and please be sure to check that we have your postage details.

I've had a really busy week with making Memories for my customers so I'm just going to quickly post them here for you to see...

These were the very emotionally charged pair of bears I was making last Wednesday.  They were made from a mum's wedding dress in memory of her baby girl who was born sleeping.  One is to go in the coffin with her baby girl when she is buried and the other is to keep as a memory of the perfect little angel they lost.

I do get asked to make some really special bears.

These 4 were made from a much loved Dad's dressing gown.  Two are wearing his bow ties and the other two are wearing miniature versions of his favourite scarf.

This one was made in memory of a husband made with his favourite West Bromwich Albion shirt.

These two pretty little bears are made in memory of a Mum and Grandma using her favourite nighties.

I really love how each little bear I make is so different to the next and yet they mean so much to each and every one of my customers and bring them all a lot of comfort....I'm blessed.

Finally I would like to say a huge thank you for all the love and support from you all over the last 12 years and of course the biggest hug is for Julia for keeping us all going all this time.  You're a gem....we love you lots.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles ...week 421

 Another lovely week has passed by.  I had my second Covid vaccine last Friday evening and the world seems to be opening up slowly but safely so I'm keeping everything crossed.  We've booked our first weekend away in our motor home now the facilities will be opening up on the campsites...but not for a few more weeks just to be sure.

Our garden has suffered with the weather lately...strong winds, rain and thunderstorms have knocked a lot of the blooms off...

Our masses of tulips have nearly all gone now and there's just the last man standing this morning....we have been watching the petals getting less each morning.

Behind the wood cladding that Milly is standing on we think is the home for a little mouse....in fact yesterday morning I saw one peeping out.  Cairn terriers were originally bred for chasing small rodents in the outdoors and Milly is good at her job....she's on the scent of the mouse in this pic and sniffs all along the edge every time she's out in the garden....I think she thinks it will come out to play but I think differently.

In the green grow bags in the bottom right of the pic are potatoes growing...each time they get covered up they seem to be peeping back out the next morning :-)

Gina sent me this photo this week of our little Theo trying out his new school uniform all ready for September....where has that time gone?  We seem to have missed out on so much of the last year sadly but are making the best of the Tuesdays we have left with him.

That's all from me for this week.  I'm hoping you are all fit, well and happy and have lots of smiles to share with us this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 The week's are flying by and it will soon be our 12th Anniversary....12 wonderful years of fun and friendship and the time has simply flown by.  I've made about 20 ATCs to swap with anyone wanting and Jo and I will be posting ours together so you will get two for one to save on posting.  We would very much like it if you will do the same in return....it really doesn't matter which of us you post to as we never fight and promise to share nicely 😄😄😄

On my desk today is....

A few more cards I've made with the latest watercolour painting I've done....I rather like these and each time I play I can see a little improvement now 😄

Since last week I've made this green Memory Monkey using a favourite dress.

This little Memory Elephant was made using a Grandma's fleecy tops and he's turned out rather cuddly.

This Memory Cushion cover was made using a much loved wife's favourite jumpers and the last scarf she wore with her favourite brooch pinned in the front.

I really enjoy the challenges I'm given to make exactly what my customers are wanting and seeing the joy on their faces when they come to collect them/

That's all from me for today.  If you're wanting to swap ATC's on the 19th please let either Jo or I know and make sure we have your details for posting please.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 420

It's been one of those week when we have had 'every season in one day' sort of days.

I snapped a pic of the lawn covered with hail.  We had thunder, rain, a rainbow and even blue skies in the evening....all on the same day!....it could only be England.

We did manage to enjoy a drink while waiting to pick up an Indian for tea one evening...it was lovely until the sun disappeared behind the clouds and then it went really cold....but we both enjoyed the drink none the less.

This is a photo that Phoebe sent me this week.  She's been doing optical illusions in art and I really loved how she has drawn her hand...yes it is all on a flat piece of paper!  Proud Nanny Annie moment. :-)

That's all from me this week.  I did go out in the garden but the weather has knocked a lot of blooms off and many of the plants have suffered in the cold wind and rains we've been having sadly.

Please share you smiles by linking them at the bottom.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at another Wednesday catch up with our creative friends around the world...I love my Wednesdays.  I've had a lovely week making Memory Cushion covers in memory of a very special dad using his favourite shirts....each one has a 'hug' using the sleeves.

I had one very happy customer and a lot of interest in having more orders.

Happy days :-)

The other thing I'm sharing with you today is the proof I had 'me time' over the long weekend.  I decided the best way to learn a few of the techniques of how to use my new set of Arteza pens was to cut a sheet of my watercolour paper into ATC sized pieces and have a play.  I am really loving my new painting pens and can see many more happy times ahead using them.

I may choose the best of them to use for the up and coming ATC anniversary swap so please email me at wipso2310@gmail.com if you'd like to swap.

Hugs,

Annie x