This week's smiles....week 335

 Here we are at the last round up of smiles for 2023.....and there's been lots to smile about.

Friday evening we went round to Shells for an evening of fun and nibbles....and swapped parcels.

Christmas Day we had dinner with Mark and Gina....and it was really yummy. Afterwards we swapped parcels and played games.

Boxing Day we went to Amy's for lunch and afterwards we swapped parcels and played games.

So what a wonderful few days we had, all filled with wonderful memories and laughter and we have been spoiled rotten.

Gina and Mark shared a wonderful collage from over the years and I really love seeing how the boys have grown.

Another collage, this time of Amy's three [and their dogs].

In the bottom left photo they are standing by the grave of Scrouge left behind when they filmed 'A Christmas Carol' in Shrewsbury.

Another collage from when the twins spent quality time together whith their cousins.

This year's photo of the twins in their Christmas stockings....taken to add to the collage they keep of them each year since they were born [back then they almost fitted right inside their stockings lol ].

Of course it wouldn't be Friday without a few funnies [excuse the language on the one].  I hope you found something that made you smile and will leave me a little comment before linking to your own smiles.

That just leaves me to wish you a very Happy New Year and here's hoping we can share lots more smiles in 2024.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles.....week 334

 Here we are at the last round up of smiles before Christmas day.  I had planned a much quieter week having thought that I had no work this week but fate had other ideas....Wednesday morning I had a customer who wanted 7 memory bears making.....yes 7!!! and if possible before Christmas.  So, my quiet week just got busy....but thankfully I have finished them all now [I put my knickers on the outside and Wonder Woman struck again :-) ].

We have had plenty to make us smile this week and I have a couple of photos I can share with you...

Amy sent me this photo of her three all dressed up ready to go out....they have grown up far too quickly and this photo really made me smile.

Wednesday night we went to a singing concert that Sam was performing in.  He sang a duet with a little girl of  'When I saw mummy kissing Santa Claus'.  It really was lovely....such proud Nanny moments.   He has such a lovely voice and it was the first time any one had heard him sing [even his Mummy cos he refuses to sing at home].

Of course it wouldnt be Friday without a few funnies....I hope something makes you smile.

Now all I have to do is to wish you all a very happy Christmas and I will 'see' you all when it's all over.  Hoping you all have a wonderful time.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at the last WOYWW before Christmas.  My desk is clear of the Christmas clutter now and my work has wound down thankfully. ....I think 49 bears since the begining of November is enough don't you?

These are my final two bears until after Christmas.  They were given to two little boys yesterday to help them get through the day of their big brother's funeral.  They were made from his cuddly blankets so will be lovely to cuddle up to and each of them have a little pocket on the front that their mummy had put a photo of their big brother in.

It's very special when families share with me such stories.

Having shared the story of young Riley who died of cancer at just 12 years old I felt the need to make another batch of the little frogs that are given out to the children newly diagnosed with cancer in the area to introduce them to the Harry Johnson Charity and all the help they offer.....I'm sure we would all like to think they wouldn't need lots of these making.

That's all from me now until after the big day.  I hope you all have a good one shared with loved ones and I will 'see' you afterwards.

Love to all,

Annie xxx

This week's smiles....week 333

 Here we are at another catch up of the smiles of the last week as we head towards Christmas.  Wednesday evening we went to watch Theo in his Christmas nativity...it was wonderful. It was year 1 and 2 so lots of little ones giving their all. ....lots of smiles but no photos.

They went on a Christmas train ride at the weekend and I really love these photos they sent us.

We had Louie on Wednesday for a fun day then yesterday we had both boys....they do love each other and it's so lovely to watch....even if by the end of the day they were both very tired [and so were we :-) ]

Of course it wouldn't be a Friday without a few funnies....I hope you find something here to make you smile and will leave me a little comment before sharing your smiles by linking up at the bottom.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

 Well, what do you know?  It's been another busy bear week for me and it's not stopped yet.  I had two more arrive yesterday afternoon so I will be busy making those today....I've shared so many sad stories/reasons for the making of the bears lately....I know it's what I've been put here to do so I feel very blessed to be able to help, if only in a little way.

These were the two I had cut out ready to make last week....now gone to their new home to keep two brothers connected as the youngest one is going for adoption.

These 5 were made in memory of a much loved Grandad out of his favourite shirts....and two of these are going to live in New Zealand...another country of the world I've reached with Annie's love.

These two were made from a young mummy's nursing uniform who died far too soon leaving a 7year old and a 10 year old behind....I've used one of her pockets to make a little pocket to go on the front of each bear so the children can put special things or notes in.

The two bears I will be making today are in memory of a 12 year old boy who died of cancer for his two younger brothers to keep and give them comfort.....life can be so cruel at times eh?

I have managed to make and post all my Christmas cards now and have even cleared my desks of all the Christmas fabrics ready for something else crafty....I'm just not sure what yet :-)  Watch this space.

It's a Louie fun day today and and we will be taxiing Lexi to and from her Pantomine this afternoon [A Grandparent's duties are never finished :-) ].

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles ....week 332

 It's been another week filled with smiles here at Sewing by Annie's...I'm so blessed.

Sunday evening we went to Theatre Severn to watch Lexi in the pantomine....she is one of the group of junior dancers and they were all wonderful.  It's so lovely seeing how she's grown in confidence and can now dance and sing and is no longer the smallest on the stage now :-)

Yesterdat was an L day here...Louie arrived in the morning for a fun day.  Late morning we had to collect Lexi from school so she could come here for lunch and to change before we then delivered her to the theatre for an afternoon performance of the pantomime. After an early tea we then went to church to watch Lulu in their school Carol Servive....she's in the school choir.  We really enjoyed our day....and slept well last night ;-)

It's not a very clear photo but we had decorated our Christmas tree at the weekend and when Louie walked into the sitting room on Tuesday morning he just said 'WOW'. :-)

Don't you just love the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child?

He's not impressed with everything about Christmas though. hehehe

We took him to our local Charlies to see the singing Yetis and as you can see he wasn't impressed at all.  :-)

It wouldn't be a Friday without a few funnies....hope they make you smile.

Please leave me a message so I know you've called by and then link up to your own smiles at the bottom of the page.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hi all.  It's mostly a bear, bear and more bears sort of week for me but I  do have an update on the machine embroidery that I started when Jo, Jan and I enjoyed a craft day together.  So bears first [and there's been lots of them]....

This one used a Dad's jacket and his favourite shirt....and I also made 3 little hearts in the same fabrics to go with him.

Two more made for a returning customer

....just my favourite sort of customer.

Another returning customer...one I have known for many years :-)

A little bear made from a Mum's 4 nighties that she had worn in her final days in hospital.....and this one has gone to live up in Doncaster.

4 memory bears to remember a special Grandad for his 4 grandchildren.

Here's the next two I'm making .....one is to go in a memory box for a baby brother who is going for adoption

.....my customers like to share so much with me.

I thought you'd like to see the 'little' bag of stuffing I bought at the weekend....I go through so many bags of stuffing making all the bears I've been making lately....Since the beginning of November I have made 42!!!!!

Last, but by no means least, here is my completed Christmas wreath....I spent a bit of time doing some creative sewing at the weekend and really enjoyed making this....you may see Jo and Jan's on their blogs this week too and it's so lovely how different the 3 are.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you've had a good week too and will leave me a little message so I know you've called by.  It's a Louie fun day today so I will be around to visit when he's gone home.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 331

 It's been a lovely week here at Sewing by Annie's.  If you saw my Wednesday post you will have seen that we had some very special visitors here from South Wales and we have had some very special times together.....

Here's the one photo ....we are holding beautiful Christmas sparkly snow flakes that Jan gave us....I love mine and it's so lovely to imagine us each year hanging them on our trees to remember our happy time together.

Of course we still enjoyed a Louie fun day on Wednesday and I've made a collage from a couple of pics of him here with us and the other two are at their home decorating their Christmas tree....such happy memories.

This photo was taken from our kitchen of a pigeon sitting on top of our lilac bush....or our version of a partridge in a pear tree :-)

Finally here's a few funnies to make you smile.  Please leave me a little message so I know you've called in and, if you can, then please link up to your own funnies below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Oh what a lovely week I've had.....Christmas cards are in the making and we've had very special visitors up from South Wales.

I've been doing a bit of strip quilting to cut up for my Christmas cards....and have really enjoyed making them.

My little assistant has been 'helping' sort out the felt ready for a crafting session at Jo's on Tuesday.....every time I pull out one of my boxes she jumps in to 'help' and actually curled up and fell asleep in this one. :-)

Sunday teatime we all met up for a Sunday roast dinner....the food was really good and the company was even better.

Tuesday morning Jan joined Jo and I for a crafty day at Jo's.  Jan enjoyed an hour or maybe more ;-) sorting through the huge box of my donated fabrics and filled a box with stuff that she could use for her makes for the RNLI....this really made me smile.  

Jo provided a yummy lunch...[thanks Jo] and in the afternoon we all sat around Jo's dining table on sewing machines and enjoyed some free machining time to eventually make a Christmas wreath with what we made....they may take a while to make but I'm sure you will see the finished results at some point :-)

All in all we had a wonderful time chatting, creating and enjoying each others company....life should be filled with days like that.

It is a Louie fun day today so please be patient with me but I will drop by to see what you've been up to as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie xxxc

This week's smiles....week 330

 We are here to share the things that have made us happy from the previous week....and I'm glad to say I have had lots and can share a collage of some that we had on Sunday.

Sam is in The Polar Express [its a performance on a steam train and is based on the film] and on Sunday it was a full dress rehearsal. Shell was given 8 free tickets so we all went to watch him and enjoy a bit of the magic of Christmas.....it was brilliant and we all had a wonderful time....and Sam played his part very well.....proud moments xxx

A lot of the plants in the garden are gone over now but our fuchsias are blooming their hearts out so I just had to share a pic.....and I hope you like my new autumn header pic.

Of course I have found some funnies to share with you....I hope something makes you smile and you will leave me a little comment before linking to your own smiles below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Happy Wednesday to one and all.  The bear factory has still been working fast and furious this week...and I'm loving life.

These two were made in memory of a special Grandma using her favourite tops.

These three were made for a customer that I had made three for previously and used the left over fabrics ...I love my returning customers.

These bring my bear numbers up to 766!!!

I have two skirts to shorten now but they will have to wait until after my Nanny Annie days plus I have several more Memory bears on their way....they keep coming :-) :-)

I hope you're all well and happy and will leave me a little comment so I know you've calle by and I will pop over to yours as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie

This week's smiles....week 329

 What a week it has been here at sewing by Annie's.  We didn't have to look after Louie on Wednesday so I used my time well and made another 2 Memory bears...they just keep on coming and I'm buzzing.

I had a visit from Sarah Brennan yesterday to collect her Memory cats and Memory cushion....I'm not allowed to share a pic of them until she has given them all out but I can say she was moved to see them....Job done well.  :-) :-)

Theo was invested as a Beaver this week and looks so pleased with himself...proud Nanny Annie too.

Louie really loves his books [and ours] :-)

He is now able to climb up onto the settee and reach a selection down off the bookshelf....this makes me smile a lot.

Shell came around for a coffee and catch up yesterday afternoon while Louie was with us....I dont know who giggled more.  She helped him to get into the doll's pushchair and then pushed him around the living room......so much fun was had by all :-) :-)

Of course it wouldn't be Friday without a few funnies [sorry about the language].  I hope something here makes you smile and you will leave me a little comment before linking to your own smiles below.

Hugs,

Annie x