This week's smiles.....week 409

 Here we are at another catch up with our Friday smiles.  It's been a week of slow recovery from the bugs we have had for what seems like weeks.  I think we are getting there...we have stopped running temperatures but the energy levels still need topping up.

We have the boys this weekend so I may have more smiles for next Friday but Theo managed to finish the ferris wheel he had been making using the K'nex.  It was really tricky to make but he persevered and was so chuffed with the finished article.

Our garden continues to make us smile...the flowers keep blooming in every corner.

It wouldn't be a Friday without a few funnies....I hope something here raises a few smiles.  Please leave me a little comment and then link up to your own smiles below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Hello all.  I'm sorry I was out of action last Wednesday with Flu/cold.  Both hubby and I have been really rough on and off for a month or more and last week we were as bad as it had been....coughing lots and running really high temps.  We tested negating for Covid but it felt pretty much the same.  It's been an awful bug and I'm hoping it's on it's way out now.  There have been so many folk around here suffering the same and it leaves you good for nothing so we had to listen to our bodies and sleep it off.  If you read my Friday post you will also see I had a health scare too but thankfully the results came back normal and no further appointments/tests were needed....phew!!

On my desk today are the latest army of frogs, now finished and handed over to the Harry Johnson Charity, to give out the the children newly diagnosed with cancer....I've now made 58 and it makes me rather sad to think that there are so many children needing them but it's good to do my bit.

The only other thing I have to share with you this week are these little mice I've been making....they have been something nice to do a little of...when I've been awake lol.

That's all from me for today....hopefully I will have more to share by next week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 408

 Hello all.  It's been a week of highs and lows.  I was called back following my recent mammogram.  On attending the clinic they told me they had seen something in the glands under my left arm and after ultra scanning they took 4 needle biopsies and mentioned possible lymphoma.  I had to wait a full week for a phone call to tell me the time of my next clinic appointment.  They called me back on Tuesday afternoon to tell me they had found no abnormalities and I didn't need a follow up....PHEW!!  What a relief that was.

I would have celebrated if only both hubby and I hadn't gone down with another dose of flu...I don't think I've ever felt so rough and am still recovering.  We just don't seem to be able to shake the bugs off.

I popped out into the garden and quickly snapped as many of the flowers that I hadn't shown you before...I hope you love them as much as I do.

We had the boys last weekend and shared many happy moments.  Our son, Mark, used to love his Knex as a child and he still does...that really made me smile.  He had a lot of fun with Louie while Theo was away at cub camp with his mummy.

Sam is back on stage as one of only two children in the adult performance of Shrek....sadly we aren't well enough to go to see him.....his mummy has sent me lots of pics and videos so we don't miss out completely.

Peggy wen't for her first haircut this week...she was such a good girl for the groomer and not only looks really pretty but her coat is soooooo soft.

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That just leaves me to share my funnies with you.  I hope something here makes you smile and you will leave me a little message before sharing your smiles with us too.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles.....week 407

 Hello all and a happy Friday.  My week is throwing me some challenges at the mo so I have had to look a little harder to find smiles.

Our little Peggy never fails to make us smile.  The photo on the left is one I took after I had brushed her....her coat is long now and she is booked in for her first hair cut on 25th so I have been trying to get some good pics before she loses her baby coat....she's such a pretty colour.

The photo on the right tells a tale....there was stuffing from one of her toys all over the floor and the guilt of who did it could be seen right there on her nose!!  :-) :-)

I've been out in the garden snapping pics of all the gorgeous Spring flowers that are making us smile right now....aren't they gorgeous?

That just leaves me to share a few funnies with you...I hope something here makes you smile.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 I had so many lovely messages last week wishing me well and thankfully it's worked.  I have managed to shake the bugs off so I can face the next challenges life is throwing at me.....more of which I will share some other time.

I had a special request this week from one of my customers....

She sent me a link to this and asked if I could make one for her little girl.  I followed the link and after much juggling I managed to print off the patterns.

It took me well over an hour to make the tiny chick [it's only about 4 cm tall!!] with her little 'sleeping bag' egg so I felt it was impossible to charge a sensible price....and wont be making more lol.

I asked for a donation for Harry Johnson Charity and she gave me £5 so it was a win win situation...and I did enjoy making it even if it was very fiddly.

The other thing on my desk today is the next army of frogs in the making...these go to each newly diagnosed child with cancer in the area to introduce them to The Harry Johnson Trust that funds many things for the children affected.

That's all from me for today.  I hope you're all well and happy.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles.....week 406

 Hello all.  Firstly I must say sorry for not leaving any comments last week.  I was feeling pretty rubbish [and are still recovering !!].  It's been a particularly horrid bug that has taken some shifting...but I will get there.

It was our weekend to have the boys so we had lots of fun with them even though little Louie was still recovering from the bug.

We had some lovely time outside in the garden getting some fresh air in the sunshine.

We also had some fun making rockets that propelled themselves into the air using elastic bands.

The Spring flowers are starting to come out all around the garden....and that really makes me smile.

Of course I have a few funnies to share with you too...and there do seem rather a lot this week too....have fun.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all.  Sorry for not joining in last week.  Firstly I was poorly [cough/sore throat/high temp]  and sadly I'm still getting over it....I'm sure it will go and it just needs time and rest.

Secondly I had an order for 18 memory bears and just knew that blogging would have to wait.

So how do I set about making 18 bears?.....

All 18 bears needed stabilising with interfacing because of the fabrics used. So I had to cut out the 72 panels twice. [yes 144 panels needed!!]  

Each bear was to have 2 panels of one of the tops provided and 2 panels of the trousers/leggings..so a lot of cutting out and sorting was required.

Plus every bear is different!!!

I did all the sewing and stuffed the arms and legs then it was over to my chief stuffer to stuff the tummies....he really does a wonderful job.

Here they all are stuffed and I've started to sew up the gaps in the back seams where they are stuffed and then I gather up the necks of each bear.

Yes, that's me in the middle of the chaos while I'm stitching on their faces.

And here they are with their purple ribbons on...the favourite colour of the elderly Grandmother they are in memory of.  These 18 are for her 9 children and her eldest grandchildren.  There are over 40 great grandchildren that may want bears when they see these so watch this space.

I hope you have enjoyed a little peep into my world this week.  I love making my bears and just know how much comfort my customers have from them.

Thanks for calling in.  I will do my best to pay you a visit to see what you've been up to.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 405

 Hello all.  I was missing on WOYWW this week.....firstly I was poorly and I had a lot of work to do so thought I should concentrate my efforts where needed most.

We had a weekend away in a cottage near Aberaeron in Wales to celebrate my darling hubby's birthday.  The sun shone and the cottage was perfect...

It was Peggy's first weekend away from home and she really loved the underfloor heating....even if she didn't enjoy travelling in the car [it made her sick sadly].

We came home on Monday but sadly I've been poorly since...a tiresome cough, sore throat and temperature.....and the sewing kept coming through my door....

.......this is my largest order of Memory bears ever....18 in total....and there may be more to come yet.

They are in memory of  an elderly lady who had 9 children and many grandchildren and over 40 great grandchildren.

The 18 are for her children and the oldest of her grandchildren so there may be more wanting one when these are collected!!

The only other things I have to share with you are a few funnies...I hope something here makes you smile.

Please leave me a little comment and link up to your own smiles below.

I hope to be feeling rather better by next week...please send me some good vibes.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 404

 Oh what a week.  I managed to make 12 Memory bears around a wonderful weekend in Blackpool.  We went up on Saturday morning and were treated to a really sunny day.  We booked into a Travelodge for the night and caught a tram from just over the road to right outside the Tower Ballroom....couldn't have been better.

Our little Lexi really did us proud.  She danced her heart out with her group.  They performed two different dances and really made our hearts sing.  It was so very special to see them in such a huge venue and their dance teacher should be very proud of herself for their performances.

The only other things I have for you is a couple of collages of funnies....I hope none offend and something here makes you smile.

Have a great week my friends.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Hello all and happy Wednesday to you all.  It's been a very busy week here while I've been here....we had a night over in Blackpool on Saturday to watch Lexi dancing at the Tower Ballroom.  Lots of very proud moments and I will share a few pics on Friday if you'd like to see.

On my desk this week has been a lot of bear making.

I managed to cut out the 12 bears I had to make before going away so Monday morning saw my desk looking like this....the 9 at the back are already sewn and the 3 on my ironing board are cut out and pinned together ready.

They all needed backing with iron on interfacing to stabilise them so that meant cutting out 48 panels to make the 12 bears!!

I had the help of my bear stuffer...he's a gem.  We make a great team.

I managed to make these 9 on Monday.  They are made in memory of a much loved Grandad and the two on the front with purple on also had panels added to remember a daughter/mum.

I made these three yesterday in memory of a 14 year old young man who died on his quad bike....so sad.

I get to share so many sad stories but I know just how much these bears will help his family.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you're all keeping well and happy.  I hope to pop to see what you're busy with when I can find a minute between my sewing jobs.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 403

 Hello all.  If you read my Wednesday post you will see that I am busy with sewing this week...mainly the 12 Memory bears I have been asked to make so I have lots to smile about.

One of my biggest smiles was that Little Louie came to us on Tursday and for the first time in, what seems like weeks he was well.  It had been such a nasty virus so it was soooooo lovely for him to be better.  Here he is trying on his Daddy's kick boxing helmet...what a cutie.

The only other things I have to share with you this week are a few funnies.

I will have lots to smile about this weekend because we are off to the Tower Ballroom at Blackpool to watch Lexi dance....I'm so excited and plan to take a few tissues with me for the proud moments....I'm a big softy at heart.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

 I've been making the best of the lull before the storm here this week...

I finished off the little rabbit bags I showed you last week and now have a basket full.

I have also made 10 little felt carrots to hold little chocolate rabbits....these are for the charity I sew for and were fun to make.

I had to buy a new magnetic pin holder because I dropped my old one...it broke and the pins went to every corner of my room!!  I treated myself to new pins too because a lot of the ones I'd been using were bent or blunt.

That's all from me for today because I will be head down busy sewing now....I have several pairs of trousers coming in today and 12 memory bears coming in before the end of the week!!  It's all or nothing here :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 402

It's been a busy week here with having the boys here for a long weekend [Thursday to Sunday].. Sadly little Louie was very poorly with a virus that caused him to run very high temperatures.  He needed lots of sponging down and hugs [ ...and Calpol/Nurofen] but thankfully I'm hoping he's now on the mend.  His Daddy took him to see a Dr on Saturday morning but she couldn't find anything that was obviously causing the high temperatures saying it was probably just a virus.

We did manage some lovely crafty time with them both while they were here....they painted a garden gnome or garden dinosaur each, decorated several wooden key rings and did some amazing building from our crafty box of goodies....they love creative play.

Lexi entered several dancing competitions on Sunday and came away with a second in her Jazz solo, second in her Commercial Solo, a first in her Senior dance team performance and her group also won the overal Ist in the whole team performance.

She  was also given the award for the most potential in the morning's competition....talk about a superstar.  We are so very proud of her.

Sam had his first day session with Emil Dale Associates down in London.  He came home buzzing.  It sounded like he had an awesome day. :-)

The only other things I have to share are a few funnies.  I hope something here makes you smile and you will leave me a little comment before linking up to your own smiles at the bottom of the page.

Hugs,

Annie x