woyww...

Happy 800thWOYWW posts.

Here is the link to my first post in September 2009.  As you can see I had a few machines back then....I've had several more since and moved houses.

It's been a very busy week here at Sewing by Annie's.  I've made 6 Memory bears...

Here's the 5 I can share with you...these are made for a special friend and they are now winging their way to their new homes in Wiltshire ...I love making Memory bears for people I know but am sad that they needed more making.

I've also been very busy making advent calenders....I've now got 10 made [6 different designs] ready to sell and will be putting them on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page soon...shout if you want any.

That's all from me for this week.  If you leave me a message so I know you've called by I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what you're busy with.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Hello all.  My name is Annie and I'm an OAP

It was my birthday Monday and at last I have reached 66 which means I can recieve my state pension.....but for those thinking I will be stopping sewing I wont.  I love my job so will be continuing to sew.  I may a little more selective on the jobs I take on and will def be enjoying my time with the grandchildren and the time we spend on adventures in our caravan but I do plan to carry on working, at least for a while yet.

I've had some beautiful flowers and even had a Happy Retirement balloon plus I have been spoilt rotton with a lovely meal out and a trip to the theatre to see Vincent Simone [of Strictly come dancing fame] in his Argentine Tango dance show....it was amazing.

We are back to the theatre tonight to see Sarah Milligan and I am really looking forward to that.

I completed the first 'gifted' Advent calendar and when I went to cut the second one out I discovered it was actually two folded up together so I have now made 3 and will be selling them for the Harry Johnson trust.

Now this is def a coincidence.  On my desk today is two piles of clothing to make bears from.  

The turquoise set on the right hand side is to have a school bear made for a little girl who has just left school in Australia.

The white/grey set is to make 3 memory bears for a lady who lives in Australia and they will be flying out to their new home when finished.

I'm conquering the world folks :-)

That's all from this OAP for today.  I will do my best to pop over to yours as soon as I can but it's a fun day with Louie today so please be patient with me.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 These weekly catch ups seem to come around so quickly now and, yet again,  I've had another busy week so will quickly show and tell what I've been doing in pics...

At the end of last week I made these 4 lovely Memory bears to remember 2 special Grandmothers.

My next challenge was to make a Memory Elephant from a fleece top....it was quite a challenge because all the fabric had to be stabilised with iron on interfacing but I rather like how he's turned out. 

Saturday morning I made two new advent calendars like this one and put the 8 I had finished on my Sewing by Annie's Facebook page and have already sold 5 of them :-)

Whilst watching the telly on Sunday I made these 6 Scandinavian stars from 24 3.25"x12" pieces of Christmas fabrics....they will sell for Harry Johnson Trust at their next sale.

I've finished the Christmas elf I was making...this will be a guess the name of the Elf to raise funds for the charity.

Finally yesterday I put together the first of two advent calendars that came with the donated fabrics to be used for the charity....It just needs wadding and backing now....and then the other one needs making :-)

That's all from me for today.  If you leave me a little message I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

What a difference a week makes.  I took all of last week off from sewing to fully recover from the shingles and thankfully the antiviral meds did the trick.

This week all I can say is customers have come out of the woodwork....I have lots to share so will quickly go through it all in pics....

The only thing I made while unwell was some Christmas gonks....one each will probably go to the grandchildren and the rest will sell for charity....I've sold one aready :-)

I had a customer wanting an advent calendar so Monday morning I got out the ones I had already made and made this extra one...

....which she bought straight away and bought one of the Christmas gonks to go with it   :-)

These are Christmas panels that came with the donated fabrics so I pressed them all ready to use but they are now lying in my projects to do basket because the customers started flooding through my door. :-)

I've made a start with the body of a Christmas elf that will be use to raise funds for the Harry Johnson Trust

I've had two Autumn bridesmaid's dresses to do fittings on...the navy one arrived yesterday and is needed by the weekend!!

On Monday I had a lovely new customer who had recently lost her husband and wants 6 memory bears making from his favourite clothes and yesterday I made a good start at making them....they wont get finished today though as it's a Nanny Annie fun day :-)

Before the end of the day yesterday I had a parcel from the Wirral with school uniforms in wanting 3 memory bears making.... and there is another parcel winging it's way from a special customer that wants 2 bears making... it's all go :-)

....and all this has been done since Monday!!!

As you can see, I'm in demand so visiting desks may be a little delayed but I will do my best to nip round as many as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Hello all and a happy Wednesday to you all.  We had our latest Covid booster on Saturday morning...the new Moderna one and my arm was so sore that Saturday night I struggled to sleep and Sunday night and Monday I ran high temperatures because of it.  I have previously had Pfizer with no side effects.  Let's hope it does it's job eh?

Since we were here last Wednesday I've made....

3 lovely Memory bears and two little memory hearts in memory of a much loved Grandma.

These were for a customer I've known for many years and I would say has become a friend now so it made making them even more special.

I love my job because I must be one of the only sewing ladies in Shrewsbury that gets hugs and kisses from her customers...and I've made so many friends because of my job.

This is my desk today.  I've managed to find a few more Advent Calendar fabric panels so Monday I did the pressing, folding and sewing of all the pockets so now I just have to do the wadding, backing etc to get them finished.....they have been so popular and even if they don't sell I can save them until next year.

The other desk I'm sharing with you today is this one.  You may remember a few weeks back I had an afternoon with Phoebe and Lulu teaching them how to make bunting and this is what they got up to at the weekend.

Their Mummy bought them some halloween fat quarters and some tape and they set to to make their own bunting.

Oh how it makes my heart sing to see them 'flying' alone...and choosing to do it too.....I'm such a proud Nanny Annie.

That's it from me for this week.  I will do my best to pop over to as many desks as I can in between my sewing jobs.  I hope you all have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hi all.  It's been non-stop this last week here at Sewing by Annie's.  I've shortened trousers and tops plus I have made this cute little Memory bear...

He's made from tiny baby clothes to be kept as a keepsake of when their baby was small :-)

On top of all that I have also made 10 new Advent calendars.  The 5 I put on my Sewing by Annie Facebook last week all flew out and many more requested I make more so these will be going on my Facebook page today :-)

Watch this space as they say.

I like to grab oportunities when I can....and do my best to please my customers.

On my to do rail today is this lovely purple/burgandy bridesmaid's dress that I have to alter and shorten plus the rest of my rail is full of my winter tops that all need taking in to fit now I'm over 3 stone lighter....as the saying goes..."A cobblers wife walks barefoot"...these have to wait until I have a few spare minutes to get done [winter may be over by then lol].

I hope you've all had a great week.  I will be popping round ASAP to see what you've all been up to [sewing allowing!!].

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles.....week 492

Oh what a week it's been....I've had so much to smile about.

Firstly my mouth is recovering now....I had the offending tooth removed last Thursday  and I was really glad to see the back of it.  

The WOYWW crop went really well and it was so special to see blogging friends again...many I had seen since before Covid lockdown and some I had known for years and never met before...our very own Angela being one of those and I not onlt met her but I met her hubby and their two gorgeous furbabies.  It was a day filled with fun, friendship, laughter, chatting, cake and just a little bit of crafting....magic. there are more pics on my Wednesday post.

My darling hubby was looking through one of my fabric boxes for backing fabrics for the latest Advent calendars I've been making this week and as you can see Milly got in on the job and was looking up to see what instructions he was going to give her lol.

I put the 5 Advent calendars I made back in January on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page and sold 4 of them within a day so have spent the week buying more fabric panels and making more.

Little Louie has started mixed feeding and has taken to it like a duck to water....he's tucking into carrot and pear puree that his mummy has made for him...yum yum.

Finally we can't have a Friday post without a few funnies can we?

I hope you find something here to make you smile and will leave me a little comment then share your smiles by linking up at the bottom of the page.

Hugs,

Annie x

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

WOYWW...

 "Oh didn't we have a lovely day the day we went to Shropshire?"

Of course I live here so know just how lovely it is but when you're joined by other WOYWWers it was made soooo much better.

I've pinched the photo from Caro so sadly she isn't on the photo but I'm sure there will be many others sharing snaps this week.

We all chatted, ate cake, remembered, ate cake and of course there was lots of laughter during the day...how much better could the day have been?

I handed over the money we raised to The Harry Johnson's Trust yesterday....what an amazing amout and I just know it will be used well to help other families with children having treatment for cancer....thanks so much everyone xxxx

That much older sister of mine, Jo and I organised the hall and lunch...we are like a perfectly oiled machine and work together so well....love her to bits. It's her birthday today so I really hope she's having a lovely day.

Julia thanked us by treating us each to a beautifully personalised pin....I love mine so thanks so much for this.

I came home with so many lovely things....thanks so much to you all.

This week I have been getting organised for Christmas [I know I'm early but I have to get things done when I have spare time].  Louie needed a Christmas stocking and...

....he has had first choice of the Advent calendars I've made so far.....Gina chose the train one for him and I put the others on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page and within an hour of putting them on there the first was sold and now there is only one left but I have managed to get some more fabric panels so if I get any spare time I might get a few more made.  :-)

I have put them on early this year because the ones I put on last year sold within a day and I'd left it too late to make any extras for the customers wanting more.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today.  I will do my best to pop over to visit as many as I can between jobs.  Have a great week all.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are back at our Wednesday sharing of desks from all around the world and looking at what I have to share this week says I must be feeling more like myself now....there's lots to share so I will quickly do it in photos for you.

I've finished the baby blanket I was crocheting.  I found a neat edging stitch that was new to me [and I love to try out new stitches] and I really love it.

The little lap blanket and cardigan I knitted left part of a ball of yarn so I....

....knitted a little hat with a top knot to match.

The 6 Advent calendars that I started before Christmas have sat idly draped over one of my machines since Christmas because I was just too poorly to feel like wadding, backing and finishing them off....but Monday I set to and have now finished them all off ready for selling next Christmas.

The one on the right at the front with trains on is for the next little Grandson :-)

This is what is actually on my desk today...it's a pile of Tshirts that were favourites of a much loved Grandad.  I have to make 3 Memory bears for his Grandchildren, today using these so I have to work out how to fit some of the dragons, eagles and wolves on the panels that make up the bears....quite a challenge for me.

As you can tell it's been a much busier week for me [a bit more like normal for me] so I'm glad to be feeling rather better....apart from my deep sexy voice from time to time.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 There's not many more Wednesday now before Christmas and I've only today and 4 more days to work before I can have a well earned rest.....everyone seems to want sewing done at the last minute so I will be head down sewing all day today.

I have now done the fronts of 6 more Advent calendars for next year....they just need their wadding, backing and hangers now so I will probably finish then off after Christmas.

Some have flat pockets and some have pleated pockets and the one in the bottom right has pleated pockets with flaps over the top....so a different amount of work for each one but I really enjoyed making them all.

I'm enjoying a week of making more Memory bears.

These are the first set made from a Mum's fleece dressing gown so they are soft and cuddly.

I'm making two more from a Grandma's favourite pink cardigan and I have another Memory bear and a rabbit arriving this morning.

The other thing I plan to make is a couple of new masks using a pattern Catriona emailed to me.....if only I can get my customers sewing finished first of course.

That's all from me for today.  I will do my best to visit all I can in between my seing jobs.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we at another Wednesday on the countdown to Christmas.  This is what is on my desk today...

I have cut out 5 new Advent calendars ready to make up for next year....yes, I like to get ahead of myself and have them ready.  The ones I made for this year sold within an hour of going on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page. :-)

The other thing I have to show you is this very old industrial sewing machine we have bought to do the factory trousers on because my domestic machines really don't like sewing through some of the waistbands [ and I have tried them all!!] and I don't plan to break my best machines.....even though I did managed to do 45 pairs in just two days this week!!

It's very old and we have given it a good clean and service and plan to replace some of the tired parts to give it a new life.  I've managed to thread it up and adjust it to sew with ordinary threads...it had previously been used for upholstery.

The other desk I'm sharing today is this little hive of industry... Amy's three have spend a day playing on their sewing machine making their Christmas cards and a lovely 3 picture frame at the weekend....It really makes my heart sing to see them all enjoying their sewing machine like this.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit and if you leave me a little comment I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at another Wednesday catch up with our WOYWW freiends from around the world....my fav day of the week.  It's been another busy week for me and today I will be plouging through another pile of factory trousers to put new zips in....not my favourite job but the funds will go towards Christmas and I have enough of jobs I love doing to balance it all out thankfully.

On my desk today is the last 4 Christmas cards I have left...they are all made and posted now so I can move onto other things.

The pile of fabrics at the back are 5 more advent calendars to make ready for next year....if you saw my post on Wednesday you will have seen that I will need to make at least one by then :-)....exciting times.  

I try to make a few each year for others that don't sew to make memories with the little people in their lives and this year I sold the 3 I'd got within an hour of putting them on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page.

There is also a teddy cut out to make for my Christmas gift draw over on my Facebook page...I do this every year as a thank you for my followers so keep a look out if you'd like to get your name in the draw.

I'm doing a bit of knitting....it's slow progress as I can only do it when my arthritis allows but I'm loving the colours and there's no rush.

The other thing I can now share with you is the baby blanket I'm crochetting with my new hooks.  Every row or two is a different pattern and I love the way the colours are working together.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit and will leave me a little comment so I know you've called in.  I will do my best to pay you a return visit in between my sewing jobs.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello folks.  The first thing I must do is to say sorry for the lack of visits last week.  Probably the best way to explain why is to tell/ show you what I've done since writing my WOYWW post for last week.

• I have made 9 Memory bears
• I've made a special order of 10 three layered face masks
• I've shortened 3 dresses
• I've shortened 3 pair of trousers and 
• I've finished another advent calendar

Not to mention having Thursday afternoon off to spend it with Phoebe and Lulu crafting and creating.  [If you want to see what we made look in the post below] I've worked all over the weekend too to get it all done to hopefully clear my desks before the next lockdown.

So I hope you will forgive me for the lack of visits...work just got in the way.  Here's a few pics to show you the results...

Here's the first 3 Memory bears...made in memory of a very special Dad and Grandad.

Here's the next 5 Memory bears that arrived with the other 3 on Wednesday....made in memory of a life long best friend.

This is the 9th Memory bear of my week that arrived on Friday...made in memory of a much loved Mum /Grandma to be given as a gift for Christmas.

These are the 10 three layered face masks I was asked to make for a dentist....tricky sewing through all the layers over the pleats and I actually broke a couple of needles making these.

The latest advent calendar I have completed...I've got a couple more I'd like to make but I guess I may have plenty of time during the next lockdown.

It's been a busy week for me but as you can imagine when I've got work to do I have to get it done as I never know what's coming through my door next.

I'm hoping to have rather more time to visit my blogging friends and leave a few messages this week.  I hope you are all staying safe and well.

Hugs,

Annie x