WOYWW....

Good morning all.  I hope I find you all well and happy this Wednesday.  I've had a couple of customers this week and have repaired the sleeve on a blouse and shortened a couple of pairs of jeans so far but have Memory bears on their way through the post :-)

This has given me a little time to be creative [if only I can get motivated lol].

I love making the Christmas wreath so much and it made me smile every time I walked past my sewing room door, where it was hanging, that I thought I'd have a go at making one covered with Spring flowers so I sorted through several Spring coloured fabrics and ironed stiff interfacing on the back of each to make the machine embroidery easier.

Spring is on it's way :-)

I've made a start with a couple of Daffodils and snowdrops so far and rather like how they are turning out so far....what do you think?

That's all from me for today.  Please leave me a little message so I know you've called by and I will do my best to pay you a return visit as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 307

It's been a busy week here at Sewing by Annie's and that always makes me smile.  My 7 special bears are now finished and I will share a pic of them on Wednesday [if I remember]....they are being delivered on Sunday so I'm really hoping they are loved as much as I enjoyed making them.....I actually think they are my favourite bears I've made to date.

I seem to be surrounded by smiles this week so here's a few I can share with you....

Give children a cardboard box and they will amuse themselves for hours.....Shell said this one was the hub of activity and had evolved by the minute.....it had security codes for the door, TV screen, World map, Ice cream machine and dog kennel at this point.

I love to see how they use their imagination.....that's got to make you smile.

I have flowers everywhere making me smile.....these were just a couple of bunches of alstroemeria I picked up at the supermarket but aren't they stunning now the blooms have opened up?

Two of my orchid plants have sent out new flower shoots and this week they both opened up.....I love my orchids.  They almost look too good to be real don't they?

From where I sit in my sewing room I am able to watch the snowdrops shooting up and blooming...they are so pretty.

Plus all the daffodils on our front garden are now shooting up and the blooms on these ones will be soon be opening up.....Spring won't be long now folks.

That little lot has kept me smiling this week even though I have a cough and my asthma is playing up....I guess I'm just keeping in fashion with so many at the mo.  I think we all need the warm sunshine and lighter days now.  Please share your smiles by linking them up below.....anyone can join in....the more the merrier cos I'm sure we can never have too many smiles.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 209

Hello all. Here we are at our weekly catch up of the smiles we share. My weeks seem to be keeping pretty busy but there are lots of smiles amongst it all. Many thanks to all those who took time out of their busy lives to share their own smiles.....I really do enjoy seeing what makes you all smile so please keep up the good work.

The Memory bears I showed you on Wednesday have been collected and I have to say both customers were very moved by their little bears.....I'm so lucky to be able to make special bears out of very treasured fabrics and it's always special when I see their reactions.

Storm front Doris swept across the country on Thursday and it got pretty scary at times on my journey to the hairdressers. There were branches off trees and rubbish bins and their contents blown across the roads but thankfully I got home safely and Milly and I stayed tucked up in the warm while storm Doris blew over...

This is her fav spot in my sewing room but for some reason she is lying across her bed here....I'm sure she would be more comfy the other way on but she says she is really cosy.

My other smiles this week have been seeing our first daffodils coming into bloom and the snowdrops last blooms opening (and surviving Milly running over them!).

I doubt my snowdrops won't last much longer but they sure have made me smile while they have been here....and hopefully they will have spread more by next year.

That's it from me for today.   Please leave me a little comment so I know you've called in and, if you can, link your own smiles below too.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles.....week 207

Hello all.  Here we are at my weekly blog looking at my smiles for the week.

Many thanks to the 6 who joined in again last week.  I love seeing what makes you smile each week so thank you for joining in the fun.

My smiles this week are of the signs of spring in the garden.  I really love Spring so it always makes me smile when I see it getting closer.  The nights are drawing out now too and that also makes me smile.

We planted snowdrops up in the one corner of our garden mostly under some new lawn and they are now starting to get established.  It might take a few years for them to really be a good show but I just love it when they fight their way through the frozen ground.

The front garden had daffodils sprouting up everywhere now and as you can see there are even some coming into bud.

Spring is on it's way....wahooooooooo. 😍😍😍😍

That's it from me for today.  I've had a busy week with sewing projects so it's been a happy and productive week. Please leave me a little comment so I know you've called in and if you can please share your own smiles by linking them up below.  Go on, lets fill our week with smiles.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 156

Hello to all my Friday visitors.  Here we are at the end of another week that's been full of smiles as always.  Sometimes we all have weeks that we have to looks a little harder to find the smiles but trust me when I say they are there....lots of little moments that make us smile and make life worth living.  If we share our moments then the whole world benefits so keep up the good work please.

I am featuring Lynn's post from last week cos I just love the photos she shared of her gorgeous little fur baby.....isn't he just adorable?  Thanks for sharing Lynn.

I have a couple of pics to share with you this week....

This photo arrived with this message from Shell this week...

One very excited little boy when I got home! He had a big parcel in the post. Sam has won a drawing competition in his favourite magazine!!! Bless him! 

One very proud Nanny Annie here.....of course :-) 

This is a pic of our first daffodil that's come into bloom this week....and this certainly made me smile cos it means Spring is getting closer.

I'm sure is we get a cold spell it will slow the blooms down but for now I'm enjoying the hints that Spring is just around the corner.  :-)

I hope you have enjoyed my smiles for this week and will link to something that made you smile.....thanks in anticipation.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 113

Thanks to those who shared their smiles last week.  Such a lovely lot of happiness shared and several of them caused giggles.  My featured post from last week just had to be Elizabeth's.  The joke at the end really made me chuckle because as you can imagine this Nanny Annie, like the one in the joke, doesn't always get things right.  Thanks for sharing that Elizabeth.....I must remember to think twice before I answer the grandees questions ;-)

This week has been one full of smiles for me so I'm sharing several pics today...

My first pic is of Phoebe who's just had her first swimming certificate...well done Phoebe.  We are so very proud of you.

:-) :-) :-) :-)

I promised pics from our Easter Family fun day on Wednesday this week but alas I had such a fun time that I came home having not even taken one pic so Amy sent me this pic of Phoebe and Lulu holding some of the fab things they made on the day....didn't we have a lovely time girls?

:-) :-) :-) :-)

Then I have made a few collages to share with you that have made me smile this week [feel free to click on them for a closer look if you'd like to] ...

 ......I keep checking these for developments but apart from growing and growing so far no hint as to what they are. :-)

Thanks for all your help in deciding what some of our new garden treasures are...as you can see there is so much colour coming out there now.  :-)

I took these pics especially for Kate who has happy memories of the daffodils that line many roads around Shrewsbury.  Aren't they stunning?

:-) :-) :-) :-)

I really hope you've all enjoyed the smiles I've shared this week and will link yours up below.  Hoping you all have a wonderful Easter weekend filled with many moments to make you happy.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...... week 66

We have now reached 66 weeks of wonderful happy postings.....thanks to all that have taken part.  Some pop in most weeks to join in and some only share now and then but I love them all.  They make us smile and lift the spirits....and that's got to be good for us hasn't it?.....keep up the good work girls.

This week I am featuring Sylvia's blog with the latest addition to the new grandbabies in the blogging world....a huge welcome to little Savannah....isn't she just gorgeous?  Thanks for sharing Sylvia.

I've been filling my days this week with positive thoughts to lift the 'moving house' gloom that has been hanging over us and have really needed to look no further than the gorgeous colours that surround us here in our garden.  I have just popped outside and snapped away with my camera to share just a few of them with you....

I dare you not to be smiling now. :-)  

There are blue bells, white bells, forget me nots [ my dad's fav flower and it would have been his 94th birthday on 17th April ], lilac, crab apple blossom, miniature daffs, pink double tulips, rosemary in full bloom and in the middle is the gorgeous raspberry ripple azalea that Jo bought us for our 32nd Wedding anniversary on April 17th [yes we got married on Dad's birthday :-) ].  What gorgeous colours eh?  I have so much to smile about.  I hope you will find a snap or two of what's making you smile this week and link them below to share yours with us.

WOYWW....

Another eventful week over here at Sewing by Annie's.  We have had 3 different estate agents in to value the house and today the one we have selected to proceed is coming to take the photos so that it should be board up and on the market by the weekend....wahooooo.  It's so exciting.

 Monday wasn't as much fun as normal cos that big sister of mine was laid up with a head cold and, so as to not pass on the bugs, she stayed at home.  Mondays just aren't the same without her as you can imagine and I really hope she gets better very soon.

Yesterday was my Munchkin fun day so of course there was no sewing or crafting going on here then either....but we certainly had a lot of fun.  They are growing up so very quickly.

So?  What is on my desk today?....the answer is.....

....the start of my LillyBo Quilt number 6.  I needed something to brighten up my Monday so I chose a bag full of bright cheery colours for this next quilt and have already finished the front of it as you can see.  The fabric in the middle of the quilt has little yellow birds and clouds on it so I just might have to make a little bird or maybe even a duck to go with this one.  :-)

I see Jo[zart] has put her latest quilt on the LillyBo quilt blog  this week and it's really gorgeous....go have a peep.

The other thing I am sharing with you today is this gorgeous bunch of daffodils...they really were far too bright and cheery to keep all to myself.....and of course you have to have fresh flowers in the house when you're selling it don't you?....I can see this being my excuse for a while at least  :-)

Fresh baked bread might help too so feel free to help yourself to one of these for your lunch today.  :-)

I hope you have enjoyed your visit this week and will leave me a little hello comment.  I will do my best to pay you a return visit in between sewing jobs ....and of course showing all the people round who want to buy our house....keeping everything crossed here.  :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...with a request

Happy Wednesday everyone.  February??????  What happened to January?  Where is the year going?  Life really does go quicker as you get older doesn't it?  Come on girls we just have to fill each day with something special.

So what have I crammed into my week this week?

• Shopping for fabric in Hereford on Saturday....more about that later.
• Family time on Sunday....see previous post
• Fun time on Monday.....a must in my week  :-)  But this week started off cutting those dreaded curtains that we couldn't do last week....the customer decided to have each curtain just 1 1/2 widths of fabric wide instead of two so this made them possible....still not a great job because the pattern hadn't been printed straight on the fabric....and this is pretty important when you have to cut one length down the middle and match it!
• More fab family time on Monday afternoon when M called in for a visit with the twinnies so Jo and T could see them  :-)
• I've finished the latest batch of little African dresses you saw on last week's post 

Here they are hanging on my rail.  This brings my number up to 98...wahoo only two more to go til I reach 100  :-)

• Bread making pretty much every other day....I refuse to buy bread rolls now  :-)
• Baked a quiche, some sausage rolls and a chocolate cake....sorry I can't offer you a slice cos it's all gone  :-)
• Knitting....my latest is a little waistcoat for baby Sam in a gorgeous green Crofter wool so it will look like fairisle....will show it off when I've finished it.
• Doll making....I've got to replace the ones my gorgeous Granddaughters fell in love with on Sunday and insisted they were far too special to be left here with Nanny Annie plus I'm working on a new little Mr Tumble lookie likey doll
• I guess there must have been a bit of cooking and cleaning done too  :-)

So on my desk today is...

• A cut out 'have a first go' at making a little Mr Tumble lookie likey doll
• my pins and of course two pairs of scissors  :-)
• 4 new pieces of fabric that I bought at Doughty's in Hereford on Saturday...the one with little dogs on has already been made into a 'V' cushion cover for the twins to have at home.

 

And as you can see they approve  :-)

Now I have a request for all my wonderful blogging friends out there in the world......I am looking for some bright blue cotton material with little yellow stars all over and some bright yellow material with thin blue stripes and I'm really struggling to find either.  Doughty's had more material than a girl could imagine but the only stripe anything like was what you can see on my table and it's not perfect cos it also has red, green and white stripes too  [ I'm such a fussy pants as you will all know by now  :-) ].  I only need a metre or two of each of them but I have searched the web and so far not been lucky.  Do any of you know of a stockist that has either of them?  Pleaseeeeeeeee

The only other pic I am including today is this one...

One of my daffodils my hubby bought me on Friday to brighten up your day as much as they did mine  :-)

He's such a darling  :-)

Hope you all have a great week and leave me a little 'hello' comment before popping over to Julia's blog to join in the WOYWW fun.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Good morning all my fellow WOYWWers. What a brilliant week it's been so far.

Monday started off with the excitement of the Gift draw over in the shop and I have to say the goodies couldn't have gone to a nicer or more deserving person. Gez has emailed me this morning to say the parcel has arrived safely and she is really enjoying opening all her parcels.

Tuesday started with the arrival of a very special parcel for little old me from Paula. She is such a special blogging friend and is going through a rough time so I feel really blessed to have been given such beautifully made goodies. Each part of my parcel was so specifically made with me and my job/life in mind. She is so thoughtful.

Now today is another special day...it's Wednesday. Every Wednesday is a special day thanks to Julia encouraging us all to go snooping round all the other crafting spaces. She appears to have introduced so many of us now and must be thanked for all the new made friendships. Why not pop over to her blog to check out all the other work spaces.



This is my desk today :-( More B******* curtains. [I don't like doing curtains much] I finished one pair of curtains yesterday afternoon and would have finished this pair too but I was disturbed by my friend who calls most Tues afternoons for a coffee.....the decision was Curtains or coffee with a friend....as you can see there was no competition there and the curtains will be done this morning.








I also have to put a new zip in this fleece jacket [postman will bring the new one this morning]. This is also not one of my fav jobs because the fleece stretches as soon as the old zip is removed and I will then have to ease it back into shape to make the new one fit....I can do it :-)







Rather nicer is the WOYT [whats on your table]. These are my latest set of dumfed cards. You can see the inspiration sat in my window in the photo above [next to that gorgeous card Paula made me :-) ]. I just love having the first daffodils open up in the house so thought my cards needed to echo the bright cheery faces.....Spring is on it's way wahooooooooo


Out of interest can you give me your opinion as to which set of cards you prefer...The 4 on the right are mounted on yellow felt and the 4 on the left are mounted on green felt. I'm interested to know which are the most popular so that would be really helpful.