WOYWW....

 It's been another busy week here at Sewing by Annie's.  We had the funeral of another family member last Thursday...there seems so many lately.  I'm determined to make every day count.

Both Jo and I have been doing more sewing for The Harry Johnson Trust...although this year is going to be a little different.  The charity usually has a couple of craft stalls but, because of extra family commitments, they wont be having them this year so I have said I will put our crafts out in my sewing room and hope to sell some to my customers so we can give the money to them.

I've made a batch of Christmas coasters [40 in total] and these are now tied into 10 sets of 4 coasters.

I love all the different tartans.

I next had another idea and cut out lots of these....Can you guess what they might be?

Did you guess right?  They are tiny popper purses that will each hold a a £1 coin or shopping token and made into key rings so that you always have one when you need it.

I have a special Autumn sale on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page...there is 10% off for the first 10 to order their Memory bears and this is the first to take up the offer.

It's even more special for me because this customer has already previously ordered 10 other bears and this one is a school bear for the school I went to as a little one.

The last thing I have to share with you this week is an idea I saw on Pinterest.  I never like to throw anything away so I have used the narrow ends of some ties I had left to make these 8 into key rings.

That's all for this week.  Today I will be working on a bridesmaid dress that arrived last thing yesterday and then I plan to make some Christmas gnomes using the paterns Jan sent me through the post....thanks Jan.

Hope you're all well and happy.  I will pop by to say hello ASAP but please be patient with me.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 It's a little cooler for me this week thankfully because my customers have been coming fast and furious.

I have...

• Shortened 2 layers on a stunning long, bright pink maternity dress
• Shortened another dress
• Took a dress up on the shoulders
• Shortened 6 pairs of trousers
• Took in a pair of trousers on the waist and seat and made...

... another lovely school memory bear.

And it's only Wednesday!!

I've been keeping busy as you can see :-)

Two of my customers this week were pregnant so my midwifery skills are never wasted :-)

Saturday I was treated to a lovely afternoon lunch by Michelle [our eldest daughter].  We had a lovely time together and even managed to pop into the two fabric shops in town while we were out....I just might have bought a few fat quarters while we were there :-)

What a treat. 😍😍😍

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you've have had a lovely week too.  I will pop over to see what you've been up to ASAP.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

 Here we are at another catch up with our creative friends to see what they have been busy with this week.  If you want to know more then please pop over to Sarah's Craft Shed for details and why not join in the fun?

I've had a busy week with a steady flow of customers.  I've....

• Shortened 7 pair of trousers
• Let one pair of trousers down for a very tall young man
• Put a new zip in a pair of jeans
• Shortened the straps on a Bridesmaid dress [made more difficult because the straps had frills]
• Plus I have made this gorgeous Mamory Bear...

It's made to give the groom-to-be and is made from his Nan's top, his shirt he wore for his first job and on the back is a panel from his first child's babygro....lots of very special memories.

That's all from me for now.  This little bear has brought my numbers up to 990 so I just need to make 10 more now to reach my 1000...and I have 9 on their way very soon :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 It's been a busier week here at Sewing by Annie's.  I've took in several pairs of trousers and shortened them and I altered the shoulders on a posh frock for a Mother of the Groom.

I have also made this very special Memory Bear made from a wedding dress.  The dress had been cut up for several different projects but thankfully there was enough to make a bear from and the front of the bear was made from the front panel off the dress.  It was rather tricky to make but it was worth the effort because my customer loved it.

In my free time I have managed to make these 12 popper purses for the charity and then.....

.....I used some of the new fabrics that I may have bought on Saturday while we were on a little adventure in Shrewsbury.

I made 7 little carrot bags that are now waiting for some chocolate mini eggs to fill them.

I'm sure these will sell well for the charity.

That's all from me for this week.  I do have more trousers to alter today so I will do my best to pay you a visit in between my jobs.  

I believe Neet is now back home so I hope she is feeling much better now.  Sending her lots of love.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Here we are at my last working week before Christmas and I've made another gorgeous Memory bear [and I have to say it's one of my favourites].  This is number 981 so only another 19 and I will reach my 1000.😄😄😄

It's such a pretty bear and is made from tiny,  first sized babygros...so really happy memories which is a lovely way to finish before Christmas.

I have so many really lovely customers and one of them brought me these gorgeous flowers on Monday and I felt I should share them with you.

We went to a craft fair at our local Hospice on Sunday....it's one we often go to for a coffee and do our best to support them.  I bought some raffle tickets and was lucky enough to win this gorgeous hamper....I feel so lucky.

Whilst we were at the craft fair we saw some little Christmas trees made from drift wood.  I have had a bag full of drift wood for years and just knew that one day I would find something to make with it.

Yesterday my darling hubby and I worked together for a couple of hours to make this little tree and it's made a lovely place for my Christmas mice to hang.

I plan to do some sorting/cleaning in my sewing room over the Christmas break....but who knows if it will happen :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Hello all.  The weeks seem to be flying by.  I'm being kept busy with sewing and am managing some sewing for pleasure in between jobs.

 

This is the latest bear I've made...he's made from the 4 favourite jumpers worn by a much loved Great Grandad [two on the front and 2 on the back] and he brings my numbers up to 980...and I have more on their way :-)

I've been making little mice and have now completed these 7....each one has a little hanger so they can go on a Christmas tree.

I saw some tree decorations made from an old wooden cotton reel and thought I'd have a go.  I rather like how this one has turned out...what do you think?

That's all from me for today.  I will do my best to pop over to yours when I can and will just leave you with this.

Hugs,

Annie x

If only :-)

WOYWW...

 Hello all.  Here we are at my favourite day of the week again.  I love seeing how everyone is keeping busy in the lead up to Christmas.

I've been making more tags for the charity I support...I loved this set because they are sparkly and simply made.

These are Christmas tags....probably for next year now.

I'm still making special Memory bears...this one is to be used as a mascot for a charity and has used their old badges and the newly designed badge.

When I get time I have to update my bear folder but I do know I've made over 970 now :-) :-)

That's all from me for this week so 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.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 It's been a lovely week here at Sewing by Annie's.  

I made this lovely Memory bear in memory of Bruno a beloved boxer dog that had died leaving his owner with a huge hole in her life.  I made the bear from his favourite blankets and it will be going away on holiday with them in place of Bruno.

I can now share with you these pictures I have been working on.  They are for my son for when he sets up his new home.  They are rather better in real life because the glass on the pictures caused glare in the photos.

If you can read them you will see that they are all little sayings with special meanings...the one on the bottom right says 'Love you to the back and moon' which is something Louie says :-)

That's all from me for today.  I will do my best to call by on as many as I can to see what you've all been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at another Wednesday when we link up over at Sarah's to see what our friends are busy with each week....Please feel welcome to join in the fun.

So?  What is on my desk this week?

I made myself a new needle case because my old one has gone missing [holding all the special needles I use for my bear making!!].  I really hate to lose anything especially things I rely on so much...I've turned my sewing room upside down to look for it and it's nowhere to be found...my sewing room has had a good sort out though :-)

This is the first Memory bear made for 2025.  I made it for the school Shell teaches at as a gift and so far I have had two orders because of it :-)

The other thing I am able to share with you is my new little pupil, Izzy.  She had a new sewing machine for Christmas and her mummy asked if I would give her a few lessons with it.  She came for her first lesson on Monday and is really keen and eager to learn....I think she will go far.  During her hour with me she made herself a glasses case and learnt lots of new techniques [especially to slow down a little when she's sewing!!].

She then went home and made herself the little mouse from instructions on Utube and popped back in the afternoon to show me...I was speachless because she had done a really lovely job of making it....I'm so proud of her.

That's all from me for this week.  I will do my best to pop round to visit you as soon as I am able.  Have a great week all.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

 It's certainly been a different sort of week for me.....I've taken on new staff :-) Oh and also it's my birthday today :-) :-)

We had the weekend away in the caravan to visit the breeder that we bought Milly from because we knew  she had a litter of pups due to go to their new homes in December.  When we got there she had two pups that were 12 weeks old and ready now...one little girl and one little boy....so meet Peggy.

She is simply adorable...it was almost as if it was meant to happen :-) :-) :-)

There just might be more photos on Friday.

I have had time to make this Memory cushion for a customer in memory of her dad......the pocket on the front is to put her phone or the remote control in.

The dog breeder had recently lost her grandfather so she gave me one of his shirts to make a Memory bear from....it's now winging its way to Doncaster.....I hope it brings her a lot of comfort.

That's all I have to share with you this week.  I have a feeling my day today is going to be a busy one because I have 5 customers coming [it's always the way when I've had a few days away] and of course there is the new member of staff to train up :-)

I will do my best to call by to say hello but it may take a little longer today so please be patient.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at another catch up with out creative friends around the world to see what they have on their desks this week.  It's such a lovely friendly group so if you're tempted why not join in the fun?  Just pop over to Sarah's Craft Shed where you will find out more details.

I've had another lovely week with sewing and have a couple of things to share with you...

I've been looking through my stash of fabrics and 'found' a bag of tired/old jeans one of my customers gave me.  I wasn't feeling very enthusiastic about cutting them up to make bags with them so I used a piece off 4 of the trouser legs and made this lovely little bear.  I wasn't sure how easy denim would be to use but I rather love how he turned out....what do you think?

I wasn't feeling very creative this week so I needed some mindless sewing to do.  I decided that, as I gave my last two quilts to the charity, that I would make another strip quilt....It's such a lovely way to use up fabrics that are left over from other projects.

It's nearly finished now...I just need do stitch the border now :-)

That's all I have to share this week.  I hope you've had a great week.  I will do my best to pop over to see what you've been up to.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Hello all.  Wednesday is the day we join in the fun of checking out all the creative desks of our friends around the world...and all are welcome to join in.  Just pop over to Sarah's blog at Sarah's Craft Shed to check out details and join in the fun.

I've had another busy week here at Sewing by Annie's.  Sally from Harry Johnson's Trust called in on Saturday to collect all the things I'd made for their up and coming craft sales so my desks were emptied...and she really loved all the things I'd made....so I have been working on making more in between my customer's sewing....I never like to sit idle.

I appliqued and machine embroidered covers for 10 shopping list sized books...I love the crazy frogs best.

I made 6 lengths of bunting...10 flags and approximately 2 metre length each.

I've made another school Memory Bear....I love purple and I think the lilac ribbon and buttons are lovely on this one.

I also learnt an important lesson....do not drop your sharp pointy ended scissors off your work surface onto your toe!!!  It really hurt and bled lots.....I will be more careful in the future.

That's me for this week.  I hope you will leave me a little message so I know you've called by and I will pop over to yours as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 What a week that was!!!  I not only cleared all the sewing I shared with you last week but I cleared all that was waiting on my to do rail and had another prom dress to shorten [this time there was 6 layers and one of them was 14 metres long!!] and I had to take it up on a shoulders [and they were heavily beaded so a tricky job!!].   I have also had a bridesmaid's dress that I had to shorten and take in and a pair of trousers that I had to shorten....life here is never boring :-)

 

I also made this little school Memory bear....this is the second one I've made for the end of this school year.  I do expect more orders before the end of term and they will probably arrive at once lol.

In between my sewing jobs I am making lots of bunting flags for the 10th year celebrations for the Harry Johnson Trust.  It's 10years since little Harry died and there will be several celebrations including one in a very large marquee that they want bunting for.....lots of it.  I have already cut out and made over 100 flags so will see how much bunting that makes. :-)

Thanks for calling by.  If you leave me a little message so I know you've called in I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what you've been up to.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 I was missing last week.  We had gone of the first adventure in our caravan of 2024...there are details/pics in my Friday post if you'd like to see more.

On my desk this week are the, now finished, army of frogs for the H J Trust...

I hope they all do well in fighting the battle against cancer in children.

I've had my first order for a school leavers Memory bear for this school year....and have another one coming this week....I wonder how many I will get this year?

In between all the jobs I've done for my customers I have also made this lovely Alphabet wall hanging....I will be selling this to raise funds for the charity.

I'm sure it will look lovely hanging on the wall in a baby's nursery.

I hope you will leave me a little message so I know you've called in and I will pop over to your blog to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 I've not had a lot of customers this week....I guess many are on their holidays....so I have been using my time well by sewing for the charity I support.

I loved making the rag doll so much that I decided to make another one....I try to make each one different but have enjoyed making each one.

Harry Johnson's mum, Sally, called in to collect the sewing I had ready for her this week and was really pleased with the quilt and the two rag dolls so, as she was having a stall at Vron Gate show last Saturday, she said she would take the quilt and one of the rag dolls there with her and keep the other rag doll for the Minsterley Show.

So I made her another quilt to take with the second rag doll to Minsterley show.  I am really loving dipping into the gifted fabrics and have already sorted out another batch of fabrics to make another quilt....I'm on a roll :-)

Please note my assistant isn't naked behind the quilt :-) :-)

Amongst the gifted fabrics were lots of ready cut squares ready to patchwork so I have been doing some random patchwork with them and plan to make 3 cushions with it....they are all really good quality fabrics so have been lovely to sew with.

Just so you know, I have had some sewing for my customers.  This is a lovely School Memory Bear for a school that I haven't made one for before and it brings my number of schools up to 39 now.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today and will 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

WOYWW...

 As promised last week I'm giving you the answer to my puzzle.

If you didn't see last week here is the tool I was using and wondered if any of you would guess what I use it for....and most of you had a guess but none of you actually got it right. My Dad made it for me so it comes out like a much loved friend and I have really enjoyed using it.

Firstly I wind it with wool [so yes some you got that bit right] then I remove the wooden bit which is really used as a spacer to keep the metal prongs the same distance apart.

I then sew securely up the centre of the wound wool and then remove it from the frame..... and make 3 more lengths of  loopy wool.

The lengths of loopy wool then get stitched firmly in rounds onto the rag dolls head. 

 I used to make lots of dolls like this when our children were small so I have really enjoyed making this one....it's for a 'Name the doll' money maker for The Harry Johnson Trust.

She then got a face sewn on and a pair of pants made for her.....a girl needs pretty pants doesn't she?

To finish off I made her a pretty matching dress and a pair of shoes.

I've printed off a chart with 100 girls names on it and they will be sold for £2 a guess so she will raise lots of money for the cause.  She will be at Minsterley show on the Harry Johnson stand.

The other thing I have to share is another school Memory bear.....I have another 5 Memory bears coming some time this week too.

Thanks for calling by.  If you leave me a little message  I will pop over to yours to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x