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...

 Another week has passed and we are creeping [at a very fast pace] towards Christmas.  I think everyone is getting Memory bear/characters for Christmas....and I'm making them!!

I have also shortened several pairs of trousers, replaced a few zips and even had a beautiful long navy dress to shorten this week....but mostly its been Memory bear/character making...

This was the little bear I made from the fairisle jumper that was on my desk last week...everyone likes how this one has turned out.

These were the next ones that were sat waiting to be made last week...These were for a returning customer from London who's daughter lives near me.  Her mum is spreading the word amongst her friends in London and I am to expect more orders from them after Christmas. :-)

I was then asked to make two different little Memory dogs from a dog's blanket.  The little dog had been put to sleep aged 12 years old and had been a big part of the family so there were lots of tears when deciding how she wanted these making.

The next ones I was asked to make were for another returning customer...a Memory Dog, Memory Elephant and a Memory bear...all made from a loved ones fluffy dressing gowns.

The last ones I have to share with you this week are for a family member to give in memory of their Nan who died this year...It's always special to make Memory bears when it's someone I have special memories of too.

When I get time I need to do an up to date count of all I've made because I've made so many lately and I've not managed to put their photos in my folder yet.

As you can see I have been really busy this week and I have more sewing jobs waiting on my desk for today and another bear on it's way soon too.....I think I will be ready for my Christmas break now :-)

I will do my best to pop round as many desk as I can when I can but until then I hope you're all having fun.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at our weekly catch up with our creative friends from all round the world....have I mentioned that it's my favourite day of the week?

I'm not sure my feet have touched the ground since we were here last week and last week ended on a high...

I was asked to make a Memory elephant in memory of a life long school friend.  The clothes that came for me to make it from lended themselves to a really special elephant.  The lady it was in memory of loved her costume jewellery and the centre of one of her neclaces fit across the front to perfection.....I think this has to be up there with my favourites.

I've even managed to find a little time to make the 9 squares for my next Fidgety quilt....just got to find time to make them up into a quilt now :-)

Phoebe and Lulu have spent some time sewing this week.

Lulu made herself a Minion pincushion.

Phoebe made herself a new hair scrunchie.

I get such a thrill knowing they choose to spend time using their sewing machine and creating.

That's all from me for today.  I will do my best to pop over to all I can.  I hope you're all well and finding time to be happy creating something special.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all and happy Wednesday to each and every one of you.  I have a couple of pics to share with you today and a mystery.....

I have another couple of ATCs to share with you from the swap..

Many thanks to Neet and Sylvia....I just love them all.

I've two more Memory characters to share with you today...this time an elephant and a cat made in memory of a much loved mum.

I always love how different they all turn out made from all the different items of clothing I am brought.

I've been busy having creative fun with lots of little pieces of fabric and thought you'd like to see how it's turned out so far....it's really a masterboard to cut up at some point but I loved the effect of them all together.

Now here's your mystery....we went to Ikea yesterday and this is the tray I bought [two of them actually and maybe a few more bits fell into our bag too].

What do you think it will be? The sticks are a clue.

I have a mother-of-the-bride and two prom dresses coming for fittings today but will visit you as soon as I'm able to.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 The week's are flying by and it will soon be our 12th Anniversary....12 wonderful years of fun and friendship and the time has simply flown by.  I've made about 20 ATCs to swap with anyone wanting and Jo and I will be posting ours together so you will get two for one to save on posting.  We would very much like it if you will do the same in return....it really doesn't matter which of us you post to as we never fight and promise to share nicely 😄😄😄

On my desk today is....

A few more cards I've made with the latest watercolour painting I've done....I rather like these and each time I play I can see a little improvement now 😄

Since last week I've made this green Memory Monkey using a favourite dress.

This little Memory Elephant was made using a Grandma's fleecy tops and he's turned out rather cuddly.

This Memory Cushion cover was made using a much loved wife's favourite jumpers and the last scarf she wore with her favourite brooch pinned in the front.

I really enjoy the challenges I'm given to make exactly what my customers are wanting and seeing the joy on their faces when they come to collect them/

That's all from me for today.  If you're wanting to swap ATC's on the 19th please let either Jo or I know and make sure we have your details for posting please.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Yes, another week has flown by and here we are at my favourite day of the week when we share our desks and what we have been busy with over the last week with our creative friends from all around the world...if you want to know more then pop over to The Stamping Ground where our wonderful Queen of snoop, Julia, will have details of how you can join in the fun.

Right I will get straight down to what's on my desk today.  

As this is the only work I have had all week I have been doing lots more sewing for pleasure.

This little Memory Elephant has gone to his new home near Welshpool now.

Meet Freddie Badger.  I've made him a smart grandad style shirt and he is now wearing the dungarees you saw Reynard Fox wearing last week because....

....Reynard Fox is now wearing a rather smart pair of cord breeches and I have a shirt all ready cut out for him so may well be making that this morning.

Meet Hugh Dog....no clothes as yet but he will get some.  He was really tricky to make...I actually felt a degree in sewing was needed to get him to look right :-)

Finally [for today at least] meet Daisy sheep.  She was so much fun to make....I'm thinking of making wigs like this for all that need them :-)

I'm having so much fun making Luna Lapin's friends and am really glad to have them to keep me smiling. Phoebe [my eldest granddaughter] What'sApps me every night and loves to see what I'm making next...she's my driving force :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Oh wow these week's seem to fly by when your're busy don't they?  I will quickly run through my week and what's been filling my desks...

It's been another busy week making special memories for some very special people....I'm so blessed to be trusted with special items of clothing to make the bears and to be taken into the hearts of each and every one of them when they share who the bears are being made in memory of.

Since last Wednesday I have been pretty rough with my head cold/cough returning...I seem to hear of so many having this happen to them....and now I would really like to be free of it all.

While I dosed myself up with paracetamol and rested/slept over the weekend I managed to make rabbit number 6 ....here he is sitting with his cousins on my desk while he waits for me to find time to make him some clothes.

You might notice that rabbit number 5 is now wearing trousers and a matching lined waistcoat but is still waiting for his shirt.

And finally you might like to see why I do what I do.  This was written by one of my latest customers that I made several Memory characters for.  She is only 18 years old but such a lovely young lady and this was part of a post she put on her Facebook page....it reduced me to tears.  Her Grandma must have been so very proud of her.

Thanks for popping by today.  I must say sorry to a couple who visited here last week that I didn't manage to pay a return visit to ....I will aim to do better this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Oh what a week I've had here at Sewing by Annie's.  I shared my pic of my boy rabbit on Friday if you'd like to see him but since then I've not had spare time for rabbit making because...

• at 8.30am on Friday I had a customer with clothing to make 3 Memory bears out of
• at 9.30am on Friday I had a customer with lots of different items of clothing wanting me to make 2 Memory Elephants, a Memory cat and 2 Memory bears and
• at 10.30 I had yet another customer with several items of clothing wanting me to make 2 Memory bears and 3 Memory cats!!!

As the saying goes it never rains but it pours.

The first 3 Memory bears were easy as they were to be made using a pair of moleskin trousers so nice to use and no interfacing needed and here they are....

 The other 10 Memory characters were all to be different with special requests as to what fabric goes where on which particular character and every item of fabric required backing with interfacing so that meant I had to cut out.....

• 80 body panels  [each of the 10 needed 4 body panels and each one needed interfacing backing]
• 48 ear panels  [6 characters required ears so front and back of each ear plus interfacing for them all]
• 16 tail panels  [4 cats needed tails plus interfacing]
• 2 elephants have plaited tails

I can never guarantee that I wont get the same through my door on my next working day so I spent all weekend getting my head around which panel was to be in which fabric [right or left or front or back] and I carefully cut them all out and put them ready to start sewing Monday morning....

the first 5 lined up by my sewing machine and...

....the other 5 all cut out and lined up on my cutting station desk.

These will be even more challenging as most of the fabrics are fleecy and fluffy plus these 5 all have to have labels hanging around their necks with 'For ever in my heart' machine embroidered on.

And just so you know I've been kept busy here are the first 5 now completed [ done on Monday].

Of course I don't work Tuesdays with having our little visitor here so the other 5 will hopefully be made today so it will be another busy day head down sewing for me.....of course the streaming head cold with earache that I now have really doesn't help me does it?

I will do my best to pop over to visit you at some point but I may be a little late this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

You will all know that I love a challenge and this week I've been asked to get designing. [Sorry if you've already seen them].

On Sunday night I was asked if I could make a Memory Elephant....of course I could was my reply and Monday morning I got my roll of brown paper out and made a pattern for an Elephant and then of course went on to test it out and hey presto.....

....meet my new Memory Elephant.  At lunchtime I uploaded his picture on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page to introduce him with the other characters I make and was then asked if I made a Memory Monkey so I then had challenge number two.....

.....more brown paper cutting and hey presto by the end of the day I had made.....

....Memory Monkey....and he has been shared on my Facebook page yesterday to much excitement.  I have a feeling he's going to be very popular.  So now along side my Memory Bears I now offer a Memory Dog, a Memory Cat, a Memory Rabbit, a Memory Elephant and a Memory Monkey....and I love them all :-)

The other little share I have today is this one...

Here's the girls sat crossed legged on the floor on Saturday enjoying their knitting.  They can almost knit unaided now and are slowly progressing with their first knitted square that we are going to make into a little bunny....it gives me so much pleasure passing on my skills to the next generation and they really love spending time with me so it's def a win win situation.
Hugs,
Annie x