WOYWW...

 I've had a busy week one way or another. I always write my WOYWW post on a Tuesday and at this moment in time Gina is progressing well in labour...eventually! She was admitted to hospital on Sunday with a high blood pressure which was thankfully lowered/controlled with meds for her to go into labour.  I promise to Update if there's any more news so watch this space....

I’m thrilled to say that Louie Oliver arrived safely  at 7.37 last night weighing 7lb 15oz......more to follow on Friday 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

I've had another busy week with bridesmaid's dresses, prom dresses etc etc but have also made this...

It's a snuggle cushion with a pocket on the one side that I have put reading and activity books in for Theo....my idea is that he can snuggle up with Gina when she feeds the baby.

The other thing I have to share with you is my gorgeous box of sewing threads that came with my new industrial machine....I'm guessing it's like a new box of pens to most of you....I'm excited and will probably admire them for a while before I use any lol

I actually needed a pale turquoise green thread for a job on a skirt and there wasn't the right colour thread in this box.....or my drawer full of threads!!!

That's all from me for today my friends.  To be honest I've spent the last few days running on adrenaline with very little sleep and yesterday was spent looking after 4 of our 6 grandchildren....it's what a day off is meant for isn't it?  :-) :-)

I hope to catch up with as many of you that I can....but it may take me a while to get there.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all.  It's been another busy week for me but the sun has been shining and the bees are buzzing.  The birds are singing and the garden is full of beautiful Spring flowers...what's not to love?

I have a couple of photos to share with you today...

The quilt cover you saw on my desk last week has now been made into 2 Memory bears and a Memory cushion cover...Superman has never looked so good eh?

My next challenge was this Memory bear.  It is made from a tie dyed cushion cover that a young man made at school and there was just enough fabric to cut the 4 panels out.  It was quite a challenge and I had to turn my pattern pieces round several times to make them fit.

The last, but by no means least, photo I'm sharing with you today is this little bear Lulu designed and made herself.  I love that she is willing to have a go [we all started there] and love what she achieved.

I have another bridesmaid's dress fitting today and yet another coming tomorrow [for different weddings] so I will be kept busy but if you leave me a message so I know you've called by I will do my best to pop over to yours when I get a minute.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Here we are at our Wednesday catch up with our friends around the world....we all 'show and tell' our desks and what we've been up to in the week.  Feel free to join in if you want....its a lot of fun each week.  Check out Julia's blog at Stamping Ground for more details.

Here's a few quick snaps of my week.....

Last weekend I was given bags full of yumminess from my sister-in-law, who no longer sews, and is emptying their old house to sell.  There was lots of fabric, buttons, lace, ribbons, trimmings, elastic, velcro etc and my desk is full of lots of it.....I am sorting it into bags to share it with the family.....It's all far too good to keep it all to myself.

On Sunday I received a bag full of special clothing with the request that I made 4 Memory bears so I started to make them Monday and finished them yesterday.

On Monday I received this quilt cover that belonged to a special young man who died far too young and I've been asked to make 2 Memory bears and a Memory cushion cover with it for family members.....this is what I will be busy with today and...

....this is the first of many bridesmaids dresses that I have to shorten for a wedding that is coming up in April...I fitted this one on Monday and I have appointments for at least 2 others all ready booked in [I'm just not sure how many there will be in total yet].

The first job I need to do this morning is to shorten a pair of trousers for a lady who is picking them up later so I'd better get a wiggle on eh?

I hope you've all had a good week.  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 all been up to ASAP.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 It's been one of those weeks to really try your patience for me this week....

• I printed off the sentiments chosen by the customer [this is important later] for the fronts of the 9 Memory cushion covers...I have to iron bond-a-web onto the back of fabric and cut it out A4 size for it to go through the printer.
• I cut out the off white hearts and the larger hearts and bond-a-webbed the backs.
• I made up the toppers for the fronts of each of the 9 cushions using machine embroidery.
• I cut out the cushion covers....each one was to have the sleeves accross the front as a hug.

Here are the 9 toppers all made up

I made up the 9 cushion covers and sent their photo to my customer for approval.

I also made her a Memory bear out of the same fabric as the large hearts on the cushion toppers....isn't he gorgeous?

Several days later [and before collection] she messaged me to say her Sister-in-law had noticed a mistake on the sentiment!!   Did you notice it?  None of us had and neither had my customer but of course it had to be right so I had to correct it.

• I had to unpick the machine embroidered stitch all round them, a stitch at a time on all 9, reprint it and replace it.  Of course it's not so easy to do when the cushion covers are all made up and there were times when the air got a little blue but I did it.  I don't always get everything right but lesson learnt now!!

I now have jobs lining up on my desk for today...

• The cot quilt is now all planned and the material to make is is all ready to cut out.
• I have 4 Memory bears to make and each one is to have a personalised label around his neck.
• I have 21 rainbow flags cut out ready to make new bunting for Theo's bedroom.

So that's all from me for this week....please leave me a little message and 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's this? I'm posting two Wednesdays in a row?  Hehe....don't worry cos there's another adventure just around the corner....we are determined to get the most out of life while we can.

On my desk today is...

These are the, now completed 8 Memory cushion covers I started last week.  I have really enjoyed making these.  There were a few special requests and it's always really lovely working with my customers wishes.

I have also shortened a posh frock and steamed it for a special wedding and shortened a blouse for another customer.

For the most observant amongst you, yes that is birthday wrapping paper at the back because yesterday was my much older sister's BIG birthday....Happy Birthday Jo....Life just wouldn't be the same without you.  Love you lots xxxx

Finally here's the latest update from my Granddaughters.  Most nights after school they are enjoying playing on their sewing machine now and I am really enjoying their updates as to what they make next....this week they have been designing and making their dollies dresses.....not sure who they take after :-)

Thanks for calling by.  please leave me a little message and I will call by at yours to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

I was MIA again last Wednesday...we were off on another adventure in our motor home and had no internet so I was unable to join in the Wednesday fun....I did put a few pics on my Friday post if you'd like to know where I was. 

I'm back in full on sewing mode this week.  My desks are full to overflowing with a gentleman's shirts that I am cutting up and making into 8 Memory cushion covers.  I started Monday morning by patching and darning a pair of trousers for my son and then had a customer needing 2 pair of trousers shortening so I did those before I made a start with the cushion covers.

I have cut the backs off the shirts to use for the patchworked fronts of the cushion covers and sorted them into colour ways.

I've cut out the 8 backs of the cushion covers using the button fronts of the shirts as the fastenings.

I've now made the first 3 cushion covers using the items that my customer requested so will be working on the other 5 today.

As most of you will know I make a Christmas tree decoration for each of my Grandchildren [plus a few extras] every year and this year I've made pigs in blankets.  I've really loved making them while I was rather more quiet workwise and just know they will cause a chuckle or two.

If anyone wants to make a few I have a pattern printed out ready.

The last thing I'm sharing with you this week is this lovely collage of Amy's three.  Both Phoebe and Lulu have sewing lessons at school so Amy asked me to see if there were any good basic sewing machines suitable for the children.

I've been looking for quite a while and this week I found them a real bargain...the lady that owned this lovely little Singer machine had bought it on a whim and had only used it twice before packing it back in it's box so it was just like new.

All three of the children had a lesson on it here on Sunday afternoon and could manage it prefectly.

As you can see the girls then delved into my scrap fabric box and have already made their dolls some new bedding.....unaided :-)

As you can probably tell I'm buzzing here this week.  I love to be kept busy with my sewing and had such a thrill to see just how much the next generation took to their new sewing machine.  I hope you've all had a great week too.  I will do my best to pop round as many of you that I can although on Friday I did have trouble leaving comments on some of the blogs ...I did visit and read them all.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 It's been another busy week for me with sewing thankfully and our little wounded soldier had his arm x-rayed on Monday and it appears to be healing well.  He's pretty frustrated with not being able to use his arm and having to limit his activities but so far so good.[....I'm writing this on Monday afternoon because Theo will be here for a long day Tuesday so we will have to find as many activities we can to occupy him sitting down].

I've managed to finish the tiny felt bears I was making last week.

For those that didn't see it over on my Facebook page here's the Memory cushion cover I made this week.  It was made from a much loved Dad's favourite jumper....It was loved by so many and very many made really lovely comments about it.... that sort of gives me a warm, fuzzy glow.

I've been sorting out my buttons....I have so many and they are all colour sorted into jars but you can guarantee if I need 4 the same of any colour I will only have 3!!

Does anyone have any good suggestions as to what I can use them for?

The final photo I'm sharing today is of these three little Memory bears made from a much loved Dad's favourite cardigan.  It was a chunky knit, lined cardigan so one was made from the furry lining and the other two from the knitted fabric....very challenging to sew with but I'm really pleased with how they all turned out.

That's all from me for this week.  I will do my best to visit all I can but for some reason, known only to Mr Blogger, I have been unable to leave comments on some of the blogs I've visited.

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...

 Here we are at another Wednesday catch up with our creative friends around the world...I love my Wednesdays.  I've had a lovely week making Memory Cushion covers in memory of a very special dad using his favourite shirts....each one has a 'hug' using the sleeves.

I had one very happy customer and a lot of interest in having more orders.

Happy days :-)

The other thing I'm sharing with you today is the proof I had 'me time' over the long weekend.  I decided the best way to learn a few of the techniques of how to use my new set of Arteza pens was to cut a sheet of my watercolour paper into ATC sized pieces and have a play.  I am really loving my new painting pens and can see many more happy times ahead using them.

I may choose the best of them to use for the up and coming ATC anniversary swap so please email me at wipso2310@gmail.com if you'd like to swap.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at another Wednesday catch up with our creative friends all around the world by linking up over with Julia at The Stamping Ground.  I hope you have all enjoyed a slightly more relaxed Easter and have enjoyed at least a little sunshine.

I've managed a little me time and you will be pleased to see that my latest Luna Lapin friends have now been dressed....

Freya Fawn asked me to make her a sailor dress and I'm rather pleased with the results....So is Freya :-)

Foxy lady asked for a tie shoulder dress which was really easy to make and she was really thrilled with her dress.

I was then asked to make two memory cushion covers for one of my customers.  She explained how she wanted them to be with the sleeves to come across to tie at the front.   I did my best....they were both to be made from thick knitted cardigans so really not easy to sew and every cut edge had to be overlocked to stop the fraying.

The sleeves on this one were longer than the other one so easier to tie but both cardigans were very thick chunky knits so quite a challenge.

This is my desk this morning....I'm in the middle of making two gorgeous Memory bears to match the one I made a while back.  The first one was loved so much that my customer brought me the matching skirt to make two more for other family members. :-)

On my other desk is the parcel that arrived before Easter for me to make two more memory bears so as soon as I finish the other two this is what I will be doing today....I love keeping busy.....and always love my bear making.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today and will leave me a little comment so that I know you've called by.  I will do my best to call round to see what you're all doing as soon as I can.  Keep smiling and stay creative.

Hugs,

Annie x