WOYWW.....

It's been one of those weeks here for us....I will get my sad post out of the way first before sharing my desk if you don't mind.

On Saturday morning our little old dog Rocky was struggling to pee as if he had a wee infection so we took him to the vets with a carefully retrieved sample for the vet to test.  The sample showed no infection was present but on examination there was something amiss with his tummy.  She took a blood sample and the results weren't good...there were several excessively high levels, one of with indicated some sort of probable growth pressing on his bladder.  We booked him in for an xray on Monday morning but he was worse on Sunday and when we returned for the appointment on Monday it was decided that at nearly 13 he was too old to have surgery and we had to have him put to sleep.  We invest so much love with our pets and since we lost his sister he has followed me around everywhere I go so there is a huge space left now.  He was such a little character....here he is lying on his new bed.....lets hope he is now pain free and running free with his sister over that rainbow bridge.

Sorry to start off on a sad note but I do now have a little sewing job I did yesterday that I hope will make you smile.

When I arrived at silly o'clock for my twin duty yesterday morning Sam greeted me with..

' Nanny, do you remember the bug you made me when I was a baby?  It was like Lexi's taggy worm but was blue and spotty.  Well, I've lost it Nanny so can you please make me another one?'

I smiled because Lexi's wormy has always been a firm favourite and even had to be replaced when she mislaid it once [but of course no.2 was never quite the same and thankfully no.1 was found again].  Sam has never really played with his and none of us could really remember it.  Over breakfast Sam described it in great detail so I had to play detective to find a pic of the original....thank goodness for blogging eh?

I spent ages searching through old posts around the time I thought I'd made them and eventually found a pic....and guess what?

It was exactly how Sam described it  :-)

I then had to make a go at finding matching fabric to make another and luckily I found just enough to make this....

Meet Bertie bug number two.....he's rather smaller than the original as that was all the material I had left but I'm hoping when I tell him that he is a new baby bug that will do the job.  :-)

Thanks for calling by.  I hope I've left you smiling and you will leave me a little message so I know you've called by.  I will do my best to pop over to yours as soon as I am able.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Hello folks.  Here we are at another Wednesday....one of my favourite day's of the week when we all catch up with our crafty friends from all round the world by linking up over at Julia's.  It's so lovely to see what we have all been up to each week by checking out what's on everyone else's work desks.

Here's mine for this week....

To the one side and on my sewing machine is a table runner I'm making for my son and his wife for their Christmas table.

Isn't it a lovely tartan fabric?

Over the other side of my sewing room and on my overlocker is a very special dress that I am working on for a very talented lady called Picklelily.  She is a magician and children's entertainer.....please click on her link to find out more.  She was the entertainment at my Granddaughter's birthday party [and all the children really loved her] and while there we got chatting as in a previous life I used to work with a magician. :-)

I have two dresses to alter for her and some very special table cloths for when she enters a competition for children's entertainers in Blackpool early next year....of course I'm sworn to secrecy as to what I'm doing for her. ;-)

There is never a dull moment here at Sewing by Annie's.  Work is really picking up now and there is never two days the same......I'm buzzing.

I'm not the only one loving my new sewing room....as you can see Rocky loves to sit on his cushion by my door to keep me company and stand on guard and keep me safe  :-)

That's all from me for today.  Please leave me a little comment to let me know you've called by and I will do my best to return the favour.

Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 137

Hi  all.  Here we are at my catch up of the week full of smiles again.  If you'd like to join in then please just snap something of your week that's made you smile and link it up below any time between now and next Friday.  We have  a good number that join in every week now but if you can only join in now and then that's fine too....we can never have too many smiles and the world really is a better place when you smile.

Thanks to those that linked up last week.  I've chosen to feature Sam's post.  She always has a funny to share with us [ a little risque at times but they always make me smile and we are all adults here aren't we?].  Needless to say the sales of hats were reported to have gone up last week.  :-)  Thanks for making me smile Sam.

My smiles this week have been many as you can imagine with my new sewing room slowly coming together and having my wonderful family in my life.

I have set up my machine in my new room and yesterday I did my first [paid] sewing job in there.

I wanted a string of bunting to hang over the windows and door to the garden so I set to to make some after finishing my customer's sewing yesterday.

Once finished I hung it up across the wall cupboards....doesn't it look pretty?  It will look even better as window dressing.

It seems I'm not the only one to love my new sewing room.  Rocky loves being in there with me and enjoys standing looking out of the glass door to the garden.

Those that follow my blog will remember these two little munchkins being born and the joy they brought with them.

I love the way Lexi is holding her brother's arm in this pic taken while they were still in hospital soon after being born.

Well, those two little munchkins will be 4 on Sunday 20th and as you can see they still enjoy a cuddle.  They have a Disney Princess and Superhero birthday party planned on Saturday to celebrate so you will probably see a few more pics of them next week too.  :-)

I hope you have enjoyed my smiles and will now add your own by linking up below.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 131

Happy Friday to you all.  What a lovely lot of you joined in last week....we had so much to smile about :-)  Thank you to each and every one of you for helping to make the world a happier place to be.

I'm featuring Kate's post from last week.  Kate joins in almost every week and has so much to smile about her life over in Spain.  Last week she added a cartoon that really made me chuckle because since we had to have our one little dog put to sleep her brother has followed me from room to room and if I sit down he likes to sit as close to me as he can.....the cartoon could have been written/drawn with him in mind :-)  Thanks Kate for sharing it.

My smiles this week have been many and the first pic proves my point......

I had gone out into the garden to snap a few pics and the moment I sat down Rocky was sat at my side.....He's an old man now and sleeps a lot of the time.....that is until he hears me get up to move :-)

I thought you might like to share the flowers in our back garden at the mo so I've put them together as a collage for you.....so many of them have self-seeded and come free with our new home and each and every one of them makes me smile.

Here's a quick snap of the latest progress with the building....the footings have now been built and have been back filled.  Next week they are coming back to start the walls and will soon be coming to make a start on my sewing room 

 :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

My last pic is for all you gardening experts out there.  This is one of the plants we inherited and have waited to see what it might turn out to be when it came into bloom.....but now it has we have no idea what it is.

Do any of you know what it might be? [You should be able click on the pic if you want a closer look].

Thanks for popping over to share my smiles.  Please link yours up below and I will be over to see what has been making you smile as soon as I'm able.  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 123

Hi all.   Thanks so much to all of you who find something to link up that has made you smile in the week.....it really does make the world a happier place.

This week I'm sharing Judy's blog because she shared very special celebration pics of her Mum's up and coming 90th birthday.....let's all wish her a very Happy Birthday.

 I'm sure we all have weeks when finding a smile isn't so easy and other weeks that are full of smiles.....well this week has been one full to the rafters with smiles for me....I could fill a book :-)  

My smiles include....

• Special family times.....I know I have these every week and I really do know just how lucky I am to have my family close.....I'm blessed  :-)
• A special day out with my darling hubby on Sunday to watch T20 cricket at Worcester....I bet you didn't know how much I love cricket.  :-)
• On the way to Worcester we must have seen literally 100s of motor bikes [sorry no pic]
• On the bridge we walked across to get to the cricket ground we could see probably 30 beautiful swans  [sorry no pic]
• I've been enjoying more creative sewing this week using my most favourite fabrics....when sewing for special friends it's each to cut into the best fabrics :-)
• We are progressing well now with the plans to make a start with our building alterations...We have found a builder that we really like [he went to the same school as my hubby and his wife is an ex nurse like me and she trained at the same hospital....small world eh? :-) ].  He hopes to make a start by putting the new door and windows in the end of my new sewing room in about 3 weeks and then hopes to start our extension by the end of July......things are getting exciting now.  :-)

Of course those are just a few of my smiles and I do have just a couple of pics to share with you...

My little friend, Rocky, is never far from me these days.  He's just had a hair cut [me too :-) ] and this week I think he was doing his best to stop me sewing.  First he lay right in front of my industrial machine and kept lifting his head to look at me as if to say "What you going to do now Mum?"

But quickly realised I wasn't using that machine so he......

.....disappeared under my chair and came up between my knees :-)

When he's had his hair cut you can really see his big brown eyes and I have to admit I did give in to the pleading looks I was getting and quickly finished the job I was doing to spend some special time with my little friend.  :-)

My last show and tell this week are of two more of the latest flowers in our new back garden....Aren't they pretty?

There you go....just a few of my smiles to share with you but I really do hope they have made you smile too.  Please link your smiles up below and I will pop over to yours to see what has made you smile this week.  Hope it's a good one for you.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...week 120

Here we are at yet another Friday when I share my smiles with you and hopefully you will link up below and share your smiles with us too.

I'd like to thank those that joined in last week and am featuring my big sister's blog today.  We both really love our birds as you know but round here we really do have some strange ducks.  We have both seen ducks sitting on roofs but she was able to capture hers on camera.....quackers or what?....they certainly make us smile :-)

Once my eye recovered enough to not have me pacing the floor in pain [scroll down for a pic if you dare!] I was able to enjoy life again and have def had a week of smiles so here's what I'm sharing today with you.....

Firstly I'm sharing two gorgeous Azaleas that we have inherited in our new garden.....they are only little bushes but they are really covered in blooms and are being shown off by Rocky who insisted in photo bombing my picture....he's always at my side :-)

Next I'm sharing two of the loves in my life...my hubby and my son.  It always makes me smile to see them working together on a project. :-)

And here's the finished result of their labours....a new post and chain boundary around the side on the front of our new home....it just might stop people reversing over our new garden!!  :-)

Here's a collage of the wonderful day spent with the twins on Wednesday.  If you click to enlarge the pics you will see that the fun park was enjoyed by all :-)

We went to Erddig near Wrexham and had a wonderful morning so if you're close and want to amuse grandchildren it comes highly recommended.

And last but by no means least here's a pic of the latest visitor to my bird feeders.  If you click to get a closer look you may well be able to see that feeding on the peanuts is a little mouse!!  He was a cheeky little thing too cos he sat there happily for me snap a few pics from literally 3 foot from him through the window [hence the poor quality pic].  :-)

There is always something here to make me smile and I really hope it's made you smile too.  Please snap a pic or two of your smiles and link them up below.  I promise I will pay you a visit and choose the one that makes me smile most to feature on next week's posting.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 118

Hello folks.  Here we are at the end of another week and although it's not been my best week health wise [I have a chesty cough/cold] it's certainly been one full of smiles as always for me.....plus it really does do me good to spend a little time focusing on the good things in life.

Thanks to the five who joined in again last week.  I'm featuring Laura's gorgeous picture of English bluebells today.  The mystery plant in our new garden that we have waited patiently to see what develops has done so with disappointment....they were Spanish bluebells and, beautiful though they may be, they are more vigorous than our native species and can crossbreed with the native to create a fertile hybrid so have had to go. Hence why I was so thrilled to see Laura's English ones.....thanks for sharing them with us Laura.

I have several pics to share with your this week......

Firstly, as I have spent many hours resting in my chair during the last week I'm sharing a pic of one of my little busy robins that have been feeding their babies with the dried meal worms I have been putting in my window feeder for them.  They have become so tame and almost tap on the window now when the feeding tray is empty. :-)

My next pic is of my sewing companion.  Since his sister had to be put to sleep Rocky spends all day following me around and finding somewhere close to lie....guess he misses his sister.  This was the first time he had decided to actually lie between my feet while sewing and he really made me smile.

On Friday we had a visit from our daughter Amy and her three and here are my big school girls dancing to make me smile.

Their mummy also sent me this pic of them both last night at their swimming lesson with their new goggles on....love them to bits :-)

My final pic for this week is this one.  Shell saw an idea on Pinterest to make a mug kitchen so she found herself an old palette, a saw and some nails/screws and made this for the twins.  She also made them a black board and ta da....I'm certain there will be many many hours spent making mug mud pies through the summer.  :-) :-)









There you go.....I've shown you mine, now please get snapping and show me your happy moments.
If you link them below I will be over asap to see what you've got to smile about and you will be helping to make the world a happier place to be.
Hugs,
Annie x

WOYWW...

It's been a better week for us this week.  I've had my usual busy week with my family commitments but have also managed a bit of sewing too so that's what is on my desk today...

I've made a start at one of my new tops....it has 10 rows of pin tucks down the front and they take a while to get right so not something I rush.  The main body of the top is also put together now so I now just need to overlock the seams, put in the sleeves and collar and finish off and it will be job done.  :-)  Just 3 more to make then before I cut out my summer tops  :-)

I also know there will be some of you wondering how our last little dog, Rocky is getting on without his sister.  He spent several days wandering around looking for Wispa and was in need of lots of TLC so we booked him in for a pamper session on Friday and he has had a hair cut and manicure  :-)

We can now see his beautiful brown eyes again and he is really enjoying all the spoiling he's getting.

He's even pulled up one of the dog beds into my sewing room and is enjoying my company while I sew  :-)

Thanks for dropping by today.  If you leave me a little message to say you've called by I will do my best to call in at yours as soon as I get the chance.

Hugs,

 Annie x

This week's smiles....week 95

Happy Friday folk. It's been another busy week here at Sewing by Annie's and as always I have enjoyed lots of smiles.  Lots of you joined in last weeks smiles and I would like to thank you all for making the effort....it really does make the world a happier place.

I am featuring a blog this week that hit the spot with me.  You can imagine how many threads I have here to run my business but it never fails to make me smile when I see the gorgeous rainbow colours of a drawer of threads.  I'm sure if you pop over to Elizabeth's blog her neatly organised drawer will make you smile too.....thanks for sharing it Elizabeth.

My smiles include this pair this week...

Our two little cairn terriers Wispa and Rocky are sat keeping us company while my hubby fits boarding on our new shed floor...they are sitting close together on the first fitted board and I think they know where it's safest while the hammer and other tools are being swung around.  :-)

As you know these two always feature in my smiles because they give me so many reasons to be happy.

They are playing for the first time with our lego.  It's the big box of lego my children had when they were little so it gave me so much to smile about watching the twins learn what they could make with it.

This photo needs a little explanation....

The twins were watching a Father Christmas dvd where he goes away on his holidays before the big day.  He goes to France first but eats the French food and ends up with tummy ache so his next stop was Scotland.

Lexi was watching this very carefully and straight away said.." Scotland?  Oh Nanny that's where Meredith lives".

I asked who Meredith was and she searched her toy box and showed me this dolly....it's one of her Disney dolls but not one I knew so I googled it.  Meredith features in the film called Brave but she has never seen this film and it is set in the Scottish Highlands!!!  It's very easy to forget Lexi is only 3 and I have a feeling she has been here before.  :-)

My last smile I am sharing with you for this week is something Sam said at pre-school this week.  When I collected them the teacher called me in with a smile on her face.  She said she had been chatting to Sam while he was eating his lunch and mentioned that I would be along later to pick him up.  His reply was...."I love my Nanny,  she's a bit crazy you know!!!".....out of the mouths of babes as they say.  :-)

That's my smiles for this week.....I'm sure something here will have made you smile too so please share your smiles by linking them up below and I will pop over to yours when I get a minute.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...week 83

I'm back folks....and I'm full of smiles.  :-)

The move eventually happened and it went well thanks to the amazing job our removal firm did.  I've never seen men work like them.  Thanks guys. x

It took 10 full working days for us to be reconnected to the Internet and trust me when I say I REALLY missed you guys.  I hope you had lots to smile about in my absence and you will all link up your smiles below so we can all share your happy times.

I've had so much to smile about since we last got together and still feel as though I'm walking on cloud nine on a daily basis.  We have lots to do in our new home to make it ours but will enjoy the challenges ahead of us and I'm sure I will take you along for the ride with me.

So here's just a few snaps to show you a little of what's making me smile...

I've been painting my little Ikea drawers to match the curtains in my new sewing room....it's such fun setting up my new creative space.

:-) :-) :-)

The back garden is full of new floral treasures and these Japanese Anemones make me smile every time I look at them. :-)

If you click to enlarge this pic you will see that Rocky, our one cairn terrier, has really made himself at home and is sitting on one of our garden chairs in the sunshine. :-)

At the side of our bungalow was an 8 foot high, 8 foot wide dying conifer hedge that had been a constant irritation to our neighbours and took up so much of the space on the front of our garden that yesterday we had it taken out.  We have so much more light at the front of our little bungalow now and when the weeds die back we are clearing the area off, putting up a little wicket fence and making more parking space for cars to park.....I love the new outlook.  :-)

Well folks there are just a few of the things making me smile....how about you?  Please link yours below and leave me a little hello comment and I will pop over to yours to say hello.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Another week has gone and we creep even closer to Christmas....Most of my cards are now made, written and sent  :-)  It's been a busy week of festivities too. 

15 of us went on the Llangollen Santa train on Saturday.  

You should be able to click on the pics for a closer look if you'd like to......happy memories were made :-)

I have also been busy sewing and crafting this week.

These are 3 of the 5 little mice I made this week that are already on their way to a new home in Belgium as I type.  :-)

Some of you gave me inspiration last week for a new feltie but I bet you have 'no eye deer' what this is  :-) :-) :-)

Of course you just knew it was a little reindeer didn't you?  Here he is finished and he is now sitting on the feltie shelf over in the shop waiting for a new home for Christmas.

The last pic I have to share with your today is of Rocky and Wispa with their new hair cuts....yes of course their cushions have now been put by the radiator cos since they had their trims the weather has turned very cold here....it was -3 here this morning and guess what?

....our central heating boiler started throwing out black smoke Monday afternoon so the heating had to go off til it's fixed!!! Brrrrrrr

Well folks that's all from me for today.  Hope you have enjoyed your visit and are all well and happy and looking forward to Christmas now.  If you leave me a comment I will pop over to say hello in between my sewing jobs.  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

The morning after...

"Come on Girls. You've got to help me out with this one!"


So far so good as they say....but alas no Lottery cheque as yet.

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

A problem solving 20 minuter...

As some of you will know we have 3 little cairn terriers...one boy called Rocky and 2 girls called Skye and Wispa. I have to say none of them really like the postman but Rocky is my protector and he waits the other side of the door every morning until the post has been. We only live a few houses down from the post office and I'm certain he hears when the post vans start up their engines. I have always had to get to the mail as soon as possible because all 3 will, if left unattended, open the mail for me....and not always by just opening the tops!
A few years ago we invested in a cage to go on the back of the door and for a while this was sufficient to protect it's contents but just lately Rocky has learned that, if he's clever and can get hold of a corner of a letter that has poked through the cage, he can pull it through....a bit like a cheese grater at times though!
Of course one day soon the big Lottery win cheque will be coming through my letterbox so I decided I needed to do something about it so I can be sure to get to it first. I spent a little time debating what was best to do and remembered I still had some of the plastic covered table clothing left from covering the kitchen chairs and table. I measured carefully [As Nan always said..."measure twice cut once"] and made a lining for the cage. I cut a shape out of the back so the letters could get in and punched holes in the top to lace a ribbon through the top to hold it in place. Hey presto.....

I remain ever hopeful now that I will now get to my Lottery cheque before Rocky :-)
Bless him you wouldn't think butter would melt in his mouth would you?

Don't forget folks....ITS THE LAST DAY IN THE GIFT DRAW OVER IN THE SHOP.

My guard dogs...

Thought I'd introduce you to the old lady in our 'family'. This is Skye. She is an 11yr old Cairn terrier and such a character. She is sitting on the wall by the road waiting for 'the boss' to come home from work.

We have 3 Cairn terriers but this one came first. She was 5 before we decided she would like company and went to buy another. We paid a visit to the new litter of pups and having already decided that we wanted a little bitch we made our choice...Wispa. [Their mum's name was Cadbury so chocolate bar names seemed the obvious choice] Whilst there Rocky chose us. He sat on hubby's foot the whole time we were there. When we collected Wispa Rocky did the same again but our minds were made up...it was to be the little bitch. We took Wispa home and promised to ring the breeder 2 weeks later with an update. We had the 2 weeks settling in our newcomer and made the phone call. The rest of the litter had gone to their new homes all bar one....Yes you guessed it...Rocky. My other half insists I said he was to be put to sleep if no home was to be found but would I? :-) We jumped in the car and fetched our new little boy....he was half price after all!

Rocky enjoying some sun

They are all such different characters. Rocky is head of the pack [being the man], next in line is Skye [being the matriarch] and finally the under dog is Wispa. They even pee in order. Where Wispa goes Skye follows and finally Rocky has to leave his scent .

A typical submissive pose from Wispa

Wispa is quiet and submissive and a real darling who will play fetch all day but is the one who carries extra weight...life just isn't fair. Rocky is a real mummy's boy...he is kind, gentle and licky but lazy....he is happy to take the ball off Wispa when just 3 foot from you and pretend he has fetched it from the bottom of the garden. Skye watches the 'pups' [actually now much bigger than her and 6 yrs old] activities but prefers not to join in the ball fetching...that's for kids! She will still play like a puppy at times but has definitely slowed up and prefers to sit and watch.