WOYWW....

 Where do these weeks go?  It doesn't seem 5 mins since last Wednesday....I guess that's a sign that I've had a busy week.

I have...

• Made 5 peg bags....and sold two of them as soon as they were finished.
• Made 3 aprons  [ I have handed over the peg bags and aprons with the little frogs and another strip quilt to Harry Johnson Trust and forgot to snap them before they went ].
• Shortened a pair of jeans to make them into shorts
• Shortened 3 layers on the hems of a wedding dress and made and inserted panels under the arms to let them out [a very tricky job, needing a lot of patience but thankfully now finished].
• Shortened a dress and shortened the sleeves so it's now a short sleeved dress.
• and.....

I was asked to make some more hair scrunchies for the charity so I made 16.

I am still to make more glasses cases and some bags :-)

I had a good catch up with Sally who runs the Harry Johnson Trust on Saturday and it was good to find out what had sold and what she needed more of.

That's all from me for today.  I hope you're all fit, well and happy.  If you leave me a little message to say you've called in I will do my best to pay you a visit to see what's on your desk today.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Two weeks are never the same here at Sewing by Annie's.  This week I've been under demand for my services and with having to close for all these Bank holidays there just aren't enough hours in my days so I allowed a young lady come for a Wedding dress fitting yesterday, on my day off, and spent the day altering her dress and also removed the pockets from a pair of linen trousers because my customer didn't like the way they showed through.

I have also made two memory bears, put a new zip in a waterproof jacket and repaired a tear in a dress....I do love the variety that comes through my door.

I love to see my rail full....especially when all the jobs on there are done and just waiting for collection :-)

This little bear will be going to sit at the head of a table at a Wedding where Grandad would have sat.....I love how special the little bears I make are.

This little bear is made from a Dad's shirts and is being given to a special needs young man on his birthday.

That just about sums up my week so far but I have a Prom dress coming today and have 4 more Memory bears coming before the end of the week too....It's all go here and I'm loving the buzz

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 What a difference a day makes!!!!

I had no customers all last week but on Saturday morning I had messages from 7 customers and filled in my diary for this week with...

• A bride and two bridesmaids for fittings on Friday
• Another bride for her fitting on Wednesday followed by
• 2 memory bears coming Wednesday afternoon, one of which is wanted for  Mother's day
• Thursday morning a further 4 memory bears to make from babygros
• another customer was dropping off her wedding dress on Monday afternoon to have a memory bear made from it....and two more messaged me wanting memory blankets making [which I don't do !]

To say I had a busy week ahead of me was an understatement!!!

Saturday night I started with a head cold and felt pretty rough all day Sunday but, after a burning up all Sunday night I did a Covid test and guess what? Yes it was positive so I had to contact all my customers to let them know.  I would be unable to do any of the wedding fittings but the items fo the Memory bears would still be dropped off for me to make them as and when I felt well enough.

So the only thing I have to share with you today is this gorgeous little Memory bear made from the wedding dress.

It was an embroidered satin fabric so not the easiest to sew but I love the finished result.

I hope you're all keeping well and happy.  I will do my best to pop over to see what you're up to in between naps and paracetamols :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Firstly I want to say that I'm certain we will all be sending lots of love to Julia and hopefully our love will help her through the difficult time she is going through.....I'm sure she knows that we are all there for her if she needs us.  I don't know if there will be a Mr Linky this week but that we will do our best to keep the wheels turning for her.

Normal service has returned for me this week and the steady flow of demands on my services has bounced back.

I made this Memory bear from a much loved mum's favourite jumper for one of her daughters.  When it was seen by her other daughter she wanted one for herself too so...

....I made this one using what was left of the mustard coloured jumper and part of a favourite cardigan.....I have a feeling there will be more orders coming for the grandchildren too.

I thought you'd like to see the quilt and cushion I made now in place in the nursery with the gorgeous matching wall art.

I stayed the night on Monday with Gina and Theo while Mark was working away [yes that of course included playing Wordle at 6am on Tuesday morning!.....but he had been awake since 5.30am lol].  It's so lovely to be able to help and to be included in the planning for the new arrival.

This morning I am steaming posh frocks...having already shortened two of the burgandy bridesmaid's dresses.

I will also be...

•  Finishing off this little Memory Dog
• Shortening two nurses dresses and
• starting to make a further 6 Memory bears!!!

So as I say normal service has returned to Sewing by Annie's.....and I'm loving it.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at another Wednesday catch up with our creative friends around the world thanks to the wonderful Julia over at the Stamping Ground...I just love Wednesdays.

Firstly I'm sharing my latest School Memory bear with you....this is another new school for me and brings the number of schools I've now made bears for to 32.

It's such a lovely way to use old school uniform to remember happy days at Primary school before moving on to 'big' school and I have  more heading my way to make soon.

I'm now showing you a very rare couple of desk shots ....I hoovered and damp dusted everywhere on Monday morning....I do make an awful lot of dust with all the fabrics I use.  All the cupboards were moved out and the dust bunnies evicted from underneath them all and my machine was cleaned and serviced....I even changed my needle!!

Are you asking why?

If so here's the answer....

I had a Wedding dress fitting lunchtime on Monday. It's a sort of pale coffee/champagne colour with lots of beading/embroidery  on the bodice....and its gorgeous.

I have to alter the bodice to make it fit [lots of hand sewing involved because of the beading and embroidery] and then shorten the 4 hems and add a 'hold up' underneath to hold up the train when she's dancing.

That's what is on my desk today because although I've made a start I am a long way off finishing it yet but as yesterday was a Theo day and today is an extra Theo day because his mummy has a transition day in school for all those that are moving up in September.....so its a bonus day for us as yesterday was supposed to be our last day with him before he starts school....of course we will still see him often but these are our last 'on duty' days while his mummy works.

As you can imagine, I may be a little late in doing my visits this week but I will do my best to get round as many desk as I can.  I hope you all have a happy creative week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at another Wednesday catch up with our blogging friends all around the world.  

I altered a gorgeous wedding dress at the end of last week....it was a really tricky one to do, needing 4 hems shortening and one of those was lace trimmed so the lace needed to be removed before shortening and then had to be sewn back on after.  I also had to make the bodice fit because it really didn't fit well or look as it should [and was really tricky to pin where it needed taking in]....the four seams that I had to take in were all beautifully bound so this had to be removed to take the seams in and then I had to rebind them after.  I must say it caused a rather sleepless night on Sunday as she was coming back for another fitting first thing on Monday morning and there was no way of telling exactly how it would look until she had the dress on.....I'm pleased to report it fitted to perfection [and I'm not sure who was nearer to tears...the bride or me!]  I do love it when a plan works out well.

From then onwards my week hasn't gone exactly to plan....the bridesmaid that was coming for a fitting on Monday contacted me to say she couldn't come until Thursday and the customer who was coming to have 3 memory bears on Monday didn't turn up and didn't even reply to my messages!!  I consider it very bad mannered but it seems to be the norm these days.  I then had a customer message me at 23.35 on Monday night [no, I luckily didn't hear it and didn't see her message until Tuesday morning!] asking me if I could make her 3 memory bears and a memory cushion and have them ready for Friday!!  Me, being me, and although I don't normally work on a Tuesday, as Theo is on holiday this week, I messaged her first thing Tuesday morning saying that if she could get the items of clothing to me straight away I would work my day off and get them made for her.......She didn't reply to me until lunchtime and said she would get the items to me today [Wednesday morning!!].  I explained that I have other customers booked in for today and Thursday.....I think some of them think I am sat here waiting for just them!! As they say watch this space!!

So, on my desk today is...

....one of my tops.  When you've lost 2 1/2 stone a few of my tops are needing adjustment so I never waste my time whilst waiting for my customers to turn up!!  :-)

That's all from me for today.  I have a bridesmaid and a couple of prom dresses plus a memory bear or 6 to do if they ever turn up this week....it's all a bit wait and see this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Now this really is a special blog post for me.  This week I was asked if I could make 4 bears out of a Grandmother's wedding dress....another first for me but what a wonderful thing to be asked eh?

On Monday the Granddaughter arrived with the dress and really threw me a curved ball....I had imagined a long white / ivory dress.  Her Nan was 98 and had only died a few weeks back and when sorting through her things they had come across an old Marks and Spencer's carrier bag [So old that it was actually a St Michael's bag!] and when asked what it was her daughter had said it was Nan's wedding dress.  Here's a pic of what came out of the bag.....

It's a beautifully patterned dusky pink slub silk dress.....My Mum got married in powder blue so I'm not sure why I was surprised as she would have been married at a similar time.  It was war-time and I guess long white dresses just weren't possible.

I feel to blessed to be trusted with such a special dress and will be making 4 bears for her 3 daughters and 1 granddaughter out of it.

....And here's a pic of Nan's Wedding day with her wearing the dress.....I get to share so many special memories don't I?

I've already taken my scissors to it and removed the skirt panels and pressed them ready to cut out the 16 bear panels.

Just look at the gorgeous buttons on the front of the dress....and strangely enough there are 4 of them so they can each have one on the front of their bears.

So you can see what I will be doing today....and loving every minute of it.  I really hope you're enjoying your day too....I will be over to yours ASAP to see what you're up to.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Hello all.  The weather is still hot hot hot here and the pressure of work is still intense here at Sewing by Annie's.  Everyone seems to be leaving their sewing to the last minute and I'm getting myself know as the lady who will save the day.

On my desk this week are just a few of the jobs I've done since Monday morning and what I have to do [so far] this week....

 

This little Memory bear has initials monogrammed on the pocket on his front to remember a much loved husband and is now winging his way to his new home in Leicestershire....he's just one of my many bears being ordered from another part of the country and each one make me smile to think that I'm conquering another place.

From 6 different shirts I've made these 4 different little bears and then I made the bunting to match....cute or what?

I also had a fitting for this gorgeous prom dress on Monday morning and plan to shorten it at some point today....this customer's own seamstress let her down at the last minute so she brought the dress to me to do before Thursday!!

Monday afternoon I had a wedding dress fitting.  The bride had previously been to me with another dress which I shortened for her but since then she says she has put weight on and wasn't happy with it so had bought another one so I now have to shorten this one last minute before her wedding.....another job for later today!!

Isn't the lacy detail on the bodice just gorgeous?

I also have..

• Jeans to shorten
• work trousers to repair
• 2 pair of shorts to take in
• 2 tops to shorten the sleeves on

....and that's just until the next customer comes through my door!!!

So that's all from me for today.  The fans on and the sewing machine and I will be getting a good work out today.  I will catch up on as many desks as I can in my coffee breaks but if I fail to get round you all please forgive me.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Here we go again...it's another Wednesday show and tell of our creative spaces.....I love it. There are so many really clever folk out there willing to share their skills so why not join in the fun?  To find out more then just pop along to Julia's blog by clicking on this link...Stamping Ground.

So what's on my desk today?

I had so many lovely comments about the finished quilt I showed you last week....thanks folks.

I've been working on the next one this week [now finished and posted so will share a pic as soon as I can].

We decided it needed a border of the spotty lemon before binding it in a pretty pale pink and of course I didn't quite have enough to go all round so.....

......I had to order some more lemon spotty.  Of course it was worth making  a parcel up to justify the postage so here's my latest fabrics.

I am aware I have a problem when it comes to fabrics but my quilts have been shown so much interest that of course I have to have fabrics to hand [to stroke] in case I get more orders.  :-)

I have also had this gorgeous Wedding dress to shorten plus a bridesmaids dress and another gorgeous dress to alter this week [sorry I forgot to take pics of the other two to share with you].  I have several more posh dresses up and coming too so it's really lovely to work on such lovely things.

As you can see no two days are the same here and you can probably tell just how much I love my job and I know just how lucky I am.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit and will leave me a little message so I know you've called by so I can pay you a return visit when I get the chance.  I hope you all have a great week and the our friend Shaz is soon feeling much better.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Happy Wednesday especially to our Queen of snoop, Julia over at the Stamping Ground who has been seen wearing her tiara this week and really looking the part.

My desk has seen lots of action this week and it's been very varied.  Everything from a gorgeous Wedding dress to a Dr Who's scarf .....

The wedding dress filled my cutting table and I am in the process of shortening three hems on it....I always hoover and clean all the surfaces before starting a wedding dress so as not to leave and marks on it so it's half a days work just the get ready before I start [I make a lot of dust here in my sewing room].

The scarf really was something else.  It was knitted by a young man who died aged just 31 and his sister brought it to me to be divided into three so that she and her two other brothers could have a scarf each made from it.

The original stretched at least twice the length of my sewing room  and between us we managed to fold it into three which when finished were each more than long enough to make a really long scarf.

I really do get asked to do all sorts and it was so lovely to be able to do just what she wanted successfully.

So there you go nice and short just how the boss likes it [ for once!].  I have my darling hubby here all this week transforming the back garden so I'd best get back to the sewing before he catches me slacking hehehe.  Have a great week.  I will do my best to visit all who call in here in between my many and varied sewing jobs of the week.

For anyone interested I have a Giveaway over on my Sewing by Annie Facebook so why not pop over and be in with a chance to win one of my Memory bears.  I will making the draw at 9pm Friday night......Good Luck x

WOYWW....

We are creeping ever closer to Christmas and my desk has seen lots of action this week....as always I can't share it all but I'm snapping away and may do a show and tell post after Christmas.

For now here's a few bits I can share...

My desk has been full of Wedding dress this week.  I've had to take all the bodice apart to reduce some pleating, take it in and hand stitch on some diamante trim so it's needed several sessions at it to complete the work.....but I will add it's all back together now and looking good.  :-)

The other project I can share with you is a few snaps of my Christmas card making.....

Using Pinterest as my inspiration I bond-a-webbed the back of some bright juicy coloured fabrics and chopped them up into coloured piles.

I then ironed them down into place to look like little Bethlehem scenes and.....

....machine embroidered them to finish them off.

Hope you like them.  

That's all from me for today.  Leave me a little message so I know you've called in and I will do my best to pay you a return visit.  I'm sorry to say I didn't manage to get round all last week as I had a sad week having lost a dear old friend and had to make arrangements for her funeral etc........but I will aim to do better this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Here we are at another 'best day of the week' for me.  Wednesday gives us all the chance to catch up with our creative friends in all corners of the world by linking up with them at the Stamping Ground with Julia.   If you don't know what I'm talking about then I really don't know where you have been for the past 5 years but please click on the link and pop over to check us out.

This week has been another hectic on for me and I've lots to show you...

Firstly I must show you an ATC that has arrived this week...It was a little late arriving but it was well worth the wait...Thank you so much Rachel I love it and the little card it came with. x

I met a new customer this last week who needed 5 pair of trousers shortening.  When he arrived he explained he had lost his wife recently.  She had been a big sewer and he had lots of material to find homes for...'Was I interested'?

Of course I was interested!!!  and when he came to collect his trousers this is what he arrived with.  I truly felt Christmas had come early.  I promised it would all be put to good use and he said when I have finished with this bag full there was lots more I could have....of course it will be shared with that much older sister of mine and Monday was spent oooing and awwwing over it all.

In the bag was this piece of fabric and the moment I saw it I just knew what needed to be done with it.  Shell had mentioned she was needing some fabric to make curtains for the twin's Wendy house windows with.

Of course this was the perfect fabric and not only the perfect colour/pattern but it was as if it had arrived just to do this job with cos there was exactly the right amount to make the 4 pair of little curtains but enough to make a matching tablecloth with.....he works in mysterious ways!

In the bottom of the bag were these little treasures too....I love little wooden cotton reels and can almost sense the history that came with them when I hold them.

This picture shows you more of my week...

• the now completed 2 pair of curtains and curtain tie backs
• The rail full of wedding/bridesmaids dresses....8 dresses now completed and the last two are being fitted this Sunday.

......and if you look closely in the bottom right of the picture you will see the other real treasure the new customer brought me this week...

It's a brand new sewing machine that he bought his wife just before she died.  He brought it for me to try to see if I'm interested in buying it.....It is a top of the range Bernina and comes with lots of extras too.

I've had a play with it here as you can see.  It sews like a dream.

Do I want to buy it?

Do you need to ask?

It's far too good a machine to miss up on the opportunity so yes it will be my new 'toy' and I will be setting it up in the sewing room at our new home when we get there.

So there you go...has it been a good week here?.....You bet it has.  

Do I have news on the move?....No not yet.  We are still playing the waiting game.

Will I be over to yours to say hello?...Not til later today as I have swapped my usual twinnie days and will have my little visitors here today and tomorrow [and they no longer have a day time nap so they will be full days] and I will also have that big sister of mine here for two days to help out so I can keep my shop open for dropping off and collecting sewing....will be playing catch up again with it all on Friday this week!  :-)

Thanks for calling by.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Here we are at another fun Wednesday when we can catch up with all our creative friends from all round the world....It's my favourite day of the week.  I'm pleased to hear Julia is being sensible and resting well and is making a good steady recovery....keep it up Julia :-)

For those that don't usually pop over on a Friday to see what has made me smile during the week you might like to scroll to the post below to see the pic....I just know a lot of you will find it familiar and it will certainly make you smile :-).....and it would be good to see more of you joining in the Friday fun too....all welcome.

I am well ploughed under with sewing now so will just quickly show you my bag that is now finished..

I'm rather chuffed with how it's turned out.  It's fully lined with a zipped pocket in the one side and a pocket for my phone to go in the other side.

I have a rail full of wedding/bridesmaid/flower girl dresses [5 now finished, 3 all pinned ready to do and 2 more yet to have their fittings]

I have a rail with 6 pair trousers on needing shortening.

And I have yet more of the dreaded curtains to do...I pair needing shortening, one curtain has been cut down the middle to make a small pair of curtains with and a pair of tie backs to make.

I'm sure you will be able to imagine just how busy I'm going to be doing all this but I do promise to do my best to pop over to say hello if you leave me a little message to let me know you've called by.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

It's Wednesday again!  Where did those other 6 days go?  Are there still 7 days in a week and 24 hours in each day?  Time passes so quickly and we just have to fill every day with something special.

This is what I have woke up to this morning!!!!  Where have the blue skies gone to?  Brrrrrrrrrrr

So? What do I have to show you this week?  On my desk today is the results of our Funday Monday.  

Little Lexi loves to hunt out the labels on all the toys she plays with and Michelle had seen an idea for a little comforter with ribbons all round it.  It was a 20cm square of felt and I don't like tinies to play with felt cos it is not nice to suck and all little ones put things in their mouths don't they?  So Nanny Annie put her thinking cap on and this is what I came up with....

Cathy caterpillar  :-)  All the ribbons / legs are different so that they all have slightly different textures.  I wonder what Lexi will think of it.  :-)
[Recognise the stripey fabric Jo?]

Of course I couldn't just make one so Bertie beetle came next.  :-)

Yes I'm quite mad but to work here it certainly helps.  :-)

I've finished them both off with eyelashes and a smiley mouth  :-)

Do you remember this pic from back in Nov 2011 that I made two fab ABC bags from kits Jozart sent me for my grandies?  Well here is a fab pic Michelle sent me yesterday of the one being well tasted tested by Lexi  :-)

She is now sitting [with just a little support at her back] so is able to explore lots of different toys now....all that labour of love was well worth it wasn't it?  :-)

The other special thing I've been working on this week is Michelle's special dress....poor pic I know but that's on purpose so the detail stays hidden  :-)

It has been a quiet week with sewing for my customers [a very rare thing for me] so I could turn to one of my jobs that I have waiting in the wings [ and there are lots of those  :-) ].  I have managed to shorten the hems on two of the layers...still more to go  :-)

This morning I have customer's trousers on my 'to do' rail so the Wedding dress will stay under covers today.  Hope you all have a lovely week and fill your days with lots of special activities.  Thanks for popping by.  Please leave me a little hello comment before you pop over to visit Julia and link up with the WOYWW fun.

Your Friday's smile....Is this really what I wore?....

Last Saturday I took M to look for her wedding dress ready for their wedding next July and after trying on very many dresses and lots of ooohing and awwwwing she found THE one.  We could tell it was THE one because it fit to perfection, looked amazing and I had to find a tissue....think I had something in my eye :-)  The dress was bagged up for us and we brought it home.  Since then it has had to be tried on several times already and if B doesn't get to see it before the big day it will be a miracle because M is just the worst at keeping secrets...plus of course she is so excited about it all.  :-)

I'm sure by now you will all have picked up that she has a wicked sense of humour and while she was here on Wednesday I had got my Wedding dress and veil out to show her.  She was amazed that the train on the dress was so long and the veil was even longer.  30 years ago it was all long sleeves and high necks and this caused her much hilarity.....and yes I actually made it too. 

Of course she just had to try it on and get me to take a picture of her wearing it [yes I really was a size 12 back then but obviously not as tall as M cos I wore it with high heels! ]......but her fun didn't end there! She sent her picture to B pretending that this was THE dress and she had sent it to him in error....and waited for his reply.  Bless him he had opened his text message and shut it quickly so as not to see it in detail!  I have to admit M was not the only one giggling but was pleased that she did own up....as she put it.... 'just in case it was enough to put him off turning up on the day'!!!!

I hope this gives you a smile on this rather gloomy Friday morning and you all have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Annie x

Getting steamy and sewing while I wait...

I know lots of you like to see the posh frocks I have here and yesterday I had to steam a really pretty Wedding dress so thought I'd sneak you a pic.  What a lot of material to steam....things certainly got pretty warm in here but isn't it stunning?

Here is the latest couple of dresses I've made this morning.  Numbers 75 and 76 for me.  They are made with more of the gorgeous sweet pea quilt cover one of my customers gave me.  You will have prob seen more little dresses made out of this over on Twiglet's blog....we share everything.  :-)  These are so pretty.

The Nanny waiting game is still ongoing.  M was contracting again last night and got them down to every 4 minutes and lasting 80 secs but yet again they fizzled out and she managed to go back to sleep.  One day???  She is on her way out here as I type to have lunch with us ....I am really loving our special times together while we wait.