WOYWW...

It was our 41st Wedding Anniversary on Monday so we have enjoyed celebrating it together....it seems like only yesterday!!

 It's been a quieter week with sewing this week with everyone being on Easter holidays so I've been using my time crocheting worms :-)

I wanted something to do while watching the telly so searched out the worry worm pattern and poem on Pinterest and have been having fun crocheting one in every colour of wool I could find in my box...they are now all packaged up ready to go on the craft stall to sell for the Harry Johnson trust.

For Lulu's 13th birthday Mark and Gina bought Lulu this gorgeous crochet kit hoping the lesson I had given her would have taught her enough to use it.

Of course she loved it and since then, whilst on her Easter holidays, Lulu has sent me a daily update as to what she was crocheting....her granny square has now grown into quite a blanket....I'm soooo proud of her that she has been able to tackle it alone.

I sent Phoebe the link of how to make a worry worm and she's been having lots of fun making some....they are tricky to do but each one she makes gets a little better from the previous one....I love how creative both girls are.

That's all from me for today.  I hope you've had a creative week too.  If you leave me a little  message I will pop over to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 I hope you've all had a lovely weekend.  We enjoyed lots of family times so it was very special.

On my desk today are...

The 14 WOYWW ATCs I've made ready for this year's swap.  Jo and I have both made 14 and will be sending them out together to save on the postage so if you'd like to swap with us please send ours togther to either of us...two for the price of one :-)

Mine are a little different this year but I'm not revealing all yet :-)

The other photos I'm sharing today is of the lovely time we had last Friday....Lulu had asked me to teach them both to crochet so whilst the men were at football that's just what I did and by the time we had finished they had both mastered making a granny square.....just look at the concentration on their faces  :-)

We all really enjoy our crafty times together and I love passing on my knowledge to another generation. ....special memories :-)

It was Lulu's 13th birthday on Monday so we now have two teenagers in the family :-)

It was an open house at Gina and Mark's at the weekend to celebrate Louie's 1st Birthday [he's one today] so I baked a box full of mixed cakes to take with us to be enjoyed by all that called and we popped over on Saturday morning [photos to be shared on Friday].

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

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week459

 Hello all and a happy Friday to you all.  I'm here to catch up with the smiles from the last week and I'm lucky to say there's been plenty to smile about.

On Wednesday I had Gina here [hense the photo of me!].  She sat crocheting and I sat making bunting in bright colours for Theo's bedroom.

Here's the proof that I finished making it and just how pleased he was when he came home from school to see it....it makes everything worth while doesn't it?

Here's Gina sat in my sewing room crocheting her ripple blanket.  I'm so proud of her progress with her crocheting and just look at that gorgeous baby bump in her lap....I actually felt him kick this week  :-)

I thought you would like to meet our next grandson....it's a 4D scan of him now at 30 weeks. He's about 2lb 14oz now. Modern technology is amazing isn't it?  We have also seen videos of him moving and really feel like we are getting to know him before he arrives.....he's sooooo like his big brother.

The next generation are progressing well on their sewing machines....these are 19 hair scrunchies that Lexi has made for their school performance of Joseph.

And this is a project that Phoebe is working on at school....it's a design of a crisp packet and she has used free machine stitching on the front.

I'm so proud to see my grandchildren sewing.

Finally here's a funny I saw on Facebook....it could have been written about Milly.  Every new toy she gets she shakes it till she 'kills' it and I don't think she has one with a 'living' squeaker in it now lol.

I hope you have enjoyed sharing my smiles and will share yours by linking up at the bottome of the page.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 456

 Here we are at another Friday's catch up with all the smiles from the week...and there's been many although we are both still fighting off the Winter bugs....a day at Colwyn Bay on Tuesday does seem to have helped so we're keeping everything crossed. 

Kate asked last week if I was winging my crochet baby blanket to here's the proof I am actually using a pattern....It's one I found on Pinterest Kate.  I must be honest and say I am making my own version in parts but I'm loving it and am now working on the edges.

My daughter-in-law Gina has really become hooked on her crochet and is going from strength to strength now with a new 'make' on a daily basis.  I'm so proud of her.

Theo was allowed to go back to school on Wednesday having had two negative Covid tests...it's so good to see him looking better.

Finally I saw this on Facebook and it made me chuckle...hope it does you too.

Please leave me a little message so I know you've called by and if you can please link up to your own smiles below....we really can't have too many joining in the fun and everyone is welcome.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 We are both still working hard to shake off these Winter bugs....I've coughed so much that it's left me with a sore throat and a croaky voice!! ...I think I have actually damaged my vocal chords so healing will take it's time I guess.

Yesterday we took our motor home for a run out and had a day at Colwyn Bay....my Dad always said the sea air was good for coughs and colds so lets be hopeful.

Milly really enjoyed her run on the beach too.

I think it's a cormorant that's threatening to eat my hubby but of course it could be a shag.

I've had a lovely week making more Memory bears....this one was made using a Grandad's favourite shirt and.......

....these two were made from a Grandad's scarf for a customer who had 4 made before Christmas.  When the family saw the others 2 more family members decided they wanted bears....I love repeat orders.

The other thing I'm quickly sharing are these two photos...as you can see Gina is completly hooked on her crocheting and really has made me very proud at what she has made already.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit this week and will leave me a little message to let me know you've called in.  I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 455

 It's been another week of slow progress in our recovery from this awful Winter bug but thankfully my workload has been steady and I have managed to get it all done allowing for R and R each afternoon.

I have a couple of pics to share with you because there is always something that makes me smile....

Although Theo is rather pale faced he's not been too bad in himself having tested positive for Covid this week....just look at the mischief in that face.

Gina has been isolating with Covid this week and I have been having a few on line lessons with her while she has been following U-tube instructions on how to crochet.  We have had lots of giggles while she worked on getting her tension right but I'm so proud to say she has persevered and has mastered the art of crochet....onward and upward from here I feel.  I really love the flowers she has made.  I think the idea is she will crochet some hats and baby booties next so watch this space.  :-)

I'm sharing my pic of the Amaryllis Jo bought me.  It really didn't start off looking very healthy as the leaves came through looking really scabby but just as we were thinking of returning it to the garden centre it decided to send a flower shoot up.  Jo's plant has 2 flower shoots and 9 blooms all looking stunning now but my flower shoot is still reaching for the stars....it's now 28" from the top of the bulb and I'm really hoping it decides to flower before the it reaches the attic.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you're all managing to stay well and happy and have lots of smiles to share with us this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Oh! what a week last week was and what a difference this one has been in contrast. As promised here's a photo of my completed 13 Memory bears..

 

Every one is different but they each have a panel in red tartan because the lady they are to remember was Scottish...I really loved making them and my customer was thrilled with them all.

I didn't make them alone though....

My darling hubby stepped up to help and sat stuffing their tummies....he was sacked when it came to stuffing arms and legs because quality control could see he was struggling to do it to standard [I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my bears].

We had a really lovely day working together and many giggles were shared between us....it's what life should be filled with.

My bear making didn't end there though because, before I'd finished, I was brought a nurse's uniform to make a Memory bear out of....she had just qualified as a nurse and wanted to remember the years of hard work she had put in to get there.....I remember all too well how much effort goes into qualifying as a nurse and of course they have also had to cope with Covid over the last 18 months as well.

For those who like to know, my Memory bear count is now up to 493....it will be 500 before I know it :-) :-)

I've treated myself to some new tools this week.  Having seen all the lovely crochet Kate does over there in Spain I really longed to do some but my aging hands struggle with my old crochet hooks.  I found this set on the internet and ordered it Saturday night...I'm pleased to say it arrived on Sunday morning and the hooks are so much easier to use for me....The pattern on the right is what I'm playing with and I'm really enjoying renewing my love of crochetting.....I used to crochet for a shop in Shrewsbury many years ago :-)

The last thing I'm sharing with you today is a little canvas Lulu painted for me to go on my sewing room wall of memories this week....I love how she has blended the paint colours [choosing my favourite colours] and that she has masked out the A and added a little teddy for me.

That's all from me for this week.  I've had no sewing so far this week so hope to be able to visit rather more of you this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

'

WOYWW.....

Hello and Happy Wednesday to one and all.  I love my Wednesdays.  If you don't know what WOYWW is all about [where have you been?] then pop over to Julia's at The Stamping Ground and check out the details and why not join in the fun?

My desk today is like this...

I've been sorting out my fabrics and enjoying them....have already had to mix and match them cos a customer is wanting a comforter quilt made with some of them.  On the front of the desk is some gorgeous Alpaca wool that I've decided to crochet a scarf for me from...it's so lovely and soft.

Apart from that there's the normal clutter for a sewing room....feel free to zoom in and have a good snoop.

This is the selection of fabrics I will me playing with today to make a 9 square comforter quilt with....ooer what fun.

On the desk the other side of the room is my box full of my machine embroidery threads....I've had them out to make my ATCs with and have now finished a nice little pile of them so if anyone wants to share with me just email me to wipso2310@gmail.com with your contact details.....I will add you to my list.

That's all from me for today so please leave me a little message so I know you've called by and I will do my best to pay you a return visit when I get a minute.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and Santa brought you all you deserved.  We have really enjoyed many family together times over Christmas and for me that has made it all simply perfect. 

I am still focusing on plans for next year with what I'm sharing today.  Our family does a Secret Santa for the eight adults.  We are limited to just a £20 limit on what we spend and as you can imagine much hilarity is enjoyed when we open our gifts.  There is always a good mixture of joke and sensible gifts but my Secret Santa really knew what I wanted this year.

A gorgeous storage box filled with glass storage jars, 2 packs of pretty fabric fat quarters, ribbons and much more :-)

It was just what I wanted for my new sewing room and this is what I have planned for it....

In one of my temporary cupboards in my make do sewing room are my 7 old plastic sweet jars filled to the brim with ribbons and trims but the jars have now gone brittle and have seen better days so I will be sorting the contents and filling my fab new jars at some point in the New Year.

The dolls clothes you've been seeing made leading up to the big day really put smiles on my little grandees faces as you can imagine and I've now been given an order for proper dolls sized blankets as the baby blankets that have been used are "just too big Nanny" :-)  Of course I'm more than happy to please and have needed something to do with my hands.  I've now finished 3 and the 4th will be finished soon.  :-)

So that's what I've been doing.  How about you?  If you'd like to leave me a little hello message to let me know you've been then I will do my best to pay you a return visit as soon as I can to see what you've been up to.

Wishing you all a very happy New Year and here's to many more fun times together in 2015.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

It's a 3 day twinnie munchkin week for me this week so it's all go here at Sewing by Annie's.  That of course means I have put this post to upload automatically and won't be able to come checking out your blogs til tomorrow at the earliest sorry.....but I will do my best to drop by as soon as I'm able.

On my desk today [and it will be there at least until tomorrow!] is....

The evidence that Christmas card making has started....

• Christmas fabrics sorted and ironed
• a couple of quilted squares using the fabric
• those have been machine embroidered and embellished
• then scanned to make some Christmas card toppers

....so far so good.  :-)

Another Christmas card idea in the making...

• strips of turquoise ribbons bond-a-webbed onto white fabric
• wadding ready underneath ready to machine embroider and quilt down the ribbons in place
• silver trimmings sorted ready to machine embroider on top

...we will see how this develops.  :-)

Been such a busy few weeks that I have the need to keep my hands busy while watching telly [or I nod off!] so have started some random crocheting.  I love the wool and it's chunky so I can use a large crochet hook...not sure what it will be when it grows up yet.   :-)

Well folks that's all from me for today....no time to pee breath think sew really so definitely not much time for creative fun  :-)  I hope you have enjoyed your little peep into my world for today.  Please leave me a little hello comment and I will do my best to pop by asap to say hello.

There will be pics and updates on the quilts being made for the Children in Need appeal very soon as Jacquie has already made the first two!

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Here we are at another Wednesday...they seem to be flying by don't they?....or is it just me?

This is the day that almost 200 creative folk expose their work/play spaces to the world and then blog hop to see what everyone else has been up to during the week.  If you would like to join in take a picture, put it on your blog and just hop over to Julia's and click to link to your blog.

So? What have I got to show you today?

A mess....my lacy bits all pulled out of their jar cos of course the piece I wanted was right at the bottom of the jar!...always the way eh?

I've started working on the front cover of my fabric book.....and I'm loving it so far.

Some snowflakes I've crocheted for the next batch of Christmas cards I am making.

What is actually on my desk this morning!

Yes, it's b****** curtains.  :-)  I have to make 2 pair of lined curtains and a lined door curtain....what fun!  They aren't huge so hopefully won't take too long.

And cos I've also been busy in the kitchen too I've left out my banana cakes so you can all help yourselves to a slice to have with your morning coffee.

Thanks for calling by today.  If you leave me a comment I will aim to call by at yours in between making those lovely curtains [she says through gritted teeth!].  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

The easy answer to what's on my work desk today is.....a little more than last week!  Thankfully I am now feeling much better and life is returning to normal [that is if it ever is here at Sewing by Annie's :-) ].

On my desk ironing board and table today is a new project I have been planning.  Having been truly inspired by Maryke Phillips who had a stand at the quilting exhibition Jo and I went to a few weeks back I have been getting my head around making a fabric book.  Maryke makes the most gorgeous quilted books using felts, fabrics, beads and stitching...you can see them in her gallery over here.  I am really loving all the gorgeous colours in nature at the moment so am planning on calling this book Autumn.  It will be something I will do on Funday Mondays and in between my customer's sewing jobs so will take a long while to make....I don't plan to rush it  :-)

You can even see a little autumn sunshine :-)

The other thing I've got to show you today is a little pair of slippers I made on Monday from a pattern designed by one of my blogging friends Penny.  The pattern is for an up to 6 month baby but I thought it just might fit our little Lexi.  I love this random wool and they have made up really pretty but......

.....my little model is so tiny that they are still too big for her so we will will have to wait for her to grow into them.  :-)  Thanks for the pattern though Penny.

The other thing I'd like to share with you is a photo I took of the sky at silly o'clock on Tuesday morning while waiting for the twins to arrive for a day's fun with Nanny Annie......well worth getting up early for eh?

Thanks to all who called by here last week and left me such lovely get well comments....I'm sure they really helped my speedy recovery....You really are all such a lovely bunch.  

Before you pop over to Julia's to join in the Wednesday fun if you'd like to leave me a little hello comment I will pay you a return visit in between my sewing jobs.  Thanks for calling by.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....103

Happy Wednesday to all who pass by here.

Yet again it's been a manic week here at Sewing by Annie's. The weekend was a really successful one with the wonderful Church Gardening Club Sale on our front garden on Saturday.  Sunday came with even more success....Twiglet grabbed us a real bargain from Churchstoke Sunday market....I have been searching for a clean, light weight, second hand, double buggy to keep here for when I look after the twins.  She text me to say there were two up there this week....one at £30 and the other at £80 and the cheaper of the two was immaculate and just what I had been looking for [but up til now had only found ones on ebay for over £50 plus postage!].  I told her to use her judgement and to try to knock her down on the price a bit [well you have to don't you?]......AND she got it for £20 and that includes waterproof covers!!!!!  It's spotless and we really can't believe our luck....thank you so much Jo [especially cos she then pushed it all the way up her bank to get home].

This was our Funday Monday table full of goodies.  Twiglet and our friend T were planning making fabric hearts so all the yummy fabrics and lace trims filled the table.  At the front you can see one of my WIPs...another crocheted baby shawl for yet another pregnant friend's daughter.

Hmmmm I see we haven't hidden the Monday treats very well today so I guess I'd best say help yourself girls....yes we really didn't eat them all  :-)

This is my 'to do' rail today so you can see I wont be sat idle today.  I have 3 posh dresses and a jacket on there as well as many other jobs plus on my long dress hanging rail.......

.....I still have a really gorgeous Wedding dress under wraps that needs a lot of work doing cos I have to shorten the very many layers it has......quite a challenge!

Here is another of my WIPs.....as we have two little boys expected I have been asked to make a patchwork blanket for one of them and these are the colours we have chosen......I rarely have only one project on the go and tend to swap between them when my arthritis plays me up.

 Finally for all you garden lovers [you might want to click to enlarge this one].....I am stood literally just the other side of the window from this cheeky little devil!  He just sat there watching me while I snapped away with my camera! I love to feed the birds but really squirrels are just rats with furry tails even if they do have such cheeky little faces!

Now girls please pop over to Julia's to join in the WOYWW fun.....and don't forget next week is our second year celebrations so make sure your PIF gifts are all ready to post.....mine is  :-)