WOYWW...

 It's been another busy week here at Sewing by Annie's and I'm buzzing.  I also have something special to share with you today.

Since I was here last week I made these three gorgeous little Memory bears.  They combine clothing that belonged to a much loved Mum and Dad that both died last year and I was thrilled with how well the fabrics combined....as was my customer.

I was then looking on Pinterest for a new project for the charity I support and as you can see on the logo there is a little frog and I thought I might make a few little frogs for them to sell.

Harry's mum Sally called in to collect all the latest things Jo and I had made for 2 up and coming sales and I mentioned to her that I had cut out 10 little frogs to make for the charity.  She could then tell me why there was a frog on the logo.....2 weeks after Harry died she had found a drawing that Harry had drawn in his bedroom drawer hence the design.  She then told me that they give a little frog to every newly diagnosed child with cancer and they had previously had searched the internet to buy them.  I asked how many newly diagnosed children they normally had and she said it was 10-15 a year so I'm thrilled to be able to supply the next ten with my little frogs [and am more than happy to make more when needed].....it was as if I knew :-)

Of course with all the fabric I have there was little or nothing in green to make them with so I had to buy some...these were the best I could buy and I have to say I am pleased with the results...

I always said I was as mad as a box or frogs and now there's no doubt :-)

I've managed to use up some of the donated fabric to make these cushion fronts.....just got to find something suitable to back them with now.

Lastly, but by no means least,  I just want to share this photo of the latest puppet Sam made this week....I just knew he'd enjoy making his own dalmation with that fabric :-)

I'm such a proud Nanny :-)

I hope you have enjoyed you visit this week and will leave me a little message to let me know you've called in and I will do my best to pop over to see what you've been up to this week....but please bear with me as it's a Louie day today and I do have another huge bag full of factory trousers to replace the zips in [this will be my last thankfully because I retire in 39 days...not that I'm counting :-) ].

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 527

 It's another of those weekends when I write a post so you can all link up but am not sure I will be able to leave you all messages...I'm on an adventure :-)

It's been a quiet one with very few customers this week but as always I've kept busy with sewing for the charity I support and yesterday I had a bride and her bridesmaid here for fittings so I will have work to do next week.  We have enjoyed lots of Grandparent duties this week. I have a few pics to share with you...

Dont you just love it when little ones loose their two front teeth?  Theo lost the first one while on holiday in France and he's lost the other one this week...I'm not sure you can see but he already has his nice new big teeth pushing through.

Sam has been busy with his puppet making this week and has also been enjoying the costume making classes at his drama group.

We babysat the twins Wednesday night and while there Sam made a yellow puppet but the glue was still drying so no photo yet and the last one he has fabric to make is going to be a dalmation [they have a dalmation so he was thrilled to see I had given him some black/white spotty fur fabric].

I've snapped a few pics of my orchids alongside a few pics of the garden flowers this week....they keep making me smile.

Of course there has to be a few funnies...I hope none offend.  I hope you will leave me a little message so I know you've called by and I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what's been making you smile.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

 It's been a stash busting week for me.  That box filled to overflowing with scraps has been put to good use.

I've already made the tops of two large quilts...they just need backing, quilting and finishing off now.

This used up all of the long strips of fabrics and left me lots of short strips so I had to decide whether I cut more long strips to use them with or look for something I could use the smaller pieces to make.

So I made 6 patchwork baby bibs....and I'm thrilled with how they have turned out.

I made two large cushions using the gifted fabrics.

Saturday afternoon, while the men were at football, Jo and I retackled the hugs box of donated fabric again.  We have already used a lot but it's barely scratched the surface so we pulled each piece out and if too small to make anything with we put it to one side and I have already pressed it all and cut it into strips.....this lot will make another strip quilt :-)

The slightly larger pieces have been pressed and cut to make hair scrunchies with...and that's what I will be making today around fittings for a wedding dress and bridesmaid dress.

Jo took away several pieces of fabric to make a few hang abouts with and Angela requested two of them [thanks for the funds Angela it's been put in the charity pot].

I'm not the only one that's been sewing this week.   I shared a couple of puppets Sam had made on my Friday's post and he's now made this gorgeous 3 eyed green alien.  He's loving sewing and is using the puppets he's made to make short films on his phone.

He's also doing a costume course with the drama group he's in this week and is making the costumes for one of the up and coming shows that he's taking part in.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit this week and will leave me a little message so I know you've called in and I will pop over to yours ASAP.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles ....week 526

 It's been a lovely week here at Sewing by Annie's.  I've had a few customers but have also had time to sew for pleasure too...just the way I like it.  I have had sooooo much to make me smile too so will share this week with lots of pics....

 On their way back from their holiday in France Mark, Gina and the boys called in at Rocmador ...this is somewhere we had been to many years ago so it was lovely to see the boys enjoying it there.....I really love the first pic of Louie...he looks like he's skipping and it makes me smile.  

                                                                

     On their way home through England they called in at Legoland in Windsor and had a really lovely day.        

 Sam has given me lots to smile about this week.  He rang me to see if I had some pink and blue fur fabric he could 'borrow' ....of course I do and it's what Nanny's stash is for.  He wanted to make some puppets with it and, as you can see he made two amazing puppets which he is now using to make short films :-)

Of course he is now hooked and asked if I had any more colours I could let him have so we dropped off a bag with 4 more colours for him to use.

What makes me smile most is that he is using one of my old sewing  machines to make them on...and it's the one I made my Wedding dress on :-) 

Our garden has given us lots to smile about.

The tomatoes are ripening fast and furious now and are so yummy....there are red large, red small, yellow and 'black' ones.

We harvested the beetroot and had lots to eat fresh plus it made 3 jars of pickled beetroot and then I made many jars of beetroot chutney with the rest...and I love it.  

 The garden is also still blooming and has colour in all areas.      

Of course it wouldn't be Friday without a few funnies and I hope you will find something here to make you smile.  Please leave me a little message before linking to your own smiles at the bottome of the page.

Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

WOYWW....

What a lovely week it's been with wonderful little treasures popping through my letter box each morning so I'm starting off with a lovely display of the ATCs I've had so far...

From left to right...

Top row with extra lovely cards...

• Lisa 
• Angela
• Jan
• Margaret
• Neet
• Anne

Bottom row...

• Jo
• Julia
• Shaz
• Lynne 

•  Ann
• Sandra de
• Elizabeth 

We had surprised Margaret by sending her a couple of our ATCs and as she only had one ATC spare she sent that to us with a wonderful parcel of goodies for Jo and I to share.........then made another ATC for us and sent that too. She said she didn't want us falling out [as if we ever fall out hehehe]   :-) 

So girls I would like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.  I really appreciate the love and friendships we share even though many of you I've never met in real life....but hopefully that will change in September as I have put my name down to go to the crop in Llandudno.....I think Llandudno doesn't know what it's in for.  :-) :-)

The other pics of my desk are of a few of the things I've been up to this week....

At the back you can see my pile of pocket monsters has grown and at the front you can see 4 hand puppets I've designed and made this week.

And last but by no means least is my latest little school Memory bear I've made this week.  This one is very special to me because it's for the school our family have all gone to....in fact for over 150 years we had a member of our family in unbroken attendance.  My Grandma and all her siblings went there and when she left she became a pupil teacher there.  All her 7 children attended the school [including her youngest being our Dad] and one of those also became a pupil teacher there and many of the next two generations went there too.  When our son left [he's now 29] he was the last in the unbroken line [and I refused to have another just to keep the attendance going!!] so I wanted to leave a legacy behind for the school. I helped to make the contents for 24 story sacks each with the book characters to go in them [this included puppets, soft toys etc for each sack....and I think they are still being used today.  :-)

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today [and I've not bored you with my nostalgia].  If you can please pop over to Jo's blog today and leave her a get well soon hug as she has had an op this week and is hopefully getting lots of R and R to make a good recovery....I popped to see her yesterday with a few flowers and we decided she just might be able to audition for The Phantom of the Opera.....only joking sis you know I love you to bits xxxx

Hugs,

Annie

This week's smiles....week 119

Hi folks.  Here we are at another Friday when I share my smiles and hope to have as many of you joining in by linking up your smiles for the week.  There hasn't been so very many of you lately but I really do appreciate the efforts of those that the time to share......it really does make the world a happier place because 'Smile and the world smiles with you'.

Even though there was only four of you sharing your smiles I really felt the need to feature Kate's post from last week.  She usually writes a beautiful post sharing her life in Spain but her post from last week she also included a little about her four five [sorry Kate....a senior moment....I know you've got five :-) ]gorgeous sons....all so very different and all so very talented.  I only have to one son [and two gorgeous daughters too of course], who I am very proud of and I know the special love between a son and his mum so I really appreciated Kate's post.  It is so very full of pride and that very special love.....thanks for sharing Kate.

My smiles this week have been plenty as always....apart from being diagnosed as having asthma :-(

It is taking me a little while getting used to my inhalers and I still have to see an asthma nurse on Monday but I'm sure it will sort itself out soon.  

So, my smiles for today....

My baking session with my twinnie munchkins on Wednesday....there really is nothing quite dipping your fingers into the empty bowl is there?

And here's the results....for all those Minion lovers out there.  :-)

We then had a crafty session.  How cute are these puppets and the little peggy caterpillars?

I moved my bird window feeder closer to me to discourage all the cheeky little sparrows from eating all the meal worms and look what decided to sit on my window sill literally arms length from where I was sitting.  This was mummy blackbird but she also brought one of her babies to feed there too :-)

It's obvious from all my bird feeders that I have a real love of bird watching but I thought you might like to share the pic I took of the lesser spotted lumberjack in the tree in front of our bungalow......a pretty rare bird I'm sure but a rather noisy one :-) :-) :-)

There you go folks....are you smiling now?  Now please snap a pic or two of your smiles and link them below and let's make the world a happier place.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Hello fellow WOYWWers.  Thanks for dropping by to see what I've been up to this week...it's been another busy one for me.  I've been...

• Having fun with the twinnie munchkins...and doing lots of crafty activities
• Sewing for customers....yes another few have found our new abode :-)
• Sewing for the love of it
• Knitting
• Making Christmas stockings to order.

So without rambling on too much here's a few snaps to share with you...

The knitting pile has grown....there is now 5 cardigans and 4 matching hats completed and the last matching hat is already on the needles :-)

4 completed personalised stockings hanging up and ready for collection. :-)

If you've read the children's story the elves and the shoemaker I'm sure this photo will remind you of it.....5 little pairs of trousers and 5 little shirts to be worn by......

....... the 5 little puppets I've been making.  The chop stick handles have been bound with wadding and covered with fabric and there is just a little hand sewing left to do and the faces and hair to complete them.

And just to make you smile....here is the next generation enjoying some crafty fun.....got to start them young I say :-)

Thanks for popping by.  Hope you enjoyed your visit.  If you leave me a little hello comment to let me know you've called I will do my best to pay you a visit.  Google+ doesn't always allow me to leave a comment and there were a few blogs last week that blogger refused to let me get on....I think it has a mind of it's own at times.  So if I missed to leave you a comment then I'm sorry.

Hugs,

Annie x

My love of Puppets...

Many years ago I was commissioned to make a set of 6 puppets for use with a puppet theatre....I ended up making 6 sets of these!....and that's when it started.....my love of puppets.  :-)

Since then I have designed many and over the years have made...

• Mr Oakley the farmer
• Mrs Oakley the farmer's wife
• Cassy the cow [1 available]
• Clive the clever clown
• Dotty the dog [1 available]
• Ellie the elephant
• Feed back Freddy the parrot
• Fire chief Charlie....used at the fire station for when children are involved
• Frog and toad
• Hatty the hen [2 available]
• Iggy the instruction iguana [2 available]....got to be my favourite.
• McPuppet....special design that travelled up to Scotland.
• Percy pig
• Polly parrot
• Reggie reindeer [1 available]
• Ruby rat
• Sherbet the sheep [1 available]

Many of these were designed for use as teaching aids.....I made many for Jo when she was a deputy head in a school up in Yorkshire and have made many for Michelle and Gina to use in their schools....and the children just love them of course.  The children respond so well to a 'talking' character and it is often possible to get the message across so much easier whilst using a puppet.  As you can see from the list there are a few in stock so if anyone fancies buying one in time for Christmas please email me.  I am happy to take special orders and will do my best but can't guarantee being able to make them in time for Christmas.

Hugs,

Annie x

School boy puppet...

I have now finished my commissioned puppet and as promised I am here to show him to you all.  

The lady who asked me to make him is the proud owner of McPuppet who I made a few years ago.  She received him for a special birthday as a gift from some very special friends of mine.  He has a kilt, sporran and even a Tam o' Shanter hat.  Here's a quick snap of him.... the photo quality is poor sorry but I think you can see what he was like.

I've never met this lady but she tracked me down to make a special puppet for her son to leave behind him as he leaves his primary school.  We chatted over what she wanted and she offered to send me a sweat shirt to cut up so he was dressed correctly as a little school boy  :-)  I really love a challenge and I have spent this morning putting the finishing touches to him.  I hope she likes him as much as I do...he's quite a character.

Onward and upward for me next  :-)  I have now been contacted to make another Mr Tumble doll :-)  It's such an exciting job I have....I am soooooo lucky.

Exciting Developments....

Our Fun Day Monday has been used wisely today. Our shop is slowly taking shape and the shelves are filling up nicely. Mrs Overall has dusted down the shelves and much giggling and squealing ensued as the little pocket bears and felties were popped on a shelf next to each other. Following a squabble amongst the puppets, the giggle of Iggies convinced me to use their photo for the link to their shelf in the shop.
In the next day or so we hope to fill the gift, card and the picture shelves. We would love you to pop over to have a look so please use the link to Sisters Crafty Creations on the right of this blog. Please let us know what you think by leaving us a comment in the feedback blog at the top of the shop.
Thank you.

It's THAT day again.....WIYWW....

Whats in my workroom today???

Well, Ive been busy with my puppets over the last few days and thought I would share them with you. I was originally commissioned to make my first set of 6 puppets for a company from London. They used to write stories to be used for small puppet theatres and I was asked to design and make the 6 characters in the story. This blossomed to making puppets for use in schools and I now make puppets to order, really for anyone that wants them. My eldest daughter is a teacher and she has a set of them all [and more!] and uses them on a daily basis in school. She tends to say "Oh Mum I'm doing ...........this term and I could really do with a ......puppet" and I'm off on my next creation. The puppets are only suitable for children over 3 years due to small parts but children of all ages just love them. I have several in stock that sell for £30.00 plus postage each and am happy to make something individual [I always love a challenge]. I will now introduce you to some of them......

These are 2 of my Mrs Oakley the Farmers wife [yes I do make a Mr Oakley but at the mo have none in stock but happy to make if wanted].











Sherbet the sheep and Cassy the cow.













Dotty the dog and Hatty the hen.













Ruby the rat and Reggie the reindeer.













And last but by no means least this is what I call a giggle of Iggys. This is Iggy the Iguana and I have to say one of my favourites.






I also make Mr Oakley the farmer, Clive the clever clown, Polly the parrot, Ellie the elephant and a Percy the pig and will consider making what ever your challenge is within reason. If I have the pattern they are £30.00 each plus postage but if not then I charge accordingly for the extra work involved. There may be slight variations with each puppet made according to the fabric available at the time.