WOYWW.....

Here we are again on the best day of the week when we all catch up with our blogging friends all around the world....if you don't know what I'm talking about what cave have you been living in for what seems like for ever?  Pop over to Julia's at the Stamping Ground to find out more and to join in the fun.

My desks today involve quilt making.  I have had a break from the demand of sewing for my customers for a few days and as my head was full of cold bugs I needed what I call a bit of mindless sewing to keep me busy without great demands being put on my brainpower so I decided to make a couple of eye spy quilts.

I got out my boxes of fabrics and carefully cut out 108 4" squares....enough for 2 quilts.  Each square is different to the next so all 54 has something different to search for and talk about. 

I then sorted out enough fabric to make the borders for each quilt and had sufficient wadding but didn't have enough fabric for the backing pieces so ordered some on line from the company I use.

 

My name is Annie and I'm a fabricolic....

While shopping in Aldi's on Saturday morning they had fat quarter bundles in stock again and they are always far too good to miss out on so they fell into my trolley and when we got home from shopping my parcel of plain cotton fabrics I use for backing my quilts had arrived too....a girl can never have too much fabric ....can she?

As you can see I've already put some of the plain backing fabric to good use as I've now completed my two quilts....but you may notice the fat quarters are stacked on the top of the photos as I may need to stroke those just a little more before I cut into them.  😁😁😁😁

That's all from me for this week....I wonder what I will have on my desk next week to share with you?  I will do my best to get round as many of my visitors that I can and until then I hope you all have happy, healthy and creative times during the week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

So here we are at another Wednesday catch up of the creative desks around the world....do pop over to The Stamping Ground and our leader, Julia if you want to know more.  It's my fav day of the week because we all get chance to peep into the lives of others and the wonderful talents they share.

Last week I surprised a few by sharing my little painted peg dolls.....Our daughter Amy came for a visit on Sunday with her three little munchkins and the fun they had with the new little characters was worth every minute painting them.....and they recognised them all  😅😅😅

This week I'm back to my sewing.  The overlocker I had repaired week before last was first used last Friday and guess what?.....It didn't work!!!!  So Saturday saw me taking it back for a further repair and thankfully I was able to use it to shorten a bridesmaids dress on Monday...phew!  As my machine has been used most days for many years it is now showing signs of wear so I have now ordered a replacement overlocker that hopefully will arrive this week.  I need to be able to rely on my machines and I was so thankful the bridesmaids dress I was shortening didn't have to be ready for collection last Friday.

Januaries are always my quietest month for customers sewing so this week I have allowed myself a little time to learn new techniques.  My newest sewing machine came with several feet that up til now I had never had time to try out so I have been using a quilting foot and the walking foot this week.  I have been wanting to have a go at free machine quilting for a while so I decided to make a fabric box to hold my special fat quarters in instead of the paper bag they were hidden away in.

I decided how big I wanted it to be and made myself a paper pattern.  I next cut out lining, main fabric and wadding all the same size.

I decided to use the bits I cut out of the 'H' shape to practise on and here's the back of my first piece ....as they say practise makes perfect and I have a way to go yet lol.

Here's the front of the same piece and as you can see because I used green thread it doesn't look so bad.....so I then quilted the main fabric onto the wadding of the actual pieces [getting better as I went].

I made the box up and lined it with toning purple lining and I have to say I'm rather pleased with the result....it's definitely better than a paper bag don't you think?

I can now have my fat quarters out on show so they will probably get a little more stroking now and I may even be tempted to use some of them. 😃😃😃

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today....I've just taken some fruity flapjack out of the oven and my kitchen smells wonderful......It's cool enough now for you to help yourselves to a piece to have with your cuppa whilst you're catching up on your blogging friends.....enjoy x

I will do my best to pop over to yours as soon as I can to check out what you've been up to.  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

I must start off this week by saying sorry.  I managed to upload my blog post but really struggled with life and what it threw at me last week and also I had loads of sewing through my door so my return visits were few and far between.  A huge thank you to those that called in here and I promise I will aim to do better this week.

So here's what you came to see today.....

I found an idea on Pinterest to make an eye spy quilt and as I have loads of suitable fabric and 5 [soon to be 6] grandchildren who I was certain would get lots of pleasure playing with one I pulled out my fabrics and cut 80 squares out yesterday.

It was my day off yesterday and just like the bus man's holiday I spent it sewing.  I guess that tells you that it's far more than just a job to me.  

This is how far I got with my quilt........

I stitched my squares into 8 rows of 10 with all the squares facing different directions so the quilt can be viewed from all 4 sides.  As you can see I miscounted and had actually cut out 81 squares lol......guess that's a square towards the next one. :-) :-)

That's all I have to share with you in my sewing room today but I am certain you will all like to share the gorgeous sunflowers that one of my customers bought for me this week....

Aren't they gorgeous?....Far too pretty to not share them with you all.

I hope you are all having a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Hello folks.  It's just a quick post for me today before I rush off to have another twinnie munchkins fun day.  I seem to spend most days chasing my tail but am loving every minute of it.

On my desk this week is...

 A quilt that I am in the process of machine quilting.  It's one the wife of one of my customers was making before she died and I am aiming to get it finished to take it with me on Saturday to the little craft fair in Pontesbury [it starts 10.00 am in the hall behind the Congregational Church, Pontesbury if you're in the area...I'd love to say hello] to raffle it to raise money for our local hospice.....wish me luck on getting it finished cos it's rather intricate and is taking a while to quilt.

She had also started to make these little tree hangings so I have now completed them and will sell those too I hope.

I have used some of the gifted fabric and have used a pattern I found on Pinterest to make these two little reversible children's aprons....cute or what?

It's been a busy week trying to get ready for Saturday's sale because I've also had a steady trickle of customers popping in with sewing jobs for me too and today will be my third munchkin day of this week but life here in our new home is just wonderful :-) :-)

....and of course I managed to slot in a visit from our new little family member too.....well a Great Aunty has to have a cuddle doesn't she? :-) :-)  Little Ben is simply gorgeous.

Thanks for popping by this week.  If you leave my a little hello comment to let me know you've been I will do my best to catch up with you at some point tomorrow.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Hello to all on this gorgeous sunny Wednesday.  For those few that still don't know what WOYWW is all about then please go to the Stamping Ground where our wonderful Queen of Snoop, Julia will explain all about it.  We are such a friendly group and many wonderful friendships have been made because of it so please feel you can join in to have fun.

For those that have called in this week to see what's been going on here at Sewing by Annie's I have snapped a few pics to show you that there really is a sewing room here and that it is still in full working order ....even if it's rather temporarily set up ready for the move that as yet still hasn't happened.

• Top left...my computerised machine and my overlocker
• Bottom left....my industrial machine
• Right....my blind hemmer

As I say my machines are still in full use but all my work surfaces have been removed from the walls and the machines are perched on make do surfaces now.....just didn't want any of you thinking I was sat here with my feet up  :-)

And this was my table on Monday....in full creative flow showing you what Jo and I get up to on a Funday Monday when the twins are on school holidays with their mummy.

....yessssss it was full of fabrics and fun.  :-)

Jo even caught me in full flow being creative making some mug rugs [like coasters made in fabric].

Please note the plaster on my finger....yes my kitchen knife was very sharp!!!

And here are the results....6 quilted mug rugs using patchwork and applique skills plus a wadded fabric holder to keep them all in.......dare I say these would look good in a new house!!!

Hope you have enjoyed your visit today.  It's been really good therapy to be rather more creative this week and share my creations with you all.  If you leave me a little hello comment I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what you've been up to this week.

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