WOYWW.....

 Hello folks.  Here we are at another Wednesdays catch up with our creative friends.  Here's hoping Neet is going on OK...no one seems to have heard from her. :-(

It's been a busy week for me so haven't had a lot of time for mischief.  I've had bridesmaids dresses, Prom dresses and holiday clothes to sort for my ever flowing queue of customers....and I'm loving life.

My clothing rail has filled and emptied several times :-)

My second twiddle mitt is slowly being filled with things to twiddle.....

....I'm loving knitting them so much that I've made a start on number three.

Knitting with chunky wool on big needles is so much easier for my arthritic hands.

I had 3 shirts arrive lunchtime yesterday to make 3 memory bears with...just 7 more to come now to reach my 1000 and 6 of those are coming this week :-)

That's all from me for this week.  If you leave me a little message I will do my best to pop over to yours between my sewing jobs.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Did this fool say something about work being quiet?  Since we were here last week everyone came out of the woodwork :-)

My sewing rail has filled and emptied and filled again.

I've had 6 bridesmaids  here for fittings...3 in the lovely champage colour.  One of them has already been collected.  I've had several pair of trousers to shorten and the shirt on the left is a gents shirt that he wants an extra 6" adding to the bottom...he's brought the fabric so I will probably be doing that today.....another challenge.

I did fittings on three bridesmaids dresses in this lovely lemon colour and I've shortened them all and they are now waiting in their boxes to be collected today....they are stretchy but wont crease so not the easiest to work on.

Both the champagne and the lemon dresses are all in different styles to suit each of the bridesmaids and they looked really lovely.

The only other thing that's on my desk today is a project basket.  I'm making a special lap quilt using bright colours for a special young lady.

I'm hoping to add pockets with hidden 'little friends' and noisy toys to stimulate her.....watch this space.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you've all had a lovely week and are coping with the heat.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all.  I was missing last week, basically because I had nothing to show you.  I had virtually no customers at all over the Easter holidays....I missed it but enjoyed the break and refilled my batteries.  This was meant to be because since Monday morning I have...

• Shortened 3 skirts
• Shortened a prom dress 
• Made 2 Memory bears
• Shortened 2 pair of trousers for one customer
• Shortened 6 pair of trousers for another customer

Today I have 2 pair of trousers to shorten for one of my regular customers and 2 Bridesmaid dresses to shorten and I also have 3 more Memory bears coming.  It really is all or nothing here at Sewing by Annie's

This is my to do rail...the pale green and the brown dresses are the bridesmaid dresses.  The navy dress on the right is the prom dress.

There are 2 of the pair of jeans hanging on my rail and the other 8 pairs are folded in their bags....so I have bags of clothes everywhere in my room....it's organised chaos :-)

These are the two Memory bears I've made....using a much loved man's favourite shirt and jumpers.

Finally I have these two little knitties to show you.  While I was enjoying my Easter break I fancied doing a little bit of knitting....I say  little bit because arthritic hands and knitting don't really go together.

I found these tiny 4" characters on Pinterest and bought the pattern on line....then couldn't find where it had downloaded to!!  I wasted half the morning finding it then searched for the right sized needles and could only find one!!  Eventually found the second needle and then looked for the right colours of wool....they have pale pink faces because I couldn't find any cream!!  Do you think something was trying to tell me I shouldn't be knitting?

Eventually [after lots of cramp in my hands!!] I managed to create a little Louie in his Spiderman jumper and a little Theo with a stripey jumper with a T on the front.  The boys really loved them so my labour of love was well worth it.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you've all had a great week.  If you leave me a little message I will do my best to pay you a visit ASAP.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Here we are at another weekly catch up with our creative friends all over them world.  It's been a busy one for me here at Sewing by Annie's

I've made this lovely set of Memory bears in memory of a lovely man using his 4 fav tops/shirts.  Each bear has a panel of each of the 4 shirts but because they are in a different place on each they are all different.

On my rail today there's a jacket that I've shortened the sleeves on, two nurse's tunics that I have taken in on the sides and 4 gorgeous powder blue bridesmaid's dresses....I did the fittings on these yesterday but when I came to start the work on them guess what?....

I only had two reels of thread in the right blue and these were nearly running out....You wouldnt believe that I have all these threads in my blue/green drawer and yet not enough of the right colour....guess I need to go shopping before I can start.

If only I knew on Saturday I could have bought some when I was there buying more black/white interfacing and stuffing for my bear making!!

I have mastered the art of cord making this week and now just have to decide what to do with it :-)

Thanks for calling in today.  Please leave me a little message and I will do my best to call over at yours to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

What a difference a week makes.  I took all of last week off from sewing to fully recover from the shingles and thankfully the antiviral meds did the trick.

This week all I can say is customers have come out of the woodwork....I have lots to share so will quickly go through it all in pics....

The only thing I made while unwell was some Christmas gonks....one each will probably go to the grandchildren and the rest will sell for charity....I've sold one aready :-)

I had a customer wanting an advent calendar so Monday morning I got out the ones I had already made and made this extra one...

....which she bought straight away and bought one of the Christmas gonks to go with it   :-)

These are Christmas panels that came with the donated fabrics so I pressed them all ready to use but they are now lying in my projects to do basket because the customers started flooding through my door. :-)

I've made a start with the body of a Christmas elf that will be use to raise funds for the Harry Johnson Trust

I've had two Autumn bridesmaid's dresses to do fittings on...the navy one arrived yesterday and is needed by the weekend!!

On Monday I had a lovely new customer who had recently lost her husband and wants 6 memory bears making from his favourite clothes and yesterday I made a good start at making them....they wont get finished today though as it's a Nanny Annie fun day :-)

Before the end of the day yesterday I had a parcel from the Wirral with school uniforms in wanting 3 memory bears making.... and there is another parcel winging it's way from a special customer that wants 2 bears making... it's all go :-)

....and all this has been done since Monday!!!

As you can see, I'm in demand so visiting desks may be a little delayed but I will do my best to nip round as many as I can.

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...

 Hello all and welcome to my Wednesday share of my desk and what's been going on here at Sewing by Annie's this week....and it's been a pretty good week for me...hopefully you too.

For those that didn't see the Memory bears I shared on Friday, these are the two very special bears I made for Lisca in memory of Graham, her lovely hubby.  They were made even more special to me when I saw Lisca had shared a photo of Graham wearing the clothes I made it out of over on her blog on Friday...here is a link for those wanting to see.

In between shortening the wedding dress and sewing her 28 buttons down the back and prom dress fittings etc I found time to make 6 zipped and lined makeup bags for The Harry Johnson trust.

I had a funeral on Monday morning and caught up with family members, as is the norm at these events, and several requested my details about my Memory bears while I was there.

My sister in law wanted to buy some bunting so was calling round after the funeral. I filled my cutting table with all the things I've now made for her to see.

Whilst it was all out on my table I had a customer for a dress fitting and seeing all I had made she asked if I had any peg bags...I haven't made any yet but I have sorted out some coat hangers to make her one....and will probably make a few more.

I counted up the money I've made so far and already have over £100 in my pot so I'm thrilled to bits. I've now made..

• Reversible bags
• Fabric boxes
• Aprons
• Bunting
• Makeup bags
• Glasses cases
• Popper purses
• Key rings
• Pin cushions

and there will soon be peg bags to add to the list :-)

My hanging rail has a wedding dress in it's bag, a dress belonging to the Mother of the Bride and a Sage green Prom dress to alter plus I have 2 Memory bear labels to remake [because a little dog got hold of the last two!!]...and of course I have peg bags to make :-)

As you can see, I'm being kept busy and loving it.

If you leave me a little message so I know you've called by I will do my best to pay you a return visit ASAP.  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hi all.  It's been non-stop this last week here at Sewing by Annie's.  I've shortened trousers and tops plus I have made this cute little Memory bear...

He's made from tiny baby clothes to be kept as a keepsake of when their baby was small :-)

On top of all that I have also made 10 new Advent calendars.  The 5 I put on my Sewing by Annie Facebook last week all flew out and many more requested I make more so these will be going on my Facebook page today :-)

Watch this space as they say.

I like to grab oportunities when I can....and do my best to please my customers.

On my to do rail today is this lovely purple/burgandy bridesmaid's dress that I have to alter and shorten plus the rest of my rail is full of my winter tops that all need taking in to fit now I'm over 3 stone lighter....as the saying goes..."A cobblers wife walks barefoot"...these have to wait until I have a few spare minutes to get done [winter may be over by then lol].

I hope you've all had a great week.  I will be popping round ASAP to see what you've all been up to [sewing allowing!!].

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 What a week it's been since last Wednesday.  The work has been pouring it and this week it came with more challenges.  Many of you will have seen this in my Facebook page but for those that haven't meet Fred...

He is a much loved little teddy that had been in a fight with a labrador puppy and sadly he came off worse.  I was given instructions to keep as much as I could exactly how he was and not to wash/clean him.

I started by removing his head and rebuilding all I could.  I had to give him new eyes because one had been ripped out and the other was well chewed.  His muzzle was missing so I had to make him a new one and then embroider a nose to match his old one.....quite a challenge eh?

Here he is finished...and I have to say I was well chuffed with the results.....and so was his owner.

I love my job.  :-)

My to do rail hasn't been this full for months.

I've...

• shortened 9 pair of trousers
• shortened a lined skirt
• rapaired a jacket and 
• sewn 6 badges on 2 parka coats.

No memory bears this week but I do have very many on their way to me in the up and coming weeks with it being the end of the school year and lots are wanting school bears making [but of course the children are still wearing their uniforms].

On my desk today is an ongoing project that I'm working on in my spare time [yes I do get a bit lol].  I'm making what I am calling a Fidgety Quilt.  It's for a family member with Altzeimers and I'm hoping it will give her something to fiddle with when she needs to....of course I am loving fiddling with it yet.

Hope you have had a fun week.  I will pop over to yours ASAP and hopefully be able to leave you a little message.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Here we are at our Wednesday catch up with our friends around the world....we all 'show and tell' our desks and what we've been up to in the week.  Feel free to join in if you want....its a lot of fun each week.  Check out Julia's blog at Stamping Ground for more details.

Here's a few quick snaps of my week.....

Last weekend I was given bags full of yumminess from my sister-in-law, who no longer sews, and is emptying their old house to sell.  There was lots of fabric, buttons, lace, ribbons, trimmings, elastic, velcro etc and my desk is full of lots of it.....I am sorting it into bags to share it with the family.....It's all far too good to keep it all to myself.

On Sunday I received a bag full of special clothing with the request that I made 4 Memory bears so I started to make them Monday and finished them yesterday.

On Monday I received this quilt cover that belonged to a special young man who died far too young and I've been asked to make 2 Memory bears and a Memory cushion cover with it for family members.....this is what I will be busy with today and...

....this is the first of many bridesmaids dresses that I have to shorten for a wedding that is coming up in April...I fitted this one on Monday and I have appointments for at least 2 others all ready booked in [I'm just not sure how many there will be in total yet].

The first job I need to do this morning is to shorten a pair of trousers for a lady who is picking them up later so I'd better get a wiggle on eh?

I hope you've all had a good week.  If you leave me a little message so I know you've called in I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what you've all been up to ASAP.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 I'm sure some of you will be pleased to hear that we are slowly winning the fight with the Winter bugs....it's slow but hopefully it's going in the right direction at least.

I've been doing some of this this week. It's a crochet baby blanket for Theo's little brother when he arrives in April.  It's slow progress but I am enjoying all the rows of different stitches and the colours I've chosen to work it in.

Gina is off work with Covid and fancied learning how to crochet so I sent her my crochet hooks and some wool to learn with and we have enjoyed a good giggle over the internet together while she's learning.  I must say she is doing very well and managing to get the tensions right already.

Sadly Theo has now tested positive too and has been enjoying 'having a go' with some wool and a hook but says 'it's really tricky Nanny'.

He really loves having a go at anything creative but maybe we need a session together when he's out of isolation :-)

The only other thing on my 'desk' for today are these two men's coats.  The navy one on the left I've had to shorten by 7" but it was all top stitched so was a really tricky job [especially when you're not feeling 100%].

The brown one is here to have a new zip put in but I had to order the zip [I order from Cari Crafts on line...they are brilliant and always very quick and reliable]. The new zip arrived yesterday so that's the job I will be working on today.

I also have fabrics coming through the post to make 2 memory bears and another one coming on Friday morning so I'm guessing I will be busy this week [busy enough for now anyway :-) ].

That's all from me for this week.  If you leave me a little message I will do my best to pop over to yours to say hello.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all. I was MIA again last week and if you check out my Friday post you will see why.  I was determined to not miss a moment so make no apologies that I didn't have time for blogging....I just know you will all understand.....Theo starts school tomorrow so time was simply running out.

Since coming back from Wales I have been run off my feet catching up with work.....

I've a rail still heaving and some of it has already been collected. In two days I...

• Did fittings and all the sewing needed on two bridesmaids dresses including 5 hems, taking in a bodice and taking one up on the shoulders.
• Shortened a lined dress
• Shortened a holiday dress and took it up on the shoulders
• Shortened another holiday dress and reduced the length of the straps
• Shortened the straps on a jumpsuit and
• Shortened a pair of gents suit trousers.

Quite an achievement in 2 days eh?

I've even managed a little time for playing with my paints :-)

I would like to share these paintings with you that our 11year old granddaughter Lulu has been doing.  She is a rather talented young artist and I love to encourage youth with their crafts.  She has a set of painting pens like mine but her mummy has just set her up with some acrylic paints and she has been painting these pics on canvasses...I think they are rather gorgeous too.

Sam and Lexi have been in isolation whilst Sam got over his Covid.  He had signs of a cold and was rather washed out with it but he has now recovered and it was really lovely to see them both enjoying fun in their garden pool.

Whilst at home they both did a bit of wood carving and painted them all up too...Rather good too I think.

I'm sorry my desk was rather boring this week so I hope you have enjoyed seeing a little of the talented grandchildren's crafting too....it's such a lovely way of them choosing to spent their time.

I have another busy week planned...I had a customer contact me asking me if I can make her 14 Memory bears in memory of a much loved Grandmother who has just died and all being well the clothing should arrive tomorrow....oh happy days.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 It's been a really busy week here for me at Sewing by Annie's and I've had a steady flow of posh frocks to alter and trousers to shorten.....

My sewing rail today is mostly filled with the 5 pair of trousers I shortened on Monday morning but there's also the wedding dress I showed you a few weeks back still hanging there in it's cover.....the bride asked me to do all those tricky jobs but has made several excuses to not collect it til hopefully later today [if there isn't yet another excuse for not collecting it!!].  I do get rather frustrated when my customers mess me about as I always work hard for them to get things done efficiently and then it is nice that I get paid for what I do....and I have little room for storing extra dresses.

You can see just how busy I've been by the size of the trimmings that I have cut off when shortening items.....this pile is just from the last few days work.  I always keep them until items are collected in case my customers say they want them for something.  Thankfully most of the jobs are collected quickly.

I have put up a special offer, over on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page, of 10% off my Memory bears for the first 10 orders I get so if anyone is wanting one then pop over to benefit from the offer....but be quick.

That's all I have to share with you for this week.  It's been one of those weeks of all work and no pleasure so I've had no time for painting or being creative in any other way.

Hugs,

Annie x