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.....

 

There's no fear of me getting old that's for sure :-)

I was MIA last week because I was rather busy.  

Since I was here 2 weeks ago I have...

• Shortened 3 Bridesmaid's dresses [2 layers each]
• Shortened 3 pair of nurses trousers
• Took in 2 nurses tunics
• Shortened 7 prom dresses one of which featured on my last Friday post....this one took a day and a half to shorten with all the layers
  

• Shortened 6 tops ....all different colours so had to change the colours on my overlocker every time.
• 
  
  
• Shortened the sleeves on a blouse
• Replaced the zip in a pair of shorts
• Sewed a badge on a top
• Shortened a long dress
• Shortened a long skirt
• Replaced the zip in a pair of jeans and 
• Shortened a pair of jeans

I'm sure you can guess that I didn't have time to write a post for last week's WOYWW or to comment on anyone elses posts so I hope I didn't miss anything important.  

I've never had so many prom dresses in one season before [11 in total so far] and now I'm moving on to end of school year Memory bears :-)

I hope to get around as many blogs as I can this week to catch up but the sewing hasn't stopped yet.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 It's been a busy week of posh frocks this week for me here at Sewing by Annie's .....

These are the 4 pretty cornflower blue bridesmaids dresses that I have altered [now all finished]....

• they all needed shortening [3 layers each!]
• One needed the bodice taking in to make it fit.
• one needed the strap stitching in place
• one needed the 3 buttons sewing on
• one needed the bodice lifting at the back

This black prom dress needed 2 layers shortening [now done]....including the tricky frill shortening to fit on the front.

This is a really pretty pale blue prom dress that I have to shorten today....all 5 layers!!.  I also have to take it up on the shoulders.

My rail is also full with other sewing jobs and I have another prom dress coming this afternoon and a pair of jeans to alter....I think it's going to be a busy day ;-)

If you leave me a message so I know you've called in here I will do my best to call by at yours to see what you've been up to this week as soon as I get a chance.

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...

It's been a week of posh frocks here at sewing by Annie's.  Of course that means I've had a week of dress fittings too and, in the extreme heat, this was no joke as my sewing room faces South and gets very hot. I have a fan running, windows open and the blinds down but it was still too hot to work comfortably but this has made all the difference....

My darling hubby has hung a bottle of ice in front of the fan and it really lowers the temperature of my room....my life saver.

Now, for those who like to see the posh frocks I've snapped them for you...there are two of the grey bridesmaid ones on the left of the photo and the red and green ones are prom dresses.....these were both for 16 year olds and they looked stunning in them [but much older than 16!!].

For those who were wondering what my challenge was last week with my desk filled with felt...

Our very own Caro, she of the Blue tits wild water swimmers, messaged me wanting a holder for her badges like the one that one of her friends had made so I of course accepted the challenge and here it is.....I hope she likes it when she gets the parcel.

Caro is actually holidaying in Shropshire this week with her family and I said she was welcome to call in for a cuppa if she could spare the time and guess what?.....

....she rang me yesterday to say she was calling by.  It was so lovely to see her.......we could have chatted all day.  Thanks Julia for starting this group all those years ago and for all the wonderful friendships that have developed from it all.

That's all from me for today.  I hope you're all managing to stay cool and are enjoying life.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 The world is still in a state of change and the rules to keep us safe keep changing but this week I have had my first bridesmaids fittings.  I've donned a face shield and each customer has to wear a face mask to keep us all safe but it works and I've some posh frocks to share with you today....

 

 

This is what my rail looks like.  I have....

• Shortened 2 hems on two of the bridesmaids dresses
• Lifted another of them at the shoulders and stitched it up a little on the front
• Shortened the hem on an evening dress and
• Steamed 4 of the bridesmaids dresses.

Sounds easy?  Well the two bridesmaids dresses I had to shorten were colours I didn't have thread to match so my darling hubby had to pop to our local fabric shop to fetch me matching threads.  Then when I came to steam the dresses my old steamer died....it really owes me nothing but you don't expect these things to die just as you need to steam 4 dresses [and the Wedding is on Sunday so I didn't have a lot of time!].  Of course my darling hubby came to the rescue again and ordered me a new one to pick up at our local Argos and then popped to fetch it for me....pleased don't imagine me sitting waiting cos I had plenty to keep me busy!!

 I know many of you like to see my posh frocks so here's a closer look while they are airing after being steamed.  They are for 5 beautiful  teenage bridesmaids. Both the bride and groom have lost their parteners so they are joining two families of 7 children between them and I really couldn't be happier for them all....I feel very blessed to have played my part in making their day perfect.

 

Finally this is my desk today.  I'm putting together the last of the masks that have already been cut out ready.  I'm selling them off in grab bags [feel free to pop over to my Facebook page if you'd like to grab yourselves a bargain] and imagine when they are gone that will be the last I make ....but who knows?

 

 

 

I'm always happy to take orders but, now I am getting a few fittings, it will be nice to clear my desks of mask making and do something else for a change.

WOYWW.....

Hello all and welcome to my weekly catch up on what's been going on this week here at Sewing by Annie's.  

It's been another busy and varied week with everything from.....

The next Bridesmaids dresses to alter....the big one is actually a lovely purple in colour and the little flowers I've sewn on the front of the little dress are the same purple to match....very pretty too.

Gina and Mark had  large curtains cut down to make smaller ones to fit the windows in their new house so of course what was cut off was perfect to make two large floor cushions to match.  I used the curtain lining to make big cushions then made the cushion covers to match the curtains....they already have smaller cushions to match.

Little Theo says he's a big bot now and was far too big to want to sit on the plastic booster cushion 'like a baby'! so last week we bought two foam cushion seat pads and since then I've cut them to fit our kitchen chairs and covered them in Noddy fabric to make 'big boy's' cushion to so he can reach the table at meal times.....Cos he's not quite as big as he thinks yet :-) :-) 

My last pic is a puzzle for all you expert gardeners out there.  These plants have grown from a packet of wild flower seeds we scattered and are a complete mystery to us.  I thought they were Evening Primrose plants but as yet they have no flowers [or any signs of flowers coming yet either].  They are now about 5 foot tall!  Do any of you have any idea what they might be?  Please help us solve our puzzle.

Thanks for calling by.  Please leave me a little message so I know you've been and I will do my best to pay you a return visit ASAP.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Here we are again, happy as can be.......  I'm sure there's a song about that. :-)

It's been a varied and busy week for me.  Wedding season has started so I've had the first two of three bridesmaids to shorten...the third is coming today....

Pretty in pink eh?

Apart from being kept busy shortening these pretty pair I've also been busy shortening trousers, putting new zips in skirts and of course more bear making....

.....this is the first bear I've made for this local school and....

......these two will be parcelled up later to go to their home in the Wirral.....I'm slowly spreading Memory bear love around the country now.

As you can see I'm keeping busy and out of mischief....and I'm loving it.

Hope you have enjoyed your visit and will leave me a little message so I know you've called by.  I will do my best to pay you a return visit ASAP.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

I'm back.  Did you miss me? We travelled north to spend a week's holiday catching up with two very special friends....

Yes it's our very own blogging friend Elizabeth and her lovely hubby.  We stayed in a really lovely holiday cottage just 10 mins away from where they live up in Scotland so we able to spend several very happy days together during the week.  Of course this is another of those wonderful and very special friendships made thanks to our Wednesday blogging.

We shared much chatting, laughter, cakes and, oh yes, ice cream....Ellie made me eat it honest!

Whilst up there Ellie sorted me out some fabrics suitable for making more bags for Margaret's charity and her Daughter also gave me a bag of curtains that I can use too.

When I caught up with Jo on Monday she also gave me a lovely piece of fabric Maxine had found for me to use too so I now have this huge pile of fabrics to use over the coming weeks/months.

I doubt I will get many bags made this week though because my customers had missed me last week and by 8.45 on Monday I'd already had the arrival of the maroon prom dress to shorten and later in the day the two navy bridesmaids arrived needing Annie's magic.

Jo also brought me a bag of school uniform from her friends daughter wanting Memory bears making......

......and you all know just how much I love making my bears so here's the finished trio of bears.

They are for three children leaving their school in Jordon to take with them when they start their new school in Texas.....I'm conquering the world folks!!!

That's all from me for today.  I have 2 customers both posting fabrics to make 4 Memory bears for each of them plus another bridesmaid coming later today and numerous others coming this week with various jobs....cos they couldn't get last week so if I don't manage to call in to say hello to many this week please forgive me.  

I hope you all have a wonderfully creative week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Hello all. It's been a slightly different week for me here at Sewing by Annie's.  The special offer on my Memory Bears over on my Facebook page ended at the end of January so the orders for my bears have eased a little but I was thrown another challenge.....could I make a Memory Dog?

You all know I like a challenge so it was back to the drawing board to design a dog and here's the first reveal....

I've made him with fabric with little hearts on and have called him Valentine.  He has a cute little tail too and my customer loved him and has ordered on to be made out of her little boys babygros with a special label around his neck with the details of his birth on it.....I plan to launch him over on my Facebook page soon but until then it's a secret just between us.

The other thing I've been doing this week is alterations to these lovely bridesmaids dresses....as well as the rest of the items behind on them on the rail.

The three bridesmaids were really lovely girls and allowed me to take a pic of them wearing the dresses.....but that photo will be over on my Friday's smile post so be sure to check it out....it sure made me chuckle.

That's all from me for this week as I have succumbed to the bugs going around the family and have a tiresome cough and head cold with earache....hubby has had a really sore throat too so we have been looking after one another this week.

Until next week I hope you stay well and happy and enjoy lots of creative times.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Well?  What did you do with the seven days since last week?  It's flown hasn't it?....or is it just me?

I have a rail full of posh frocks to show you today...

The one bridesmaid dress you saw last week is now three and I still have two more to do for the same wedding.  There are two long sparkly dresses for a lady going on a cruise and a really pretty shorter dress being worn by her daughter on the same cruise.....and in between all those I've shortened trousers, altered a skirt and several other smaller jobs too.

On my desk are several pieces of fabric ready for little Phoebe and Lulu to choose the ones they want their new swimming bags to be made out of....and their swimming badges to be sewn on.  :-)

The other pic I know many of you will want to see is of the little furry baby we went to visit at the weekend.  Little Milly is such a little cutie pie.  We had lots of cuddles and she even fell asleep in my arms.  We still have 4 weeks to wait til she can come to live with us but thanks to Rachael, her breeder, we get regular pics to update us on her progress.......exciting times :-)

That's all from me for this week.  I will be AWOL next week but would like to wish you all Happy Celebrations for our 7th year of WOYWW friendship and fun.  If there is anyone who is wanting to swap ATCs with me who's name isn't on the list below then please either email me on wipso@toucansurf.com or let my much older sister, Jo know because I have put her in charge of posting all I have put ready for her and she has a few spare ones she can send out in my absence.

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