WOYWW....

 Here we are at another catch up with our creative friends from all around the world who link up at Sarah's Craft Shed each week.....why not join in the fun?

I've had a quiet week with sewing, as often happens in the school's half term holiday, so I have enjoyed a bit of creative play making a few Christmas cards and have enjoyed quality time with our new little fur baby.

 

Here she is sitting on the gorgeous new blanket sent to her by our blogging friend Lynn Holland.  It came through the post, gift wrapped with Peggy's name on it.  

Lynn bought one for Milly when we first had her too.  Thank you so much Lynn, you are so very kind and thoughtful and Peggy is well and truly spoilt.

Here's a few of my cards, they still need a bit of tweaking yet but I was well glittered at this point :-)

I can proudly share this photo of Sam with the cushion he made at school....what a talented young man he is.

His teachers were so impressed that he was chosen to represent his school in The Young Textile Design Competition organised by Shrewsbury Drapers.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope to be able to visit all who call by here to see what you've all been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Oh what a lovely week I've had.....Christmas cards are in the making and we've had very special visitors up from South Wales.

I've been doing a bit of strip quilting to cut up for my Christmas cards....and have really enjoyed making them.

My little assistant has been 'helping' sort out the felt ready for a crafting session at Jo's on Tuesday.....every time I pull out one of my boxes she jumps in to 'help' and actually curled up and fell asleep in this one. :-)

Sunday teatime we all met up for a Sunday roast dinner....the food was really good and the company was even better.

Tuesday morning Jan joined Jo and I for a crafty day at Jo's.  Jan enjoyed an hour or maybe more ;-) sorting through the huge box of my donated fabrics and filled a box with stuff that she could use for her makes for the RNLI....this really made me smile.  

Jo provided a yummy lunch...[thanks Jo] and in the afternoon we all sat around Jo's dining table on sewing machines and enjoyed some free machining time to eventually make a Christmas wreath with what we made....they may take a while to make but I'm sure you will see the finished results at some point :-)

All in all we had a wonderful time chatting, creating and enjoying each others company....life should be filled with days like that.

It is a Louie fun day today so please be patient with me but I will drop by to see what you've been up to as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie xxxc

This week's smiles...week 488

 The weeks seem to be flying past and Christmas will be here before we know it.  I have had a quieter week here at Sewing by Annie's and it's given me time to get on top of making my Christmas cards....now almost finished and that really makes me smile....cos I never know what's round the next corner workwise.

We've enjoyed lots of quality time with the grandchildren with having the twins before and after school on a Tuesday and Wednesday and Gina sent me this photo and that really makes me smile...

Louie is playing with a fabric book I made for Theo [and I'd actually forgotten I'd made it].  It's so lovely when the things I make and treasured and enjoyed.

I've even had time to get my paints out and I always love a bit of creative time....not had so much of that lately lol.

I really love these paint brush pens because each one is really loaded and they all blend together really well.....just need to get started now.

Of course it wouldnt be a Friday without a few funnies....these really made me chuckle and I hope they make you smile too.

I hope you've all had a good week and have smiles to share by linking them at the bottom of the page.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Hi all.  It's been pretty full on with my bear making this week and there's more to come yet.  Since last Wednesday I've made...

These were the 4 you saw ready to make last Wednesday...I really love how the pink ribbons make them 'pop'.

These were the next 4 I made and, as you can see, they each have a bandana made from the man's favourite bandana.

I have also made this really cute 'little sister' bear using tiny babygros.  I do love having repeat orders from my customers...I made one for her big sister a few years back :-)

This brings the number of Memory bears/characters I've made up to 621 :-) :-)

In my spare time I have also started making my Christmas cards and have now finished the first 32....so probably as many to make again yet :-)

I keep saying I wont make them because of pressure of work but I really love making them so I'm sure I will find time to make the rest :-)

I have a set of 7 memory bears and another 2 coming soon so not sure when I will find the time lol.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you have enjoyed your visit and I will do my best to return your visit if you leave me a little comment.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles ....week 450

 This is the 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas' post.  My Christmas cards are all made and now posted and everywhere is beginning to look festive so thos are the photos I'm sharing with you today...

Amy has always been the one of our three that has loved Christmas the most in our family and now she is spreading the love of it to her family too.  The Christmas trees [yes, more than one of course] are going up around their house and they love to make the most of all the Christmas events that they can.

Of course their two dogs like to join in and pose for their photos too....they are such lovely dogs and never like to miss out.

Of course, last year Covid got in the way but this year as always my little elves like to come to Nanny Annie's to decorate the tree and, as you can see Theo joined them this year.....Phoebe had decorated the top of the tree [because she's the tallest of course] and Theo is just putting the last few bits on here.

Phoebe, Lulu and Stephen have decided that this year [Like Nanny Annie of course] that they would use their sewing machine to make their Christmas cards....This really made me smile.

Finally but by no means least this is a gorgeous painting that Lulu did for her mummy and daddy to go in the unit where they work....isnt it lovely?

That's all from me for this week.  I hope at least something has made you smile and you will now share your own smiles by linking up below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at another Wednesday catch up with our WOYWW freiends from around the world....my fav day of the week.  It's been another busy week for me and today I will be plouging through another pile of factory trousers to put new zips in....not my favourite job but the funds will go towards Christmas and I have enough of jobs I love doing to balance it all out thankfully.

On my desk today is the last 4 Christmas cards I have left...they are all made and posted now so I can move onto other things.

The pile of fabrics at the back are 5 more advent calendars to make ready for next year....if you saw my post on Wednesday you will have seen that I will need to make at least one by then :-)....exciting times.  

I try to make a few each year for others that don't sew to make memories with the little people in their lives and this year I sold the 3 I'd got within an hour of putting them on my Sewing by Annie Facebook page.

There is also a teddy cut out to make for my Christmas gift draw over on my Facebook page...I do this every year as a thank you for my followers so keep a look out if you'd like to get your name in the draw.

I'm doing a bit of knitting....it's slow progress as I can only do it when my arthritis allows but I'm loving the colours and there's no rush.

The other thing I can now share with you is the baby blanket I'm crochetting with my new hooks.  Every row or two is a different pattern and I love the way the colours are working together.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit and will leave me a little comment so I know you've called in.  I will do my best to pay you a return visit in between my sewing jobs.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Welcome to the mad house....it's been crazily busy here over the last week but I managed to get on top of it all thankfully.  The 49 zips are now replaced in all those trousers....and there's another 36 coming when they collect these ones :-)

The very delayed parcel that arrived last Tuesday night contained a fluffly dressing gown which I hade these 4 gorgeous Memory bears from and I'm pleased to say that they have now arrived safely via a courier with their new owner [I wasn't going to risk the postal service with them!!]

The customer I made the 5 memory bears you saw last week loved them so much she wanted another one making....I do love it when this happens.

Over the week I tried my new sewing machine out and found it wouldn't do any of the jobs I needed it for so yesterday we returned it back to the dealer, tried out and tested another machine while we were there and bought a better one to meet my needs.  It meant paying a bit more for it but they offered us a good deal so it was too good to miss.

In my spare time [lol lol lol]  I have also finished the 3 batches of Christmas cards I had been making....just another 20 to go now with the next design.

I struggle to write my Christmas cards by hand because of my arthritis so I add inserts but I do love to make them all....these are all appliqued, machine embroidered and embellished then the toppers are machined onto the cards.

So folks that's all from me for today.  I did call round on all I could last week but was unable to leave comments on some from my phone so sorry for that.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 It's Wednesday and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at Sewing by Annie's....

I've been working on 3 different designs for my Christmas cards...

There's been lots of ironing fabric onto bond-a web, drawing on my designs and then fussy cutting it all out.

These will be reindeers when they grow up.

These will be candles and holly when they are finished.

And these will be patchworked Christmas trees when they are finished.

I've had a quiet week with sewing so I've been making the best of my time with Christmas card making.  

The parcel coming from Swansea that was posted last Monday with clothes to make 3 Memory bears in it still hasn't arrived....I really hope it arrives eventually as clothes from a loved family member are so special.

As you can see I've had a little helper in my sewing room.  Milly is so funny when I pull out one of my boxes full of materials she likes to climb on top....she's always done this since she was a puppy.  I think she thinks she's helping :-)

That's all from me for today.  I really hope you are alll keeping well and filling your days with things to make you smile.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

 What a difference a week makes eh?  Last week I had no customers at all so I worked hard with making my Christmas cards and now think I've made enough for this year....

I've made 60 cards in 7 different designs.  Some are appliqued, some are machine embroidered, some are hand embroidered and some are made using 1" squares of different Christmas fabrics.  I've made them in batches and really enjoyed being creative.

Monday started a whole new week.  I have..

• Shortened 4 pair of trousers
• Shortened the sleeves on a gent's coat
• Cut out the Memory bear [left] ready to make it this morning and..
• Hopefully the clothes to make 3 more Memory bears and a Memory elephant will be arriving in the post today.....so that should keep me busy for the rest of this week.

That's all I have to share with you today so if you leave me a little hello message so I know you've called in I will do my best to pop over to yours later [I did my best last week and think I popped in to see most of you].

I hope you're all keeping busy and staying safe and happy.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Happy Wednesday all. Here we are, yet again, at the best day of the week when we all link up with creative desks all around the world.  I've had very little sewing from customers this week so I've been making the best of the break and been making a start with my Christmas cards.  My desks and tables are all full to over flowing with crafty goodies so I'm just quickly going to show you what I've been busy with...

The sewing machine has been well used and there has been lots of 'push back' been going on to have room to sew....even the box of metallic threads is out today.

It wasn't a good start as I sewed 2 of the toppers together and had to unpick the machine embroidery stitch!!

The results of the sewing is piled up on my cutting station....there's 20 in the one pile and 6 little Bethlehem scenes in the other pile.

I have even had the glass paints out and done a couple on laminated sheets....but half the glass paints have been thrown out and the rest were put away in disgust because either I couldn't open the tops or the paint was drying up so won't be doing any more like these.

So that's all from me for today....I have many more cards to make yet so I hope my Christmas mojo comes soon so I can get them done. Any ideas are welcome on a postcard :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Here we are at the last day in September already and it's 'What's on my desk' day again.  I have to say there is very little I can show you this week.  There has been developments with the Luna Lapin rabbit but it will be a while until I can share that with you sorry...It's for someone who reads my blog.

I have had no customers this week apart from a few orders for more face masks so...

I've made another batch of Adult sized face masks to keep in stock and, as I have already sold many Christmas masks, I have topped up the selection of those too.

The only other things on my desk today are my cards and envelopes to make a start with my Christmas card....so many of you have already made lots that you have put me to shame.....as you can see I've not started to make them yet!!

I am off on a delivery challenge with my darling other half today so it will be tomorrow before I get the chance to do my visits but I will get there at some point.  Hope you're all keeping well and happy.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Here we are at another WOYWW and there aren't many left now before the big day so it's a hustle and bustle of activities here at Sewing by Annie's.  I've had lots of pending orders and several have said they are coming but that's the last I hear from them.  I have messaged them, they read their messages and then never reply....is it just me or have proper manners simply gone out of the window?  I was taught, as a child that if someone spoke to me it was rude to ignore them but it seems that it doesn't apply to the Internet....or am I just becoming a grumpy old woman?

Enough of my grumping....sorry but I do feel a little better now I've shared it and at the end of the day you are my friends you know :-)

So here's a few quick shares for today....

The little stockings you saw all cut out have now been mounted onto what I hope is my last batch of cards for this year.  I rather like this simple design.

Here's the latest pair of Memory bears for the few who don't follow me on Facebook [for those that don't...it's worth popping over there and getting your name in my Christmas Draw ...you might be lucky to win my Christmas bear].

Here's what I call a 'silk purse out of a sows ear' sort of job.  My customer had [badly] cut out 3 of the 4 stockings and then decided she wanted them lining and a cuff making for the top in the white fleece fabric but that she had bitten off more than she could chew so brought them to me to make them for her

She had cut a square out of the fleece so there wasn't enough left to line them with so I had to line them with curtain lining and just use the fleece to make the cuffs with.

If I'd made them from scratch I would have tried to get the check a little more in line with them all but I couldn't change what was already cut ....I'm pleased to say she was thrilled with them and that's all that really matters isn't it?

That's all from me for today.  I will do my best to pop over to see what you've been up to when I get a minute.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

As Christmas creeps crawls rushes at us at high speed I'm being kept very busy with all I like to do for the big day so without wasting any of our precious time I will speedily post a few pics of what I've been up to since you called here last week...

I've mounted these card toppers onto their cards and.....

....I've done these ones too so I think that's 40 now finished.

I've cut out all these little stockings and each one is backed with bond-a-web so they are ready to be ironed onto the next batch of cards.

I've been making fabric covered notice boards as a special order...a real labour of love so wont be advertising these to sell in a hurry.

Along side all the other alterations and repairs I've had to do this week I had to also open up the Teddy Hospital as this very special little bear required urgent day surgery so he could go home to his little owner for bedtime later that day.....I will add she was a very good patient and went home with her 'brave bear' sticker......Yes I know I'm nuts but it makes my customers smile :-)

That's all from me for today.  I will do my best to pop over to yours as some point but life here is rather hectic, as you can see.  :-)

WOYWW....

Sitting for any length of time is still causing me problems so sewing and computer time is having to be done in short spells but I've had another acupuncture session on Monday night and I am feeling it's helping so I've got everything crossed.

I was really chuffed that I managed to make the four  Memory bears you saw cut out on my desk last week.....

...aren't they fab?  The stories that my customers tell me about bears I've made for them really fill my heart with joy because they mean so much to who they are made for....I'm really blessed.

I have at least two more coming today to be made too :-)

As a special request I made a back pack for one of the little bears and when I put the pic on my Facebook page I had a lot of really lovely feedback about it.

It's been suggested that it could hold special items ....a little bear to keep treasures safe....sounds good to me.  I've made the pattern now so if any of my customers like the idea I can make more.  :-)

The only other thing on my desk this week is the ever growing pile of finished Christmas cards....up to 44 now but I still have more to make!

Thanks for calling by.  My Ipad has decided it doesn't like leaving comments on many of the blogs so comments will have to wait now til I am able to sit at the lap top....please be patient with me.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Another week, same desks, different photos.  I'm just one of many who snap pics of their work desks each week to share their creative makes with friends all around the world.  If you'd like to know more and hopefully join in the fun then please pop over to Julia's and The Stamping Ground for details and join in the fun.

This week has seen lots of action over here at Sewing by Annie's.....

These are the 6 little Memory bears that arrived for me to make last Wednesday...now completed and collected.

I will share a little tale with you next....On the Tuesday before I had had a phone from a lady saying that her daughter would be bringing items of clothing to make 6 Memory bears for her so when the lady arrived on Wednesday morning I had to chuckle when she said it wasn't her mum that had rung.  I hadn't taken her name because when she rang it was my day off and I was in the middle of changing a dirty nappy so answering the phone was a little difficult.  This of course means there is another lady coming wanting 6 MORE bears making plus the lady the ones are for in the pic above told me, when she collected them, that her friend wants 3 making and I am already expecting 4 more to make plus there are possibly a further dozen that had enquired about them that may well turn up before Christmas .....I have a feeling I'm going to be busy!!

Hence why this rather large bag of toy stuffing arrived at my door this morning....a further 5kg!!!  It takes a lot of stuffing to make a little bear.

 A lot of you suggested that my new little travelling bear should be called Biscuit so he's got his new name....I rather liked the idea of taking a biscuit with me on my travels ;-)

You can see he's been watching over me making a start at my Christmas cards....22 done many more to go yet.

That's all from me for today.  I will hopefully call round to see what you've all been doing this week.

Hugs,

Annie x