WOYWW...

Another week and my desk has seen some action this week but not just by me...

I had the company of these two gorgeous girls on Saturday so I let them loose in my sewing room with my boxes of craft supplies and oh wow they really made my heart sing. They loved rooting through it all are both very creative and love making things together.....I just know now why I never throw anything out that could be used again.  :-)

At the weekend Theo had an early  birthday present and as you can see it has two windows so this is what's on my desk today.....

….two little pairs of blue check curtains.  Now all we need are the two stretchy elastics to hang them on for him.

That's all from me for this week so if yo leave me a message to let me know you've called in I will pop over to yours to see what you've been up to.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Here we are again exposing our creative messes spaces with our friends from all round the world.  January has been and gone and here we are in February!!!!  Where does the time fly to?  I have had another varied week with sewing.....

I made 4 square table cloths in this pretty pink fabric for coffee mornings in the church near our old house. 

Up on the shelf behind you might be able to see a box that once held cooking foil.....it's now holding something special that I just might show you at some point [if you're interested of course 😀].

I shortened curtains in this pretty grey fabric.

With the offcuts from when I made the fabric box a couple of weeks back I made 4 pretty coasters.....

....and I then made these for another little project I am working on.....more of that at a later date maybe?

I feel I have teased a little this week....it's a ploy to keep you coming back of course 😂😂😂😂

That's all from me for today.  Please leave me a little message to let me know you've called in and I will do my best to pop over to yours as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Where do the days go?  It only seems 5 mins like I was snapping pics of my desk last week to share with you.  Since then there has been lots going on here at Sewing by Annie's.  As you know our son Mark and his wife Gina are expecting a baby in September [wahoooooo that's next month!!!!] and during the summer they have built a new dining room extention on their house.  Mark works away from home most weeks so finishing off the decorating etc has taken a long while so at the weekend we helped with the push to get lots of the jobs finished before the imminent arrival of little Bert [my name for him til they announce the official name].  This included painting and putting up new curtain poles......I bet you can see what's coming!

So on my desk this week is....

Curtains, curtains and more curtains......talk about a labour of love eh?  :-)

I've also shortened some really pretty window blinds to make them more just window dressing......rather more tricky than planned too cos the main fabric pulled out of shape while trimming the bottom [cut into a 'v' shape] and both blinds [yes there are two little windows] had to be done twice!!  I'm rather chuffed with the finished result though and now just hope they look as pretty as we hoped when up at the windows.

 This is the other project I've been working on this week. It was something I had in mind to do at some point but a friend gave me a shove in the right direction and this week has seen me designing the pattern for a Memory bear and making a few prototypes to get the pattern how I wanted it.  Plus I have designed a label for those wanting special details on the bear.

The idea is to use special fabrics to make them out of to keep memories together...

• A first babygro
• A special outfit from a toddler
• A junior school uniform when the child moves on to big school
• A special family member's clothing when they die

....in fact any clothing can be used [up to 4 different garments] to keep a memory safe.  I have put the pics in my Sewing by Annie Facebook site and have already got orders for 6 so they are proving very popular.  :-)

There you go....that's all from me for this week.  If you'd like to leave me a little message I will do my best to pay you a return visit as soon as I'm able.  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Here we are again at our Wednesday 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours' blog post for the week.  If you still don't know what it's all about then please pop over to our Queen of snoop's blog where you will find the details and maybe you will join us.....it's a lot of fun and there really are some wonderfully talented folk out in this world we live in.

So?  You're here to see my desk aren't you?

It's that time of year when I have to get my books up to date ready to fill in my tax forms so in between my sewing jobs I've been busy with my records....not my fav job but needs must.

I have b****** curtains to shorten.  You know just how much I love curtains don't you?  As I said about book work....needs must lol

My knitting has been taking shape....just got the hood to finish knitting now.

I went with Mark and Gina on Sunday to see the latest scan on the expected little family member.....lots of oooohs and awwwws.  It's so lovely to see the little one moving, kicking and waving before it's born.

As I've nearly finished the little hoodie I'm knitting I needed to be sure I didn't run out of wool so this is the batch of yarns I've bought to get knitting with....all unisex colours cos we don't know what this one will be.....nice though aren't they?

That's all from me for today....we are busy wallpapering the living room now so I don't get a lot of spare time for crafting.  Please leave me a little message to let me know you've called by and I will do my best to pop over to yours when I can....if you have google+ I do read your posts but am unable to leave you a comment....sorry.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Another week has just flown by here at Sewing by Annie's.  The sewing work has been flooding in and more progress has been made on the house front.

The new kitchen is all completed now apart from decorating and tiling.  In the old kitchen the cupboards were stripped out at the weekend [ and taken the the local tip in two car loads!] and a new worktop, cupboard and sink was fitted in what is now the utility.....more decorating needed.  On Monday our plumbers connected the new gas hob, disconnected the old gas cooker and fitted us a radiator in the utility........it's all go here :-)

So, what's on my work desk?

I completed the gorgeous red dress for Picklelily, the magician/children's entertainer.  It's a Lindy hop dress and suits Picklelily to perfection and I really hope it brings her lots of luck in her competition.

Since then I've made her three amazing table cloths from this sequined pink fabric....and learnt a very important lesson.  The sequined fabric is stretchy and I had to line the cloths with bright pink shiny lining fabric.  When I made the first cloth it nearly had me in tears to get it to stitch.  It was nearly impossible to get it to lie flat and the one fabric stretched and puckered on the other......then I had a brain wave.  I knew somewhere I had a walking foot for my sewing machine.  It had never been used before but I managed to find it, dust it off and wahooooooo it stitched like a dream.....guess who will be using this foot again.

This was another challenge I was brought this week.  These were patio door curtains that needed shortening but she also wanted a 14" frill sewing on the top made from another short pair of curtains.  It took a bit of working out how I was going to do them and of course my much older sister had to cut them for me....and as our Mum used to say....Two heads are better than one even if they are only sheep's heads.  :-)

So there you go.  |Just a little insight as to what's been happening here this week.  If you leave me a little hello message to say you've called in I will head over to yours ASAP to see what you've been up to.  Thanks for calling in.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Well haven't we been keeping the postmen busy over the last few feeks?  I have filled my table with the ATCs that have come through my letter box already and here's a couple of pics to share them with you...

Aren't they all really gorgeous?  They are all so very different but each one is made with love and without WOYWW they would have never been made.  Thank you so much to each and every one of you....I love them.  :-) :-) :-) :-)

And just quickie to show you what is on my desk this week ...

I've been shortening lots of pairs of trousers and......

......yes I've also been making more b***** curtains.  This time I had to make two pairs of curtains from one large pair plus line them too.....with a little help from my best friend and [much older] sister who does the cutting for me....thanks Jo xxxx

So that's it from me for today.  Please leave me a little hello comment to let me know you've called in and I will pop over to yours to return the visit.

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

WOYWW...

Another week has passed and Monday we had yet another viewing....this time it was the third viewing by the same young couple!!!  How many times do some people need to see a place to make a decision about it?  So yet again it was another weekend of cleaning an already clean house....just in case they found the one remaining speck of dust :-)  Shell decided it was maybe not the best idea that we had the twins for the day so their daddy took the day off work to look after them at home....I just hope it was worth everyone's efforts this time.

So today I am showing you the baby quilt I was making.....now finished.

I hand stitched around all the characters in the middle of the quilt to complete it.  Just as well I've finished it too cos our niece has delivered early and had a little boy weighing just 6lb 10oz yesterday over 3 weeks early.

Of course today I am playing catch up with my sewing jobs cos I had my normal munchkin play day yesterday and look what I've got to do now :-(

Curtains!!!!!

You all know how much I love shortening curtains don't you?....and these ones are really wide and heavy so my arms and shoulders will be suffering later no doubt  :-(  Oh well it all pays the bills and most of my other sewing jobs I really love doing.

Well folks it's a quick post from me this morning....lots to be busy with here.  Hope you're all having a great week.  Thanks for popping by.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Here we are at another Wednesday...they seem to be flying by don't they?....or is it just me?

This is the day that almost 200 creative folk expose their work/play spaces to the world and then blog hop to see what everyone else has been up to during the week.  If you would like to join in take a picture, put it on your blog and just hop over to Julia's and click to link to your blog.

So? What have I got to show you today?

A mess....my lacy bits all pulled out of their jar cos of course the piece I wanted was right at the bottom of the jar!...always the way eh?

I've started working on the front cover of my fabric book.....and I'm loving it so far.

Some snowflakes I've crocheted for the next batch of Christmas cards I am making.

What is actually on my desk this morning!

Yes, it's b****** curtains.  :-)  I have to make 2 pair of lined curtains and a lined door curtain....what fun!  They aren't huge so hopefully won't take too long.

And cos I've also been busy in the kitchen too I've left out my banana cakes so you can all help yourselves to a slice to have with your morning coffee.

Thanks for calling by today.  If you leave me a comment I will aim to call by at yours in between making those lovely curtains [she says through gritted teeth!].  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Thought we all needed a bit of cheering up this weather so I snapped this pic in a moment of sun and thought I'd share it this morning to start off my WOYWW post.

On my desk today is...

I made the curtains last week as you know and this week my customer has managed to get the fringed edging he wants me to put down the one edge of each curtain and along the bottom edge of the tie backs so I can now get them finished!

This is the latest bridesmaid's dress one of my customers has brought for me to shorten.  I know it's personal choice but I have to say I don't think I would choose black for a wedding.   There are so many pretty colours to choose from.   It has a very long train that she wants me to reduce and there are 3 layers to the hems so it's a job and a half to do.

Before you pop off to blog hop all the other desks please help yourselves to a strawberry or two.  Even though we have had very little sun to ripen them this is the third dish full I've picked and they are really yummy.

That is all I am sharing with you in pictures today.  It's a quick post cos my fun day with the munchkins for this week had to change from my normal Tuesday to today so I shall aim to drop by your blogs to pay you a visit during nap times...theirs not mine but that sounds like rather a good idea  :-)  Sewing can wait til another day eh?  Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

ps If you have time could read the post below we really would appreciate your opinion.  Thanks x

WOYWW....

So here we are at another Wednesday and yet another world wide snoop round all the crafty spaces.  What am I going to share with you today?

The post man has brought me two more gorgeous ATCs this week.

24. from Sue

and

 25. from Fiona

Thank you both so much.  I love them.

My handsome son [yes if course I'm biased] and his gorgeous girlfriend have been away on holiday this week and while they were there he took her to the end of a pier looking out over the sea for a picnic and then proposed to her.  :-)

What an old romantic he is eh?  We are so very thrilled with the news and of course now have another wedding to plan.  :-)

Of course you have really come here to see my desk so this week that is what I'm gonna show you in all it's glory....and b****** curtains!

I have 4 pair of curtains to make for a caravan and 8 tie backs to go with them.  Of course they are only small curtains so not such a struggle as the big ones I get but there are 8 of them to make!

The eagle eyed of you might spot Mitzy monkey in the window soaking up the sun.  :-)  She likes to sit and watch me when I sew.

Well thats it from me for today.  I had a wonderful day with the twins yesterday so it's head down today to catch up with the sewing.  Hope you have enjoyed your visit and will leave me a little comment before dashing off over to Julia's.  I will do my best to pay you a return visit in between hems  :-)

Take care and have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Yes, it's Wednesday again and so very many bloggers now link up on this day and expose their messy cluttered disorganised creative spaces so us nosey folk can have a good snoop into their lives.  If you want to find out more or would like to join in with the madness fun then please pop over to visit our queen of snoop Julia.  She is the jam that keeps us all together  :-)

So folks? What has been happening in my world this week.  I've done a 'mainly picture' blog today...so it's quicker for you to read and quicker for me to type cos life is manic here  :-)

I've made two red seat pads for the munchkins to use their other grandparent's two single buggies.  I've made these to measure with slits so the straps will go through.

....they will be more comfy now :-)

My latest little 'fish and chip baby' jumper.  I'm now making the beanie hat to match  :-)  Please follow this link if you want to have a go at knitting one....they are very easy to make.

My 'to do' rail looks like this today.  Jo and I had a 'Munchkin Monday' this week.  :-)  

• Normally when I have a day looking after the twins I am here alone so I shut up the shop for the day.  
• Often when Jo is here on a Monday for our normal Funday Monday we have no customers.  

I had a bright idea this week that cos there was two of us here to look after the munchkins and cos I was sure we could also cope with the odd customer I would stay open.....this week I had 7 customers!!! Plus they all came with more than one item needing doing and most of them needed fittings!!!!!  If I say that I spent yesterday catching up and my rail still looks like this today then you will understand if I struggle to get round many blogs this week  :-)  I will do my best I promise. 

Also you will all know how much I hate curtains and here is another reason why.  I hate spiders much more!!!  These curtains have come to me really dirty for shortening and the inhabitants were still in situ!!  Arghhhhhhh.

 

So, today I have NO not one pair of curtains to shorten, NOT two pairs of curtains but THREE pairs!!!   I may be a while.

So there you go.  As you can see it's another busy week over here at Sewing by Annie's.  I would like to say a huge thank you to all who called by here last week.  I popped in to visit you all but was unable to leave comments on a couple so I'm sorry for that but I blame blogger!

I hope you all have a fab week and thanks for calling in.  Please leave me a little hello comment before you leave and I will do my best to do a return visit.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Another fab week with lots of wonderful family times for me and today I will be AWOL from leaving comments because I have two special little friends arriving here at 7 this morning and staying til about 6 tonight.  Michelle is having phased days back to work before she starts back part time in June and today is a day with Nanny Annie for the twins.  If I haven't lost the knack then I might get them both down for naps at the same time and manage to drop in on a few of you but if my plan goes feet up then I will try to call in on you tomorrow......no apologies made cos I shall be treasuring every moment of today  :-)  :-)  :-)

So what pics have I got to share with you today?

The wonderful parcel of fabric that Di sent Jo and I this week for making more little dresses for the Dress a girl scheme.  We are having a little break from dress making as most of you will know because between us we have now made 401 dresses but we promise this fabric will be used to make more when we have time....Thanks Di x

A 'to do' rail full of trousers to shorten.

This is what I had Jo doing while she was here Monday....Grovelling at my feet!!!!....just where I like her  :-)

She is cutting the linings for the next double width pair of curtains we have to tackle.  I couldn't do curtains without her as I am unable to kneel on the floor with my replacement knee and we make a brilliant team....Thanks Jo you're a gem. x

Said curtains that just need finishing.  I'm sure they will look lovely when finished but as you can see they have a quilted effect with stitching and don't lie nice and flat for hems and seams so are a real pain for making.  :-( .....I hate b***** curtains. [have I ever said that before?]

These two pics are just to share with you the beautiful Azalea and bouquet of flowers that I was given over the weekend for Mother's day.....they are far too pretty to keep them all to myself.  I was treated to lunch on Saturday buy my son, Mark and his girlfriend, Gina....we were joined by her parents, her brother and Nan and Michelle, Brent and the twins.  What a special gathering of lovely people....Thanks so much. x

Sunday we were invited to Michelle and Brent's for lunch.  Michelle did savouries and Amy joined us with her three and she brought cakes and sweets.  They make a fab team and it meant I could have quality time with all 5 of our gorgeous Grandchildren ......what more could a Mummy ask for?  :-)

Thank you so much to all for making my weekend really special.

Now folks, please leave me a little hello comment before you pop over to Julia's blog to join in the WOYWW fun.  I hope you all have a wonderfully creative week.

Hugs,

Annie x