WOYWW.....

 Here we are at another catch up with our creative friends to see what they have been busy with this week.  If you want to know more then please pop over to Sarah's Craft Shed for details and why not join in the fun?

I've had a busy week with a steady flow of customers.  I've....

• Shortened 7 pair of trousers
• Let one pair of trousers down for a very tall young man
• Put a new zip in a pair of jeans
• Shortened the straps on a Bridesmaid dress [made more difficult because the straps had frills]
• Plus I have made this gorgeous Mamory Bear...

It's made to give the groom-to-be and is made from his Nan's top, his shirt he wore for his first job and on the back is a panel from his first child's babygro....lots of very special memories.

That's all from me for now.  This little bear has brought my numbers up to 990 so I just need to make 10 more now to reach my 1000...and I have 9 on their way very soon :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Happy Wednesday to one and all.  The bear factory has still been working fast and furious this week...and I'm loving life.

These two were made in memory of a special Grandma using her favourite tops.

These three were made for a customer that I had made three for previously and used the left over fabrics ...I love my returning customers.

These bring my bear numbers up to 766!!!

I have two skirts to shorten now but they will have to wait until after my Nanny Annie days plus I have several more Memory bears on their way....they keep coming :-) :-)

I hope you're all well and happy and will leave me a little comment so I know you've calle by and I will pop over to yours as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie

WOYWW...

 What's on my desk today?...in truth not a lot because although we planned last weekend away on our favourite campsite near Llanidloes things all went to pot when I developed Shingles and we had to come home early :-(   Since then I have had to turn down sewing and have been struggling to sleep because of the pain from a swollen gland in the back of my head...the shingles is behind my left ear.  I'm hoping that, because I recognised it from having it once before many years ago, and acting quickly to get to a Dr to have anti viral meds that they will help....please keep everything crossed for me.

I have updated my Memory bear folder with the photos of my latest bears and this brings my number up to 721 now made...and that has made me smile to think that there are so many little bears giving love and comfort all around the world....I have pending orders for another 20 plus too :-)

This is a rather staged photo of my desk because I am not feeling like doing much of anything at the mo.

I had to buy two new balls of chunky wool while we were away for a little C project but have done very little as yet.

The book is the one I picked up at the coffee morning in aid of Breast cancer and it's a good read...especially in the middle of the night to take you mind off pain while you cant sleep.

Sorry there's nothing very interesting to see today...hopefully by next week things will be different.  Thanks for calling in.  I will do my best to pop over to see your desks at some point today.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 I've not had a lot of customers this week....I guess many are on their holidays....so I have been using my time well by sewing for the charity I support.

I loved making the rag doll so much that I decided to make another one....I try to make each one different but have enjoyed making each one.

Harry Johnson's mum, Sally, called in to collect the sewing I had ready for her this week and was really pleased with the quilt and the two rag dolls so, as she was having a stall at Vron Gate show last Saturday, she said she would take the quilt and one of the rag dolls there with her and keep the other rag doll for the Minsterley Show.

So I made her another quilt to take with the second rag doll to Minsterley show.  I am really loving dipping into the gifted fabrics and have already sorted out another batch of fabrics to make another quilt....I'm on a roll :-)

Please note my assistant isn't naked behind the quilt :-) :-)

Amongst the gifted fabrics were lots of ready cut squares ready to patchwork so I have been doing some random patchwork with them and plan to make 3 cushions with it....they are all really good quality fabrics so have been lovely to sew with.

Just so you know, I have had some sewing for my customers.  This is a lovely School Memory Bear for a school that I haven't made one for before and it brings my number of schools up to 39 now.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today and will leave me a little message so I know you've called by and I will do my best to pay you a return visit as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at another weekly catch up with our creative friends all around the world....I love Wednesdays.

I've had a busy week [what's new? I hear you say]. I've shortened lots of summer dresses and jumpsuits this week but have also found time to make these two school Memory bears...

...these two bring my list of schools that I've made Memory bears for up to 38 now and that includes school from all around the world :-) The one is for a little girl moving up to secondary school and the other is a leaving gift for her teacher.

I have also updated the folder where I keep photos of all the Memory bears I've made and I have now made 684 in total...it thrills me to think of all that Annie's love all over the world.

That's all I have to share with you this week.  I hope you're all coping with the heat ...we have fans going in most rooms in our bungalow today to make it bearable.  If you leave me a little message I will pop over to yours when I get a minute to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x
 

WOYWW...

 It's been another busy week for me and, as always I have demands from my family when I'm at my busiest.

This time it was to steam Levi's dance outfits.  On Sunday she entered 7 dance competitions and did rather well....results will be coming on Friday cos she sure did make me smile...so please call back on Friday if you'd like to know how she did.

  😀😀😀😀😀😀

I've been making another Memory bear out of a Wedding dress.....thankfully the Wedding dress fitting I had to do this week didn't need anything doing to it so there was no risk that I would make a bear out of the wrong dress.

This brings my Memory bear count up to 676....I'm so chuffed.

That's all I have to share with you this week.  I will pop over to your desk ASAP if you leave me a little message so I know you've called by.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Hello all.  You're here to see what's on my desk today and surprise surprise there's only one little school Memory bear this week....but I do have another one coming later today :-)

This little school bear brings the number of schools I've made bears for up to 36 from all round the world.

It also brings the total number of Memory Characters up to 643 now....I've actually made 22 bears in the last 3 weeks!!

I was brought this jacket this week...it had a 7" zip in the top to be pulled over the head but my customer struggled to get in and out of it so he asked if I could add a panel down the front and put a full length zip in it.....I get asked to do all sorts of jobs and always love a challenge :-)

I will show you a few of my home made decorations that I have up in my sewing room now [no I didn't make the mat but I do rather like robins].

I will be shutting up shop on 23rd and will then be closed until Wednesday 4th January so will hopefully get a good rest and be able to enjoy lots of family times :-)

Hope you're all having a wonderful week.  I will call by to see as many as I can in between my sewing jobs later.

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

WOYWW...

 Oh what a week's it's been here at Sewing by Annie's.  I posted last Wednesday with the honest intention to visit all my favourite blogs and leave comments but that wen't out the window when Theo walked into a picket fence on his way to school [he was fine but had to be monitored at home for the day] so came here so that Gina could rest and we could play with Theo.....That's when my plate spinning started and it really didn't stop all week.  I played catch up with my sewing and sadly my blogging had to wait.  My intentions are good again this week so let's hope I can actually get round a few blogs to see what you've all been up to.

I managed to

• finish the little Memory dog I was making.
• Repaired a jacket.
• Steamed the wedding dress and two little flower girl dresses.
• Shortened the two nurses dresses and....

.....made the six Memory bears.  Thesee were made in memory of a much loved Grandma and each family member had chosen their favourite item of clothing to have them made out of.....so special.

For those tthat like to know that has brought my number of Memory bears up to 545....that's a lot of Annie's love around the world isn't it?

There are perks to my job...on Friday I had a Slovakian body builder here for fittings on the shirt and waistcoat he wants to wear to his Wedding....because of his body building his shoulders and arms were very muscular [not that I was looking of course] so his shirt and waistcoat needed taking in at his waste. He stripped to the waist in my sewing room and smelt amazing....now now Jan!!  My darling hubby was here for my protection but it did finish my week off with a high :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Oh! what a week last week was and what a difference this one has been in contrast. As promised here's a photo of my completed 13 Memory bears..

 

Every one is different but they each have a panel in red tartan because the lady they are to remember was Scottish...I really loved making them and my customer was thrilled with them all.

I didn't make them alone though....

My darling hubby stepped up to help and sat stuffing their tummies....he was sacked when it came to stuffing arms and legs because quality control could see he was struggling to do it to standard [I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my bears].

We had a really lovely day working together and many giggles were shared between us....it's what life should be filled with.

My bear making didn't end there though because, before I'd finished, I was brought a nurse's uniform to make a Memory bear out of....she had just qualified as a nurse and wanted to remember the years of hard work she had put in to get there.....I remember all too well how much effort goes into qualifying as a nurse and of course they have also had to cope with Covid over the last 18 months as well.

For those who like to know, my Memory bear count is now up to 493....it will be 500 before I know it :-) :-)

I've treated myself to some new tools this week.  Having seen all the lovely crochet Kate does over there in Spain I really longed to do some but my aging hands struggle with my old crochet hooks.  I found this set on the internet and ordered it Saturday night...I'm pleased to say it arrived on Sunday morning and the hooks are so much easier to use for me....The pattern on the right is what I'm playing with and I'm really enjoying renewing my love of crochetting.....I used to crochet for a shop in Shrewsbury many years ago :-)

The last thing I'm sharing with you today is a little canvas Lulu painted for me to go on my sewing room wall of memories this week....I love how she has blended the paint colours [choosing my favourite colours] and that she has masked out the A and added a little teddy for me.

That's all from me for this week.  I've had no sewing so far this week so hope to be able to visit rather more of you this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

'

WOYWW...

Happy Wednesday to one and all.  It's been another busy week here at Sewing by Annie's....or should I call it The Ark?  Everything has come here in pairs this week.  

I've had two riding jackets

• ...one to replace it's 28" open-ended zip in [a tricky job because it wasn't put in to ever come back out and every single stitch had to be undone one at a time!....putting the new one back in was no easier!] 
• .....the second riding jacket was bought as a seconds because the one inside pocket was missing so I had to make a pocket and sew it in by hand because there was no way to get it under the machine to do it...so this was another tricky job to get right.

Then I had a steady flow of Memory bear requests...

This pair were the ones I said I had waiting on my desk to be made last Wednesday.  They are made from a fleecy pair of pyjamas and the result was two really gorgeous bears.

These were the next pair.  It never fails to amaze me just how different each bear is depending on the items of clothing I have to make them out of.

This lady asked for just the one but when she saw the result she loved it so much that she asked me to make another one :-)

The next pair were made from a Grandma's pyjamas to hold special memories for her two Granddaughters.  Two very different bears but both are very cuddly because the fabrics are fluffy and the message on the personalised label was what their Grandma used to say to them.

This now brings my Memory Bear count up to 443.

So, as you can see, everything came in in pairs....all that was missing was the floods.  It was actually a really lovely sunny week.  I hope you've all had a happy and healthy week and have lots of creating things to share with me when I pop round to see you later.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Here we are another week closer to that light at the end of the tunnel....I hope.  It's been another busy, bear filled week for me here at Sewing by Annie's so that's what I have to show you today.

It never fails to surprise me how different each of my bears are depending on what they are made from.

This one was made from a gentleman's favourite cord trousers and shirt.

I was then brought a bag full of football shirts, shorts and jacket that were grown out of. I was to make a Memory bear first as requested and then make a cover for the 18" cushion my customer bought to go in her son's bedroom.

The bear went together like a dream but it was a work of art finding enough fabric to make the cushion cover out of....and in the middle of making it my one sewing machine started playing up so I sent it to the naughty corner and used one of my other machines to finish it. My customer was thrilled to bits with it and after a weekend in the naughty corner my machine was really sorry and is playing nicely again this week.

This is the latest bear I've made.  Very different again and I have to say one of my favourites.  It's made from a Mum's blouse who sadly died of Covid pneumonia in hospital so I'm hoping it will bring her daughter comfort and be a focus for her grief as she was unable to be with her in hospital.

It's in my favourite colours and went together like a dream.

This one brings my Memory bear numbers now up to 435  :-)

Finally I thought I'd make you chuckle.  You will all be aware I make a lot of Memory bears of course.  To make these bears I use a lot of stuffing and here is my latest delivery....10kg!!

It fills two huge boxes and inside each it's compressed into five 1kg bags so if I let it all out at once it would probably fill my sewing room.  :-)

On that note I will leave you chuckling....if it all escapes please come looking for me :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are at the last Wednesday before Christmas....how did that happen?  I would like to say a huge thank you to you all for your love and friendship over this last year....my Wednesdays really have helped to get me through it all.  Let's hope 2021 sees an end to this awful virus that has taken so many of our loved ones from us and we can all get back to living a 'new' normal life.

On my desk today are bears, bears and yet more bears....

The lady I made the one little bear our of the jacket last week brought me 4 more items of clothing to make 4 more bears out of....the lovely thing was these were another jacket, 2 shirts and a jumper so they made 4 very different bears....all lovely :-)

A young man came with 2 shirts wanting a bear made out of them but when he arrived he decided he would like 3 making :-)

Finally and by no means least I made this special bear for one very special little girl who is leaving her foster home and going to her forever home at the beginning of the new year.  She is like a little ray of sunshine so this little bear is just perfect for her.  I really love it when I'm taken into the heart of my customers and they share such special things with me and it was the perfect way to finish work before Christmas....and for those asking that now brings my number up to 403 Memory Bears :-)

Now that just leaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Hugs,

Annie x 

WOYWW....

 I'm slowly but surely getting back to 'the new normal'. I'm doing a few fittings wearing my face shield and it seems to be working well.  I've sold all my adult face masks in grab bags and now only have a couple of bags of children's masks left....it's been like a cleansing and the chaos in my sewing room has lessoned considerably.

Since the weekend I've been seeing spots....two dresses to alter.  One cream with black spots and the other black with white spots :-)

I've made another Memory bear for yet another different school bringing my number of schools up to 29 now.

 

 

I've been restocking....

• New sewing machine needles...because a girls can't do her job without them.  You should need to replace the needle after 8 hours sewing and trust me when I say I go through a fair few.
• New cards to get my customer cards up to date...I keep the details of what each customer has done for easy reference.

 

 

The other thing I've been doing, and this is really just for fun, is to locate on the map where my Memory bears have gone to live.

I would really love it, if you have ordered bears from me, if you could let me know the first two letters of the post code where they are living so I can colour in where in the UK they are if I haven't already coloured it in.

I know I have bears in America and Australia too but I'm only locating the UK ones for now.

 

The last thing I'm sharing with you today is our new family member...Maisie.  Come on all together "awwwwwww".  This is Theo's new little puppy.  She's a Cockerpoo and is just gorgeous....I'm sure you will be seeing more of her.

Thanks for calling by.  I will do my best to pay you a return visit if you leave me a little message so I know you've called in.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Hello all and happy Wednesday to you all.  I've had another week making a steady flow of face masks but it's really been one focussing on making School Memory Bears and reaching new targets with them so please excuse me for sharing a few numbers with you today.

• Total numbers of Memory bears now made...365
• Total numbers of Memory bears made since the beginning of lockdown....46
• Total number of schools I've now made Memory Bears for.....28

 And the latest ones I've made since last Wednesday are....

 



 This one is for a school in Yorkshire.

This one was for a fairly local school but had to be posted as my customer was still shielding.

This was for a school the other side of Shrewsbury.

These three were for a family of girls leaving a school in Shrewsbury to move to other schools and because their friend saw them.....

....I had to make this one for their friend.

This is the latest bear I've finished and it's for a school in Telford.

All these 8 bears were made for schools I'd never made bears for before so I felt the need to write a list of all the schools I've ever made bears for.....

If youre interested this is the list of schools I've made bears for....including 3 I made for a school in Jordon.
You should be able to click on the list if you want a closer look :-)

I should have another bear to make today and I have 4 more coming next Monday...so they are keeping me busy....and I'm loving it.
Hugs,
 Annie x

WOYWW...

Here we are again at out Wednesday catch up with our friends sharing our desks. ....if you want to know more then pop over to Julia's at The Stamping Ground where you will find details of how to join in the fun....we're a very friendly bunch and you will be made very welcome.

I'm still selling face masks but the demand is less now so I just make a few as and when needed to keep my basket topped up.

I've had more orders for more Memory bears and still have several more coming soon so it's keeping me out of mischief....well almost ;-)

I love getting orders for my School Memory bears....I should keep a tally of the school I've made them for really because there's many, near and far now.

This one was a new school to me and is for a little boy on the Wirral.  I love this one with his school tie...I reduce the ties to fit the bears.  He's now headed off to meet his new owner who says he will show his friends to see if they would like one too :-)

As requested by Neet [really hope your leg is healing well] I have now made 352 Memory bears now and I only started making them on 3rd August 2016! ....not bad eh?  There's a bit of Annie's love all around the world now too.

The only other things on my desk today are these three new little pairs of scissors.....I have loads of scissors but, with all the use they get here, they go blunt and never really sharpen well so these will replace some I use all the time....they all have different uses :-)

That's me for this week.  If you leave me a little message I will do my best to pay you a return visit....there were a couple I didn't manage to leave messages for last week but I did pay you all a visit.

Hugs,

Annie x