This week's smiles....week 391

 It's been a week filled with smiles this week....

Thursday night we went to Theatre Severn to watch Sam taking part in Elf...it's so lovely to watch him grow in confidence with each performance...he was even dancing in this one :-)

Louie always makes us smile...here he is sat on the work surface in our kitchen staying 'safe' from Peggy puppy who gets very excited to see him and sometimes jumps up too much....who am I kidding?  She has to learn manners yet but she will get there.

We woke up to snow on Tuesday morning and Peggy was so funny when she saw her first snow...she did zoomies around the garden trying to catch all the snow she threw up.  In the right hand pic she was watching a pigeon up above her on the pergola.....every day there seems to be a new experience for her. :-)

On Friday Shell's school had a Pudsey day to raise money for Children in Need and Shell went dressed as Tom, the school cat.  The children loved it.

Saturday afternoon Shell and I went for a couple of hours fun at a painting session...it was my birthday treat from her and we loved it.  We had instruction to paint a highland cow [just in case you can't tell what I painted :-) ].  We both enjoyed a mocktail too while we painted....thanks Shell I really enjoyed the session.

Finally I have a few funnies to share with you.

...this one made me chuckle cos I'm sure we all have days like this.

I hope you all find something to make you smile and will then link up to your own smiles below.

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...

 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....

I was missing in action last week....I was here but I was busy catching up on my holiday washing and my sewing room had a good clean and dust so I had nothing to share with you of interest.  Since our hols it's been pretty quiet on the work front [I guess all my customers are enjoying their hols too] so I have been finishing the batch of charity bags for Margaret that I had already cut out .....

....all 46 bags are now finished and boxed up ready to take with me to the crop.... and I will await Margaret's instructions now for when they need more.

So what's on my desk today?...

The drawers filled with my acrylic paints are out and so are my Promarkers and permanent felt pens.

What am I busy making?....

Little Theo has a 2nd birthday up and coming [where has that time gone?!!] and his mummy has asked me to make him some little peg people for part of his birthday present.....and you just know how much I love making those so here's 20 in different stages of being made.

If I remember I will take a photo when I've finished them but as I like to make them in stages giving paint time to dry before painting the next colour it may be a while.

So that's all from me for today....a little more interesting than just a rail full of sewing eh?  Please leave me a little message so I know you've called in and I will do my best to call by at yours to see what you're up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

The time flies so quickly at the mo.  It only seems like 5 mins since I was writing my Wed post for last week.

I am still getting wonderful ATCs through my post box and am still expecting more to arrive as yet....some of my swaps couldn't make theirs straight away and it's really lovely to keep getting little surprises through my door when I least expect them  :-)

These are the latest ones I've had....

29.Ros C
30.Kay
31.Nan G

Thanks so much ladies.....each one is made to beautifully and they are all very special to me.

Some of you asked what I was going to do to make a tissue cover for Phoebe to take to school so here is the finished result.....she loved it and is so excited gathering all the things she needs to get ready for school.  She has a very special pink toy cat that she has always carried around with her since she was a baby and was thrilled to bits to see the little cat on her school name labels.

This little garden gnome was one of the gifts my hubby had from Phoebe, Lulu and Steve for Father's day on Sunday.....they said it looked rather like Granddad!  :-)

We inherited a very old garden gnome from my Dad  when we moved in here and usually every couple of years I give him a new coat of paint to spruce him up.  Of course when the new gnome arrived little Albert was feeling rather shabby and neglected so this week I sat him on some newspaper on the breakfast bar in the kitchen and got out my acrylic paints, brushes etc and I got to work

......see I don't just play with fabrics!  :-)

Here you can see little Albert feeling rather proud of his new coat of paint.  He will never be perfect because he is a very old garden gnome but he will always be rather special to me.  :-)

I am just going to finish off with a collage I've made of some of the treasures from our garden at the mo.  Don't you just love nature?

I have a rail full of sewing waiting to be done today.....lots came in Monday while Jo and I were having munchkin fun time.....I'm so grateful to Jo at the mo for all the extra help she is giving me with the twins....she helps me on the extra twinnie days so I can keep the shop open cos believe me when I say the extra pair of hands is needed to do all I try to do at the mo  :-)  No twins today so I will be head down sewing all day but they will be back for more fun tomorrow [and so will Jo].
....Love you Jo xxxx

Thanks for calling by today.  If you leave me a little hello comment I will pay you a return visit when I get a minute. 

Hugs,

Annie x