This week's smiles .....week 441

 Here we are at another weekly catch up of the happy moments of the week.....and there's been many.

Business has been booming this week....I've made 8 Memory custions and I have more customers coming today....I love life when I'm busy.

I shared the photos of Amy's three with their new sewing machine on my Wednesday's post and...

...now they have it at home I get regular updates on how much they are really loving using it and what they are making.  As you can see, Stephen is really thrilled with the sleeping bag he made for his special teddy.....and I'm thrilled to see them all working/playing together to use the machine.  Who knows maybe one of them will want to take my business over one day :-)

It's been a much colder/wetter week here this week but the garden just keeps on giving.  The pic top left is the view from my sewing room door....the fuscias have been huge this year and I'm making the best of them because I just know the blooms will drop once the frosty weather arrives.  Middle bottom is one of our crab apple trees....they don't have so many fruit on them this year but I just love thelovely red colours of Autumn.

That's all the photos I have to share this week but I'm sure you will have lots more to share with us so please link up below.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 389

 Another week has flown by here at Sewing by Annie's....and I'm still smiling :-)....I hope you are too and will share yours with us by linking up at the bottom.

Last weekend saw these little cousins having a play time [before the new 6 in a group rules].  Theo enjoyed showing his cousins all his new birthday presents and Lulu especially loved meeting little Maisie for the first time.

On Tuesday we took Theo to Ellesmere lakes to feed the swans and ducks.  We bought two bags of special food for them as requested and fed a lots of very hungry birds as you can see....one of the geese even decided to try nibbling at my toes!!

Theo will be going to school next September so the plan is to make the best of what time we have left before he goes....I well remember doing exactly the same for his daddy [seems like only yesterday!!].

Here's my latest collage from the garden...isn't it all looking autumnal now?

I love watching now the colours and seasons change in the garden....those are crab apples in the top right pic.  We have two little trees full of crab apples...and the birds don't seem to eat them sadly.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you are all well and happy.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles.....week 342

The weeks are flying by aren't they?  There is definitely a nip in the air today and our garden is looking very Autumnal....

The fuchsias are really gorgeous at the mo but this morning there was a frost so I'm guessing their time is very limited now.  The leaves on the trees are changing colours and dropping and the two crab apple trees are heavy with beautiful rosy red fruit.....but sadly the birds don't eat them and as they drop off the tree Milly likes to nibble them and make herself poorly so I'm guessing that soon we will have to pick them off  [if anyone wants them then please shout].

I've had lots to smile about this week....

• A weekend at Adam Henson's Farm campsite [he's the rather handsome farmer on Countryfile] in our motorhome gave us lots to smile about.  It's a really lovely site with a farm shop, restaurant and live entertainment on a Saturday night and you can go around the farm to see the rare breed animals [if you don't have a dog with you].  The only down side was the weather....it was wet wet wet....but of course there is nothing you can do about that and we go well prepared.  Sadly Adam didn't pop along to say hello.
• My laptop had slowed so much it was really painful to use so our daughter Amy, using team viewer from her house, did a full service on it and wow it's now super speedy so I'm def smiling now as I type this [thanks Amy you're a gem...I'm so impressed and proud of you].

The last photo I'm sharing today is this one...

Yes the Lego is out and, as you can see, my darling hubby is busy making a boat using the instruction book so it really made me smile because...

• He's really enjoying building the boat for little Theo but note Theo is nowhere to be seen in the photo [he's off to the left busy playing with one of the cars his Grandad made for him]
• but mainly because I have evidence that a man can actually read instructions!!  It's not often you'd see this so I'm glad I captured in on film  :-) :-) 

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you're all staying warm and cosy and enjoying life.  Please share your smiles by linking up below and let's all do our bit to make the world a happier place to be.
Hugs,
Annie x

This week's smiles...week 339

It's been another week with lots of celebrations and very many smiles so here's a few I can share with you....

Last Friday was Gina's 30th birthday and she had a meal out with family and friends [alas we were unable to join them] and this is one of the photos taken.  It's got to be one of my fav photos and makes me smile every time I look at it.

Last Friday was also the twins birthday....can you believe they are 8 already?  The time just flies.  They had a birthday party and sleep over [not that much sleeping went on!] with some of their school friends.....I'm guessing there were blue sweets eaten at some point looking at Lexi's tongue :-)

We had little Theo Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons this week because Gina had parents meetings at her school and on Wednesday we got out some crafty materials and he enjoyed making these spiders to frighten his mummy with when she came home.

My final pics are a few I took around our garden yesterday...it's looking very like Autumn out there now....I really love how the flower colours change through the year.

I hope you have found something to make you smile this week and will now leave me a little message before linking your own smiles below.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 296

It's been one of those weeks when I've needed to focus on keeping busy to override the dull, constant pain of my sciatica....I really will be glad when it goes now.

I've had lots of lovely sewing to occupy my hands and mind and have had plenty to smile about so here a few of my shares...

Here's my little trick or treaters that called at my door for Halloween with their friends.

Fab outfits twinnies.

Here's Amy's three in their Halloween outfits on their way to their friends house for a Halloween party.....even Poppy dog likes to line up for a photo.

I thought I would also share with you colours around our garden at the mo.....don't you just love the colours of Autumn and the few flowers that, so far, have survived the frosts we have had?

Those are my shares for this week.  Please share your smiles by linking them below.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 143

Here we are at yet another Friday's gathering up of as many smiles as we can for the week.  It's not been the easiest of weeks for us but Friday is the day when I like to focus on the happy times and to see how many things has made us smile for the week....I hope you can all find something that has made you smile too and will link it up at the bottom using Mr Linky.

There were many of you joining in the fun last week and for that I thank you all for helping to make the world a happier place to be.  I am featuring that very talented, much older sister of mine this week for the gorgeous monster suit that she made for her little grandson Ben out of one of his mummy's dresses.  Recycling at it's best eh? and doesn't he just look so cute in it?.....he's not feeling at his best at the mo so I am sending him lots of get well soon wishes too.  Thanks for sharing the pics Jo.

My biggest smile this week was at 3 o'clock yesterday when our builders finished for the day.....but the truth is that the only job they have to do now is to fit our new kitchen french doors and glass side panels.  These are due to arrive today and the builders plan to come back at the end of next week to fit them.  Our plumbers plan to come today to put our new radiators in the rooms and when finished we should have heating and then this means the rest is down to us.....just a little matter of installing a bathroom and a kitchen [when we get it] and decorating through the new part before starting on the old part..............  :-) :-) :-) :-)

My smiley photos this week revolve around my grandchildren and the Autumn/Halloween fun they have been having during their half term holidays...

They've gathered leaves, made dens in the woods, been to a pumpkin farm to choose their pumpkins and have carved them, they have made scary buns, done some paper crafting and even made their own witches brews.....oh to be a child again eh?

Little Lulu is proudly showing off her new football kit ready for the new club she is joining after school.

                            :-) :-) :-)

For those wondering how the twin's new little friend, Monty is settling in, here he is sitting on the laptop to make sure he gets attention....so you can see he one very happy little kitten and is getting lots of spoiling.

That's about it from me for today so please leave me a little comment to let me know you've called in and link up your smiles below.

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...

The easy answer to what's on my work desk today is.....a little more than last week!  Thankfully I am now feeling much better and life is returning to normal [that is if it ever is here at Sewing by Annie's :-) ].

On my desk ironing board and table today is a new project I have been planning.  Having been truly inspired by Maryke Phillips who had a stand at the quilting exhibition Jo and I went to a few weeks back I have been getting my head around making a fabric book.  Maryke makes the most gorgeous quilted books using felts, fabrics, beads and stitching...you can see them in her gallery over here.  I am really loving all the gorgeous colours in nature at the moment so am planning on calling this book Autumn.  It will be something I will do on Funday Mondays and in between my customer's sewing jobs so will take a long while to make....I don't plan to rush it  :-)

You can even see a little autumn sunshine :-)

The other thing I've got to show you today is a little pair of slippers I made on Monday from a pattern designed by one of my blogging friends Penny.  The pattern is for an up to 6 month baby but I thought it just might fit our little Lexi.  I love this random wool and they have made up really pretty but......

.....my little model is so tiny that they are still too big for her so we will will have to wait for her to grow into them.  :-)  Thanks for the pattern though Penny.

The other thing I'd like to share with you is a photo I took of the sky at silly o'clock on Tuesday morning while waiting for the twins to arrive for a day's fun with Nanny Annie......well worth getting up early for eh?

Thanks to all who called by here last week and left me such lovely get well comments....I'm sure they really helped my speedy recovery....You really are all such a lovely bunch.  

Before you pop over to Julia's to join in the Wednesday fun if you'd like to leave me a little hello comment I will pay you a return visit in between my sewing jobs.  Thanks for calling by.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Happy Wednesday to each and every one of you.  This last week has been a really manic one with lots of customers and even more sewing.  Each one seemed to bring me several jobs and all of them were needed to be done yesterday!  If only there were a few more hours in each day.  I am going to take you through this week in pictures so you don't have to get bogged down with reading.

This morning my 'done' rails are all heaving [the 'to do' rail as yet is empty but please tell no one]....lots has been done and it's all waiting for collection.

The rail at the left is full of little dresses for the African girls.

The one in the middle is full of the shorter length customers items...tops, trousers, skirts etc.

The rail on the right is the longer length rail where I hang all the long dresses and, when I have them, the wedding dresses.

This is my latest little knittie for one of the twinnies.  I knitted a little waistcoat for the little boy so I've knitted this short sleeved cardie for the little girl.  I love this wool and am now knitting a little waistcoat for A's expected little boy in blue and cream fleck.

Penny from The Hen House saw my post about making the little dolly dresses and asked if I could make her some to clothe the dollies for the charity shop she works in.  As you will all know I run a very busy ship here and I had to say sorry but I just couldn't commit myself to any more projects so I quickly ran her up one little dolly's dress and made her patterns and simple instructions so the lady that sews for the shop could run more up.  I've posted this little dress to her so hope she doesn't mind me declining the request.....Mitzi really has started something hasn't she?  :-)  I'm always willing to do my best to help but there just aren't enough hours in the day to do more.

 For those that like to see a little of my garden here is a quick snap of some of the wonderful tomatoes that are now ripening in our greenhouse.  There really is nothing quite like picking a warm, fresh tomato and just eating it is there?  We have several different sorts out there....red and large, small orange ones that are just soooooo sweet and even green ones....yes they are green when ripe but do change colour slightly so you can tell when they are ripe.

Here is a little bit of the early signs of autumn.  The crab apples are such a gorgeous colour now and the horse chestnut tree is already changing to it's autumn wardrobe.

For those that know what a difficult time I have been going through I just wanted to share this picture of this gorgeous rainbow that showed itself to us on Friday.  At difficult times in my life I often see a rainbow and really believe it to be a sign that all will be well.  Please keep everything crossed for us for the next few weeks and thanks to all who have supported us.

For those that are waiting for news on the twins....as I am typing this they are still keeping us waiting.....34 weeks now....Poor M is pretty unfomfortable all the time now and is finding sleeping pretty near impossible....she  'WANTS THEM OUT'  :-)  That's one large bump she has now and if you look closely you can actually see that the little girl this side is pushing her bump this way on the photo! I remember this stage well.  As her Granddad would say to her...'the apple wont fall til it's ripe'.  She is getting pretty strong braxton hicks contractions now all the time and I really don't think we will have too long to wait but when it's you who is doing the waiting every day seems like a week I'm sure.....Hang in there M xxxx

Now, here's hoping you all have a wonderful snoop around the other work spaces that Julia links up every Wednesday.....thanks Julia for all your efforts even when you're really not feeling at your best.  Really hope you get well very soon.  Have a great week and thanks for calling in on me.