WOYWW...

It's not been an easy week here at Sewing by Annie's.  Sadly our little Milly, having played happily outside all day on Saturday had a heart attack very suddenly and died at my feet early evening.  She was only 8 1/2  and, having 6 mthly checks at the vets, had no health problems so it was a huge shock to us...she has left a huge hole in our lives.

Needless to say I have been doing my best to keep very busy and I have a couple of things to share with you...

I was commisioned to make this lovely quilt for a lady who had previously had 3 others made for her other grandchildren...this is for the latest addition to the family.  I loved making it but I have to say it was a labour of love because it took many hours to make.

I've been kept busy with sewing for my customers but in between jobs I've made a few more Christmas tree decorations....still lots of beads etc to add yet but I've enjoyed having a bit of creative time.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you've had a better week than me and have lots to share with us.  I will do my best to pay you a visit as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 

To those that haven't recieved Christmas cards from me that normally do I'd like to say Happy Christmas to you all....the post seems to have lost a few....annoying but there's little I can do about it.

I have a few things to share with you...

I've made another School Memory bear...and the best bit is this was the secondary school I went to....the uniform was bottle green back then [including bottle green fleecy knickers!!]. 7 years in those gives you a clue why I dont like green :-)

I've also made two Memory Dogs in memory of a much loved 8 year old black labrador [hence the black ribbons around their necks].  The ears and tails are made out of parts of the dog's favourite toys....quite unique but just how my customer wanted them and we are hoping they bring comfort to the lady's autistic son.

My best friend who I have known for over 60 years [we started school together], has just had her first tiny Grandson....tiny because he was born at 32 weeks weighing just 2lb 4 ozs. I rooted out the prem baby knitting patterns I used when the twins were born and knitted a tiny cardigan.

I then made him a patchwork quilt....I love how it turned out and hope they will too....the little man is doing well so far and hopefully he will continue to do so.

I had a very special crafty time with the twins on Saturday.  We made these lovely Christmas trees....they were very proud of their finished results.

I have more cut out ready for Phoebe, Lulu and Stephen to make later in the week...I love having creative time with my  grandchildren....and it pays off because Phoebe and Lulu made their Christmas cards this year.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit this week and you all have a wonderful Christmas.  I will do my best to visit all who call in here when I get a minute.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...week 460

 Hello all.  It's been one of those weeks hence why I didn'y manage to post on Wednesday but thankfully we have plenty to smile about...now.

Monday teatime Gina messaged us to say she was getting regular tightenings [at 31 weeks!].  Mark was working away so we popped over to help.  When we got there [20 mins from us] sure enough, she was getting tightenings every 4-5 mins [the midwife in me kicked in] and they were pretty uncomfortable so Gina rang the hospital and was advised to go in to be assessed.  I went with her although she has to go in to the assessment unit alone and Grandad stayed to look after Theo.  I waited for her in the waiting room for over 5 hours while they checked what was going on....the wait was so long because all the Drs were in emergencies and they couldn't decide whether to keep her in or not.  Eventually one of the senior midwives assessed Gina and decided she had a wee infection [that was what was causing the tightenings they felt] and with a prescription for antibiotics they sent her home at 12.30.....still having tightenings!  They said she was to go back in if things got any worse as the infection could put her into prem labour.

As Mark was working in Leicester he decided he should drive home but of course wouldnt get home til gone 3am so I stayed the night in the spare room, just in case.  I think none of us got much sleep Monday night and as Theo is up bright and early each morning we didn't get a lie in either.  Mark stayed home all day Tuesday but as things seemed to be settling down with Gina he travelled back to Leicester as soon as we arrived at teatime on Tuesday and I had another night on the spare bed on nursing duty....but was woken by Theo at 6am tapping on my door asking if he could come in to snuggle up with me and do Wordle together....my heart sang [even if it was 6 am].

Mark was able to finish the job he was working on and came home about 10.30 on Tuesday night so I managed a night in my own bed and thankfully, as long as she rests lying down the tightenings seem to have eased for now although it's left her feeling pretty achey....it would be really good if the baby can stay where he is for another 4 weeks or more so we are keeping everything crossed.

I am really counting my blessings that we are both well and able to help our family when needed.

This notice on the side of my bottle of orange juice made me smile.....it must have known!

It always makes me smile that when I have other priorities my customers don't make demands on me and as I have had none this week I have been busy with the baby quilt I'm making....I decided that maybe I wouldn't have all the time I had planned to get it made if he was going to put in an appearance early.

Milly wen't for a much needed hair cut yesterday....she looks like a different dog now.  I love it when we can see all her stripes.

As you can see, she was very happy snuggling up under her blanket after her trim...I guess she was enjoying the extra warmth.  She will need her wooly jumper on for a few days when out walking I'm sure.

That's all from me folks.  I hope you all have plenty to smile about and will link up below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Wahoooo It's been another busy week here for me at Sewing by Annie's and I'm loving it.

I managed to find a few details on the T shirts you saw on my desk last week to put on the front of the 3 Memory bears I was to make and I'm rather pleased with the finished bears [and so is my customer].

I've had another bag full of factory trousers to put new zips in....my darling hubby helped by taking some of the old zips out for me and I've managed to get the new ones put in.....I made friends with the old industrial machine we bought for the job and it certainly took a lot of the pressure off my other machines.

On my desk today is some plotting and planning going on while I wait for fabrics for 9 Memory cushion covers to arrive, hopefully later today.  I'm making a quilt for the expected new baby's cot.  Requests are grey, blue and woodland animals and I'm hoping to applique some animals like the ones in the pics....watch this space as they say.

There is more fabrics on the way so got to wait til that arrives to do the designing really.

That's all from me for today....I will do my best to call round to see what you're up to this week. 

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Happy Whizday to you all.  These weeks are flying by aren't they.  It's been a busier one for me at Sewing by Annie's.  I finished the quilt I'd been asked to make and can share it here as the recipient doesn't read my blog but it may be a while before I can add it to my Facebook page as it is being given as a gift....

I made quilts for the first two little girls in the family so it was really lovely to be asked to make another on for little Freddie.

Then it was back to bear making for me.  This one with an added tie and....

…..this one with a bright orange bow.

I was also asked to make a little cushion for the one bear using the logo off the gentleman's jacket.

I love all the little extra challenges I'm given and the pleasure it gives my customers when they see the finished items.

Thanks for calling by this week.  If you leave me a little message to let you know you've called by I will do my best to pay you a return visit.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

A new post using a new laptop at the start of our new beginning....Hubby's retirement has started and he was presented with a new laptop for his retirement gift from the Company he used to work for so I have to learn how to use it....including a new photo programme too so here goes....

I have had the promise of several orders of bears to arrived this week plus I have been asked to make a special quilt for a new baby so I've been sorting out my fabrics in the colour range asked for and my desks today looks like this....

The request is for pale blues / greens and colours to go with them so I've sent pages of fabrics to my customer so she can choose …..she's not local so we will be organising it all over messenger but this will be the third quilt I've made for her so it's really lovely to get repeat orders as her new grandchildren arrive.  The first two were for little girls but this is for her first Grandson.

That's all that is on my desk for today but I will be busy getting to know this new laptop....we seem to be getting on well so far :-)  I also have an appointment at the dentist later so wish me luck as I hate dentists!

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

Hello all.  The days are creeping ever closer to our 9th anniversary swap of ATCs [just two weeks to go now] and as ever that much older sister of mine and myself will be sending our ATCs out together so if your wanting to swap with us feel free to send ours to either me or to Jo...save on the postage cos we are more then happy to get together over a coffee and share them out....it's a good excuse [not that we need one of course].

My list so far is...

1. Julia [the boss]
2. Jan [second in command]
3. Jo [big sister]
4. Neet Hickson
5. Shaz Brooks
6. Sarah Brennan
7. Angela Radford
8. Cindy Ashplant
9. Sylvia Hildman
10. Christine Brown
11. Elizabeth Worthington
12. Nikki Carpenter  
13. Margaret Wright
14. Helen Lindfield

If, in all that's been going on here, I've forgotten to add you to my list and you'd like to swap with us then please email me with your postage details....to wipso2310@gmail.com

Onto my desk for today....

I've had lots of trousers to shorten this week amongst other jobs and in between all that I have been making another quilt ordered for a special little girl called Chloe [fabrics and colours chosen by my customer].....her mummy said she really loves it and little Chloe will treasure it for ever so I'm really chuffed.

On top of that I have had orders for more Memory bears so looks like I'm going to be kept out of mischief for another week or so.

Please leave me a little message so I know you've called by and I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW.....

I'm back working this week....I had a few days off last week with my hubby and enjoyed lots of quality time which included a full day with little Theo on Friday so his mummy could work [his other Nanny and Grandad usually have him on a Friday but they were both poorly]....treasured times for us while they got better.

I have had an exciting week because I posted my two finished quilts to the lady who commissioned me to make them and I then waited patiently for them to be given to her gorgeous little granddaughters.  Everyone was really thrilled with with them both and I can now share them with you...

I'm so chuffed with them both and have already been sent two gorgeous photos of Emmi and baby Phoebe with their quilts.

I've really enjoyed my quilt making and have now been asked to make some mini quilt / baby comforters so thought I'd share them with you...

I've decided to make two different sized mini quilts and plan to personalise them if wanted by appliqueing the appropriate initial letter in one of the squares.

What do you think of them?

That's all from me for today....I have another wedding dress to alter today so I will be visiting my blogging friends in between sewing jobs.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Hello all.  I really hope you've been managing to keep warm while we've been under a blanket of snow across the country.  I had a couple of customers who managed to bring their sewing to me but otherwise I've been using that gorgeous fabric I shared with you on Friday to make a quilt.....

For those who didn't see it on Friday this is the fabric I had ordered for two quilts I've been commissioned to make...it was my customer's choice of fabrics and isn't it all lovely?

The quilts are to have a panel in the middle with the little girl's names appliqued in and here is the first of them under my machine being stitched in place.....I do love this machine blanket stitch my machine does....don't you?

Once I'd finished the middle panel I then had lots of fun deciding where the patchwork squares were going to go before stitching them all together.
I then sewed a pink spotty border around the quilt before wadding and backing it and then quilted it all together.

I've now completed the first quilt but I'm keeping the name covered until it's been given to my customer.  I have another quilt to make now but we have to await the arrival of the new baby before we know her name so I've just been plotting and planning with colours until then......exciting times.








I hope you have enjoyed  seeing what I've been making this week and will leave me a little message so I know you've called by.  I will do my best to pay you a return visit but life is a little hectic here at the mo.
Hugs,
Annie x

WOYWW....

Hello all.  Happy Wednesday.  I've got a manic week this week with lots of sewing so thought you'd like to see a few things I've been making and can now share with you as they have been seen by my son and daughter-in-law.

A few weeks back I showed you a moses basket that I had lined for the next little family member due soon.....well, here is the little quilt I made for it.

Under the hood were three fabric loops just crying out for three little matching elephants to hang.

I found enough fabric to make a matching snugglefant [to my own design] and cos I had just enough fabric and, in case he looses the one of course, I had to make two the same....it's what I do :-)

Here it is all ready to snuggle little 'Bert' in it and now it's been handed over at the baby shower last Saturday I can say his mummy and daddy were thrilled to bits with it.

They have also seen the Advent calendar I've made for him so I can share that with you too.

Forgive me for all the Christmas makes but I am now working on my first batch of Christmas cards too... a bit of applique and machine embroidery so far....more details to be put on before finished.

Sorry if it's all a bit picture heavy today but I knew some of you have been patiently waiting for the show and tells.  I have moved my normal sewing workshop from Thursday to Wednesday this week so will be busy all day today and have a very special visitor coming to see me tomorrow with rather a lot of sewing jobs for me......our very own Neet has been saving all her sewing jobs up and is driving all the way from Bolton to bring them to me.....I can't wait.

I will do my best to pop over to yours when I get the chance but please be patient with me this week as I may be a little late.

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....

Another week of birthday celebrations for us.  Our twinnie munchkins were two last Friday and we have enjoyed lots of 'family together' times to celebrate.  Flat Susan was here to join in the celebrations and had  great time but is now enjoying a rest in her suitcase while flying over to the USA [see prev post].

Life here is busy, as always.  That's how I like it  :-)  I had the 'partied out' twinnies here to play with me Monday and Tuesday and we enjoyed chill out time......who am I joking?  2 year old twins?  Chilled out???  NEVER!!!  We certainly had a fun time.

I guess you're really here to see my desk thanks to Julia insisting I show it you  :-)

Well, here it is...

Yes I can do messy :-)

Lots of pink on show for an urgently needed little something...

Ribbon jar overflowing to find more pink.

All to make an urgently needed little tooth fairy pillow for Phoebe.....yes, she has lost her first baby tooth and the second is well on it's way!  Oh how quickly they grow up.

The writing is still wet  in the picture but looks much nicer now it's dry.  It has a little pocket across the corner to put her tooth in.

I'm also making a quilt for the next baby expected in the family...due next month [for a neice].  I'm just hand stitching around the little animals/birds etc in the middle to quilt it and finish it off.

 Also got a little cardigan on the go for the expected baby too....we don't know what it is yet so I'm knitting a white one  :-)

So, as you can see, I've not been idle since you visited last week.....oh and have fitted in another viewing on the house and got to negotiation stages on sales....lets hope there is good news to share soon.

Until next week....lets hope you all have fun.

Big hugs,

Annie x