This week's smiles....week 489

 It was with great sadness that I read the news that Lisca's hubby, Graham, had died.  He was such a lovely man and I had the pleasure to meet him in  real life when they both called in to see me a few years back.  My love and  thoughts go out to our friend Lisca and their family.

Of course you are here to share my smiles and although I have had a heavy heart at  times I have got smiles ....

On Wednesday we had a little visitor for an hour or so after school until his Daddy picked him up.  We don't see him often now he's a big school boy so it was so lovely to have some crafty fun together....he' s growing up so fast.

I was up at 6.30 yesterday and spent a long day sewing because I had so much to do. By 4.30 I was shattered and was drawing curtains and shutting up shop for the day when I had a knock at my door.  One of my customers had brought me this gorgeous bunch of flowers and thank you card...it reduced me to tears.

It's so lovely when you feel appreciated isn't it?

Of course it wouldn't be a Friday without a few funnies. I hope you have something to share with us today and will link up below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are catching up with all our creative friends around the world and checking out what is on their desks this week...I love my Wednesdays.

It's been another bear filled week for me and I'm loving life....

I made these 5 for a friend in memory of her mum.  They are to be given to the 5 grandchildren and are made from their Grandmother's favourite clothes.

This one was made from the same clothes but is being kept for a birthday present...I love the bright colours of this one.

I've finished my knitting and have sewn a piece of elastic to join the mittens so Louie doesn't drop one and lose it when he's wearing them.  I really love how the little Ugg boots have turned out and am sure they will keep his toes warm.

These are my desks this morning...I have 4 more bears to cut out and make today...and they all need stabilising with interfacing so that's 32 body pieces needed...as you can see I cut out the interfacing in batches ready for when the fabrics arrive [the black bear shapes].

The top three are for a returning customer [always the best ones] and the bottom pic is a fairisle jumper to make a bear out of...I think that one will be rather nice.

I am really enjoying the Christmas surge of bears to make but have also had 

• a really pretty bride to have her wedding dress fitting this week...it's needing major alterations and the wedding isn't until August so I will be doing the sewing in the New Year.
• a lady to have 2 skirts shortened and
• I have 5 pair of trousers to shorten and a zip to put in a pair of gents trousers!!
• Oh and I have to get my christmas cards ready for posting...they are all made now :-)

So, as you can guess, I'm keeping rather busy and I'm loving life.  I hope your week is as good as mine. Stay well and happy.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...week 488

 The weeks seem to be flying past and Christmas will be here before we know it.  I have had a quieter week here at Sewing by Annie's and it's given me time to get on top of making my Christmas cards....now almost finished and that really makes me smile....cos I never know what's round the next corner workwise.

We've enjoyed lots of quality time with the grandchildren with having the twins before and after school on a Tuesday and Wednesday and Gina sent me this photo and that really makes me smile...

Louie is playing with a fabric book I made for Theo [and I'd actually forgotten I'd made it].  It's so lovely when the things I make and treasured and enjoyed.

I've even had time to get my paints out and I always love a bit of creative time....not had so much of that lately lol.

I really love these paint brush pens because each one is really loaded and they all blend together really well.....just need to get started now.

Of course it wouldnt be a Friday without a few funnies....these really made me chuckle and I hope they make you smile too.

I hope you've all had a good week and have smiles to share by linking them at the bottom of the page.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Happy Wednesday to you all.  It's been another busy week here st Sewing by Annie's but I'm pleased to say I have had the work cos it's had to pay for my new glasses [ over £330!!!].  

 I had another huge bin bag full of factory trousers needing repairs and new zips....all done now thankfully.  I ended up with blisters!!!

I've made more Memory bears...these ones are in memory of a much loved Mum and are for a returning customer...always my favourite to make.

These Memory bears were made in memory of a special man who had been in the Welsh Guards from his blazer and ties...smart bears or what?

The lady who said she was coming Friday wanting 7 Memory bears making didn't turn up and hasn't replied to my messages...very annoying and I would say rude!!

When Theo was born I made a first Christmas star to hang on their tree and, when I found the material I had made it from this week, I just had to make one for little Louie :-)

My other desk this week is the one in front of me while the football has been on...I'm knitting a pair of mittens and a matching pair of knitted Ugg boots for Louie :-)

Knitting and me don't really go together any more because of the arthritis in my hands but I can manage short burts of knitting and these wont take me long.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit this week.  If you leave me a little message so I know  you've called by I will do my best to pay you a return visit.  Have a great week all.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 487

I'm a little later today....I forgot to write it and automatically publish it last night so I'm up at silly o'clock this morning to write it [because I have a very full day sewing today and can't do it later].

It's been another manic week here at Sewing by Annie's but I have had lots of smiles on the way.

We went to watch Lexi and Sam performing in Nativity the Musical at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury on Friday night....had to buy the programme of course because they were in it :-)

The show was amazing and made even more so when your grandchildren are in it.  It was Sam's first time on the big stage [Lexi has been living the dream for a couple of years now] and it is really lovely to see their confidence grow.

Tuesday saw me going to an opticians appointment and needing new glasses....over £300!!  Not something to smile about really but following that I have had enough work in to pay for them....it never fails to amaze me how this often happens to me.

Later in the day I had my Diabetic MOT and they are very pleased with my Diabetes now....losing over 3 stone has really helped.

Little Louie is growing fast and this week he's been to a photo shoot so I thought I would share a few of the gorgeous photos with you.  He's at such a lovely age now and seems to be changing every time we see him.

Of course it wouldn't be a Friday without a few funnies.  I hope you've all had a good week and have something you can link up at the bottom of the page to share with us.

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

This week's smiles....week 486

 Well?  Did you miss me? Well I had a fab week and recharged my batteries which is just as well because it's been rather manic since I got back....my customers certaily missed me :-)

We left on Friday tea time and had an over night stop near Cobham to break up our journey and then travelled on to Abbeville in France via the Shuttle to meet up with...

..... our Dutch friends who we met in 2000 but hadn't managed  to see for the last 4 years because of Covid ...it was long overdue. They brought their dog Lola with them too.            

                                                              

This was where we stayed...as you can see, it was an amazing Gite in large enclosed gardens.    

   

We had a couple of trips out to Le Treport, St-Valery-sur-Somme  and then over to Le Crotoy accross the bay to see the white cliffs.

In St-Valery-sur-Somme I went in an amazing church to snap a few of it's stained glass windows. The sun was shining in and really showed them off at it's best.

    Of course it wouldn't be a Friday without a few funnies [I hope none offend].  I hope you've all had a good week and have your own smiles that you will share by linking up below.

Hugs,

Annie x                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

WOYWW...

 I'm back.  Did you miss me?  We had a lovely week catching up with our Dutch friends that we met in 2000 and, because of Covid haven't seen them for 4 years.  We hired a lovely French Gite near Abbeville in the North of France ......my batteries are now well charged which is just as well :-) I will do my best to share a few pics on my Friday post if you'd like to see.

Before we went away I made this lovely Memory bear using a favourite Dress that belonged to a much loved Mum.  The dress had a lace over dress so I used some of this to make a lovely lacy top for the little bear...and I was really thrilled with the finish as was my customer.

As I'm sure many of you will know, I always make each of our Grandchildren a little 'something' to hang on their Christmas trees and this year I've made little felt Christmas trees...they were fun to make from carefully shaped felt that once folded up and, when sewn and stuffed, cleverly make the tree. I then stitched buttons on to decorate.....Of course this year I had an extra one to make :-)

Last minute before we went away I was brought the clothes to make 5 Memory bears using the shirts and jumper of a much loved Dad.  Sunday I cut out the interfacing, ironed it onto the fabrics and cut out the bear panels then on Monday I had a busy day making them all.

Plus clothing for a further 4 Memory bears arrived.

So yesterday [on my day off], I cut out more interfacing, ironed it on and cut out the panels for the 4 Memory bears which I will be sewing today....plus I have some skirts to shorten and at least 4 more Memory bears are coming today!!!

As you can see I am in demand and I think I was missed last week so I will be head down sewing today but will do my best to pop over to as many as I can as soon as I can.

Hugs,

Annie x