Monthly Archives: February 2015

Happy Friday Number 8

Here we are again for Happy Friday… I hope you’ve had a great week with many cheerful moments to report!

Happy Friday at Bexhill on Sea

It’s been all rather lovely here on Planet Penny because we’re having a little mini-break by the sea.  This means this will be a very short post, I’m saving all the news about where I’ve been (and lovely crafty shops) until my return when I can properly share my photos.  If you really can’t wait, come and follow me on Instagram!

To join in with your own Happy Friday post use the Linky below.  If you haven’t done it before you can find out all about it here but please DO remember to link back to this post so that others can find the Linky Party going on right here…



The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon Magazine and Miranda Mouse

 

 The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon magazineHave you bought your copy of the Big Comic Relief Crafternoon Magazine yet? It’s a brilliant idea for raising money for Comic Relief and it’s been soo incredibly popular that there’s going to be a reprint, so keep a look out at your local branch of Sainbury’s for a copy soon.

The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon Magazine back cover

You can find out which branches are stocking the magazines here and you can even download a copy! The Mollie Makes Blog tells you all you need to know.

I spent a lovely morning yesterday with fellow crafter, blogger and chum Emma Mitchell, who dreamed up the magazine.  When she’s not having brilliant flashes of inspiration, Emma makes wonderful silver jewellery and I was so lucky to spend time on a workshop with her.  (and that’s a whole other post!)

I bet you are wondering where a mouse called Miranda fits in to all this by now, aren’t you? Well, I fell in love with one of the projects in the magazine, Jenny Dixon‘s adorable little mice…

Jenny Dixon Mice

…and you know I like mice, crafty ones anyway!

So I decide to make my own version of Jenny’s little lovelies to sell to raise money for Comic Relief.  And here she is, Miranda Mouse…

Miranda Mouse - raising funds for Comic Relief 2015

Miranda is just 9.5cm tall and wears a pretty flowered cotton dress trimmed with vintage lace.  Her cardie is knitted from embroidery thread using 2mm needles (which was quite a challenge!) and fastened with a mother-of-pearl button. She’s been out in the garden picking roses…

Bag of Ribbon roses…to fill her little cross-stitch bag.

Cross-stitch Mouse Bag

And has even made her face Funny for Money with her own needlefelt Red Nose!

Miranda Mouse raising funds for Comic Relief

Please note that Miranda Mouse is an ornament and is not intended as a toy as she contains small parts.

I would really like to find Miranda Mouse a happy home.  Comic Relief does incredible work in this country and Africa so this is my proposal, a virtual auction…

The highest bid to arrive in the comments before Red Nose Day on the 13th March will win and every penny will be sent to Comic Relief. I will cover the postage and Miranda will be yours.

If you want to do some fund raising of your own, the Big Comic Relief Crafternoon Magazine has everything you need, and if you would like to donate to this wonderful charity, please bid for Miranda, she’s waiting for you!

 

 

Happy Friday Number 7

Can it really be Happy Friday time again already?

This week’s post will be really short because it’s half term.  Not only are there grandsons visiting, but they’ve brought along their new puppy, so it’s very hectic, although a lot of fun and definitely happy.

Alpha dog for Happy Friday

Higgins is feeling a little bit aggrieved at sharing ‘his’ boys with another dog…Mini dachshund for Happy Friday

and a bit grumpy about energetic puppy play all the time, but he’s gradually coming round…Dog montage for Happy FridayNext week we are returning the visit and heading off to the South Coast for a few days so really looking forward to that.

So over to you, what’s made your week happy?  If you are linking your post below, please make sure  it is relevant to Happy Friday and link back to this post so that as many people as possible find everyone who takes part.  I’m rather sad when some people take advantage of something which is meant to spread a little happiness and use it for promotion with posts which are not relevant at all!  You can find out how to join in here if you haven’t done it before.

And finally, if you didn’t see my last post, I have a fabulous giveaway of a gorgeous new craft book from Cut Out + Keep.  All you have to do is leave a comment, so do join in for a chance to win.

Cut Out + Keep - Cat Morley & Tom Waddington

I hope you’ve had a great week, I’m look forward to reading all about it on Happy Friday!


Cut Out + Keep – Book Review and Giveaway…

Cut Out + Keep - Cat Morley & Tom Waddington

I’m really excited to share this new book Cut Out + Keep Around the USA in 50 Craft Projects by Cat Morley and Tom Waddington which popped through the letterbox the other day for me to review.

I’m sure you know by now that my crafty interests are pretty broad so it’s always good to come across like minded people who enjoy having a go at everything!  And not only is this a craft book, it’s a travelogue too, so while you are looking through at the crafting inspiration, you could be planning your US road trip at the same time!  Well, we can dream , can’t we?

Washington - Cut Out + Keep

Taking Inspiration from every state, Cat and Tom of the Cut Out + Keep community have translated the food, the landmarks, the culture into simple, fun tutorials for you to make at home. There’s knitting and crochet, painting and printing, sewing and gluing, cooking and..well, eating of course!

This is what caught my eye…

needlefelt cacti from Cut Out _+ KeepNeedlefelt cacti, straight from Arizona.  These would make brilliant pin cushions, add your own spines!

The Jackalope, a mythical creature from Wyoming.  This one is transformed from a plastic rabbit ornament but you could have great fun inventing your own weird and wonderful beasts from whatever you have to hand.

Jackalope - Cut Out + Keep

Being a bit of a cheese monster these recipes made my mouth water…Extreme Grilled Cheeses - Cut Out + Keep …and doesn’t everyone need Ruby Slippers? ruby slippers - Cut Out + KeepThe tutorial I tried was for something I really needed, a Cup Cosy.  My DH bought me a special coffee cup a while ago, especially for taking to the ‘office’, i.e. the Planet Penny studio.  The trouble is, its decorated with a face who’s expression is, well, somewhat troubling…

And even the plastic cover supplied is a bit thin so you can still see it’s evil grin…Cup

So the Seattle project was just perfect.

cup cozy - Cut Out + Keep review

I made the cosy with undyed Blue Faced Leicester Aran weight yarn and it was a perfect fit. Not having a little motif to stitch on I added a lazy daisy flower with a few stitches after sewing it up.

Cut Out + Keep Cup Cosy - reviewA much happier sight in the morning now (and hotter coffee!)  Cheers…

cheersThe book is published today in the UK, and on March 17th in the USA. I would have loved to have had a book like this to hand at half term with older children/young teens.  There’s so much inspiration to try something new, great for those ‘I’m bored’ moments!

You can order a copy here, but I have a copy ready and waiting to give away FREE!

All you have to do is to leave a comment.  Have you been on a road trip?  If not, where would your dream trip take you?  You have until Sunday March 1st to enter and then I will draw the winning entry.

Regretfully the Cut Out + Keep Giveaway giveaway is only open to UK readers… 

I’m really looking forward to reading your comments!

Ed. to add:  And the winner is… Julie, who writes the blog Tales from the Riverbank.  Congratulations Julie, I hope you enjoy the book and daydreaming about your own road trip! 

Happy Friday Number 6

Hooray!  Here at last for Happy Friday…That’s the problem with living in the wilds of Norfolk, the internet connection is rubbish at the best of times, and when it goes wrong, it really goes wrong! Never mind, I’m here now, and if I type very, very fast I might just get back in in time for the Great British Sewing Bee which I love, do you?

So what happened this week which deserves a Happy Friday mention? Well, firstly I fell in love with, and just had to buy these gorgeous pieces of vintage eiderdown fabrics from Sarah Moore.  As soon as I saw them I was transported back to childhood and the eiderdown m granny used to tuck me under when I went to stay.  If only I still had it… I’m hoping to make a little patchwork cushion for my bedroom to keep those memories alive.

2015-02-06 09.40.49

Higgins had a play date with his little friend Coco.  It’s sooo difficult to get a clear photo when he meets his pals, there’s so much charging around, but here they are, I think they were hunting otters! 2015-02-06 14.41.31I started making the cowl designed for the Remembering Vanessa Knitalong which I mentioned in this post and explains the gorgeous yarn I showed you for Happy Friday number 4 

2015-02-11 20.35.53

So that’s what’s been happening on Planet Penny, how about you?  Do please join in with the Linky below to let us know what has made you happy this week.  You can find out how to join in here if you haven’t done it before.  Please, please play fair and mention Happy Friday in the post you link to. This is as much about people finding their way back from your blog to the Linky party as it is finding your link below. You can also join in via Instagram with #PlanetPennyHappyFriday.

I’m leaving you with good wishes for Valentine’s Day this weekend, and I look forward to following your links and finding your happy moments!

See you soon…x



2015-02-09 10.30

Happy Friday Number 5

Helloooo…! What’s made you smile this week?  Here’s one of my own Happy Friday moments…

Pink & Blue Crocs for Happy Friday…it doesn’t do to get dressed in the dark!

As mentioned in my last post, I got my mum knitting again.  This not only made me happy, but all the rest of the family too…

Knitting Nan for Happy Friday

And I finished and posted my lovely ‘Zing’ squares to Lisa of Bobobun for the ‘Do You Mind If I Knit Blanket’ so I had a great sense of achievement.

Stylecraft Life 'Zing'  Squares for Happy Friday

So now it’s down to you.  What’s made you happy this week?

Tell us all about it by joining in via the Linky below.  If you haven’t done it before, don’t be shy.  You can find out just  what to do here.  It’s a great way of making new blogging friends, and for people to discover you and your blog.  Please remember to mention Planet Penny in your post and link back to the Happy Friday post here so that you send your readers to the Linky Party and all the other participants

Enjoy a Happy Friday, have a lovely weekend and I’ll be back soon…x



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