Hello! I hope you are all feeling as cheerful as I am at the moment. but if not I hope that somewhere along the way between this blog and the others taking part we can bring a you a smile or two.
It’s jolly cold and windy here today, but at least we haven’t got the ice and snow that is making life miserable further north. Norfolk always manages to fit in a lot of sky over it’s landscape and I never tire of photographing it.
(Home and a warm fire is tucked away behind the trees in the middle!)
I’ve every reason to be cheerful today because Tim is home, and home for Christmas too. It doesn’t always happen, and he does have to go back offshore the day after Boxing Day for two weeks, but it’s lovely to have him about for the run up to Christmas.
Higgins is happy too. Watch the remake here of ‘The Railway Children’….Higgins in the Jenny Agutter role…”Daddy, my Daddy!”
I have a small gem from the grandsons to share too… Max and Benjy won a Christmas card competition. “Daddy, Daddy! We’ve won a vulture, a £20 vulture!”
So that’s Christmas dinner taken care of then.
I’ve had a BIG challenge on the needlefelting front, and I think I’ve cracked it. I had to create a hamster, and not just any hamster, a particular hamster. It wasn’t till I started that I realised just how tricky hamsters are because they can be very round and fat, or all stretched out and lithe. I cracked it on the third attempt, and gave him an apple to play with for good measure. I can’t tell you how happy I was when it all started falling into place! Phew!
Finally, I’m very happy to be able to share the exciting news I mentioned last week. I’m on a list! And not just any list, but the Channel4/4Homes Favourite Craft Blogs list!
I suppose I should be very cool about it, but I’m not. I just can’t believe when I look back at my tentative beginnings here on Planet Penny, that I’ve come this far. So I shall say it again…Phew!
And at the risk of sounding as if I’ve just been presented with an Oscar, it wouldn’t have happened without all you out there. I was reading a blog a few days ago where the writer was justifying her decision to disable comments, because she said she was writing for herself and not for other people to express opinions. But it doesn’t work like that in the crafting blog world. I need your opinions and feedback, and don’t know where I’d be without it!
I’m sure you all have lots of Reasons to be Cheerful you could share just at the moment in the run up to Christmas. If you put them in your Blog, add it to the Linky below so people can visit, and if you don’t have a blog, please feel free to tell us what is making you happy this week in the ‘Comments’.
See you soon….x
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The hamster is gorgeous, you’re right, you have definitely cracked that tricky hamster physique! xx
Congrats all around, Penny! And the hamster (with the apple – genius!) is adorable. Your landscapes are so beautiful. Glad your Tim will be home for Christmas!
What a very happy little dog. Well done on all your successes.
Liz
Well, talk about a drama queen! Higgins so excited and Henry calmly looking on…
What marvellous news about being listed by Ch. 4, well done and well deserved.
I’ve no idea what a Hamster looks like but I’m guessing that you have got it spot on, well done again.
I envy your big skies, they are just so lovely.
Hi Penny! How wonderful that your talent and lovely work is shared by Ch. 4! Thank you for the link. You did a great work with the hamster – he is sweet with the apple!
I’m thinkig if I would like to write only to myself, I wouldn’t neet a blog – just an old shoe box …
The best part is to communicate with wonderful people who are having the same interests!
xxx Teje
Hi Penny – Gaynor wrote you up on Facebook so I had a gander at your site – what GORGEOUS things you create. I wish you continued success! I live in Seattle now, and the creative/craft scene here is phenomenal – almost overwhelmingly so, if you can get your head around that. Quite intimidates me! Anyhow I just wanted to say how lovely your creations are. Cheers!
Loved the Higgins video – he clearly adores his ‘dad’. 🙂
Hamster is utterly loveable – you got him spot on. And wonderful news about being on Channel 4’s fave list – that is excellent!
Congratulations on being on the Ch 4 crafty blog list, well deserved accolade.
Love the video, Higgins you were wonderful, Henry just thinking “what’s the fuss about?”
The hamster is amazing, someone will be very happy with him.
Carol xx
Yep:hamster perfect- exactly like our Dutch escapologist hamster “Quicksilver”, also called “quickie” as he could escape and disappear so very fast from his cage…
Congrats on the listing!
Ooh, I will briefly digress to say Congratulations on your listing, before writing this … Oh My, Oh Wow, Oh Goodness Me … that hamster is just perfect. Wonderful!!! Can you tell I like him ;D
A vulture for Christmas dinner, and only £20 too…. how lucky are you!
Congratulations and I loved the “vulture” remark. The hamster is adorable and your “Railway children” moment is wonderful. Just happy to be home after battling through ice, rain and frightening gale here in the frozen north.
Chris
xx
Just seen you on the channel 4 list… well done, that is a fantastic achievement and so well deserved!
I love the vulture remark… that is going to become a family legend methinks 🙂
Now that’s a very happy Higgins! He is sooo cool, that each time I see him, I feel I would like a mini dog. We have a farm collie who is lovely but a mini dog would b very nice too.
Love the big skies, it’s funny how some places just seem to have bigger skies than other places.
Brilliant news about the channel 4 site, clever you! Well deserved I reckon! Lots of lovely news!
You’re famous! And justly so. Tremendous congratulations.
I love the holly berries and the big skies. Let us know how the vulture tastes, will you?
The hamster is PERFECT and his apple is absolutely gorgeous. The recipient should be very happy.
A technical question – what happens to the wool from the unsuccessful efforts? Are you able to re-use it for other projects?
Have a very cheerful end-of-week!
What a beautiful hamster! He is much better looking than those stupid mice in the barn. And that apple looks so real! My mouth is watering. Have you ever seen a goat drool? Oh, and congratulations!
Hi Penny, thanks for stopping by 🙂 I was dead excited to be asked too. Quite a surprise, I always feel my blog goes largely unnoticed compared to some of the crafting giants out there!
Your hamster is very cute by the way.
Penny,
‘Tilly’ the hamster arrived today and I absolutely love her!!!! My daughter is going to be overjoyed to receive her on Xmas day…..Many many thanks!!! xxx