I’m resisting having too much of a moan about the weather having seen just how badly other parts of the country have been hit by floods, but I had a soggy old trip on Thursday when I went off to teach needlefelting at The OutHouse Studio! We’ve had a brief interlude of windy sunshine since then, but today is grey, and soggy and Higgins had a horrid morning because of a thunderstorm. We’ve had the longest day, but when are we going to get some Summer?
Still, on Thursday we were warm and dry with needlefelt, coffee and homemade biscuits. It was only a small class, but it does mean those there get more individual attention. We were making brooches again, which is a nice way for people to learn needlefelt basics and have something wearable to take home.
These are my samples…
…but being definite ‘Duck Weather’ the final choice for the class wasn’t surprising!
There are all sorts of pretty things in the shop itself….
I’m kicking myself for not taking close up photos of Caroline Nash’s beautiful and unusual jewellery which she makes from pieces of old cutlery. You can just see them in the first photo. I was terribly tempted, I think I will be going back before too long when I have more time to choose!
Back on Planet Penny, I was very grateful for a really useful comment on last week’s Handmade Monday post and my pondering about the relative merits of Folksy v Etsy. Thank you, Siobhan, for helping me make up my mind. I really needed a buyer’s point of view to add to my own feelings about the ease of using Folksy, and as I’ve used it more over the last few weeks there have been several issues about the ‘clunkiness’ of the Folksy website which have been quite inconvenient. I haven’t taken the decision to move over to Etsy lightly; I tend to be very loyal once I have given my allegiance to something, added to which a couple of weeks ago I was number one in the Folksy best sellers list, but I couldn’t sit on the fence any longer!
You’ll find the yarn, patterns and kits are all on Etsy now in the Planet Penny shop. All the new Fridge Magnet Kits sold very quickly last week but I’ve been beavering away making more, winding yarn…
…and making magnets which are a bit boring…
…look pretty!
I know that, despite loving the colours, the cost of Airmail postage on a 750gm pack is off-putting for some people in the US, so I hope that by making up the kits which weigh so much less it will make having a little piece of the Planet Penny Rainbow a little more affordable!
Looking outside, it seems we are having a sunny interlude, and so I must step away from the computer, put on the wellies and persuade a small dog, who does NOT like puddles, that a spot of exercise might be a good idea!
I will leave you with the usual link to Handmade Monday over on Handmade Harbour. Do go and visit, there’s a lot of creativity going on!
See you soon… x
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I would love to be able to make pretty brooches like that! And the shop looks like such a lovely place to browse around! x
Needlefelting is on my list of things I would like to learn – one day. I would’ve loved to be part of that class – looks a lot of fun. The shop looks fab too. Here’s hoping for a little sunshine soon x
Very fun and cheerful needle felting! I do love the duck.
The Planet Penny Rainbow is lovely. Your class sounds (and looks) great fun and the shops looks really good. Hope you have a good week.
Higgins looks so very thrilled at the idea of a walk. :/
Your class sounds like so much fun, Penny. I love the samples, especially the strawberry and the little yellow flower.
That shop looks wonderful. The hats really caught my eye (my mind is very full of hats right now).
Love the cheery little bundles of yarn and the pretty magnet packs. Good luck with your move to Etsy!
I’m afraid we’ve already had Summer, but it was in Spring this year. Hope you had lots of fun with the class. You seem to have picked a very good location – the shop looks great.
I love all the needle felted creatures but I can totally understand the duck choice!! I hope that your move to Etsy goes well. It must take hours to do all that preparation – you must have loads of patience!
I’m another that has needle felting on my list of things I would like to learn – oh for more hours in the day (probably still just loose them somewhere though!)
What a lovely shop, and taking one of your classes there sounds brilliant, there is no where locally to me (as ar as I’m aware) that does classes like that.
That last pic of Higgins is lovely, we’ve been out with boys and dogs today and White Chester starting out was decidedly browner on the way home!
I wish I could have joined in your lovely needle felting class Penny, it all seems rather complictedto a simple sould such as me! Maybe one day… I do hope your move to Etsy is a prosperous and successful one. Greta that your mousy magnets are flying or should I say scuttling out of your shop. You deserve great success.
As for Mr. h, well yet another characteristically apt photo of a reluctant puddle walker. Classic!
Have a great week Penny xox
Oh no, more typos…I meant to type soul and not sould ! sorry x
The needle felting looks great, love the duck. That shop looks so funky
When I see your needle felting it makes me want to do it!Love the brooches.The shop looks like a treasure trove!
Good luck with your move to Etsy.
Your kits look lovely, the colours really stand out.
Jan x
The brooches are gorgeous. And the shop looks like its just the sort of place I like to browse :).
And there I was expecting to see a needle-felted hat!
Poor Higgins…
the needle felting class looks like such fun! just the thing to do on a grey day 🙂
i’m glad you’ve made a choice you feel happy with re the Etsy/Folksy debate x
What a lovely shop! Your designs are lovely and so colourful. And I love your doggie, beautiful 🙂
Oo, soooo many lovely things!
The needle felting looks really good! I am off to have a look at your Etsy shop now. Have a great week. Mich x
Lord love the duck! What a lovely studio to work in. Great wrapping for your little bundles, I might just have to take that off carefully rather than tearing through to get to the lovely cottons 🙂
Oh how I sympathise about the weather. Up here in the “frozen North” we get the occasional sunny day among grey, miserable ones. The brooches look lovely (I too keep promising myself I’ll try needlefelting one day). Hope the weather improves for you and Higgins.
Chris
What a fabulous shop, I am so glad it’s not near me or I would have no money left at all.
The duck is fabulous, as are all the other pieces too.
Poor Higgins, my three have all looked at the rain and decided that going out is not for them – when I have had to go in the garden they have all sat inside the back door looking at me as if I have gone mad!
Hello Lovely. Incredibly busy and productive as usual. Glad you had a good class, despite the silly weather.
Aplogies for not getting yo you over the last few weekends. Wanted to, but mum needed us which meant it was hard to take off at the time. Coffee soon would be ideal though if you can.
X
I love the little dog brooch – it looks adorable!
I’ve also chosen Etsy over Folksy as I find it easier to use, and that it reaches out to a larger market. I’m sure your shop will do really well on it 🙂
Another great blog post i love opening it and seeing those lovely sheep on your header xxxx
Lovely little mice so colourful.
With a title like this I was expecting to see you’d made a hat! I love the brooches 🙂
I reckon if you were Higgin’s height you wouldn’t like puddles either! Hope the rain stays stopped for you Penny. It’s been crazy wet here!
Good luck with Etsy, I far prefer it 😀
I love that duck! I have seen the materials to needlefelt at my local craft store and I’ve always been reluctant to try it. You have inspired me, perhaps one day I explore the needlefelting world.
I’m still wearing a lot of knit accessories even though its supposed to be ‘summer’ hopefully we’ll get some nice weather soon!
Loverly, loverly!
Just wished I lived close enough to go to one of your courses! Have a good week, Jo x