Hello again…and how have the first few days of January been for you? It’s been very strange not to be on here every day, although I can’t say I’m not glad of the rest! And it’s another milestone. My first post of 2013 and it’s my 400th… This is extraordinary when I think about my bloggy beginnings when I kept thinking ‘I’ve got nothing to say! ‘
Higgins and I went off to the beach this morning for some exercise out of the mud. It was beautiful…
and very quiet…
I don’t know who drew the line in the sand, but Higgins didn’t have any problem crossing it!
I’ve been doing quite a bit of reorganising in the studio after nearly a month of daily making. Creating chaos is one of my specialities and I couldn’t move by Christmas Day. Thank goodness I was able to shut the door on it and have Christmas indoors where there was a space to sit down! Anyway, it’s all right now…
…for a brief moment at least.
I have a new project on the horizon because we are anticipating a new arrival in the family next month. My nephew and his wife are expecting a baby, which is very exciting. (Isn’t it strange how being a Granny is fine, but being a Great Aunt somehow sounds incredibly ancient? Or is that just me?) I have it on good authority (from my sister who was wielding a paintbrush) that the nursery has been decorated in yellow so I’m planning a little baby blanket.
It just so happens that I have the ‘Sunshine’ yarn which replaced the Planet Penny ‘Buttercup’ when it was out of stock. It’s really pretty, but slightly different from the rest of the range because of the variagated shades of yellow and lemon. I’m combining it with some of the Planet Penny ‘Snowdrop’ which I had as a limited amount for the Christmas Crochet Kits to make a ripple blanket with a twist…
This it so far, but you can’t see the twist yet!
I’ve also been playing with the rest of the Planet Penny Cottons because I’ve had enquiries about buying the all the colours, but a smaller amount of each. This still gives plenty of scope for making little toys and bunting etc, any of the patterns on here or for sale on Etsy but less expensively and crucially lighter to post overseas. It’s a bit of a fiddle to weigh and wind but I have two to go on Etsy next week…
Approximately 25gms/62m per ball, 14 balls plus a crochet hook for £20.00. I’d be interested to know what you think. And if you’d like to buy them and can’t find them in the shop, please let me know. Create a demand!
I’m rather missing the snow on the blog now we’ve had to take the decorations down for Twelve Night so I’m having a play with the background I think this one is suitably wintry for January, but I have other plans so watch this space. However, as an eternal optimist and being well into the Spring yellow vibe with my crochet I’d just like to share this photo, taken at the end of my garden this very morning…
…and that’s not wintry at all!
I’ll leave you with a link to the first Handmade Monday of 2013 over on Handmade Harbour where the links will start at 6pm, and I shall get back to my crocheting!
See you soon….x
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I cannot believe that you have flowers out in your garden already. What a very welcome sight! I saw your small balls yesterday and have been thinking that it is a great idea. I am sure they will be very popular.
the blanket looks lovely Penny – can’t wait to see what the twist is!
I’m enjoying playing with my first Planet Penny Cotton Club pack – I’ve nearly finished a star bunting (14 stars one in each colour with a knitted ric rac ‘ribbon’). I’m happy working with the full size balls but I would love a mix of variegated yarns, even if was a smaller number. Your blanket is gorgeous. Alison
The baby blanket is so uplifting and it’s coming along a treat! Love the cheerful flower photo – I am longing for the warmer months now. Happy New Year Leah xxx
your little baby blanket is so beautifully bright and sunny, i’m sure it will keep its little owner smiling 🙂
We have little shoots starting to appear in the garden too and the way the birds were singing yesterday you’d think it was Spring already… it seems to arrive earlier every year! x
That lemony cotton is very cheery Penny and perfect for a brand new baby. I love having an excuse to make a baby blanket :o) One day, who knows I may well be a granny….oh and a great aunt! My goodness it sound rather grand but not ancient I don’t think!
Its good to start the year with a fresh tidy space, long may it last. Great to see Higgy doing his doggy things too.
I think the 25g balls will be quite popular, may suite people’s budgets at this time of the year too?
Happy days to you this week ahead, here’s to having more flowers appearing in gardens xox Penelope
Lovely post – how wonderful to find primroses already. I’ll swear the birds are sussing out nest boxes in our garden and they’re definitely more vocal. Love your studio – what a lovely creative space.
That is going to be a lovely shawl/blanket. No flowers in my garden yet but here’s hoping!
Primroses already. That is really encouraging that spring is one the way.
I have started using my Planet Penny cotton to make a ripple cushion, lovely and bright, i’m loving it! I’m sure smaller sizes would be great for people making small characters, but for me the big is fine. I’m finding i’m using more colours than others tho, so for me a split collection of warm and cold would be good, as i use the warmer colours more, but i guess that would be too much of a risk for you as you may get stuck with certain shades? x
Nobody’s work room should be that tidy *dashes to close door to the dining room* You are a neatnik! The cotton colours are so cheery at this time of the year, good luck with the sales!
Wow 400th post! Well done you. We too have a couple of babies due this year so I shall be looking for ideas on this theme too. Love the colours of your blanket 🙂
Love the photos of the beach. Makes me wish I lived by the sea. You are so lucky!
Gorgeous skies, got to love the beach in the winter 🙂 x
Wow, your workspace is so tidy! Mine’s in complete chaos at the moment! Really need to have a sort through.
oh! i love your knits! the bunny is dead cute and cosy and that pretty yellow blanket – brings spring freshness in life 🙂 so cheerful
the wools look yummy! the colours are gorgeous!
Congratulations on all those blog posts – I’ve got a long way to go!
The blanket looks beautiful – I’m already a great aunt (I like to think of the ones in the Bertie Wooster stories! Thank goodness I’m not a granny yet!)
Hi Penny & Happy New Year! The blanket looks so pretty and cheery. And your workspace is looking super-tidy (unlike mine!!) Congrats on your 400th post, hope I make it that far someday !
Siubhan x
Thanks for sharing the photos of the beach. The sky looks beautiful and Higgins doesn’t look too bad either. I’m a great aunt but not yet a granny. I think it sounds old but maybe we should just change the meaning of ‘great’ to mean ‘the best one’. Your blanket looks really pretty. Have a lovely week.
Ali x
Beautiful colours in the basket and such a bargain. Lovely pics and how great to see spring flowers already. Hope you have a good week.
Your workspace is looking lovely – I do understand all too well about creating chaos. The blanket looks lovely. Love the beach pics.
Lucky Mum to be <3
Aww a baby. I am still in awe (or is that awww!) of my new grandson, but he’s getting up there, 9 months old now. Love that yellow, very pretty. I have been a great aunt for, well, 14 years now, so it doesn’t sound all that old to me! You will enjoy it. But being a Grandmother is by far the best thing ever.
Love the lemon colours in your blanket, a great addition to any nursery.
I have some primroses in my garden too, I was quite surprised but very pleased.
Have a great week
Jan x
The beach is lovely – such wide-open skies and water. And Higgins looks very sprightly too. 🙂
Congratulations on your 400th post, and on having FLOWERS in January!
Congrats on the little niece-or-nephew-to-be. I am a Great-Aunt about 9 times over (have lost count, actually) and I feel very young. Much more so than if I were a Grandmother. 🙂
Your studio is looking ready for more action, as is darling Higgins there!
Congrats on the expected great niece or nephew … already the blanket looks lovely, even without the unrevealed twist … what fun to wait and see what that will be!