Author Archives: penny

About penny

I live in Norfolk, England in a cottage on the edge of the Norfolk Broads where it can be peaceful and beautiful, or wet and muddy, or occasionally wild and windswept. With me is husband Tim, Henry the elderly and opinionated tabby cat, and Higgins, the miniature dachshund with a massive personality. You’ll find me chattering on about wool and textiles, knitting and crochet, recipes, books and patterns, exhibitions and shopping and of course, the adventures of a small dog! Planet Penny has a Facebook Page, you can find me on UK Handmade and I am featured on Channel4/4Homes Favourite Craft Blog List.

The End of the Year Show

VS Butterflies

Was back in old haunts on Monday, Jen and I went to look round the Degree Show at Norwich University College of the Arts from which we both graduated in 2005. I was particularly impressed by the Visual Studies and Textile work and not just because those are my own fields of particular interest. There was such a high degree of skill and expertise displayed, areas which seem to lose out when the drive is towards ‘Conceptual Art’, and the concept is considered communicated by an unmade bed or a thumbprint in a blob of Blu Tack. Any way, all grist to the mill from my point of view of getting back my thing, oooh don’t know the word, but I had it when I left Art School and then mislaid it! All topped off with lunch in a shady garden and a catch up on the gossip, lovely!

Giving ourselves a round of applause…!

Tallulah – a woman of a certain age who’s still got what it takes!

Just one last word on the nitty gritty of blogging before I get on with the pretty stuff. It’s been lovely getting comments from you all, thank you. I was taken aback this morning by the reaction of a friend of a similar age when I mentioned blogging. After her initial bafflement I suggested that if I gave her the site address she could have a look and see what I meant. ‘Oh, no,’ she said firmly. ‘I wouldn’t do it. I don’t use the computer. And my husband wouldn’t look either.’ Oooh, my turn to be baffled. I can’t imagine life without it now, but are we ladies of a certain age (and you know who I mean, girls) in the minority as we surf the net looking for our blogging fixes, Amazon book deliveries and Ebay bargains? If so, three cheers for us, for embracing and joining in with 21st century technology, and long may it continue!

Technology – and getting a grip on it!!

Second day of finding my way round all the technicalities of customising my blog and I’ve only snivelled once, and Tim only had to stay up until 1.30am this morning! But now I’m back on Planet Penny and I’ve brought my pink sheep along with me!

so much better than a pink elephant!

All Change!

Looks like I’ve said goodbye to Planet Penny by moving to WordPress but hopefully I am flying off and boldly going where I have never been before… I think it's called blue sky thinking?

St Lawrence Textile Centre

Great excitement yesterday when I was introduced to the St Lawrence Textile Centre in Norwich. Kit had kept me in the dark, just telling me I had to be prepared to be amazed. Oh I was! Only opening a few weeks ago it is situated in one of the many churches to be found all over Norwich. You walk in the door expecting the cool shadowy calm of an English church but are then confronted by a kaleidoscope of colour and texture and music which leaves you momentarily bemused. I met a wonderfully vibrant lady with a knitting machine who creates fabulous knitted garments which defy description. Imagine a scarf with amazing elastic qualities which can then become skirt, a dress or a hat, which is shocking pink and frilled with peacock coloured crochet… Each section between the pillars is rented by different talented textile and costume artist, their wares artfully displayed alongside vintage jewellery and shoes, old suitcases from which tumble felt hats and silk scarves, feathers and diamante, hanks of yarn and lengths of satin. I just wanted to move in and live there!

From Wayford Bridge to Pennygate

Now I know I’m not a Rambler! The prospect of a local walk, in the company of a ‘well known local naturalist’, a circular tour over the foot paths passing Barton Broad, culminating in a scrambled egg and smoked salmon breakfast sounded a pleasant way to spend Midsummer morning. Alas the leader of the group, far from being a naturalist, had obviously trained with a forty pound pack and rifle. He achieved an impressive speed, leaving anyone admiring a view or focusing a camera to follow the scorch marks on the ground. Like two naughty schoolgirls bunking off from Cross Country, Kit and I nipped off on a short cut, and found time to gaze at the view, photograph the flowers, grab a comfort stop as we passed her house, and be a cup of coffee ahead by the time the rest of the ‘regiment’ arrived at the restaurant.