Author Archives: pennygj

Comfort Me With Stitches

There is something so comforting in the repetition of simple stitches, and over the last days the Do You Mind If I Knit Blanket project has been hugely helpful to me in the most difficult days. The squares created by so many different people with one goal and the care that has gone into each piece along with the rhythm of the stitching has given me a calm oasis to escape to.

DYMIIKBlanket

Because, you will know from my last post that mother was ill. She went into hospital just over two weeks ago with pneumonia, and when she didn’t respond to treatment had a scan. A week ago today I held her hand when we were told that she had multiple cancers in her poor frail body, and two days ago I held her hand as she passed away.

Thank you to you all who sent good wishes and prayers, they have also been comforting. My own prayers that she didn’t have long to suffer were also answered.

Planet Penny will be quiet for a little while, but Lisa at Bobobun will update you with news of the DYMIIK blanket.

Again, thank you everyone out there. The creative world is filled with lovely people…

A Pause…

I know there will be some of you wondering what has happened to the Happy Friday Linky.

bluebells I hope you will understand when I say that things are happening here which have made this difficult and inappropriate just now, and all I feel able to say is that your thoughts and prayers for my dear mother would be greatly appreciated…

I will be back, but until then enjoy your weekend, and hold your loved ones close…x

Happy Friday Number 16

Skittering along in a hurry with a late Happy Friday post!

Not only have I been out all day, but dear husband has been battling for two days with a computer with total amnesia, which has been a worry. I mean, I’m the one losing brain cells at an alarming rate, computers have the benefit of plug-in memories and stuff, don’t they? I could really do with a plug-in memory…

Anyway, my Happy Friday is all about my lovely day with two fellow bloggers, Lisa of Bobobun and Celia of Purple Podded Peas. We met up at Lisa’s gorgeous little country cottage, full of pretty things, to arrange the layout for the Do You Mind If I Knit blanket which we are making to raffle in aid of mental health. A great deal of laughter as well as hard work went on and we now have a section each of the blanket to sew up before we get together again for the final assembly. I’ll be telling you all about it as things progress, and I’m sure all of you who followed and loved Vanessa Cabban’s wonderful blog will want to join in with this tribute, so watch this space.

If you would like to take part in the draw please follow this link, it’s open worldwide.

Do You Mind if I knit Blaknet for Happy Friday Blanket design for Happy Friday

So how about your Happy Friday? Do write about it on your blog and join in with the Linky below. I really look forward to finding about your week.

Happy Friday Number 15

Eek! A whole week gone, it’s Happy Friday time again!

Every week I intend to fit in at least one other post and I just don’t know where the time goes… Anyway, here’s a little potted summary of Planet Penny goings on.

The lovely bag of yarn last week? The Silk & Wool blogger (sorry I don’t know your name) was asking about my project and here’s a sneak peek… crochet for Happy Friday About a month ago I mentioned that I had been asked to contribute to a crochet website but was still waiting to hear more. Well, it’s really real! I’m going to one of three bloggers on the site, and this will be my first ‘make’. I’ll let you know all the details as soon as it goes live, but it’s one of the things which has kept me busy this week.

Springtime Happy Friday Spring has really sprung here in Norfolk, and it’s been wonderful to have a few days when I can have the doors open in the studio and enjoy the fresh air. Higgins likes it too, but always manages to get on the wrong side of a closed door and then summons me with an imperious ‘WUFF’!

And I’ve found my sewing mojo! Being tall I always struggle to find something as long as I like off the peg, but this fabulous pattern from Merchant and Mills is perfect, and very adaptable. Merchant & Mills

My practice run recycled two tops from the back of the wardrobe which weren’t quite right for various reasons and were never worn. Reinvented, I’m want to wear it all the time! Merchant & Mills pattern recycled linen Happy Friday And I rediscovered Croft Mill, a company from which I used to buy lots of fabric years ago when I was sewing for the children, and bought some fabulous fabric…

Coates Fabrics for Happy Friday So all in all, It’s a very Happy Friday for me…how about you?

Please join in with the Linky below, and tell us all about what has made you smile this week. Don’t forget to link back to this post in your own so that people can find all the other links.

I don’t want to add a grumpy note, but I’m still getting people joining in with irrelevant posts which don’t mention Happy Friday anywhere, and the whole point of this is to link up like minded people and find new blogs to follow, so please play fair…

But enough of all that, have a very Happy Friday and a lovely weekend x

Happy Friday Number 14

Hello…and welcome to Happy Friday number 14. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend and that the sun shone for you!

It was hectic here, and I’m still trying to catch up but here’s a snapshot of what made my week happy.

I up-cycled a shrunken jumper and made it into a cuddly Easter Bunny…

Stripey bunny for Happy Friday

I had a lovely delivery of yarn in in gorgeous springtime shades for a new project…

stylecraft spring colours

The sun shone, the blackthorn buds started to open and interesting things are growing in the nooks and crannies… Blackthorn blossom for Happy Friday

Happy Friday fungi

And here is the epitome of happiness, an eight year old who has just spotted an Easter egg!

Happy Friday Easter Egg hunt

So what’s made your week happy? Please add your link to happy blog post using the Linky below. Please, please make the post relevant to Happy Friday and link back to this post so your readers can find the other people joining in the Linky Party.

See you back here soon…x

Happy Friday on Good Friday!

I have to admit to having to look hard for those Happy Friday moment to record this week. Things have been tricky, but I’ve been grateful for the motivation to look for the positive moments, they’ve kept me going.

It was lovely to have a visit from my dear daughter last weekend, but the planned family get-together didn’t happen because my precious and smallest grandson, just 13 months old, was rushed to hospital having suffered a prolonged seizure. Fortunately, after 24 hours in which they brought his temperature down and did a series of tests, he was sent home with antibiotics for a throat infection and is now full of beans. Unlike his poor parents who are still traumatised, bless them… (and granny’s still feeling pretty wobbly too!)

I must apologise for not visiting all the linked blogs during this week as I usually do, I’m sure you understand why.

In the spirit of being upbeat and springlike I have had an Easter manicure. What do you think…? Easter manicure for Happy Friday

(Higgins was a bit annoyed about me borrowing his bunny!)

And I have decorated the Easter tree. I made it with several twiggy branches of twisted willow in a vase full of weighty glass beads, and the lovely thing is since it’s been in the house the buds have turned into little spring green leaves which is so pretty. It’s quite difficult to get a good photo as it’s so light and airy but here’s a flavour of it…

Easter Tree for Happy Friday

Easter Tree closeup for Happy Friday

So I’m looking forward to hearing about your Happy Friday moments this week for even more cheerfulness. Please join in with the Linky below as usual, making sure you make the post relevant to Happy Friday, and link back to this post so spread the word.

So Happy Friday, and Happy Easter one and all, I’ll be back soon…x