Category Archives: Christmas

Christmas Smells

We’re really getting into the swing of Christmas here on Planet Penny, are you keeping up? My main problem has been that if I’m being creative I can’t squeeze in the blogging, sorry, I will try harder!

Delia’s’ Happy Christmas’ is sitting up on the kitchen bar and I have in progress Christmas cake, Christmas pudding AND mincemeat. All of it has to sit over night for the flavours to blend so the kitchen will be a frenzy of activity tomorrow too. But the smell is already tantalising, mixed spice, cinnamon and my favourite, freshly grated nutmeg, the zesty tang of oranges and lemons and heady aroma of the dried fruit for the cake, steeping in brandy. (note to self – I must not pick and nibble…no, no, NO!)

This morning I popped out to the shop where the sun was shining on the snow and a brass band was playing carols which made me feel really festive so when I heard what a depressing play was on the radio I abandoned it for my ‘free from the Daily Mail’ carols CD….

Higgins, under protest, has gone for walk so I have been able to quickly clear up the carnage left after he disemboweled his festive reindeer soft toy, new today, little terror. He seems to think his mission in life is to remove the squeaks from all his toys, leaving a trail of stuffing all through the house.

So what have I been up to? Well next Saturday we have a Christmas Fair at our village hall and the Knit and Stitch Group have a table to fill. I have been stitching and stuffing in ever available spare moment, producing little hearts…

and birds…

The next project is to find a twiggy branch which I can turn into a tree for them to perch on at the fair, my cherry blossom branches don’t look Christmassy enough…

As usual I am battling with the light for photographs, flash does weird things with the colour. I find I don’t have one photo which shows that each little bird is made with two different but complementing colours with little silver stars for eyes, and every bird is different.

If you would like to buy the hearts or birds without a trip to Norfolk please get in touch!

Higgins is home now, and very tired. He can’t think who could have done the naughty thing to his toy and made all that mess, because he is, of course, a very good dog. Look, butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, now would it?

Buying! and SELLING!

Despite the foggy weather it’s been pretty jolly here on Planet Penny this weekend. I hope yours is being just as much fun.
Yesterday morning we set off to Holt in North Norfolk to the third Pick n’Mix Makers Market organised by Teena of Kitschen Pink, and Lisa of Bobo Bun. The Church Hall was filled with not only beautiful things but with lovely people I have been gradually getting to know through the blogging world.

It was funny to be greeted by cries of ‘Planet Penny? You must be Higgins’ Mummy!’ There were a lot of people disappointed he didn’t put in an appearance, but I think he would have cramped our style a little. Emma from Silver Pebble was there, with a gorgeous display of her jewelry, and since she had asked me take along one of my Robins to buy, a little bargaining and bartering meant that she could go home with the Robin of her choice, and I had these wonderful earings.

I had gone with Christmas shopping in mind, but it’s going to be hard to part with this set of little notebooks from The Lapwing Printworks

– I actually need to write down my Cunning Plans – and this soap from Perfect Scents is heavenly.

Later on in the town we visited Verandah, a shop run by a co-operative of artists ( where I always want to spend too much money), and where I found these pottery Christmas decorations.

See how focused I am? Well there are only 34 days to go!

But I didn’t just spend money yesterday, I MADE some! How amazing is that? I actually sold FIVE Robins! Why I have so little confidence in what I do that I have taken so long to get to grips with marketing it I don’t know. I think it’s the curse of working alone, in a vacuum. And although I’ve been gaining confidence thanks to all you lovely people and your positive feedback, I really needed to be shoved off that diving board so I could start swimming. Special mention must go to Emma, and to Celia of Purple Podded Peas, and my fellow procrastinators!

And that wasn’t the end of it. I got home to a request to buy one of my cushions!!

Kerching!

For the first time in a long time I ended the day richer than when I started!

So here I am, thinking positive. I hope I can spread it around, there are lots of talented people in blogland hiding their lights under the proverbial bushel, you can do it too!

P.S. This post took a little longer than intended. Half way through, Higgins’ magic nose detected the sweetie Tim dropped down the side of the reclining armchair. Have you ever tried to remove a dachshund from the inside of an armchair? In another life, I’d have Truffle Hound… In reality, a Jelly Bean Hound. Probably just right for Planet Penny…

Robin Redbreast

Oh, woops…Wrong photo, wrong Robin Redbreast! ( Higgins does like to join in)

Remember I mentioned robins the other day? Well, since then I’ve been seeing them all over the place and I particularly liked this image in Country Living.

But I’ve also been having a lovely time with the needle felting,which I have sadly neglected lately with all the knitting and crochet work I’ve been doing. I’ve really got to get back to making the big stuff I enjoy so much, but just at the moment I’ve been having lots of fun with my Christmas theme in mind. Hence the robins…

I love the way they fit into the palm of the hand, they are very tactile, if time consuming to make. I can just imagine how sweet they would look as a Christmas table centre, or all along a mantlepiece. That was the intention, but I have been getting sternly spoken to by my artist friends. How long ago did I first mention selling on line? Don’t tell me, it’s too long. I’ve been procrastinating like mad, in the name of research. However, after an assortment of dire threats from people I had previously assumed were sweet and mild mannered…ladies, you know who you are!…I have taken the plunge.

Planet Penny is now a Folksy Shop..Ta DAAA!

As from half an hour ago.

And there my little robins are available to buy. At the moment, I have said I’m only shipping to the UK, but do get in touch if you live somewhere else and would like to make a purchase.

Now I have to work out how to put a link on the side bar… Hmm, please bear with me, I think there might be a few teething problems before I get it right!

Edited to add: As of 2012, Planet Penny is to be found on Etsy, where the latest versions of the needlefelt Robins are to be found…

No More ‘Bah, Humbug’

Delia's Happy Christmas

This year I’m taking back Christmas. I’ve spent too long being made cynical by the avalanche of glittery glitzy comercialisation which starts it’s inexorable rumble around the middle of October. I’m left feeling overwhelmed and inadequate by Christmas Eve because I’m not hosting my own little festive drinks party, handing round my Marks and Spencers nibbles wearing the little black dress I have successfully slimmed into over the preceding weeks, my face dewy from the Clarins facial I fitted in earlier on in the day while having a pedicure. I only recover my equilibrium on Christmas morning when, wrapped in an apron, I potter round the kitchen with the sprouts and the turkey with carols on the radio, talking to family and getting back to what Christmas is really all about.

I’ve already experienced the familiar panicky feeling in the supermarket when confronted by pyramids of Quality Street and Roses tins, I just want to run away and hide till it’s all over. Last year I got in such a flap because nobody sold Christmas cards I could bear to write my name in, I didn’t send any at all!

So …NO MORE…

This year it WILL be different.

Last night I sat tucked up on the sofa with Delia and Nigella and the Christmas issues of Country Living,

Country Homes and Interiors …

and the Sainsbury Magazine …

and got in the mood. I’m all geared up to make a Christmas cake for the first time in years, (I probably won’t be doing anything very ambitious with the icing after the Fairy Cake debacle!) AND a pudding, AND mincemeat. I will share with you the frangipane mince pie recipe I discovered last year which turned me from ‘take it or leave it’ on the mince pie front to a ‘sneak into the pantry last thing at night’ greedy pig.

And I shall make more decorations and share those with you too.

This isn’t a spur of the moment decision either. If you’ve been visiting Planet Penny for a while you may remember this post from way back. I didn’t mention it again because it seemed to frighten you all!

There are 39 days to go. Maybe this year I will be organised? Are you going to join in?

Away in a Manger…

A while ago I mentioned the Crib and Wreath Festival at our local church, and the contribution the Knit and Stitch group were working on. Last week we all gathered at the church to set up our pieces in readiness for the Festival. At time like this you see anew the beauty of the typical English church and St Michael and All Angels at Barton Turf is very typical. It is, of course, far to big for the parish it serves which now no longer has even a village shop, and so it functions under that peculiar regime of worship and fund-raising found up and down the country these days.

Inside, the stalwart band of ladies essential to the running of any village affair mustered their troops. How could anything function without these unpaid treasures who organise events, arrange flowers, polish pews, run errands and generally oil the wheels of rural life? Years of fundraising for St Michael’s has resulted in the recent installation of a loo and small kitchen, no mean feat to sympathetically integrate these modern necessities into the architecture of a 14th Century church, but it does allow it to function as a community centre, and give it a role which justifies its upkeep. And means a plentiful supply of soup, rolls, tea and cake for visitors to its various displays, festivals and celebrations. (and coffee and biscuits when you turn up on a cold wet morning to set up your stand!)

I was really happy with the swags we had made for the font, a loose interpretation of the wreath idea which meant that there were four pieces to be entered for the secret auction, and the rich colours looked beautiful against the pale old stone. The Knit and Stitch Ladies had been really busy making small items for sale, knitted crackers, stockings and baubles, crochet snowflakes, gift bags, angels and hearts, and the whole display was topped off with an amazing knitted crib scene. I apologise for the lack of photos at this point, I was over absorbed by the task in hand!

Yesterday afternoon I persuaded my mother out of her house to visit the festival. Not easy these days now she is wheelchair bound and these things involve ramps and other people fussing. She hates to feel she is a nuisance. I’m so glad I did. The weather was sunny, with a gentle breeze, the church was bright and warm and there were lots of people she knows but hardly sees these days. She loved the exhibits and then, unexpectedly, there was a Navity Tableau put on by the local primary school. Are you, like me, completely undone by a childrens Nativity play? Our local rock star(well he would have been, given the right breaks) strummed carols softly on his guitar while his wife read the Christmas story as the children enacted it. At the first sight of Joseph in his dressing gown, teatowel on head and glasses slightly crooked, alongside a diminutive Mary teaming traditional blue with Ugg boots, the pair of us welled up. The shepherds tramped down from the hills in search of baby Jesus, who had been found with surprise under her chair by Mary, and quickly recovered for a cuddle. As the shepherds reenacted their route from the hills by walking up and down the aisles (gently steered at the corners by a grownup when they looked as if they were heading off course) the smallest one happily swung his lamb backwards and forwards in the air. Angel Gabriel looked stern, the star twinkled prettily as she led the Kings to the stable, the rock star played ‘Away in a Manger’ and Mother and I dabbed our eyes.

What nicer way to start the run up to Christmas?

Christmas Garlands

Our Knit and Stitch group got together over cake and wine this week to work on the finishing touches of our joint contribution to the Crib and Wreath Festival at our local church. We have been allocated the font which is great as it gives us a focal point, but it has to be quite a statement as the font is directly in front of the main door. The final decision was to create a set of Christmas Garlands which could be draped around the font, and then split up into 6 pieces to sell separately as a fundraiser for the Church.

It was a bit of a challenge to come up with a design for something eye-catching but simply made, which could be shared amongst the members, worked on at home and assembled at the meeting, but I was pleased by the final design. Although the final wreath will encircle the font, it will dismantle into four individual parts which can then be hung over a fireplace or door as a swag. I think the rich deep colours will look lovely against the old stone in the church, but I want to adapt the design using red and white, stripes and gingham to give it a more Scandinavian feel. Just thinking about it makes me feel Christmassy!

Christmas Garland in fireplace

It’s a really simple construction which I will endeavour to pass on. I used an assortment of fat quarters of christmas fabrics which I partly unfolded and then cut into strips using a cutting wheel. My strips were about 2″ wide.

I then opened all the strips out…

and cut them in half…

Take each piece and fold it sides to middle, overlapping the edges in the middle by about a centimetre. Make two rows of stitching each side of the centre, making a channel for threading.

The quickest way to do this is to feed the folded pieces through the sewing machine one after another in a continuous line, without cutting off between each piece. When you get to the end, feed them all through again to do the second row, then cut them apart. There is not going to be any strain on the stitching so you don’t need to tie off the threads.

Then thread the pieces on to a thick piece of yarn or piping cord.

You need it to be thick and fluffy so it grips the fabric and allows you to gather up each little ‘bow’ section and fluff it out

To finish it off, make ‘berries’ by cutting out circles about 2″ across from a plain fabric, running a gathering stitch round the outside, stuff with toy wadding or cotton wool, pull the thread tight and stitch to close.

I stitched the berries in groups of three on to a ribbon which I then tied at intervals on the garland.

Christmas Garland detail

This is not the best tutorial as I rather worked backwards and it assumes a degree of sewing knowledge, but if you are sewing novice who needs to know more, please tell me and I will be more explicit. I will definitely be making more, so I can improve on the instructions.

I am really looking forward to photographing the finished wreath in situ, all around the font, with the christmas crib knitted by one of the Knit and Stitch members in pride of place on the top.