Category Archives: Christmas

Advent Calendar – Day Seventeen

It’s Day Seventeen on the Advent Calendar, and a week today it will be Christmas Eve! How are you getting on with the preparations? I spoke to someone today who said she had been into the city Christmas shopping four times since Friday!!! And on one of those day she was there from 10.30am till 4.30pm!!! I feel faint at the thought…Hooray for Handmade and online shopping I say!

As I mentioned last time the Christmas tree went up yesterday. It’s alway lovely finding all the decorations which hark back over the years, a very eclectic mix. That means though that all the little extras I’ve been making fit in very well, and also this gorgeous stocking I bought at the Christmas Fair on Saturday…

Today’s make for the Advent Calendar celebrates 2012 on Planet Penny, the Year of the Mouse!

There have been quite few mice running around what with one thing and another, from the Wedding mice from this post…

…to the Rainbow Mice Clock…

What I’ve found so great about the mouse patterns is the versatility. It came into being because I wanted to use the Planet Penny Yarn, but as I wrote in this post, just changing the yarn and the hook means you can have a mouse for any occasion!!

So while the larger mouse pattern is perfect for making a squidgy soft toy made in chunky yarn with embroidered features, just right for peeking out of a stocking…

The tiny mice from the Mini Mice Fridge Magnet Pattern, made with a fine hook and embroidery thread look so sweet peeking out among the branches on the Christmas tree…

…so much kinder on the teeth than the sugar variety!

There must be many a pampered pussy cat which would love a fat mouse stuffed with dried cat mint on Christmas Morning, and the tiny ones fit on hair slides, brooches and if you’re really game for a laugh, earrings!

I must head back into the house now and try and get the rest of the Christmas cards written as tomorrow is the last day for 2nd Class post…eeek!

…but I shall be back tomorrow…x

Advent Calendar – Day Sixteen

Today’s make for the Advent Calendar comes with a puzzle. Anyone who has visited Planet Penny for Open Studios will know that we’re in a very rural location. Passing traffic tends to be dogs and their walkers, horses and their riders, tractors and assorted farm vehicles and the odd car. (Invariably being driven far too fast given the narrowness of the road!)

We have our bins near the road to save the morning panic of remembering it’s bin day and having to scurry around in a dressing gown towing it to the road. But I never imagined this would mean that someone would stop off and deposit something in the bin whilst passing by. So I was very surprised one day a few months back to go out with the recycling, open the bin and find lying on top of the cereal boxes and newspapers, two music books…

They were perfectly clean and dry and came straight in to the studio go on the shelf as ‘Something-which-will-come-in-handy-sometime’. But it continues to baffle me. They’re are not dated, but the music, the look and the prices mentioned makes me think they could be anything up to 70 years old, and I just can’t imagine the scenario of riding past on your horse or tractor, or walking past with your dog and having an urgent need to dispose of the music books you just happened to be carrying on your person!

Anyway, they have come in handy for todays piece of Christmas Crafting.

I know quite few people make beautiful things with upcycled books, but I really struggle with cutting up or dismantling them. So I made a scan of one the pages of music and printed it on each side of a sheet of paper and used my big paper punch to make a collection of paper circles…

(I like the fact it comes from ‘The Sleeping Princess’ in this Pantomime season!)

Then I just stitched them together on the sewing machiune leaving a little gap of stitches in between to make a simple paper garland…

That’s a really simple idea, but by putting three discs together, stitching through them all and fanning them out you have a really pretty and stylish tree decoration…

…and as we put our own tree up this afternoon I was able to put it straight to good effect…

A number of these hung together on a twiggy branch against a white wall would look simply stunning…

The bidding has closed on the mini Christmas Jumper Auction and the little green jumper will be wizzing off to the lovely Joan who made an extremely generous donation of £20 towards the Save the Children charity. Thank you so much, Joan, I’ll be in touch.

And I’ll be back tomorrow too…! x

Don’t forget to call over to Handmade Monday to find lots of other Christmas makes, and if you haven’t entered the Prize Draw you can find out all about it, and the fab prizes on this post…

Advent Calendar – Day Fourteen Christmas Jumper Day

For the Advent Calendar today I’m harking back to this post, because its Christmas Jumper Day today, in aid of Save the Children!

Debbie Bliss has designed these beautiful patterns for stunning Christmas Jumpers.

Both large and small!

But before you think I’ve completely lost it, I’m not suggesting you run up a Christmas Jumper for every family member before the Big Day (11 Sleeps! – Eeek!) but you have got time for the tiny ones. Remember these…?

They’re just perfect for your Christmas breakfast eggs, and if you anticipate being too full of chocolate coins and Brazil nuts by then, they make fabulous Christmas tree decorations…

And you can download the pattern here.

If you’re thinking, well I really don’t have time to start a knitting project just now, but would like a little jumper for your tree, how about one of these?

To raise funds for Save the Children these little Jumpers are available for auction, here..NOW!

Just leave a bid in the comments saying which Jumper you would like, and the highest bidder will receive it in time for Christmas (UK onlyI’m afraid) Once I’ve worked out who has the highest bid I will contact the winner to arrange payment via Paypal.

This is such a good cause, and it would be lovely to contribute to it so please, leave your bids. Bidding will close on Sunday at 4pm.

I look forward to hearing from you .,..

Advent Calendar – Day Thirteen

It’s Day Thirteen on the Advent Calendar and we’ve just come cantering back from a frosty sunny walk…

Higgins is tucked up in his little bed by the studio heater sleeping off his rushing around and I have some peace and quiet to write this post.

I’ve been decorating a new set of fairy lights. I have several sets which I bought half price after last Christmas which run on batteries and I’ve been pleased how long the batteries last with the little LED bulbs.

I’ve made little flowery covers before using wool, but this time I’ve gone for the Rainbow brights of the Planet Penny cotton and it’s worked really well…

My little wire tree has come in useful for displaying them now all the robins have flown!

These would look very pretty twisted round a greenery wreath with the battery pack wired to the back out of sight, draped across the top of a dresser or round a mirror, even across the top the headboard of a bed.

I’ve just started another version, this time all in white…

The flowers are made using the ‘Magic Circle’ method, you’ll find a tutorial here, and the tails are left long to wrap and knot the flower on to each little bulb. You’ll find the tutorial for the Crochet Fairy Lights just here. It’s a great way of using up oddments of yarn and thread as each little flower uses such a short length. I made the rainbow ones with yellow centres, but as you can see they look just as pretty all one colour.

I hope this has inspired you, it might have even inspired non crocheters to have some lessons! I’ve toyed with the idea of making some to sell but it’s not going to happen this side of Christmas, and I’ve no idea if battery sizes are the same internationally. If you are better infornmed than me, I’d love to know!

I’ll be back tomorrow!

Advent Calendar – Day Twelve

It’s Day Twelve on the Advent Calendar, half way there, and a special date on the actual calendar as it’s 12/12/12! I don’t know whether the numbers imbue the date with any magical properties, if it does a visit from the Ironing Fairy would be nice…

The make today stems from the Christmas Fair we are having on Saturday in aid of our Village Hall. For years we raised funds for the old Hall. First to keep it standing, then to raise funds to build a new hall and now we have a wonderful new eco-built hall we have keep it in good repair. As it’s where our Knit and Stitch Group meet every month we have a table at the Fair and we’re all working to fill it with goodies to sell on Saturday.

With things being a little hectic on Planet Penny at the moment I haven’t been able to come up with as much as usual, but I spent some time yesterday afternoon with my trusty glue gun…

…a section of crafty bits and pieces…

…and I now have a dozen little Christmas tree rings for sale on Saturday.

If you haven’t got a glue gun, quick! put it on your Christmas list! It’s the most wonderful thing for quick assembly while crafting, as it sets as it cools so you’re noty left trying to hold everything together with clothes pegs while the glue dries over half an hour or so. I first started using one when I worked at a dried flower shop making arrangements and decorations, back when dried flowers were very fashionable. My own glue gun dates back to that era and is an industrial strength model, but the hobby ones are quite reasonable price. You do have to be careful when using them as the glue is incredibly hot when melted, I sported quite a few burns when I first started out.

(I’ve just realised that I obviously like to live dangerously, if I’m not stabbing myself with felting needles I’n burning myself with glue! Who’d have thought Crafting was an Extreme Sport!)

The little rings are available from most good florist shops and then you have scope for using any number of different odds and ends out of your crafty bit box. It’s a great way of using all the tiny bits and pieces which are too small to make a whole project.

You’ll spot I’ve made use of the little pot of silver bells I bought the other day, I just stitched through the loops with thread to maker a cluster of three and stitched through the twig wreath to hold them. Then the glue which attaches the bow and leaves holds it all in place.

I hope that’s fired your imagination. I’d love to see what you make if it has…

See you tomorrow….x

Advent Calendar – Day Eleven

The Advent Calendar make today has me revealing my secret hoard of wrapping paper, well, a tiny bit. It’s too embarrassing to reveal all! I do love wrapping paper, but when it comes to using it I can’t bear the thought of the eager recipient tearing it off and discarding it, too eager to get at the gift to appreciate it’s beauty and preciousness! (I know, it’s me that’s getting precious!)

But this make means that not only is there no necessity for any reckless ripping, but both sides of the paper can be on show (another cause of head scratching, if it’s gorgeous on both sides which do I use? No wonder I end up with the brown paper!)

I bought this paper the November before last at the Pick’n’Mix Market and it’s been wrapped in tissue ever since..

the robins…

and the winter flowers and berries, which is by Emma Bridgewater…

I found a great little tutorial here on a Japanese blog called Mairuru which explains beautifully how to make gift bags. Apart from a slightly tricky bit of paper folding when you construct the bottom (which is fine if you concentrate hard and keep your cool!!! (I’m saying nothing!) ) I just used a hole punch so I could thread through the ribbon handles. It’s a very simple and satifying little skill which will come in handy for more than just Christmas.

All ready to be filled with all sorts of goodies…

Remember, that little grey mouse could be yours! Have you entered the Prize Draw yet? All the details are on Day Two of the Advent Calendar which is here. All you have to do is to leave a comment to say which way you follow Planet Penny, whether it’s on the blog, or Facebook or even Pinterest. And if you follow via multiple sources tell me that too, because then you’ll go in the Draw twice!

The little brown Mouse? Well he’s appearing later on in the Advent Calendar, wait and see!

See you tomorrow….x