A Postcard from Wales

Hello, my lovelies! I hope you’ve had a wonderful Easter break and didn’t eat too much chocolate. We did…I feel a spot of dieting w?ill be in order after our hols.

As my iPad is on hand, and the Wifi isn’t too bad, I’m writing my latest post in sunny Wales and share some of my holiday snaps. It’s so beautiful here. This is the view from the conservatory of the cottage we are staying in.With the door open, all you can hear is the sound of birdsong, interspersed with chickens, the cockerel, geese and ducks and occasionally, Dylan the sheepdog. Over the hill there are sheep……and lambs! I’m afraid I’m just a bit soppy about lambs but I don’t think Higgins would be too impressed if I took one home.The hills been rather a strain on my poor flatlander legs but we’ve found some beautiful places to walk and my head is filled with the colours of Spring. This time of year there are so so many shades of green as the new leaves start to open, and Wales is particularly blessed with spring flowers. The fields are golden with the bees’ favourite, dandelions and the woods are carpeted with bluebells. I’ve never seen so many wood anenomes which spring up along the roadside… …and the gardens are full of blossom.Having decided that my latest crochet project was too big to bring, it was absolutely necessary for me to find a yarn shop (or two) for supplies to keep me busy in the evenings. So, I started with some super chunky and a pair of e-NOR-mous needles which was super fast to knit…Which meant an expedition to find another wool shop (I have a long suffering husband!) Abergavenny came up trumps with The Wool Croft, and an irresistible half price offer on this gorgeous Louisa Harding wool/silk blend…There are so many different hues in this yarn, every row has a different flavour!

I’ll be home next week, feeling refreshed and full of ideas so I’m looking forward to being back here with you.

Changing Direction

April

Hello, lovelies…have you wondering where I’ve been hiding? I have to confess to disappearing down the rabbit hole, and longer I was down there, the harder it became to climb out!

But April is here, the sun is shining and I can see things more clearly now.

I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that Brexit has done for Planet Penny and the cotton yarns. The supplier is in Europe, and between the fall in the pound and the prospect of customs and duties the knock on effect to my prices is just not viable. I need to find another direction, and that what I’m working on right now.

In the meantime, the stock I have remaining is still available in the Etsy shop. When the Rainbow, Ice Cream and Pastel packs have gone I will create some one off collections with what is left .

Planet Penny Cotton – Rainbow

Planet Penny Cotton – Icecream

Planet Penny Cotton – Pastel

So if you would like the chance to purchase one of the last ever packs of Planet Penny Cotton, be quick, there aren’t many left!

In the meantime I am going back to my eclectic creative roots here on Planet Penny to see what happens next, I hope you’ll join me. In the meantime, there’s always Higgins!

Miniature Dachshund the dog walking habit

See you soon….x

Hello December!

Such an age since I was last here, but for various reasons November became a little manic. But December is here and I wanted to say hi and a thank you for all your visits and support. Planet Penny has just gone over one million views, which is HUGE!

Here in Norfolk we have been enjoying the most beautiful late Autumn weather. Bright skies and frost, and fabulous colours.

And it’s encouraging to realize that after the 21st of this month, the days start getting longer again!

I thought it would be nice to start the first day of December with something cheerful from the Make Today Happy blog, the Act of Kindness Advent Calendar. Hop on over and find out what you can do to make people happy this month. The world needs this more than ever at the moment!

I’ll be back soon with some more December cheerfulness…x

Autumn Walks and Acorns

I can’t believe we are nearly at the end of October! It’s all been a bit busy here on Planet Penny. We’ve just had a flying visit from the grandsons and grand dog which is enough to send anyone in a tizzy, especially Higgins! The grand dog is very “Tiggerish’ and Higgins has to be careful not to be bounced on.

I’m having to do a bit of resting because of the M.E. so I’ve been installing things on my shiny new iPad so I can sit with my feet up and write blog posts. This my first attempt. Not so much the writing as working out the best way to process the photos…I’m getting there…gradually.

And I’m also getting ready for the Two Rivers Trail Festive Fair which is coming up next month, so felting needles at the ready, I’ve been making acorns.
But we have had some lovely weather, so over the past few days we’ve been out with the camera enjoying all the colours of autumn, so come with us, it’s only down the road! I love to think that someone was walking along eating lunch, tossed the apple core in the hedgerow, and planted a tree! 2016-10-23-10-54-59 This is one our favourite stretches along the walk, sheltered enough not to get muddy.Because we do mud rather well in Norfolk! Mud And while there are acorns on the trees… acorns …there are needlefelt acorns in the studio!So watch this space… I’ll be back to show you the finished articles and with more news about the Festive Fair.

See you soon…x

Cosy Wool from Cosywool!

Cosywool Comforts…

Cosywool - knitting Cosy wool is just the ticket for the cooler autumnal days and in my last post I gave you a tantalising glimpse of my latest project. As I’ve said before, I’m a bit of a butterfly with my makes so I love something which can be whistled up in a few days with great satisfaction. It’s even better when I don’t have to stir from the comfort of my armchair, but just order on line!

So my lovely yarn came direct from Cosywool who, with the relaunch of their website, had the brilliant idea of vacuum packing the yarn before shipping. Cosywool vacuumed packed yarn This makes it small enough to go through the letter box which means no hanging around for the postman, and it’s weatherproof and animalproof (ideal if you have a dog like Higgins who thinks all parcels are addressed to him!)

I wasn’t sure at first, imagining it might look sad and squashed when it arrived but in fact it bounced straight out of the wrapping looking as fluffy as ever. (And vacuum packing has the added bonus of making your yarn stash look far smaller than it actually is!) Sirdar Click Chunky - Cosywool The yarn is Sirdar Click Chunky, an acrylic/wool mix in warm Apple Red and I used Sirdar Pattern 76144, also available from Cosywool. It’s described as a snood but it’s more of a snuggly collar to fill in the neck of a jacket; in a simple two row pattern which makes a gorgeous texture. Snood - Cosywool This time of year I’m always on the look out for quick, easy and stylish makes for unique Christmas gifts, and I am determined be on top of the present list for once. I’ve a feeling I shall be working my way through the colour range on Cosywool for my present list!

Ooh, I’ve just mentioned the C*******s word… I’m really sorry if you are not ready to hear it, or are you planning ahead with lots of knitting, crocheting and sewing in mind? If you would like to share your ideas, please do, you might just inspire us all with the very thing for a tricky relative!

I shall be back this Friday with a Blog Hop, which I’m very excited about. Do join me then…x

Autumn Planning – looking ahead

Hello…and Happy Sunday! I hope the weather is being kind wherever you are. Here in Norfolk we are presently bathed in beautiful Autumn sunshine, which is trying very hard to dry up the huge downpour an hour ago. But it’s warm, the doors are open, Higgins is sunning himself and all’s right with the world…well on Planet Penny anyway.

Looking back over the blog I find I’m usually a bit moany around this time of year and I realise it’s not the autumn I don’t like because it can be beautiful. The colours and the angle of the light. The misty mornings and sparkling dew on the leaves. It’s looking ahead to the lack of light that lowers my mood. I find it really hard when the sun sets ever earlier rises later and later, and the clouds don’t lift all day.

So I’m autumn planning, determined to find lots to do, and lots to share and to try to keep motivated this time round. I hope you’ll join me!

So here’s a little glimpse of what Higgins and I have been enjoying on our dog walks this week… Mini dachshund in autumn planning As you can see…he’s just a blur!

So many gorgeous colours and textures… Autumn Colours - autumn planning We’re going to keep enjoying it for as long as we can! Autumn sunset So, coming up, I’m going to show you some cosy knitting in a fabulous autumn colour… autumn planning - knitting and an irresistible fabric purchase from my favourite shop, Arts Desire.

And on Friday I shall be taking part in a Blog Hop with Sew and So …here’s a little clue! Autumn planning blog hop I’ll leave you with some winners. The TWO lucky winners of the fabulous crochet book from this post are Susan and Julie. I wish I could send everyone a copy though, thank you all so much for entering the competition.

And if you didn’t win the book, there is still a chance to win the lovely Happy Crocheting bag on the newsletter. Just subscribe via the yellow button below to take part.

See you soon…x