A Jumbled up Post!

This lovely patterned floor is laid out just like a patchwork quilt! We aren't obsessed with all things textile but it does change the way you see the world ...this floor is in Creeting House which was the venue for last weeks and this weeks Swish Up event - a whole post on this to follow shortly!

Halfpenny Home was there or a very small part of it was!
It's tricky to show people who have never visited HH HQ just what it is like and what goes on there but I think that we managed it this week. The good wives of Sew and Crow don't like to waste a single second so they all brought their knitting and crochet along to Creeting House with them.

We also had a visit from Laura who makes the most wonderful soap, has helped us with the book and will be running soap making workshops at Halfpenny Home next Spring and Summer. I wasted no time at all in getting that delivery of delicious smelling soap installed on a cake stand!

There will be some of Laura's soap available at the Humble Jumble up at The Ark on King William Street in Needham Market on Saturday 20th November - it's starting earlier this month 10 am - 3 pm.
Flossie is proudly sporting a HJ poster along with one of our hand dyed silk scarves and a skirt by Polly's Textiles.

Floss stood in for me (I'm shy!) to show off my new cardigan wrap thing that is so snuggly and warm, here it is wrapped up...

and here it is worn down!

Cheers Floss! Hope to see you all up the jumble on Saturday, Nic x

1st Birthday Celebrations at Halfpenny Home!

We can't believe that a whole year has passed by since the party that we held to celebrate the opening of Halfpenny Home! The sign at the end of the driveway went up on the morning we opened, a little bit late as it had only just arrived the day before..

It's been a very busy and exciting year and we've met loads of new people and made lots of new friends and we wanted to celebrate Halfpenny Home's 1st birthday with them.
With the Humble Jumble all finished and packed away over at the Ark it made sense to us to take a bit of HH over there.

Look familiar?!

What could be better on a chilly October evening than a Fish and Chip supper? We couldn't think of a better way to spend the evening so Hussien over at Has Bond's and Son cooked enough for us all! Served with yummy tartar sauce, vinegar, ketchup and Maldon Sea salt in old glass salt dishes served with some pink bubbly, Aspall Cyder and mugs of tea - perfect!

Thank you everyone for making this a fantastic year for us at Halfpenny Home, Nic x

It's nearly here................

It's hard to believe we're almost round to Humble Jumble time again! With Humble Jumble being on a monthly basis it just makes you realise how quickly the weeks whizz past! We love the poster that Beth has created to advertise the event and think it sums it up perfectly!

There's a lovely selection of stalls lined up with a nice eclectic mix of goodies, including lovely handmade items and yummy homemade goodies such as autumn chutneys and preserves.

There's set to be some nice quality jumble so lots of potential bargains to seek out.

Scoffins will be there to tempt us all with their gorgeous selection of home baked cakes and scones.

And of course, there will be plenty of hot steaming mugs of tea! What could be better than a spot of bargain hunting and a nice cup of tea with home made cake on an autumnal afternoon?

Jacqui x

While the cat's away.....

I was really sad to have missed the inaugural Humble Jumble, due to a pre-planned "glamping" expedition to North Norfolk, more of which to follow another day! Our lovely friend Beth had taken on role of chief Humble Jumble organiser and what a fab job she did! Here is her account (accompanied by lots of lovely pictorial evidence) of the first ever Humble Jumble....

"We knew as soon as we saw it that the Ark would be the perfect spot for Humble Jumble. Seeing it full of beautifully laid out tables and decked in bunting was pretty exciting come Saturday morning.
We hosted six stall holders, who between them offered a wonderful mix of old, new and handmade goodies. Sam was there with her brilliant pic n mix bunting and traditionally felted accessories.


Claire was there with her beautiful hand made jewellery and Marion had a table full of lovingly crafted bits from toys to gorgeous pincushions and delicious preserves and brownies. The Scoffin ladies were as popular as ever with their amazing baked goods, cheese scones and mini carrot loaf cakes in particular flying out the hatch!

Everybody had some jumble too, from lovely toys and clothes, to vintage plates and homeware from the brilliantly named "Rumble in the Jumble"!

The first visitor came through the doors at 11am and we had a steady stream of visitors for the rest of the day....although we took advantage of the lunchtime lull to keep up our energy levels with some tea and Scoffin for ourselves!

Nicola brought Halfpenny Home to us at 2pm, with a bowlful of lovely pastel balls of wool in order to teach a granny square crochet class in the lounge. The sight of everyone getting crafty whilst sat in the afternoon sunshine was definitely a high-point, and a lovely, lovely way to round off the day.

Everyone seemed to have a good time, and the good news is that the stalls are already filling up for the next one, which I for one, am already getting excited about".

Roll on 16th October when Humble Jumble rumbles into Needham Market again!

This time I shall not be missing out!

Jacqui x

Humble Jumble preparations...

I've been busy making bunting for the Humble Jumble tomorrow, I thought that polka dots in red and blue would suit the Ark perfectly!

Humble Jumble is a lively mix of jumble, craft and cakes!

We are so pleased to be holding them at the Ark which is the Church Hall for St. John's Church in Needham Market and are looking forward to seeing some Halfpenny Home regulars there tomorrow.

Scoffin' will be there with their very lovely cakes, entry is a pound but that includes a cuppa!

Sam will be there with her pick'n'mix bunting, she will also have some of the felt goodies from Ericka Eckles on her stall...

These little nests arrived today, Lisa from Ericka Eckles has made Autumn versions with Autumnal coloured leaves! The little nests are for her gorgeous bird brooches, they can nestle in them when they are not busy adorning your coat.

The birds are so sweet and they are all handsewn and made from wool felt in beautiful colours.

Hope you like them as much as I do, Nic x

Humble Jumble!

We've decided at Halfpenny Home that it's high time the humble jumble sale was revived! Who doesn't love a good old rummage in the hope of spotting a real bargain? Inspired by a piece we heard on Radio 4's Woman's Hour, we've come up with the Halfpenny Home version with tea and cake (of course). The events are going to be held monthly at the Ark, Needham Market and the first one is on Saturday 18th September between 11am and 4pm. There'll be an afternoon craft session - come along and learn how to crochet granny squares this month. There'll also be a good mix of handmade crafts and good quality jumble for sale! So, if you're fed up with ebay, and want an alternative and fun way to clear your clutter, why not book a stall! Get in touch if you'd like to book a stall, or if you'd like more information.

To get you in the mood, I thought I'd show you a few of my own recent bargain finds. This lovely cream Spode 'Chelsea Wicker' cream jug and sugar bowl was just £2.50.
This pretty cup, saucer and tea plate trio in very fine bone china is so pretty. Even the strawberries were a bargain, and are destined for a pavlova. Hubby makes a mean meringue which will be filled with the strawberries, some fresh mint from the garden and Rachel's Greek style coconut yoghurt -a great alternative to cream.

I've also today been lucky enough to find a beautiful Pringle wool picnic blanket for just £1 as well as a couple of hand made crochet blankets - perfect for snuggling up in the cooler autumnal evenings.

This pretty little wooden peg rail too, was only £1. I already have somewhere in mind for this, once I've given it a couple of coats of paint.

There. That's my retail therapy exposed - and all for a tenner! And I can even justify it as recycling! I hope it inspires you too.

Jacqui x