Keef and Dolores!

 There's been a lot going on at the new HH HQ and as usual it involves some clever creative people, wool and generally making a mess...I was dragged away to the Country Living Spring Fair and then spent most of the day cuddling a sheep, talking to a lovely lady called Pam who (amongst other stuff) runs natural dyeing workshops in Wales!

Dyeing being one of my favourite things to do imagine how excited I was to find that you can dye with chalk paints - the pretty yarns that appeared before our eyes were perfect for the spring flowers workshop with Joanne.

 Crochet is one of those things that people seem to fall in love with and you can't blame them when you see some of the cutest creations being formed and as Jenny thinks the toadstools need some gnomes guess what has just been added to the list below...

 Keen eyed visitors to HH HQ will have noticed the pretty prints on the white curtains - the printed fabric workshops have caused more than a ripple of excitement! There's another one added to the list for the end of this month - book swiftly to avoid disappointment! We also now have the rollers in stock for you to buy so you can fill your world with pattern...

 Sunglasses are optional...

 Jenny and I had a lot of fun making up the samples for Joanne's next set of crochet classes, Keef on the left and Dolores on the right! They came out on the bike with me yesterday and Jenny really missed having them keep her company in the shop...they're back now and advertising the Bears and Bunnies Crochet Workshop on Saturday 14th June 2-5 the yarn we're using is from West Yorkshire Spinners and it is British wool spun in Keighly!

Beginners crochet session on the morning of June 14th is a Granny Square Pin Cushion 10-1 - get hooking!

Friday 23rd May - Needle Felted Bunny 

Saturday 31st May - Fabric Printing

Sunday 8th June - Natural Dyeing

Saturday 14th June - Crochet with Joanne Scrace, beginners 10-1 and Amigurami (the cheeky creatures above...) 2-5

Sunday 15th June - Needle Felted Beach Huts

Friday 27th June - Free Motion Machine Embroidery

Sunday 29th June - Beginners Knitting

Sunday 6th, 13th, 21st July - Socks! £60 for all three sessions, there is homework inbetween dates, you will make a pair of socks.

Saturday 12th July - Bunting!

Friday 18th July - Advanced Needle Felting, a class on faces you will make a Green Man

Saturday 26th July - Quilted Patchwork Mat

Sunday 27th July - A Knitting Needle Roll

Saturday 2nd August - Crochet, make a gnome with Jenny!

Saturday 3rd August - Free Motion Machine Embroidery

Saturday 9th August - Make a Vintage Style Clasp Bag

Sunday 17th and 31st - Seasonal Natural Dyeing with Plants!

Saturday 23rd August - Print Fabric and Make an Apron

Sunday 24th August - Print Fabric and Make a Cushion

All the workshops cost £35 per person with all materials and refreshments included and except the crochet one on 14th June they run 11-3 with a short break for lunch which you can bring along or get something delicious from the cafe or shop! There's always plenty of tea, coffee and cake which is always Gluten Free.

Book by calling in to HH HQ at Alder Carr Farm or by calling the shop 01449 721123, alternatively FB request me Nicola Gouldsmith or if you tweet follow @halfpennyhome

A deposit will hold a workshop place for you with the balance payable two weeks prior to the date of the workshop.

Spring, sun...fun!

 The crocheted spring flowers workshop was a brilliant way to wave goodbye to winter and welcome the longer days and warmer weather to Alder Carr Farm! We put the clocks forward Saturday night and when I came to work at the shop on Sunday this cheery floral garland greeted me, thank you Joanne!

 As we tidied up after the workshops Joanne told me that this flower pattern was the first one she had written, it looks beautiful hanging outside HH HQ! Joanne is back on the afternoon of Saturday 12th April to do some Vintage Style Lacy Edgings, she talks a bit about vintage lace here on her blog Not So Granny...if there is enough call for it she will also do a beginners class that morning - crochet is a lovely way to add detail to handmade and ready made items!

We used the gorgeous hand dyed yarns below with the shades coming from both plant dyes and chalk paint! Chalk paint dyeing is a bit of a new venture as usually we pick seasonal plants like the reeds and use those to dye both silk and yarn but my friend Julie of Sweetpea and Vintagen Needham Market High Street uses these paints on furniture and recently dyed a tablecloth with some so...intrigued I had to give it a try!

 I will be doing some more as the colours are so pretty, it's not messy at all and colour fast - you don't even need much paint! Watch out for additions to the natural dyeing workshops later in the year!

Much more messy but soooo satisfying was the Bathbombs and Balms Workshop - again plants from the allotment played their part with dried cornflowers, marigold petals and lavender buds adorning the fragrant concoctions!

 We're still sock knitting even as the weather gets better, even Jenny now that we've tempted her with the new in stock West Yorkshire Spinners yarns! With great names like Wood Pigeon and Butterscotch and 75% British wool content they are FAB to knit with and will feature in our sock knitting course on three Sundays in June 6th, 13th and 20th 11-3 and £60 for the three sessions, yarn and needles included along with the needles!

 Nothing is wasted...Joanne suggested I hang the waste scraps of yarn amongst the trees so that the birds can make good use of them - watch out for some colourfiul nests around!

 When life gets stupid busy and I struggle to deal with the effects of either Rheumatoid/Psoriatic Arthritis and/or the side effects of the treatment for the disease (today I'm deaf and yesterday I was sick and dog tired...) I find that the twice daily visits to the allotment help and this year the winter has been so mild that everything is blooming already!

 Plants will grow anywhere...even with my random planting, weeding and watering manner the Woad plants have survived the Cabbage White invasion of last year and are now in flower - looking good for harvesting some seeds! Looking forward to to doing some dyeing workshops with these this year...

 I met a lovely lady recently whilst wandering around the Country Living Spring Fair, Pam is in Wales and uses plants in her artwork - dyeing with them, spinning yarn from nettles, making cakes and finding inspiration from nature, her work is beautiful and I may just have had to purchase some fleece from her....*ahem* as if there isn't enough round here already!

While we're on fleece...

Some of the creations from Jenny's Needle Felting Workshop - another one is on this Saturday, let's see what we come up with there!

Up to date workshop list.

Saturday 5th April Needle Felting 11-3 £35 - three spaces left

Saturday 12th April Crochet Vintage Style Lacy edgings 11-3 £35 - four spaces left

Sunday 13th April Indigo Dyeing including Batik 11-3 £35 - four spaces left

Easter Sunday Free Motion Machine Embroidery 11-3 £35 - two spaces left

Saturday 26th April Needle Felted Garland 11-3 £35 - four spaces left

Sunday 4th May 11-3 £35 Indigo, Batik £35 - three spaces left

Saturday 3rd May Knitting in the round with double pointed needles 11-3 £35 - three spaces left

Friday 16th May as above

Sunday 18th May Fabric printing 11-3 £35 three spaces left

Friday 23rd May Needle Felting - Bunny 11-3 £35

Sunday 25th May Invitation/memo boards 11-3 £35

Sunday 8th June Natural Dyeing, all about mordants 11-3 £35

Sunday 15th Needle Felting - Beach huts 11-3 £35

Friday 18th July Needle Felting Advanced Level - The Green Man 11-3 £35

More to come soon and please do book in the usual ways, check availability on 01449 721123, 07887511081 or drop by HH HQ Tuesday-Sunday 10-4 - we look forward to seeing you!

Nx

Spring at Alder Carr Farm!

 Yesterday saw the first of a couple of hen parties that are booked in at the new HH HQ and as you can see they had blooming good fun! The decorated undies are to be hung up at the reception at Lisa's wedding, what a great idea!

 Once everyone decided which letter they would do they were off! Buttons, ribbons and beaded tassels were all part of the brief...sorry!

 And once Christina had convinced them all that they COULD do embroidery after all they completed this beautiful keepsake - there are still a few finishing touches to be added and then it will be strung together to remind Lisa of all her friends!

 Settling in at the new place has been fun, tiring and interesting with some exciting news about wool on it's way! First though a big order of buttons has landed and amongst them are these dinky little babies...

 ...and at last some reasonably priced and nice quality bamboo crochet hooks, chunky ones!

 All these things AND the workshops are selling well with these fabulous toadstools sprouting up everywhere...

 ...and happy hookers getting to grips with their 'magic circles' thanks to Jenny!

 With Spring Flowers appearing on the workshop list I'm looking forward to the crochet sessions with Joanne, her beginner's workshops are selling out fast - so many people keen to learn!

 For the more experienced hookers the Vintage Style lacy edgings, delicate edgings to apply to clothing or furnishings, perfect!

 Also new to HH HQ are the fabric printing sessions - with two sessions sold out and a further one half full I think it's gonna be a year full of pattern, the new curtains have been getting a lot of admiring glances! I'm looking forward to making some cushions with this print...and maybe some napkins...a blind? It's endless!

Please do have a look through the list below and if any of the workshops take your fancy then book in the usual way - dropping by HH HQ, giving us a ring on 07887511081 or 01449 721123

Sunday 23rd March Bath bombs and balms 11-3 £35 *two spaces left*

Saturday 29th March Beginners crochet 10-1 £35

Spring flowers 2-5 £35

Sunday 30th March Wet felted baubles 11-3 £35

Saturday 5th April Needle felting 11-3 £35

Sunday 6th April Free motion machine embroidery 11-3 £35 *one space left*

Saturday 12th April Crochet Vintage style lacy edgings 2-5 £35

Sunday 13th April Indigo batik 11-3 £35

Sunday 20th April Free motion machine embroidery 11-3 £35 *two spaces left*

 Sunday 4th May Indigo batik 11-3 £35 *three spaces left*

Sunday 18th May Fabric printing 11-3 £35 *three spaces left*

Sunday 25th May Invitation/memo boards 11-3 £35

Sunday 1st June Cushion making 11-3 £35

Sunday 8th June Natural dyeing 11-3 £35

Keep watching this space for some exciting announcements and more workshop dates coming soon!

Nic x

 

 

Goodbye Station Yard, Hello Alder Carr Farm...

 Our Christmas was a busy one as we had to pack up EVERYTHING from HH HQ in the Station Yard and install it in the old Mill Building at Alder Carr. Originally a Windmill but later a Dovecote, I will hopefully be able to post some photos of the building being moved to it's present position at some point but for now here a few from the present...

It's been hardwork sorting out the new HH HQ but as @jennytidman says in her recent blogpost it's going to be a lot cosier than the old place! Here's how the upstairs workshop is shaping up, just a few more little adaptions and we're there!

We even have a pet plant which has been named WILLF after the fantastic WI ladies of Felixstowe - we ran a mini workshop at their first WI meeting of 2014 and they gave us presents!

 Maybe I can persuade Jenny to crochet WILLF a pot cover...we'll have some crafting books for sale at the new place courtesey of Victoria Bell from Framlingham Bookshop. Victoria has been on many a workshop and is an avid crafter, cook and allotment keeper - we have a lot in common! I love her shop and feel very lucky to have a tiny part of it at HH HQ the shelves will hold some hard to find specialist crafting books along with some fun knitting and crochet pattern books...very exciting!

I've got my eye on the Home Brew one...

 Brace yourself for gorgeous photo of yarn in old nest boxes...beautiful!

 The new place was approved by the Wednesday knitting group this week when they had a sneak preview and in just over two weeks I'll be hanging up the signs welcoming people in through the door...

...but for now here's the list!

Workshops 2014

First Friday of every month HH HQ is reserved for Jenny's Needle Felting Ninjas! Booking is strongly recommended as Jenny has built up quite a fanclub during the past year or so and now they have their blackbelts in fibre sculpting they like to get together to stab, chat and eat cake. 

Running from 10-4 you are welcome to come and go as you please (providing you have booked your place!) bring your needles and fleece or buy some on the day, Jenny will have supplies!

Either bring a lunch with you if you aim to stay all day, needle felting makes you hungry! There is also an excellent cafe and of course the Farmshop Deli is full of tempting treats...

£10 per session - tea, coffee and cake included along with a whole load of encouragement!

You will need to have some experience of needle felting before coming along but as Jenny is running LOADS of beginner's workshops this year you will have plenty of opportunities to learn!

Friday 14th February Needle Felting using cookie cutters, yes! Cookie cutters make excellent templates for when you want uniform shapes for a garland or maybe to form the letters of a loved one's name...as it's Valentine's Day and I happen to know that Jenny Tidman has just received a delivery of heart shape cookie cutters the possibilities are endless!

11-3 £35 as usual everything is included and you will be able to take your tools home with you to continue the felty fun!

Sunday 23rd February Free Motion Machine Embroidery, have fun and gain confidence in our popular sewing machine workshop. 11-3 £35

Saturday 1st March and Jenny is in the teacher's chair again as she takes up a crochet hook and teaches eager would-be hookers how to make an Amigurami Toadstool...cute!

11-3 £35 all included etc.

Sunday 16th June and one of Jenny Tidman's popular beginners Needle Felting workshops will be held 11-3 £35 everything included and you'll be able to take your tools home with you (or bring them along to the Friday Felting Ninjas maybe...)

Saturday 22nd and an unusual craft but extremely beautiful one...Broomstick Crochet! Create a gorgeous skinny scarf using just ONE large knitting needle and a crochet hook 11-3 £35

Sunday 23rd March, just in time for Mothering Sunday - Bathbombs and Balms, learn how to save £££££s and make some gorgeous bath and skin products with luxurious ingredients! £35 everything included as usual..

Saturday 29th March sees Joanne Scrace's first workshop at the new and very shiny HH HQ! Joanne aka Not So Granny has been teaching knitting and crochet workshops at The Sheep Shop for a while now and her classes are so popular that many have waiting lists! Joanne is going to be making Crocheted Spring Flowers 2-5 £35 you must have some crochet skills already although Joanne will also be teaching absolute beginners in the morning 10-1 £35

Sunday 30th March Felted Baubles! Learn to make and embellish felted baubles with Jenny Tidman. The finished felt beads can then be turned into all sorts of things...like jewellery! £35 all included as usual.

Saturday 5th April Needle Felting figures and Jenny has a cute new creature to show you, I have them in the shop with me... 11-3 £35

Sunday 6th April Get that unloved or much feared machine out from it's hiding place and lets put it through it's paces! Get to know your sewing machine a bit better... 11-3 £35

Saturday 12th April and another crochet workshop from Joanne Scrace! This time she'll be showing us how to make Vintage Style Lace Edgings, gorgeous additions to adapt items in your wardrobe, something we fully approve of! Thrifty AND pretty...2-5 £35 as ever everything is included and you can take your yarn hook and patterns home with you to continue at home!

Sunday 13th April and getting out the dyepots for the season and this time it's Indigo and we will be changing things about a bit with batik! 11-3 £35

Saturday 19th April and this week it's soap! 11-3 £50

Sunday 20th April Free Motion Machine Embroidery 11-3 £35

Sunday 4th April Indigo Batik 11-3 £35

And that is as far as we've got for now but there will be more workshops coming up including sewing, natural dyeing, fleece preparation and spinning!

I do hope you'll visit the new place and I hope I have tempted a few of you to try something new?

Nic x

Saying 'goodbye' to Station Yard and why I don't feel blue...

 The natural dyeing sessions at HH HQ have become legendary with a mixture of science and a little bit of magic creating delight and joy in everyone who has ever 'waved' their yarn/fleece/silk out of the back door and watched on as the colour has changed in front of their eyes!

We are a little restricted to dyeing during the spring and summer as sometimes the present HH HQ is too chilly, not just for the dyers but also the dyes...however Lynne and I do have not so secret dyeing sessions at home and we do this to ensure that no-one ever gets a disappointing shade, a sacrifice we are prepared to make!

 When Joanne Scrace first mentioned on twitter that she would love to learn more about natural dyes it was just before the last official dye days and unfortunately she couldn't make it so was expecting to have to wait until next spring to experience the wonderful and weird world of plant dyes...however, after a few interesting emails I suggested she join Lynne and I in a dyeing day, I had some dried Weld leftover, some spare mordant and an Indigo vat on the go and Lynne has been hoarding elderberries since the summer, we got out the dye pots!

I managed to remember (in my excitement!) to ask Joanne to soak her yarns the night before and you can see her blogpost and brilliant photos here! She also cooked an amazing lunch and chocolate clementine cake which we devoured whilst chatting about knitting, food and our love of the Suffolk countryside.

We didn't just produce some beautiful shades that day but also agreed some workshop dates for next spring which is as exciting as hearing the clink of a dyeing pan being dragged out of the cupboard, I can't wait!

Joanne will be teaching a beginner's crochet class on Saturday 29th March 10-1 £35 followed by crochet Spring Flowers 2-5 £35 all materials are supplied as well as plenty of cake and tea!

My treasured work box contains two pretty collars which belonged to my nana, one crocheted by her and one by her mother. They are so delicate and pretty, I love the look a lacey edge gives a garment or even a cushion or bag so I am very excited about the class Joanne has planned to do on Vintage Style Edgings  Saturday 12th April 2-5 £35 and again everything you need will be supplied and you can take your hook and yarn away with you so there will be no stopping you hooking some spectacular edgings!

Places will go fast so if you want to book don't leave it too late!

More workshops will be listed next week including some BRILLIANT ones from Jenny Tidman and news of a regular Needle Felting group...

 People keep asking me if I'll miss the old place when we move but although I have had some brilliant times here, like making bunting with Kate and her mum on what turned out to be a mother and daughter day and my mum made her first ever bunting!

 I've met so many brilliant people through the shop and hope to meet many more! I certainly wouldn't have met such talented artists such as Jane Southgate, Jenny Tidman and Joanne Scrace were it not for this funny old building and all the fun it has witnessed...but it does get chilly and no-one can find it the first time, I'm never open, it gets a bit dark and sometimes the pipes freeze!

We are saying 'goodbye' to the shop this Saturday and there will be mulled cider (bring your own mug as all mine are packed!) and mince pies from noon onwards and then that is that until Saturday 1st February when we open at the Mill at Alder Carr Farm 10-4 six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday!

Not so blue, Nic x

Moving on!

 With packing going on at HH HQ and workshops at both the Needham Market Internet Cafe and at home it's definitely a very busy time for me! Last Container Candle workshop is on Thursday 28th November 6-9 pm £35 and as it's coming up to THAT TIME OF YEAR we also make some Festive Firelighters which make amazingly impressive gifts! Scented with aromatics such as bergamot, cinammon and rosemary, wrapped in some hessian with a pretty ribbon and maybe a decorated gift tag...

 ...tada! A reindeer adorned gift tag!

 Ahem! We also make a fair bit of mess...

 Another great gift is handmade soap, using the cold process method. Make beautiful soaps such as our new recipe which has a high olive oil content and green clay and is particularly good for gardeners. Much more delicate but just as lovely is the calendula and chamomile - we make four soaps and after setting divide them up and they must then be left for a period of curing which takes approximately four weeks. Last soap day for this year is Saturday 30th November1.30-5 £50 limited spaces so don't leave it too late!

 Dried marigolds from the allotment (above) and industrial sized containers of essential oil (below) we use both in the gorgeous soaps!

 Another 'last chance to make' before Christmas and the big move is the Vintage style frame bag - I did one of these with a brilliant group of ladies last week and have just realised that I didn't get a photo of Claire's bag! It was amazing with lace just about everywhere! You'll just have to make do with the other four below...

 ...and apart from having to go back to HH HQ for an iron the Internet Cafe was the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon! Last bagmaking workshop is Saturday 14th December 1.30-5 £40!

We seem to be getting a lot of dull days lately after a glorious summer so I wasn't unhappy to spend another brilliant day with Christina making hearts and decorating them with her quirky and unique ideas...

 I LOVE the bunny on this one!

 And this is Lynne's finished Christmas Garland!

 She brought it in to HH HQ to show it off, I LOVE it!

 Gorgeous robin...

 I'm packing and unpacking all at the same time! These parcel tags are ready and waiting to go on all those handmade gifts and the rather wonderful wool felt arrived yesterday to join my favourite felt bundles...

...and more amazing ribbons!

 Eeeek! The two on the right are soooo pretty, easily my favourites! Check out the scissor and button ribbon though, how lovely?!

 And pompomtastic! Red bobble trim in two sizes...

 ...and the delicate black and gold print ribbon, bees?

So I hope you have enjoyed the photos of the recent additions to HH HQ and maybe I have tempted you to come and have a great time at a workshop one day...

Nic x