Halfpenny Home

My little sister Lisa has always been very arty and crafty and she has made me lots of beautiful things for Christmas and birthdays in the past. Anyway, she recently sent me an email about a fab little shop - Halfpenny Home at Needham Market, in Suffolk - just imagine how excited I was when I saw that she sells her stuff there - and now they have an on-line store too - and they also have a fab blog here..... (I hope the Halfpenny Home girls don't mind me using this piccie off their blog but couldn't find one of their shop).....

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..... anyway, she made me this needlecase for my birthday a couple of months ago - she had tea-dyed the fabric and it's all handmade - I was thrilled with this, as I really appreciate the time that goes into making handmade gifts..... (and these are for sale at Halfpenny Home so you can buy one too).....

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.....a couple of years ago she made me this stocking for Christmas that she had embroidered and filled with nuts and fruit and a miniature bottle of Baileys (my winter-time favourite tipple) and some sewing threads - the plan was that I would return it to her after Christmas, (the empty stocking, not the bottle of Baileys hehe!!) then she would fill it again the following year.....(oooops - sorry Lisa - will remember to return it when I see you next!!)

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.....in the past she has made me these beautiful lavender bags (all sewn by hand - they are amazing as these log cabin strips are TINY)..... and she has sewn beads on the corners.....

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..... and this fab-u-lous T-pot cosy (the design is called Brian, after my dad, who always loved his tea made properly in a t-pot - none of this dunking-your-teabag-in-your-mug-malarky for him!!) which is made from felted wool, lined with flannel to keep the T-pot hot, and is beautifully embellished.....

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..... and for my 40th birthday (no I'm not telling you how many years ago that was hehe!!) she made me this BEAUTIFUL cushion - her stitchery is perfect - she has included my daughters dates of birth, my wedding date, my birth sign - she had even sewn a little row of hyacinths as she knew I always have them growing just outside my front door in the spring :)
I am truely in awe of you Lisa, and as a fellow crafter I can only aspire to produce the sort of things that you do. You are a creative genius!!

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