A Paris

Linda and I took the Eurostar to Paris on Thursday night. We felt like we were already on holiday at St Pancras - the lego Christmas tree was fab and there was a great live band playing.

We went to visit Hellie in her new home in Suresnes, Paris.

Hellie hand embroidered personal guest towels. How gorgeous. Linda's was in red but she used it before I could take a pic!

We did some local shopping for breakfast. La Jolie Pause bar is on the corner of Hellie's street and popular it is too.

The appartment is lovely and we had breakfast by the French windows.

The view from the back.

Time for another petit dejeuner.

Paris is getting ready for Christmas - even the patisserie was festive.

We chose some gateaux to take home.

Lovely lunch with Robbie and Hellie in Versailles.

This shop was a real find. Can you believe we spent nearly two hours in here trying on some fab gear. Hellie bought a coat, Linda bought a beautiful blouse and I bought a sequin top. Chinemachine, 1oo Rue des Martyrs, 75018, Paris. Check out their blog http://www.chinemachinevintage.com/blog/

We climbed the steps to Sacre Coeur and looked over Paris by night.

Every hour, on the hour, after dark, the Eiffel tower is lit up with flashing fairy lights for 5 minutes.

It was so pretty and a magical moment.

Labour of love

How beautiful is this? Karen knitted this wonderful jumper for daughter Mouse. Months of work and a first attempt at fairisle - we are very impressed.

Knit and wine

Tuesday 22nd November, 7.30-10pm.

Hope you can join us.

Smooth operators

Spotted in Sainsburys. The Innocent smoothies with their woolly hats are now here.

They look great. I bought a bobble hat mangoes and passionfruits and a strawberry hat strawberries and bananas.

Shopping spree

The Jolie Christmas shopping evening was a great success. Sydney was first through the door on Monday evening.

The whole shop is full of festive goodies. We had a big change around over the weekend and brought in this pretty glass fronted cabinet (£295).

Sydney obliged by taking the annual pic of Dany and Linda with a glass of well earned fizz.

Loads of pretty Christmas ideas. These Christmas tree tins are gorgeous for homemade Xmas goodies (6.95 each).

Good things

Since moving to Letchworth, Venice has started a new blog. Check out http://goodthingsinthegarden.blogspot.com for some charming and beautiful images of life in Letchworth Garden City.

Shopping evening at Jolie

Join us for a glass of wine, festive goodies and see our new Christmas stock.

Monday 7th November 6 - 10pm.

Knight fever

Erika's yarn is now here. Gorgeous hanks of maxi wool and her new fur wool. All produced and spun in Yorkshire at Laxton's mill, by fourth generation spinner James Laxton.

Erika has produced some lovely single patterns for her yarns. Accessories using one or two balls per project. Perfect Christmas presents. (See mitts on previous post - 'Glam chop!').

Pullover darling

Spotted in the press recently, this wonderful oversized alpaca jumper by Stella McCartney. Price tag £940. Seriously. Time to get those needles out girls!

Little crochet cardi by Christopher Kane - a snip at over £300. Carolyn's already started hers.

Miss Julie

Julie came in to show us this beautiful cabled throw she has knitted for her daughter Jenny who has just started university. Knitted in Debbie Bliss's cashmerino aran, it is very soft and snuggly - a truly stunning gift and keepsake.

Knitting babes

We had a junior workshop at Jolie on Saturday morning. These knitting starlets were very keen. Nayeli and birthday girl Emily mastered knit and purl, lace work and cable.

Mother and daughter Emma and Tansy joined us too, and were also very accomplished.

Our three knitting musketeers were kept well supplied with birthday cake and treats.

With a well deserved shopping experience at the end. Well done girls!

Not to be outdone.....Ollie has picked up his knitting again and Eddie has just learnt. What a nice quiet occupation for half term.

In Bruges

Dany went to Bruges for an idyllic weekend with Phil to celebrate a certain birthday.

I've never been there before and it was beautiful. A completely unspoilt medieval city. We cycled all over the city trying to spot locations from the film In Bruges and took the obligatory canal boat trip.

Lots of Madonnas in Bruges - in fact over three hundred.

We had to have the obligatory mussels with frites and beer of course.

A riot of colour at Le Pain Quotidien's terrace cafe.

This was my favourite shop in Bruges. Madam Mim, Hoogstraat, 29. I went back three times.

Delicious vintage and homemade items, run by a really sweet couple. Lovely.

Happy days!

Knit and wine

Tuesday 18th October. 7.30 - 10pm.

Mad hatters

Thank you to everyone who knitted a hat or two ...or ten for Age UK. We have dispatched them all to Innocent at 'Fruit Towers'. Special thanks to Sandra and Vicky, Hellie, Paula, Carolyn, Sue F, Diane, Brenda, Mary, Jane and Rosalind.

Hats off....

...and thanks to Brenda, for producing the most hats for the Innocent/Age UK campaign. They are all gorgeous too!

Little Innocents

Mini hats so far for the Innocent smoothie/Age UK campaign.

Cake, coffee and crochet

For lovely Sue N's birthday last Thursday.

Glam chop

Coming soon - new yarn and patterns from Erika Knight.

Linda knitted up these fab fur cuffed mitts from one of Erika's patterns using her exclusive Fur and Maxi wools. Available shortly as single loose patterns for a range of lovely accessories each using 1-2 balls yarn. Eye lashes, model's own!

The big knit 2011

Jolie has supported a charity every year for National Knitting week since we opened in 2005. This year we are supporting Age UK in conjunction with Innocent smoothies.

If you would like to get involved all you need to do is knit a little woolly hat to fit on an Innocent smoothie bottle. These are then sold in supermarkets up and down the country and 25p for every one sold goes to Age Uk.

Patterns are available from http:/innocentdrinks.com/thebigknit Choose from a basic woolly hat suitable for beginners, or try a pineapple, banana, or a woolly sheep.

How about a unicorn - if you're feeling really ambitious?

Or even Jack Sparrow? Or be inspired and make up your own pattern.........

We will be sending all hats dropped off at Jolie on 12th October - not long, sorry, but they are very quick to do - I made two stripey ones in an hour. If you are not local to us you can post your hats directly to Innocent - the address is on their website.

Great for using up scraps of double knitting and 4ply. Happy knitting and for a good cause!