Let it snow

By Jove! I think she's got it. Yes, she is knitting... and she can't stop! Karen is usually a crochet queen, but decided to have a go at this great jacket on the cover of Debbie Bliss's new book Snow Queen. She must have known it was going to snow.

Knitted in softest Como, it is just perfect for this weather. We expect to see Karen wearing hers very, very soon - in the snow and with a fur trappers hat on to complete the look.

Deck the halls,

trees, wreaths, presents and whatever else you can think of with; Eiffel tower baubles (£4.95),

skating boot baubles (£3.95)

and little sparkly clip-on bluebirds (£2.95).

We also have lighthouses (yes!), cockle shells, beautiful gift wrap and ribbons too.

Bebo

If you live in this area and havn't already done so, check out The Bebo Deli Cafe in Welwyn Garden City, 11, Stonehills, WGC, AL8 6NA (opposite John Lewis!).

I was in Welwyn on Friday and sought out Bebo's on Karen W's recommendation. We had fabulous huge cappuccinos, but there is a vast deli counter and an extensive breakfast menu too. It has a real New York vibe - am I selling this too much? It is WGC after all....

Bebo's plan to open late Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings after 26th November with some live jazz on offer too. I will be back.

Knit and wine

Tuesday 23rd November, 7.30 - 10pm. What could be better; good company, a glass of wine and a spot of knitting.

This great take on the 1939 wartime poster was created by Derya Davenport and is available to download from her blog www.laylock.org/blog/2009/12/keep-calm-and-cast-on

Cop a load of this

Karen fell in love with the fairisle jumper on the front of the Debbie Bliss magazine autumn/winter 2010 and just had to knit it for her daughter Mouse. It is absolutely terrific and we are all inspired - the thing is this is the first fairisle she has ever done...........she hasn't put it down since she started except to make delicious cappuccino cupcakes for Knit and Chat.

Jolie shopping

We kicked off the festive season with our shopping evening last Monday. It was a wet and windy night but we had lots of Christmas cheer and a good turnout of hardy shoppers. The hit of the evening had to be the jewelled hairband modelled particularly well by Linda, who wore it at the front in the style of ' House of Elliott'. They all sold out!

We had florentines, stollen, mince pies and chocolates not to mention Lisa's delicious home made brownies. The sparkling spiced apple wine went down well too ..... oops, and it's still only November.

Bayford craft fair

Winter Craft Fair this Saturday 20th November, 10am -3pm at the Bayford Memorial Hall, Ashendene Road, Bayford SG13 8PX.

Lots of home made gifts and goodies including lunches, teas, coffee and cakes with all proceeds going to local charities.

Dennis is safe and well

- caught in the act in Sally's bag of loveliness.

Christmas is coming

Date for your diary.

Christmas Shopping Evening @ Jolie, 8th November 6-10pm.

Please join us for first pick of this year's Christmas goodies and some festive cheer.

Beat that!

Linda is slowly but surely making some little embroidered squares in Baby Alpaca. She made the mistake of sending a pic of her efforts to Hellie up in Scotland.

Whoah! Hellie.......is stuck in a remote farmhouse up in Stirlingshire. She is producing for a Christmas Bazaar in Appleton Roebuck, Yorks in a couple of weeks time. Oh heck, looks like she can fill the hall single handedly! Don't know about Where's Wally?, Where's Robbie? Buried underneath that lot?

We are of course really very impressed. It all looks lovely. Great Scottie dogs!

As found

A little tin of goodies. An old Riley's toffee tin featuring Niagara Falls with some tiny knitting inside, a French Knitting Dolly and some half finished embroidery.

Anyone seen Dennis?

How about a nice little bit of fur to keep you cosy, just in time for Hallow'en and bonfire night? Faux fur scarves (or hat!) from Uniqlo - bargain at £6.99 each.

Cherish is the word

Kim Hargreaves has done it again with another beautiful book of 21 great patterns for winter 2010 (£17.99).

Lots of warm knits in Felted Tweed, Big Wool, Cocoon, Baby Alpaca and Alpaca Cotton.

This pretty cardi is in Rowan's Lima - a baby alpaca and merino blend.

Weekend away

Trish was the lucky prize winner of a weekend away in Norfolk in the raffle held at the Jolie exhibition back in June. She kindly invited Linda, Julie, Karen and Dany to go with her - so winners all round. We had great fun trawling round the antique shops in Holt (and Brandon and Swaffham on the way - you know us).

We picked up some great bits and pieces. Linda made a still life back at the cottage with lead cowboys and indians, a pretty little tray and the sweetest tea and sugar travelling tin (tea one end, sugar the other).

As usual we ate our way round Norfolk.

Tea in Byford's, Holt, dinner at The Hero, Burnham Overy Staithe....breakfast at The Burnham Deepdale Diner.

After a few gins, Linda tried on her tablecloth wedding dress. According to Dany's dream (too much cake perhaps!) there was a grand wedding, Dany was maid of honour with Nana Mouskouri as celebrity guest in choice kaftan purchased in Swaffham. Don't ask!

A little more demure after the previous night's fun and games we went for a little walk around Wells next the Sea. Thanks to Sue Noyes for her kind donation.

Pet heaven

Maybe it's because we are country girls we get excited about knitted animals. Linda finished her fab fox terrier - based on Teddy of course.

Claire Garland's new book has pets galore to knit - chickens, kittens, ponies, even a tortoise

and gorgeous bunnies!

More knitted toys from Sandra Polley including these lovely mice who are obviously very good at sewing, some daft meercats and a reindeer which is a must for Christmas.

Introducing Sakura

Sakura (Cherry Blossom in Japanese), arrived a little earlier than expected on October 8th.

Here she is with proud grandmother Jennifer.

And yes, she has dancer's feet for sure.

Lollia

New in at Jolie, a range of fine fragrances and luscious hand cremes from Lollia.

There are four fresh scents to choose from; Wish, Imagine, Breathe and In Love. Very boudoir. The packaging is beautiful, the shop smells divine, and so do we!

Knit and Wine

Due to half term we have brought Knit and Wine forward a week to Tuesday 19th October from 7.30 - 10pm.

! Stop press !

Exciting news. As of Tuesday Jolie is launching a new line. Come and see the new pre Christmas girlie treats now available.

Bagsie yours

Our very talented Karen, who comes to Knit and Chat on Tuesdays, is making these stunning bags exclusively for Jolie. Karen has very cleverly devised a way of using beautiful vintage scarves and fabrics to make these lovely bags, which are not only fully reversible, you can remove the handles and still use the scarf.

Karen is sourcing vintage fabrics and souvenir scarves from far and wide meaning each Fibi Vintage bag is unique - there are no two the same in the world! (£49.95)

The spare room has been reinvented into the Fibi Vintage workshop - at least Karen can see which designs go together. She matches the colours beautifully and each time a new bag comes into the shop Linda and Dany start drooling.

Sue was delighted with her gorgeous Fibi bag which she received from everyone at Knit and Chat for her birthday last Thursday.

Life is sweet

Debbie knitted Lisa this lovely cabled shrug in Louisa Harding's Thistle aran. Beautifully knitted and very soft and cosy.

Lisa, who is a very talented baker (we finally identified it was Lisa who made the incredible brownies on our cake stall at the exhibition back in July), made these delightful cupcakes decorated with chocolate roses as a 'Thank You' to Debbie.