Congratulations to Alicia

If you don't already see Alicia Paulson's blog - take a look. Alicia is very talented and inspiring; her embroidery is simply beautiful but she also knits, crochets, gardens and bakes. Those of us at Jolie who do follow her are overjoyed at her recent news. Finally after a lot of heartbreak and disappointment Alicia has adopted a baby girl. Even though they are miles a way in Oregan we have been touched by her story and are so happy for her. Check out her blog, Posie gets Cozy http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com

We love Tessa

New from Tessa Kiros. Limoncello and Linenwater is a book to drool over. Tessa is half Finnish, half Greek Cypriot and married to an Italian. She lives in Italy and this beautiful book is inspired by her mother in law, Wilma. Full of recipes, household tips, anecdotes, old photographs and words of wisdom passed down from mothers to daughters. Beautifully designed and photographed, a real treat.

Crochet love

Crochet is so quick. It's nice to punctuate knitting projects with something speedy, uncomplicated and rewarding. The bath mat was made using Rowan All Seasons cotton on a 5 mm hook - pattern from Granny Square Love.

This little coverlet has to take the biscuit for speed. Crocheted in DMC embroidery thread on a 1.75 mm hook for a doll's house bed. It measures 10cm square! Pattern inspired from Knitted Dolls by Arne and Carlos.

Stained glass 'Teddy'

Linda needs to live here........spotted in Lewes, East Sussex by Dany's dad, Rod.

Hats 4 heroes....update

The pile of Hats 4 Heroes is so high it's toppling over. 

Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, especially Jolie's own Knit and Chat groups and WOW (Women of Wymondley), who also donated chocolate! Many thanks to Designer Yarns for donating some beautiful yarn. There is still some left, so please come in and choose some if you havn't already done so.

Keep going everyone, as we still have another couple of weeks before we send the parcel off. 

PS Thank you Hellie for the gorgeous postcard (above).

Knit and wine

Tuesday 23rd October @ Jolie

7.30 - 10pm

See you there

Autumn colour

I popped over to Susan's new house the other day and discovered the delights of her garden. A grapevine, quince and white raspberries. The raspberries made the most delicious, delicate fool....which did fool, as no one could work out why it tasted of raspberries yet wasn't pink.

Free pattern

Erika Knight has produced a great pattern for cosy boot toppers. It uses 1 skein each of Erika's 'fur' and maxi wool. The pattern is free with the yarn purchase. Perfect for autumn and not just for wellies! Please call if you would like yarn and pattern sending. Tel: 01438 861717

Yoghourt pot cake

This recipe was given to us by Pam. 

It's really quick and easy to adapt with what you have in the cupboard.

Yoghourt cake

1 yoghourt, any flavour

self raising flour

caster sugar

mixed fruit (I used fresh blueberries)

2 eggs

 sunflower oil

mixed spice

Preheat oven to 180 (gas mark 4)

Empty yoghourt into mixing bowl. Wash and dry empty pot and use as a measure.

Mix together with yoghourt;

3 x pots self raising flour

1 and a half pots sugar

1 and half pots fruit

2 eggs, beaten lightly

1 x pot oil

1 tsp mixed spice

Turn mixture into a greased 7" round tin and bake for about 1hr and 20 mins, or until firm to touch and cooked through. Alternatively use individual muffin cases, and allow for shorter baking time.

Sew clever

...and so kind. Hellie sent a parcel of birthday presents over from Paris for Linda, Dany and Karen. She has made these gorgeous linen book covers with personalised embroidery and vintage haberdashery labels. I absolutely love mine and am using it every day.

Frying tonight

Mmmm, we had a takeway on Friday night.....

For the best fish n chips in town, head for W J Rowe, 119 Bedwell Crescent, Stevenage SG1 1NA.

Run by William, pictured centre with his team, this local Fish n Chip shop has been trading since 1962 and are in the top 30 in the UK. It is the quintessential English chippie, beautifully clean with very friendly and efficient staff.

Open from Monday to Saturday til 10.30 pm, there is a queue out of the door, but it moves quickly. Delicious crispy fish n chips, well worth the wait.

Hats 4 heroes

This year for National Knitting week (15th - 21st October) we have chosen to support Hats 4 Heroes. We need to start knitting now as a consignment of hats will be sent off to the troops at the end of October - to avoid the Christmas post rush and also because it is starting to get chilly.

A great opportunity for using up oddments. Any colour(s) is fine, but please avoid flourescent colours for obvious reasons. We have patterns available at Jolie, but x 3 dk and aran patterns are available to download from http://www.hats4heroes.co.uk

We will be collecting all the hats in for week of 15th October, so get knitting!
* Please note, we now have an extension to end of October.

Please send your hat(s) to Jolie, 80 High Street, Walkern, Herts SG2 7PG

Thank you xx

Knit and wine

Join us for Knit and Wine

Tuesday 25th September 7.30 - 10pm

Sweet treats

We sell knitting yarn and homeware at Jolie - but you would be forgiven for thinking we are sometimes a cake shop......... there is always cake. Sue brought in the most delicious home made salted caramel muffins to Knit and Chat last Thursday - very professional and very, very tasty. Recipe please.

Dany bought some beautiful little cakes at the Walkern 'Over 60's' cake stall.  We took them to Frinton on Sea and had them with tea on the beach.

How about taking the biscuit with a giant custard cream? Now on sale at Costa. Oh dear, we did discover early on that knitting and foodies seem to go together.

Little women - little cardis

Sue and Paula just happened to choose the same baby cardi pattern by Debbie Bliss and brought them in to Knit and Chat on the same day! 

Last days of summer

Linda and Trish had a quick away day to Norfolk. No trip would be complete without a pitstop to Cookies in Salthouse for the freshest crab and samphire (poor man's asparagus).

They had a little paddle - naturally.

And rounded the day off at The Globe (now owned by Adnams) on Upper Green at Wells next the Sea. Perfect beer battered cod and homemade tartare sauce - this was a child's portion can you believe? I should think so too, after the first feast of the day!

A tip from Linda to try - St Germaine artisan elderflower cordial (from Waitrose) makes a superb addition to fizz and other cocktails, or just poured over ice. Lots of fresh floral tones and a hint of grapefruit. Very Parisienne nights. 

We love quirky

 New from Kim Hargreaves, her new book Quirky is now here. 

Going potty

Found in my knitting bag, two pretty vintage crochet pot holders bought in Sweden earlier in the year. Finally did the necessary repairs and hey presto, good as new. 

Back to school

The holidays are over and the new uniform and PE kit is all labelled ready for school tomorrow. We've had a nice summer, albeit a damp one. 

Our week in The Lakes was great and the weather unbelievably kind, only raining on the last day.

We stayed at Wallabarrow, a National Trust farm in the Duddon Valley, run by my friend Chris. 

A beautiful idylllic place, perfect for unwinding. http://www.wallabarrow.co.uk

Feeding the lambs was a joy.

However, feeding Penelope the pig, was like taking your life in your own hands......... I have never met such a ferocious animal.

The boys swam and fished in the River Duddon

and drove a motorboat on Lake Coniston.

Billie had a great time and thought she was a sheep dog for a week.



We went on some beautiful walks

and chilled in the garden, amongst the chickens.

Hmm, but the car decided to break down on the way home.......some lovely RAC chaps rescued us and brought us home. All part of the adventure.

Dear Mary

Mary, our expert knitter, is recovering from an operation.
Linda and I popped round to see her on Saturday for a cup of tea and spotted this beautiful picture on the windowsill, taken by Mary's father. The children were evacuated to Bishops Stortford during the war. From left to right; Sue, Edward, Wendy, Pam and Mary.
Best wishes to Mary for a speedy recovery.