The more it snows, (Tiddley pom),

The more it goes (Tiddley pom),

The more it goes (Tiddley pom),

On snowing!

And the more inconvenient, but it is oh, so pretty. Everywhere looks like a Christmas card.

I put my crochet snowflake in the window with the sparkly polar bear Linda brought back from New York about 5 years ago. He still makes me smile when he emerges from the Christmas box.

Stuck indoors, I made snowflake mince pies with Nigella's recipe in How to be a Domestic Goddess. She uses freshly squeezed orange juice instead of water to bind the pastry. Wow! A very nice touch - they lasted all of 5 minutes.....better get the cutters out again.

From the snow fairy

Thanks to Hellie for the lovely Christmas gifts, sent down from snowy Scotland. We love the crochet snowflake gift tags too.

Oh, oh Diane

The first of the December birthdays at Jolie. Diane was delighted with her leather Fibi bag at Thursday's Knit and Chat this week. There were presents for all from Secret Santa, but Susan's was the best - a little granddaughter called Poppy.

Thinking of you

This is Hellie's back door in Fintry, Scotland. Poor Hellie and Robbie can't get out and now there's only Whisky to drink, as the water pipes are frozen.

Squares of the unexpected

Susan never does anything random, but hey, she has succeeded this time and loves her new throw, crocheted in Rowan's Felted Tweed. She will never been 'thrown' again.

Dear, deer

New in, a beautiful pair of 'Narnia' white reindeer to grace the Christmas table, (24.95). Bring on the Babycham!

Fantastic fair isle

The trend for fairisle continues. This lovely box of Rowan's Felted Tweed is winging it's way to the latest Jolie outknitter recruit, Jeannette (Bery'ls sister).

Jeannette is a fabulous knitter who won't actually take on anything too simple.....aaah! She has agreed to knit this beautiful top (Anastaysia, Rowan mag 48) for Joan, who recently had a hand operation. Can't wait to see this one finished.

A Jolie tree

For those who can't visit the shop - Linda has decorated the tree with balls of jewel coloured Rowan Silk Twist and bell shaped knitting needle gauges.

Christmas tree garland

We have devised a little Jolie Christmas crochet kit. Inspired by Carolyn's fabulous crochet trees at last week's knit and wine, we managed to write a pattern for a Christmas tree. The kit is made up in a preserving jar with pattern, yarn (Rowan's cotton glace), beads to decorate and ribbon to make your own pretty garland. £12.95

We had a few hiccoughs with the pattern, (sorry to those who experienced hexagons, rather than triangles!) but all is well now and in fact they are very easy to do - we reckon about 20 mins per tree. Linda and I are madly crocheting little trees for garlands, hanging decorations, gift tags on presents and also Christmas coasters (in dk).

....bit dark last night, but I put mine over the fireplace..........very pleasing. Thanks Carolyn for sharing this with us.

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!