Snow patrol

Winter's here - it's the last day of term, Christmas is coming and it's snowing.

Sort of settling.........doubtful if there will be snowballs, snowmen or sledging.

Rock around the clock

New in, Gustavian style longcase grandfather clock.

Congratulations

We celebrated Diane's birthday at Knit and Chat on Thursday with Madagascan vanilla crumble cake with blackcurrant and apple filling - there wasn't a crumb left!

We are still keeping Thomas Sabo in Cambridge in business.......Diane's winter birthday warranted some pretty winter wonderland charms.

Congratulations are also in order for Diane and Toby's new venture in Buntingford. The Cheese Plate opened their doors at the beginning of December to an enthusiastic response. They specialise in artisan cheese and also cater for parties and weddings. You can visit the shop and enjoy a glass of wine and guided by Toby's expertise, try some of the wonderful cheeses on offer. Thumbs up from us. The Cheese Plate, 26 High Street, Buntingford, Herts SG9 9AQ.

Tel: 01763 271533

Meet Mouse

Mouse (aka Madeleine) is a new member of the team and is now working at Jolie on Saturdays. She's a great little knitter too and currently working on socks and a Kim Hargreaves jumper in Rowan's Fine Lace.

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!