From Esme with love

Esme is an artist living in Copenhagen. She sent me these pretty traditional paper decorations.

The little cherubs are very cute,

and I love the 'straw' reindeer. 

View Esme's blog http://stuffilikeandstuffidid.blogspot.co.uk/

Who's on first base?

Mary has made two of these gorgeous baseball jackets for her great grandsons Julian and Rupert. The pattern is from Debbie Bliss's Baby Cashmerino Book 4  and knitted in Baby Cashmerino. We think they will look a couple of swells.

Make the world better with a sweater

Friday 14th December is Christmas Jumper Day. 

Wear a festive jumper and donate £1 to Save The Children. http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/christmas  for details.

Paula has knitted four fabulous Christmas jumpers for her family. Daughter Emma has already received her gorgeous snowman one, so we're hoping she'll be wearing it on Friday.

Always on trend, Foxy is wearing his.
http://fox-in-the-city.blogspot.co.uk/

Pensees de Paris

Linda and I had a fabulous weekend in Paris, staying with Hellie for the last time, before she comes home to Yorkshire next week.

We arrived on Friday night by Eurostar and headed for Le Marais district just in time to sample the latest Beaujolais Nouveau.

That was after we both bought a chic hat each in Place des Vosges.

We spotted Pere Noel driving a Citroen van.

On Saturday Hellie took us to the little town of Montfort d'Amaury, about 20km south west of Paris.

It is a delightful little place, where the gendarme still uses a bicycle.

We had lunch in the square. Linda will never forget that Andouillette sausage......

Pere Noel has his own personal mailbox here.

We came specifically to visit 34 Oct. Two stunning shops.

 The first is a little boutique full of goodies. We found brilliant retro cake decorations and quirky jewellery.

Their second shop - round the corner is an atelier/mercerie where they sell wool and haberdashery and run workshops. We were in heaven. www.34oct.com

On Sunday morning we visited the local market at Suresnes, near Hellie's apartment. 

Oh my goodness, we had huge fun; we bought lunch to take home, flowers, bargain boots with pompoms, patent brogues, a rose covered, quilted vinyl washing machine cover for Donna (need a pic of this!). We all found something on the 1 euro stall, including a pale blue wool riding jacket with black velvet collar with my name in it..... and it fits!

I love Hellie's apartment. 

She has so many lovely things and displays everything with her own inimitable style. This is a child's toy dresser in the kitchen, for herbs and spices.

We had wonderful continental breakfasts......lunches and suppers.

Morning yoghourt.

Sunday afternoon we sat and knitted Christmas trees - yes, yes, yes. It was so addictive, we made three each in various different yarns. Funny how sparkly brillo pad style yarn that you would never dream of making a garment in, works brilliantly for a Christmas tree.

The knitting chair.

We spent Monday in Paris, Christmas shopping and taking plenty of much needed breaks. 

Chocolat chaud at Cafe de Flores was a must.

Found some lovely postcards at 'Omar's' kiosk.

Thanks so much to dear Hellie and Rob for being such brilliant hosts. Hotel Maxwell will be relocating to Yorkshire as of next week. Hope the move goes well.

Welcome friends

We were joined on Tuesday for Knit and Chat by two very talented friends, Emma and Tracy. They met via their respective blogs. Emma is a jewellery designer  http://silverpebble-jewellery.blogspot.co.uk and Tracy, a quilter http://dragonfliesandchickens.blogspot.com

Beautiful and inspiring.

Knit and wine

Tuesday 27th November

7.30 - 10pm

Hope you can join us.

Rabbit, rabbit

 Havn't made one for a while, but I decided to get the sewing machine out and rustle up a little bunny.

A little stitching and snipping and there he is. Now needs a companion....

Toowhit toowhoo hoo

Owls are in apparently. Gorgeous mittens and scarf knitted by Sheila P. in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

Let it snow.....

.....crochet snowflakes. These are so pretty, especially in Louisa Harding's sparkly Alpaca yarn, Orielle. From 100 Snowflakes to Crochet by Caitlin Sainio - all different, like real snowflakes. Great for tree decorations, cards, gift tags, coasters and bunting.

Just because

To Dany from Linda. 

I put them in my Cath coffee pot and funnily enough Linda had done the same at hers, before she gave them to me. Great minds and all that....

Naomi's jumper

Dany had to model the jumper Naomi has knitted as a gift for her sister in law. 'Yes, it will fit!', was the verdict. And if it doesn't Naomi, I'll have it, it fits me.......

Christmas is coming.......

Christmas shopping evening @ Jolie

Monday 12th November from 6.30pm 

 Join us for a preview of our Christmas goodies, 

a glass of fizz and your first mince pie of the season.

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).