Springtime @ Jolie

The sun has made a bit more of an appearance over the last week and the shop is looking very pretty.

We have cheery cherry blossom and pussy willow stems and the new spring stock is beginning to arrive with lots of lovely ideas for Mother's Day gifts.

A twist on the Jolie knitting bag. Normally made from embroidered linen, this one has been made from pretty vintage fabric (found by Sandra in Southwold) and we think it is gorgeous.

Proud Mary

....actually Mary is incredibly modest and we are very proud of her. She has just finished this amazing coat for Pam knitted in Kidsilk Haze.

Had to show you the back too. Beautiful lace work and as soft as a cloud.

Knit and wine

Is rescheduled for next Tuesday 29th March. 7.30- 10pm. Hope you can make it.

Down Mexico way

It was a great evening over at Sue's for a Mexican theme dinner party. The cocktails were flowing - Japanese Slipper, anyone? Or how about another Singapore Sling?

The food was delicious, accompanied by a great singalong seventies soundtrack. Remember Manhatten Transfer, Baccara (Yes, Sir, I can Boogie) and Tina Charles? We did!

"Now Beryl, tell me how did you meet Jim?" Three hours later, some more cocktails and off on another tangent, we never did hear the end of the story. Oh what a night!

Star turn

Jen was a star at Knit and Chat this week. First we had a beautiful pink Camellia flower from the garden.

Then Jen produced two more embroidered cushions! A Norfolk beach hut for Karen and some lovely chucks for Dany.

Ollie's new friend

Carolyn knitted this great mole for her son Ollie.

Lucky Ted

Oh, what a totally pampered pooch! Jennifer designed and made this wonderful freehand quilted cushion at a workshop on Monday. She presented it to Linda at Knit and Chat on Tuesday where a few tears of joy were shed.

Finished!

Jeannette has finally completed the fair isle tank top... and she's also wearing her fabulous pink Debbie Bliss fair isle gilet. What a busy bee. Those fingers havn't stopped.

What a find

A welcome coffee and Portuguese pastries to be had at Brandon's Taste of Portugal deli en route to Norfolk..... a wonderful shop crammed with foodie delights, wine and preserves.

The shelves are so colourful. Delicias de Portugal have branches in Kensal Green, Vauxhall, Victoria and 56 High Street, Brandon, Suffolk!

And on to Stiffkey Stores in Stiffkey. This place is so pretty and well worth a visit.

Anyone for tea?

Finished Nicki Trench's BIG strawberry tea cosy for the GIANT Aga tea pot and then quickly knitted another littler one with self striping 'sock wool' - just to see how it turned out.

Hellie sent us these fanatastic sugar lump buttons from Paris. They are so pretty - too good to put in the tea.

Oh my! Another Nicki Trench pattern (from Cute and Easy Crochet), beautifully crocheted by Carolyn and Jennifer. What a lovely cheery start to the day, everyone needs a fun tea cosy.

Happy Birthday

To Sue, who celebrated with loads of cake and some early Easter bunnies. And Sue was very happy bunny too with her special 'surprise' black leather Fibi bag.

Modern romance

The Debbie Bliss Spring/Summer 2011 magazine is out now. With all new designs a bargain at £4.95. The patterns are very pretty and include soft and lacy designs in Debbie Bliss's new silk mohair yarn Angel.

There are some gorgeous 1950's inspired floral cardis, with intarsia rose motifs and rosy 'buttons' and a flower belt... Very feminine.

Cactus cup and saucer

To go with your 1950's cardi - a lovely cup and saucer. This one is an Alfred Meakin - painted by Venice http://www.lollyofhastings.blogspot.com

Knit and wine

Hope you can join us for Knit and Wine this month. Tuesday 22nd Feb. 7.30 - 10pm, £15 per person. (Illustration from a book by Betty Hosegood, anyone read it?)

Quick to knit

Still getting distracted by The Knitter's Year (Debbie Bliss). I knocked up a little pot holder in some spare dk cotton which makes the ugly plastic flower pot much more acceptable. 50 projects to go.......and I still havn't finished James's jumper...... he's got such long arms.....

The young ones

We had a mini 'learn to knit' workshop this morning for four young friends; Megan, Gaby, Izzy and Ella. Ranging from 8 to 12yrs they all did really well and are well on their way to knitting a very trendy cowl scarf each in Big Wool. They're so keen and are planning a knitting sleepover so they can have their own 'Knit and Chat'.

Fair isle fairy

Wow, Jeannette, Beryl's sister, is making great progress knitting this fair isle pattern Anastaysia, Rowan mag 48 (see earlier post from December'10). This is truly beautiful knitting - a work of art.

More fair isle

There is some great fair isle knitting going on. Anna came to knit and chat with the wonderful jumper she is knitting from Debbie Bliss mag autumn/winter 2010.

Anna has chosen softer colours and we think it looks great. PS It's her first fair isle project too!

Still trying to finish crocheting a jumper for son James. In the mean time, to keep me going I've been fiddling around with some little projects. I did this pot holder from Debbie Bliss's book The Knitter's Year. Full of inspiration for quick ideas (52 infact - I could get very distracted). I blocked it and felt very professional. Actually it is really worth doing as it makes the knitting really flat and easy to work with.

Hey, presto! A pretty pot holder made with a remnant of fabric from Hitchin market. Better get back to the jumper - he keeps asking me how it's going......

Let's twist again

There was a lot of twisting and some shouting at the' intarsia afternoon' workshop on Tuesday.

Carolyn concentrated very hard and did fantastically well on her first go ever at intarsia.

Jennifer and Naomi picked up some more tips from teach, Linda, particularly the 'double twist' which avoids holes. They all did brilliantly. We're expecting to see some wonderful creations now, girls!