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.

Half a day at the seaside

Which other family sets off on a two hour drive to the seaside at two o' clock in the afternoon? We had promised, but due to work commitments we had a very late start....... We managed three hours at Frinton - the tide was out so we had a huge beach to play on, perfect for lots of digging and Frisbee. 

But hey, we took a detour to Clacton on the way home.

The boys had a great time on the pier doing
 all the things kids like to do.

The colours are so mad and intoxicating.

Miami in Essex? Well, sort of!

Man about the house

Welcome to Joe - our first man at Knit and Chat. Joe is learning to crochet and planning to make his sister a dress. Awww, we love him already.

Tempting selection of cakes today too.

As found

Two beautiful children's books. 

The top one is a Norwegian picture book. 'Dyra Vare' means 'Our Animals' and opens out to a beautiful farmyard scene.

Below is a Dutch book from the 1940's found on the market in Ghent. 'Hansel and the Secret of the Animals'. 

I just like them.......

Knit and Wine

This month's Knit and Wine will be Tuesday 31st July. 

7.30 - 10pm.

Hope you can join us.

Everything is coming up roses

 Two new pieces of furniture from Brown and De Rose. A pretty little bureau, hand painted with decoupage 'toile de jouy'.

 And a sweet little cupboard with decorative handle and glass shelf inside.

 Linda completed her rose boyfriend cardi just in time for the trip to Belgium. It's a Kim Hargreaves pattern from Breeze - with additional intarsia rose tattoo. 

Going Dutch

We had a wonderful weekend in Belgium. This IS actually us - hope you can tell. From left to right Susan, Donna, Hellie, Linda, Dany and Karen. We had a lovely day in Ghent on Sunday and managed to fit in the brocante market, lunch at The Belga Queen, boutique shopping, numerous coffees and the infamous gin bar. 

Postcard from Hellie

Where did she find this one? This apparently is us in a few years time. 

From left to right: Dany, Susan, Linda, Karen, Hellie and Donna. 

Watch this space, we're off to visit Hellie in Westend Bad in Belgium next weekend. Are we each going to come back in one of these lovely outfits?

Knit and wine

Knit and Wine, Tuesday 26th June, 7.30 - 10pm @ Jolie.

What a laugh was had at last month's Knit and Wine. Sue is near on finishing her green cardi, knitted all in one.....or is it a Kermit suit??

Suffolk shopping trail

Linda and Libby had another mother and daughter mini break, this time in Suffolk over half term.

They had a great time in the lovely castle town of Framlingham and came across Impulse Boutique. Fabulous vibrant stock..... and wallpaper. The staff and owner were extremely helpful. 

 Nothing was too much trouble, even Linda trying on 20 pairs of jeans at 5.15pm on a Friday evening!!

Not so much of an impulse buy after all that trying on. Nice bags to sneak into the wardrobe too. www.impulsefashion.co.uk

Oh what a find! The newly opened Vintage Mischief in Beccles is an eclectic mix of 60's and 70's vintage.

Nestled in the courtyard of 'The Old Dairy', they opened in May and are frantically trying to keep up with current demand and interest.

Everything from flower power fabrics, home and office furniture to tableware and vintage clothing. 

 Run by husband and wife team, many of the items were still unpriced as the goods kept flying out of the garage doors!  We wish them well. www.facebook.com/VintageMischief