Dancing hens

We had a great trip out on Saturday to Nicki Trench's new venture Dancing Hens in Radlett, Herts. Nicki is the very talented author of several books on knitting, crochet, sewing and gardening, including Homemade Gifts, Cute and Easy Crochet (just published, see below) and 201 Knitting Motifs. Dany spotted the extra large teacosy for her Aga teapot and Linda found a knitted Santa.

Nicki is based at Battlers Green Farm, Radlett and offers workshops in her beautiful studio.

She was clambering over a 5 bar gate when we arrived - just tending the hens and a baby calf born the night before!

Nicki was lovely and gave Linda an impromptu lesson making a little washbag from an adorable piece of blue fabric with yellow roses. Poppy the dog and various cats hang out here too.

We were in heaven. Julie found some trimmings and bought a great knitting needle wrap.

Linda purchased a Santa with a really cute face - saves knitting him, which she has always intended to do, and Dany had a pair of Alpaca socks which are really cosy.

We were so inspired and could have stayed all day.

Thanks, Nicki, for making us all so welcome. Check out Dancing Hens at http://www.nickitrench.com/

I can't remember whose great idea this was for a day trip, but Thursday Knit and Chat girls decided to go and we joined them over there; Sally, Beryl, Susan, Sue F, Rosalind, Paula and Diane. There is a great tea shop too (The Bull Pen), but unfortunately there were too many of us to sit together. We did all get in the shoe shop at the same time though!

http://www.battlersgreenfarm.co.uk/

Spring cheer

I can't resist spring flowers and love the scent of hyacinths.

January girls

Sandra was delighted with her leather Fibi bag.

Carrot cake with a chocolate cupcake option. The two option birthday cakes are becoming quite a feature here.

Now, Naomi can't have cake - so how about a lovely birthday cheese platter?

Goat's cheese worked just fine for the birthday candle. The pecans with honey drizzled over were good too.

How's that for service?

Karen's now got to the collar of the cardi. Linda gave her a quick 'breakfast in bed' tutorial at the weekend.

Dee Dee loves the cardi. Just her colour!

Just arrived

A great new book from Nicki Trench. There are 35 inspiring patterns for beginners and up. From hats, bags, cushions, throws and jam pot covers to a set of babushka Russian dolls.

At last, a good knitting book for children. This book has good clear photographs and some really nice projects for children to knit. There are legwarmers, hats and scarves, a teddybear and knitted cakes... oh yes, and a knitted beard!

Charlotte was Linda's star pupil on Saturday. Charlotte (aged 9) came to brush up on her knitting skills with grandma Jackie. She did brilliantly - learning knit and purl, then straight on to rib and moss stitch. By George she's got it!

Cupcake days

Karen, Linda, Dany and Libby and Keira had a lovely day in St Ives (Cambs) last Saturday.

We visited the Age UK shop where Karen's friend Cheryl is now assistant manager. They were holding a special 'Cupcake Day' - a free cupcake with every purchase.

They had a bumper day and the cupcakes were delicious. Cheryl and the team would like to thank to all the Jolie customers who donated items for the shop.

....Eddie and Ollie are twelve today. Scarlett made a batch of cupcakes for them.

and Rashel rearranged the leftovers in the tin!

Knit and wine

Calling all of our glamourous knitters. Join us for the first Knit and Wine of the year on Tuesday 25th January, 7.30 - 10pm. See you there.

Cosy toes

Why not try knitting some socks? These lovely chunky socks made by Linda, are knitted on two needles using two balls of Rowan's Cocoon in Frost. If you'd like to have a go the pattern comes free with the yarn. There are plenty of other colours to choose from - Tundra, Clay, Lavender ice and Alpine.

Let the colour in

We need cheering up during this gloomy rainy days of January. Dany has started crocheting with a box of goodies sent from an old friend of Annie's (Dany's mum), Janet. It is a fine 4ply cotton I think, in the most amazing colours which may be from the 70's. Don't know how long Janet has had this lot or what she was planning to make, but Cath Kidston eat your heart out! Thank you Janet.

And more beautiful colour to cheer the soul spotted on Venice's blog http://lollyofhastings.blogspot.com

Susan and Sue .....and Hellie

Two more December birthdays to catch up with. Sue (B)

and Susan, who is tickled pink at becoming a grandma to Poppy - she can't move for pink wool!

......and Hellie has now arrived in Paris (she gets around!) - to her new bijoux home in the Rue de Provence. She also has a new baby granddaughter; Scarlet Rose arrived on 4th January. How lovely, another 'Jolie' name!

Happy New Year

Teddy's on guard as we prepare to reopen the door for another year of creativity and inspiration. Hope you all had a good Christmas - we've missed you and are looking forward to seeing everyone in the New Year.

Thanks for all the gorgeous Christmas gifts and treats we received, especially from Karen whose wrapping was so exquisite we didn't want to open it;

Lisa for her beautiful handmade marzipan fruits and chocolate and pistachio fudge;

Julie for the gorgeuos L'Occitane treats, Carolyn's handmade chocolates, Sue's lovely card, and Hellie's gifts too - loved the giant ball of wool candle. We were very spoilt and now can't get any buttons done up!

Here's to 2011. Happy New Year everyone.

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.