Knit and wine

Tuesday 2nd July, 7.30-10pm.

Do come along x

All the trimmings

Happy pom poms - we've been using them everywhere. Linda put mini pom pom trimming on a pretty patchwork bag that she rustled up yesterday. 

I edged my basket with sombrero effect pom poms for a Spanishy feel.

Dad's day

Almond biscuits for Father's Day.

Hello campers

Not just for campers........this new book has some lovely projects based around outdoor living. Crocheted bunting, a traditional knitted tea cosy and this really nice seaside blanket amongst others. Just need the weather.

Linda's shrine

Linda spent last Sunday afternoon with souvenirs from Paris, some lace and trimmings, old bits of jewellery and some glue. She spotted a keepsake box that Libby wasn't really using and a couple of hours later the shrine is finished. No - she hasn't changed her religion, just inspired by Catholic iconography. 

Unhappy hens

'They don't like it up 'em you know!'. 

Chickens hate the wind - it ruffles their feathers and upsets them. I came home yesterday evening to find the hens sheltering behind the big hedge outside the shop. 

Happy hens

Now the weather has perked up my free ranging hens are roaming all over the place and have been checking out the kitchen. A quick shake of the broom and they're off again. 

We are rewarded with lovely eggs every day. This was today's quick and tasty alfresco lunch.

Hooray for sunshine

We had a great bank holiday weekend in Norfolk and felt lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

The weather was beautiful and we spent all day on the beach at Burnham Overy Staithe.

It's a good mile and a half to walk out there, so consequently there weren't many other people around.

 Or dogs. Billie loves to sunbathe and sniff the sea air.

After the walk home the ice cream van was still there. Pretty perfect really.

Postcard of Walkern

I was astonished when Linda called me into the shop on Friday, to say someone had come in with a painting of my house..... a passing art dealer thought someone in the village may be interested. Well, yes I am, but I can't afford it just yet. The painting is by John Haskins, who is quite a renowned artist and still painting and we reckon this was probably done in the early 1960's. My house is the first on the left and Jolie is tucked behind the house. The Yew Tree pub is still there, but now has tables and chairs outside and is also a Chinese restaurant. Not much else has changed, except there are a few more houses and of course the traffic - there is no way a child could play on a trike in the road these days. Oh my, it is so pretty! I would love to have it. Maybe one day when my ship comes in........

Knit and wine

Tuesday 28th May

7.30 - 10.00 pm

Have a great bank holiday xx

Pretty petal

Just arrived! Beautiful fabric from Tanya Whelan's new Petal collection. 100% cotton in coordinating designs and colours. Great for patchwork, quilting, applique, cushions, bags, children's dresses, toys.......... Hmm, what shall I do first?

Chasing rainbows

The upside of a wet spring.

Now we are....eight

Feeling really grown up! Jolie is eight years old this week. 

Thanks to everyone for all the fun, laughter and suppport we've had over the last eight years. Here's to many more. We love you all, Dany and Linda xx

Night owl

Scarlett knitted an owl cushion. Twit twoo cute.

May day, may day

A day for gardening.

It's all beginning to get a bit more colourful out there. I have cordoned off an area in the garden which the hens can't get to and am determined to grow more flowers.

I put on my mad gardening shoes to get in the mood,

and potted up herbs, geraniums and begonias and used an old stepladder that needed 'rescuing'.

We went down to the fantastic nursery at Watton at Stone and Billie came too. She was on a promise for a walk afterwards. 

We walked up the hill and around the church.

and back into the village. 

Then back home again to plant out hollyhocks, lavender, a grapevine and new pots for outside Jolie. 

How glorious to be outside all day long.

One down

Ta dah! I finished the cardi in Rowan All Seasons Chunky. This is a chunky yarn, but actually it's really light and soft and a lovely yarn to knit with. Caron is making a jumper - looking forward to seeing hers finished too. Perfect for spring, which finally arrived this weekend.

World book night

We opened up the shop this morning to discover two books on the doorstep.

They are a gift from Lisa Webb who is one of 20,000 volunteers involved in World Book Night (23rd April 2013) which celebrates books and spreads the joy and love of reading. 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes was winner of Richard and Judy's book club Spring 2012. Thank you so much, Lisa,  For more info visit www.worldbooknight.org

Knit and wine

Come and unwind @ Jolie

Tuesday 23rd April, 7.30 - 10pm

Work in progress

I figure if I do a bit of show and tell it might spur me on to finish some of the various projects I have on the go. I keep getting distracted by quick and easy crochet doilies and dishcloths. Above is soon to be a cardi.... knitted in Rowan All Seasons Chunky. I am actually really enjoying knitting this, just getting the anxiety pangs about the dreaded sewing up!

This is going to take me a lot longer and will eventually be a quilt. Need to keep at it though - my last and only other quilt took 17 years to finish, so actually I'm doing really well......it's only been about 6 months so far.

The cat's whiskers

How smart can a cat get? Figaro is wearing a crochet ruff, made by Dany's mum, Annie. Actually it's a collar to wear with a jumper, but fits him a treat. He does look smart and was happy to pose for the photograph.

The lacy crochet collar is from Debbie Bliss's book, Simply Crochet and is made using Rialto lace.