Thank You

These are the lovely gifts that came my way this Christmas. I am so lucky. Two velvet cushions with linen backs (Habitat); a grey cardigan I love (Gap); Sheepskin gloves - so warm (John Lewis); Tokyo Milk soap (Anthropologie); beautiful Ralph Lauren candle (Ralph Lauren) and gorgeous smelling Ortigia bath/shower foam. Thank you. And the no less appreciated subscription to my favourite magazine and cheque to pay for the next term at Choir Company. Couldn't be better.

Jenny's Tricot Too sale top 12!!

American Vintage big cardi now £74.20

Out of Xile ruched dress now £42. Yes I know it's got no hanger appeal but it looks really good on! The colour is actually 'prune'.

Nice fitted coat from Out of Xile. Now £168. sold out

Snuggly fake fur jacket by Myrine and Me now £84 (last one)

Tricot Too New Year Sale

Avoca Anthology coat dress now £77

Out of Xile knit coat now £64.50; I also really like the Out of Xile long sleeve 'cobweb' dress under it now £47.50

Myrine and Me wooly teal pinafore now £60.50 also available in grey

Out of Xile velvet coat now £168

Avoca, American Vintage and Hamilton Davis

Avoca Liberty satin dress now £91

Avoca roses mac now £60

American Vintage cardigan with cashmere now £82.60

Hamilton Davis leather belt now £28

Tricot Too SALE window

Above and below Out of Xile velvet coat half price from £336 to £168 worn over long Out of Xile black dress with net hem.

Below: Out of Xile knitted black coat with velvet trim was £129 now £64.50. Worn over cobweb black knit long top which was £95, now £47.50

Tricot Too SALE!

If you like clothes by Out of Xile, Avoca, Mes Soeurs et Moi  and Myrine and Me now is the time to buy at half price. American Vintage is down by 30% and throws, cushions and lifestyle products are also 30% off.
Normal opening hours (9.45am to 5pm) apart from Saturday, New Years Day and Monday January 3rd when the shop will be closed.

Layering

The best way of keeping warm is lots of layers. Even thin layers keep you warmer than one thick piece of clothing on its own. This outfit has three layers. Starting with an American Vintage long sleeve, long length fine cotton top and a pretty lacy skirt from Myrine and Me. Next a ruffle hem Avoca sleeveless tunic - love this asymetrical hemline - with an Avoca cardigan and American Vintage big scarf twisted round the neck. All available now from Tricot Too, Dragon Street, Petersfield.

Tricot Too Christmas decorations

Reindeer £4.70; trees £3.50 and robins £4.50.

Fat robin love

These guys flew into Tricot Too yesterday and I find them irresistible. Fat Robin One above is big with wire feet that stand on furniture or a shelf. He's £12. Fat Robin Two, below will stand or hang. £8.50. The smallest robin, pictured on the tree in the post above is £4.50. I'm finding that the trouble with Christmas shopping is that you see all these things that you would like for yourself!

The Magic of Christmas

White on white tree

Just put the tree up. White on white seems right this year with snow past and snow to come. Watching the twinkly little lights again on a cold dark winter's morning.

Cup cakes in Maison Blanc

Seen in Guildford on Sunday while Christmas shopping with one of my daughters.

Tricot Too's window

Wrap cardigan and tunic top both Avoca Anthology; lacy skirt Myrine and Me; grey cardigan (right) American Vintage and check skirt Mes Soeurs et Moi. Necklace by Jenny Stacy.

Welcome to the Family!

Baby Sofia Wheatley born on Thursday December 9th. Congratulations to her parents Georgia and Ben, my nephew.

'The Energiser Fairy'

Cynthia Young made this rug. She sent me a lovely email saying we have met twice at Country Living fairs. She and her friend came looking for handmade and said my stand was their favourite. Cynthia, a weaver and teacher is Canadian and loves 'the energy of British design.' Her words encouraged me when I needed encouragement. ' Your work is truly heartfelt and appreciated,' she said. Thank you Cynthia.

New for Tricot

I just made these necklaces for Tricot Too. £20 each.

Please. No yellow golds

I hate yellow gold. The cheap tinsel; the plastic ornaments in gaudy too-bright golds. Gold should be almost matt, with a touch of grey in the mix. Expensive looking gold. In the picture are cones I've painted in a mixture of gold acrylics to be strung into garlands with the dried apples and oranges previously mentioned.

Smells of Christmas

I love the smell of these orange and spice garlands for sale in Tricot Too. I imagine whole oranges take a long while to dry out. But you can dry orange slices easily in the home oven. Cut oranges into quarter inch slices and lay directly onto the oven shelf and bake for an hour at the lowest temperature.

My street in the snow today

Pretty snow. Pretty for five minutes that is. Then it's slipping and sliding into town. Where is the grit? Not on the pavements. I wonder how many people fall and hurt themselves? If all of them were given automatic compensation by the council say of £200 each, the council would soon move gritting the pavements up its list of priorities.

Helping the Heroes

In the freezing weather this barn was warm and friendly. A surprisingly large number of brave souls tramped across snowy fields or drove along icy lanes to support the charity. And in the barn they were met with a roaring log burning stove and a glass of hot mulled wine. My stand is pictured above against fabulous oil paintings by Amanda Ward Thomas.

Customers decide what to buy in the cosy setting.