april newsletter

We've been busy putting lots of new things out in the shop lately.  And trying to not get whiplash from this crazy temperature changes. One Friday it's snowing for hours here in Murphys. A week later it hits 90 degrees! And this week promises cooler temps and rain. Very crazy indeed.

Lots of new stuff in the shop 

Bee House Teapots Fresh infusion of our favorite teapots. These make a lovely Mother's Day gift.

Our initial order of Iced Teapots sold out after this weekend's heat wave. Made my first pot of ice tea this weekend myself and I so enjoy having a pot of tea in the fridge. You can brew it in the pot then stash it in your fridge. Any of our SerendipiTeas make great ice tea. I’m a straight-up, strong-black tea gal, but I do like the Cheeky Peach or Chaucer’s Cup iced.



DellaQ Silk organizers for needles, hooks etc... It's taken us a year but we finally have DellaQ in the shop: new Travel Wallet, DPN/Hook Roll and the Combo Needle Case. The last one is on my Mother's Day list...hint hint Jordi/…in royal blue!

 

More new fun yarns galore Loads of new colors and styles of fun yarns have arrived. It's always  feast or famine. Right now companies are shipping out my orders, so we're very well stocked at the moment.  The latest arrivals:

Triana  new colors for spring/summer: hot pink, purple, olive, red, grey/black, cream. Just released: a new free shawl pattern to work up.



On Line Joblife Lovely cotton blend perfect for warm day accessories. It's a mesh-style yarn (similar style to Flounce) with a light, soft touch



Rumples Similar to Flounce but slightly narrower and a more cottony-feel. Lovely colors too. Free Rumples Scarf Pattern



Flourish  Variation of the Rizos/Ripples style with boxes at top edge. This line has very subtle multicolor "eyelash" edges that provide interest. Flourish Free Scarf Pattern



Petals a flirty, fun style of mesh with a shiny edge to add bit of bling. Great yardage makes for a nice wide, long scarf; or two smaller scarves perfect for youngsters.  Free Petals Scarf Pattern



New Core Yarns Lines

Ella Rae

 

We've brought in a fantastic line from Aussie designer, Ella Rae. Her Classic line is a great workhorse 100% wool yarn that felts gorgeously and makes a great, affordable alternative to Cascade 220. Plus she has beautiful striping colorways that are to die for.  Free patterns to felt: Persian Slippers  & Bird Mobile



Another line we love is her Lace Merino. It's kettle-dyed and feels like malabrigo sock use to feel: soft, smooshy and springy. Perfect for garments, shawls, shawlettes, heirloom baby blankets. We have several colorways with more arriving late May.

Noro Silk Garden Sock is back! They discontinued it last year but due to popular demand it’s returned.

We’ve also expanded into the Taiyo Sock and Taiyo Worsted, and a brand new line, Karuta. Both lines are a cotton-silk blend just right for summer knitting-very soft hand and drape.



Free patterns suitable for these yarns: Welted Cowl; Slip Stitch Cowl & Taiyo Cable Scarf. I’m trying hard not to cast on one of the cowl patterns but in the sock yarn.

On the Bookshelf

Our book group just finished up The Forgotten Garden and loved it. Kate Morton (another Aussie) has three books out with another due this summer. All are perfect for upcoming summertime reading season.



Next two picks: Russian Winter and The Lantern. I've read the first book and loved it (fictional tale about the mystery surrounding a prima ballerina in the Bolshoi ballet and her famous jewels).  The second book is a modern novel a la Daphne de Maurier's Rebecca. Dark, mysterious and haunting the book jacket promises. After reading the first chapter, it looks like it'll deliver. Hooked me right away and left me wanting to read more.

Current Club Pick: Scandalous Women:



A look at 35 infamous women in history; some you know and many you don't. It's by a favorite blogger of mine, Elizabeth Kerri Mahon. An easy, breezy look at some interesting women throughout history. It's a lovely launching pad into discovering new biographies to seek out for further perusal.

Recently Finished Books:

 

My Jane Austen Summer: Contemporary novel about young woman performing as Fanny at a Jane Austen Literary Festival. Light, fun, silly but enjoyable.

Innocent Spy: London in the Blitz: tragic murder masked as suicide with dogged Detective pairing up with young female MI-5 operative to solve the mystery.

Romeo Flag: engrossing espionage buried beneath a family mystery involving a long-lost trunk, a baby born in Shanghai and the Romanov family.

The last two are from one of my favorite indie publisher, Felony & Mayhem. If you like mysteries of all sorts, especially "intelligent mystery fiction" come see me for suggestions.  Truly unique in the realm of publishing, this little publishing engine that could is nominated for its 4th Edgar Award in a row with The Faces of Angels by Lucretia Grindle.

An Edgar is the Oscar in the world of mystery novels so this is huge...big...massive for such a small publisher. My fingers are crossed!

Happy Mother’s Day and Spring

Kim