Online Shop Update with Links

We're busy bees around here, adding products to our website. Screenshot below of the category page, set to Newest items showing. Just click on a category (left column) to see all items.

From the website you can explore the categories (on left) or do a keyword search instead to find specific items. Use the magnifying glass field in upper right corner. 

 [This week shop has been closed Wed, Thur and possibly Fri due to smoke. Our AC broke and this smoke super triggering my meniere's symptoms. Call shop ahead to see if we're there. Open 11-3 Mon - Fri usually. Hopefully next week will see less smoke, cooler temps and our new AC up]

Here's various direct links to the categories:

Yarns

The snapshot above shows just some of the yarns we now have online. Goodness....we've been busy because there's a lot more yarns now than we realized! Click through to the yarn category page to scroll away and see all the beauties listed up. Try searching by brand or yarn name too.

Puzzles

 

Lots of new Cavallini 1000pc designs along with more Pomegranate (300pc and 1000pc). The restock order of White Mountain going quickly but still some left. Get them while we got 'em!

When ordering online during checkout you'll need to select the Multiple Puzzle shipping option. It's based on the weight (who knew puzzles were so tricky to ship!) especially when in multiples. We've discounted the rates and don't charge actual rates as a thank you for your order.

Magazines

Just arrived this week: Interweave Holiday Gifts and Fall Crochet magazines. Also newly arrived is the Noro Fall/Winter 2020.

Gradually we're adding the older issues of all our magazines in the shop to the online shop as well.We also plan to add pattern booklets and single patterns eventually.

Kits

We've added various kits online thanks to Berroco starting their Project of the Week to help their LYS manage during the shutdown. Additionally we've added a few  of our own and plan to expand more kits in the future. Watch for new Juniper Moon and Noro kits to be added, along with crochet toys and holiday theme projects....because we all need a little looking ahead to happy holidays this year!

Our Needles & Notions section a bit small at moment but we're expecting to expand as our Lykke and Knitter's Pride reorders begin arriving later this month. But our Pom Poms are up and in stock! Also check out the newly opened Maisie's Attic for sale bargins.

Bookshelf

Watch for our favorites to be added to the online bookshelf section. Many of our favorite series will be here along with lots of single titles we love. 

Perennial classics we usual keep in stock along with new novels, cookbooks and children's books.

Of note to middle school parents: The Big Fat Notebook Series is fantastic and helped our kids a lot. In this age of virtual school (and parents helping teach their kids) these are great resources. 

 Bath & Body

 At moment just the big restock of Michel Designs Foamers listed up. We love the new mini sizes!!!!

 

From the Category page you can jump to other sections:  Tea,  Gift Certificates Future plans to grow the Children's Things and Holiday Items too. Nothing there yet but if this smoke persists then they'll start filling out soon! If you hit a snag on the website or have any questions, special requests don't hesitate to call or email us. 

 

Hope everyone safe, healthy and getting through this crazy year. Megan and I thinking we'll break our rule of  "no Christmas product out until after Thanksgiving" because right now I could do with lots of holiday music, decorations and baking!!

New batch Michel Design Foamers and new Mini Ones!

 Heads up! 

New batch of Michel Design Foaming Pump Soaps arrived in the shop this week. 

New adorable Mini Foamers!!!  These foamers last  a long time - much longer than regular hand soaps. We love this new mini size! Price is nice so you can mix and match. These will make perfect little gifts come holiday time. 

Several new scents: Sunflower, Summer Days, Garden Party, Bunny Toile, Country Life

Also our best selling Honey Almond, Indigo Cotton and Lemon Basil.

One of our favorite new: In a Pear Tree....it's a wonderful fruity, crisp pear that's making us long for autumn and cooler temps. So yummy almost makes us the forget triple digit temps and smoke.

We even have a few mini Merry Christmas and Christmas Snow because after this year...we all need a little happy Holiday Good Cheer to keep us trudging along. Lots more of the new Autumn and Holiday scents on order and arrive in shop mid Oct. But looking at this beautiful snowy landscape scene makes us feel a moment of thrill that yes....Christmas is Coming!

 

You can find both Foamers in our online shop  or stop by 11-3 Mon-Fri to bricks-n-mortar shop.

Project of the Week: Ana and Arshile Remix Kids Kits

Welcome to the Project of the Week: Ana & Arshile in Berroco's Remix. Squeeeeeee!! Adorable Kids in Adorable Sweaters!!! (And these two models are siblings too)

Project of the Week Kits: Ana & Arshile

Ana Pullover
Chest: 24 (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)”
3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4) balls Berroco Remix (100 grs), #3922 Buttercup on model

Arshile Hoodie  

Chest: 20 (21, 22, 24, 26, 28)”
3 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4) Berroco Remix (100 grs) *color on model is discontinued; #3991 a good sub*

Kits available to purchase here online

We love Remix!

Remix has been on our shelves since it's debut ages ago. A few ago Berroco switched its put-up style into wonderful center pull balls. Now we're madly, deeply and crazy in love with Remix!! Much easier easier to shelve and we don't chase "tribbles" all over the shop when the suddenly popped out of the cubbies. Based on its success, now we have two weights available: Remix (worsted) and Remix Light (dk/sport) and both available in our online shop.

Why oh why do we love Remix? It's a perfect blend for washable, soft, durable, tweedy garments of all kinds. Items made turn out like a well-worn and loved sweatshirt that you grab every time because it's so comfortable. Because it's non-wool blend is super washable and very strong items hold up great over time. The colors are a beautiful muted, tweedy palette. A fantastic year-round yarn that you'll enjoy using, even when temps hit triple digits. Read all the Remix details here.

 

How is it made?

It's most unique and amazing aspect: It's a 100%  recycled yarn with a fascinating process!! Berroco yarn uses a low-impact manufacturing process patented in France. Remix was the result of over a year of collaborative work between mill and textile engineers.

Here's Berroco's description:

Remix is made up of 100% recycled fibers, meaning that it’s a blend of nylon, cotton, acrylic, silk, and linen—a combination that yields a sturdy yet soft yarn. Garments and high-quality commercially knit fabric panels left over from the ready-to-wear industry are collected from across Europe and sorted by fiber, then color. Because these pieces are pre-dyed, there is no need to dye them again, which saves water and prevents water pollution. Instead, colors are created by carefully blending garnetted fibers. Garnetted fiber is the result of shredding old textiles to make a new, fleece-like fiber that is ready to be spun into a new yarn.

I'd never heard of "garnetting" fibers! Amazing they can take leftover scraps from clothing industry and turn it into yarn! With no overdying!!?? Simply amazing. 

Curious how yarn is made into balls or hanks? Here's a video showing Remix process. This is an older video showing the previous style of balls....you know those annoying round tribbles we're always having to chase around the shop? Well.... they've grown up now and stay on their shelves so much better! Plus the center pull ball is a dream. 

Patterns Galore

Reading behind the scenes accounts by designers is a great way to learn new tips and gain insight into a yarn or design process. Here's two to check out.

 Donna's Ode to Remix  & Kirsten's Homa Sweater

For more inspiration there's loads of Free Patterns! here and here. On Berroco's website you can see all Berroco Remix patterns here.

One last shout out for #303 Remix Family Collection. This is the debut pattern collection and its one of our favorites.  This is an actual family modeling beautifully all the items.  Papa, Mama and Baby Bears all showing off the great items made up in Remix. Classic patterns for the whole family.

We sell all the Berroco patterns as digital & printed copies. Eventually we hope to add our favorite patterns to the website but for now just give us a shout!

Berroco Virtual Trunk Shows

Loving how people are getting innovative in these crazy times! The wonderful owners of Berroco from get-go embraced change and jumped right in, finding new ways to help their shops survive and thrive during the shut downs. We so appreciate this. Warren and his gang are still doing it!

Virtual Truck Shows

Berroco has made great little video trunk shows highlighting the new patterns and yarns. Fun to see the still photos and videos of models moving around in the patterns! This 360 angle helps show off patterns nicely. Helps give a sense of how the sweaters move and drape on the body. Below is the video for Mochi, a new fall chunky yarn. Purchase in our online shop here.

 

 Links to Berroco Virtual Trunk Shows:

Mochi

Artetsia

Tiramisu

Providence & Aerial

Millefiori Light Luxe

Coco & Macro

Have fun being inspired! Shop has the new yarns Artesia, Mochi, Millefiori Light Luxe stocked and up online. The new colors of Providence, Macro and Coco arriving early September.

 

Project of the Week: A Recap

Back in March Berroco also quickly revamped their operations to support their shop owners in a way that was unprecedented. Within a few weeks they launched the Project of the Week program. This let customers order up wonderful projects from us and Berroco would ship directly to our customers. We could also order up even just 1 ball of yarn if that's all a customer needed to keep sane during the stay at home months. The owners and staff immediately set about coming up with ways to support their LYS's and are we ever so grateful! You can read about it here and here   See all the Project of the Weeks here on our website. Even now months later Berroco still doing the program so if you see one you want just let us know. You can find them listed in the Kits section of our website. You may still see some kits in your Berroco KnitBits newsletter.We're happy to order those up even if not shown on our website. Just give us a call or email.

Our Online Shop - A Searching Tip

Go to our online shop (www.maisieblue.com). Click on the Search icon (magnifying glass) top Right corner. A search box pops open at top. Enter "Berroco" and you should see drop down list of all Berroco yarns currently listed in our online shop. Click on one you're looking for.

This nifty method works with other brands too: Noro, Queensland, MadTosh, Araucania, etc... You can also type in "puzzle" " gift certificate" etc.... 

 

That's it for this week! Now I'm at home, hunkering down to stay cool in this heatwave. Triple digits is not my favorite temp! Hope everyone able to stay cool and happy this weekend. 

 

 

Shop Update: New arrivals and our growing website

Current Shop Hours

11-3pm Mon to Friday

(still closed weekends)

But first garden show off pictures! Megan can grow massive sunflowers! Well....I started it from seed, coddled it then gave her 3 plants. Chickens promptly ate one but the other plants grew too fast for chickens to demolish. Here's her first Teddy Bear Sunflower blooming! It's MASSIVE, at least 12" across. Having the mobile living chicken manure machines must have helped.

Here's my measly little tiny sunflower sibling. 2" across....that's it! Same seed packet, planted same time, coddled and watered daily.  Proof that abundant sunshine and fresh chicken poop works- I have much less sun and no chicken poop machines. Also proof that I truly excell at starting things....but finishing....meh! I'm happy with my little weenie sunflowers. They're delicate flowers.....just like me! Hahaha

Okay onto what's new at the shop! I'm busy building the website with new items added daily! Especially if I've had a day where this is what my I feel like:

At least on these day I get lots of stuff listed up in the online shop!

(Who knew a pandemic is what it takes be organized and build a website after 11 years! LOL)

Lots of Puzzles!

The new Cavallini Puzzles arrived-6 new designs! We also have more White Mountain in stock. Found two different style Puzzle Sorters too. All available online.

A Few New Yarns...

In order to make the budget nowadays any new yarns have to be super duper special! All below are available on our website so just click on through if you want to order. 

Cumulus Rainbow

This was my most-anticipated new Spring yarn. It was delayed until we reopened but well worth the wait. Cumulus is one of our favorite cotton yarns-a staple in the shop. Now there's have a gradient multicolor version. And it's in this sweet little cakes!! Pattern below is Zeynap with 2 balls ea of Cumulus Rainbow and contrasting solid of Cumulus. Technique is shadow knitting and chart only....so not the easiest knits but so cool!

 

This pattern, Xavi Duster shows how #201colorway knits up in a garment.

Katia Fair Cotton Craft

Mongo yarn cakes, super soft, sport-weight in beautiful colors. It's very soft and colorways are lovely. One ball makes this baby blanket: Just One Cake Baby Blanket (free pattern) Perfect is you're needing to make a special baby blanket or garment for a new wee one in your life.

Katia Big Paint

Speaking of Katia yarns.....also in the online shop is Big Paint , a chunky acrylic/wool blend because it's perfect for fast hats, nice and chunky (#11+ needle), fun colors and a great yarn for beginners just learning.

Berroco New Fall Yarns

This new collection is so beautiful and perfect to use even in warm weather temps. We had hopes the new lineup wouldn't be robust (to help us order less)....but our hopes were dashed immediately upon seeing the lineup. It was gorgeous! Colors soft, pretty and right in our wheelhouse. The new yarns were cuddly, cozy and oh so hygge! Which right now we all collectively need.

[hygge: Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment]

Artesia

A new chunky weight blend of alpaca, kid mohair and nylon. Soft, fuzzy, and light with unique hand-dyed colorwars. Use by itself or held together with another yarn. Perfect for garment and accessories. Massive yardage = 2 hanks gets Kim this sweater! Check out pattern booklet #420 to see how this yarn works up singly or paired with yarn for even bulkier (= faster) projects. 

Millefiori Light Luxe

You'll recognize the newest addition to the Millefiori line up. Colors ebb and flow just like in the Millefiori Light but with a subtle sparkle. The metallic strand makes the finished fabric seemed kissed with just a hint of dew on a frosty morning. Berroco always does sparkle right! Pattern Collection and Virtual Trunk Show

Not in the shop yet but due mid Aug are the next two new Fall yarns:Mochi and Tiramisu. Due to arrive mid Aug. But you can preorder on our website!

Mochi

This aran weight baby alpaca, wool and nylon blend comes in an easy to work chainette yarn. Because of it's structure you can bump up the gauge a bit to a chunky probably, making this a nice choice when you need to crank out something fast.

Subtle speckled colors in this heavy worsted yarn create soft and light, yet warm accessories and garments. Once again a soft, soothing, calm color palette!! Just perfect for cocooning! The patterns are also just as cozy: #419 Mochi Patterns

Tiramisu

In this yarn colors gently flow with a soft halo of mohair is what make Tiramisu a unique structre of multiple strands different yarns. It combines the self-striping qualities of Millefiori Light with the halo of the new yarn, Aerial, a soft silky mohair (Aerial due in shop early Sep). It's a blend of wool, acrylic, mohair, and silk blend, the colors flow from brights to dark to make a beautiful self-striping fabric. The seeming fine yarn is actually a light-worsted weight (#7-8 or H hook). Patterns in #418 Tiramisu booklet.

More new stuff....

Noro Fall 2020 Magazine

(you'll find all our back issues in our online shop)

Interweave Knits Fall 2020

(it's gorgeous and no models  used in the making of it...I like it better!)

Furreal Pom Poms are finally here!!!

Been on order since last year and now there's bunch of new colors!

Great fur poms for all your pom pom needs.

Some Website Tips

Most of the links above take you to our website. Usually to the item page, or to a category page with multiple items. From our site here's tips on navigating around:

• Search: Use this bar or button (top right) to type in what you're looking for. For example "berroco" or "berroco ultra wool" let you click and go to that item. Even searches for partial words work.
  

• Items: These usually start with vendor name followed by the specific item: Berroco Mochi, Juniper Moon Cumulus, etc....
  

• Colors/Design Photos: Drop down menu for colors/design-click on color and main picture changes to it

• Extra Photos:Scroll down through all the picture thumbnails on left in item page for more images. I sometimes add pictures of patterns so you can see the yarns made up.
  

• Checkout: Once here you can change shipping to pickup. This makes it deduct shipping
  

• Puzzles Shipping: We have a special rate for puzzles. Please select "Multiple Puzzles" so order then calculates shipping properly based on weight. Puzzles need special rates due to weight, especially when ordering multiple puzzles!
  

That's it for now! Thank you everyone for supporting us. Don't hesitate to contact us if you need anything not found on website, have questions or need help. I'm at shop 11-3 weekdays.

Kim