SNOW DAY!! We’re having a proper White Christmas this year. Shop closed today, Mon Dec 27th. Enjoy!
ps-I have the BEST sister! I’m home this week thanks to my wonderful Christmas present. Never have I had a whole entire week off with My Guys, at home with no plans or illness keeping me there. I’m in Heaven!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Holiday Traditions are the best. Here's one we love! Jolabokaflod (aka Yule Book Flood).
Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country in the world, with five titles published for every 1,000 Icelanders. But what's really unusual is the timing: Historically, a majority of books in Iceland are sold from late September to early November. It's a national tradition, and it has a name: Jolabokaflod, or the "Christmas Book Flood."
A flood of books!! Every November the start of the Book Flood is marked by every single household receiving a massive catalog/wishlist (the Bókatíðindin) of all new releases in upcoming weeks. It's a publishing book flood of 500-1000 new titles not only bookstores, but grocery stores, petrol stations and supermarkets. (I've also heard you can get yarn in the grocery stores too!).
The practice dates back to WW2 when books were one of only items readily available and a gifting tradition was born. Christmas Eve finds most Icelanders settling down with hot cocoa or jolabland (a traditional holiday drink mix of orange soda and dark ale) to all crack into their book gifts, as they await the dawn of Christmas Morning.
Each year pouring through catalogs of new hot titles, must-give reads or special gems is a favorite pasttime of this shop keep. The closest to the we have to the bokatidindi are the regional independent booksellers associations catalogs, but I can't imagine those being shipped to every household in the nation! If only I was fluent in Icelandic! Fortunately our little shop’s shelves always full of our favorites, old gems and new releases we love to highlight. We may be small, but our shelves are well curarated with lots of wonderful books. Without further ado…..
Maisie’s Mini Book Flood
Books are a perfect gift (says this bookworm) and you can never have enough It’s a no brained gift fir a book hoarder…. I mean lover but for those who prefer a more minimalist approach to gifts, books can be read, enjoyed and easily passed along to others, libraries or thrift shops Plenty of Yuletide Book Flood Supplies on our shelves so get ready for the "flood" (figurative and literally by looks of weather!)
Cookbooks
Great Series Galore!
A favorite shop tasks of mine is loading up on books for a perfect gift. It's no secret I love a good series so several favorites (and a few new ones) queued up at the ready for a Yule Book Flood debut!
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We're ready for the Holidays! Now just bring us some snow Santa and it'll be a perfect Christmas!
Open Daily 11-4pm
Andeamo Lite......This stuff is AWESOME!!
Meet the "worsted" version of last year's super popular yarn, Andeamo (super bulky-scroll down for more). While Andeamo is in the #15 needle range, Andeamo Lite is in the #8 needle range. Techincally it's a worsted, but it's really more like a light-worsted. Gorgeous pallete of jewels and neutrals.
It's a 2ply blend of 85% peruvian wool and 15% superfine alpaca, which creates a lovely, soft hand and halo. Perfect for all types of projects but remember it's a wool....so handwash cool and lay flat to dry. If felting...throw it in the washer and it felts beautifully! That little bit of alpaca is noticeable and you can feel its added softness, making this wool bloom and feel less wooly.
One of its best parts: A...M...A...Z...I...N...G YARDAGE for a worsted yarn: whopping 437yds!! This means sweaters and larger projects take fewer hanks and therefore actually affordbale too! Jody Long's pattern booklet Winter Forest has a slew of great patterns. A bit of fair-isle, a lot of celtic cables, super wearable cardigans (look to be fairly easy knitting too) and that shawl is perfect!
Purchase yarn and patterns here
Remix chunky had us squealing with delight when our lovely Betsy our Lovely Berroco Rep pulled the sample out of her bag last spring. Bet you can imagine the stereo sound of Megan and I bouncing in our seats, clapping excitedly, giddy as schoolgirls that there was a C H U N K Y Remix!
Never underestimate the power of pillow knitting! It's one of Kim's passions....just ask her family (who regularly mutter no more pilllows! as they toss them off the couch to find a seat). There's just so much potential with pillows. Usually fairly quick knit, great for learning new techniques or stitches, much less committment than afghans or sweaters. Any scarf can easily become a pillow when you realize there's no way you'll finish a whole 60" long scarf! Presto-chango....bind off and you've got the makings of a pillow instead.
The Macro Cable Pillow Kit is super fast and easily cranked out for that perfect gift. Takes just 2 hanks on a #17 needle. Wowza! Hardest part is deciding which pillow form to shove inside. Hint: 18" crams into this 16" knitted cover nicely! Love a good negative ease.....LOL
Yowza is a family favorite. Megan made several wonderful lap blankets over the years. Of course Kim's cat Mr. Fritzi totally thinks the blanket is his....but that's a cat for you! It's such an easy project: Grab 4 hanks Macro and #17 circular needle (32" or 40") and cast on 52 stitches. Then settle down on couch, binge watch favorite shows before you know it.....one blanket done! Purchase Kits Here
Dress up your old hot water bottle with a lovely new cover! Meet Berty....the Hot Bot Cover in Remix Chunky. Takes 5 balls total. Fun, adorable little project. Pair with a new hot water bottle to make a sweet gift for someone needing a little warm-n-cozy! Purchase Kit Here
Kit Contains yarn + pattern: 1 ea ball ea 5 colors (MC) 9901.(CCs) 9922, 9930, 9960, 9984
