Crazy Chaotic Days of Summer....make that Autumn.....

August (then September.....and now October) was/is crazy hectic for our family and thus the shop. Hopefully our crises are managed, the big looming life events successfully embraced and life at our shop can chug along (with the help of our lovely helpers!) One boon: Autumn arrived!  We left to take my son to college in triple digits and two days later it was 70 and cold! Then awesome rain. Even the weather was doing it's best to ease my transition into Empty Nest! 

New Stuff On The Shelves

Malabrigo Ultimate Sock! 

Exciting to get Malabrigo back into the shop! They've consistently chugged along all these years with lovely hand-dyed yarns with still affordable prices. The new Ultimate Sock here and a perfect blend of their hand-dye palette with a superwash wool sock yarn, now with touch of nylon! This adds great durability to items....especially toes and heels. Perfect for hats, garments too. Hanks are 100g (420yds) with gauge of 30-32 sts 4" on #1-3 needle. In our shop and online. 

Malabrigo Mohair!

Mohair projects such fun. Having classic malabrigo colorways a huge boon! Read details on website. Ready to preorder. Order due to arrive in the shop/ready to ship after Oct 18th. It's literally brand-spanking new so will probably still smell. 

TIP:We love double stranding mohair with another yarn to create unique blends. Plus it bumps up the gauge too. Great way to use up stash and/or cotton blends to make them cool weather friendly.

Doubling Rule of thumb:

Fingering + Fingering = Sport

Fingering + Sport = DK

Fingering + DK = worsted

Fingering + Worsted = Aran

and so on.....

Dream In Color Savvy

You'll probably recognize this company's name. Dream in Color is a well-known and beloved yarn line. Savvy is a new super bulky superwash extra fine merino hand-dyed (say that 5x fast!), It's SO SOFT AND SNUGGLY! Great for fast gifts as we move towards gift-giving season. And yes I said "superwash"! 

addi Ewenicorn Needles

Addi fans rejoice! The newest needle line, Ewenicorn has arrived. Designed with subtle ridges spiraling up to the lovely pointy lace needle tip. These ridges create subtle ergonomic effect (grip it less as needle doesn't slip in fingers). The special pink cords are the SOS lifeline style for an added feature. 

Similar to the Rocket Squared needles in performance but with the bonus SOS-style cord. Currently available 24" - 40" lengths at the moment. For 16" circulars we suggest the Rockets Squared. Gradually getting our products online so have a gander at what's up there. Don't see something? Just ask us to special order! 

On The Bookshelf

Latest Ruth Galloway in hardcover #14 Locked Rooms. New paperback of  #13 Night Hawks. I adore this series and Ruth...but confess a reluctance to crack open the hardcover of newest installment. It's set during the covid lockdown and just not ready to read about it....yet. 

  

In meantime I've nearly finished wither her Magic Men Mystery Series. Heartily endorse! Once again lovely characters, lots of murders, plenty of local color (post-war Brighton). Will be sad once last book finished. 

Beautiful New Miss Marples! 

Happy to stock these new gorgeous paperback editions of all the Miss Marple Mysteries by Agatha Christie.  Recently found this newly published version with stunning covers. Published to coincide with the release of this hardcover (hopefully sitting in a book delivery dropped by UPS today): 

Marple: 12 New Miss Marple Mysteries written by 12 contemporary mystery writers as their homage to Miss Marple's influence upon their careers. This should be a fun red! Elly Griffiths contributed too. It's how I discovered this new book and beautiful new editions of my hero Miss Marple!

• EVIL IN SMALL PLACES by Lucy Foley
• THE SECOND MURDER AT THE VICARAGE by Val McDermid
• MISS MARPLE TAKES MANHATTAN by Alyssa Cole
• THE UNRAVELLING by Natalie Haynes
• MISS MARPLE’S CHRISTMAS by Ruth Ware
• THE OPEN MIND by Naomi Alderman
• THE JADE EMPRESS by Jean Kwok
• A DEADLY WEDDING DAY by Dreda Say Mitchel
• MURDER AT THE VILLA ROSA by Elly Griffiths
• THE MURDERING SORT by Karen M. McManus
• THE MYSTERY OF THE ACID SOIL by Kate Mosse
• THE DISAPPEARANCE by Leigh Bardugo

Pssst...... I have a secret. I've watched all the various tv version multiple times (Joan Hickson my favorite!) but I've never read one! I know!! Maybe now there's pretty covers I'll get around to them! 

Meet Tilly - Maisie's cousin 

She finally arrived! Her fashion style tends to "eclectic" and "throw everything on".... But she loves to model and show off our shop samples. Nice to have an in-house model, even if she's a bit of a forgetful nudist sometimes! We had a serious chat when she was caught topless few weeks back. LOL 

Her current ensemble pictured on the Right. She's modeling Berroco Modern Cotton Skirt with a stylish cropped card in a new summer yarn Vivo. She accessorized with perfect warm weather scarf, Delphine in Modern Cotton DK. And we're happy she's put her top on today! Somedays she channels her inner Amazonian Queen..... 

Whew..... this newsletter took months to finally send! Quick heads up to mark calendars: 

Noro Night

Oct 27th 4-6pm 

More details in next week's newsletter....but wanted Noro Nuts to save the date for a fun night with our hilarious Noro Rep, Gilda. She's knows Noro inside and out, has tons of great pattern ideas and always makes us laugh way too much! We plan to raise a glass to the memory of the amazing Eisaku Noro, creator and visionary behind this favorite brand. Bring along your Noro stash, projects, wips and help us celebrate the uniquely wonderful Noro yarns. 

On the Bookshelf: Mysteries Series Favorites and then some....

No secret we love to find a good series to binge. Nothing better than escaping into another world for a time. My favorite part of day is Teatime! I make my pot of tea, have some sweet treats and my latest book. Even in cold weather I head to garden to sit in favorite chair, pop in earbuds with classical music and disappear into another world. Bliss!

Winter sees me under my Icelandic blankets following the sunshine. Summer sees me in my Reading Nook with fan and and a/c keeping me cool (yes...i drink hot tea in summer too!) This time of year added bonus: Girl Scout Cookies!! Reading lately consists of mysteries series. Read on for highlights. 

Ruth Galloway Series

My current binge reading: Elly Griffiths' fun Dr. Ruth Galloway Series. It's a current-day police procedural but more importantly with cast of wonderful characters. Set on the bleak Norfolk Coast of England and it centers around Ruth, a forensic archeaologist bone specialist. She's called in by police to help investigate the discovery of bones on a lonely, desolate stretch of beach right near her little cottage by the windswept sea. Begin with #1 Crossing Places and see if you can stop with just one.

Griffiths wonderfully weaves human stories with a crime story as backdrop. Each installment the human dramas grow and evolve, until you literally miss the characters when book is finished! I've not felt this attached to literary persons in ages. I'm hooked and adore Ruth. She's my literary bestie now, a Bookish BFF. I'm depressed after finishing the last one. Teatime just isn't as nice without Ruth and the gang. More surprising: How much I miss the windswept Norfolk coast! Truly a sign of great writing when you miss "being" there! Ferverently counting down the days until author publishes the next installment (June 2022 seems SO far away).

 

In meantime the shop's shelves stocked up with all the other Elly Griffiths I can find: Brighton Magic Men Mysteries (series), Stranger Diaries (stand-alone mystery) and soon-to-be-released Postscript Murders (another stand-alone). Sadly...the historical family sagas written under her real name, Domenica da Rosa not published in US (dang-it). Maybe some day.... and I'll gladly stock up on them too!

Hmmmm.....what to start first?  Brighton Mysteries set in 1950s Brighton with a tired policeman faced with a gruesome murder to solve. He turns to his old mate from the War, currently a travelling Magician, to solve this tricky investigation since the corpse suspiciously resembles one of his death-defying magic tricks gone wrong. Think there's five in this series so this could keep me going until summer..... 

Or do I ease myself into being Ruth-less with Stranger Diaries, a stand alone mystery set that's more gothic-style: Literature teacher at center of murder involving her old diaries. Based on how well-written the Ruth series is I'm sure this one will be great too.

Another stand-alone releases in April, Postscript Murders. These already ordered up to ship as soon as released. All of these Elly Griffiths titles should all keep me busy until I return to Norfolk, King's Lyme, and the Saltmarsh to catch up with my literary friends. Seriously....I'd google the areas on my phone while reading....that's how bad I am! LOL 

Other Mysteries on our Radar

Just realized these Anthony Horrowitz's books are not one series (as I thought,) but two different series! There's Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders about editor Susan Reyland Mysteries and they're a mystery-in-a-mystery series. This is coming to Masterpiece Mystery sometime this year too. Good time to read now before tv show debuts. 

Next is the Hawthorne and Horrowitz Series (yes....the author is a character in his own series!): The Word is Murder, The Sentence is Death and A Line to Kill. Both series have quirkly literary elements but highly readable and compelling and many customers have loved them both. Read more on his website.

I expect nothing less from one of today's most published and successful UK authors. His resume is amazing and diverse: Creator of Foyle's War, producer of the early espisodes Midsomer Murders, countless other tv shows, scripts, etc. My son recognized him from his work on the Doctor Who Series as producer and creator of many episodes. Oh, and he has a very popular teen spy series, Alex Rider which he turned into a film. (Note to self: order these up for kids' summer fun reading!)

If that's not enough...he's the only author ever authorized by the Conan Doyle Estate to write new installments in the Sherlock Holmes Series: House of Silk and Moriarty. Some serious writing chops! If anyone can write themselves into a successful mystery series as the side-kick-ghost-writer to the intrepid, quirky sleuth....it's this guy! 

On the Bookshelves

A glimpse of current books on the shop shelves. I've enough books about bookstores that we can shelve them all together! LOL 

The others are a couple standalone historical fiction by Rhys Bowen, a prolific mystery series writer, but these are more historical saga/drama than mysteries (just added a third, Tuscan Child . Next are two by Ariel Lawhorn-a enthusiastic endorsement from local book group spurred me to bring her into the shop. Code Name Helene was a huge hit and all loved it (which they say never happens) Upon looking her up I found one of her earlier books too, I Was Anastasia. I can't resist a good novel about the Granduchess Anastasia. It's was a childhood obsession what happened to the Romanovs and Anastasia.

Just out in paperback is Thursday Murder Club, set in a retirement home with four friends solving locals crimes together. It's a series with #2 just released in hardcover (so we'll see it in paperback next year). I listened to the BBC serialization on the radio really enjoyed it. Quirky and funny. 

Next is a new young adult fantasy series (but totally loved by adults too): The Mirror Visitor Quartet, by Christelle Dabos It's been a best-seller in France and now translated and published here. Based on many stellar reviews (Kirkus has reviews for all the titles) and how it's billed as an epic fantasy series a la Harry Potter, thought it'd be a nice series to stock. It's gaining traction and zooming up the best seller charts here now too. We have all 3 in stock. 

Mirror Quartet takes its place next to our other all-time favorite, always on our shelves, Aborhsen by Garth Nix, along with his other books (but the Sabriel et al is our absolute favorite). Since we opened nearly fourteen years ago this series always in our kids section. As with many great young adult books....adults love them too!

More Books....

Ellery Adams is prolific mystery writer and I enjoy her Secret, Book & Scone Society Mysteries. This is a cozy mystery set in .... yep..... a bookstore! LOL Sweet, lovely characters and interesting setting in a small tourist town on the Appalachia Trail that's also a Hot Springs. It's about the power of secrets and what binds people together when the open up and trust each other. I just wish there were recipes because all the baked goods and "comfort scones" sound amazing! 

I wasn't joking when I said we have a "books about bookstores" section! Just unpacked a couple more yesterday that didn't make the photo shoot!(Not all books listed up online yet so email or call if you're wanting a books seend in newsletter if no links shown) 

Periennal Shop Favorites

Since our shop named after the beloved Maisie Dobbs Mysteries series it's fitting to always have her in stock. The next in series new released Mar 22nd,  A Sunlit Weapon (#17) and her last one just out in paperback, The Consequences of Fear and sitting on our shelves. 

During the shutdown many of us headed to King's Cove in British Columbia and Lane Winslow Mysteries kept us company, distracting us for months. This series quietly builds and by #3 you're totally hooked! I'm wanting to buy a cabin on a lake in British Columbia...regardless of how many dead bodies are in my well! LOL 

Many describe it like a Louise Penny for rich cast of characters and strong sense of place but historical. Set in post WW2 with a lovely cast of charming characters, many interesting bits of history thrown in and interesting plots that often takes us into unexpected terrain. The next in series, #9 Framed in Fire releases April 26th. 

There you go! Hopefully some new authors and books you can check out. Most of these are up on our website or pop into the shop and we can chat books together! 

I'm off to make tea and crack open a new Elly Griffiths mystery to fill the void until Ruth is back! Or Maisie...then Lane.... 

 if you're wanting a books seend in newsletter with no links just email me or call....  maisieblue@gmail.com  goes right to me! Takes me longer to see the answering machine.... ;)

Jolabokaflod Time! Part 1

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

You can never have enough cookbooks (says she with favorite cookbooks displayed on her China hutch….instead of China…)

We like to have a shelf or two of cookbooks in the shop all year round. Stocked with new releases, standby favorites, staple authors and cookbooks we personally use a lot. 

Finally after several years favorite author, Yvette Van Boven has a new release! Filled with her homey, highly do-able recipes again (like in Winter and Summer). She makes cooking less intimidating. We also love her personal illustrations, cut-out decorations throughout, and how her kitchen is photo studio and photogher her husband! 

Just a few of our favorite authors currently on the shelf. 

• Ina...because...she's one of the best, go-to recipe makers out there. Never had a bad recipe from Ina. Her recipe for Creamed Spinach bake only way to eat frozen spinach...ever. 

• Joanne aka Magnolia Lady giving Ina a run for her money with family friendly, easy yet tasy recipes. I want to crawl into her 2 books and live there. Her styling is impeccable!

• Milk Street is new series by Christopher Kimball that's we sell so well. Love his Instant Pot/Crock Pot recipes to up my "miracle-pot" weeknight meals. Cookish is a new one. 

• One of my favorite Brits, Jamie Oliver (my other is Nigella who sadly hasn't released a new book this year) Love, love, love Jamie's 5 Ingridigents, which is amazingly sophisticate yet easy recipes with literally just 5 ingrideints. We have 7 Ways (how to cook same item 7 ways-i need this for all the cauliflower our CSA boxes have each month) and his latest Together, a true family affair. Since he's debut as the Naked Chef I've so enjoyed his recipes and many are now in my regular rota.  

• Bread, Toast, Crumb is a newer no-knead bread book that's become a customer favorite. In fact this Christmas will highlight Aledandra's Focaccia in our family's Christmas Day Muffaletta. Using King Arthur's Gluten Free flour so we can all enjoy! There's an awesome video tutorial on her website which makes it look a breeze to bake. 

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!  

• My current favorite: the Ruth Galloway Mysteries by Elly Griffiths. Loving them! #1 is Crossing Places and rapidly ploughing through at breakneck pace. Thankfully there’s about 11 total so far. Great cast of supporting characters for the lead, Ruth  a forensic archaeologist in Norfolk, England.  

• Next in my queue: Anthony Horrowitz's Magpie Murders. This series coming to PBS Mystery next spring, so if you like to read before watching, get it now! It's at top of my queue when I'm out of Ruth's books to read. 

• Lucinda Riley's Seven Sisters is a very popular family saga a fun, bit of mystery, bit of history, bit of drama. Hint of greek mythology at the basis. 

• Auntie Poldi charming light-hearted series of older woman's escapades in Italy

• Bruno...oh Bruno....everyone love Bruno Chief of Police! Martin Walker just keeps 'em coming!

• Oops...Ben Macintyre's awesome non-fiction snuck into this collage! He's fantastic at retelling amazingly true stories of real spies. Gripping, engaging and totally true! He's always on our shelves. 

• Mr. Churchill's Secretary series set during WW2 nice fictional counterpoint for Ben's books 

• Maisie Dobbs: Can't overlook THE series so adored we named shop after it! Next new Maisie due out Mar 2022 too. Can't wait. 

• Lane Winslow Mysteries a newer favorite series. Similar yet different to Maisie Dobbs. Set in Canada, heroine an ex-British WW2 Spy. Amazing setting, wonderful cast of supporting characters and always lots of historical gems interspersed throughout the plots. Good news: #9 coming April 2022! 

 

 Favorite Fiction 

Here are a few of Kim's absolute favorites historicals always stocked on our shelves. 

• Sharon Kay Penman finest and first Sunne in Splendour. My absolute favorite historical fiction author. Sadly she's passed this year so maybe I'll have to reread this classic in her honor. 

• Edward Rutherfurd epic historicals truly emersive history of places and just the best. After many years his latest was released and we have it: China. 

• Liza Dalby's absolute gem of a book based on true historical 11thc Japanese nobelwoman, Lady Mirasaki who credited with the world's first ever novel. 

• A Perfect Red: History of the color red. Interesting to read about all the corporate espinoge in middle ages! Who knew red was a coveted secret for hundreds of years. 

Highly Giftable Gems

• Unquiet Women: A new micro-history about little know, fiesty women through the ages. 

• David Sedaris has new best of the best. Great intro to one of the funniest observationists of our era.

• Canterbury Classics Leather Bound: Here's The Bronte Sisters compliation. There's also a Jane Austen, and Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales. Another great gift for a reader. 

• Chilton Classics Series: These are just gorgeous versions of great classics. Smaller format with gilded edges and satin bookmarks. Just love the beauty of these lovely books. Perfect gifts for bookworms.

Crafty Gifts 

• Noro Blankets a favorite and great gift for a Noro Nut like myself. Plus we have plenty of gorgeous Noro yarn to round out to make an exceptional gift. 

• Marie Greene has a great Seamless Knit Sweaters in 12 Weeks book that's like a siren song, tempting me into casting on yet another sweater that will take me years to finish. But this book says 12 Weeks so maybe, just maybe I can get it off the needles in record time! 

• Sock Knitters have we got fun books for you! Happily Knitting Socks 1 and now Happily Knitting Socks 2 by Mr. Knitbear and DenDennis perfect for anyone loving to knit socks. Each book has 20 adorable socks, loads of techniques and cute designs. We also have new Katia United little 20g balls of solid sock yarn, perfect to make any of these patterns. 

• Michelle Hunter's Building Blocks series is excellent for someone wanting to take their skills to next level. We use these in our class series and author has fantastic videos on her website. 

• Kerry Lord Crochet Animals: A customer discovered this series during shut down. She's made us samples and we love her books. Edward's Menagerie books are a perfect intro into taking basic crochet and making stuffed animals. Now she has a series of books for amigurumi style too. We're also stocked up on little adorable mini-mini balls of amigurumi yarns and hooks too. But really you can take these patterns and use bigger yarn & hooks to make larger. 

• Crochet and Knitting Know-How: We often create intro kits using these books, a pair of needles or hook, and some nice sturdy dish cloth cotton. It's the best way to intorduce someone to the crafts. 

Whew.... taking a mini-book-flood break to send this out. Watch for tomorrow's next installment: all about Kid's Books!