Newsletter May 2020: Our Online Shop Keeps Expanding

Welcome to May 2020! Looks tad different than expected but we're rolling with the punches and nimble on our feet. Restrictions still in place here but we anticipate curbside pickups starting next week. Still working out specific details (hours, emailing invoices etc) but getting closer! In meantime we're expanding our online shop almost daily!

Our Online Shop is Growing!

We're listing up items in stock on our online shop. Mosey helps do inventory counts. I stock the virtual shelves. Can't replace the in-store experience but does help to provide a bit of maisieblue at your fingertips. We do free shipping with $75+ orders and there's a free Pickup option.

Need something not listed online? Just email me at maisieblue@gmail.com or call and leave message on shop phone 209-728-8261. Yes, our outgoing message still the same as before because I can't figure out how to change it. Even my brianiac son couldn't figure it out either. We check phone 2-3 times a week. And even answer it when there!

Pickup Orders

During checkout you need select Pickup. See screenshot below-there's two blue "Change" options. Click on one and switch order to Pickup from Shipping. That's it! Finish your checkout process. We'll contact you with a curbside pickup time. (Down the road maybe way we can have curbside time options too...but not today. It's dangerously close to tea time. Later this week I'll figure that out!)

Categories

I'm regularly adding to our virtual shelves. We have bookshelf, yarns, puzzles. I've listed up our teas, classes, and available kits filled with goodies you can order.

There's categories along the left you can click. Then sort the listings on the right drop down menu. There's also a search icon at top next to cart. Click there to type in an item to see what comes back!

Read on for a sampling of some new stuff added recently. Last week was a big photo shoot. There's plenty of stuff waiting in the queue, so check back often to see what new items appear.

Puzzles

Puzzles were a huge hit and great way for us to supply our customers with jigsaw happiness while stuck at home. We're still having delay getting White Mountain puzzles back in stock. But we've plenty of eeBoo and Cavallini and at the moment. Come June we'll have 6 new gorgeous Cavallini designs! Preorder now if you're wanting to snag them as soon as they arrive.

I've added a few new puzzles from Pomegranate and Galison. We don't want anyone to be puzzle-less during a pandemic! 

Yarns

Gradually adding up some of our notable favorite yarns. It's a small selection of what's available, so don't hesitate to contact us for something you don't see here. We're first listing the yarns most seasonal right now and those specialty yarns like Noro or sock yarns. 

Click to see what's online so far:

Juniper Moon Farms: Cumulus  Cumulus Dappled

Noro: Akari  Ito  Kanzashi   Bachi

Araucania: Huasco Sock Hand Painted 

Berroco: Cambria  Medina 

Coming Online Soon: 

Noro Kureyon, Silk Garden, Silk Garden Solo  Geshi

Queensland: United   Perth

Berroco: Summer Silk

Kits

This is where you go to find the Berroco Drop Ship Kits, Project of the Week or our in shop kits. Any of the Berroco Project of the Week kits you see we can order up, even if not listed on our website. Just means my fingers can't type as fast as the Berroco gang dreaming up new kits! It's also where you'll find our Mystery Boxes.

Bookshelf

Our online bookshelf filling up and I'm adding other titles often. Many are some of my all time-favorites titles you'll probably recognize.  Last week I snapped loads of pictures so watch for more titles to be added up this week. Many of these are in stock at shop but if not, we'll order up. These are all perennial favorites we keep around year after year. Watch for new titles added up as well.

Remember: We also offer Direct to Home orders for any title our distributor stocks. If there's something particular you'd like (and want to order up locally) just send us email (maisieblue@gmail.com) or leave message on shop phone: 209-728-8261. Shipping media rate takes 5-7 biz days and runs about $4 ea book. If you want faster, we can do it Priority which is around $7-8 depending on how many books in order.

Pickup available instead of shipping. I'll just add your title to my next order. May take a little longer as I need to reach a minimum to place the order. We'll let you know when it arrives at the shop. 

 

Mentioned before is our current favorite mystery series is the Lane Winslow Mysteries. Discovered this gem series last winter. I'm ploughing my way steadily through and now on #5. Each gets better and better! Not since my other perennial favorite, Maisie Dobbs Mysteries have I so enjoyed a series. It's an independent published so I've been busy stockpiling and now have a good supply. Don't think I've ever had so many copies of a series in stock like this before! That's how much I'm loving it.

Sadly the publisher is out of #2 but they're on order and will arrive eventually! Having read it, I can suggest, if desperate, jump to #3 and come back to #2 for those so inclined and not sticklers for reading in order.

People often ask the story behind our shop name. It's from the Maisie Dobbs Mysteries by Jacqueline Winspear. Long ago during my bookselling days I read the uncorrected proof of a new debut mystery called Maisie Dobbs. I adored it so much our Events Coordinator booked an event. At same time I was just pregnant but even the awful nausea didn't keep me from the event. If our son was a girl...he would have been a Maisie. 

Years later when brainstorming possible shop names, maisieblue was clear favorite. So I did eventually get my Maise! What's to love about this series? It's well written and pulls you right into the story line. Each book the author gently introduces just enough historical events or themes to bring this inter-war era to life. Thoughtfully plotted and developed, it's truly a gem of a series. #15 is now out in paperback: American Agent and we've got it at the shop! Fans will have to savor this because there's no new Maisie published this year. Watch for author's next release Nov 2020: It's her memoir!

 

 

One of my all time favorite historical fiction authors is Edward Rutherfurd. He writes big, thick novels that span centuries (some 10,000yrs) documenting the ebb and flow of time to a specific location. He creates four to five families and follows them through the generations. Somehow he manages to deftly shift through the various characters with a rich continuity that carries you along, wanting to learn what happens next. Eventually you finish his hefty tomes (500-1000pps) satisfied with a rich understanding of a wide swath of history.  We have copies of New York and The Forest at shop. His others we can order from publisher so might take a couple of weeks but well worth the wait. 

A favorite historian is Ben Macintyre, one of the best at shedding light upon all thing spies, both pre-World Wars and Cold War. One of the best historians of spies and spy craft of our era. Anything by Ben Macintyre is fantastic. He made his mark with the true story of Operation Mincemeat, the story how the Allies, with a dead body deceived the Nazis into thinking that Allied forces were planning to attack southern Europe by way of Greece or Sardinia, rather than Sicily, as the Nazis had assumed, and the Allies ultimately chose.

His latest, The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War. is a gripping tale of Russian  KGB intelligence operative Oleg Gordievsky, revealing how his secret work as an undercover MI6 informant helped hasten the end of the Cold War. He defected to the UK and Macintyre worked directly with him for this book from his undisclosed location. (audio book here) You can't go wrong with any of his books if you love history and all things spies.If you're a fan of John Le Carre then this is even better...because it's real!

One of my favorite micro-history books from years past: A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire by Amy Butler Greenfield It's the history of the color red. A color we take for granted in our modern world was once one of the most sought-after, mysterious almost magical colors in the natural world. The author vividly describes how coveted, color prompted many acts of espionage before its source was finally discovered.

Side note: The cover art is The Man in the Red Turban, also known as Self Portrait of Jan van Eyck, my absolute favorite painter. In a galaxy far, far away in another lifetime I might have devoted my life to studying this artist. This painting captures his amazingly realistic gaze and demonstrates his uncanny ability to photographically capture his world with his brush.  

One last all-time favorite non-fiction read of mine is Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World. I adored this book. Chocked full of historical details, fascinating insight into the lives of these two intrepid, maverick women journalists and countless cultural nuances as they race each other around the world. Today women travel all the time. But back then not only was it unusual for a woman to have a career but to travel alone around the world was unprecedented. The country was captivated by their race and their publications made it headline news daily, reporting their progress. This is a great read on so many levels. It's why I love to keep it on our shelf-both physical and now virtual bookshelf!

Audio Books

All the titles we stock usually available as audio books from our special maisieblue audiobook website over on Libro.fm. Here's Ben Macintyre's books, Maisie Dobbs series. Edward Rutherfurd big fat historicals. No Lane Winslows in audio format, just in paperback. But there's audo for Eighty Days!

That's it for today! Still so much I've not highlighted but I'll save for another day! Becasue I'm now hungry and ready for a tea break!

Take care everyone!

springtime 2017

It's been too long since last post but my foggy brain finally sloughing off its winter hibernation. Ready for a shop update?

  

New Yarn: Lettlopi all the way from Iceland! 

Lettlopi, which is Icelandic wool prized for its warmth yet light weight properties. What people using to m ake all those yoked sweaters that keep popping up on Ravelry and Pinterest. And we have it! A real wool-wool. It's the national wool of Iceland (seriously!) and we've got it.

Long time no blog! Shocked to see it's been ages since last update (um....last year to be exact!). Trying a new method of getting photos out of my iphone into our blog-always a tricky issue. Until my 13 year old son pointed out I had created an instagram account for shop ages ago. Of course I'd forgot all about it! Our instagram maise.blue is dusted it off and active. Follow us to see photos of new arrivals in the shop before it reaches the blog. Thank you my lovely bright offspring!! 

Okay...maybe not too bright! LOL

Now I'm going to test my special app in hopes I can get the blog post up easier. We'll see how it goes! [Verdict: Days later and lots of strong language, way worse than just "meanie-head," I've determined technology never works smoothly. Pretty sure I was a Sailor in a past life based on my knowledge of creative swear words...luckily most are my Inside Voice.....]

New in the Shop

You saw the cool Icelandic Lettlopi at the top of the post. A great authentic wool! Read on for more warm weather inspired yarns.

Remix Light

Fabulous little sister to Remix. It too is recycled, non-wool, washable and oh so softly tweedy. Best thing of all..... put up in center pull balls! (and not those horrible round roly-poly tribble type balls like Remix that are impossible to shelve easily because they pop out of cubbies all on their own)

 

Painted Desert superwash fingering now in awesome tonals!

 

Nebula: gorgeous gradient fingering in silky extra fine merino

Ultra Wool by Berroco

FINALLY they launch a  SUPERWASH wool in great colors. Washable wool!! Zippity do dah! Hurrah! Best bit? center pull balls that actually work! Well that and the whole "won't shrink no matter how many times you wash it" is also pretty darn nifty. 

 

New Spring Berroco patterns here! 

On the bookshelf

 New Maisie Dobbs this month. 
We have the new paperback and the next installment in hardcover. Copies of both in stock.

 

Favorite author-Tracy Chevalier latest in paperback...and it's set right in our backyard. 

 

Hot Swedish author super popular right now. Customers rave about his books. (Disclaimer: "Hot" as in Popular. Not sure if "Hot" as in "Hunky Chippendale Dancer" is apt or now...)

 

My Current Discovered Gem of a Book!

Love finding an unheralded gem among the reams of backlist publishers produce yearly. Part memoir, part cookery book and a chronology of favorite books we all love. 

In the pretty gift department....new spring smelly things
 

Root Candles: Honey Blends

Root launched a new beeswax & soy candle line. Lovely cheerful packaging caught my attention immediately. The soft honey blends are fresh and yummy. Plus they donate % of profits to their bee farmer to help build bee habitats. Happy bees = Pretty Candles = Happy Customers

 

Michel Designs: Orchids in Bloom

Lovely new scents and designs this spring. Gorgeous packaging. Indigo and Earl Grey selling fast (already on reorder). Plus I re-ordered heavy on other favorite scents, especially the Foaming Soaps...which are our best sellers.[Just tripped over another box of Michel that arrived on my days off. So there's even more new scents waiting to be unpacked. Contains Nest and Eggs plus couple of older Rabbit designs....for those fans who seek out this line wherever they travel...because they're hard to find!]

 

Hydra Aromatherapy: More Shower Bursts & Pulse Point Balms

Fully stocked up on the Cold & Flu Busters. This stuff is a life saver for easing that awful "100 Day Cough" making the rounds this winter. Plus more Headache Busters and Balms. Good stuff! It saved us when my son had horrible chest congestion this winter. He used in shower and eased his breathing up right away. 

Art Supplies!

 

Lots of fun colorful art supplies

Coloring book phase winding down to normal levels but people still enjoying and always wanting new art supplies. Got you covered. Another of my weaknesses and one can never have enough pens. These are set of fine felt tips (think super skinny sharpies). We also have plenty of color pencil sets, sharpeners and other fun supplies. Easter Basket season looming and we've lots of cute things for baskets.

 

Jolly Wee Elves 

Finally can't resist showing off my sweet little elves. Such a fun knit. I may not be good at finishing sweaters or socks, but I love me some little wee elves! Thinking about adding to my Elf village population with spring colors next.

Enjoy the ever changing weather that heralds spring is a'coming! Irish Days tomorrow and looks to be nice weather. Not too hot, no snow or rain. But more rain coming. Yeah....I love raining days! Because we get double rainbows over my house. ;)

Until next time!!

may newsletter

Time to shift with the seasons again. Now thoughts turn to warm weather, lazy summer days, swimming, picnics and parties by the pool. We’re gearing up in the shop for the shift: stocking up on beach reads, kids’ activities and warmer weather crafting. What’s new and interesting you ask? Read on!

Knit that Fit and Flatter!

I’m a sucker for make-over shows or books about figuring out what to wear (huge Trinny and Susannah fan of course). I pour over them, taking mental notes, comparing them to myself to learn how to dress for my shape. But they never really seem to sink in. I feel lost as to what works best for my figure. Never fear… Amy Herzog to the rescue with her debut book, Knit to Flatter.

To sum it up: Simply a-m-a-z-i-n-g! It’s one of the best books on body shapes, what it is, how figure out you’re body type, which patterns to pick and why. Chocked full of great info to demystify not only what to wear, but how to measure yourself, and then pick patterns to suit your body type (top-heavy, proportional, bottom-heavy). The latter section covers how to modify patterns and why. And there’s tons of patterns!



Sweaters with lovely details, front and back; along the sides …

  Classic, wardrobe staple-type patterns that never go out of style.



The germ idea started on Amy’s blog years ago. Then it became popular workshops and now a fully formed book. There’s even a companion Craftsy class online class. I immediately enrolled and love seeing the book demonstrated with live models and Amy’s encouraging, down-to-earth style. It’s just like her popular in-person workshops for those who can’t physically attend a session.

Knit to Flatter Craftsy Class

Recently she started her weekly Fashion Friday blog posts. She picks a topic then uses photos to demonstrate. Like this initial post:



Same outfit just styled differently. How trippy! I love seeing how Amy styles herself and why. Subtle tweaks make a huge difference. A post on sleeves was mind-boggling:

She has several lovely free patterns that helped launch her design career: Vignette and February Fitted Pullover. Oh and just found a 3rd! Kittiwake Cardigan. What great wardrobe staples these make. Be sure to add Amy to your Designer’s To Watch list and check out her book, class or blog asap.

It’s here! Noro Magazine #2

Squeeeeeee!!!  It arrived. The second Noro Magazine that is, just in time for our Noro Yarn Tasting Night (May 23) and the first arrivals of new Noro yarns and colorways (Silk Garden Sock and Takeuma here; Taiyo, Ayatori and Silk Garden due in June) Didn’t expect to see it until June but it came early this year.



Want a peek at a few patterns?



Shawls…. that’s a no-brainer for me in the summertime. The one on the left is screaming to be cast on. The one….well…. looks suspiciously like my last summer’s Noro shawl that’s still (ahem) on the needles. But I’ll get it done this summer! Promise. (I dug it out, dusted it off this week. That’s progress)



Now some of the patterns would not work for my body shape but I love what they’ve done to create cool geometric patterns. [ Actually….that one on the left isn’t half bad for my bottom-heavy/kind of proportional body type, maybe sans horizontal stripes….hmmmm…..click goes my ‘add to queue’ button ]



And of course there is a section on crochet too. Really like the blue cardi!

 



And these!!!!!!



Oh my goodness so adorably sweet. Not sure I’d want to torture a new mom with a hand-knit, hand-wash only in the cashmere blend yarn, Shiraito (which is a dream to knit with…). However I would totally make these in Taiyo, a cotton blend. A yarn that I know for a fact holds up in the washer: This winter my Slip Stitch Cowl somehow, unbeknownst to me, jumped off of my neck into the washer while I was doing laundry. One very vigorous washing later, the edges lay nice and flat, no felting, you could totally see the stitch pattern, and it looked much better than before it’s trip to the spat. A very happy accident for sure.

Noro Yarn Tasting Night: May 23

Have I whetted your appetite for some Noro now? Join us from 6:3-9pm May 23rd to “taste” some Noro yarns - new, old and favorites. We set up swatching stations of Noro yarns, have free patterns available and samples to show off. If you’re wanting to test out Noro  to see what the fuss is about, or a big Noro-head like myself,  head on over that Thursday night. Munchies, libations and maybe a few giveaways on offer.

Berroco Spring Stuff

Most of the new yarns are here: Floret, Maya and Weekends. The rest, Karma, Linsey, Fuji, set to arrive in June created a great collection this year so hard to pick a favorite. All are washable – yep even the silk/cotton Fuji! Color palettes right up my alley, and the pattern booklets full of great patterns. We’re seeing more lace, stripes, and accessories! Several patterns I’m longing to cast on and a few I have!

Weekend: Now in 3 weights: Chunky, Worsted and DK. I adore it for its yardage, colors, durability and wash-ability and price. An acrylic/cotton blend that feels very cottony in a extensive range of shades.



A perfect kid-friendly yarn that is easy wear & care (machine wash and dry). You can easily make a cute summer cardi or even a skirt  and not break the bank. The larger weights tend to be bit heavy knit up, but the new dk version is lovely. Not too thin it takes forever. Not too thick it weighs a ton. Wouldn’t a big old afghan with block in each color be great?! But it’s light enough for warm-weather garments too.



Next up….

Maya: Such a light, scrumptious yarn. A chainette construction in pima cotton with a touch of baby alpaca for softness. Washable….a washable alpaca!



Right now I’m working on Bajada (scarflette on the cover) and despite much operator error (long story involving a day’s wasted effort because I can’t read a pattern properly), I would not give up on cracking this pattern. That’s how much I love this yarn. I prevailed and successfully am on my way (but can’t watch any distracting programs since this lace pattern requires I pay attention).

As for sweaters I’m seriously coveting this little “trifle” called Trifle. Won’t let myself cast it on until I get Bajada finished though. I’m being disciplined with myself…for now. My favorite sweater pattern of the lot. Unique construction (sideways), bit of lace to challenge me, nice shape.



This picture doesn’t do the pattern justice but the 360 degree view does. [Another reason to love Berroco: They use real women, with real bodies as models. Thank you Berroco!]

J’adore the colors! Just can’t decide which to choose. I want a sweater in them all. Adding that to my very long bucket list….



Berroco Fans: Mark your calendars, Trunk Show* season is here

I love it when the boxes arrived filled with beautifully made garments we show off for a couple of weeks. It’s totally worth making a pilgrimage to try stuff on or see the yarns in action. We’re always amazed at how a pattern in real life surprises us. And seriously . . . for someone like me who lives vicariously through others’ finished objects . . . this is like Christmas, Easter and Birthday . . . every few weeks!

Currently in the Shop : Floret  May 9 – Jun 3

 

Future Trunk Show Dates:

Jun 6 – 17: #329 Lago, Captiva, Seduce

Jul 5 – 15: Karma & Weekend #1

Jul 18 – 29: Fuji and Norah Gaughan #12A

Aug 15 – 26: Weekend #2

Aug 29 – Sep 23: Norah Gaughan #12B

*trunk show = finished garments on loan from yarn company for a few weeks so we can play with them to our heart’s delight and play dress up.

Book Group Summer Picks

We have our summer reading picks at the ready! Next meet up May 20th 3pm. Join us if you can.

May 20: While We Were Watching Downton Abbey



Very sweet contemporary novel about a group who meet via Downton Abbey viewings and end up becoming fast-friends, through thick and thin. Like The Jane Austen Book Club, or Friday Night Knitting Group type of read. Perfect light summer, feel-good book.

Jun 17: Clover House

Debut novel about a Greek-American family, now and it’s past. The heroine returns to Greece and her family roots upon the death of her uncle. There she learns about her mother’s childhood during WW2 and the Italian occupation of Greece and family secrets long-buried. Another potentially good summer beach read.

Jul 22: A Lady Cyclists Guide to Kashgar



I’ve had this title on my radar since it was published in hardcover last year. Finally out in paperback and thrilled we’re reading it. Actually…I’ll be listening to the audio book on my daily walks to shop in effort to get more books read this summer. It’s another praised debut novel set in 1923 and present day. The past tells of two sisters, missionaries to Kashgar along the Silk Road.  Present day tells of a young woman heading to London, after she inherits an apartment from an unknown woman. The two narratives gradually merge, linking the eras in surprising ways,

Warning: Pet-Peeve Rant Against Publishers Ahead!

Okay… so what’s up with publishers ditching perfectly good covers for so-so, bland ones for the paperbacks? I so prefer the original design to the boring paperback version. In fact this original cover caught my eye and made me check out this book. Once I read the summary I thought, hmmmm gotta keep this on my radar for the future! But it was the cover that was the hook that reeled me in.

It stood out from the thousands I see daily. Covers with photos of women, looking pensively out at the horizon, or with their backs to us; partially cut off or with them running down a corridor looking for something, anything… nothing…  Frankly this paperback cover would not have peaked my interest one iota, Hence I wouldn’t have taken a second look, or ordered it up for the shop, or suggested it to the book group or other avid readers looking for a interesting new novel.  Sigh….. why can’t publisher’s just leave well enough alone! Or at least ask a bookseller what they think before ditching a perfectly good book cover for a boring one that just blends in with all the others!  I’m happy to provide my insights anytime. LOL

Rant Officially Over . . . for Now . . .

New Lotions & Soaps

Time to gear up for warm weather and parched skin. Both these new lines will keep you smooth and comfortable in the months ahead

Oliveraie Collection by Pre de Provence from France. Ooh la la!  Yummy rich lotion, pump hand soap, the richest body butter around and cute little blocks of soap a la Marseille tradition.

Heading into summer our skin becomes super thirsty so this gives is a long, cool drink of water (so to speak). And it doesn’t smell too perfumey so it’s guy friendly too. Made from olives harvested in Provence (wow….so fancy!)….. and no the beautiful packaging with Van Gogh paintings didn’t sway us in the least. (nudge nudge)

 

Verbena Botanicals All natural, hand-crafted line made closer to home, up in Hillsboro, Oregon. We met the couple and their lovely daughter at gift show recently and liked their hand-made with purity line.

Organic goats milk soaps (in the sweetest muslin bags….I’m a sucker for cute little bags….).  We have: Lavender (top), Oatmeal (middle – if the oatmeal lakes didn’t give it away), and (betcha you can’t guess this one….  Peppermint Shock! A super minty fresh scent (Megan’s favorite). Perfect for hot summer days when you need a refreshing cool shower. (Sorry no Coffee Bean soap because as much as I love coffee…not sure I want to bath in it!)

We also have mini bath salts, pump lotions and their healing intensive Heat Wave balm. Perfect for those achy bits, sore spots or mad muscles. It’s gentle and safe for everyone…even children. I’m using it on my muscles that doth protest too much after my swim workout.

Whew….. this was a long one. But lots to catch up with so hope this tides you over until next month! Happy Memorial Day and Welcome Summer.

Kim