Larkspur and Beatrix sent their first Mulberry newsletter to a few friends recently. I think it’s very cute and thought you might like to read it too! (You can read about Mulberry here.) The photos I took of the pages aren’t as clear as I had hoped, but maybe you’ll be able to make out the words. As their editor, I failed to notice that the town bird, the Carolina wren, was mistakenly called the California wren. Oops!
I dyed a bit of yarn over the last few weeks and it is so cheerful! I’ll list these skeins in my shop on Friday at 1 p.m. ET. There are only twenty and they are not one of my usual bases. These are aran weight superwash British Bluefaced Leicester skeins. I bought them with this simple hat pattern in mind. I knit a couple of these hats recently, and wished I had a skein of superwash to knit a hat for my oldest son, and that prompted me to order and dye some! The pattern I linked to calls for worsted weight, but I had better results sizewise using aran weight wool.
I love the soft colors in this recent fairy puzzle that we completed. I got in a lot of trouble with Beatrix for putting it away too quickly after we finished. Evidently she didn’t get to see it. I am very quick when I finish a puzzle to photograph it and take it apart!
(There will be a few scarves listed on Friday along with stitch markers and soap!)
I have had lots of messages asking when naturally dyed playsilks will be back in the shop and I finally have a batch ready. They too will be listed on Friday. Tomorrow may be the first day of Lent, but I had Easter in mind when I dyed these.
Over the past few weeks, I felt myself getting grouchier and grouchier and just plain discouraged. This may have been connected to getting everything together so we can file our taxes. Having something stressful hanging overhead always makes me worry over little things that might not typically bother me. Each day the mountain of things I needed to do seemed to grow larger and larger. My three younger kids were sick which made it nearly impossible to get anything done. There are times when it’s very important to be able to take a deep breath and let some things go, but sometimes what’s really needed is a bit of time away from everything. Thankfully, about six weeks ago I bought tickets to take Larkspur to see Rossini’s Cinderella as an early birthday gift. We spent most of Sunday in Richmond and it was just the little getaway that I needed. It was our first opera and it was absolutely wonderful. The theater was beautiful, the performers talented, and the story quite funny. I smiled for nearly three hours straight. Afterward, we oohed and aahed at all the fancy food at Whole Foods and stocked up on a few things at Trader Joe’s. We had a funny audiobook to keep us entertained during our drive. It was a very good day and I’m so grateful. This week I am trying to get back in the swing of homeschooling after our sick week and dreaming of basil and zinnias in the garden…
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Chrisi says
Oh gosh, I loved the newsletter so much I read it aloud to the boys. Fisher would like for you to please pass on his 2 cents about the town bird. He says “it should be a cardinal because they’re always around”.
Bindy in Australia says
That newsletter is precious! What great girls. The plastic rule warms my heart. Glad you had a lovely day at the ballet – sounds like a total treat.
GretchenJoanna says
Your outing to the opera seems like it would be the perfect balm and tonic to the souls of you both!! That was surely an inspired plan. God bless you, and each one in your dear family!
Theresa Boedeker says
Love the puzzle. Sometimes we need a little trip or event to breathe life into our life. Glad Cinderella was just the ticket. Mine was the play, Pride and Prejudice.
Dawn Harris says
Love the Mulberry newsletter. That is just the kind of thing I did when I was young. Our bees have been out and about this week enough to enjoy the pollen I put out for them in new feeders my husband made. And, today it is snowing (which I love, too!) These transition times of year are so often full of internal changes, too, and I look forward to it. Thanks for continuing to share the beauty of your life!
Angela says
Ginny, they have some Pomegranate Puzzles on Zulily today?
Jen says
I loved seeing the fairy puzzle by Michael Hague. He’s one of my favorite children’s illustrators. I love collecting the books he’s done the artwork for. Glad to know there is a puzzle!
Katie @ The Cozy Burrow says
I am also dreaming of the garden! But it will be quite a while until we see anything green here in New Hampshire. That’s okay — it just makes the first crocus shoots that much more beautiful and exciting!
I love your dyed yarn and play silks! They’re gorgeous!
Laura says
I noticed some nice puzzles in the Mary Maxim catalog that were reasonably priced…fyi…to feed the addiction lol
Chris Neef says
Hi Ginny, I just love your blog. It soothes me. I am amazed at how much that you do. Your children are so precious!
I am interested in learning to dye yarn and fabric with native plants. How did you start and is there a book(s) that you would recommend to get started?
Heidi says
I sure sympathize with you over the taxes! Just got all our mess off to the accountant yesterday. Finally!
Loved the newsletter! The girls did such a great job!
Can you please tell what the photo is of…the one before the playsilks? It reminds me of snakes….in a cage.?
Dawn Harris says
Honeycomb in frames (I keep bees, too!)
Lynn Horak says
Ginny, I’m all the way from Iowa and I’ve never commented here before but I just wanted to tell you how much I look forward to reading your posts. It is a definite highlight of my day when I check my inbox and I see a post from you. Thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us. Your pictures are so lovely and your family is beautiful in every way. My oldest daughter now lives in Virginia, (working on her PhD at UVA.) I often share your posts with her as she too appreciates the “small things”. Thank you. God Bless.
Becky says
I love the newsletter your girls put together and so smart of you to photograph it so they can see it when they are old ladies. I love your photos of the crocus flowers blooming. When I was a little girl they would always poke their heads through the snow when I came home from school on my birthday.
Melissa Nichols says
Beautiful yarn as always. <3
Claire says
Love this post Ginny. So sweet and simple. The yarns look so brilliant. Have you read anymore of that book series by Alexander McCall Smith? I’ve been slowly listening to it while I knit or cross stitch. Very enjoyable listens.
Joan says
That newsletter ROCKS:)!!! It’s beautiful!
Marilyn says
Sorry you had a stressful week. Hope the three youngest are feeling better. The newsletter is charming. Larkspur and Beatrix did a nice job.
Marilyn
Marion says
Glad that you and Larkspur enjoyed the opera. Cinderella is my favorite princess. I had a Cinderella watch when I was a little girl.
Marion
Joan says
Ginny, I know what you mean about doing taxes and worrying to get it finished. Hope you have a calmer week.
Joan
Brigitte says
I like the newsletter. It is delightful and reminds me of Tasha Tudor.
Angela says
Yes! Something was familiar and that’s it! Was it Sparrow Post?
Linda says
I just loved loved this post 🙂 I thought the Mulberry Newsletter was so well written. Who wouldn’t want to visit that park or live in such a beautiful little handcrafted ‘plastic free town’. You are raising children with such freedom to grow and hone their natural skills and giftings. Blessings to you ~ Linda
Emily DeArdo says
Oh, Rossini’s Cinderella is SO GREAT! I just love opera, and Rossini’s bel canto is fabulous. Just the thing for cheering up!
I love the yarn–can I just buy it all? It would make a gorgeous blanket!