Year: 2009

So Cute, They Might Make You Melt

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Anna

It’s snowing again in NY today! Not a bad way to finish out the year.

It seems fitting now to show a few more adorable Mochimochi Snowmen that knitters whipped up this holiday season.

Threadsongs made a whole snowman convention before breaking up the group to send out to as Christmas gifts. I love how some of them really look like they’re conferring about something.

tricotadeira’s pair of snowmen ornaments couldn’t be more festive for December.

And it looks like Dknits arranged her colorful snowmen on the mantle with care. (Who needs stockings when you have these guys?)

Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone!

And May All Your Salad Dressings Be White

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Anna

I just returned from spending Christmas with the fam in Oklahoma. It was a great trip, made memorable by the heaps of snow falling on Christmas Eve and our getting stuck in it while foolishly driving on Christmas Day—much shoveling and pushing was had by all.

Despite the holiday excitement and coziness that all the snow produced, I just realized that the only photo I took during my trip was of the Great Wall of Ranch Dressing at the local Wal-Mart.

walmartdressing

Either way, it was bound to be a white Christmas.

Tiny Christmas Tree

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Anna

tinyxmastree

Tiny Christmas Tree wishes you a Merry Christmas! He also wishes he hadn’t been chopped down, but hey, you can’t have everything.

Random Acts of Holiday Hearts

Posted on December 23, 2009 by Anna

For lack of a better introduction (holiday travel has sapped my writing powers today), here is a very heart-warming holiday project I heard about through Ravelry!

miffygirl knitted up a bunch of Hearts with two friends, tied them up with candy canes and holiday notes…

…then left them in random public places in their city for others to find!

You can read more about their holiday “random act” (which included other knits left around town) and see more photos on miffygirl’s blog.

I love this idea of spreading Christmas cheer to strangers. My husband’s family has a similar tradition, and I have good memories of the two of us leaving small toys with holiday messages attached around our city in Japan one December. We weren’t sure what the people who found them would think, but it certainly got us into the spirit of Christmas!

2009 “Best of”s

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Anna

How about some “best-of” lists for 2009? I don’t keep up with all the latest in any media, but here’s what I enjoyed this year anyway.

Best new movies
In the Loop
Up in the Air

Best new-to-me movies
Paris, Texas (1984)
Notes on a Scandal (2006)

Best new album
Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion

Best new-to-me albums
The Fiery Furnaces’ Blueberry Boat (2004)
Parenthetical Girls’ Entanglements (2008)
John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme (1964)

Best new TV
Mad Men
Friday Night Lights
Parks and Recreation
Community
Curb Your Enthusiasm

Best new-to-me TV
Friday Night Lights (The first 3 seasons)

Best new book
Turns out I didn’t read any 2009 books this year! But I read a lot of new short fiction, particularly from Tin House.
Oh, I forgot The Believers by Zoe Heller!

Best new-to-me book
Beloved by Toni Morrison (1998)

Best new game
Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure

Best new-to-me games
LEGO Batman (2008)
Rock Band 2 (2008)

Best new cats
Soupy and Nipsey!

soupynipsey_bestcats

Heart Your Tree

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Anna

Here’s a last-minute holiday decoration/gift idea: Knit up some Hearts from my free pattern and add loops to make them into ornaments!

I’ve noticed on Ravelry that many people have been making heart ornaments this year. I especially love the project photos posted by blacksunl1ght:

And by iheartfiber:

Each heart takes less than an hour to knit, seam and hang! I would love to see a small tree decorated with pink and red hearts for some cross-holiday cheer.

Also don’t forget that the Mochimochi Snowmen pattern (also a great ornament knit) is available for free with any purchase at the Mochimochi Shop through December 26th!

Tiny Hot Dog

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Anna

tinyhotdog

This wee wiener wishes he was a whistle. Instead, he’s trying to learn to whistle himself. (But he’s not very good at it.)

Tango suggested that I make a Tiny Hot Dog back in July, so Tango gets a free pattern!

Hug-able Plushes Still Available

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Anna

There are still some plushes available from “Luv-able & Hug-able” at the gallery hanahou online shop! Since we’re starting to get down to the wire, gifting- and especially shipping-wise for the holidays, I thought I’d highlight some of my favorites that still need homes.

Sophie by Elisabeth Doherty (aka Gourmet Amigurumi):

Drakkart with Wave by Sandra Monat of herzensart:

Swimmers – Egg Plant by Hine Mizushima:

Telephone by Katie Park (aka Caffaknitted):

Mineton by Yuriko Sera:

And of course there are still some Tiny Things made by me and two of the Conversion Factories available.

The gallery and its online ordering will be closed December 24 – January 3rd.

Also, check out these little interviews with Katie Park, Keighty Paul (aka Keighty Crochet), and me on the CWC-i blog!