Author: Anna

Thanks for the Photos!

Posted on by Anna

The 2012 Mochimochi Photo Contest is now closed for entries. Thank you to everyone who entered! We ended up with more than 7 HUNDRED entries this time—a new record!

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Even if you didn’t get around to entering this year, you can still participate! This is what happens now: John and I will go though ALL of the entries and narrow them down to 20 honorable mentions and 20 semifinalists. We’ll be posting the honorable mentions here soon, and soon after that we’ll start posting the semifinalists in two batches. That’s where all of you come in! We’ll use your feedback in the comments to determine our 10 finalist photos, and then everyone will get to cast ballots on those final 10 to determine our top winners.

So I hope you’ll check back here frequently in the next couple of weeks, and help us pick the big winners! (Although they’re all winners to us, no question about it!)

Don’t Forget to Enter!

Posted on by Anna

The deadline for entries in the 2012 Mochimochi Photo Contest is almost upon us! Be sure to add your photos of Mochimochi knits to our Flickr group by Monday, December 3rd.

If you have some knitted guys you’d like to enter but you’re feeling stumped about the photography, it’s really simple to take a good photo!

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It always helps to use indirect natural light, and set your camera on a tripod or something else (like a stack of books) to keep it steady and prevent blurriness. If you’re shooting something tiny, you might want to use the macro setting that’s on many cameras. (It usually looks like a tulip icon.)

I also think it’s helpful to make up a story in your head about what your mochis are doing, so that they can take on a life of their own in your photo. Show them doing something, and not just posing! And don’t be discouraged if your photos don’t look professional—we’re looking for fun and originality more than something that would hang in a gallery.

Good luck! See full contest details.

Synchronized Clowns

Posted on by Anna

Look who’s back to entertain you!

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Once again, the tiny clowns of Mochimochi Land would like to remind you that the world is full of really talented clowns with low self-esteem who could just use a little love. Haters can go stick their head in a lion’s mouth.

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See more clown tricks here and here!

Bundle-up Bears Pattern FREE with Purchase!

Posted on by Anna

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Spread some cozy cheer with Bundle-up Bears! The pattern automatically comes FREE with any purchase of $5 or more from the Mochimochi Shop through January 1st! A link to download the pattern will be sent to you within 24 hours of your purchase. (You don’t have to add it to your cart.)

These palm-sized little guys can be knit up in an evening, with no seaming involved. They’re removable from their snowsuits, so you can bundle them up again and again!

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Make them for friends, for family, and for keeps!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on by Anna

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We’ve got a couple of post-turkey cats here!

I’m thankful for my family and my awesome job, and for each of you— thank you for your support, enthusiasm, and friendship!

And especially since the hurricane, I’m thankful to have an undamaged home with electricity and heat. If you haven’t yet, one good way to celebrate today is by giving to the Red Cross or another organization helping those who lost their homes in the storm.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Win this Weird Needle Felting Kit

Posted on by Anna

You’ve been thinking about entering the Mochimochi Photo Contest, but you need that last little push to convince you that it’s worth the effort. May I present this funny Japanese felting kit!

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Like the Rilakkuma soap dispenser (which this will go perfectly with), the kit will go to one of the winners of the photo contest! Needle felting is probably a universal language, so I figure the winner will be washing their dishes with quirky new friends in no time.

You have until December 3rd to submit your entries, so photographing your mochis could be a perfect after-Thanksgiving project this weekend! See full contest details.

Win this Rilakkuma Soap Dispenser

Posted on by Anna

Just one more reason to enter the Mochimochi Photo Contest: The first-place winner gets this adorable Rilakkuma soap dispenser!

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(You know I couldn’t help throwing in some Rilakkuma cuteness again this year.)

This guy and more cute Japanese stationery and other goodies will go to the top winners, along with Knit Picks gift certificates and Potter Craft books! Deadline is December 3rd, so you have a little less than two weeks to get your entries submitted. See full contest details.