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Fun with Antique Postcards

Posted on by Anna

Last week I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Maine visiting relatives. A trip to Maine isn’t complete without an hour or two at an antique mall, but I don’t have room for many cool knickknacks in my little apartment, so I usually go home empty handed. This time I was smart and headed for the boxes full of antique postcards. I managed to take home three extra special ones for a song.

I can’t wait for 2012 to get here, because then I can wish someone the most terrifyingly happy new year ever!

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Here’s another New Years card from Europe that’s bursting with unusual symbolism. Nothing says Happy New Year like mushrooms, clovers, and cannons, right?

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(My dad interpreted the mushrooms to be champagne corks, which makes more sense. But boy, they do look like mushrooms, don’t they? And I saw clovers on several New Years cards, so I’m thinking that’s a European thing? Either way, I still think this card is creepier than the sum of its parts.)

And lastly, what’s more lucky than a dismembered piece of rabbit? How about a disturbingly illustrated one?

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I’m really looking forward to someone’s next job interview, or maybe marriage. Good luck!

Silent Auction Results

Posted on by Anna

We wrapped up our silent auction for Japan on Friday with a high bid of $270! That full amount has already gone to the American Red Cross, and my silly knitted factory will be going to a good home.

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Thank you very much to our top bidder and to everyone who submitted a bid.

Whether or not you participated, we encourage you to give to the American Red Cross for Japan relief efforts if you haven’t already. The situation is still desperate for so many people there and recovery will take a long time.

We love you Japan!

Tiny Leprechaun

Posted on by Anna

Winning caption by Caroline:
If rather than ”top o’ the mornin”,
You’re tired, fed up and mean,
Pop me in your pocket and smile
At something Irish, wee, and green!
(me!)

I pretty much entirely missed St. Patrick’s Day yesterday, so I’m making up for it today with this little guy!

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We’ve all heard what leprechauns do, but a tiny leprechaun deserves his own special tiny leprechaun lore, don’t you think? Leave your lore in the comments, and the writer of the best caption will win a free PDF from the Mochimochi Shop on Monday!

March 31st: Knit Mini Doughnuts with me at The City Bakery

Posted on by Anna

Live in NYC? You can join me and Brooklyn General for a Doughknits workshop at The City Bakery on March 31st!

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The workshop will be part of the City Bakery Night of Knitting on the Rocks, which will include cocktails, hot chocolate, food, and knitting workshops by local yarn stores.

Tickets are $45 and space is limited. Find out more at the Facebook event page and buy tickets at Brown Paper Tickets.

Not able to make it to this event? The doughnut pattern will be part of the next Tiny Things pattern collection coming soon to the Mochimochi Shop!

Lion Brand in Spaaace

Posted on by Anna

I stopped by the Lion Brand Yarn Studio the other day to pick up some yarn and check out their new space-themed window. It’s fabulous!

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I was really amused that “space” is the theme for their March window—I found this out last month when I asked them about contributing yarn to my own upcoming knitted solar system show. Funny coincidence, huh? But the displays will be totally different, as you can probably imagine. They definitely don’t have a Snowman planet in there.

Be sure to stop by to see this if you’re in NYC. The backside is just as charming—the spaceman has a pack of Vanna’s Choice on his back!

Silent Auction for Japan

Posted on by Anna

UPDATE 4 p.m. 3/17: The current high bid is $270.

Japan is very special to Mochimochi Land, and so John and I have been especially worried and heartbroken to see the terrible disasters that have continued to happen there in the past few days. We’re relieved that it seems our own friends there are all OK, but the tragedy is huge.

We wanted to do a little something to contribute to relief efforts and maybe bring some smiles in the process, so this week we’re holding a silent auction. Up for grabs is this one-of-a-kind knitted toy!

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This Tiny Thing Conversion Factory takes tiny trees and converts them into tiny lions. Because why not, right? I originally made it for the “Luv-able & Hug-able” plush show at gallery hanahou in 2009, and last year it caught Roger Ebert’s eye, who made it internet famous on Twitter for a day.

The piece measures about 13 inches long and 7 inches tall. It’s made of wool yarn and polyester stuffing.

We’ll start the bidding at $50. 100% of the proceeds from this auction will go to the American Red Cross for disaster relief in Japan.

To submit your bid, send an email to shop@mochimochiland.com with the subject “Japan Auction” and your bid in the body of the email. (We’ll update this post once a day with the current top bid.) The last day for bidding will be this Friday, March 18th.

Whether or not you participate in the silent auction, we encourage you to donate to the Red Cross if you can.

Our hearts are going out to Japan this week and beyond!