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Delightful Faerie Water from Taco Bell

Posted on by Anna

Oh what a magical place those KFC/Taco Bell/Pizza Hut combo restaurants are. Yesterday I stopped in one in Massachusetts (it was the middle of a long drive), and along with my delicious seven-layer burritos, I was served water with the most charming pink hue.

pinkwater

It came from an ordinary soda machine, one of the kinds that doesn’t have a designated “water” tap, but instead has a tiny “water” button that shares a nozzle with fruit punch. The the punch dye must have seeped in just enough to tint the water, resulting in the glorious beverage you see above.

The water tasted basically normal, until I had been out of the restaurant for an hour or so, when its greasy KFC/Taco Bell/Pizza Hut aftertaste seemed to become more pronounced.

New Pattern and Classes at Loops This Week!

Posted on by Anna

I’m thrilled to announce that the pattern for Looper is now available at Loops!

looper_yellow

Looper is a new Mochimochi Land pattern created especially for Loops yarn store in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it will be exclusively available through the end of 2008. Looper is a cuddly creature with a prehensile tail, perfect for looping around doorknobs, bedposts, and you!

looper_blue

In addition to the Looper pattern, Loops is also now carrying a variety of other printed Mochimochi Land patterns in its online shop. So for those of you who prefer paper and ink over printing out a pdf, now you can order online.

Also, if you’re in the Tulsa area this week, I’m teaching the Looper pattern as a class on Thursday (6/19) and Saturday (6/21), with a “pattern signing” (ha) open to the public on Saturday at 3 pm at Loops. (Check out the Loops class schedule for class information.) I hope to see you Tulsans there. Bring your Mochimochi Land toys!

My Newer Favorite Tee

Posted on by Anna

My newer favorite tee has a lot in common with my older new favorite tee: they both came from a Graniph spree in Japan, they are both pink (not my favorite color), and they both depict cute animals who could fry you with their bionic eyes.

graniphbear

I’ve also already managed to stain this one, like I did the older one, with some ramen broth or something. Sad!

The Electric Company

Posted on by Anna

Did you hear that Seseame Workshop is producing new episodes of The Electric Company?

I don’t have any specific memories of the show, which was in reruns on PBS by the time I was around to see it, but it must have made an impression on me, because everything I imagine about childhood in the ’70s seems to be based on the show: cheery diversity, music that was both educational and smart, and swirling animations in yellows and reds.

Here’s a delightful clip with Morgan Freeman that I could watch over and over again. I love its totally analog quality.

The new episodes are supposed to begin airing this fall.

Suitcase Table

Posted on by Anna

The same day that I scored a delightful rubber cat at the Hell’s Kitchen flea market, John picked up a fun foldable table.

suitcasetable1

suitcasetable2

As you can see, the sides of the case become the tabletop, and the seats unfold from the inside to make a picnic-style table. Pretty cool! It would be even cooler if the table weren’t kind of rickety-feeling when you sat on it, and if it wasn’t reealy heavy when folded up.

Prizes, Anyone?

Posted on by Anna

I’ve already blogged about a couple of the amazing prizes in store for the winner of this year’s Mochimochi Photo Contest here and here. But wait! There’s more.

Japanese craft books, including the new sequel to the popular Sock and Glove:

prize08_books

Fun fabrics, straight from Japan:

prize08_fabric

Adorable bacteria characters:

prize08_bacteria

An assortment of patches and buttons (the beetles are my personal favorite):

prize08_patches

…and more! So check out the full contest details on how to enter. You have until July 31st!