You guys!! I’m so excited to finally show you the new site re-design!!

Please note that the blog page has a new URL now: blog.twinkiechan.com (it used to be www.twinkiechan.com/blog). The old url automatically forwards to the new url, but as far as your RSS feeds or blogreaders go, you may want to update the link. Sorry for any confusion!

I needed and wanted to change the site design because:

1) The previous design was super cute and fun, but not easy to edit. So, for example, when my book came out, it was not easy to add a new book icon to the animated refrigerator to link to book info. I needed a layout that would be more flexible for me to change around when new exciting things happen that I want to share.

2) For years, Hairy has been hassling me about how having Flash on your site is no good, because people on iPhones/iPads can’t view that Flash. I was always kinda like … “Too bad for those losers!!!” I kid, but you know what I mean. I wanted an animated fridge, and Flashdarnit, I was gonna have one! As luck would have it, this new design does not have any more Flash, but I will always love opening that refrigerator door, animated by my beloved Kei of SuperGood.

3) Some of you may have noticed in the past month that my blog and other parts of my site were giving you an “attack” warning, because my site got hacked. We kept finding the bad code and fixing it, but then new bad code would pop up again! It was an endless cycle of ARRRGGGhhGHGHGH and really made it obvious that it was time to sweep out the old and build the new. (p.s. clicking on the BOOKS link will still give you an attack warning, but my webguy/brobro assures me the bad code has been fixed, so we’re just waiting for it to register or whatever.)

4) Change is good! When I first started my site, I wanted everything pink and girlie and filled with hearts and rainbows. Then, I thought, that everybody’s site was pink and girlie and filled with hearts and rainbows, so mine had to be different. I also tried really hard to sort of make my site unisex, so that dudes wouldn’t be afraid of it. But I finally gave into my girliepink tendencies. Dudes, don’t be afraid. It’s the dawn of a new age.

Okay, so my friend James had a birthday a few months ago. He wanted everyone to go to Smuggler’s Cove, a piratey rum bar with a bajillion different rums and crazy mixed drinks inspired by different continents. It sounds really cheezy, but the drinks were actually pretty interesting and quite delicious!

The night before James’ bday party, Manda and I still didn’t have pirate costumes. I was really struggling with putting an outfit together from things I already owned. We went to the mall and tried to find pieces we’d use again in our regular wardrobe, but I still couldn’t get with the pirate program. Finally, Manda said, “You don’t have to be a pirate. You could be the mermaid.” EUREKA!!! Hence, the crocheted mermaid costume was born (after trying a few really bad pairs of green skinny jeans.) Here’s a really really REALLY poor quality phone-cam photo of me before leaving the house.

My quick-n-dirty mermaid outfit came out pretty cute, so I thought I’d share the shell bikini pattern with you. I will warn you: it’s not great. I didn’t create the pattern with the intention of sharing it or selling it. I was really just trying to make myself a quick outfit. But maybe you guys will get a kick out of it, too, and use it as a foundation for a really awesome ensemble.

Essentially, I just made two giant seashell “patches,” hot glued some see-through, bubble-like beads to the surface, and I tacked the shells down to an aqua blue dress with a few stitches here and there, so that I could cut the dress free afterwards. I also crocheted a starfish hair piece, hot glued gold beads to the top, and hot glued some small pearl strings to the back. I made the hair piece mere minutes before we had to leave, so I didn’t write a pattern for it. Plus, I can’t find  the pattern for an afghan that I used as a guide, so you may want to search for some other free star fish patterns out there, like this one.

Now that I’ve made this sound like the worst free pattern ever …….. onto the free pattern!

Remember, I made these for myself. They are BIG cuz it just ended up that way, so this probably wouldn’t fit children. You could use a lighter weight yarn than Red Heart Super Saver to get some smaller shells.

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This was my most favorite part of my latest collab with Onch Movement. Giant crocheted pretzel pillows inspired by his signature pretzel necklaces!

Here are the pillows as well as other BANG pop-up shop items at Royal/T, all for sale there until July 14!

You can see in that center display box some cupcake hats, bacon wraps (new item based on Onch’s bacon necklace,) whipped cream mini-berets (also new and exclusive!), and a bunch of other sweet goodies!

A word about the pretzels: I am SO happy and RELIEVED to be able to show you these pictures, because, for a couple days, these goodies were MISSING IN ACTION due to a postal snafu. We were beside ourselves. I was so bummed to not be able to show Onch all the goodies and a bit embarrassed that there would not be very much Twinkie stuff at the pop-up shop.  It seemed hopeless until this morning when apparently Onch’s neighbor said that HE had been delivered Onch’s boxes!!!

So please go say hi to all the goodies. They have had a grand adventure and are happy to be home at Royal/T!

Doesn’t the 2nd fella from the right look a bit…menacing?

Once upon a time, I sold “My Pet Marshmallows” on eBay. They have now come back in a super fun and delicious collaboration with Onch Movement for his BANG pop-up shop at Royal/T, open until July 14th!

There is an EXTREMELY limited amount of these marshmallow necklaces, so if you are interested, you need to grab them quick! There are all-white sets and also pastel marshmallow sets!

Check them out in this photo I stole from Onch’s Facebook album from the opening party!

Also notice the pink chicken leg necklaces we made, based on the pink chicken wing and leg pieces that Onch makes. You might also want to know that this will be Royal/T’s last pop-up, FOREVS! GO NOW! Or you’ll REGRET IT!

So I’m trying something a little different for Anime Expo … my stuff will be there, but I won’t!

The Brands Boutique asked if I’d like to participate in their Pop Up Shop for Anime Expo, and I figured I’d give it a try! It’s at the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 29- July 2.

If you happen to go, please take pics and show me! I’d love to see how it all looks!  I sent a nice variety of items, even the new rocket pop brooches! I also printed out a new little table-top sign, so I hope everything turns out cute :).