Happy 4th of July! Today is also the start of my new giveaway with Pocky! To enter to win, you must “like” this photo on Pocky’s Facebook page. Here is the link (hope it works!) with all the rules.

I designed these dolls based on the Pocky ambassadors that rolled around in the Pocky truck giving away free Pocky! The funny part for me is that my buddy Stephanie was actually a Pocky girl, so I used lots of photos of her as a reference for the outfit!

Stay tuned for some behind-the-scenes footage and other fun photo extras!

Here’s some pretty fun Hello-Kitty-related news:

First up for the crocheters, I just got an Amazon.com email newsletter announcing AmiguruMEI‘s Hello Kitty Crochet book. Pretty cool, right? You can pre-order it now, and it arrives in September!

And, something for everybody: Hello Kitty’s first convention, Hello Kitty Con at MOCA in LA, October 30 – Nov 2! I’m not sure if I’ll be able to go, but I bought tix anyway cuz that’s who I am…

Do you have a favorite Sanrio character? When I was in highschool, I was a Keroppi girl, but I am currently very into Purin and his hamster friend Muffin! (p.s. does anybody know the name of the little brown friend that he has? I don’t think it’s the squirrel. It’s something else. I used to have a teeny tiny plush of it years ago, and I wish I could find another one!)

Since I’m still working on a few projects that I can’t reveal yet … I thought I might make another Yarn Appreciation Post!

A few days ago I put together some colors for one of my crochet elves to make cupcake slouchy berets for Renegade which is coming up soon (yes, I am freaking out! no, I haven’t been able to spend any time yet on new designs which I’m dying to write!).

I am always on the lookout for the perfect pink when it comes to a nice, worsted weight acrylic. I recently stumbled upon Universal Yarn “Classic Worsted.” They have two shades of pink that I’m pretty crazy about, Bubble Gum 615 (picture above in Photo 1) and Pink Rose 7117 (pictured above in Photo 2) (the colors don’t look as good on their website, FYI). Classic Worsted is 80% acrylic and 20% wool, and I don’t find it itchy at all. Universal also has a 100% acrylic line called Uptown Worsted, but I haven’t played with that one yet. It looks like they aren’t displaying all their colors yet, and I wanted to see it all before placing an order.

The weight of the Classic Worsted is a bit lighter than Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice or Deborah Norville Everyday Worsted.  If you are familiar with Knit Picks Brava Worsted, I would say that they are pretty similar, except Knit Picks has a bit more of a sheen. Classic Worsted needs to step it up in the blue/aqua/teal department, but I am definitely totally into these pinks! Most big box worsted acrylic pinks are too gray and washed out for me, or, just baby pink. These are definitely in the Pepto Barbie zone, which is right up my alley!

Each ball is $6 from the Universal site, which is obviously a bit spendier than big box yarn prices, but for someone like me who depends on color to evoke a certain look or feeling, I’m happy to pay the extra!

You guys, I had no idea it was National Bomb Pop Day today!!

I know it’s supposed to be summer time and popsicle time, but it’s like 60 degrees and gloomy where I live by the ocean! BRRR!!

Anyway, if you wanna pick up a crocheted bomb pop brooch/hair clip, or pick up a pattern to crochet one of your own, hit up this link right here to my Etsy shop! <3

Hey, pizza-lovers! The Pizza Scarf at YummyYou.com is waiting for you! It is super soft and super tasty-looking with bright yellow cheese, a bubbly crust, and tons of pepperonis!

We also released our new BFF (PFF?) Pizza Heart Necklaces for you and your pizza-best friend-forever! These amazing mini heart pizzas are another collab with jewelry artist Fatally Feminine Designs! You each get half of the heart-pizza, and when you get together, you can combine your pizza-heart-powers!

The “Partay! Pizza Partay!” song from the Pizza Party board game commercial back in the 80s is TOTALLY STUCK IN MY HEAD!!!!!!!