maneki neko roundup

the jumping off point for this little roundup of maneki neko were these amazing chocolate lucky cat confections from suedy's koo-ki sushi of california (via love notes). with maneki neko beckoning passersby all around hawaii, i dashed off to etsy to find a few crafty alternatives that put a twist on this island tradition in unexpected ways:

1 - homemade zen offers custom amigurumi creations or pick up your sticks and diy with a handy crochet pattern.

2 - i love the idea of a maneki neko wall sticker in place of the traditional ceramic statue (available in 60 colors from sweeetnothing).

3 - or perhaps a limited edition framed print by artist maeve donohue.

4 - take your luck mobile with a petite cell phone charm from bndesign.

5 - button boutique's maneki neko ponytail holders are a sweet accessory for your little one.

bunny love

after dying eggs with my cousins in my aunty's kitchen, chocolate bunnies were, hands down, my favorite part of the holiday so enjoy this impromptu roundup of easter finds for both little ones and the young at heart:

1 - hokulani bakeshop's iced animal cookies are almost too cute to eat.

2 - scoop up handcrafted sweetness like this felt bunny pin in berrysprite's etsy shop.

3 - your keiki will love gathering up eggs in a peter cotton tail bucket. you will secretly enjoy the accompanying chocolate dipped treats from big island candies (i won't tell if you won't tell).

4 - these adorable not a chocolate easter bunny toys from kailua dollmaker denise mollison have proved to be a popular pick this easter season. the last batch of bunnies are on hold so drop denise a note to add yourself to the waitlist.

knit wit

baby luau * ripe pineapple * maui sunset

while i am finally off on my xmas new year's winter road trip to visit family and friends (compliments of the ongoing writers strike), i must admit to not achieving my 2007 resolution of learning how to knit. the plan was to rock a sweet scarf of my own making to ward off the chilly no/cal days and nights . . . alas, the smattering of wee swatches knitted so far are not up to the task, and the thought of a six feet under-like demise prevented me from bringing along the potential sticks of death to knit with during the drive.

however, with it being etsy day and all, here are a few knitting resources from the islands for all the mad crafters out there.

first up, just try to resist the candy colored fibers created by maui yarns. the super soft merino wool yarn (perfect for handmade socks) is hand dyed in a pretty palette inspired by maui's brilliant sunsets, stunning shorelines and lush valleys.

anne lace scarf * matilda & tillie cloche * mug jacket

for the more advanced, the loveliest of patterns created by knitter extraordinaire mk carroll. i am loving the mug cozy and retro cloche. hopefully, someone out there is up to the task of whipping one up to enjoy while winter is still with us. take a peek at mk's blog for even more inspiration.

be back next week!

sock it to me

peekaboo sock bunny

it's etsy day! continuing with yesterday's keiki theme, these adorable handcrafted sock creatures would be so much fun for the little ones on your holiday list. the collection is whipped up by talented kailua crafter denise mollison who transforms the humble sock into a rainbow of cuddly creatures.

i am loving the peekaboo sock bunny which would be perfectly paired with pat the bunny (one of my favorite books from small kid time). and, if you're looking to go green this year, take a peek at max the organic sock puppy and the rest of his eco-friendly pals.

max

color bears

and, for those who insist on gifting toys that will educate the tots on their list, look no further than a set of color bears which helps little ones learn the difference between red and blue with their deceptively cute exteriors. it's a bit of a splurge but a layaway option is available for all the sock toys stocked in denise's etsy shop.

trick, treat or toast?

toast, known for their sparky party favors, just released these cute boo!zu boys for halloween. the limited edition goodies are toast's take on japanese teru teru bozu charms which are believed to ward away a rainy day. boo!zu boys are sure to charm your favorite trick-or-treater especially once they discover childhood favorites like rice krispie treats and pez hidden within their spooky exteriors.

there's even more fun stocked in toast's online shop. new arrivals include party starters like these playful alphabet candles and ceramic ice cream cup set.

learn more about all things toast right here.