A Very Happy Easter To You and Yours!

Hope You Have A Hippity-Hoppity Easter!

Yes, it's a bad pun, I know, but I just couldn't resist :) The two things I think most about when I hear "Easter" are flowered, beribboned Easter Bonnets and Easter Bunnies, which the vintage postcard above demonstrates nicely (with the addition of that perennial favourite, the Cute Easter Chicks). I don't know why I think of Easter Bonnets, as I have never once worn a Bonnet in my life, Easter or otherwise. 

It's probably the influence of the old Irving Berlin "Easter Parade" movie and its hit song,  which I confess I have only ever watched in the past to see the costumes. (By the way, did you know that the inspiration was the annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in NYC which originated in the late 1880's?! Some 2012 photos here). 

But I like to believe it is because of my eternal fascination with hats of every kind, which is a most unfortunate obsession to have since I lack the certain something it takes to wear one successfully. There are People Who Can Wear Hats and there are People Who Cannot Wear Hats, and I am firmly in the latter category. My Grandma, now, there's a lady who can wear a hat! Somehow I didn't inherit that gene. *sigh*

But no matter, for there are Easter Bunnies! My very favourite sort, of course, are the chocolate type :) My family likes to snap off the ears and eat them first - very savage, aren't we? LOL. But I have a very handsome bunny of the inedible variety to show you this year. My Stitchy Guru Mother made him out of scraps (which is why he's mint green) after we had a debate about the essential nature of Bunnies. 

Mom: "What's the essence of a bunny? Ears?"

Me: "Ears, for sure. But also a fluffy tail."

Mom: "No, they don't need a tail."

Me: "Do too! They need a fluffy tail more than they need arms!!"

So meet Mr. Bunny (I have yet to name him but hope to do so soon):

He's just a trifle taller than my thumb! His body and ears are knitted and his cute little feet that let him stand up on his own are crocheted. "But it can't be a he - it has a pink bow!", you might say. To which my defense is that he's, um, fashion-forward? I don't know. But my new bunny friend seems very much a "he" to me, so a "he" he shall be, right? Right ;) You might think he's cute now. But just wait for it ----

FLOOF!!!! Just look at that tail! Cute explosion!!! Tell me the truth - you never noticed he didn't have any arms, did you?! Huh?! Did you?!!! I know I sure didn't.

Ergo, I win. Bunnies Must Have Fluffy, Floofy, Floomfy Tails. I rest my case :)

Any suggestions as to what I should name this little fellow? 

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding!

In honour of the Royal Wedding tomorrow, I thought I would share this neat little oddity that I first heard about a few weeks ago. Chances are you may have already seen it, but I couldn't resist sharing it just in case you haven't :) Although it's not cross-stitching, most of us know a knitter or two, even if we don't knit ourselves.

Fiona Goble has written a tongue-in-cheek book called Knit Your Own Royal Wedding!

It's a pattern book that includes instructions for the whole cast of Royal family members, including the Queen and even her beloved Corgi dogs! There are also assembly instructions for making the balcony that is reputed to be the location of Will and Kate's wedding kiss:

You can also get a better idea of the figures from this neat little video that the publishers made to promote the book (and there are loads of others on Youtube):



The author also keeps a knitting blog, where she chronicles the publicity appearances of her characters and shows reader-submitted photos of completed projects from the book!

There is an article at Macleans magazine that reveals the attention to detail that was put into the designs - all of the characters were scaled to size, and even the military uniforms and medals were replicated with accuracy. Published at the end of March, the sales of the book have already wildy exceeded expectations, and it is now on a third edition! 

According to a review of the book on Amazon.com, (Shala Kerrigan): "After you've learned the basics for making the dolls, at the end is a chapter of alternate clothing, so you can fill out your wedding with guests, maybe even making a mini you to attend the wedding."

Am I right in thinking that this is adorable? Or is it slightly crazy? Who knows!

At any rate, the Royal Wedding is sure to be spectacular! Even if there are no cute knitted Corgis frolicing about in the chapel ;) Congratulations Will and Kate!

(Image from this TechWhiz article that provides detailed information about the event, including links to the download of the official program and links to the Official Youtube Royal Channel, which will be streaming the Royal Wedding live, an historic media first)