Hello Kitty Truck

 

 

 

 

When driving to and from shows on CA freeways, there are lots of vehicles with difference colors and designs but this truck takes the first for being unusual.

 

This truck is Hello Kitty fans' dream!   It's hard to figure out how the design is applied to the truck.






 

Found on the Net: Lucky Cat in Asian Culture

The maneki-neko (Japanese: 招き猫^?, literally "beckoning cat") is a common Japanese figurine (lucky charm, talisman) which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. In modern times, they are usually made of ceramic or plastic. The figurine depicts a cat (traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail) beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed—often at the entrance—of shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors, and other businesses. Some of the sculptures are electric or battery-powered and have a slow-moving paw beckoning. The maneki-neko is sometimes also called the welcoming cat, lucky cat, money cat, happy cat, beckoning cat, or fortune cat in English.

The top cartoon says, "Everyone hopes that their cats are attracting wealth into the family",
the bottom cartoon says, "They think that the owner has money growing on the tree."  

Combining Colors for Mittens

 

 

 

Making a pair of red and black mittens: The black yarn is a commercial yarn for the cuffs.   Angora does not have memory, it's not quite suitable for the cuff area.   The black yarn is a little boring so a very fine strand of Shetland yarn is added to offer some variation.   The red Angora is dyed with two packs of KoolAid strawberry flavor, the base Angora handspun yarn is white.  
 

This is the finished pair of the red and black/white mittens.
 

A similar pair of pink mittens is in progress: the pink Angora is dyed with pink Easter egg dye on handspun white Angora yarn.    The cuffs are made of the fine white Shetland combined with 80% pure wool loop yarn.  Both commercial yarns are made in the US.

 

A close-up of the pair of completed pink mittens.




 

 

2015 Florida State Convention English Angora News

Florida State Convention holds its annual big event on the first weekend in the new year.   Kimberly reports that English Angora has a good number of entries.    Out of 24 English Angora, 6 of them are bred and owned by Kimberly and these 6 won all 6 classes:

Flowers Winterberry Sr White Buck BOV

Flowers Sugar Bush Jr White Doe BOSV

Flowers Roo Paw Sr Colored Buck BOS

Flowers Calla Sr Colored Doe BOB

Flowers Scorpion Colored Jr buck 1st in class

Flowers Sharry Baby Colored Jr doe 1st in class

Next to Kimberly is judge Joseph Colucci who obviously likes what he is seeing.

    

Madtosh Crafts at Fort Worth

 

 

 

Madelinetosh yarn are very well-known among the knitters.   It started as an etsy shop in 2006 but the business grew so much that not only it has its own website but also has a store at Fort Worth, Texas.    See the story on

 

http://madelinetosh.com/about-us/ 

 

When attending the ARBA convention at Fort Worth, Chris O, Carol G and Betty took a break from the showroom to go visit the store.   Both Chris and Carol did some "damage" to their budget with the visit but as happy as clams with the beautiful skeins of yarn in their bags.   Here are some photos of the beautiful color yarn and the display.

 

 

 

ARBA Convention Revisited: Brock Misses Angoras

 

 

 

Brock and Betty have a photo taken together, he is showing his English Lop this year but still misses the fun of showing his English and French Angoras last year.  He watched the entire judging of the English Angora and updated the results on Facebook real time.

 

Brock had a great showing of English Angora and French Angora last year at Harrisburg.   It is hoped that he will be back showing Angoras again at Portland.






 

ARBA Convention Revisited: Friends, Friends and Friends

 

 

 

Betty and Carol arrived at the convention and ran into Kevin, owner of the well-known KW Cages.   We did not realize Kevin is so short!

Obviously being short is not Kevin, look at him, at least a foot taller than Carol and Betty.

 

 

Our two favorite judges and top breeders of American Fuzzy Lop: Nate and Carol.
 

 

Convention is the best place to see old friends, Betty and Brad had a nice conversation.  Brad was the ARBA Executive Director during the mid to late 2000's.

 

Then there is Ron with Betty.   Ron's wife Judy was the president of NARBC and raised Angora for many years but now retired from rabbits, Ron is still active in judging and showing rabbits.