Heart Felt

It may be the year we lived in Japan when I was just seven, immersed in Hello Kitty, My Melody and all other characters by Sanrio that are just so happy and syrupy delicious. Kawaii, the Japanese word for cute, was one of the first I learned.

It might be this exposure, at an age when my consumer behavior was just in its infancy, and lifelong preferences and buying behaviors were forming that makes me want cute stuff that I don't need... so bad.

It's amazing what some folks can do with a few pieces of felt. And it's not anything useful, but it's so darn appealing.

This girl at My Paper Crane makes donuts, cupcakes, and even little used tissues out of felt. (That's her cupcake above!)

This other girl makes amazing pin cushions. And she'll even share the art of making a simple little one. I don't even sew that much, but compulsively: I just want one.

To satiate the impulse, there is always Etsy. All sorts of crafty stuff to buy, since I don't always have the attention span, skill, and patience to do it myself. Unlike friend Abby, who's knitting up a storm of socks this summer.