Guinness World Records 2013 Book is now out and you’ll find an estimated 4,000 records – and countless facts – throughout the book. Here’s a good fact you should know: each year, at least 75% of the content is brand new! My oldest daughter who is in the second grade loves these books! That’s why... [Continue Reading]![]()
Holiday Gift Guide: Guinness World Records 2013
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The AFB Podcast Episode 40: Marvel Select Ultron / Broken Promises
Episode FORTY of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now!
Join Adam, Eli and Ben from the AFB Forum for ...
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Holiday Gift Guide: Toys – My Little Pony Radio Control Car
There are a few gifts that are sure to be hits with my girls and that includes anything My Little Pony. We received a My Little Pony Radio Control Car from Hasbro to review and my girls think it’s so much fun. They like playing with it on our hardwood floors. This beautifully decorated remote... [Continue Reading]![]()
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It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
It’s finally December and around here things become quite festive. I’m working on final details around the house but until then I took a few snapshots. Handmade from Africa![]()
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Top Toys of the Holidays
What toys do kids want the most this year? Our anchors' kids fill us in.
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Lands’ End Holiday Gifts Under $50
One place I love to shop is Lands’ end. I know you’ll always find quality gifts for great prices. I know when it comes to those gifts that I want to be quality made I always turn to Lands’ End and Grandma always loves her Lands’ End Sweaters. This year you’ll find so many other... [Continue Reading]![]()
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New Season of Curious George Episodes (Stride Rite Giveaway)
As a child I remember reading the books and watching Curious George episodes with the silly monkey and the Man With The Yellow Hat on television. My brother even had a Curious George stuffed animal that 30 years later still sits his old bedroom at my parent’s house. The animation and show has completely changed [...]
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Bounce Bounce Tigger May Be Cute, But Will the Fun Last?
Kids are spring loaded little things. They’ll bounce up and down until they’re out of breath and ready to drop from exhaustion. Bouncing on a trampoline, bouncing on the bed, bouncing on a pogo stick, or just plain jumping up and down is delightful to them. This love of bouncing makes twirly-tailed Tigger the perfect [...]
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Melissa & Doug’s Wooden Owl Stacker is So Cute!
Stacking toys-they’re a staple toddler play thing, and for good reasons. Wonderfully simplistic, greatly entertaining, and always offering up something to learn, they just don’t get old. This is helped, in part, by the all the new twists being put on classic toys lately. Here we’re taking a look at Melissa & Doug’s Wooden Owl [...]
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Boulder's high-tech toys: Local startups mix technology, play
A cluster of Boulder startups aimed at pairing tech and play has popped up in this entrepreneur-friendly city and the burgeoning young firms each are hitting inflection points that could propel them to greater success and change the toy industry as a whole, company officials and industry observers say.
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Make Your Own Gangnam Style Video
Of course, if you have 38 friends willing to dress up and make a parody video with you, you are set but JIBJAB just needs a giant JPEG of your head … (which they will insert over PSY’s … then just press PLAY and you too can be with ‘sexy ladies,’) BTW, if you want [...]
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JLPT Results
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) was held at test centers around the world yesterday. Did you take the test? How did you do?
The JLPT is a standard which is used by many employers who seek Japanese speaking staff.
In the past there used to be 4 levels but in recent years they split it into 5 levels - N5, N4, N3, N2 and N1. N1 is the most difficult and N5 is the easiest.
Did you take the JLPT this year? If so what level? How did you feel about the paper? Do you think you passed? I hear that the results should be back in about February and that you can check the results online?
There is a poll embedded in this article.
There is a poll embedded in this article.
There is a poll embedded in this article.
There is a poll embedded in this article.
Many many moons ago (20 years ago!) I passed level 4 and then level 2 the following year when I was self studying Japanese. After I graduated from university studying Japanese and Korean language, my teacher said that I didn't need to take level 1 ^^;
If you are self studying Japanese then I recommend that you take the JLPT and use that as a goal to aim towards.
Me studying Japanese back in the UK maaaany moons ago - that broken speaker and bit of glass was my first workspace.
In the How Discovering Japan Changed My Life post, I talk about many techniques to learn Japanese including Immersion and Self Hypnotism ^^;
The poster of Shinjuku on the wall was my lucky talisman which I would motivate me to stay focused on learning Japanese.
Nendoroid Mirai Suenaga - your lucky talisman to help you stay focused on learning Japanese ^o^
I've been in the same boat as you learning Japanese and I know exactly what its like which is one of the reasons why I released the Japanese learning series starting with Moekana which teaches Hiragana - Japanese language learning just had to be more fun!
Next up will be Moekanji which will teach Kanji.
As for me - I cant seem to pass my SLPT - so many difficult terms like "Been Chow Chow" keep showing up...
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My Tips For New Mom With Comforts for Baby #ComfortsForBaby
I met my husband shortly after my 19th birthday, and in the spring of that following year I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Kaila. Kaila immediately was the light of both of our lives but being that young new mother there was so much that I did not know. I wish that I... [Continue Reading]![]()
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Fisher-Price Disney's Jake and The Never Land Pirates - Hook's Battle Boat
Fisher-Price Disney's Jake and The Never Land Pirates - Hook's Battle Boat
Fisher-Price Disney's Jake and The Never Land Pirates - Hook's Battle Boat - Hook and Jake are always battling it out for treasure, so watch out for Hook and Hook’s Battle Boat! You can help Hook in his battle against Jake, by launching “water-balls” from his real-working cannon! Hook's Battle Boat rolls along on its hidden wheels with a rocking motion as if it’s sailing the high seas. This playset includes a poseable Captain Hook figure and three “water-balls” for use with the firing cannon! (Not intended for use in water)Fisher-Price Disney's Jake and The Never Land Pirates - Hook's Battle Boat
- Hook's Battle Boat is ready to sail the seas and look for treasure
- Includes an articulated Captain Hook
- Launches 2 water projectiles
- Hook can hold onto the cannon
- Recommended Age Range 4 Years and Up
Buy this Pre-kindergarten toys - Fisher-Price Disney's Jake and The Never Land Pirates - Hook's Battle Boat...
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New BeyBlade Metal Fury Tops – Toy Commercial
This video features new Battle tops based on the sixth anime series of the Beyblade anime and the third season of the Metal Saga created by Takafumi Adachi: Beyblade: Metal Fury or Metal Fight Beyblade 4D by Takara Tomy. The top featured below is the Beyblade Metal Fury:: B-132 NIGHTMARE REX SW145SD. It is a...
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Tokyo Doll Event
I Doll is a doll event that takes place a few times a year throughout Japan in locations like Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo and Fukuoka. Yesterdays I Doll took place in Tokyo Hamamatsucho and here are a load of photos fresh from the event!
Among these photos you will see a bunch of doll accessories (wigs, carry cases, shoes, clothes, food etc) and dolls ranging from cast resin to vinyl.
Its been a while since I asked but how many of you prefer dolls over figures or the other way round?
There is a poll embedded in this article.
Will be posting more (more?!) doll related stuff later but for the meantime you can keep yourself in the loop with the latest by frequenting Doll.fm and by liking the Doll.fm Facebook page. There is also a load of doll stuff in the Doll category over at Figure.fm.
More doll related posts listed up below
If you want to attend in 2013 then the dates are listed below. Check the I Doll site for locations.
Tokyo
2013/3/10
2013/7/21
Osaka
2013/6/30
Nagoya
2013/3/24
Fukuoka
2013/3/31
Read more about Mirai Suenaga >>>
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How-To Make My Needle Felted Holiday Fiber Tree
Needle Felted Holiday Fiber Tree
Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals
During my sister's and my 2nd needle felting and roving crafting adventure she managed to get two alpaca head ornament creations completed and 1/2 of the fiber art picture she was creating done.
I, on the other hand, only managed to get a holiday fiber tree done and which is pictured above. I had wanted to create a red/white/green traditional tree, but the green roving colors I had weren't quite right. It ended up looking like a Southwestern holiday tree instead of a traditional holiday tree.
Oh, well. You can't always control the final look of your creations. It stands 7 1/2" tall and is felting over a Styrofoam base.
Here's how I made it:
Supplies Needed
6 1/2" by 3" Round White Foam Cone
White Roving - I used white roving from my sister's alpaca Sunflower which can be purchased HERE.
Roving Mixture - Light Brown, Dark Brown, Gold & Metallic Thread Mix
Roving - Gold, Lime Green, Dark Burgundy, Moss Green
Metallic Thread - Gold
Thick Braided DMC Floss - Burgundy
1" Star Cookie Cutter Mold
Clover Felting Needle Mat Large or Colonial Needle Needle Felting Foam
Blue Grip Single Felting Needle
Clover Pen Style Needle Felting Tool
Directions
1) Spread a light layer of the white roving all along the bottom of the white foam cone and extending about 1/2" up the sides. Needle felt to hold.
2) Take a long piece of the white roving and starting at the bottom of the cone wrap it around the cone in a counter clockwise direction needle felting it as you go along with the pen style needle felting too until you reach the top. Needle felt to the top to secure the end. Make sure the entire white foam is covered fully.
3) Fill the 1" star cookie cutter mold with gold roving and then needle felt it with the single felting needle and the felting mat or felting foam until it measures about 1/4" thick.
4) Position the gold star in the center of the top of the tree and needle felt it with the single felting needle to the top to hold it.
5) Cut a 42" long piece of the roving mixture and roll it between your hands until the roving mixture is about 1/4" thick. Needle felt all along the roving with the single felting needle and foam or mat.
6) Starting at the top of the tree next to the gold star needle felt one end of the roving mixture with the single felting needle to secure it to the top.
7) Slowly wrap and needle felt the 1/4" thick roving mixture around the tree in a counter clockwise direction with the pen style felting tool until it is pleasing to the eye and until you reach the bottom.
8) Needle felt the end of the roving mixture with the single felting needle to secure it around the bottom of the tree.
9) Pull a small piece of the gold roving abut 3/4" to 1" and roll it on your hands to create a small ball then needle felt the ball with the single felting needle and foam or mat until it is about 1/3 to 1/4" round. Create 16 gold balls.
10) Pull a small piece of the dark burgundy roving abut 3/4" to 1" and roll it on your hands to create a small ball then needle felt the ball with the single felting needle and foam or mat until it is about 1/3 to 1/4" round. Create 16 dark burgundy balls.
11) Pull a small piece of the moss green roving abut 3/4" to 1" and roll it on your hands to create a small ball then needle felt the ball with the single felting needle and foam or mat until it is about 1/3 to 1/4" round. Create 16 moss green balls.
12) Starting at the top of the tree and alternating the gold, dark burgundy, and moss green balls space and needle felt the balls along the bottom side of the roving mixture about 1/2" apart until you reach the bottom of the tree and end of the roving mixture with the pen style needle felting tool. Make more balls if need be.
13) Cut a piece of the thick braided DMC burgundy floss 45" long and needle felt one end to the top of the tree with the single felting needle.
14) Slowly wrap and needle felt the thick braided DMC burgundy floss in several places with the single felting needle around the tree in a counter clockwise direction until it is pleasing to the eye and until you reach the bottom.
15) Needle felt the end of the thick braided DMC burgundy floss with the single felting needle to secure it around the bottom of the tree.
16) Cut a piece of the gold metallic thread 45" long and needle felt one end to the top of the tree with the single felting needle.
17) Slowly wrap and needle felt the gold metallic thread in several places with the single felting needle around the tree in a counter clockwise direction until it is pleasing to the eye and until you reach the bottom.
18) Needle felt the end of the gold metallic thread with the single felting needle to secure it around the bottom of the tree.
19) Cut 26 to 30 pieces of the lime green roving 6" long and about 1/4" wide. Slightly roll each piece between your hands to slightly felt it.
20) Tie each of the 6" pieces into a bow.
21) Pin the center of the bows all along the tree until they are evenly spread out and pleasing to the eye.
22) Needle felt the centers of each of the bows with the single felting needle to secure them to the tree.
CONGRATULATIONS! Your needle felted holiday tree is done.
Please respect my Terms of Use: All patterns, e-patterns, e-books, tutorials, how-to's, and e-products © 2004-2012 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved, including downloading, mass producing, photocopying, enlargements, reductions,and all other forms of reproduction, website sharing, Email, RSS feeds, or any other means of redistribution. Commercial selling or reselling by any means, including eBay or any other website by permission only.
Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals, Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns, and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer. http://lindawalshoriginals.com/
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Mattel Disney Pixar CARS: Walmart Land of the CARS Lost?
Is this the new Walmart CARS section that will spread across America? (Thanks for the photo, “Quercy.”) Where CARS is slightly above the DAGEDAR series but behind Justin Bieber: Canada Ninja Kick Robot? It was once easy to figure CARS distribution. Once it was ready for shipping from the Mattel warehouses, @6,500 Walmart’s, Target’s and [...]
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Pocket the new Polly
Fun-size Polly Pocket can have the holiday of a lifetime in her new Spin/Surprise Hotel, one of three new playsets from Mattel.
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set database: LEGO 10229 winter village cottage
set database: LEGO 10229 winter village cottage
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set name: winter village cottage
theme: factory, winter, city
year: 2012
pieces: 1490
prices: us$100
minifigs: 8
image courtesy of Grogall
set number: 10229set name: winter village cottage
theme: factory, winter, city
year: 2012
pieces: 1490
prices: us$100
minifigs: 8
come with a winter cottage.
the cottage has a light up fireplace, a chandelier, a christmas tree, a bed, an armchair and a black street lamp.
also included a snowplow vehicle, a sled, an igloo and a storage shed.
minifigs included a mother minifig, a father minifig, a grand mother minifig, a grand father minifig, 3 child minifigs and a snowplow driver minifig.
great playability.
overall design is great.
must have for city lovers.
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great playability.
overall design is great.
must have for city lovers.
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