Stitch Auto Umbrella Holder

Stitch Auto Umbrella Holder
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

One of the things that keeps me coming back, over and over, to Japanese goods, is the sheer inventiveness.

In Japan, you'll find things that you never knew you needed. But, after you find them, you think, how have I gotten on all these years without this?

Case in point: the Stitch folding umbrella holder for your car. It hangs conveniently on your headrest. Then when you get in the car with a drippy umbrella, just unfold and insert into the stand. When you get out, as you can see from the image, you can detach the base and pour out all the water, so your floor mats don't get all drippy.

All that, PLUS it's got cute Stitches on it. What else could you ask for???



Come to think of it, I never know what to do with my drippy umbrella on the bus. I wonder if Japan has a solution for that?

How to Train Your Dragon Happy Meal set

How to Train Your Dragon Happy Meal set
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

So, since we were mostly out of town when these toys were actually available at Mickey Dee's, I decided to go ahead and order a set off eBay.

And now I'm thinking maybe I should've ordered a SECOND set, ya know, to open and play with.

Hoo boy.

This is my How to Train Your Dragon photo set on Flickr. There's not much there. Yet.

Re-Ment Choco Charms set

Re-Ment Choco Charms set
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

Yeah, you combine Stitch and chocolate, and I am supposed to resist???

HA!!!

This is another set of those super-adorable Re-Ments. The theme this time is Disney chara rendered in "chocolate" (actually, plastic, so don't put it in your mouths, kiddies!).

Recursiveness!!!!

Crane machine figure
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

So, what's awesome about this piece (which features a tiny figure of Stitch hanging in a UFO catcher claw) is that it was actually a UFO CATCHER PRIZE! That's right, you had to grab Stitch-in-a-claw inside another claw! O, the recursiveness!!!

BTW, this claw doesn't look much like the UFO claw's we usually encounter in Japan when I have Mr. Tikistitch win Stitches for me. Those claws, for that sized toys, usually do look a lot more like a flying saucer with a claw.

More UFO catchers than you could shake a stick at!!!

Crying Stitch plush
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

Seriously, what's up with that expression? I mean, I have a pile of Stitch plushies that's threatening to take over my entire attic bedroom, and I am still quite capable of shaking a stick at them, even a quite small stick.

Ah, the English language.

Anywho, just loaded a few more UFO catcher pix to the ol' Flickr. A special fave is the guy pictured above, a Stitch with a single, shiny tear! See, that's what happens when you shake a stick at your poor plushies! Aw!!!

Pepsi Hic to Dragon Bearbricks

Pepsi Hic to Dragon Bearbricks
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

That's Hic and Tooth in the front. They'll be available on assorted Pepsi bottles in Japan.

Stitch folding box

Stitch folding box
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

Is this the cutest box in the entire world?

Well, maybe. I mean, it's got not just happy Stitch faces, but Pleakley and Jumba as well. Cool beans.

The clever thing: if you have too many UFO prizes lying around, then you can catch these boxes, and OMG instant storage!

BTW, these are more UFO catcher items (yes, really!) from Singapore and the marvelous Steven.

Stitch ceramic bowls

Stitch ceramic bowls
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

If you've spent your entire life inside the United States, then it's probably difficult to imagine that claw machine prizes (with the exception of those available in the Toy Story universe) can be AWESOME.

In some cases, even after many years of collecting these items, I am still actually impressed with the quality. Like this set of ceramic bowls my buddy Steven (who is like a UFO catcher god or something) collected over in Singapore.

And, yes, these are indeed from a claw machine, but they are ceramic. Each has a unique, very cute design. They kind of remind me of the cereal bowls you'd see as a kid that were supposed to encourage you to finish your breakfast, because then you'd get to see a colorful picture of your favorite cartoon character at the bottom.

Stitch bunnies

Stitch bunnies
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

Spent the morning at my dentist's office getting various parts of my head replaced with porcelain. Brain a bit scramble after spending hours in such close proximity to dental drills, so I've been kicking back watching a Law & Order: Criminal Intent marathon and snapping pix of some new UFO plushies who just arrived from Singapore. (Mr. Tikistitch brought them home IN THE RAIN yesterday - thank you Mr. Tikistitch, you're my favorite enabler!!!)

Stitch toothbrush holder

Stitch toothbrush holder
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

Just a silly little piece. Interesting because it's branded as Lilo & Stitch, and because Stitch holds your toothbrush, for no particular reason, in his legs.

Walking Bistro SMAP Stitch

Walking Bistro SMAP Stitch
Originally uploaded by tikistitch

So, I have a couple of Action!Stitch toys to show you today. Sorry, no video as yet, though, if history is our guide, these items are most likely to shuffle around in a circle to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Firstly, a walking Stitch is dressed in a Bistro SMAP chef outfit. Doesn't seem like it's been licensed by the SMAP boys, but those lipstick prints on the chef hat are unmistakable.

Next is Pooh, who has decided to dress up in a Stitch outfit and go walking in the Hundred Acre Woods. Why? Well, because.



Edit:  Added a vid so you can see the SMAP boys in action.