Happy New Year!
A few years ago, my husband learned an unattractive truth about me: that in spite of the show I put on about Christmas being about the kids and spending time together, that I am still expecting to have there be something for me under the tree on Christmas. I remain slightly ashamed of this, but after all, I put on a pretty good Christmas, and even Santa gets cookies and milk as a thank you. Right?
Ever since the year of nothing for me, (and the quiet unhappiness that followed him around in the shape of me for a week) The Mister has never failed to find me not only a lovely present likely associated with my passion for one of several things I am passionate about, but also a present that unfailingly makes me laugh.
This year's present was this:
Yes, Brio. The train people. But befoer you start imagining me warping up a full sized poncho, look at how big it is.
It's all of ten inches wide and twenty inches long, and slides out of the box looking like this:
At first I thought V*A*VSTOL might be one of those IKEA like words that mean practically nothing, but Vavstol -- it turns out -- actually means "loom" in Swedish. The things you learn.
The vavstol pops up in one fluid motion and locks in place with side braces.
There's a built in beater, and other little touches that make it way too fun to ever use, like the fact that it came new in the box already warped and with about three inches worth of weaving already done, to get the prospective weaver started.
It has the most adorable red string heddles
and two racheted tensioning dowels in front and back.
Could it be any cuter?
I think the Mister is covered for another year. No pouting around here, I promise.
Absolute cuteness.
Posted by: uhltje | January 01, 2012 at 03:36 PM
I have an older version of something like that, but not as nice! It's adorable! And, yeah, it's no fun if there isn't something for *everyone*. Otherwise the presentless one feels like a martyr. This is also true of birthdays, even if the birthday falls in the holiday season. Yes, my husband found this out the hard way, too....I kind of think many do ;-)
Posted by: Colleen | January 01, 2012 at 04:15 PM
super cute! We retail the Ashford Regid Heddles at the shop where I work, and they aren't much larger. they're very popular, and I hear that they're really versatile too...so I imagine you at home warping and wefting you life away, playing with all the random balls of yarn that we knitters accumulate ;) Have fun!
Posted by: CambriaW | January 01, 2012 at 09:06 PM
I am not alone!
Posted by: Janet | January 01, 2012 at 09:07 PM
Your Mister did good! I learned a valuable lesson the year I told my husband when he asked what I wanted for Christmas with a nonchalant "nothing." Never again, now I give him a very specific list, because I really do love gifts too. ;-)
Posted by: Kim | January 01, 2012 at 11:14 PM
So adorable! Your hubby certainly has learned well.
Posted by: Geri | January 02, 2012 at 06:37 AM
It looks like it goes in a dollhouse! In a good way! I hope the New Year brings you plenty of time to bond.
Posted by: garret | January 02, 2012 at 08:49 AM
I bought one of those for a daughter several Christmases ago. It never did really grab her as I thought it might, so she ended up trying to sell it at a rummage sale. Thank goodness I was there to rescue it!!
Posted by: Vicki | January 02, 2012 at 09:36 AM
That is one seriously cute and appropriate gift!
Posted by: S.Kate | January 02, 2012 at 01:01 PM
Cute!
Just FYI, if you know Swedish, those IKEA words really do mean something. All of them. :-)
Posted by: Laura | January 02, 2012 at 08:39 PM
Guys. They "have to be carefully taught" about gift giving. Mine complains that I'm not specific enough about my wishes, so this year I provided a numbered list of things from Knitpicks. There was a huge box for me under the tree, containing one swift, two yarn scales and three ball winders......
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport | January 02, 2012 at 11:20 PM
I've been know to stuff my stocking to the hilt, cuz I suffered the year of a flat and very empty stocking once and it felt awful. Your present is adorable.
Posted by: Manise | January 03, 2012 at 08:51 AM
Absolutely adorable. I couldn't take my eyes of the pictures, they are so cute that i'd like one for me too. Keep up with what your are doing.
Posted by: Anette | January 04, 2012 at 08:30 AM
You amaze me!!!
Posted by: Jill | January 16, 2012 at 12:19 PM
That is awesomely cool and adorable. I've never seen one of those before but now I want one more than anything! Have fun with it. :)
Posted by: Lee | January 19, 2012 at 10:35 AM