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Dear Ann,

Remember the sitcom Mad About You?

A recurring theme was that Jamie Buchman (played by Helen Hunt) was a meticulous planner, if a bit uptight. Her sister Lisa, on the other hand, was a hot mess, the kind of person who lurches around with a doll head and a stun gun in her bag.

In one episode (number 65, “Purseona”), the sisters’ black shoulder bags get switched. Helen finds herself without money, subway tokens, her husband’s passport, or an umbrella in a downpour, and she slowly comes apart.

Meanwhile, as Lisa crashes through her day, she keeps miraculously pulling handy necessities—an umbrella, spare pantyhose, a pen, a pack of gum, subway tokens—out of “her” purse. At the end of the day, one of the purse-crossed sisters (Lisa) gets a job—and the other (Jamie) loses a client.

What I’m saying is: Each of these clever, beautiful, and useful items from the MDK Holiday Shop is something Jamie would love, and they would totally help Lisa get that job. These gems will turn us all into well-put-together people who are living our best life and always have a wintergreen Altoid when we need it.

Upgrade Your Bujo

Doesn’t everybody hope that Santa brings an effortless, flexible way to plan, track, and migrate tasks this year?

There is no better way to ease into a new year than a fresh, crisp Bullet Journal. O, the possibility that those dotty-grid, blank pages contain.

If you’re in search of a simple, notebook-based system for organizing work and life and also preserving your doodles, read about Bullet Journaling here. And if you’re already a member of Bullet Journal nation, the MDK Shop has supplies and reinforcements.

In addition to the Bullet Journal (or Bujo) itself (in three highly organized and efficient colors), this year we have upped the fun factor and the handiness.

Knitter’s Washi Tape

This is pure fun. We squealed with delight when we saw Felicity Ford’s washi tape featuring her brilliant colorwork knitting patterns. How did she think of it?

When it comes to washi tape, you want to have a full range of colors and patterns to work with, so our set includes all six of Felix’s designs.

It’s just the thing for blinging out a Bullet Journal, for sealing up gift packages, for turning a to-do list into a satisfying little art-and-procrastination project.

The more you play with it, the more ideas you’ll get. The tape has a nice, gentle adhesive, so you can adjust it a bit as you work out exactly how you’re going to decorate the edges of your desk, your phone, your water bottle, your cat. DO NOT HOLD BACK!

Contain and Corral: The Revolution Basket

Ellen Schiller builds forms of exquisite beauty that are also sturdy, machine-washable bags and vessels. The gray zigzag stitching is so beautiful—the pattern and randomness of it are not like anything we’ve seen before.

We asked Ellen to design a basket especially for MDK. We wanted a yarn and project holder that would work equally well perching on a shelf or toted around the house to our favorite knitting spots.

But if you would like to fill it with gorgeous seasonal decorations for a holiday centerpiece or keep it by the kitchen door holding mail and keys, the Revolution Basket is ready.

Kermit suggests: catnip toys. Olive suggests: turkey sliders.

Love,

Kay

10 Comments

  • Thanks for the giggles this morning as I await my hip surgery! Love that pencil case for the bujo. Great idea.

    • Giggling is the best medicine! Wishing you a speedy rehabilitation, Ing.

  • Off topic a bit…watch the new season of “The Kaminsky Method” on Netflix. Paul Reiser (from Mad About You) is *almost* unrecognizable. Now back to your post

  • Kermit asks that you do NOT put washi tape on him, but feel free to decorate his food dish. Plz and Thx, from Kermit.

  • I use a bullet journal and made my own pen case with a piece of elastic and cute fabric. Made three separate channels so I could place pens and ruler in case. Very handy since I tend to misplace pens.

  • “in case you are procrastinating something”
    Called it!

  • Loved Mad About You. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

  • I love these journals. I use them for my bullet journal and other planning stuff too. ♥️

  • What is the pattern for the beautiful grey knitted piece with the blue bullet journal on top? Love, love.

    • Ann made a log cabin piece using sequence knitting patterns from Field Guide No. 5–so not exactly a pattern.

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