Anne's Lunar New Year with Grace

Boy, it sure does feel good to be sitting here writing a new blog!  I hope your new year has gotten off to a good start.  While some of us are working through new challenges - isn't that a nice way to put it? - others are gliding smoothly over the snow-covered surfaces of January.  No matter what is going on right now, Just for Today (that's my 2025 motto), let's brew a cup of tea and enjoy a fun blog on the Lunar New Year.

When I discovered that 2025 was the Year of the Snake, I blanched.  SNAKE!!!!  Yikes!  Then a girlfriend of mine said she met a nice snake, and I had to laugh.  No.  Snakes are reptiles and have no emotional feelings.  They are cautionary characters, and I prefer that we stay on opposite sides of street.  I have great respect for snakes, as I do all animals, but seriously, folks, I'd prefer not to be anywhere near one.

So, what does that say for the Lunar New Year and people born in the Year of the Snake? 

As we move from the energetic and dynamic Year of the Dragon, 2025 brings the Snake's wise and intuitive energy.  The Snake symbolizing wisdom and transformation, offers opportunities for personal growth and change.

Some signs like the Ox and Rooster (that's me!), are compatible with the Snake (ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!).  These signs share values like patience and hard work, making for a smooth year ahead.  Thank goodness!  And with this good news, I began embracing the next Lunar New Year.  

As many of you know, I'm a Sinophile, loving all things Chinese, and the Lunar New Year is no exception.  In fact, it's right up there with Halloween as my favorite of yearly fun and celebrations, so if it's a Snake year, so be it.

One of the cleverest things the Chinese have done, is produce incredibly cute little images for their Lunar New Year emblems, like this little red and gold fellow above.  How can you not love a little Snake like this and feel all warm and cozy?

Traditions such as family feasts, red envelopes, and lively parades with lion dances and firecrackers, are central to the festivities.  These customs passed down for generations, embody hopes for prosperity, happiness and good fortune, making Chinese New Year a cherished celebration that connects people across cultures and generations.

Chinese New Year 2025 begins on January 29th and concludes on February 12th with the vibrant Lantern Festival.

When Mattel announced their new Lunar New Year Barbie, I didn't hesitate to purchase her.  I keep these Barbies in their beautiful boxes to enjoy for the duration of the time they arrive until the celebrations conclude.  

This year, Ruby Red Toys delighted us with Ada, their Lunar New Year Fashion Friend, and I couldn't wait to pre-order her.  She will most likely be displayed for several months as part of my Asian doll collection.  The best thing about Ada is that she is a new sculpt by Ruby Ho, and Ruby Ho also designed her costume this year.  

The purchase of both these dolls energized me to create something for Anne.  One of my all-time favorite Grace subscription box outfits was her Lunar New Year outfit for Year of the Rabbit.

I actually knew early on that Anne would need a dress to compliment Grace's as I've dressed Grace in this outfit for two years now, at this time of year.

Along with that, I wanted to make some fun and sweet paper toys to display with them.  There is no limit as to what is out there for children to make to celebrate the Lunar New Year.  I simply reduce these in size to fit the dolls.  

When Grace's costume first came out, I elaborately dressed Dolly Dingle and Remmie Lou.  But now that we have Anne, she's become the doll I display with Grace.  Like Barbie and Skipper.  Sisters.  I love how Rachel is often now, offering matching sister outfits for these dolls.  Saves me from have to sew for Anne, or Grace, and I can focus on artsy doll projects which take a lot of patience and time.

I chose this red satin, embroidered in gold for Anne's dress to wear to the festivals and dinners.  It's not a fabric I enjoy sewing on as it frays like mad, but its shiny and pretty, and Anne feels very dressed up in it.

Since it is Year of the Snake this year, I found special paper lanterns to make for both Anne and Grace for 2025.  One Snake is a rather serious one, but he winds through the lantern strips and I thought that was genius.  The other is a silly, happy, fun Snake and the graphic artist made me a special jpg file so I could print it out.  I thanked him generously and I'll keep him as a "favorite" on Etsy.  It doesn't take much to make me a loyal customer, since so many people have little patience and will just about tell you to take a hike if you ask for help.  

I couldn't forget Murphy and Remmie, so I made them each a little mask to wear.

Murphy wasn't so sure about his Lucky Cat mask but changed his mind when I made a Lucky Cat paper toy for him to bat around.

Remmie could care less what kind of mask she wears as long as there's a cookie involved, so I made her a Snake mask.

Just for the photos, I included Cissy's Chinese Take Out box that I made a couple of years ago.  And there's a miniature Moon Cake box with Moon Cakes in a black partition for treats.  Eating a Moon Cake on Chinese New Year is good luck, and I need to order myself a small box.  I like the red bean Moon Cakes.  They're sweet and delicious.  I wish I could buy them from a bakery in Chinatown, as freshly baked, they're divine.

While I was sewing Anne's dress and cutting out paper toys, I dressed Grace in her shiny red leggings and one of the t-shirts from the subscription box extras.  The Moon Rabbit plays significantly in the early fall for the Mid -Autumn Festival, so I chose the red t-shirt that didn't have the date of the year on it. 

I absolutely love her in this, especially with the gold cage heels.  This was the first time she wore these pieces.  She's holding a calendar with the 29th circled to let people know to mark this date.  A couple of days before the 29th, I'll change her into her dress and long gold boots.  This collection, as I mentioned, is a very favorite of mine.

If you're looking for decorations that are intricate, one of best are the pop-up cards for Lunar New Year.  They make a great "tablecloth".  I have one more little paper project to make, but it wasn't necessary for this blog or the pictures.  I'll share it when the time comes.  For now, I've included lots of beautiful and fun images that make me happy.  Felt zodiac characters, decorated sugar cookies, adorable crochets (oh, how I wish I could crochet!), a hands-down ridiculously adorable Russian Year of the Snake, images from American Girl, including my Pleasant Company doll, and an Activity Sheet, which I'll post on Facebook to have fun with.

So, Happy Lunar New Year, and I hope Year of the Snake is a prosperous and lucky one for you!