Silly Bandz

A friend in Toronto who has grandkids older than mine and who keeps me up to date with kids stuff was telling me about this craze sweeping the schoolyards called Silly Bandz.  Elastic bands in the shapes of animals.  Kids wear them on their wrists and collect and trade them.  

I was then reminded about some elastic bands in the shapes of animals that had been an impulse purchase in a nifty Japanese import store in Baldwin Village on my last visit to Toronto in the spring. It was not mentioned that they were to be worn on the wrist and  that they were sort of the present day version of pet rocks.

When I got them home they had looked ..... interesting (as things you buy on trips can appear once out of the luggage) ..... and then they got put away in a drawer where I forgot about them.  After the silly bandz alert I searched them out and found they would easily slip onto my wrist;   the caution on the package warned against overstretching so I did not think this was possible.

They look .... interesting.  I googled for more information and history.  Fascinating!  No store in Victoria seems to be carrying them so maybe I am,  inadvertently and coincidentally,  the first to  - uh, give them wrist space.  I found out from the Net that they come in Barbie shapes and Justin Bieber and animals etc.

Wonder what shapes would appeal to people my age of the Boomer sort.  Mid century modern furniture?  Vintage cars?  Flowers?  Birds?  Spinning wheels?  Cruise ships?  Comfy shoes?  Healthy vegetables and fruits?  The Beatles?  Bob Dylan? Elizabeth Zimmerman?  My grandkiddies profiles?  

As I was posting this I looked at them on my wrist and wondered if they would survive the journey up and over my fist.

They did!   Well, that is good to know in case they do come up with shapes my knitting friends and I may want to ...... seriously ...... collect and wear and trade.

Comments

[Crafty Gardener]

I love bracelets and wear differnet ones each day, but I haven't seen these silly bandz yet. I'll have to check the kids arms at school and see if they have them.

[karen]

Thank you, Linda. I am curious as to where this fad has spread. And I have the feeling there are enough adult 'kids' who are seeing the benefits of play and laughter to participate in such fun. Wonder what it would take to get it started. Elastics in any - or all - of the shapes I suggested would do it for me.

[Crafty Gardener]

Hi Karen, I saw these silly bandz advertised in a flyer for the Showcase store this week. So they are here in my part of Ontario. I haven't seen any girls with them on yet, but I'm still on the lookout.

[karen]

Morning Linda
Wait until you see them - they are really neat! Yes, they are here in Victoria - I found them, finally, in a store - they were sold out in the toy store and awaiting a shipment. $5.95 for a bag of a bunch and $6.95 for special shapes like Christmas - Santa and reindeer.

[Crafty Gardener]

One of the girls in the class came in with one of these on today, it was shaped like an animal.

[karen]

Okay, Linda - thanks for letting me know they are in your area. I continue to wait on ones shaped like Elvis.... spinning wheels ....... old Volvos ....... Pierre Trudeau .....