We've all been there, haven't we?

I've been a fan of artist Ashley Davis (heartpuncher over on deviantart.com), but for some reason I haven't shared any of her work here. I mean, until now.

Davis recently posted the following drawing of the first-gen Pokémon Ivasaur in her deviantart gallery.

I'm not sure which I like better--the drawing or the description (below) that accompanies it.

"Eager to leave its awkward teenage years behind, this Ivysaur casts Grow, hoping that its bud will soon bloom into a beautiful flower."

A hand-knit Mario hat for $140? Uh, let me get back to you on that...

The website run by Earthbound/Mother creator Shigesato Itoi will soon offer up for sale (in Japan) the above-mentioned wool hat as well as an all-wool, hand-knit sweater that features Mario and Luigi sprites on the chest and coin sprites inside the pockets.

Hefty price tags will be attached to both products, according to andriasang.com, with the hat selling for ¥12,000 (about $140) and the sweater selling for ¥36,000 ($422).

I'm begging you, Nintendo, don't bring these to North America

Nintendo of Japan recently decided to add a few new morsels of game-related goodness to its Club Nintendo goodie bag.

Along with a set of New Super Mario Bros. Wii-branded remote straps, the Japanese giant will soon offer gamers what appears to be an Animal Crossing grocery bag.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I'd "buy" that grocery bag without a second thought if it ever appeared on the North American Club Nintendo site--despite the fact that I know I'd never use it.

(Via andriasang.com)

Pre-order Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, get a pair of posters

I don't know about you, but when I think of awesome pre-order bonuses I think of flimsy posters that ape a game's cover art.

As such, I was blown away to find out that folks who pre-order a copy of the forthcoming Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (it'll be released on Oct. 5) at GameStop will walk away with not one but two posters. Here's the one that doesn't ape the DS RPG's cover art:



Folks who pre-order the game at Amazon, on the other hand, will walk away with the poster above and a $10 games credit.

Can you guess where I placed my pre-order?

(Via joystiq.com, by way of tinycartridge.com)

Stab me once, shame on you; stab me twice, shame on me

My first reaction to seeing the following Tonberry figure, produced by Atlanta artist Jared Cain (aka Nikejerk): "Awwwwwwwww!" (Yes, even though the Tonberry is toting a rather nasty-looking knife.)

My second reaction: "I really need to get back to that 100-floor, post-game tower in Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon."

To see more of Cain's figures, check out his Flickr photostream.