Some fun gifts I gave this year

Snacktime, a children's book and a CD of songs, by the Barenaked Ladies.
(link includes song previews. You Tube has related videos too)

David and Goliath pajama/lounge pants, this one perfect for my friend who is the only girl in the house with three boys (her husband and two sons)

I bought AMAZING stained glass frames for photobooth strips from Whispering Willow.
She was nice enough to do custom orders for me, so I was able to choose charms specifically personalized for three friends.
Deborah's work is absolutely beautiful.

I got my mom vintage perfume, Blue Carnation by Roger & Gallet.
This hasn't been made since the 60's or so, but the gift set I purchased on ebay still smells heavenly.
The set includes cologne, sachet powder, and soap, and was new in the package...an opened gift found by the seller at an estate sale.
Set me back a pretty penny, but my mom was pleased.
This perfume seems to have almost a cult following--I tried for months before I finally managed to win an auction.
It's a spicy scent, almost like cloves.

Thrifted Jewelry

My friends and I started a new tradition last year, where one gift to each other has to be thrifted.
When I found the gold and pearl necklace, and even though I really didn't want to spend $9, it just screamed my friend debs' name, so I got it.
Gold ball earrings $4 and round pin with rhinestones $5 for Janice.
Cookie Lee dangle earrings $4 for myself.
Frog on a star pin $5 to top Jen's package.
Real shell with gold accents $2 for Tracie.
The wheelbarrow $4, pearl grapes $4, and bee $2 is for myself for a future garden-themed mosaic.

Talking Dogs

Two talking cats

Now THAT"S a cute Christmas tree!

Beach trash becomes holiday treasure!
See video.

Video Sunday

Storm Large - Silent Night

Misc

Notable Quote of the week:
"I don't know what she does (for exercise), but girlfriend looks ridiculous."
--Jody Becker, KFI News, 640AM, talking about how hot Madonna looks at 50

I'm so bummed ABC cancelled Pushing Daisies.
I love that show.

I got great stocking stuffers tonight: Japanese candies from Mitsuwa
I love it when they have unusual flavors of Kit Kat bars.
Tonight they had grape flavor. I wish they had banana. So many fun flavors are offered internationally.

Merry Christmas to me:
Brand new make-up case for lugging my stuff from house to house.
Featuring three of my favorite things (cherries, bees, chartreuse)
Only $9.97 at Grossmont Nutrition, a little store in the Grossmont Center mall that sells vitamins, wrapping paper, and discounted merchandise

Gift ideas for gardeners

Flower Floozie Tee Shirt, from Annie's Annuals
This NRG ergonomic weeder rocks!
I bought mine locally at Harbor Freight Tools, but Annie's has it also.
As does Planet Green Spot.

Atlas Nitrile gloves, described by Finny as THE best gloves EVER.
You can buy these many places, like The Garden Basket.

Create the healthiest soil, with John and Bob's Soil Optimizer

Go organic with Dr. Earth products

If you live in California, try a subscription to Garden Compass Magazine

Gift ideas for dogs and dog lovers

Bring out your Jerry Maguire in "You had me at Woof" tee, by Planet Dog

Orbee-Tuff super chew-proof Woof and Fetch balls, with a hole to hide treats (I bought these for gifts this year)
Bamboo quick control leash and seat belt latch

There are numerous dog-themed aprons, oven mitts, etc at Etsy
(this one by lynnsdesigneraprons)
Good Karma rope toys, by Jax and Bones

If money is not an issue, have your pet's photograph turned into a canvas.
You can have surreal (pictured), soft brush strokes, or in paint, at Photo Wow

Another fun idea is to get a pet portrait with Santa.
Check local pet stores and the Humane Society for dates and locations.

I Heart Spiders

I haven't posted much lately because there just isn't much to say.
I'm not sewing right now.
I'm not crafting at all.
But I'm still here...

(huge striped spider over the Wandering Jew in my garden)

Recycled wrapping paper ideas

My friend Michelle lives in Indiana, so we keep in touch via phone calls, gifts on a whim, and of course emails with photo attachments.
She sent me some pics of some gifts she'd wrapped in paper and packages she had recycled.
I think the ideas are so fun, I thought I'd share them here.

She said, "I read that if everyone wrapped just 3 presents each year in either recycled bags, paper or even newspaper, and don't use the glossy gift wrap that can't be recycled, it will keep over 75,000 pounds of paper waste out of the landfills each year. I did more than 3! I also totally re-use gift bags and boxes. I can't see spending $1 or more on a gift bag then throwing it away!"

(click on the images to enlarge. On the Flickr page, click on the icon 'all sizes' to zoom)
Michelle is a pharmacy tech. The pharmacy receives refrigerated items like insulin in metallic bubble wrap bags.
What a waste to throw them away!
She adhered a card over the mailing label for the perfect package!


This pretty flecked paper was the stuffing in a new pair of shoes!
Michelle tied it with twine for a rustic look


Reused bags and boxes. The bow on the box that's on the right is the plastic from the handle of a Walgreens bag.


"We have a lot of oddball stockings, from the kids going to various Christmas parties, grandparents' houses, etc. I use the old ones for gift wrap."


Under the tree...


"One thing's for sure though--I'm spending a lot more time wrapping gifts, trying to figure out what works with what to make it look perfect. Recycling takes some mental energy! But it's fun, and all my presents are unique, not your average wrapped box with plain ribbon and bows."

Sacred Fire

One of my favorite things to do, to watch, to experience...
is bonfires at the beach.

Back in the day, I remember loading up a pick-up with wooden pallets, and burn baby burn.
The beach has concrete squares right on the sand (they used to be circular, hence the term "fire rings").
In 1993, San Diego had 454 fire rings, now only 186 remain.

Bonfires are a right of passage here--an integral part of the beach lifestyle.
You've gotta grow up toasting marshmallows on coat hangers...
There's a certain special joy in sitting beside the fire for warmth and conversation, or to dance and laugh.
I like this post in San Diego Magazine by my favorite deejay, Chris Cantore*, about how much this city is tied to beach culture and its symbolism.

Our city, however, is facing a budget crunch.
It's a long-winded story about inflated pensions and salaries for the City Government, poor decisions about city projects, and overall mismanagement.
The city figures it can whittle $173,000 off its $43 million budget deficit, by removing the fire rings, thereby eliminating the need for two full-time maintenance workers.

When times are tough, what people need most are simple pleasures--like libraries (several of those are facing possible closure too, or at the minimum they face reduced hours), and things like beach activities that can bring families and friends together, for fun, at little above the price of a package of marshmallows or hotdogs.
They already took away our long-standing ability to drink alcohol at the beach, but that's another story...

Not our fire rings too.
Some things just need to remain sacred.

*note to 91X: you screwed up hardcore.

Random thoughts

Dog Beach, Del Mar.
It's all about joy...
(pretty good for a cell phone pic!)

Well, I've broken my boycott on swaps.
I don't know what made me do it, but I've decided to participate in Trish's swap.
The Tattered Rose is hosting a charm swap for Valentine's Day.
Check it out, and pass the info around--Trish needs 30 participants, so we each can have enough charms for a bracelet for Valentine's Day.

Here's a fun gift idea:
Remember those mix tapes (then CDs) lovers would give to one another?
Mix tapes were all the rage in the 80's.
My then boyfriend gave me one with songs from Cinderella, Poison, AC/DC...
Good times.
Bring back nostalgia with a current twist: a USB memory stick (or flash drive) that looks like a tapeat Fred Flare
Think Geek,
Urban Outfitters,
Perpetual Kid,
and lots of other vendors.