It's Catalog Time!

I love catalogs.
I like "window" shopping, I like making up wish lists, and I love getting ideas to recreate my own versions of stuff.
Just sayin'.
It's in every crafter's heart to diy.

Here are some things that have caught my eye so far:
Buckets of Joy Advent Calendar from Garnet Hill.
I've seen lots of Advent ideas, but this is my favorite.

Also at Garnet Hill, I love love love this Lambwool Intarsia Cardigan sweater with the dog applique.
Unfortunately it's no longer shown on the website, so I'm not sure if it's still available.
Hmmm...maybe I can recreate the idea using wool felt?

Also from Garnet Hill, Spotty Wool Throw

How freaking cute is this crocheted capelet?!
From Sundance.
I literally JUST got the catalog, and the website already says it's sold out. Aarrgghh!
Also from Sundance, this Parisienne Necklace is so pretty.

and again, from Sundance, Mercury Glass Orb strands.
I love the way this looks--inspiration!
Tape Measure Mat, from Viva Terra

Also from Viva Terra, Tin Can Angels

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,
These are some things that I'd like for Christmas:

Deluxe doggie hammock, to keep my car clean


A double-frame wallet by Hobo, in one of the metallic colors (makes me drool just posting this)


Tickets to see In the Heights at the Civic Theatre next year.


A new phone.
Droid is Verizon's answer to the iphone.
Or maybe I should switch to AT&T (my Verizon contract expires in May) and get the real deal.

A gift certificate to learn how to pole dance.
I am so not kidding.
Exercise that's fun (and sexy)?! I'm all for it.

One of girl hula's photographs (I love them all)

A deck of Mexican Loteria cards to collage with.

Natural fiber yarns. Bamboo or wood knitting needles.

Books (I have a "gimme" list on Amazon)

Gift certificate to take a Pet First Aid Class (can't believe I haven't done this yet)

A bunch of Gardner & Bloome Harvest Supreme (the garden needs work)
A portable drafting table

I set of post earrings so I can get used to wearing pierced earrings again (I don't wear them enough now, so the holes have partially closed).
Sorry, but they have to be real gold--I'm allergic to nickel, so no mixed metals.

A full set of Prismacolor pencils (sometimes available at Aaron Brothers with a coupon for 40% off)

A class in the red kitchen

and so many more things.
It's fun to dream.

I'm okay

One of my regular readers, Gina, emailed me to ask why I hadn't posted in awhile.
She asked if everything was okay.
It is.

What have I been doing?
I guess I've been distracted by Facebook lately.

Too, I worked non-stop on a group project (well, it was supposed to be a group project, but I got stuck with 90% of the work) for my Japanese Gardening class.
It was insanely time consuming and difficult, but it was really an accomplishment to finish.
We had to present a drafted backyard in front of the class, to a professional Landscape Architect.
There were also three professionals in my class, though I'm a new student.

What else have I been doing?
I've been eating cornbread with honey butter.

And, ta da...I finally bought a digital camera!

On the advice of a guy I work with (who is also a professional photographer), I bought the Panasonic FS15.
This is huge news--I've wanted a camera for so long.
Hopefully I'll be posting more now that I can capture moments.

Oh, btw, I have had to add moderation to comments because of repeated spam.
It's annoying to have to continually delete spam, so moderation makes it so much easier.

OMG corn pudding

My local paper just published this recipe for corn pudding from the chef of a popular downtown restaurant in the Little Italy district of San Diego


This corn pudding is just about the most amazing thing on the planet.
My friend Jen calls it orgasmic.

Don't turn your nose up at the fat content or whatever.
This taste is not to be missed. Seriously.
Add it to your Thanksgiving menu, and your guests will be appreciative.

An evening at the theatre

My mom and I love seeing live theatre.
Tonight we went to the Old Globe in Balboa Park, and saw "Sammy", about the life of Sammy Davis, Jr.
We both thoroughly enjoyed it.

Coincidentally, of all the people in San Diego, my seat happened to be next to Liz--the main reference librarian at the La Mesa Library (where my knitting club meets).
She's such a nice woman, and it was a fun small world moment.

I feel like bringing out all my Rat Pack cd's, and dancing.
I can hear my dad's beautiful voice singing, "What kind of fool am I..."
Time passes so quickly, but every once in awhile there are pockets of magic.