Gift Ideas

Some of my favorite gifts, both to give and to receive, are stocking stuffers.
Fun candy, I-tunes gift cards, gold coins, wool socks, art supplies, kitchen gadgets...
Here are a couple more ideas:


If you have long hair, this brush is a MUST HAVE.
The Wet Brush blows a comb out of the water. It is awesome!
And affordable.

I like these dog leashes that loop around to form their own collar.
This one is at LL Bean.

Hee Hee....Dog Slobber Hand Sanitizer
At Perpetual Kid.

I didn't mean to turn this into dog-related gifts, but I've just happened upon some cool stuff.Doggie water bottle adapter


T Rex tea strainer, at Fred Flare

What is on MY "gimme" list this year?
A food processor
New pillow (a chiropractic type)
Chanel foundation
curling iron with a wide brush, like this
a vintage Polaroid. Maybe the SX-70 (see this)
Fermenting class, from Nourished Kitchen

Geez, I finally sewed something again

I finally dusted off my sewing machine and made a gift bag for a friend's birthday.
(Jen, if you're reading this, look away....at least until I give this to you this weekend!)



I first came across this gorgeous grape fabric by Martha Negley for Westminster Fabrics.
Jen is a wine aficionado, so I figured she might like this.
Initially I just thought I'd make a simple drawstring bag, but my projects always tend to get more complicated, so I decided to make the Slouchy Yard Bag (tutorial on Lazy Daisy Cottage).

That meant another trip to the fabric store to find more designs in the Autumn Medley fabric line, and I ended up liking this Bright Mix even more.
So the grape fabric that started me on this project became the lining

I got the grape vines in the green colorway (it's called Burst Twigs) for the interior pockets.

I decided to use a wide purple satin ribbon for the handles.
I'm hoping maybe she can reuse the bag for light shopping.

Inside, my favorite gift to give friends right now: a soy candle from Bottlehood.
Bottlehood is a San Diego company that takes trash (bottles from restaurants, bars, etc) and cuts them into reusable bowls, vases, pendants, goblets, lamps, and candles.
They also make flattened bottles into cheese boards and spoon rests.
Eventually they hope to even turn glass into countertops.

They use unusually shaped bottles, and/or bottles with permanent designs (etched designs versus paper labels).
Most of the bottles are rather manly designs, like Stone Pale Ale's Arrogant Bastard.
But I love the harder-to-find Dolce wine bottle for feminine gifts, with its gold swirls and cascading grapes
I love supporting recycled projects, mom and pop businesses, and local businesses.
Bottlehood sells at San Diego Farmer's Markets, and also have a shop on Etsy.

gimme

Joy comes to different people in different ways.
Sometimes it's interactions with those we love,
or it's learning something new, or seeing a new place.
Sometimes it's a quiet afternoon alone, a favorite scent, a cool breeze, a perfect recipe.
Sometimes it's a child's laugh, a dog's smile, a streak of sunlight.

But I ain't gonna lie, as the saying goes...
sometimes, despite the superficiality, material things give me joy.
Sometimes you want to wrap up a bright shiny package and hand it to yourself, you know?
My friend debs calls those things she wants to buy her "gimme list".
I love that description.
It's a good gimme, not a bratty one ;)

Right now, this bright red thermos is something I love.
I just ordered it from the Sundance Catalog.

Also from Sundance Catalog, this Gathered Truths intrigues me.
It's a box of quotations..."words to hearten and enlighten".


On my "gimme" list, these sparrow clips (from Crate and Barrel).


I don't even have a Wii yet, but I think I might buy one just so I can have fun with Just Dance.

And...I cannot stop obsessing about Finny's new bike.
I am hardcore coveting that thing of beauty.

Winter Nest Fabric Panel

I just bought this gorgeous fabric panel by Kristen Doran.
I'll make a pillow for my bedroom.
The black is exquisite, but sold out currently, so I got the green.

Shopping ideas

My new slippers (from Lands End)


On my "gimme" list"
an alarm clock called "Sunrise", (by Homedics) that mimics the sun rising--it works with your own lamp to wake you more naturally...with light and nature sounds
This is fun--a cake shaped like a sandwich, from Perpetual Kid.The current issue of the Food Network Magazine suggests making yellow cake, with peanut butter frosting plus your favorite jelly.
I think this would be fun for a kid's themed party for someone turning 50 or 60!

I love the vintage teaspoons that have been remade into garden plant markers, by Monkeys Always Lookalso available in her etsy shop, and coincidentally located in my city of San Diego too!

Miscellaneous

I'm loving Urban Threads makeover on Sunbonnet Sue.
The new girl is having a lot more fun!
Urban Threads sells embroidery patterns (machine and hand)


I just bought this pattern to make these adorable felted slippers.
God, aren't they CUTE?!!
Pattern by Melynda of FrenchPress Knits (etsy)
She offers seaming tutorials or her blog.

Jen, of The Felt Mouse, posted a really fun recycling idea:
turning eyeglasses into pins.
I suggested that you could go one step further and copper tape the edge then solder it.
I have to try this

I can't wait to try Bobby Flay's Frozen Mojito

Goodies

I bought this Alice in Wonderland locket recently. Yes, Alice with pig


and this birch trees print from Lisa Congdon


and this pattern for a crocheted bag

View Stick

Now that I've learned to knit, I keep looking at new yarns, patterns for hoodies or tops or hats...
I signed up on Ravelry.
And I just bought this nifty gadget called a View Stick.It's a clip-on magnifier that you place on your pattern, and the text is not only enlarged, but a red line indicates which line you're on.
Meaning this gadget would also be great for other uses--crocheting, cooking, etc.
I mean really, how freakin' cool is that?!

They're available on several sites, but I bought mine on
Annie's Attic.

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

Fun Food

One of my favorite gifts to give friends is assembling a collection of items, often with a theme.
For example, when my friend Tracie obtained her black belt, my friend debs and I put together a gift basket (the "basket" in this case was an upturned Powerpuff Girls cap) of Wonder Woman themed items.
Once I gave a bowl, spoon, spatula, all the ingredients, and a recipe for chocolate chip cookies.
I like to give kitchen gadgets with a foodie book (or culinary fiction), and unique food items.

But what I love most of all is finding items with a play on words.
This is sure to bring a smile.
These also make great white elephant gifts.
Here are some fun food examples:

Butt Massage


Spotted Dick


Cock Soup


Cock-a-Leekie Soup


Oh my gosh, hot sauce is a world unto its own.
There are sooo many fun hot sauce labels.
This, however, has to be my favorite:
Red Rectum Hot Sauce


More fun foods here.

Holiday humor

Geez, poor neglected blog.
I've been spending more time on Facebook lately.

I had to post this bizarre Passover toy: the Bag of Plagues.

According to judaism.com, "The Passover Bag of Plagues is an interactive collection of toys to help families portray dramatic events in the Passover story in a spirit of fun and discovery. It will engage the youngest Seder participants, capturing their imaginations while encouraging them to take the first step through the desert and feel the sand between their toes.
Plagues Bag includes items representative of each of the ten plagues."

But, um, plagues as toys?
The set includes a plastic locust, a sticky hand with "boils", and fake blood.
Boy, don't you want to be at that party? Just sayin'.
Please know I am not trying to degrade religion here, only commenting on this odd form of teaching the stories.
Or do you think kids would like this?

Or, if you don't like the bag of toys, you can choose the Plagues Bowling Set.
There is also a plagues masks set, or plagues finger puppets.
Am I the only one finding this strange?

How about Matzoh Ball Bingo?

(click on image to enlarge)

To be fair, I looked for novelty Easter toys.
I found Resurrection eggs, but these actually seem fun to me.

The resurrection eggs were the only novelty Easter toy I could find, but of course there are always the prank sites.

I found some items that are fun without being (in my opinion anyway) sacrilegious
Jesus Bandages
(how cool would these be as basket fillers or Christmas stocking stuffers?!)

Jeez-its Sticky Notes


Holy Toast stamper makes a Heavenly breakfast (come on now--you have to admit that's funny)

Other items include Huggy Jesus, Jesus action figure, Jesus saves bank, Jesus shaves mug
There are lots more prank toys and tee shirts (some less politically correct than others).

My Garden Green

I have something of an obsession for green plants.
Meaning either chartreuse foliage, or green-colored flowers.
I lurve me some green flowers.

Some of these are in my garden already, and the rest eventually will be.
Even looking at these pictures is like candy...
(for more info, click on the links)

Zinnia, 'Benary's Giant Lime'
(there is also a smaller green Zinnia called 'Envy')
I love zinnias--they remind me of my childhood, since it was one of the first things I ever planted.
These 'Red Lime' Zinnia are on my "gotta have" list.
Several Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) are available in lime colorations.
I want them all!!!
'Coconut Lime' Echinacea

'Green Jewel' Echinacea

Euphorbia portlandica 'Dolce Vita'
Another Euphorbia, amygdaloides 'Purpea', turns from green to wine-colored depending on the season.

Salvia mexicana, 'Limelight' is a stunning show of chartreuse and purple.
It's in the sage family.
This one looks amazing--in fact I'm going to order more for different parts of the yard.

'Emerald Tassles' (Amaranthus caudatus) is a green version of 'Love lies Bleeding'.

Evergreen Azalea, 'Green Glow'