Holiday Giving

November 30, 2009

My Wish List
Through out the year, I maintain a wish list. Sometimes people ask me for a wish list, and I give it to them. But items on it never get fulfilled. It’s also something for hubby to look at when he asks what I want for my birthday or Christmas. So here is a list of items on my wish list that I have accumulated over the year.

• Rubber Stamp Goldfish (from Paper Source)
• Nonpro Mini Cheesecake Pan
• The Hawaiian Quilt

So the list is not long at all. Yeah, I can just go and buy it myself, but I'm not because it is one of those things that I don't have to have it.

Best Gifts to Give / Best Gifts to Receive : Gift Certificates, Cash, Gift Cards.

For teenager especially, they love getting cash. They can spend it on whatever they want. Plants are nice for the hostess or somebody you really have no idea what they like.

During the holiday season, I give Amaryllis that I have planted. This needs to be done in the second or third week of November so that when you are about to give it, the stem will start to grow, but it will not be difficult for you to transport. I have 6 planted, gave away two already, and one is just about to bloom.

Something you’ve made. Whether it’ll be jewelry or a small painting or cards it’ll remind them of you when they use it. I’ve made quilts over the years, and for two years, I gave quilts to our nieces and nephews and family. I’ve stopped doing that now because there is only so much quilts a family can have. I’ll probably start it up again when the kids graduate high school and are on their way to college. That’ll be in 6 – 9 years or so. Plenty of time, plenty of time.

Worse Gifts to Give / Worse Gifts to Receive

Anything Christmassy. The worse are the Christmassy gifts that you receive on Christmas Day. These include Christmas tree ornaments, Christmas décor, Christmas plates etc. What the hell are you going to do with it for the rest of the year? If it is a Christmas tree ornament, you can to enjoy it until you take the tree down (if you even have a tree).

Scarves, gloves and wallets. How many of these can you have?

Gag gifts. I must admit, I love giving gag gifts but I hate receiving them. Gag gifts might be fun for teenage boys or a guy who just has not quite grown up yet, like a fart bomb or a remote control fart machine. But it is only funny for a few minutes.

One year we gave a friend’s son a fire extinguisher because he got in huge trouble with the college because of a fire extinguisher prank he did.

Best Gifts for Children
I try to always include a book with any gift that we give. Throughout the year, I listen to the stories that the parents tell about their kids adventures. One year, our nephew went to sailing camp, and I learnt that he loved clam chowder. One of his gifts was cans of Trader Joe’s clam chowder, and also ingredients and a recipe on how to make clam chowder. For nieces I try to buy artsy fartsy stuff that they can make. One year it was a scrapbook kit, another year it was threads and instructions on how to make friendship bracelets. We try to stay away from toys, and instead gear towards educational items.

So what are the worse gift and the best gift you have gotten? And, what is the worse gift or best gift you have given?

Quilt & Bitch

Flirty Waitress...

October 29, 2009

I have been debating for a few days now whether to write this or not. But here goes.

Hubby and I went to a Japanese restaurant after playing pool. We had a certificate that I had bought for $15 and you get to eat $35 worth of stuff. We ended up paying an extra $15 + $9 in tips for the meal, totalling $39. Check out "Groupon.com" to see what deals are in your city.

When we were seated down, a waitress came and welcomed us. She said she was a waitress in training and asked us what we wanted to drink.

Hubby, being hubby said that we should leave because we had a waitress in training, he was joking of course.

We ordered green tea and she left and we looked over the menu.

After five minutes or so, she came back and we ordered.

Just the way she looked at him while we ordered was annoying. She made longer than usual eye contact with hubby.

When she left, I remarked to hubby, "The waitress is flirting with you."

He said, "Yeah, I know, her looks at me were long and deep."

I remarked back, "Whatever, you're still coming home with me tonight."

The sushi and makis were good, the yaki udon was terrible, because the beef tasted more like liver instead of beef.

So, have someone flirted bluntly in front of you with your significant other? How did you feel?

Quilt & Bitch

Oh My Arms Hurt

October 25, 2009

It's been a while since I've helped anybody moved. Hubby and I helped a friend move yesterday. There were a total of 12 guys and 2 women, including me.

I started out strong, but after a couple of dizzy spells I ended up just supervising. The other lady did not move or lift a single box, she was worried that she might break a nail or two (no joke).

We started at around 9:00 AM in the middle of the rain. Luckily it was only drizzling instead of a down pour. At 11:30 AM, like a funeral procession, we all drove to the new house. By 12:45 all the boxes and stuff were unloaded.

You wouldn't believe some of the guys who were moving. They were strong. No one really wanted to carry light stuff, so the light stuff were left for me and this cute 5 year old boy who was helping carry things in.

At around 1:30 PM, while we were all enjoying pizza, two guys pulled up and got out of the car.

One of the guy is the same guy (Mr. B.) that wanted the tour director to rig the outcome of the raffle for a cue.

I couldn't believe it. He showed up when everything was said and done. Why bother driving some 45 minutes and waste gas and ruin the environment just to do nothing. I hate people who are slackers. He came into the house as if he owned the house, strutting and surveying the house as if he approved it. Whatever.

He said his hello to everybody, and left after 15 minutes or so. Good riddance.

Quilt & Bitch

Who’s the Remote Control Freak In Your Family?

October 20, 2009

I'm desperate for topics to write about. So hear's one that I pulled out from the air.

So who's the remote control freak in your family?

I’m the remote control freak in my family, even though there is just the two of us. Since we have the DVR, we can fast forward through the commercials quickly, so the remote always has to be nearby.

Even when I am half asleep on the couch, the remote control needs to be an arm’s length away from me. I will sometimes wake up just to fast forward through the commercials and then go back to sleep (I know, I’m nuts).

So who in your family is the remote control freak (fess up now)?

Quilt & Bitch

Preparing For the Holidays

October 14, 2009

Ok it's mid-October and Christmas is around the corner. Yes, I know it's still two months away, but since most of the things I give are mostly hand made, I have to start planning.

Actually I have already started planning since January, but the real planning and making starts now.

I have an excel spreadsheet that I have maintained every year since 2005, that lists out each person and the gifts that we have given to them.

I have bought 6 amaryllis that are waiting to be potted on the second week of November that will be gifts for people who are hard to buy. These bulbs costs around $8.00 each, plus potting soil and pots will total to a whopping $10.00.

They are so pretty that you can give them to people you don't know well, male or female, client's, friends etc.

(Above: Amaryllis from last year. This picture was taken in the middle of a winter storm)

Also, don't forget the holiday cards. I am very eco-friendly conscious, but have not found a good solution on holiday cards. Instead of making the fold-over cards, I buy the flat cards, so I can just keep the holiday greetings short and sweet and it saves a little bit of paper.

I stamp the front of the paper with a rubber stamp, and let it dry for a few days, and then on the back of it, I usually write holiday jokes for families with little kids, and if it is going to only adults, something funny about politics today. This way, if somebody does not celebrate Christmas, it keeps it non-religious.

What are your thoughts about holiday cards? Are they a thing of the past? Do you like receiving them or do you think it is just a waste of paper?
Have you started your holiday list?
Are you one of those who don't start till the very last week?

Quilt & Bitch

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2009

October 9, 2009

Park City Girl is hosting another Blogger's Quilt Festival.

Some of you regular readers will have already seen this quilt.

The quilt below is called "Meditation". A friend of mine named this quilt because it creates a zen like atmosphere.

This quilt is done with batik fabrics. The background fabric is a black fabric with a tint of dark blue. This was hand appliqued and hand quilted.

Quilt & Bitch

Go Green!

October 7, 2009

I finally got into a local quilting group which had a waiting list of two years. This local quilting group is relatively large and known around the world.

We were presented with a quilt challenge which is due in May 2010.

Some background about the challenge. The maximum size for the quilt is 20" x 20". There will be a silent auction for these quilts and proceeds will go to three non-profit groups.

I have been wrecking my brains out, and can't seem to figure what to do. I've thought about those modern wind mills... but I threw it out because I thought it would be boring.

I saw a picture on iStockphoto <-- click for image, which I love and it would be something I could duplicate easily. With copyright rules etc. I am worried about using it. So I am back to the drawing board. Two questions: 1. Do you think I can use the image of the footprint found on iStockphoto? Should I just purchase the rights?

**Update :: October 8, 2009 :: I consulted a friend in the industry, and she said that there would not be a copyright issue. But to be on the safe side, I should buy the image anyway for the time and effort of the creator. So if I can't think of other design, by January 2010, I think I'll just be non-creative and use somebody elses design. **

**Update :: October 8, 2009 :: 9:27 PM :: I can't believe it, but OMGWTF bought the image for me because she had credits from iStockphoto. Thank OMGWTF, you shouldn't have. **

2. Any other creative ideas for a quilt that explains "Go Green!"?

Quilt & Bitch