I'm excited about joining Gimme Your Stuff.

>>>UPDATE:
I have gotten so many requests, and I'm sorry that I haven't replied to everyone. It has been really busy just keeping up with the swaps I do have! So I have decided to limit myself to one swap a month. I'm sorry if I don't get to you! If you really want to swap with me, just leave a second comment, and I'll try and get back to you!

Here's what I have to offer from wonderful Northern California:

-my handmade jewelry
-Jelly Belly jelly beans, their factory is nearby.
-San Francisco souvenirs
-Berkeley paraphernalia (nothing illegal!)
-Berkeley bowl goods (it's a famous supermarket, kinda like a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, but BIGGER!)
-Ghiradelli and Scharffenberger chocolate (factories also nearby)
-yarn and yarn and more yarn
-California postcards
-crafting supplies
-beads
-candles
-flip flops
-Disney stuffs
-stationary
-cute tote bags
>> New things to offer from Berkeley, CA (San Francisco and the Bay Area)
-Peet's Coffee
-Japanese goods and books
-Indian groceries (spices and such)
-Fabric
>>>Update, new possibilities
-So a new Japanese 300 yen ($1.50) store just opened up nearby! I love going there! :) Everything your heart desires!
-Sanrio

What I'd love to receive:
-souvenir or traditional stuffs that are unique to where you are
-your favorite music
-cute buttons and pins
-I LOVE THE OCEAN anything marine (especially nudibranchs also known as sea slugs)
-Nici characters (when I was traveling around Europe I fell in love with the Nici characters, and found I couldn't get them in the US!
-bears are my favorite animal (and I love pandas and koalas as well)
-gashapon (although not any anime characters, I don't really watch any of them) so anything cute
-Cram Cream and Decole stuffs
-arts and craft books
>>New things I'd like to receive:
-Cute fabrics
-Kinder eggs! We can't get them here in the US!
>>>Update
-my favorite colors are blue and green, but I like light pink and purple too! And red. . .
-I'd love to get handmade items from crafters (plushes, bags, jewelry)
-I do like cute stickers, so maybe a sheet of cute stickers slipped into a package
-Not too many snacks. One or two food items in a package are plenty for me!

Another crafty week

So, I realized I never ever put up a picture of the blanket I made Tim. He's not taken a picture of it laid out though, so here's a folded version of it sitting on his chair. Imagine it about 4 times as big.
My family then got together for lunch. Went to The Bead Shop for a bit. Went back home and met up with Melissa and Freecia to sew up some bags. I have to admit that it was difficult, but so much fun, and SO rewarding. My little sister and cousin were beading next to us, and poor Greg was caught in the middle of the crafting fest. Thanks for sitting with us Greg! With an hour dinner break in between, it took us from about 5:30-11:30 of interpreting patterns, cutting, pinning (or in my case not pinning, but praying), and sewing!

I'm quite proud.  It's a little more chocolate brown. . .these pics are a little dark. . .

Do you like the last minute stitched design on it? Almost didn't do it, but can you imagine how plain it would have been if it was just plain brown? A little off-center, but I actually had wanted it more off-centered . . .oh well!

Isn't the inside pattern fun? A button and loop keep the shape of the bag.

Inside I sewed in a SUPER weak magnet. . .probably should have been patient and bought stronger ones, or a real clasp, but that's what I get for being impatient.
This is what it looks like expanded.

crafting skills

Life has been too busy in May. First I want to exhibit my crafting skills, fun finds, and packages sent to me!
Crafting skills:
Still waiting for pics from everyone else, since so many people have been asking about pictures of presents I've given people.
Freecia's Christmas present:
Yes I've learned how to make felted animals.


Melissa's Christmas present/birthday presents:


Pouch with lining on the inside. . .I know it doesn't match, but I will be making more of these that will match. I've already got orders from people to make them one! Haha.

My new red scarf, I've been saving this yarn for a while now. I'm happy with the way it turned out.