pretty yarns

purchased several years ago from a french lady who handdye/handspun these one-of-a-kind yarns and have been saving them because they were too pretty. now looking at them, i really don't know what to use the yarns for so i will be selling them on ebay and hoping that someone has a better idea in making use of them.

matcha

i was so happy to see pocky in matcha and my favorite matcha cookies in the japanese grocery store. snacking away. :)

postage stamps

i've been searching specifically for the pears and peaches stamps and finally got a hold of some for a good price on ebay. these will be used as my mailing postage stamps for my etsy shop which will re-open soon. 

some goodies

*// from my sis from japan // organic matcha // masking tapes // kokeshi kimono doll cell phone strap // & kit kat in wasabi flavor which i mistaken it for matcha (green tea) because it was also in green packaging until i opened the box and then realized it was in wasabi flavor // the kit kat mini is in pale green color and flavor wise, there's no wasabi taste but it was still a good kit kat bar to have any break of the day //*

salvia

'zines no.23  is about packaging & supplies whereas no.24  is entirely on stamp making; my absolute two favorites. both 'zines are inspirational to look at since i like packaging design and making/designing my own stamp is something i'd like to do later on. 

new color

gocco inks for my latest card designs project. currently, i'm working on designing my petit paperie logo and getting it made into a stamp afterwards i'll be working on my card designs. i've already thought of my card designs, theme, logo, and packaging design. so many things are going on inside of my head that i don't even know where to begin but i am very excited about launching notecards for my shop. just can't wait to share with you all my new work. 

masking tape

*// in pretty patterns and colors // carrot pattern by mt in grey & lavendar // aqua berries washi tape by lotta jansdotter//*

i love jam

ever since i tried the apricot jam made by local jam maker, we love jam; i recently purchased a few jars in apricot and kumquat flavors. these jams are made with real fruits and are so intense and addictively delicious that i've been eating toast with jam quite frequently lately. frankly, they are expensive jams but once you have a taste of it, they are not your average jam. 

ornaments

i picked up some hugely discounted christmas ornaments at walgreens the other day. they are so adorable! saving them for next christmas.

fancy chocolates

for my holiday purchase this year, i ordered an assorted box of chocolate from socola chocolatier which i read and heard about on foodgal a few years ago and it arrived shortly in the mail today. i unwrapped the lovely package and saw miniature truffles that are too pretty to eat but couldn't resist and later try one or two pieces. :) i ate the jasmine tea and vietnamese coffee flavors and they were so yummy. my plan is to  purchase a chocolate box from a different chocolate maker  every holiday season, a gift to myself and a chance to sample new chocolates.

pumpkin doughnuts

with maple glaze. i never made doughnuts from scratch or straight out from a doughnut mix box before so this is a first. stonewall kitchen's pumpkin doughnut mix makes doughnuts baking at home super easy and fast and the doughnuts came out unbelievably moist, cakey and delicious. wow, i wouldn't expect doughnuts to be this good from a box. i received this pumpkin doughnut mix as a gift and it is available at sur la table for purchase. i suspect the doughnut mix comes in different flavors too. apparently, i didn't have a doughnut pan; therefore, i used my bundt pan instead and filled each bundt with only 1/3 batter. i have to say the bundt-shaped pan created some marvelous looking doughnuts, don't you think? 

yarn unwinding

remember this kpppm yarn i bought a while ago. well, i finally got a chance to get to it. however, in the midst of unwinding the yarn using the royal ball winder, i forgot to pull out the metal thing so my ball of yarn came out a bit messier than before. with this yarn, i'm planning to make the monkey socks which i failed in my previous tries when i first started off knitting lace pattern socks. i like this pattern so much that i am willing to give it another try. 

b*day

last sunday was my birthday and celebrated it by eating good food with great friends and family. oh that cute mini cookie cake decorated with a smiley sunflower, i won it from mrs.fields. surprise i was since i hardly win anything in my life. mrs.fields is promoting their new cookie cakes and had drawings at the store location i visited. and those new heath cups were a gift from my sis which i've been wanting to purchase but was too cheap to. most importantly, my b*wish is happiness and good health. 

yarn etc.

moving along on the next knitting socks pattern in kpppm yarn and before i get started i use this yarn ball winder by royal in helping me wind the yarn hank into a neat ball to prevent tangling. this is a great gadget to have if you're a knitter. my sock is slowly coming together and the koigu yarn/colorway knits up so pretty. just love the color combination.     

sunday

cookies :: oatmeal-cranberry-raisin chews :: recipe here

yarn :: koigu painter's palette premium merino in colorways p705 & p802 :: they were discounted and i love the color palettes.

new yarn

my recent yarn purchase from sundara yarn. i discovered their yarn through their ad logo on purlbee last year when i was searching for sock yarn to buy. as i browse through sundara yarn selections, i was like a kid in a candy store. the yarns/colorways are gorgeous! at first i was hesitant to order the yarn because of the price but i couldn't resist and finally decided on these two sock yarns in storm studies--limited edition colorways. the yarns are so soft and i can't wait to unwind and knit them up into socks.

beautiful print from yui

about a week ago, i contacted yui in request for a print swap, exchanging my calendar for one of her beautiful art prints and a few days later, i received her wonderful email saying that she's happy to do so. i was thrilled because i am an admirer of yui's artworks and her creativity. yesterday, i received my picked print of the sun, waves and it is just lovely. thank you yui! this is one of my first blog swap and hopefully there will be many more to come.

.: p.s. right now, yui is offering 20% off everything in her etsy shop 'til december 11th. so hurry!

new cookbook + yarn

new cookbook :: the sono baking company cookbook

my second cookbook purchase of the year and a great book to own filled with gorgeous photographs & recipes that make me want to go to the kitchen and start baking. i've already made the blueberry sour cream muffins recipe from this cookbook which is awesome.

new sock yarn :: opal antonia aus tirol 
i love my new yarn and the color is so pretty. it's a combo of pink, purple, white and blue. i got started on my sock knitting already. hopefully, i will have new socks to wear in no time.

got mail!

today, i received a small package in the mail and it was the cloud cutter i've been waiting for since i placed an order. the popular herriott grace's cloud cutters were sold out the very first time being introduced in her blog/shop but luckily she had more of them in her recent may's shop update and i was able to snatch one before it was sold out again. (yes, it's already sold out!) now, i have to find a time to make cute cloud cookies as seen in herriott's blog.