My Christmas List

Every year, people ask me what I want for Christmas and/or my Birthday and I can never remember the things I want when they ask. So, this year I am making a list (and checkin' it twice). I'll leave my list here so that I can point people this way when they ask that inevitable question.

ETA: Look! I made a button that goes directly to this entry! Woo! ----->

In no particular order:

1. A pair of Chucks.... THIS pair of Chucks, in charcoal. I'd take black, too. Women's size 9.
EDIT: I gave these to myself shortly after Christmas. Yay.
2. The classic BBC version of The Chronicles of Narnia on DVD. I watched these (on VHS) as a kid any time I was home sick from school. These are much closer to my heart than the new Disneyfied version.
EDIT: Abbie got this for me and I was SO excited. I love the low-budget special effects.

3. Any of the new Doctor Who on DVD. I'm dying for these. Really, I am.

4. In that same vein, this shirt from ThinkGeek is pretty awesome. They also have a Dalek Voice Changer Helmet, but not even I am that geeky.

5. Any Battlestar Galactica on DVD. Apollo + Starbuck = a happy Katie.
EDIT: Got the first season from Chris for Christmas! Well, he ordered it for me, but it's been backordered for a while now.... hopefully it will come someday.

6. My geekiness knows no bounds. I already have Season 1, now I need Season 2 of Robot Chicken.
7. Finally! Some non-geek things! Any of the prints from The Black Apple would make me so fantastically happy. But here are a few I am particularly fond of:

8. My very own copy of Paula Deen's Just Desserts. I used Callie's copy many times while we were still at Marvin Ave, but now I need one of my own. Apple Butter Pumpkin Pies just don't bake themselves, you know.
EDIT: I got this from my aunt and uncle for my Birthday!

9. I would love to finally have my very own copy of one of the most important art history books ever written. Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Artists. Really, I'm going to have to stop using the library's copy at some point.

10. Ooh! I love this pretty Peacoat from Old Navy.

11. Okay, this one's a little pricier, but I believe it's worth it. You can't put a pricetag on being found instead of lost. A Tomtom is just what I need.

12. A Chocolate Orange. I LOVE these. To me, the are Christmas. (Available at most grocery stores around the holidays.)

EDIT: Lydia gave me one of these randomly before my birthday.

13. I want want WANT this bag from American Eagle.

EDIT: Recieved this gorgeous bag from Chris for my birthday! 14. DOCTOR HORRIBLE! I want this horribly bad. Will be realeased Dec. 19.... now available for pre-order on Amazon.
EDIT: Again, I ordered this for myself, and it is awesome to the tenth power.15. Lydia found these beauties on Etsy. She said they need to be added to my collection. She is so very correct.
EDIT: From my Lydia! It was such a surprise. I love them. And Dr. Horrible.

16. Anything Elsie has ever made. Ever. Seriously, she's my craft crush right now. Loooooove her.

Check back later. I plan on adding lots more... I'm very materialistic that way.

I *heart* Crafting!

I know, I know! Sorry I've been AWOL for a while. School/crafting/life has happened in surplus lately. But that does mean that I have LOTS to share.

First, I've been working diligently on my Long Distance Quilt. I've sent several pieces in the last few weeks, but alas... I forgot to take pictures of a few of them. Here are the ones I didn't forget.
First, a leaf on iridescent purple! (FYI: Taking pictures of iridescent fabric is hard!)

(Haha! You can see the marks from the hoop.)

This one is kind of strange, I know. If you've ever watched Buffy, or Angel or Firefly, this is no stranger to you. It is the logo of Joss Whedon's production company, Mutant Enemy that comes across the screen at the end of every episode. We (Whedon fans) call him the "Grr Arg Monster."

Here's what he looks like in action. This is a compilation of all the variations at the end of Buffy episodes. There's regular monster, graduating from High School, Christmas, the musical episode, from a very sad episode, and then regular again. Hope that clears things up... or makes you think I'm crazy. It's cool either way.

The next thing I made was this little felt needle book to hold my embroidery needles. This was done in about an hour while having a crafting date with Lydia.


Next: Lydia and I had a craft date last night and made these pins
(for which we stole the idea from one of our favorite art/craft blogs.)


Doesn't it look fantastic on my jacket? I know. I'm especially proud of these.


And finally, more crocheting! YAY!

A hat and scarf set. I loooove this yarn. It's acrylic, but it's still so soft. And look at the pretty colors!

And this is my Georgia Southern hat, including a very nice "floof ball." Why yes, it is in blue and white (fight, fight!) I made it to wear to the Furman game last weekend (that we won, btw) but it ended up being much too warm. Oh well, there's always next season.

I think that concludes Katie's Craft Roundup '08. I have several projects in the works, including a scarf to match my GSU hat, a scarf made with pretty hot pink and navy blue cotton yarn, a plaid purse that will hopefully get done sometime this century, and whatever I end up making friends and family for Christmas gifts (though I'm hesitant to post those since some people would end up spoiling their surprises).

Jessica is coming to spend tomorrow night with me, so I'm cleaning my apartment like crazy. I'm even vacuuming! (Thanks, Mom for letting me borrow the Dyson.) Also, Chris' (and my future) sister Emily is coming this weekend to stay a few days. Even though I am now officially on Thanksgiving break, I'll be busy busy busy!

I love this time of year.

Crochet Crazy!

Lydia came over last week and asked me to help her make a hat. This started a crocheting frenzy. I hadn't done any since I moved out of my beloved Marvin House, but now I can't stop. Hats and scarves, oh my!

My gold hat. I call it my elsie hat. Lydia knows why.
This one I'm keeping for myself.



I really like this one, but I want to give it away. Any takers?


This one I did not make. Lydia brought it from home. One of our Great Aunts made it for Lydia's mom (my aunt) a looong time ago. I'm obsessed. Must. Learn. How. To. Make. Diamonds.

And here's me wearing the hat and the scarf that matches. Beautiful, I know.


I'm working on several things now. Will post them when I'm finished. Pinky swear.

Remember, Remember the 5th of November...

...the Gunpowder Treason and plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot.


Our V for Vendetta night was so much fun. I wish I'd taken pictures of us making cookies. But here's a quick snap of the finished product. Note that all the cookies here are normal looking. I didn't include the ones that we were silly with (like the Mr. Potato Head-shaped smiley face).



I thought I'd also share my favorite little corner of my apartment right now. My sewing machine now has a permanent home for the first time. I can whip up something crafty any time I want! Also, I finally (more than 3 months after moving) got my Buffy action figures up. When Jessica was in town a few weeks ago, she helped me organize them. I know it's silly, but it's so much fun to do. Their tiny little accessories are just so adorable.
And look at the lights my Mom picked up from Target! I'm a little bit in love with them.

...and this is some of my magnetic poetry on the refrigerator. I just really love this and wanted to share it. Plain and simple.

Happy Thursday!

New Dollhouse Trailer.

Every second is a second closer to January when this premiers on FOX. Whee!!!

Hail to the Chief

Let me start by saying that this will be the one and only time in the next four years that I will talk politics on this thing. I promise.

I voted opposite most of my family and a good portion of my friends. Someone even told me they were disappointed in me. Disappointed? How can you be disappointed that I have a mind of my own? That I am intelligent enough to make my own decisions based on my personal beliefs?

We are lucky enough to live in a place where we can vote for whomever we like, whether our reasons are valid or convoluted, whether our family and friends agree or not. Everybody thinks their way of thinking is the right way. We can't all be right. But we can be well informed. We can do our homework. We can judge candidates based on facts, not on speculation or what someone else told you was true.

Make no mistake about it; I did not vote the way I did because I was misled, misguided, or misinformed. I voted the way I did because I believe we need change, that we need someone that will work to turn our country around and put us in the right direction again.

There are few people that I talk politics with. There are even fewer that I can talk to that have views differing from my own and don't try to change my opinion or call me stupid (thank you Jessica!). I learned a great lesson from Linus in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people:
religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin."

I have long been a proponent of the Linus philosophy..... of "Keep your mouth shut, Katie!" I don't pick fights. I don't push my views on others. I smile politely. I don't disagree. But when it comes to my vote... I will not let someone else decide for me. I will make my own choice. And when you ask me who I voted for, and you don't like the answer, it's your problem.

I am more proud of my country tonight than I have been in a long time. I can feel the wind changing for the better and it feels so good.

Movies, Music, and Makin' Stuff

Movies:

I watched The Darjeeling Limited last night and was so pleasantly surprised. I liked it way more than I thought I would. It was quirky and understated and just fascinating to watch. I think I love Jason Schwartzman just a little bit. Go watch it... now.

But before you do, you should watch the sort-of-prequel short film Hotel Chevalier. You don't have to watch it to get the movie, but it adds a bit of insight into one of the characters.


Music:

I have found the perfect fall music. I blogged a bit about Jenny Lewis a while back. She has quickly become one of my favorites... and she is how I found the album I'm currently playing NONSTOP. You see, Jenny Lewis did an album with The Watson Twins, which I absolutely love. Jenny Lewis is good enough on her own, but the Watson Twins singing backup is just phenomenal.

So, I decided to look into The Watson Twins a bit more and came across their album, Fire Songs and fell head over heels in love. It is absolutely the perfect music for fall. Remember that song by The Cure, Just Like Heaven? They cover it in this album and it is so incredibly divine. If my iPod were a person and had feelings, it would be sick of that song by now. I seriously play it every time I get on the bus to go to campus.

Anyway, here's a sample of both CD's. Get one. Or both.

Makin' Stuff:

Yay! I made this today for my Long Distance Quilt. Found the pattern online... though I don't remember where. I love the contrast of the bold red with the icy blue. I think this is a favorite color combination.



I'm quite pleased at how quickly I'm making things for the quilt. I love that satisfied feeling I get when I slip one into the mailbox. This is shaping up to be a really fun project.


Happy Tuesday (and Election Day!) everybody.

Let's Discuss....

Okay people. Let's talk about something serious for a moment...

There is a very important thing you should do this week. You know it. I know it. If you don't do it, you should feel ashamed.

Wait.... what's that? You don't know what I'm talking about? I'll give you a hint. It starts with a V. That's right.

V for Vendetta!

That's right. It's that time of year to again "Remember, remember, the 5th of November..." Lydia and I will be celebrating by watching the movie and marveling at the awesomeness (sarcasm) of Natalie Portman's British accent. There will probably be cookies, too.

How are you celebrating Guy Fawkes Day?

Oh, right.... you should also make it a point to do this on Tuesday:

(It's pretty important, too)