Culinary Arts

OK, so I said I wouldn't post items from major retailers. I'm making an exception here. For two reasons:

1. This seller (The Pampered Chef) isn't exactly a major retailer, although the products are mass produced.

2. The purpose of using the products I'm about to list -- cooking -- IS an artistic process.

So there.

I know, I'm justifying for personal gain ... and if you ask my husband, he'll tell you I'm the queen of justification. But there are worse vices, right? RIGHT?

Moving on.

(And as always, links and prices are included next to the photos.)

#2576 Garlic Press — $16.50

#2577 Garlic Peeler — $7.25






A couple of comments about these items.

1. While The Pampered Chef is best known for its home shows, you can buy its products online as well. Just sayin'. ;)

2. I have had other garlic presses. I hated each and every one of them. To their deaths. (Which usually involved me throwing them violently into the garbage bin.) They simply didn't work. I actually didn't believe garlic presses could work at all until I tried my mom's press (the same model listed on this page). It's amazing! A culinary revolution! Every cook should own one. And it's quite reasonably priced, too. I've never tried the garlic peeler, but if the garlic press is any indication, the peeler is liable to work quite well, and to make using garlic (which I do frequently, and abundantly) much less painful and arduous.

Wool you buy me?

The title of this post -- Wool you buy me? -- is what these original wool needlepoint art scenes whisper to me every time I look at them. *Drool* over them is more like it. They remind me of Impressionist art, soft and a little blurred, but also texturized. I love each and every one (well, almost), but here are some of my favorites. Links (with the titles of each piece, dimensions, and prices) are included next to each photo.

P.S. You can't have any of these. So don't even think about it. ;)

P.P.S. These lovely pieces are all available on Etsy, from the amazing Deebs (that's the name of the shop). Gotta give credit where credit is due!

Lake at Dusk, 5" x 7" ($42)

Deep Woods, 11" x 14" ($130)

Green Hills, 8" x 10" ($62)

River Bank, 11" x 14" ($130)

Summer's End, 11" x 14" ($130)

Green Valley, 11" x 14" ($130)

River Runs, 11" x 14" ($130)

River Runs Too, 11" x 14" ($142)

Calm River, 11" x 14" ($135)

Forest, 8" x 10" ($62)

In The Woods, 11" x 14" ($130)

In The Woods Too, 11" x 14" ($130)

The Princess And The Peacock

So I have this thing for peacocks. I'm not sure why. Actually, I am: I'm in love with color. And the variegated nature of a peacock's feathers just blows me away. So when I found tights with peacock feathers on them, well, I just couldn't resist. These are available in three colors, although I'm not a big fan of the gray ones so I haven't included those on my list. I still haven't decided which I like best between the black and the brown ones, so both are here. They are all available at www.modcloth.com.

(live links are included next to the pictures)

Brown Peacock Feather Tights: $29.99

Black Peacock Feather Tights: $29.99

About This Blog

My birthday is coming up -- exactly two weeks from today. More than likely, someone in my family will ask me this question:

"What do you want for your birthday?"

In the past, my response to that question -- be it regarding a birthday or Christmas -- has generally been: 

"I don't know; let me think about it." 

And then I had to wrack my brains, trying to remember the things that I had almost, but not quite, bought for myself in the recent past, or had drooled over while surfing eBay, Etsy, or Amazon. It would become a stressful endeavor for all involved.

Not this year. This year, I am making an online wish list to track my "finds" and to make gift-buying easier. (This is especially helpful at the current moment, given that I am now a student and rarely have any money to buy things on my own.)

But I do not want my loved ones (friends and family) to feel any pressure to buy me ANYTHING. Really, I have fun "window shopping," and keeping track of what I find online, and putting pretty pictures up on my blog. (It's a nice diversion from my physics homework, let me tell you.)

To recap: one purpose of this blog is to aid in the whole gift-buying process. A second purpose is to help me indulge in my shopping habit without actually buying anything. Third, this blog keeps a record of the things I want so that if I do come into a bit of money (and when I say a "bit" of money, I mean $20 or $30) I can buy myself a little treat. Having these items ahead of time will help me save my money up for what I really want, rather than wasting it on little trinkets that appeal to me in the moment. 

And lastly, this blog is a celebration of unique, fun, high-quality, colorful, artsy, non-big-box-store items. None of them will be available for purchase at Target, Best Buy, or Kohl's. I'm rooting for the little guys (and gals) here, and my choices will be reflective of that. 

As an artist and craftsperson who supports other artists and craftspeople, I also plan to include items from Etsy.com (and possibly other art sites). As these are one-of-a-kind items, they may sell and not be available forever ... but I still want to celebrate them. (And I can always cross my fingers that I will get to them first.)

So have a gander. But I will warn you: I have excellent taste, and you may be tempted to buy some of these items for yourself. If that happens, I take no responsibility ...

Sock It To Me!

One of my favorite online shopping sources is Sock Dreams. As the name implies, they carry socks. But that is only the beginning. Sock Dreams also sells knee-highs, thigh-highs, tights, leg warmers, and arm warmers. And they've got more colors, patterns, styles, and sizes than anybody around. At reasonable prices to boot. I've stopped buying sockwear anywhere else. Shipping is even free in the United States!

I could have posted just about their whole Web site up here, but that would have taken too long. Here are some of my absolute favorites.

(live links are posted next to each photo; just click to be redirected to the appropriate page)

A-Chevrons: 2-Tone Lime, $5

EG Eco Fleece Striped Footie: Linen, $8

Lexy Wool Boucle Stripes: Teal, $15

Mirelle Reverse Stripes: Teal & Rust, $12

Mirelle Reverse Stripes: Rust & Dark Turquoise, $12

Space Dyed Terry Shorties: Sunset, $7

Space Dyed Terry Shorties: Space Grass, $7

Nouvella Space Dyed Terry Crew: Bouquet, $8

Nouvella Space Dyed Terry Crew: Jungle, $8

Ruffle Striped OTK: Ochre/Navy/Hemp, $12

Textured Stripe Knee High: White, $8

Phoebe Rugby Stripe Knee Highs: Charcoal, $14

Thea Cashmere Striped Knee Highs: Cocoa, $16

Leg Avenue Buttoned Spat Leg Warmers: Medium/Large, $18

Ribbed Pinstripe Tights: Red & Black, $10