Great handmade holiday gifts from Saipan!

Marianas Touch Holiday Pamper Packs From left to right:

1) ylang ylang infused bath salt with gardenia essential oil, 100% cotton bath poof

2) ylang ylang infused coconut oil salt scrub, 100% cotton bath poof

3) ylang ylang infused coconut oil salt scrub, olive oil and ylang ylang soap, 100% cotton bath poof

4) ylang ylang infused bath salt with gardenia essential oil, coconut and ylang ylang soap, 100% cotton bath poof

closeup of pamper pack #2

closeup of pamper pack #1

Holiday Gift Bags

Fun and festive drawstring gift bags. The smaller bag, pictured closeup below, is the perfect size for an Island Flavor 8oz jam. Lay bag flat, place gift in the center, then pull up the drawstring riboons to close. Ribbons can be tied into bows or left loose as handles. I will make custom sizes for upon request.

Maria Sling Bag

Roomy shoulder bag, fully lined with two interior pockets and a button closure.

Trilingual Pillow - Fish

14"x 14" handmade trilingual pillow. I will make custom pillows upon request. Pillowcase is easy to remove for washing.

Fish = English

Guihan = Chamorro

Iigh = Refaluwasch

Island Flavor Jams

Mango Jam, Papaya Preserves, Papaya Citrus Twist (papaya with the light and refreshing flavor of sweet local oranges). One 12oz. Mango Jam.

The Lucy Bag

The bag in front is sold.

Tropical Coffee Cozies

Beautiful tropical coffee cozies are the perfect gift for the on-the-go coffee lovers in your life.

Booze Bags

Perfect for giving wine, rum, scotch, champaigne, or sparkling juice this holiday season.

Citrus Lunch Bags and Tote

Eco-friendly reusable bags. Perfect for toting food, books, groceries, or anything else that tickles your fancy.

Lunch and Shop Happy Bags

Reusable lunch bag and Shop Happy bags. Perfect for carrying lunch, drinks, beach accoutrement, etc.

If you have any questions about these or other items I make, please feel free to email me at create (at) deece.net. If there is something in particular you would like, I am more than happy to take custom requests.

2008 Holiday Bazaar

Here was our booth at the 2008 Holiday Bazaar! A huge thank you to Alison, owner of Expressions!

I do have more pictures, but I still don't have much free time. I will post more later. Probably during the weekend. It was fun! I won raffle prizes too!

Afterward, we took Katelyn to watch my nephew in The Secret Garden. All the actors were awesome! I didn't really care for that rendition of it, but the kids were great nonetheless.

I plan to reply to previously left comments, but I can't do that right now. So, Plumeria, no, sadly, I will not be at the Artists' Fair this weekend. I had planned to be. But with the sickness and stress that has been taking place at home, I just can't do it.

BUT! I do have items still for sale. Some at reduced prices. I will try to get some posted tonight and some more on Friday.

Bath pamper packages: ylang ylang soaps, bath salts/scrubs, handmade bath poofs

Reusable shopping bags/lunch bags

Coffie cozies (can you see them in the picture?)

Trilingual pillow
Relaxing rice pillows (new conforming shape)

Super cute gift bags

and of course Island Flavor jams! (Mango, Papaya, and Papaya Citrus Twist)

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of the last Wednesday What Is It?

Tape in a Dispenser!

Also acceptable: scotch tape, tape, tape dispenser

5 points to Sheila!
2 points each to KAP, The Saipan Blogger, Bon, Kirida (don't give up!), Tami, Erdene and Mark.
3 points to Plumeria Girl for getting it all right.

No time to say hello goodbye....

Name the reference.

I'm busy tomorrow. Stop by the Brilliant Star Holiday Bazaar at the Multi Purpose Center tomorrow to see why. 9am to 5pm. I think.

If you're looking for something to do tomorrow evening, go to Charley's Cabaret at PIC to watch the Secret Garden. $7.50 for adults, $5 for students, free for 4 years and below; $5 for PIC desserts. Doors open at 6:30pm, play starts at 7pm. (My nephew is playing Colin!!)

Bummy and overwhelmed.

My birthday was a bit of a bummy day. Bummy because my daughter was sick and I didn't get to do half of the things I set out to do over the weekend. Bummy because I banged my head on the bathroom door and I am still bruised and sore. Bummy because I bummed it in my pajamas all day until I took a shower at 6pm and then changed into a new set of bummy pajamas.

But it wasn't all bummy. We barbecued instead of going out to celebrate. My sister and her family came over too. And because she and James did not work it out...I ended up with two cakes. Good thing too, because how in the world are 27 candles supposed to fit on one cake?!

My sister's cake (with homemade cappucino frosting) was supposed to be a surprise, but her suspicious behavior and this conversation gave it away...

Maui: Do you know where the cake is?!

Katelyn: Where?!?

Maui: It's in our refridgerator!

~~~
"I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?" Name that movie.

Right now I am overwhelmed. It is rare that I say this. But I'm going to say it again, I am overwhelmed. Like that song that my sister's kids keep singing....I'm in over my head.

A year ago Missy and I talked about doing the Holiday Bazaar together. But we didn't have enough time to do the 2007 Holiday Bazaar. So we planned for December 2008. Then she found out they were leaving Saipan in June or July. So we did the Flame Tree instead. But I still decided to do the Holiday Bazaar (this Saturday at the Multi Purpose Center from 9am to 5pm).

But then I also agreed to have a table at the Holiday Artists' Fair (November 29-30 also at the Multi Purpose Center), which is the weekend following the Bazaar, alongside my friend Jill.

I am not ready. I am overwhelmed.

There was Halloween, a funeral, sickness. We had a house guest for a week (more to come). Then my daughter got sick - and the world is her enemy when she is sick. We didn't have running water last Saturday. It was my birthday last week. My jars and bottles never arrived and now I'm out $93 with nothing to show and a huge part of what I was going to have at the Bazaar and Artists' Fair are not going to happen - a friendship, I fear, may have dissolved...I'm still hopeful though.

I don't know what to do. I signed up for a booth at the Bazaar. But I haven't had the chance yet to sign up for the Fair. I don't think I can. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.
~~~

Want some good news? My phone is working! I'm glad because I don't have to buy a new phone. And I'm sad because I don't have to buy a new phone. So instead, I'm getting a camera!!! James ordered a camera for me! It's not the one we originally wanted to get - but this one makes me happier, because I really didn't want to spend $500+ on a camera anyway. So I'm getting this one!

But I'm still overwhelmed. I need to print labels and cards, I need to make a stamp, I need to jam on Friday, I need to finish sewing, I need to make my sign!

Things I have accepted that will not be completed in time (but you can still get directly from me or eventually from my etsy shop): any additional purses, orange marmalade (made from the tastiest local oranges), appliquéd children's clothes, pillows, and all of those wonderful bath salts and scrubs (I'll have some...but not a lot).

Marianas Touch soaps with Ylang Ylang.

Get some on Saturday.

Is this the face of a 27-year-old? From D.C. to Deece.

It is! Well, technically I was still 26 when I took this picture (on Veteran's Day), but whatever.



Twenty-seven, yeah, it's hard to get used to. I'll say it again, twenty-seven. Whew! I'm an old lady now. Don't hate...I know I'm not old, but really? I'm old now. Now I'm in my late 20's. (Though I don't feel a day past 24.)

Last week a woman asked if I was turning 31? Thirty-one!!! Whatever!

My friend, Sheila, jokes (but is serious) that when she needs to figure out some feature on her cell phone that she just goes to some 20-year-old in her office - "here, figure it out". That 20(ish) year old is me. Her father went to her to program his calculator and she goes to me to figure out her phone. I am no longer that technologically savvy 20-year-old. Now I turn to 18-year-old interns. What? Bluetooth a file to you? How do you...what in the world? (Or I ask my dear friend Mona, because she is still in her mid-twenties and understands all of that technology gobledygook. Help Mona! I sent you a message...I did something wrong in Facebook.)

Not too long ago Mona asked me when I went from D.C. to Deece. The truth is, I've always been both. Let me spare you the boring details, I'll just give you the boring...

I don't feel cool enough to introduce myself as Deece. I'm just starting to feel comfortable signing my emails as Deece. I'll introduce myself to you as D.C. And that's what you'll call me, at first. But there will come a day when you call me Deece out of nowhere. You'll think it's awesome! You came up with a nickname - and a kick ass one at that. But let me tell you a secret...you didn't come up with it.

Practically every person figures out that you can nickname my nickname. And each person who does thinks they're the first person to come up with this novel new nickname.

I've been Deece since ever since. Since my mucus days (that's moo-coose). Since when I locked my beloved teddy bear, Theo, in my bedroom in Pinole and I cried until he was safely back in my arms. Since that wretched time in 7th grade when Ezra sprayed canned whipped topping all over me on the last day of school and forever made the shirt I was wearing smell like baby vomit. Since the day I put a hole in my wrist by improperly adjusting the gym machine at the Saipan Fitness Center. Since the day I walked onto Cal Poly Pomona thinking, what am I thinking?

I'm Deece. I've been Deece since ever since.

Lunch at Giovanni's at the Hyatt...

Thank you, Sheila! You are an awesome friend!

To pass the time...

You won't find many fireplaces on Saipan....we hang our stockings by the window:

When giving the gift of booze this holiday season, make it pretty in these booze bags by Deece:

These and other fun Deece Designs, as well as some Marianas Touch products and Island Flavor jams, will be available at the Holiday Bazaar and the Artists' Holiday Fair later this month. I'll give more details later.

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of last week's Wednesday What Is It?

A Hairbrush!

5 points to Kirida!

2 points each to Boni, Hope (only one guess next time please), Erdene and Mark, Tami, and Sheila.

A Haiku for you.

Dropped my phone, oh no!

Screen is all static-y like

Texting is futile.

Everyone loves bags!

This is what I've been doing in my spare time. Not so much knitting. Mostly sewing. I apologize for not staging the photos well...I have two little kids and a lot going on.

Citrus lunch bags:

Lunch and Shopping Bags

the inside

The Lucy Bag

inside the Lucy Bag

The Lucy Bag black.

Maria Sling Bag. purple

Inside the Maria Bag

The Maria Sling Bag. red.

All of these handmade bags are lined.

Made with love and a little island flavor.

Keep coming back. Later this month I'll let you know how you can get these and more!

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it? Here's how to play.

I'm sorry that I'm so late. I will try my best to stay on track.
Thank you for playing.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of the last Wednesday What Is It?

5 points to Sheila!

2 points each to Boni, Kap, Tami, Erdene and Mark, Plumeria, Hope

Nice one, Bruce...but, sorry.

I will update the leaderboard and post the new one later today. I'm sorry. I'm having issues. Big ones. Big lougd-mouthed ones.

My post disappeared. I'm not re-writing it, so this is what you get....

I made cookies on Thursday. I was so happy to be baking....but I was sad because they were for a funeral.

Imagine this bowl full. Now multiply that by two. Yeah, that's a lot of cookie dough. I froze the other half for later.

I had them on rotation...three cookie sheets, a cake pan, and a chaffing dish. I could barely keep up with myself.

Snickerdoodles close up...they were freaking delicious!
Imagine this container completely full. Now imagine a second one overflowing. Yeah, that's a lot of cookies. (Those cookies are stacked 10-12 high.)

Snow White and a Pirate of the Carribean came over on Halloween.
I originally bought that pirate costume from Disneyland for my sister's oldest son....now her youngest is wearing it.
This is what Jacob does with pirate pistols...

I wasn't ready to take the kids trick-or-treating this year, so Katelyn Rebecca and Jacob Seth went to Halleluia Night at my mom's church dressed as Rebecca and Jacob...get it? Instead of sister and brother, they went as mother and son. Here they are with Grandma:
I made these! Can you believe it? Nope, no pattern, just an image in my head.

Jacob entertains the ladies with his rendition of the Itsy Bitsy Spider....