step 1

so this is the fabric and pattern i'm planning on using to make myself a christmas dress.  yes, i realise that christmas day is only 11 sleeps away but if i try really hard i think it's possible.

in fact, tonight is step one: cut out pattern for the yellow dress whilst watching star trek. i know, high voltage excitement.

xmas baking... and a new old tin

giant green things

i love christmas.  oversized things EVERYWHERE.

re-opening of reader's feast....

i trammed into the city this evening for a big event. reader's feast has opened it's doors again in the beautiful georges building on collins street, just in time for christmas.  what joy! and how amazing and gratifying it was to see how packed the new store was. the couple of hours was for the "privileged readers", which means those who have a card and buy lots of books. maybe that's me, maybe not.  there wasn't much room to move about so i'll be getting back there in the days to come. happy that bookstores are still opening in the real world and selling real books.  yah!

a sunday with other writers

i spent most of this day sitting down, talking to other writers about film funding and opportunities to write and actually get paid doing it.  okay, maybe that part was a really short conversation, but it was a fantastic initiative run by the australian writers guild. filmvic just announced a program for new writers, so this day was giving us all a run down on what was actually required as well as other tidbits.  definitely worth the numb bum.

also managed to go shopping during the lunch break - perhaps it is a good thing i don't work in the city?? got myself a small fake pear tree that i've decorated for this year's christmas tree.  note the kewpie doll angel on the top??  used to be one stick she was sitting on, now it's an entire tree.

it was a good day.

more reasons to love this city

a wander through the city of christmas. the arcades are filled with decorations, fed square is like a christmas tree plot.  i haven't got pictures of city square yet, but that's looking awesome and there are giant tin soldiers guarding the town hall.  my favourite of all buildings is a maze of melbourne designers selling funky wares, and two great stores next to one another are on the second floor.  if you take the elevator, make sure that you get the one with all the postcards and a driver, old fashioned heaven.  well, for me it is.  anyway, the two stores, l'uccello and harold & maude are simply fantastic with both owners are cheerful and fabulous.

the gingerbread city is a display by the city of melbourne and can be found in the town hall.  you can't eat the mcg but there are little delights to purchase while you're there.

kitty on fire

(photo source: theatrenotes.blogspot.com)

meow meow at the malthouse with a strange twist to the little matchgirl story.  i do like meow, her amazing voice and her cabaret antics. our seats were the absolute best, though it could have been scary experience being in the front row. at one point i was holding a torch on meow when the lights went out, and jill got dragged up on stage for a bit of idolising. a fun evening.