a happy ending/beginning

it was very cold in Paris ... and it was snowing heaps! Paris is awefully romantic. But I'm not the romantic type.

I struggle with romance. Too rational. See all that snow?

But I love snow, as you can probably tell. We jumped around in it a fair bit. Then we found out that this building is a military training school and left. Quickly. There may have been a guy with a machine gun.

Then we went to say a respectful hello to some old friends. Even that was kind of romantic. I started to feel a bit uneasy. But maybe it was just all those macaroons and chocolate crepes.

And then we dreamed about living here. There was a bit of hand holding I admit even though I was busy holding the camera most of the time. And I'm not awfully touchy-feely. (That's not actually true. I hug most people against their will.)

Then we ran back to the hotel to warm up. It was cosy and nice. I was happy.

And then we we were just sitting on the bed, and suddenly we got engaged!

And the sun came out!

My engagement is probably the nicest thing that ever happened to me.

And the most romantic. Usually we don't do romance. But I have to admit, I do like it a little bit.

We had a pretty cruddy year with unemployment and other nasties. What a nice way to start a new year!

I am very happy.

I will bore you with more overseas pictures - I am reading all your posts on the Australian christmas preparations and I do miss the sun I admit. It's very snowed under here - sub-zero temperatures do funny thing to your hair, I tell you.

I digress. I hope you are having a fantastic time preparing for a special christmas!

snow makes me happy.

Home

We made it home! The flight was a reminder that the flight home sucks. Massively. I have been on this flight about 6 times so far and everytime about half way through I realize it's just about the worst 24 hours EVER. Being home is a reminder that it's nice at home! Most importantly, I get to eat bread. Proper bread. Solid bread with a giant crust. I miss bread so much I dream about it all the time in Melbourne- I have eaten about 5 loaves since we landed.

I also get to go out in the cold and wear something cute and underneath I wear a pair of hideous, giant bicycle shorts. Invisible to all. Just like the olden days! Meeting my niece is just as magical as going to the christmas markets. Looking after babies in winter is a bit of a challenge - Leni gets blow-dried almost every day while she gets changed to keep her warm- a funny sight. There are also homemade Plätzchen (christmas cookies). When I look outside the window there are giant mountains. Look closely below you'll be able to spot them!

I can't believe that 45 people are following my blog - and many more read it on their google readers! It's a little scary - musn't bore you all! To that end, Mr Melbournevintage went out in town last night with an old friend and they ended up in a lesbian-only bar called 'Inge's Karotte' (Inge's carrot). THAT'S not boring!!! Munich has a really vibrant gay scene and there is even an entirely pink gay christmas market. Which is pretty awesome. I have a picture I will post below.

I hope your pre-christmas preparations are going well!  xx

bread

cycle pants

Plaetzchen

Niece!

Niece familiarising herself with her auntie's quilt!

Christmas markets

GAY christmas market.

Mountain view from my balcony

Marienplatz in Munich

my creative space: word snow

it's snowing words today. at least on my christmas card.

Do you fancy making one too? It's very simple - just be aware that old paper and dictionaries may be harmed in the process...

This will probably be my last space post for the year so thank you Kirsty for hosting the meme every week! Looking forward to spaceing more next year!

My Creative Space

I am on the couch watching DVDs and nursing a sick stomach ... but I'm making a vintage button wool felt bunting too.

More spaces at Kirsty's

stripes

Spent a few nights these week making this very simple frock - using some stripy fabric I've had for a while. I added a bit of wool felt string I had lying around to the neckline. I cut the material using the same ole Burda pattern I've been using for a while now - it doesn't seem to fit whatever I do so I hacked around for a while until it was a shape I could live and walk around with. I amended the neckline and widened it and played around with the felt until it looked, well, like this! I like to create necklines by folding the fabric over to the inside once and sewing around - then adding some bias tape or neckline binding made from the same material as the piece I'm sewing -  it makes the neckline sort of stand up and outwards a bit, like a little funnel.

Yay!

Baby's First Quilt

... is complete! I finished it with some red binding and the back is made from white flanelette. I am really happy with it. It may be wonky in parts but I made it!

My Creative Space

... has moved to the loungeroom because I have a friend of mine staying. I've started my very first quilt -in my usual haphazard way. I will figure it out as a I  go along! Thanks Kate for recommending great Etsy fabric sellers and also telling me I can't get it THAT wrong! I've cut some squares and I'm looking forward to putting it all together. It will be a simple one for my little niece. Just the 58th present I've made for her - you have no idea how much I'm looking forward to giving her the very first cuddle!

Fabrics are from Cottonblue.

More creative spaces, as always, over at kirsty's!

my place and yours

Through My Front Door are...

A shopping trolley. An opped dresser. A hat. A bag. A turquoise rug. What you can't see is: heat, dust, and old, stained floorboards.

A noticeboard. It's not used for notices much, more random musings of the culinary kind. Such as the example above.

DVDs that noone remembers to post back to where they came from. Bills. Books. Books are everywhere in our house. We didn't ship much over from the UK, but we shipped two boxes of books. I guess they make me feel at home.

A board full of memorabilia. Most noticeable the invitation my unbelievably clever friend Lucy made for my Mad Hatter's 30th Tea Party. I am the rabbit in the centre. Though I'm usually not always late.

Lucy is fantastically, craftily gifted and she has something I really envy: patience. She just take her time to make all this ridiculously cute stuff. You should see the way she wraps presents. With my demented, rushing, impatient, freakshow ways and her patience and clever mad hatteriness we make a good team!

What's through your front door?

Love This Papercut Animation!

cushion

I made this for a friend I miss a lot.

I bought some cardboard letters in the scrapbooking section at Spotlight (that section to me is still frightening - what do people do with all those stickers and stencils???)  and used the cardboard sans letters for stenceling the felt name tag. Charcoal fabric paint on cream coloured felt. I love how it turned out. I'm waiting for my stamps to arrive from Etsy. Once they arrive I am going to attempt my first baby quilt and stamp the hell out of it. Watch this space! It's gonna be graysh! Have a good flush, of course, and a great week too.