Melbourne

My partner Simon and I had the opportunity to visit Melbourne on the weekend. We were invited to the 50 wedding anniversary of my company's senior partner Tom Lowenstein.

We stayed at The Olsen Hotel in South Yarra. This hotel is full of the wonderful artwork of John Olsen, one of Australia's most loved artists. Every room is full of his artwork. Then we had the privilege of attending the luncheon for Tom & Sylvia Lowenstein. A lovely affair with many of their friends and Australia's artists and gallery owners.

As neither Simon or I have been to Melbourne in quite a few years it was a treat. Driving through the city is a little different to Sydney as they have hook turns to turn right because of the trams, but once you get your head around those it's not too bad.

Staying out of the city in South Yarra was nice. The traffic was a little friendlier and the shopping in Chapel Street is fantastic. So many boutique shops, unlike Sydney with all it's oversized shopping centres full of franchised shops. We perused some lovely independant art galleries as well as some vintage stores which Melbournians love.

We ate at some very nice establishments. I love that they have wine bars/coffee shops where you can go into a restaurant and have just a glass of wine or a coffee without having to buy food. It was a nice change. I believe Sydney is just starting to introduce these now. There is one being renovated in Oxford St, Woollahra next door to where Simon works at Flight Centre

The fashion is quite excentric. I love it! I have to go back for more. I think next time will be a shopping weekend with my daughter and we can visit more art galleries. Oh so much to see and do, so little time xx

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

Midnight on 31st Dec 2009 saw Simon & I toasting the new year with our good friends David & Roz Clarkson. Just a nice quiet glass of bubbly and some nibbles in the park near our home. The Sydney fireworks were spectacular as always. This NY more so than any other I was acutely aware at how quickly the year passes and resolved to take more time for meditation and not get caught up in activities that aren't productive. On New Years Eve I started a button bag. As every crafter knows once you start collecting it's difficult to stop, as my partner Simon will attest to. When he saw my completed button bag he commented that it was quite large and expressed concern that if the button collecting became an obsession like my fabric and craft magazine collection he may very well have to buy me a bigger home to house all of my stash. Oh well I can't complain at that suggestion.

I think my next project which I'll start tonight will be a cross stitch sampler. I also have some quilt projects that are in various degrees of completion so I must finish those off this month. I do love starting new projects. I loved the button bag because it was quick to complete and I was able to use fabrics and supplies from my stash. That was something else I resolved to do this year was use more of my stash instead of buying new fabrics. Although I can't promise anything. I'm a sucker when it comes to fabric. What's a girl to do???

Another project I finished just in time for Christmas was this lovely wall hanging which I've made for my daughter Kelly. It's been a project which I started 2 Christmas' ago and vowed to finish it this time round. The little girl and boy had gold thread for their hair and the tree had little light bulb buttons. It was very cute and I was quite pleased with the finished product. As Kelly is currently living in WA working in the mines and doesn't have a place to hang it, I was able to have it hanging on our wall for Christmas. Hopefully next year she'll be in a place of her own to enjoy decorating.
I've been very blessed this year. As in my previous blog, I was able to travel to Europe and visit my birthplace in England with my Mother and daughter. And also visit some wonderful countries and experience their culture and cuisines. My work is going well with the accounting practice that I look after. We're a niche accounting firm which looks after many well known artists. I'm surrounded by beautiful artwork in my offices and I'm constantly amazed at the new ways these artists use different media in their work. You'll see some of my favorite artists on my blog. Have a look. We have some amazing talent here in Australia.
Must be off now to start another new project. I'll let you know how it's going in my next blog.
Bye for now.
Paulette xx