Things I did ..

a) I do not usually post photos of myself
b) I do not enjoy reminiscing - it softens me and I'd rather dream of things to come

In this post I plan to do exactly the opposite - in short snippets aided by Facebook timeline compensating for a flailing memory, so here goes ...

In 2012 I ...  

 Had a hairdressing mix-up and visited Venice with Martha. We drank a lot and met Gustav Klimt. It was all good!

Went to London with Carla and Olivia and behaved all silly at the V&A. I fell in love with a city I thought I'd hate. I miss the tube!

Partied quite a bit, pulled faces and posed for a rare 'couple photo'. I love turbans and decent occasions to wear them to!

Had tea with friends - living a good life on next to no money is a feat but oh so sweet! Scones make life worth it!

Stood on the Manoel Theatre stage for no reason in particular other than curiosity and loved it - roll on V18, I'm crossing my fingers for nice things to come!

swam (a good number of times actually) ... 

... and got a tan which I immediately regretted.
So then I partied a bit more and survived a sweltering summer. Hurray!

I drank a lot, too much actually.. and discovered a love for wine. Not an informed love .. just pure, unadulterated enjoyment!

Crashed a wedding and perfected my 'canape-in-each-hand-like-there's-no-tomorrow' technique

Did the Patches thing again and it was lovely

and ended the year with Kristina and her wise sugar sachet lessons. I wouldn't have done so much unless I loved doing what I do. I tried to choose more wisely but certain excesses define a life so I gave in a bit as well. I now know more than ever before that I love my day job but am also in a position to give it up in a flash for a better thing because holding on too tightly to things can make pathetic fools of us all. I also know that love comes and goes and, hey, that's a relief! 

I loved this year, but I just know I'm going to love whatever comes next even better. So I'm looking forward to:

a second bout of Brussels

Berlin

blogging a bit more and a bit more creatively

family and friends' weddings

acquiring some jeweller skills

brushing up on some tailoring

fine-tuning my palate

getting haircuts more frequently

exercising a bit more
driving about with grandparents
and cooking up a storm every now and again

Bye for now x

I've struck gold ..

... at today's flea market!

Looking forward to next Sunday's!

x

Of powercuts, mint chocolate and festive cheer

There's nothing like a power-cut (or several in a row) to get you organized and all geared up for the festive season. A power-cut leaves you no option but manual labour and so I finally got round to sorting my wardrobes, clearing out things I only held on to for old times' sake and lovingly folding afresh things which lay hidden in the dark recesses away from view. 

A power-cut also encourages biscuit dough preparation. I made salty chocolate, cashew and cinnamon biscuit dough and let it rest a while. No electricity makes one patient - giving in to the lull of the new circumstance makes you consider all your options and choose more wisely. We all need a 30 mins of calm every now and then. I'm not encouraging power-cuts as much as self-induced power-cut-like calm.

In a power-cut you adapt better and surprise yourself. I moved my table closer to the window and thought seriously and for the first time in ages, about making something for myself. I started experimenting with cord and *fingers crossed* I'll be turning this into a Dior-inspired hat for the festive season.

And then I played some more with felt and shadows. Suffice to say, I'm currently working on making an existing hat more gorgeous and replicating it to multiply the happiness. There are people out there with as much love for head paraphernalia as I - and that gives me joy.

On the other hand, I have never met anyone with as big a love for mint-chocolate (... still looking!) Meanwhile,  here's a box of carefully selected fine chocolates which made one cold December morning all the more enjoyable. 100 points for packaging, 200 for flavour balance.

And once I deemed myself organized enough I gratefully accepted an invite to a swap party at a friend's house in M'scala. Here are a couple of items that I picked out - some are still on the washing line (dammit, it rained overnight).

Sue's mum's vintage accessories

 Sue's mum's Parisian patterned shirt and gangster (in the best possible way) suit.

A red dress from Carla which cried out for a couple of gold buttons down the front and another outfit courtesy of Sue's mama.

And who am I to say no to cosy 90s fleece .. 

couldn't but pick up this cosy hooded and patterned jacket for coming winters and a raw silk blazer in a rich red which I plan to iron (hehe) and wear with some oriental trousers for years and years to come.

The busiest weekend of all ..

Crazy days are past ..  I write from the relative comfort of my swivel chair and the haze that has descended upon me this Monday morning. Following such a busy run-up to Patches Market and (perhaps indirectly but still) the EFAs on the island, Monday doesn't just happen to you, it wraps around you like a comfy blanket and does its very best to soothe you (as does the packet of Skittles in my pocket, a walk through windy Valletta and ice cream at Cordina). There's no stopping the eyes from burning for lack of sleep, bunions feel like knots .. but guess what .. I cannot wait to start making things again! 

Before I get to it, however, I must do my best to recount, in as much detail as possible, what happened in my little world over this weekend.

What a thud to come down with after the adrenaline high that saw me through this patch (pun intended), what a thud indeed! From stretching wire cables with pliers and sweeping the floor at Magazino Hall in preparation for the morrow's event on to wearing diamond earrings for a deceptively prom-like EFA afterparty on Saturday, then back to the Patches aftermath of clearing out an array of styrofoam cups and sticky plates from behind a planter on Sunday evening. There really is no time left for big dreams in this girl's life. Drinking free (and may I say, really good) wine is all fine and dandy but ultimately it all boils down to the simple fact that the trash needs to be taken out to a designated spot. 

In a bid to curb my cynicism all I'll be saying to close this off is one thing:

It is very difficult to feel star struck when everyone in the building uses the same loo.

The interim was a fine experience indeed - Patches is slowly becoming the cosy crafter community it was first intended to be and I'm happier than ever for being part of the organizational team. I set up my own stall this time round so the pleasure was indeed all mine and two-fold.

... and here are some photos of a very very very partied-out and dehydrated me at my stall .. and some better photos of just the stall which others took for me during the event!

<photo by Denise Scicluna or was it Sara Falconi!?>

<the Patches L-R: Sara, Denise, Maria - otherwise known as  The Patchettes >

<again the credit goes to either Denise or Sara who carried out photo-taking duties to a T alongside a never ending list of chores before, during and after Patches>

<photo credit: My very helpful mum and her new camera>

<photo credit: My mum / subject: my stall - East side>

<photo credit: My mum / subject: my stall - West side>

<the hat of wonder .. as captured by Daniel from Devil Wears Pra-duh>

<so tired I lean on carousels! photo credit: Sarah Sassy bo-jangles Micallef from The Secret Rose>

<My new ceramic items display ^_^ photo credit: Sarah Micallef>

Here's a warm goodbye to a weekend-ful of:

pliers

wire extensions

bags, bags, boxes, bags, boxes and boxes

turbans and diamonds

effort (i.e. make-up and nailpolish) 

faux prom-night photos

a giddy Captain Haddock for a boyfriend 

free flowing wine

fur capes

disco fever

teaching the creme de la creme of Europe how 'dancink' is really done (hmm)

hangover

a sea of friendly and appreciative faces

cute dogs

cuter crafty produce

yummmmm food but not enough of it .. never enough of it

family and (obviously) cockle-warming sandwiches

bags, bags, boxes, bags, boxes and boxes

wire extensions

pliers

and bed!