Giving ~ Eating ~ Receiving ~ Xmas 2009

I always get excited to make and bake at christmas time and this christmas was certainly no exception! I was inspired by Sophie this year to make some pretty gifts for some lovely ladies using some kimono fabric and some quilting quarters I received as a gift last christmas. I think they came up a treat and I still have some left over, so even better for birthday or just-because gifts in 2010!
I also love making a ton of the usual treats, shortbread, biscuits, (gluten-free) sago plum puddings, and of course my traditional gift to family and friends is a good old bottle of homemade baileys!! I do however insist that those wanting some provide their own bottles, so usually I end up with the odd whiskey bottle, grolsch bottle and of course the traditional large vodka bottle!! I also (with a little help from my man who has the skillz to operate a scroll saw), made a brooch for my sister - seeing that I couldn't buy her a REAL miniature daschund one out of Tasmanian Blackwood, would do - right?!
Xmas this year was a reasonably relaxed affair, full of food (of course) but with my nasty headcold it wasn't so full of tasty alcohol...so not too much baileys and bubbly for me this year! My lovely partner made a delicious pancake breakfast with lots of cherries and mango in-tow, we had a full on turkey, ham, roast veg and lots of pud lunch at my Dad's (cooked by my very organised and meticulous step-mum), and then a lovely supper at my (as good as) mother-in-law's, with fresh prawns, cups of tea, lovely pate and even more delicious fruit and homemade mini christmas cake (all devoured to the sounds of James Taylor and Cat Stevens)!!Then of course the booty! I got some lovely gifts this year and most of them practical which is even better. My sister's boyfriend's gift definitely topped my list as the cutest thing ever! Not only are they beautiful, but extremely useful. These Russian dolls are actually measuring cups! My old ones are now in a bag awaiting drop off to the nearest op-shop!! How adorable are they - and the tops and bottoms have measurements in them. So there goes Christmas for another year!
Hope you all had a great Xmas, ate too much, caught up with friends, relatives and met new people!

x Han

~Costuming ~ Cosplay ~ Dress Ups ~

I've been a fan of cosplay [costume play, in Japan] and dressing up, well really, since I was a little tacker. Only the last 5 years or so have I actually planned costumes. Most of them live in my study wardrobe, waiting for an opportunity to wear. Some of them get a chance to see the light of day, some of them see the night, some of them might end up at an op-shop or stay in the wardrobe until I can part with them. Most of them are inspired by movies, tv-shows, or recently, japanese lolita-style fashion. My first out-in-public costume was as a fantasy character for a roleplay [D&D style] when I was in my late teens, back when I was a bit more of a geek/nerd than I currently am. It was mostly this long green kaftan with huge jewels on it, a large belt [for my sword] and a transclucent dark plum cape. It was pretty cool, but thank goodness there are no photos, seriously. My first cosplay was 'Kiba', a character from the anime Naruto. I wore it to Supanova back in 2005 I think? It was fun and easy to wear and I got to be a boy for a day, and wear a plush toy on my head, so that was a mini-adventure. At that point I'd managed to watch and get all fan girl giddy, with a Japanese horror film called 'Battle Royale'. I was going to wear it to Supanova, but that didn't happen, so wore it for halloween...minus lots of fake blood, which I had every intention of but was too lazy. A weekend or two prior I got to wear my cutest costume yet. My Alice-In-Wonderland inspired lolita. She's an op-shop altered dress - believe it or not but it was bigger and more froofy than it is, I made an apron, found some stockings, the headband and necklace were garage sale finds and the shoes I already had. It was a fun day of photos, food and fandom.
Plans are for an Alice In Wonderland tea party photoshoot in early January, which I will endevour to make the sleeves of the dress even LESS enormous and style a red wig so that I can better fit in with the Queen of Hearts [inspired from The melancholy of haruhi suzumiya]! It'll be totally nerdy and fun and once again my talented cousin and his talented lady, Emily will shine with their awesome skills!