It's always a delight to head into Sydney to press your nose against pretty Christmas window displays. One favourite of ours is the Queen Victoria Building in all her regal magnificence and history. Beautiuflly decked-out with the traditional giagantic Chrismtas Tree (too big for me to photograph) and cascading waterfall of tinsel flowers and lights. It's hard to believe this monument was on the chopping block for decades. I can't imagine the city without her

Can a machine have sex appeal? It doesn't recipricate to longing hugs or have goose-bumps when you grab it's plug and whisper sweet nothings into its USB port. But I think it might be love, machine love. So you think I've gone around the twist? You could be right, so let me set the scene...

Today we set the talking-lady-street-directory to head towards the Paper Crafts Festival at Penrith Panthers as I'd never been before. It's mainly scrap-booking stuff that really isn't my thing. At all. I walked around the exhibitors with glazed eyes, witnessing the crafting of some very happy participants. Feeling quite numb and wished I hadn't wasted so much toll money and time getting out there (over an hour each way), I turned the corner and a shaft of light descended from the heavens onto a 30cm wide piece of plastic and steel. Ah, Craft ROBO. It allows you to die cut, score and perforate your own designs from Illustrator. I know dear readers that I have probably lost your interest at this point, but to me it's a god-send. After many years of package design, this would have been a perfect piece of equipment for the studio. Precision scoring and cutting instead of doing it all by hand. But what really appeals is the potential to die-cut my 3D cards from the Go Make Me shop in small quantities. Very exciting...well it is to me anyway. Just doing a bit more research before I lay down the cold-hard cash as it's not cheap

Do you have one or something similar? Is it love or is it a dog (not the sexy kind)?

What a busy and exciting day packaging my printed Christmas Softies Kits destined for Shop Handmade in Canberra. Not all of my fabric has arrived yet (very frustrating!!), so only 8 kits have shipped. At least I have all the labelling designed and physical packaging sourced. Each kit contains an Organic Cotton printed pattern, instructions, polyfill and ribbon featuring Mr and Mrs Claus and Baubles that will never break. Hopefully I'll be sending off the next batch of fabric patterns in the next week or two

Mr and Mrs Claus also have their faces on greeting cards beaming their happiness to the world. I've also designed an A3 point of sale banner (see above). Only $28 from Office Works! I thought that was super reasonable as I was dreading making my own stand

If you're in Canberra, pop in to see the lovely ladies, Julie and Rachel, for fabulous handmade goodies. Shop Handmade Canberra is located on City Walk Blvd Canberra City. Located across from the back door of Myer. Hours are 9.30am - 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9.30am - 6pm Friday and 9.30am - 2pm Saturday. You can contact them on 02 6156 3274

If you fancy just the pattern, you can always purchase from the Go Make Me shop!

One more mention from my recent visit to Canberra....if you love paper, you must visit Pepe's Paperie. Shop 26, Canberra Centre, Civic and 2 Townsend Street, Phillip ACT. Chock-full of delicious papers, the best range that I've come across. Beware, give yourself an hour or two in perusal time. I know I didn't want to leave