Back from Six Fabulous Days in Melbourne!

Hi Everyone!  I am sad to say we are home from our trip to Melbourne, where we had six great days.

Rod and I so love visiting this vibrant city and this time around we got to see the beautiful remnants of Autumn with all the wonderful tree lined streets and experience it through the eyes of a child.  Exquisite chocolate and coffee was a staple menu item throughout our trip and best of all I got to meet my AFA friends and spend two wonderful days with them crafting.

My first two days were taken up with crafty things whilst the boys explored suburban Melbourne.

On arrival at our craft meet, we were all given a fabulous goodies bags filled to the brim with wonderful embellishments and craft goodies as well as a few treats from various destinations all the girls were from.

We had a special guest teacher - Cathy from Bellbird Crafts arrive to show us some fabulous watercolor techniques, and then we spent the rest of time creating paper dolls, pearl brooches, string pictures, making our own flower embellishments, gelli printing, making dottie dolls and lots more, and who could forget the wonderful conversation.  Anyone would think we had all known one another for years.  

My Hula Girl Paper Doll

My pearl brooches

Our days together ended with a shopping expedition to Bellbird Crafts and a yummy dinner at the local Club.

My new stash from Bellbird Crafts.  Some cute stamps and dies and a few other things.

On the Saturday Rod, Alex and I moved into the heart of Melbourne. 

We walked for miles all over the city on the Saturday, taking in sites and doing a bit of shopping at the Queen Victoria Markets, before joining the crowds at the Museum.  Rod picked up a little souvenir for his mum on the Sunday from The Arts Centre Markets at Southbank and we spent a leisurely day, watching buskers and exploring the banks of the Yarra River.  Rod was pulled out of the crowd to assist one magician with his tricks much to Alex's delight.  It was then back across the river to the aquarium.  The huge line up had us excited to see it,  and the penguin enclosure didn't disappoint. 

One of the Trams in Melbourne, I had to take a photo of the bees!

One of the views of the tree lined City Streets from our seat whilst sipping on our Italian Hot Chocolates at Brunetti's Cafe on Sunday

Melbourne is a city full of beautiful ornate architecture and modern design and you never know what's around the next corner, like this gorgeous fountain in the Carlton Gardens on the way to the Museum. 

We ended our stay with Mexican for dinner accompanied by Margaritas and a Death by Chocolate Dessert  before our mid morning flight home yesterday.

The girls from AFA and I all had such a wonderful two days together this past week that we have already starting planning our next get together for New Zealand in 2014.  I can't wait!