ADVENTURE TIME, MELBOURNE HERE I COME

We’re off on a road trip. It’s an exciting little semi-unexpected jaunt to Melbourne. It’s going to be the Little Man’s first ever road trip. Exciting times!

I’m lucky enough that we’re going to be in Melbourne for the Craft & Quilt Fair. I missed out on being in Melbourne to see my quilt hanging as part of the Australian Quilt Convention as I was divorcing my gall bladder, so this is a nice consolation prize. I’m excited about getting an opportunity to meet some of my online friends for the first time in the flesh.

I’m always so nervous about meeting people in the real world. What if they don’t like me? What if I come off sounding like a wanker because I’m so nervous and I’m over compensating by being so loud? What if they think I’m shorter than I appear on Instagram? You know the usual paranoia that all humans have when it comes to other people’s opinions.

You would think after all the years of hanging out in the virtual world I’d be an old hand at converting to the real world, but no. I suck at it. I’ve become fond of telling people “I’m the loudest introvert you’ll ever meet”, and it’s true. Internally I’m fighting a battle between my brain and all it’s self doubt and negative talk and my heart which just wants everyone to love it and be the life of the party.

But I’ve learned that you can’t hide behind your monitor and if you go in expecting the worst that’s what you’ll get, so I’m going in expecting the absolute best (and that would be that I don’t offend anyone, don’t spill anything on myself or anyone else and don’t do anything embarrassing).

I’m also looking forward to doing some retail therapy. I’m going to spend responsibility in the craft hall at the Fair and then I’m going to go nuts at Ikea and Daiso. I’m hoping to head to a couple of fabric stores that I’ve been oggling online.

In amongst all the quilting things I’m hoping that we can get to Paolo Pivi’s exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. For those of you (like me) that had no clue what that meant when they first heard it, it’s giant bears made with neon feathers. (Click the link to see what I’m talking about.)

I’m not sure how much we’re going to achieve in the two days we’re actually in Melbourne, but a girl’s got to have a dream, right?