Craftapalooza

Bollywood Spectacular

Luna Palace is starting its Bollywood festival. From 13 January to 10 February. Lots of fun. If you're not a Luna member and you regularly go to the cinema (in Perth anyhow) you're silly :)  Membership is about $16 a year, gives you $9 entry anytime for two people and I think it's something like $7 on the first night release of new films.

More cinematic pleasure

Chris and I had a film fest last week as you can see from prior posts. Topped* the week off with a preview viewing of "Garden State". Interesting soundtrack, a little overbearing. Natalie Portman is super cute and very watchable. Zach Braff (writer, director AND lead actor) was ok, but a little wooden. Overall an interesting film.

* I had a mini chick flick fest, watched "Rules of Attraction" very average crap and what is Julianne Moore thinking? And I also watched "Duplex", though I wouldn't classify this as a chick flick, on Sunday morning (I love watching movies on Sunday mornings). Starring Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore. It had a couple of extremely funny moments (reminiscent of "The Money Pit").

Broken Sword, Flying Snow

Last night we saw Hero. Fabulous film. Started off a little slow and not particularly visually interesting, but man when it took off. STUNNING. Beautiful. I didn't care if the story was interesting or not (it was), visually it was breathtaking. I want a frock like "Flying Snow". It was released in 2002, but has only made it to our cinema's now. The soundtrack was also stunning and definitely worth purchasing.

Grumpy Girl also liked it.

Napoleon's dynamite

Sorry. Too lazy to think of another title. Chris and I saw Napoleon Dynamite last night. A great film. A comedy that made us both laugh (and he's much more high brow than I am) and made me slap my thigh a few times (always a good sign).

The website for the film, is great. The opening titles were the most imaginative I've seen for a while. If you go and see the film make sure you sit through the credits and wait for the gem at the end.

I came out of the cinema with the stupidest grin on my face. Always a good sign.

Farty Bourguignon

Wez was up this month. Beef Bourguignon with steamed stringless green beans and potato mash (I think he used Royal Blue, yellow flesh and excellent for mashing). Finished off with Peach and Vanilla Panna Cotta topped with homemade peach sauce. All was delicious. The panna cotta was stunning. Kudos to you Wezdude. Topped off with a viewing of "The Stepford Wives" (the new version not the original).

Overall the film was dull and silly. Not particularly funny. Makes me want to see the original. I recently read the book and it's quite sinister. The new film's website is more interesting than the film itself. Check our Claire's Craftorium and her instructions for a "Plenty O' Pine Cone-Copia Winter Wonderland Sparkle Wreath" ;)

Jet was in fine form. Being a Labrador and compulsively attracted to food, he managed to get a lick of dessert from Wez's plate. In case you didn't figure out from the picture, Alison loves her Jetty (picture has "the Dooce Effect").

Owning pearl collateral

Sorry. Couldn't help myself. The following will explain. Friday night watched Owning Mahoney (Philip Seymour Hoffman, PSH) and Girl With a Pearl Earring, GWPE (Scarlett Johannson and Colin Firth, with very silly long hair). We had our own mega movie marathon at home.

I love PSH and he didn't disappoint. This film could have been a lot more sensational, but it was very subtle and was pretty constant for the whole film. Minni Driver, as his girlfriend, I could take or leave.

Visually GWPE was stunning, as was Scarlett as usual. Colin was his normal self (I could take or leave him). Very well filmed, tho' I found it hard to connect with the story and didn't find it particularly heart breaking.

Which brings me to Collateral (Tom Cruise). FABULOUS. I'm not a huge Tom fan, but after Magnolia, he's got a whole lot more kudos with me. Great soundtrack, gorgeous suit on Tom. Jamie Foxx was very credible. Great fight scene and Tom did a damn fine job. Worth seeing.

Tonight we're off to see the Metallica doco. I've only heard good things about this so I'm looking forward to it.

Retreat!

I've been slack with my posting this week. Care of the Gusset grrls US yarn sales up by USD$450MILLION since last year.

I'm off tomorrow on a knitting retreat with Emma and some others. We're checking in at 2pm tomorrow arvo and spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning knitting knitting knitting. Tho' I'm going to be tackling my stitch diva colinette giotto shawl (try saying that fast!). I'm going to have to give myself a lesson in tunisian. Hopefully this will be started and finished in a weekend. I'll post photo's of the knitnpurl on Sunday.

Check out Loobylu's Christmas Cards for 2004, you can join the mail list to be advised when the are ready for sale. Man o' man. What I'd give to illustrate like that.

The "diet" (horrible word) is going fairly well, even tho' it's pretty restrictive. This weekend will be the real test, surrounded by wine swilling, chocolate munching knitters (at least one of us, not me, is pregnant, no wine for her).

Saw Somersault last night. Cannes awarded Aussie film. I'm torn between thinking it was original and interesting to it being quite cliched as an "arts" film. Still worth a look and great soundtrack.

Blue blood red Sophie

I couldnt' resist. I bought some Lambs Pride in blue blood red and frantically spent this week knitting up Sophie. She's very easy and fun to knit. I'll post pics soon. I'm going to felt her in my front loader which is a little risky. I'm also knitting a flower to felt and add. I was going to try and embroider with wool on the bag before felting but I was unsure if this would "work". Also am still considering whether to weave string around the top of the bag so I can remove it after felting and replace with brocade ribbon.

Trying to finish reading Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris before bookclub next week. It's slow going and I'm not enjoying it as much as Chocolat (rules of bookclub, can't talk about the book out of bookclub :) ).

Watched a strange early film of Owen Wilson's this week "Bottle Rocket". Sort of funny, Owen has a very bad flat top. Also stars Luke Wilson. Last night watched the original "The Ladykillers" (1955) with Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Peter Sellers and others. A lot funnier and more sinister than the remake by the Coen bros.

Off now to have a bath before GG's. It's freakin' cold today.

Do you work for a psychopath?

Go and see this film. Please. That means you Troy!! A little bleak and possibly 20 minutes too long, but apart from that no complaints. A fine documentary!

Film distractions

FuzzeMan and I went to see "The Bourne Supremacy" Thursday night. It wasn't as good as the first, but for a sequel it was definitely worth a watch. The main distraction for me, aside from Matt Damon :) and the wobbly camera work in the fight scenes, was the knitwear worn by the cast! In particular Julia Stiles scarf, Matt Damon's jumper (sweater) and Joan Allen's cabled jumper. Gorgeous!

Another time I remember being distracted like this was during "The Hours" and Meryl Streep's characters jewellery. Sitting in the cinema thinking "hmmmm how could I make that necklace" and what I could construct it out of.

On a completely different track. I am an avid reader of Dooce. She is amazing. I have been having doubts about why I am doing a blog, then I read her post dated 28/8/04 and am so amazed by her courage and honesty. Particularly talking about mental illness. Go Dooce and thank goodness for women like you!