Lulu Carter

specs and skirt

 This is not something I like to do preferring to be well behind the camera but I am feeling very brave with my fresh from the optometrists new glasses.Very RED they are so during a bad hair day and with no makeup I share them with you.

Hi everyone : ) Having a great day?

This is the skirt I finished the other morning.There was no pattern-I just cut two panels(I did work out the length from hip to below knee) then french seemed them together and pinned box pleats until it fit.Then I stitched them into place,attached two panels for the yoke,popped some darts in and attached a lining.I didn't pleat the lining of course ,just made it full enough for movement and a little shorter than the outside.I want to attach a frill in red spot to the lining so it peeps out from under but I haven't got there yet.

Consequently I have to pull it on over my head! 

I need to go and bake a tart for craft club tonight so I'll be off now but I'll see you later.

xxxx

22 to go

I though I had better get started and so yesterday while I waited for everyone to get ready to go out I mod podged my Ikea drawers ( another set to do yet )

then this morning, while the boys finished their breakfast before the school run ,I finished my skirt( forgot to take a piccie sorry but I'll post one later!) and then ,while I waited to take lucky mum to the airport, I got started on our advent calender.

I also baked yesterday which was sooo nice to do as I felt like I hadn't taken the time to enjoy that for weeks.Now in the pantry we have banana bread,Nigella chocolate cake and fantastic brownies.

These are from The River Cottage Family Cookbook which I have raved about before here.I have never really bothered to bake brownies since some disastrous attempts when I was younger but these were so easy and they are fudgy slabs of heaven.

And then in the post came this and I had forgotten all about it!! 

Earlier in the year I was lucky enough to be the winner of April in a Marie Claire Idees magazine blogging competition and,although I didn't win the final,I did still win a years subscription to the magazine and an entry ticket to the craft show in Paris.Well mum has gone with the ticket and promised she will go to Paris and see the show and left me here to enjoy my christmas special.Perfect.

I have more of this ahead of me tonight happily too.Slowly growing!

Ok I had better go and get some kind of dinner thing happening before the starving hordes arrive home from swimming!!

xxxx

our afternoon so far

The boys are scootering up and down the street.

Husband is sitting on the front step keeping one eye on them and one on the paper.

Mum is sitting on the veranda reading a magazine.(She flies off the see little sister on Monday)

I'm tinkering with the leftover paints from the time before street scootering took over.

Im looking forward to tomorrow because a local community garden that is very fabulous is open to the public and I plan on getting some tips!

Hope your weekend is as relaxed and happy.

xxxx

I need this magazine!!

This is a plea......

I have tried to subscribe.I have tried to buy one through the magazine contact system.They dont want to send one to me  : (

Is there a lovely reader who can send me a copy and I will send an Australian magazine in return??

Pretty please.....

xxxx

Tallulah and goodbyes

I said goodbye today but perhaps they will be back.I hope not though.I hope someone gets such a surge of love and 'musthaveitness' that they go off to new homes .

This is Tallulah.She is a Calliope Hummingbird.

All packed and off we go.Buckle up everyone....

They were not alone.

And another crate full of various girls and mobiles.

I feel kind of flat.Its very strange-all my energy has been going in to thinking about this show,worrying about this show,creating things for this show.And then I dropped them off and that was that.Also I am disappointed with myself that I did not get everything done that I had planned and there are drawings in my book that will need to come to being some other way.

Henrys art teacher said to me tonight that creating something is the easy bit- sticking a price on it and saying goodbye is whats hard.She is quite right.Call me loopy but I talk to this lot.The room is going to be a little quiet.

The show has been going for 14 years and the organisers have it down pat so while I nibble my nails for the next two days they will be busy hanging.styling and making everything just perfect.

If you are in the inner west area on the weekend (or even lucky enough to have tickets to the opening night) then have a peep in the Vintage Room.You might see me in there resetting feathers and adjusting certificates........

xxxx

adopt a pet

This little friend was left behind yesterday and she is in need of a loving happy home.

Dottie is in the shop now.

a gorgeous day

All my regular visitors will know that I have been in a hole getting ready for two big busy events.Yesterday was the first-Mathildas Market.Everyone had made a huge effort to have their products and stall looking gorgeous and once those doors opened it was insanely frantic at times.It was a great day and lots of lovely people stopped by.

My half of the stall I shared with Miss Tutti Fruiti.

My LRRH linen cape looked perfect on the dummy!

And a gathering of keepsake Lulu's.

Sweet treats for stocking fillers.

Lots of cards were taken so hello to new visitors!!Everyone who popped their name on my mailing list -I will have the newsletter up and running soon but in the meantime you can come and see my art toys at the Balmain Art&Craft Show this weekend.They will be on display in the Vintage Room.

If you saw something on my stall yesterday and have decided you can't live without it,please email me to see if I still have it and I'll give it to you at yesterdays price.( I wish shoe shops did that when I've missed a sale!!)

Ok....I'm off to finish one gorgeous girly Hummingbird.

xxxx

Little Red and a well bribed child

This is my cheeky goddaughters big sister playing model.When in doubt bribe-one toadstool pocket mirror headed her way!

But doesnt she look sweet in her new cape.I will have a few of these at Mathildas tomorrow but failing that they are in the shop.

Happy trick or treating everyone!!

xxxx

spooks fruit

A baking marathon that had me remembering the 3am icing sessions of little kids parties past.Why do we do these things to ourselves!Mind you,I know the answer.They are the squeals of rapturous delight.From the grown ups and the small fry.

Pumkin cookies,sour worms and a freak your pants off skull.Perfect.

and of course a batch of these-Monsters for little monsters.A bit of a tradition sending these to school.I have no photo of todays but they stay the same.As usual the mummies are my favourite.

It was teachers day aswell today so the boys wanted to take goodies.Its traditional to take your teacher an apple.So they did.

My favourite : )

All sweetly packaged in a little gift bag.

Don't worry-they had a little box of sugary sweet treats in there aswell.

Big day coming up people!! Mathildas Market on Sunday for all you Sydney lovelies.I am sharing with this lady and between us we will have goodies galore.Pop your head in and say high if you can-we are down on the left side against the wall as you enter the hall.

I will have   Lulu Dolls 

                  Pirate Bunnies -boys + girls

                  Little Red Riding Hood Capes-big billowing hoods,red linen and lined in satin 

                  Cottage Cushions 

                  Mobiles

                  Brooches

                  Pocket Mirrors

If there is anything you are hoping to see and its not on that list let me know asap and I'll do my best to have it there for you on Sunday.

xxxx

Vince

An Australian Black Satin Bowerbird.Pomp and gloss and collector of all things blue.Building a nest is the name of the game so it is only thoughtful to ensure he has the right equipment.

I think he'd even take you dancing ladies.And he looks like a bubbles man don't you think !

One of the characters who will be available here on 6-8th November.
xxxx