Lulu Carter

leaving our nest

For the last four years we have been a part of a family.A small and unique school that offers our children a bilingual education.But it is so much more than that.During a chat with friends tonight ,who are also fellow parents,it was agreed that our children do not function as part of their class or their grade.They function as a school.All the children in Henrys year and up he has known for years and can chat and play with any of them.Of course he is the closest to those he spends five days a week with and ,in a class of currently 13,that is the way you would hope it to be.

Oliver has enjoyed this environment for the last two years and it never occured to me that anything would ever really change.Unfortunately for the children( and us) this year has been really really hard  and like so many others around the world this year,we have had to make some changes.By far the hardest has been the decision to leave this lovely little school.We kept putting it off but eventually it was the only decision left to make.The only decision that would allow the boys to do all the other things they want to participate in.The only decision that would remove a constant financial stress hanging over our heads.

But I hate it.I am angry with my husband for not doing better,angry with myself for not doing better,angry with the financial crappy crisis that swept through so many industries,angry at the women who compared my dolls to a brand that pumps dolls out in china (and sells them for half the price) the other week.I am absolutely furious with everything and everyone and its becoming hard to stop.Stress is a monster.

 I have just spent the last hour with an hysterically sobbing child.He is angrier than I could ever be.He is confused and frightened and wants to stay where he is.Where he is happy and feels secure.We have three weeks left until the end of the school year and he is dreading it.I have never felt so completely useless and inept.There is nothing I can tell him because there is no good reason,as far as he is concerned,for them both to be moving schools.And to add insult to injury they are only going up the street.So close its cruel.I asked him to be brave and tried to tell him about the things he can do at the new school and all the people he will meet but he wants none of it.He wants to stay in his little nest.One of the things he is most upset about is not learning in his second language.He makes perfect sense.

I know it will be hard but I also feel that it will be ok.Hopefully it will be better than ok and they will have new opportunities.The language will go backwards for Oliver most likely and hopefully stay where it is for Henry but we have to accept that.Accept that ,at this stage, we have failed the hopes we had for their education.Accept that right now,we suck.

Because sometimes life really does.I just feel that its getting a little regular around here.

Sorry for the blah but blah is all I've got right now.

shades of green

Yesterday I managed to spend 3 hours in Spotlight.THREE WHOLE HOURS.We thought we may die eventually.At one point,as desperate spotlight bargain hunters started hungrily removing bolts from our trolley,we thought someone else might die too.A friend and I took a deep breath and ventured out to get everything we need to create some costumes for the end of year concert.Believe me when I tell you that our trolley was so full that you could not actually push it.There was nothing to see but a sea of greens and teals.Actually it looked very beautiful all laden in those gorgeous shades but,being the slack blogger I seem to have turned in to,I had no camera and people were seriously digging in for some goodies so one of us had to stand guard at all times while the other kept hunting.Nuts!!

Tomorrow we begin the sew-a-thon.With any luck we might come close.Close enough for a primary school production any way ; )

Think of us won't you.

xxxx

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