Lulu Carter

Been Playing

I just love delivery day ! Thanks Cia .Bundles of goodies waiting to fulfill their dream.

Its Mothers Day here next week so I've been mucking about ...

I'm thinking cushions and maybe some bags.Currently making a tea cosy.For moi!
We spent the last day of the school holidays being a little arty.Found the aquarelles on top of the fridge(very very dusty),and the boys got busy.So did I.The old one was looking a little saggy.

Isn't this the best, freshest, apple green?I love it.

At The Movies....

I know that I don't need an excuse to trawl the internet for inspiring interiors(it is my most often 'nothing to do' activity!),but when you send your husband out for "Atonement" and he comes back with "No Country For Old Men",you know you need something to hide behind.I know it won the uber Oscar,I know it is adapted from a great book(which I have not read), and directed by the brilliant Coen brothers but really.I was prepped for wine and chocolate while snuggled up next to a large box of tissues evening.I got terror and blood.So .....I hid behind my friend.
This is a little of where I would rather have been sitting.

Feel better.These images can be found (and sooooo many more to dream about) at redcover and taverne agency .Have fun.Although having said that,I suggest you excercise restraint.You see,you'll end up like me.Hardly any more room on your computer because even though as a child all your 'dream house pics' were stored in an old hat box,now they are stored on your laptop.It makes for a slow startup!

Being Productive...

The quilt is done.Last stitch entered at about 1.15am this morning and two of my fingers have holes in them,but I finished it and it is just gorgeous.Feeling a little pleased with myself.

I have also been working on a butterfly.Not just your regular,stuffed soft butterfly,but a butterfly that unfurls its wings like a caterpillar emerging from its cocoon.Looking good so far but still umming about a couple of structural things.Like antennae.Tricky little things those.Must hold shape but must not be stuffed, chunky, babyish antennae.Also thinking about finger loops so that when the wings have spread,the tie then does up in a bow on the back and the child can place fingers through bow and loops and thereby fly the butterfly.Now that would be fun right?

Lest We Forget...

Today is a special day.It is the day my Grampa remembers his mates-those still here and those lost long ago.So long ago yet so vivid for him on this day.It is the day that he remembers those events that he has never spoken about to us,his family,because if he were to tell us what he saw and what he did, we would have to share those images.Those dreadful memories.He was in Milne Bay in 1942.My precious Grampa with his kind heart and his artistic talent.My sons sweet GG who endured horrors that we have only seen on screen.He is not alone.There are many like him and many more like us.Proud and sad.So many of us will stand along the footpaths and wave flags as we cheer these brave souls on as they march past us.Some of us have made the pilgrimage to Anzac Cove and France.Others will watch on television.No matter how we spend this day,today is not for us.It is the day we celebrate brave men and women who participated in something I hope my sons never have to.

Colin Lindsay Webb

Today is also my Grandmothers birthday.Every year she would spend her birthday without her husband.Grampa would travel into the city for the dawn service then take part in the march.When she got him back in the afternoon he would be tipsy after celebrations ,playing 'two up'.She never complained.He was the love of her life ,as she is his.This is our first 25th of April without Hilary Gayton Webb.She died on May 14th last year after a short fight with Motor Neurone Disease.Today is a heavy hearted day for my Grampa.He will never forget.

Prehistoric Funland

With all this rain during the school holidays everyone is scrambling to find good indoor fun.We joined the throng at the new Dinosaur exhibit at the museum yesterday.Mums with cabin fever, queued down College Street and stretched around the corner into William Street.It looked horrible but we joined them because we were all there for the same reason.Home was getting ugly.School holidays are ending this week and the children need something to talk about for 'news'.Something to brag about and be fascinated about.To be honest,I think we needed something fantastic to do with them.Well,this was definitely it!I was so excited, just like my boys.Special effects ruled the day and you can't beat a bit of good movie style ambiance.

There was thunder ( I am sure the ground shook! ) and lightening.

There were AMAZING digital projections.One wall was a forest, and when the storm sound effects whooshed around the room,this wall seemed to sway and shake.
The other wall was this shoreline.Giant dragonflies flew about and then the far end of the beach shook.These little dinosaurs came chatting and scampering up to us for a drink.Then the trees crashed and the ground thundered and TRex came charging towards them.It was so realistic.No body dared to move as he turned and looked at us all,standing in front of him, eyes popping and mouths open.And that was the adults.The children were a mixture of sadistic delight ( about six years and up ),and the rest were white.
It is also a thoroughly interactive experience too.

My blossoms in the front row.
I highly recommend this outing.

Living

Some eye candy from taverne agency ,

Fairies

I forgot to show you.......there are fairies at the farm ........

I must admit,I was too frightened of the poison this little(actually it was about 6inches across) toadstool must be oozing with, to remove the leaves.Otherwise I assure I would have.You know-just for the shot.

Things Of Beauty

A few posts back,I made some mention of Pluto making my life a little bonkers, but things seem to be going the other way now.Fingers crossed it stays that way.
On thursday I was invited to be on the Living Creatively (see left in Fun Things) stand at the Sydney 'Stitches and Craft Show'!!!!! I cannot tell you how much I jumped up and down squealing with excitement.Alot.For quite a while.
Then I woke on friday morning to find that a lady in Texas had bought my favourite orange spotty giraffe.Off to the post office I went,bundle in hand(well-on the passenger seat because Sydney was having some kind of torrential downpour).

Then,I took the boys down to my Dads farm for the weekend and we were greeted by Autumn magic.
I spent the weekend walking around with my camera taking photo after photo.The boys got into it as well,sitting outside and sketching the landscape.The weather was a little mixed with splatterings of dark gloomy skies and rain, promptly followed by crisp blue skies.Very beautiful.

Pottering

Ok.We finally succeeded in finding some jars that were close enough.I drove to Target/Kmart/BigW /Freedom and finally IKEA.Yeahhhh for IKEA.They used to do a large jar called the 'Sota'.It would have been perfect but unfortunately they only do it in small now, so we went with the Birkin jar in the largest size.Ta da.......

I'm not sure why we have fallen foul to condensation but I suspect we need to pull it all out and put pebbles in the bottom.Anyway,the boys were thrilled.They say they have their own 'Prehistoric Park' happening.As long as Nigel doesn't come taring through the door in his Jeep I'm OK with that!!

Look what I spoilt myself with last week.Today was its first outing.

There we go -real life going on in the background.Washing day anyone?

Silk,tulle and embroidery.Very girly girl.Feelin pretty..........

It is school holidays here at the moment and the weather man is letting us down.Rain rain and more rain.
We have seen 'Horton Hears A Who',painted,drawn and alot of Lego construction has been going on.
When you are hiding in the kitchen having a much needed cup of tea to calm the cabin fever that has kicked in, nibble on these............they are soooooooo yummy.

GINGER CREAMS
180g butter,softened
50g(1/3 cup) brown sugar
1/2tsp ground ginger
200g(1 1/2 cups) plain flour
50g(1/2 cup) corn flour
Preheat oven to 180degrees C

I threw the lot in the food processor until it came together in a dough.Roll into 20 balls and place on a baking sheet with space in between.Flatten slightly with two fingers until about 1cm thick.Bake in centre of oven for about 12minutes.They will be only just golden.Cool on tray then move to a cooling rack.

ICING
50g butter,softened
100g (about 2/3 cup)icing sugar
1/2tsp ground ginger
1tsp fresh lemon juice

I also threw this in the processor.Call me lazy.When its all mixed, spread a dollop on ten of the biscuits and sandwich with the other ten.SCRUMPTIOUS!!!!

Apparently I have a child in here........

Knitting Frenzy

I want to go here-

This store  (that is soooo near my sister and so far away from me : (  ) is owned by the very stylish Susan Cropper.
I have pictures of her home in an edition of House Beautiful ( I keep everything) and I think this place is an extention of her cosy living space.

They have lovely classes and you can buy patterns, including some by the very talented Alicia Paulson.

I have been pouring over yarn at purlsoho,and when I finish this quilt(nearly there : ) ),
I will be digging out the needles and making us a very large and snuggly sofa blanket.

I cannot stay away from happy candy colours.I try and do grown up tones but these guys suck me back in everytime. So...... I'm going to have one big soft cosy girly blanket!I'm sure the boys will enjoy looking at it and snuggling under it, as much as I will and there will be no masuline complaints when the man of the house is toasty in front of his friend the plasma !!