Lulu Carter

to market to market

I am signing off today for a week.Its been very hard being in this tiny house with two little boys who need more than I seem able o give them at the moment, and Henrys teacher has exposed herself as someone a little unhinged unfortunately.Thankfully the other teachers and the principal are well aware of her state of mind.Its all been very upsetting.Add to that my panic as to exactly what I am doing with my life and its been a shocker of a week.

On a positive note,it is now school holidays so we have two weeks to just relax so we are going to do just that.

The blossoms and I are flying up to spend a week with my mother who lives here and we are going straight from the airport to the best markets around.I haven't done that for a long time so I can't wait!

It seems though,that mother nature is not being terribly co-operative.Stinking hot days and freezing cold nights which equals two full bulging suitcases and no spare room for goodies : ( Poop!! Don't worry.In the name of R&R,I shall find a way.

I hope you all have a happy and safe week.xx

lets party.......

Well really.I mean who wouldnt want to frock up and break a tooth at a party with this set up.

In fact,I don't think anyone should eat anything.Just stare in wonder and admire.No bugger that.Take photos and rot your teeth silly.

While visiting jordans inspiring blog yesterday I discovered a woman with the job of my dreams-a dash of Martha and a whole lot of sugar!

In fact if you live in fabulous New York city,I think you owe it to yourself to ask Amy to create a dessert table at your next party.And send me the photos............x

as promised but a little late....

Quite some weeks ago,Dawn asked me to give a tutorial on 'French seams' after my post introducing Miss Lulu.I am not a clothes maker (although occasionally it does happen!) and I get anxious around an over-locker so, to conquer my fear of machines and frayed edges,I use this method whenever appropriate.Of course it will not work on a curved seam so don't do it to yourself.You will be unable to clip for easing. You'll only curse me,yourself,whatever you're making etc.Seamstress road rage.Trust me.They have support groups for things like that.

WELCOME TO YOUR FRENCH SEAM TUTORIAL!!

A French seam is traditionally used whenever a fabric is delicate and frays easily.A chiffon for example.Do not try and use this method on thicker fabrics.You will be in bulky seam hell.

It is also useful when the edges of the fabric are irritating and you want to enclose them for comfort.I use it in place of over-locking or zigzagging.It is very neat and I like looking at it.

* Take both pieces of your chosen fabric that are to be joined, and place them down with the wrong sides together.

* Depending on the size of your seam allowance,sew your fabrics together with a seam allowance about 2mm less than your finished seam allowance.

*Open out the fabric and press well.Do not press the seam open.You want a crisp line to turn over.

*Now,fold the pieces along the seam with the right sides together.Make sure you get a crisp line.

Sew your finished seam allowance being careful to keep the crease sharp.

* When you open out your seam on the right side,it should be perfectly neat with no sign of the edges that are hiding inside.

*Well done.You should be looking at a beautifully neat seam on the underside of your garment.Go crazy!I love them.x

a sad day

This breaks my heart.

They have served me well these loyal happy friends but they have had enough.They made it quite clear this morning when I realised that my feet were so wet that I may as well have not had any shoes on.Plus, I discovered that I can actually stick my little finger through the back of these little beauties.Sigh.

Time to find some replacements? I think so too.

I finally got around to making this bracelet this afternoon.

I love red.It rocks.x

the sun was shining and the theme was pink

Today was lovely.A little shaky to start with but that turned out to be my hands.Given that I have not been given the gift if becoming someones Godmother before,I figured a bit of a nervous shake was part of the ride!My boys were up and dressed for the occasion hours and hours before necessary.If only that would happen Monday to Friday.Oh well.They put shirts on and brushed their hair.I suspect they were a little excited? I ,on the other hand was so behind I literally threw outfit and high heels (Yep-high heels.Wedges actually, but sky scraper high.Sooooo not sure how I am going to walk the boys to school in the morning.We were crossing the road back to the car and Henry said "Mummy lets run".Truthfully,a truck could have been hurtling our way and I would have had to toss him to safety.Hobble had set in and running was not something I could do then or shall be doing anytime soon.The balls of my feet need a holiday from my body........) on and yanked a comb through my hair.So much for the blow dry I had intended to get done yesterday.I've always fancied going to the hair dressers just for a blow dry.Not sure why.I think it conjures up glamour,grooming and time on your hands.None of which I possess in large quantities.Hmmm,the best intentions.

Its life's little giggle really isn't it.Wake up early-you are bound to run late.Only have to get up the road to the event-leave at the last minute and run late.I was lucky.We weren't late and I didn't fall over getting up the steps to the church.Whew.

My friend Sue made her house so very pretty .Channeling her inner Martha,there were gorgeous silver tea and coffee pots filled with flowers.The garden was transformed into a beautiful and inviting space with cushions and a little bar area.There were children with bubbles,family,champagne,a wonderful feast and a very happy little lady of the moment.The perfect christening.

How divine is the cake she made??

The little teaser I gave you the other day became this....

There are some really beautiful interpretations of these around and if I had thought of it sooner I probably would have bought one, but I'm glad I didn't.I loved making this for Lola.And I hope it does its job well.

There you go.Did you get your 'pretty fix'?I'm off to bed.Sweet dreams.x

joy

On Sunday I am taking on a delightful responsibility.I am becoming a Godmother to a magical little miss.She turned two last week and I feel lucky that I have got to see who she might become. I feel a connection with her.A little of her magic I expect.I am hopeful that I will be able to evolve with her and,as our relationship changes throughout the years,we will remain important in each others lives.Most importantly of all,I hope that I honor the privilege of being her Godmother.What a lovely thing to be.

Its a day for magic and blessings.

And cupcakes.

Pretty cupcakes.

And skirts.

I need one.

That will be tomorrow night.After the cupcakes have been done.And this.Don't the loveliest plans always form in your head at the eleventh hour?It drives me crazy.

The beginnings of something sweet and magical.I will show you after her mummy has seen it.x

disposable

Is that what they think? It always shocks me,yet somehow never ceases to amaze me, what large companies will do for money.And what governments will do for PR.Delay dealing with a major formula poisoning because you are hosting something?! Children are not replaceable and protecting them should never take second place to an international athletic event.What a disgusting shameful disregard for life.My heart breaks for those families whose babies have died or who are currently hospitalized with severe kidney problems.Simply because they did what parents must do ,and fed their babies.

we have a winner

A very happy boy and his best friend....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

In case you're wondering,yes there is a cowboy on the front on that top as well.He has a good old fashioned thing going on.My what a looooong snout that puppy has.Eeeek.x

puppies and oddities

Henry reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally wants a dog.Someone with four legs,a tail and big doleful eyes.Someone who runs and pants and dribbles.He'll have to wait a bit.Hopefully this little friend will fill the gap (who am I kidding??)temporarily.At bedtime anyway.x

Emily ,queen of the kitchen and all treats sweet and beautiful, has tagged me for six quirky things.

The rules:

Link to the person who tagged you.

Mention the rules.

Tell six quirky yet boring unspectacular details about yourself.

Tag six other bloggers and link to them.

Leave a comment on their blogs letting them know they have been tagged.

Ok,six boring quirky things about me-

* I will only drink white tea a certain shade of camel.Made with a certain brand of tea and a certain type of milk.Most would call it painful.I call it comfort.

* I can remember names and houses going back years and years in magazines and instantly match them up to new editorials (even if its just the people in a new home)without hesitation,yet will forget a persons name by the time they have got to "its nice to meet you".Its really bad. Terrible useless talent but it amuses some of my friends.Actually,sometimes its a really useful ' useless ' talent.

* I cannot stand pineapple or banana.Certainly not together.Bananas have that strong pungent odor,particularly when they have been forgotten in the fruit-bowl and begun to let you know they are still there.Alone and smelly.Pineapple does my head in.I can not stand it in any way you want to serve it up to me.I think its why I don't like palm trees.That shape.Of course now that I have said those things I will undoubtedly come back as punishment in the form of a pineapple that smells like a banana whos stuck at the top of a palm tree.And I don't like heights.Quelle horror....

* If nobody sees you eat it,it has no calories.All hail good chocolate eaten standing up in the pantry.

* I adhere to the 'buy cheap buy twice' mantra. Hence we do without lots of things that would happily fill the gap even though they are not the 'real' thing.I am a meany.

* I love cranking up the music and moshing with my little blossoms to the disgust and deafness of my neighbours.It must send them spiraling down into flashback hell but if feels good and the boys laugh and jump and shake until they fall over.I even do that thing with the hair......and then get a headache and need to lie down.Until the next time....

I am going to send you to visit these happy places:

Kristine

Lesley

JChandmade

Pipany

Kristen

Belinda

so what?

So what if I have just turned five and that sounds huge and grown up and last night mummy let me do this(eeek-under STRICT supervision-he was posing and the rest of the time my hands were over his-needed to clarify that as that knife looks absolutely lethal in this photo!)

So what that next year I will be in big school and wearing a little uniform and carrying a bag almost as big as me.I am still perfectly capable of throwing a complete hissy fit about nothing(well ok having to walk.Can you imagine?Me.Walk!!) and having a showdown on the street.So what?!

Precious little blossom.Heavily discounted.Today only.x