Lulu Carter

happy holidays to you

I am signing off for a little while now so I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!! I will try to update over the break but if not I will be back bright and shiny in 2009.

Loads of love and christmas cheer - I hope you've all been good this year! xx

freaking out

Ok its kicked in now and I need to go and buy a 'rescue remedy' spritzer thingy. Husband has decided in his infinite wisdom that we only need one suitcase!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shows how often he travels with his kids huh.As I say above........FREAKING OUT!xx

so good

Where's the fairy??

Magic in the loungeroom

A little bit of Christmas

Joy on the table

Ta da......all done except the embroidery on the back from Mummy to Henry(I am putting it off as embroidery is something I have never been any good at and I suspect I'll botch it!)

Henry says he could use either side

I love the stitching coming through the back in the different colours

Patch puppies

Little knots at various corners for fun

 

Look ,I even bled on it for good luck!

I have decided that going on holiday and having a family house sit, is ideally fantastic but in reality a little stressfull.We are leaving summer and going to hardcore winter so we are not taking much with us.Therefore the vacant cupboard for the guests is proving a little hard to find!And the washing!! All the washing must be done for us to take and to leave room for them.Ack!! I think we'll have to hide it all in the roof.......................xx

girls night out

Heaven.Her fabric, products,home,studio,garden.You name it,Amy Butler really seems to be living a joyful,creative life.Right down to her lovely husband Dave and three pussycats.Did I mention that she's really really nice?!

Last night I was lucky enough to go and meet Amy at her only show here.It was held in a fairly conservative inner city hotel and ,as I waited in the lobby for my friend ,you could tell the crafty ladies a mile away. Among a sea of black suits and high heels,in they swarmed.Handmade bits and pieces hanging off us,a more creative style of dress or hair.It was wonderful to stand and watch the contrast.

Upstairs ,waiters served bubbly and food and bloggers,magazine editors and creative souls mingled.

As someone who rarely manages to get out without children or husband,I was in heaven!

The best part was of course getting inside the room to listen and watch for a couple of hours of inspiration.She talked about the beginning of her journey(starting in fashion design-yes! that was me!),getting into illustration,loving the garden and drawing so much inspiration from it.

We looked at lots of images of plants-it is an absolute passion of hers,and learned how she came to be where she is today.It was really interesting to realise that none of her success seems to have been actively pursued ,yet the people she surrounds herself with ,I guess, help to open the doors to each new possibility.Its a natural path for her to follow.

She adores her team and is so appreciative of their contribution to the process.It was so lovely to see.Honestly,if she is coming to speak near you,even if you are not completely familiar with her work,you will have an exciting and insightful evening.

She also had some wonderful,and in hindsight obvious,tips for following your passion.

Primarily her mantra-'Do what you love and love what you do'. Also things such as printing up business cards even if you have not made a thing to be actually sold yet-it makes you and your venture feel more viable.In whatever field it is that you love there will be one thing that you keep coming back to,one thing that gives you the most joy to create.She said that one thing,whatever it is,that's your baby.That's the thing to develop because if you really really love doing it ,you will do better at making it work.And to be brave! It is so scary to put yourself and something you have created 'out there' but the feedback is vital and gives you the confidence to take another step.See? Obvious stuff but to hear someone so talented and successful say it out loud seemed to make it clear.

*my photos are terrible but hopefully you get an idea

The other buzz of the evening was to meet and catch up with some fellow bloggers.Always so much fun to do and in our favourite environment (and with bubbly!) what more could you ask for.It was a treat to meet Kris as we enjoy each others blogs and so it was lovely to finally meet her and to see Kristen again(we actually studied fashion design together way back when, so she too gave a squeal when Amy told us she started in design!)There was also Ingrid,who I didn't meet until the last second before carparks and pickups(better luck next time?!).

The event was put together by Angela from Living Creatively and ,as usual,was a gorgeous and stylish night.They are so great at this!

On the way in,I noticed goodies to buy but was too chatty and slow to get to the table soon enough.Nonetheless there were pieces of fabric to snaffle up as well as Amys fantastic scrapbooking range and books and patterns.You may recall my hysteria when confronted with Japanese craft and style books a while back where I walked out empty handed after a failure to make a decision?Well it nearly happened again but I did make it out with these

I had to get something!

Ok.I am off to finish this.

I feel the need to spend a fortune on Amy's new fabrics and make quilt after cushion after bag after quilt after......You get the picture.Gorgeous.xx

hey baby

Last night I should have been shivering in the rain on the red carpet for a certain premiere.Someone had to work instead and ,as he was the invited one on the non transferable pass-and my goodness it was a stunning invitation-worth framing, I had to watch from the sidelines that make up my loungeroom.At least I was dry right??

We kind of ,in a teensy way,made up for it today by working our way through a bag of sugar in front of this.

Now,the year before last,Emma felt the urge to bring out a tea towel in his honour.

She's not kidding! Even covered in blood there are some sayings one could use about this blond bombshell here.... but I won't because it would be crass.Or would it??

It is fantastic.Incredible stunts (and sitting there next to cameraman hubby-and being an ex film person myself- I have a very good idea how things get done but WOW!!!),incredible technology.Just absolute WOW.Go see it.I walked out and was on such a high I could have got in a car chase down a quarry road myself.All in a little black dress too.xx

is it a crime???

* are you all on bloglines and therefore did not see my new banner? like it??

I have a problem.A Christmas addiction.An irrational need to buy new decorations every single year.Well they keep bringing out new pretty things to fill the house with don't they?? I wish they would stop.I wish that today, when I went to buy thick woollen tights in stinking hot weather,I had not walked past this shop that I know has fabulous bits and pieces every easter and every christmas.All of them so impossibly cheap too in comparison to other stores I sneak into to lovingly fondle the christmas sparkly stuff.But it happened.It was completely beyond my control too as I had to walk that way to get to the car.See..........no choice in the matter.

Besides,it was the 'woodland fantasy inspired' decorations that got me.Namely these.

They wanted to come home with me.Begged me.When the sweet ,savvy ,sales woman kindly informed me they were all 15% off ( she saw me coming a mile away I bet!) I had to scoop them up and run to the counter.I will be back for their friends.Before the others catch on you see.

Ha! I won't even be here for christmas.I am token decorating in November!I am a stickler for the first of December. I must be ill.There's probably a good person to talk to about this problem in Santas grotto.I'll make an appointment.......xx

*I just want to confess that when I was taking these photos for you,I heard the front door open and nearly had a heart attack as I tossed the mushrooms into the nearest jug,hid the big one behind a pile of school newsletters,threw the bird,tissue and shopping bag into the bottom of the pantry and flung the mushroom box and butterfly wrapper into the tupperware draw.All before he reached the kitchen too.Not bad reflexes I think!!There would be NO explaining these purchases to Husband when we will be celebrating somewhere else.None : )

bliss

This weekend I'm loving-

working on this a bit more

and mixing the pearl colours

*yes oops crooked stitching but I am still a quilting novice !

finding little christmas families at friends craft sale

thinking about the right frame for some prints Henry did on rice paper in his art class(same friend from craft sale above)

and devouring 'just perfect' avocados

Looking forward to gelato and painting my toes(again!) this afternoon.Lazy Sunday activities : )

Hope your weekend is going by just as blissfully.xx

anything is possible in a child's mind until it is shattered by the mother

Children eating dinner."are we sleeping in beds on the plane mummy?"

Mummy gets laptop. " oh you mean these?" brings up first class demo on site.

Oldest son nodds emphatically. "thats my bed then"

Mummy shakes head . "No ,those people have spent ALOT of money to sleep there"

Oldest son looks confused "but mummy,someone is making that bed for them"

Mummy replies "those people have worked hard and read all their books and done all their homework to have enough money for someone to do that" (mummy had a 'sound like someone else' moment!!)

Children pout.

Oldest son " but what about the other seats that go all the way back?"

Mummy brings up business class demo, "these?"

Oldest son smiles."so thats where we are sitting then"

Mummy shakes head again. "Oh ,sorry darling I'll show you where we are sitting"

Mummy brings up economy demo.

Oldest son stares.Bottom lip falls forward.Shoulders slump.The lonely ,skinny, seat image waits in front of us.

Oldest son turns to Mummy,tears rolling ."but we can't sleep there!!!"

Mummy indicates with finger how far chair goes back."I'm bringing pillows"she tells him.

Oldest son-horror on face.

Mummy,trying desperatly to fix situation,"but they give you food darlings-here look"

Mummy brings up 'dining in economy' image: Very tall man with knees against seat in front and head stretching way over the top of his head rest ,smiles for the camera as he is served food.

Oldest son gasps. "But how can HE sleep????"

Mummy shows nephews entertainment demo of tv screen."You can watch movies"

Oldest nephew,"Mummy,why are we flying in that?"

Mummy says "Daddy thought I might not be happy in this" (Titanic of the skies-she does not use this phrase to sweet innocent darlings-actually the mummy would have been thrilled to fly in this)

Mummy,very naughtily,brings up Singapore A380 demo in economy.

Children smile widely as they see picture of happy children eating icecream and watching large tv screens

Mummy shakes head.No swapping to be done she tells them.

Boys leave kitchen quietly.

Mummy is laughing so hard she is crying,Oh the beautiful innocence of childhood.

Who'd be a grown up.Kids have way more room in economy!!!xx

stitches and fun

For ages I have wanted to make one of these skirts for someone but I am so so scared of making the first cut that it wasn't getting done.We had friends over to play the other afternoon,goddaughter included,and the girls ended up playing with fabric.Well what else do girls do together.Ok we drink bubbly and giggle but they're a little young still : )

 I grabbed a couple of prints and plonked them down in front of Lola and she cooed "oh dats niiice". Excellent.I have been wanting to make something with these little lady bugs and was going to smuggle them into a quilt for Oliver but it seems miss Lola gets to go first.Plus this took a lot less time than a quilt.

This little sausage has been received so now I can show you

She is very happy in her new home.

I hope you're all having a lovely week.It is so muggy here.Sticky.xx

wallpaper and shop till I drop

Let me suggest you all go and download this

I have installed it on my laptop and it is Oh so fine and cheery.Thanks Tiel for setting this up for everyone.

Secondly,after nearly a year of time wasting on my part,I have joined the land of the blog reading efficient and joined Bloglines.I am up to 67 and still going.Hours I tell you,hours it is taking me to go through and join everyone to my feed list,so just imagine what a neglectful mother I have been when I want to see what every one is up to(including those who had not updated)!! I have to say,to those who have not done it,do it now.It will save your sanity and give back time you thought you didn't have.If you haven't posted I'm not visiting you.Simple.I can spend that time making mummy goggles instead!!Or making a cake,or cuddling my teenage six year old.Bliss.Don't forget to drag that link into your bookmark bar.It is much easier to attach everyone.

Ok ,thirdly,tips and advice please.Celine has started me off and I want more.I'm greedy like that.

Admittedly the Aussie dollar is so in need of ICU at the moment that it will be a little bit of wishful thinking but I can window dribble and perhaps be a little naughty.All this is so very far away from us here so to completely behave would just be irresponsible don't you think??

We are off to London,staying in Clapham.We are spending the 'teenagers' birthday in Paris and eating cupcakes up the top of the youknowhat!! Failing cupcakes my back up plan is macaroons from Laduree.We have to go there anyway.Its on my list.

We intend to get blisters on our tootsies trawling the left bank and of course the city centre.Any advice is extremely welcome.Where to eat with the children etc .If you want to throw some shopping tips in I will,of course, be forced to read them.Under duress.xx