Lulu Carter

death and replacement

I know the last post had me raving about the virtues of yarn play as my preferred time spender but the last two days have seen me sitting at my machine.

Yesterday were some quick and simple pillowcases in a gorgeous floral sent to me quite some time ago.It has been sitting on my shelf all this time and I did not know what to do with it that was a "worthy" use.In the end I decided I didn't want to put it in a quilt and would love to enjoy it most days.Done.

*needless to say that no weary head shall be laying on these-show pillows only people!!

Then I took to the huge pile of alterations and holes in knees and I conquered it.Yay.

So I thought I might try my hand at smocking.I don't wear frocks with smocking and have no little female relatives so until now have had nobody obvious to smock for.I thought it seemed simple enough.It is too- but your machine has to be a willing accomplice otherwise it all goes to hell in a hand basket.Which it did.

I was ironing the spaghetti straps hoping my goddaughter would forgive the crazy and unhappy thread /elastic combo goings on under the seemingly perfect exterior.I was feeling a little (just a little ) as though next time it would be a doddle.My machine had squealed in horror and pain the entire way through the eight rows of smocking and I was perspiring at each and every "altercation" between thread and elastic,fabric and needle/ bobbin chaos but it was possibly working.

But then some kind of magic happens when you spritz and iron.It goes PING.Pretty huh?

Then I heard a whizzing sound followed by a pop.Thankfully I wasn't sitting at it.I looked over to see thick smoke whooshing from the plug socket on the machine.

I can safely say its had it.Over twenty years of fairly reliable service and I am now in the market for a new one.

Which brings me to the next and most important part of this post.

How on earth do you choose a new sewing machine!

Please tell me what you use lovely people and what it does for you to help me narrow things down a bit because I believe choosing a new sewing machine is more challenging than entering Hope and Greenwood carrying a substantial sugar addiction and not buying half the store.

pick up stix

Even when it is hot and steamy outside,I still play with yarn.Perhaps its because I re-found the joy later in life-indeed once I had children.Perhaps it is because I find it the perfect, relatively mindless, tv watching activity.Perhaps a combination. I have also noticed that I spend more time looking at yarn than at fabric.I think having a basket of colourful balls worth stroking is the equivalent to having a stocked pantry. It makes me extremely happy and in a strange way,organised.Sewing is a procession of tools,planning and time.It is also not necesarily portable, particularly if working on something special.Working with yarn is playground friendly/hospital waiting room friendly (only a parent would nominate this as an important hobby feature!) and car friendly.Clearly not if you are the one behind the wheel.Just saying.It is also " damn- now that i've made it I really don't think I like it so I'll unravel it and make this instead" friendly.Now you have got to love that flexibility in a hobby.

Off the stix:

Maille baby cardigan without bottom lace row.Inspired by Itty Bitty.Needing buttons and blocking but I am loving the absolute sweetness of this little cardi.

Koigu KPPPM colour P538.Bought from Purl Soho.

Cowl in Jo Sharp silk georgette colour Sprig 760.Pattern here.Bought from Tapestry and Craft.

I began this on our flight to the Uk back in November and finished it in time to wear with my sisters coat.Well mine didn't suit it!

Just on the stix.

I think it will be a long twisty cowl.Really I think its happening because I just love moss/seed stitch.What can I say.....you cant watch tv and do nothing.

That would be......relaxing.......or something...

Yarn cascade 128 Superwash colour 1910 Summer Sky.Bought from Purl Soho

 

 

crafternoon

I was on God daughter duty after lunch today which is always such a treat and, now that naps are a thing of the past, we were able to do something in the time before picking up the boys.

>
The boys were beside themselves when they saw her in the playground.Besotted.

 

Have a gorgeous weekend!!

We are skateboarding/house hunting/football registering/bicycle testing and picnicing.Thats Saturday.Sunday I think we will be lying on a beach somewhere utterly exhausted.

In the midst of all that I will be on here ordering some much desired fabric and casting on something new as tonight I am binding off a sweet little cardigan that I will show you when I've blocked it.Happiness is.

life can be a little twisted

I have realised something with a mixture of delight and absolute disgust ( call it green eyed monster with a slug of  indecision slopped in for good measure). Whilst we cannot afford the house we want in an area we are remotely interested in living in Sydney.........

We can afford this.In France.Cruel right??

A while ago we joined this property website.It was a moment of delusion and yet, people do it all the time. So not crazy-it just depends how brave (yes I call moving schools,languages and embracing the certainty of a  period of no income brave) you are and how much you want to spend your one and only go on this planet actually living the way you want to live.

So.

We joined.

But they keep sending us these.....these.....dream houses.I know thats what we signed up for but honestly its doing us in.I think given the lack of choice here we might have to become one of those families who just do it.Life is too short.

If you could move anywhere-or if you have just packed up and moved to your dream location........where did you choose/where would you go and what would it take to make the decision?

I would love to know!!

just between us girls

I got a bit excited earlier.I found my perfect bike.Its so boring all my ummings and ahhings over which bike but I suffer bouts of terrible indecisiveness and so the saga has continued.

BUT.

Then I met Juliet and I swooooooned.

Do you know what my husband said? He said that I am too old to ride a pink bike.Not just pink but pink,red and orange ( the perfect combination as every girl knows).

Perhaps I should snap her up then insist he ride along side his wife wearing a red and white polkadot tulle ensemble with wellies.Purple of course.What do you think ladies??Sound like payback.....

Actually reading that, is sounds as though I plan for he to be wearing the ensemble-now that would be payback!

Juliet lives in Viva candy land over here.