Lulu Carter

apple and yoghurt oh my

This is my favourite apple cake at the moment.

Even with the 'cool in the tin' timing trickster, I still love it. The rest is easy peasy and the result is a sugar crusted light fluffy aple cake. Perfection.

Did you have a lovely weekend? I keep trying to some sewing done but something else always crops up. 

I have a gorgeous baby cookbook review over at Alfie's Room today too.

xxx

Lego of the most awesome and fabulous

The dream job is not wavering for Henry so when we learned of a new exhibition at Sydney University, well, we had to go. Not because he is remotely interested in the Etruscans ( sob-although he did tell me what a painting meant because he had read something about the characters in it-go figure!) but because The Brickman had been commissioned to build a replica of The Colosseum. And build it he did.

Appparently he spent three and a half weeks holed up in his garden studio,aka The Brickmahal, and built and built and built.

It is all kids of crazy cool let me tell you! Right down to the gelato truck that is parked alongside. We walked past the same truck when there! Very exciting stuff.

The exhibition people said that initially they had the barrier only one foot high. They learnt that lesson within minutes. When we arrived it was too tall for most long armed enthusiasts. 

 

You can see some of the press photos here on the other blog. If you're a Sydney person try and get there. I really enjoyed it. All those hours in Art History at high school came flooding back!

See you soon!

xxx

The Monster Quilt

Now a sensible person would have shot this before it was strung up too high to get a good angle. This is not what happened as, after months and months of quilt work/angst/co-ordinating and tossing in the corner in spectacular denial, I was so eager to get it out of our house that I tucked in that last thread, rolled over it with the defluff sticker roll and popped its head on a stick. So to speak.

The corners are our music banner broken up. The applique and embroidery on these pieces are some of my favourites. Probably because I was starting to think it looked like a giant school uniform.

This is the back although its more of a second front. There is a large cedar tree that is as old as the school and I felt that was a beautiful way to represent the growth and nurturing that lives within the school. Back in the day, our school was known in the community as 'The Friendly School'. How lovely.

I asked the younger children to do some drawings for me which I then embroidered onto this side. I do love the giant pigeon!

I then hung books from the tree and popped a friendly face on.

Everyone is so happy with the finished piece which is such a relief. I had started to get really anxious about the design.Some wonderful helpers worked on this at the beginning and helped me bring my design to life. Lots of sore fingers! Aside from the actual piecing together, the entire quilt is hand sewn. A very slow process but worth it!

Time to get back to the Swoon!

xxx

 

Where

Oh wow HELLO!! I've missed you here. 

I'm not even going to try to say I dont know how the empty space here happened. I know how exactly how it went down.

I weaned a baby onto food (which was such a big deal and I wasnt ready but he clearly was and loves everything), finished a sesquicentenial quilt for the boys school ( I'll post some photos later but its out and hanging and everyone loves it so phew), spent a lot of time moonlighting over at In Alfie's Room and did a spot of knitting. And Pinterest. Man oh man do I get stuck inside the vortex of Pinterest. Wow.

I cannot tell you how many times I have made and devoured this caramel slice recently. Pinterest is my recipe google. Guru.....?

We finally admitted that this little person was about to bust hulk style out of his moses basket. One last sleep heavily photographed. I believe I sobbed just a little. Milestones and all that....

Into a cot. Not 'The Cot' but one that fits behind the door until further notice. He wasnt quite sure what to do with the space. Laughed like a crazy baby for quite some time. Again-heavily photographed.

I knitted this vest (which took forever in 4ply) only to decide that I could not send him out in public looking like Wallace's understudy.

So I knit him a cardigan. Rather similar effect yes?

I've been sewing fitted sheets. Never in my dreams did I think I'd make sheets, but it is a ridiculously fast domestic goddess act. The practical things can be the most satisfying cant they?

I spend a lot of time making tickle hands. And singing in kooky voices. The things I do for a grin from this kid!

I learnt that photoshoots are getting challenging. Yes I wrestled with a seven month old over felt letters. He won.

But I dont care cause he's the sweetest thing on the planet.

And I have realised that I am happiest with black or blue on my nails. A maintenace nightmare but I love seeing my fingers all dark and moody. Butter London has a lot to answer for. Another addiction! Sheesh.

So I would understand if you thought after all those pics that I'm only here to show off the now giant baby right?! 

Nah. That was just a bonus : )

Henry went on his first big school camp. Henry has also decided to start behaving like a teenager which I guess makes him a tweenie yes? 

Oliver seems to be going through some family position reckoning which I hadnt banked on AT ALL. I thought the age gap was so stupendously huge that there would be no bumps. Wrong.

So we are all good. Cabin fever, teething and hormonal tweenies but good. Chocolate fixes everything. And I need a haircut but thats normal.

How are you??

xxxx