sewing in the sunshine

Warning this post contains the obligatory garden shots as I am english and there for obsest with the weather.


The weather is glorious here in the UK at the moment, im sure some of your have been lapping it up like I have. So today I decided to venture outside with my machine to do a bit of sewing al fresco. Turns out it is a pretty perfect way to spend the afternoon. I found myself a little bit of shade, being of the English rose variety I do catch the sun easily, and armed with my extension lead and folding table I set up camp. Hopefully my machine wasnt too noisy as to disturb my neighbors and I went right to the bottom of the garden so they couldn't hear my beautiful singing voice as I sang along to my Ipod.



I couldn't really think of a better place to work really, this garden is one of the places I am really going to miss when we eventually move out of London. Who couldn't be inspired being surrounded by all these beautiful flowers.




The temperature is supposed to drop off in the next few days so I might not get to do this again this week but hopefully this wont be our only glimpse of summer this year, last year we had about a week in September, and then I will be ready with my foldy table and machine in hand.

Finally!

So this last week I have finally got round to re opening my own online shop. Go and take a look, you will see many new versions of the old favourites, like the vintage button coin purse. I will also be putting up some exclusive items over the next few weeks too.



Laurafallulah started with all items being one off pieces and now it has grown that is impossible but with my own shop I am going to re introduce that one of a kind design back into my work. So keep an eye out if you are like me and like the thought of having something that no one else has.

April Flowers

This time of year is always very busy for me due to many many family birthdays. That means it is always filled with my favourite things, present giving, cake, food in general and just generally catching up with people I dont get to see as often as I would like.

Unfortunately it does not mean that I can catch up with my best friend as she lives on the other side of the world in Canada. Bless her sweet heart though when I came home from work one day to find these most amazingly beautiful and not to mention HUGE bouquet of flowers from her.


Abby you rule! I wish you could all smell them through your computer monitors as they filled the room with the scent of spring. With all this temperamental weather we have been having it certainly was nice to have a reminder that it is actually nearly summer here in the UK.

Anyway of course I was spoilt with lots of presents not to mention more flowers from another great friend who I did get to spend the afternoon with chatting away the hours. So thanks to everyone for a fab birthday.

Ps it isnt even over yet, I am going out with my oldest friend on Friday night to celebrate old school in a place I havent been to since I was 21.

My Sweet Heart

So sorry my long neglected blog, I always mean to visit you more often but alas you are so often last on a very very long list of things to do. Please accept one of these sweet smelling Sweet Heart Lavender Pillows as my apology and I will really try to come around more often from now on.

Your sincerly

LuFallu xx

Hey there doll face!

Look what arrived in the post for my Notonthehighstreet shop this week! I almost fainted from the cuteness that is these Paperfish doll face badges. I love how these remind me of those old simple childrens book illustrations that you used to get when I was young. Plus they have ribbon bows in their hair so whats not to like.


Also with them were these beautiful flora felt badges, slightly more grown up in feel but equally as delicious. Again they have added cute appeal as they have button centres, gotta love how Kirsty from Paperfish has a eye for those kinds of details.

So if you are looking to a healthier alternative to an easter egg or just fancy something to put a spring in your step now that the sun has finally shown itself, head on over to the shop to purchase these little darlings.

PS I am running low on both the Russian doll badges and the Teacup badges now so buy them now to avoid disappointment.

Heathly and delicious crab linguine

Recently I have been on a bit of a health kick and being a girl who does love her rich food finding healthy yet delicious dishes is a constant quest. Having just spent some time on the South Californian coast as well as some time in the lovely harbour in Baltimore I have a new found love of crab. Although I might sound like a bit of a jet setter this couldn't be further from the truth. I have only very recently taken my first long haul flight and hadn't even ventured onto a plane until I was 18.

Anyway back to this recipe. We are lucky enough to have an amazing farmers market in the village which we live in and the other week the fish monger was having a two for one offer on crabs, too much of a bargin for us to pass up. I have however since tried this recipe with tinned crab meat which is much cheaper and works just as well, especially if you prefer the gentle taste of the white meat. This is so simple anyone can cook it, seriously for the work to taste ratio this one is a real winner.


Ingredients.

The meat from 2 smallish crabs or 2 tins of crab meat
2 cloves of garlic
1 dried chili, I use Chile de Arbol but you can just use any smallish hot chili plus it can be fresh if you want but we just have dried so that is what I use
Large pinch of salt
1 Lemon, zest and juice
A good extra virgin olive oil
Linguine
A bag of watercress (seems like a lot but it wilts a lot)

Put on a pot of boiling water and add your linguine, the sauce mixture will feed 3 to 4 people so add pasta for that many. Crush the garlic, chili, salt and lemon zest in a pestle and morter to make a paste, add in the juice of the lemon and a very very large slug of olive oil (about the same amount of lemon juice). Add in your crab meat and mix until combined. In another pan add the crab mixture and warm on a low heat, just as it is starting to warm through add in your drained linguine and mix. Stir in your watercress and cook for a minute or two until the cress has wilted.



And that is it, well apart from eating it. Since I made this a few weeks ago it has become a weekly favourite, I can't get enough of the lemony crabby goodness.

If you try any of my recipes I would love to know what you think.

Trying something new

I decided at Christmas that I would like to make a completely different product this year, something that still goes in with the rest of my work but something new to me. I am one of those persons who makes lots of lists and constantly has to have a pen and paper on me incase I have an idea or remember something which I need to write down or I am likely to forget again. So this got me into thinking what sort of things I love and it was obvious, Stationery! So I began, as I always used to do, and made a fabric covered notebook for a present for one of my best friends for christmas. It turned out really lovely and then that was that my brain was full of ideas.

So off I went with spray adhesive in hand and as always metres of fabric and out of it all came these.




I made two different designs for my Not on the high street shop and then another completely exclusive design for Hannah Zakari, click on the link to see the cute cherry notebook. I think they came out really well and not only do they cure my need to use fabric but they also are handy for all those lists.