Merry Christmas from mine to yours

Next time I post I imagine I will be quite a few (kilo)grams heavier because the next few days are all about feasting. This afternoon we are off to friends for a Christmas Eve feast of duck (cooked french-style), then tomorrow my mum does a mean turkey accompanied by anything and everything doused in brandy. Then boxing day is all about seafood with salmon, abalone, crayfish and mussels (caught locally off Bruny Island yesterday) all on the menu all washed down with lashings of champagne. My goodness I feel slightly ill already...

Still a lovely sight is the Merry Berry Fruit Box supplied by Hillbarn this year... if only I lived near Launceston!

Anyway, hope you have a lovely holiday surrounded by things you love. I have had such a wonderful year this year and hoping next year will bring lots of joy, love and storage!

Here are some lovely Christmas pix discovered whilst trawling the net...









Merry Christmas!

Summer Reading List - Food

I am having a couple of weeks off work over Christmas which I am soooooooooooo looking forward to. I know it will go by in a flash, so I am already thinking about some of the things I want to get done that are also relaxing and fun.

One job I have been meaning to do for ages that I think will make my life a whole lot easier is sorting out a recipe file. A go-to list of healthy and homely meals that will solve the what's for dinner tonight age old dilemma. I have collected a few cookbooks to go through that will hopefully sort me out!

1. We have been very inspired by the River Cottage series and feel like Hugh is a good friend. I bought the The River Cottage Family Cookbook a few weeks ago to put under the tree for moi, so can't wait to unwrap it and dive in. I am also hoping to use this as a guide for the garden as well.

2. A Cook's Guide to Grains: Delicious Recipes, Culinary Advice and Nutritional Facts was a birthday present that got put aside but has some really interesting thoughts on the history of grains as well as some intriguing grain based recipes, including homemade cheese crackers and Herring in Oatmeal.

3. "Marie Claire" Seasonal Kitchen: Inspired Recipes and Food Ideas. I have had this book a while and looking forward to giving it the time it deserves. It is divided by seasons and uses seasonal fruits and vegetables. It also has some great sections including my favourite called Deli Desserts, which is about quick-fix dessert ideas from the Deli or Supermarket shelves. For example, cut Turkish Delight into tiny cubes and layer in tall glasses with strawberry coulis and vanilla ice cream, or smash toffee brittle into small pieces and sprinkle over rich chocolate ice cream. Genius advice for the uninspired!

4. Babycakes: Vegan, (Mostly) Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free Recipes from New York's Most Talked-about Bakery. Michelle over at Hugo and Elsa put me on to this one. I haven't received my copy yet, but given that we have a lot of food intolerances it sounds like childhood will not be denied cupcakes. And frankly we could all feel better about eating delicious cakes sans wheat, sugar and dairy.

5. Also waiting to be read is Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, I know there was quite a lot of buzz when this was released - which was ages ago, but intriguingly A A Gill describes it as 'Elizabeth David written by Quentin Tarantino'.

Most of these books are not new releases, but I am hoping to stockpile a list of classic and inspiring recipes for family meals in 2010. Wish me luck!

Hello, my new favourite blog

Look at these lovely images... all collected by my new favourite blog. Yarning. Gorgeous Christmas inspiration and more.

Lovely Sesame Street Clip

Have a look at this... lovely little operatic orange.

Found via lingofranko

The Market -

I haven't given you the wrap up from the last ever Mother's Market, which was a lot of fun. Despite a resulting insurance claim, due to some monumental destruction wrecked by my good self in the car park.. Ho Hum...

Anyway I am looking forward to my last Market of the year. The always glam Market at the Masonic Temple.... 2 levels of potential for any last minute Christmas present buying. It is also a lovely place to meet your peeps and hang out with some coffee and cake.

Hope to see you there.... more information at The Market

Terrapin Puppets look very much like Muppets

Hobart Folks - Terrapin Puppet Theatre is having a sale of some of their retired puppets. I picked up this lovely King from a 1983 show called Thunder and Lightening. He was designed by Jenny Davidson who started Terrapin way back when.

Head to their office on the 3rd floor of the Salamanca Arts Centre to check out what is still available. I think I might give this one to the Big One for his Christmas Present...

Snaps from the Market

Last weekend was a lot of fun, met loads of lovelies (hello Nicky) and got to hang out with some handmade homies (shout out to Rosie, Grace, Luisa, Marita and Jane - loved the Biscotti), and, managed to buy some very cute Christmas presents and stocking stuffers, sorry no photos - don't want to spoil the surprise.

I will be playing shop at the Mother's Market on Friday night (4-8) and Saturday (9-4) at St Georges Hall, Cromwell St, Battery Point. It is the Last Mothers Market Ever so it should be a lot of fun and loads of beautiful wares.

Handmade Hobart - perfect for picking up locally made gifts for Santa or his personal shopper

Are you helping Santa with his shopping list this year? Then don't miss this weekends inaugural Handmade Hobart Design Market. It is on Saturday and Sunday 11am - 4pm at St Peters Hall, cnr of Harrington and Brisbane Street. There will be lots of great stuff and it is always fun to see what everyone has been working on. I will be trying to set up early so I can do a quick shop before it gets busy.

Also thanks for doing a sneak peak on Little Snoring.

They are currently looking for stall holders for the next market scheduled for Jan 23rd and 24th so head to their website for details.

See you on the weekend!

Real Living Magazine

They seem to be getting around, these poodles of mine. Perhaps it is because they are French, no?

Maybe, maybe not. But it is very exciting to be included even in only a small part in two of my favourite Australian 'shelter' mags. First on the Inside Out blog and now in the December 09 issue of Real Living Magazine (check out page 75).

I have to send out a bit thanks to Monique from Public Office and Angela from KidStyleFile for giving me the opportunity to be involved in their wonderful creations that have lead to le French Poodles great adventures.

I will be at the Handmade Hobart market this weekend so if you stop by be sure to say bonjour.

Our rainy day Sunday...

Yesterday the rain was falling and the boys stayed in their pyjamas all day. They played monopoly, practiced kung-fu moves, played golf inside (don't ask) and made this maze with their pencils. I did some cooking, watched a little River Cottage and generally had a relaxing day. Noice.

One pooch, two pooch, three pooch, more pooch

Three little piggies, three blind mice, three French Poodles... good things come in threes and these little pooches are now in store - littlesnoring.bigcartel.com

I will also be taking some French Poodles, along with some Christmas Pandas and some new necklaces along to the Handmade Hobart Market next weekend. November 28 and 29th (11am - 4pm) at St Peter's Hall in Harrington St, Hobart.

Rosie from Notions, Luisa from Dance in my Garden, Marita's amazing pencil rolls will be there, plus lots of other lovely local goodies.

The money from the stall fees goes straight to the Mutaho Children's Foundation - that seeks teach sustainability skills to AIDs orphans in Kenya.

If you go along, be sure to stop by and say hello...!

Little Snoring featured on KidStyleFile!

It has been a busy and exciting week at Chez Snore.

First up, we discovered the broad beans in the overgrown garden bed had in fact been busily growing beans all by themselves! So yay beans, we loved you, we picked you, we ate you.


Secondly I have been having a lot of fun in the studio making new things for the upcoming Markets we will be attending. More soon.

And last but not least, the always lovely Angela did a post on Little Snoring on KidStyleFile. It is such a thrill to be part of that wonderful creation that is her blog/website, and to celebrate there is 10% discount on all items in store. Thanks Angela, love ya work!

Enter the code KSFSNOOZE at the checkout until December 4 to receive the discount.

Panda's '4' Christmas!

Nothing says Christmas like Panda's, right?? Well at least at Chez Snore I *heart* Panda's, Christmas and Christmas Decorations. So why not combine all our loves...

I have added a few to the shop and because its nearly Christmas... FREE shipping to Australian Addresses.

Also, big thanks to Jacqui from Under the Shade of the Bonsai Tree for her great Tasmanian Etsy Treasury.

The Rolling Stone gathers Liberty

It seems like an unlikely collaboration but Liberty has produced a range of clothing and accessories in fabric painted by Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones. The result is Ronnie Wood for Liberty, which I kinda like, actually. It has a bit of an 80's feel, which means it might actually be true - the 80's are back!

This is just wonderful!!

Truly gorgeous and uplifting... have a look.

Happy Halloween

The boys received their annual box of costumes from their Grandma in California and are ready for their candy, lots of it... Because there isn't really a tradition of trick-or-treating in Australia, Halloween for us is hanging out in your costume all day and eating lollies for breakfast.

There do seem to be a lot more Halloween themed parties around than I remember as a kid, so if you need any last minute costume or decoration ideas head here for a little ghoulish inspiration.

Otherwise enjoy the treats of the day.

Here are some gorgeous wares available at the Pop-Up Co-Op and featured on the Inside Out Blog

Here are some of the gorgeous wares available at the Pop-Op Co-Op - for a limited time only. I wish I was going to have a chance to get there but unfortunately I can only press my nose against the window and hope for some more photos.

If you are nearby - then you must find your way to Shop 7 Corbett Plaza, Bowral NSW - open until 11th November. Perfect for a Sunday drive perhaps?

P.S. The Pop-Up and the Poodles featured on the Inside Out Blog

Fashematics for Kids

Unable to resist the urge to apply Fashematics to everything, Ange and I decided it would be fun to do a kid styles twist on this unique arthimetics...

So head on over to Kid Style File for the original post.

Love this...

Found via here

Goodbye New Math - Hello Fashematics; Deconstructing Fashion

Aaaah, my new love....
Goodbye New Math, hello Fashematics!!!
This is a wonderful website that deconstructs fashion back to its elements... with hilarious results.



(The Christian Dior/Paul Hogan/Divine number is particularly tragic, reminds me of a trashy Patsy Stone number!)

Pop-Up Poodle Shop

These little French Poodles have said their goodbyes and are off to the NSW Southern Highlands to be featured in a very new and over soon Pop-up Shop.

The shop has been created by fabulous Monique Germon, Sarah King and Tamara Maynes, and opens this Sunday.

If you are passing through Bowral anytime soon, stop in to the Pop-up Co-op, Shop 7, Corbett Plaza, 330 Bong Bong St, Bowral. It will be open from Sunday 11th October 2009 for a month or so.

Popped up, then gone again so don't delay.



I have a few more Poodles that will be coming along with me to the next markets... thanks to everyone who said hi at the last one. I had so much fun playing shop, can't wait to do it all again.

The New Math, Art, Poetry - the genius of Craig Damrauer

I found this on the Inside Out blog and love it. It definitely appeals to a childhood love of equations (so simple and straight forward) and words.

The genius behind this art/math/poetry is Craig Damrauer and there is so much more at his website morenewmath.com


(Click on the image to make it bigger)

Featured on Distillate

It has been raining a lot this week (A LOT), said goodbye to a friend and her two lovely twin girls, and our car broke down. But we have avoided those crazy dust storms and the sun is shining now.
And I feel so lucky to have been featured on 2 amazing blogs. Firstly the super amazing Whip-up picked up my Piping Tutorial, and then Distillate did a feature on my Pocket Panda's! So funny to see them lined up like criminals!

Scooter Security in Paris

A friend of mine took this pic in Paris last week... too funny!

Sartorial Splendour

I finally went and saw The September Issue last night. It was as I expected - a joy! So to celebrate the fashion in all its glory I thought I would share some of my favourite fashionistas from the uber-supreme Scott Schuman's The Satorialist blog.



I am off to see Valentino at the end of the week, which will also be a lovely dip into another world. And I recently watched 2 of my other favourite fashion docos which I can highly recommend Catwalk and Annie Leibovitz, a life through a lens. Watch them if you can find them - both wonderful. I love documentaries and fashion docs are so much fun and really a fascinating glimpse of another world.

Easy Peasy DIY Pillow Piping Tutorial

This is my 200th post so to celebrate I want to share with you an easy cushion piping tutorial. I really like making cushions because they are a great way to enjoy your favourite fabric or add some colour to your couch or budoir.

For this tutorial I already had the front and back of the pillow already cut-out and made. The piping and backing fabric are velvet and the front is an all cotton log-cabin affair.

Step 1.

Measure around your the sides of your pillow to work out how long your piping needs to be. I cut 1.5 inch strips of the same fabric I used for the backing. Sew strips together to make the length you need.

Fold the strip around your piping cord (wrong sides together) then use the zipper foot on your machine and stitch as close as you can next to the covered cord. Make sure you use a similar coloured thread as the fabric, and try and keep the edges of the strip evenly together as you sew.



Step 2.

Now sew the covered cord to the top of the cushion cover (in my case the log cabin patchwork). Keep the edge of the cover and the edge of the covered cord together and then you will have a consistent seam allowance. At the start, I ease the piping on and then straighten up to get the edges even, you will see at the end why this works better.



Step 3.

The best way to get around the corners is to clip the seam allowance a little as this will make it easier to shape the corner.



I usually go slow around the corners and use my hand to steady the cord. You can pin this but I it easier to control if I don't pin and just ease everything in place.



Step 4.

When you have sewn the cord all around the cover and you are ready to finish, overlap the start of the cord and sew off the edge of the cover and trim the ends.



This is what the cover should now look like.



Step 5.

Now it is time to sew the front and the back together. Make sure you open the zipper a bit so you can turn it inside out at the end.

Put right sides together and keep the cushion top that you have sewed the piping onto on the top. This is because you are going to sew over the top of the stitching that you have just made to attach the cord.

Again, I use a zipper foot because it allows you to sew as close to the piping cord as possible.

Sew around the cover using the stitching as a guide.



And that is it, you can overlock the edge and turn it inside out. Beautiful.



I hope that it is clear, please let me know if you have any questions.

Also, don't forget the giveaway is still open, just visit the shop and leave a comment here.

Richmond Picnic

Picnic days are here... spent a lovely day with my gal-pal and her kidlets at Richmond.
The weather was perfect, the sky blue and the grass green.
Plenty of time for some footy, sliding and swinging, skimming stones and chasing ducks... and of course the obligatory stop at the Lolly Shop. Lovely

Necklace Giveaway

A Giveaway to celebrate Spring!

You could win a Babushka Doll necklace - you choose the colour red, black, blue or white, in a child's length or longer. Or, a lovely little piece of Paris - the Eiffel Tower with some glass flower beads.

I am also giving away 2 Love Bird necklaces. I bought these birds when I was in the US last Christmas and just love them. They are handmade lampwork beads and are all different, I like to think of them carrying little tokens of love (flowers and leaves) back to their nests.

Just visit the shop - then leave a comment on this post letting me what your favourite item is in store. I will randomly draw 4 winners on September 30.

If you want to post about this giveaway on your blog or tweet on twitter, let me know the link in your comment and I will triple (x3) your chance to win.

Also, I am offering a 10% discount on all items in the shop - check out Mel's blog for the code.

Backstage at the Theatre Royal

The other night I able to  sneak out and go to an art auction to raise money for IHOS's trip to Chicago. IHOS is a truly unique and incredible opera company that creates new and contemporary opera works and train young singers. Their work is very exciting and internationally regarded, and they have been invited to take their work Prayer Bells to Chicago next year. 

The event was on the stage of the Theatre Royal in Hobart, and at the risk of looking a little embarrassed I took the camera to grab some pix. I adore the Barbie Kjar print that went for a princely sum, unfortunately not to me. I have never been on the stage before and it was great to see it from the other side.

Mel's Peeps

Hello if you are visiting from Mel's Blog. The lovely Mel has kindly posted about me and the Little Snoring Shop. So to celebrate the warmer weather and the change of seasons, for the rest of the month, I am offering a 10% discount on all purchases store wide. Head here to have a look at the goods, then head to Mel's blog to pick up the discount code.

Stay tuned, because there is a little something in the pipeline. PS, big thanks to my gorgeous nieces for being such lovely models!

Speaking of Tasmanian Fashion Designers...

Alannah Hill's Spring Collection is online alannahhill.com

Hello Hobart...

Hobart gals, heads up. I checked out Alexi Freeman's S/S 09 collection last night at Bett Gallery and loved it. It slowly crept up on me, and by the end I was enamoured by it all. Lots of great pieces and his model for this collection looks particularly fantastic in everything and beautiful.

Anyways, Alexi will be there today only from 10 - 5 so get over there today have a look and you can pre-order from the collection with a 25% disc.

More on his website... alexifreeman.com