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

spring happy

I put this mood board together for Kidstylefile.com.au to celebrate the first day of Spring and thought I might book mark it here for some more inspiration.

Head over to Kid Style File for image links.

Beach Market at Blackman's Bay

The Beach Market is celebrating Spring this Saturday. My good friend Sophie from Island Cards will be there, and the gorgeous hair pins and bookmarks of Rosie from Notions. Julie from Magoolie Designs has been making some lovely ceramic cups with a very Parisian feel and I noticed Owlet and Pinnigan will be there too. 

The House of Snore will be there as well and well, actually it will be a household affair because Luka will be sharing my stall and will be offering his truly fantastic flying machines for sale. If you need or want a fantastic flying machine, then throw him a bone, or a gold coin and he will mucho happy! 

Head to the Beach in Blackmans Bay and turn right, the Market is in the Hall is a few metres from the corner. Market is on from 9am - 2pm. See you there, ok?

Lovely Dress-up Dolls

The boys have been having fun with these lovely wall stickers. They are made with the most amazing fabric which can be crunched up, spat out and stuck up again. Perfect for boisterous boys who are generally less delicate. Still, we have been getting them dressed in the mornings and decorating the rest of the living room walls, I have a feeling that little girls would loooooooove these as well!

Synchronicity is a wonderful thing -hyperbolic crochet

It never ceases to amaze me how information is presented in life. I was doing a random surf the other night and came across this blog post about hyperbolic crochet.

The very next day I was driving in the car and listening to Artworks and wouldn't you know it - it was all about this project on hyperbolic crochet! There is a worldwide project (including some Sydney-siders) crocheting coral for a reef installation highlighting environmental concerns about the demise of the coral reef systems.

So what started as an exercise in modeling a theory in geometry has collided with craft, fashion, art and science and into a grand thing of beauty!



The Sydney Reef will be on display at the Powerhouse Museum from August 21-30, 2009.

Bird-nappers know what they are looking for...

Apparently 299 rare bird specimens have been stolen from the British Natural History Museum. The thief's broke in, read the latin names on the cases and took off with the loot. It is feared the feathers will be sold to make fishing lures!

more here

Sojourn at Cradle Mountain

Here are some pictures from a trip to Cradle Mountain last week. (thx Inghy) It was good weather really, cold but no snow or rain. Perfect for a trek around Dove Lake, which was lovely, except that Mr 2 insisted on being carried for the whole 6kms. We took turns but when he fell asleep half way around I thought my arms were going to fall off! We even got up close and personal with a very friendly wombat.

The Americanos are heading home today, so we are all sad. But, I will be drowning my sorries in a big bowl of left-over Albondigas (yummo!) and some friojle tacos and tucking into my own bed. Lush.

Update

Looks like Holly took at snap of a trio of Pandas. They look pretty happy to be there. In the background is a picture of my Great Grandfather playing golf. Bet he never imagined being on the internet 70 years later!
More Market wrap-up here.

Weekend Wrap-up

What a wonderful weekend I have just had. The Market was really fun and I loved how my stall looked when I finally pulled it all together. It ended up being a bit of a technicolour affair and not particularly suited to mimimalists, but ho hum that is how it was. Unfortunately my memory card was on holiday, so I didn't manage to get any pics, but I had some great feedback, made some sales and met some lovely people.

I will be at the next Market on September 6th so mark the date in your calender.

Saturday was a blast! Ange and I hit Life inStyle early and spent the whole day lapping up all the beauty that surround. I have to say it was amazing to be in the Melbourne Exhibition Building (which itself is a glam-a-rama queen) crammed with so many amazing stands that themselves were filled to the brim with gorgeousness. Angela is putting together a multimedia clip of the best stands in all their glory, so I will let you know when it is online so you can have a look.

One of my favourites was Melbourne locals Sunday Morning. Really lovely, go take a peek.

ps. I also met Allison and Paul from Lark, who were completely lovely and had an equally gorgeous stand with some great new products and old favourites. Sweet!

UPDATE: Angela has put some images up of a few of the best stands at the Fair. Click here to head over to the Kid Style File coverage.

Kids in Style

Tomorrow I will be up before the sparrows because we are hitting the tarmac and flying off to Kids inStyle in Melbs. I have been looking forward to taking a look at this trade show for ages and have been fighting with all the invisible nasties in my throat so I can make it through the weekend.

Ange and I will be breakfasting in the big smoke before taking in all the wonders of so many creative folk and seeing what is new from some of the coolest designers in Oz. I will be taking some pictures so will share a few next week.

I will be back in time for The Market on Sunday, so if you see me perhaps you could lend me some match-sticks for my eyelids.

DIY Glam Jam Jars

Look how cute these are... Glammed up jars. They are spruced up with origami papers and would be cute for jam or buttons or something. Design Sponge has the low down. I probably will never get around to this but it is sometimes the thought that counts, right?

Viv

Oh Viv, how I love you so.... What a woman! Fashion is not something I follow slavishly at all (as those who know me would attest), but I do love cruising through the thoroughly creative types who suck it all up. Here is another fashion blog that I like taking a peek at sometimes. London based, it is she who found this great pic of the fabulous Vivienne Westwood. See more at Coco's Tea Party

Tumbling Dreams

There is something about a crumbling down mansion to remind you of childhood dreams of exploring the derelict homes of books and literature. I love these photographs by Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre. Something a little weird about a desolate dental surgery..?

Found via Distillate

Boubou Teatime

Boubou Teatime left a comment on one of my posts a while back and I have been meaning to hook you guys up. It is a wonderful fashion blog from Paris and is a fun little dip into another world.

Take that photo for example.... what a lovely dream, wish it was me, wish I was there, wish my stomach still looked liked that... nevermind take a look for yourself. Boubou Teatime link.

The Market

The House of Snore has been pretty busy of late with kids, work and house guests. It has be fun-busy, but I do feel like the only time I have had to work on Market wares has been in my head. I have managed to make some lovely cushions over the last little while, and some more birdie jewels and a few other pieces of ephemera. But, it has snuck up on me a bit and my main thoughts have been how to bring all the disparate bits into a nicely displayed stall of good-stuff. I always have a little panic when I get there and have to somehow pull it all together- hopefully I will get better at it one day!

Please say hello if you see me, and there will be lots of lovely stalls filled to the brim with lovelies - it is a fun day out so bring your Mum or your peeps.

The Market, Sunday August 2, 10am - 3pm, Masonic Hall, 3 Sandy Bay Rd.

Esty :: Little Snoring

Look - there is one of my Panda tucked up between a couple of mice. Awww oh cute! Panda is modelling one of Mel's Mini Quilts in her new Etsy store. Mel and I are cooking up a giveaway, so stay tuned!

The rest of the month is super busy, this week I have the kids by myself, we have house guests coming from the US next week so the house needs some big time tidying up and I am trying to get organised for the next Market. Did I mention there I have extra work and a daytrip to Melbourne in the mix as well?

I am looking forward to our guests though, it is going to be a lot of fun, laughter and good food and after August 2 everything will be more settled... phew!

Dinosaur Fungi

Have you seen the new fungilicious range from Dinosaur Designs? I love the styling, the colours, the idea - pretty lovely cool.

My sister the journalist...

My sister in not really a journalist. But she did just get published. A fluff piece on Blazers, but none the less published. Jolly Good Show. Anyone for a Pimms?

Wintery stitching

Try as I might to make sophisticated, subdued and understated items... it seems there is always a riot in the fabric stash. The colours demand to be heard, all of them, all at once, with extra trim and bling.
It is hard to see, but these are some new cushions I have been working on and some things I have named 'Portuguese Christmas Trees' after inspiration from a window in Lisbon.

This cushion is from a collection I have been working on. I made this one for the Cancer Council Breakfast's silent auction that Harriet from Dick and Dora is organising at Moorilla. Should be a lovely morning, tickets will be available closer to the date. The cushion has a dusky orange velvet backing with piping and a lovely squishy feather insert. If there are any left I will be taking them to the next Market which will be in August.

The little act of making seems about all I can do some days and maybe that is enough.

Kid Style File - Win Prizes

Kidstylefile is the best site online to help you stay informed on designer and boutique baby and kids clothes, gear, decor, nursery items and toys. It is fun to keep in the loop on all the beautiful new childrens products coming to market, the inside scoop on sales, and they broker special offers and discount codes exclusively for KidStyleFile readers.

It is also based in Tassie and run by my good friend Angela, who as well as wrangling this powerhouse also looks after the most adorable twin girls, one talented husband and two cute chookies.

But really I wanted to let you know that the second KidStyleFile Annual Reader Survey is on. Angela will be donating 50 cents for every completed survey to Make-A-Wish Australia. And every completed survey go into the draw to win from a fantastic prize pool of over AUD$12,000.00.

One in 30 participants will win a prize, so don’t miss your chance. But hurry – you only have until midnight, 30 June 2009.

This year’s prize sponsors include prestigious Australian baby and kids fashion labels Moppit, Toetum, Baobab, Oobi Baby & Kids, and Polka, high end baby-goods brands Babymoov, and ERGObaby Carrier, award-winning decor pieces from Cocoon Couture, state of the art toys from Intelliplay, and magazine subscriptions from established parenting magazine My Child, and new baby and kids style publication Little One Baby.

Another year older

Hi Folks

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, it is nice that it is over, unfortunately I seemed to have aged! Damn, I was trying to ignore it but it seems I have gone up 1! The years keep adding to my age I am sooooo double figures, and it seems my chin, belly and butt is doubling quite easily as well!

Anyway, I did have a nice day. Spent the morning following the 2 older boys around the soccer pitches of Sandy Bay, then headed over to the Mothers Market around 11ish.

It just isn't that relaxing shopping with children, so after a few cupcakes and a few catch ups we were out a there! But I was lucky enough to get a breath with the new and lovely creations of Dick and Dora and Baby Hoot, they are just lovely. There are more market pictures here and here.

Here is my second son outside the hall kicking someone elses ball looking a little Edwardian (he likes to wear his soccer socks like tights and walk around in his duffle coat and shorts - its an all navy concotion).


Next stop the Colville St Gallery to drool over the newest exhibition of Zsuzsa Kollo, I love her work and would love to get one. I think I might have to have another look sans offspring.

Then off home to have champers with a couple of friends and their kidlets there were 10 between us! Here is Finley doing his impression of Woody Allen...

A Sculptors Garden

I love these beautiful hand blown terraniums and acrylic cast bird bath. All part of beautiful garden and home of Paula Hayes, a sculptor based in NYC.

I've been Tagged

THE RULES:

1. Mention the name of the person who tagged you.
2. Complete the lists of 8 Things.
3. Tag 8 bloggers of your choice by listing
their links in your blog.
4. Let them know that they have been tagged!

I was tagged by Pippi from Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree

8 Things I'm looking forward to:

1. Finding some time to sew
2. 'Crafty' exhibition at the Sidespace 23/6 - 29/6
3. Going to the Mother's Market on my birthday
4. My birthday - hello worm farm
5. Getting some chooks
6. Going to Kids inSTYLE with my good friend Ange in a couple of weeks
7. Visitors from the USA in August
8. Winning cool prizes in the Kid Style File readers survey (I can't actually win (boohoo) because I am family, but you can... lots of cools stuff, get over there)


8 Things I did yesterday:

1. Sliced up some premade cookie dough for instant M&M cookies, nb, the dough itself is worth a nibble..
2. Made up a new cushion with piping!
3. Had a cuddle with my BFF's new baby, Meika
4. I am stretching to think of 4 more interesting things...
5. Started watching Paris with Juliette Binoche
6. Made a big mess which I didn't clear up
7. Talked to my friends on the phone
8. Ho hum, made dinner... sorry yesterday was pretty mundane..

8 Things I wish I could do:

1. Go to Paris
2. Go to Barcelona
3. Go to New York
4. Go to Lisbon
5. Go to Copenhagen
6. ... enough of that you get the picture...
7. Speak Spanish
8. Become slim, stylish and French

8 Shows I watch (or have watched)

1. Million Dollar Traders
2. Antiques Roadshow
3. Grand Designs
4. West Wing
5. Sopranos
6. River Cottage with Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall (I heart Hugh)
7. Gavin and Stacey (not sure if this is on here yet, watched in on DVD)- very funny
8. Who do you think you are?

8 Bloggers that I Tagged

1. Dick and Dora
2. Melissa Goodsell
3. Nadine Kessler
4. Susie McMahon Dolls
5. Birdy and Me
6. Lonie Polony
7. Tas Knitters Spins
8. Magoolie Designs

Market Day Wrap up

Rainy weekends are perfect for staying home in front of the fire, which is usually where you would find me. But, the weekend of markets got me out of the house, by the beach and running around St David's Park with the Autumn leaves.

The Blackman's Bay market was again full of lots of lovely things and people. My stall was next to the very lovely Lynne from Tas Knitters Spins, who dyes and spins her own wool and knits gorgeous baby hats. The wool is incredibly beautiful and great value. I have been avoiding knitting and crocheting for the longest time, because I can only imagine it will turn into another craft obsession and I don't really need another one - Lynne's wool nearly turned me and still might!

I purchased this stunning pencil roll from Marita, and while the plan was to not let the boys touch it, they already got to it without me looking - hence the missing orange pencil. It is just so amazingly beautiful I might just hang it on the wall.

I also picked up a Flintstone-esque felt ball key ring from Julie and a lovely laser cut Key brooch from Fiona Verdouw.

The Market was also fun and lots of lovely things. I went with my matey who has 4 kidlets and unfortunately there were a few implosions so we didn't stay long. I did pick up a book called 'Below Tree Level', illustrated by Leigh Rigozzi and written by Benny Walter. I haven't started it yet, but having them all lined up on the table reminded me of Uni days - don't ask me why, but hey I hope he sold a few and continues to write.

Winter Beach Market

I love heading to the beach in the winter months. The combination of mist, drizzle, wet sand and white caps is wonderful. This weekend it is going to be even more fun, because chuck in a warm coffee and a craft market at the end of your walk and it must be close to heaven.

This Saturday, the Blackman's Bay Beach Market is going to be swinging the doors wide open at the Community Hall on the beach. There will be lots of lovely and talented local designers and makers sharing their wares, as well as veggies, honey, herbs and jams. I think it might just be the perfect way to start what looks like a drizzly weekend. I am going be having a stall, so please stop by and say hello.

The Market at the Masonic Temple is also on my list of to-do's this weekend. Sunday from 10-3 at the Masonic Temple opposite St Davids Park. This market is just getting better and better and I am really looking forward to having the time to take it all in. What fun!

Heads Up - Cool exhibition alert!

I can't wait for this one - - looks fantastic.
Featuring. . .
Tara Badcock, Monique Germon, Ghostpatrol, Lovelyduck, Jess Lillico, Kirsty Madden, Miso, Tom O'Hern, Cat-Rabbit.

Sidespace Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre, 24- 29 June, 2009

Jelly Boys

Jelly, jelly, jelly. If you love wibbly wobbly jelly as much as I do, then you will love what these young guys are doing with gelatine.

Jelly Architecture. Wonderful.

Yeondoo Jung

I just did a post over at KSF on this amazing Korean Artist, you have to head over there to check it out (sorry, terminally lazy and don't want to go on repeating myself..)

Women in Art

I recently received a print I purchased from Catherine Campbell of My Folk Lover (originally found via Pippi) which I love, there is something about the line art of Tattoos that is appealing and the paper cut swallow.

I left it on my dressing table with a few other things I found when cleaning up including the postcard (on the right) I bought at the Getty. I was struck by the comparison between the depiction of women in art 200 years ago and the depiction of women now. One by an old dead Frenchman and one by a young alive Australian woman.

Both pairs of eyes are so penetrating, the images are so similar and yet different.

ps. Her name is Louise-Antoinette Feuradent and she was painted by Jean-Francois Millet in 1841.

Hello Chooks

The Hen House is finished and we are in the market for some girls. So last weekend we headed to the Poultry Pavilion at the Show Grounds for The Tasmanian Rare Breeds Poultry Club Show and Sale Day. Unfortunately when we got there, there were mostly Cocks left and as well all know they might be good for babies, but not that useful on a day to day level.

We are after some layers, we are nearly decided.... we think maybe, some Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire and a Black and White one (forgot the name).

Anyhoo, I had a great day out at the Designed; Made Market the other day. I met lots of lovely people and after I defrosted from the morning chill, had a very lovely day. Some of you dear readers came out of the closet and said hello, which is always a surprise and a thrill. I will be having a stall at the next Blackman's Bay Beach Market on June 6, and there will be lots of lovely stalls (including some other bloggers) so pencil it on the calender.

Market Weekend

There is no shortage of markets this weekend. Lots of lovely Tasmanian designed and made wares to be discovered.

If you are in Hobart then head down to the Courtyard at the Henry Jones for the Design Island Designed; Made market (look out for me and say hello).

Then it is a short hop over to the Masonic Hall on Sandy Bay Road for The Market, on again with more wonderful stalls and products.

If you are in Launceston then you have two days to wander around Niche Design Market at the Academy of Arts at Inveresk.