Greener

To celebrate the new lighter 100% organic cotton, there is now a new run of laundry birds in Pesto! For the less green loving amongst us - though still environmentally aware - it's also available in white on black hemp/organic cotton.

Finding time for the important things..

I should be packing, folding, cutting and generally getting ready for the Finders Keepers next weekend in Brisbane. But I'm not.. I'm going out for dinner.

I'll get onto it tomorrow... Meanwhile there are a few words about pippijoe over here

Have a good Friday night!

Getting the perfect picture

Black Orchard on off white hemp/organic cotton

I've spent today taking photos to update my website, it's been sadly neglected... I find getting a good picture quite tricky, the sunlight these days has been patchy at best and I'd never profess to being a photographer. Also, I really would love to communicate the texture and feel of the fabric which I find is completely lost when the flash is used.

White Daisies on black hemp/organic cotton

Happily, looking back at pictures from early days of pippijoe, I can see that I'm improving (from a very low benchmark)... and that is very satisfying!

Hopefully I'll get the pics up onto the website in another day or two!

p.s. any tips for a hack like me would be greatly appreciated!!

Midnight!

I'm thrilled to announce a new basecloth and colourway in the pippijoe collection!

Daisies has just been printed in midnight and the ever popular red on a gorgeous 100% organic cotton. It's a bit lighter than the hemp/organic cotton I often choose, so is perfect for clothing with a lovely drape. It's still a great weight for crafts, in fact I have a plan for some this weekend...

...and yes, it's also a good weight for quilty projects!

Sketching Kit Tutorial

This fancy folder is great to keep your pencils and paper neatly at hand for whenever inspiration strikes or as a sweet distraction for the kidlets when you're out and about. It's really quite simple to make and you only need two small pieces of fabric, so give it a go!

You need:

• Fabric for cover (Fabric 1) rectangle 35 x 26cm
• Fabric for lining (Fabric 2) rectangle 40 x 35cm
• Ribbon to match Fabric 1: 70cm long, 1cm wide
• Iron on Interfacing 33 x 24cm
• Thread to match fabric 1
• Chalk or fading marker
• Sewing Machine

To put into folder:

• A5 sketch pad
• Drawing pens/pencils

1. Take fabric for lining (Fabric 2). With wrong side facing up, fold bottom side of fabric up by 1cm, press, fold it over another centimetre and press again. Machine stitch hem in place.
2. Fold bottom up 8cm as shown and press.
3. Use chalk or fading marker to mark the vertical centre line of the lining fabric, and the pen pockets as shown in diagram.
4. Divide into pockets by machine stitching once down the middle then dividing the left side into four pockets.
5. Take the Cover Fabric (Fabric 1). Place interfacing shiny side down onto wrong side of Fabric 1. Centre the interfacing allowing 1cm seam allowance around the outside. Place the ribbon across the centre of the width on the right side of the cover fabric as shown below. Pin in place.
6. Roll over the end of the ribbon twice and machine stitch to stop from fraying. Stitch ribbon to cover leaving it free 5cm in from each side.
7. With the pocket side of Fabric 2 facing up place the Fabric 1 right side down on top. Pin into place.
8. With ribbon folded neatly within, clear of the seams, sew cover and lining together around the perimeter leaving a gap for turning. Allow 1cm for seams. Clip the corners as shown.
9. Turn the fabric right side out. (Use a chopstick to push the corners out.)
10. Press making sure the gap left open for turning has hem neatly turned and tucked inside.
11. Top stitch around the sketching kit 5mm in from the edge. Make sure you keep the ribbons out of the way!
12. Place sketch pad and pencils into pockets
13. Close and tie using ribbons.

Heading to Vegas!

I need little enticement to head to Brisbane given it's my home town, there's a new niece to squish and it's much warmer than misty Melbourne. So, conveniently coinciding with the mid year school holidays, I'm excited to announce I'll be at the next Finders Keepers which will again be held in the gorgeous old Museum Building. I'm looking forward to seeing all the local Brisbane designers and catching up with some old friends, while the kids are otherwise entertained at their grandparents place. It's a win-win!