dizzy dezign

succulent

2012-02-02T14:39:00.006+02:00

I can't believe I haven't posted anything for nearly 3 months. I just don't know where the time has gone! I am going with the theory "better late than never" !

A friend gave me some this succulent for Christmas and I love it. I haven't really thought much about succulents before but in our part of the world we have very strict water restrictions so they are perfect.Thinking of no water led me to thinking about deserts which then led me to this Bible verse.....

"The grasslands of the desert overflow, the hills are clothed with gladness" Psalm 65 v12
Low and behold it has rained nearly all day today!

Shapes in Franschhoek

2011-11-11T08:13:00.004+02:00

This is the official description of Franschhoek for those of you who have never been there! "Nestled between towering mountains in the beautiful Cape winelands lies the magnificent Franschhoek Valley. This is the food and wine heartland of the country, where splendid wines are grown and our top chefs create international cuisine. Here breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world class cuisine and the finest wines all combine to create lasting memories.
Spectacular vineyards cover these mountain slopes settled more than 300 years ago by the Huguenots, who brought with them their age-old French wine and food culture. This is a valley rich in history centered around a picturesque village of friendly, welcoming people.
The wonderful spectrum of visitor accommodation ranges from internationally renowned auberges and guest houses to self-catering cottages on wine farms and much more besides.
In the village you will find wonderful crafts, art and antique shops and galleries. The main street is lined with coffee shops and restaurants. Only 45 minutes from Cape Town Franschhoek is the ideal base while you explore the entire Cape winelands."

For us it was a day of visiting the famous Car Museum and having lunch in the village. These are some interesting geometric shapes and arrangements I noticed while we were having lunch. I love things that are systematically arranged creating patterns with shapes and colours.

Wine, wine and more wine with a few bottles of softdrinks added in for a bit of colour!

Optical illusions

2011-11-05T10:32:00.007+02:00

Following on from my 'op art' bracelet, I used the left over beads to make this necklace. It creates and optical illusion as you move the piece around. From one side all the cool colours are visible and from the other the warm colours. This necklace was only in my shop for a few days before being sold so I am going to try some more in these colours.

Two new bracelets added to my shop. I have tried to create an optical illusion with these where the spiral of the pattern goes on way and the black and white beads go the opposite way.It does take a lot of concentration and they did take quite a long time to make!

I seem to be using the words 'optical illusion' rather often but I love playing with the colours to create 3-D effects and interesting textures. The concept of the stark contrast of black and white with a hint of another colour also appeals to me.

Birthday Gift

2011-10-04T11:26:00.002+02:00

A Birthday gift for my husband!

cellini bracelet

2011-09-22T15:24:00.004+02:00

My latest bead creation was a custom order with this psychedelic pic as the inspiration for the colours. I loved doing it because it's not a combination I would normaly do and it took quite a while to get used to, but I must say once I did,I absolutely loved it!

The beauty of it is that from one side all the warm colours are visible and from the other, all the cool colours, creating a lovely rainbow effect.

Winter Fruit

2011-08-22T15:48:00.002+02:00

In between all these grey winter days a burst of summery citrus colours!

Treasury

2011-08-07T09:39:00.002+02:00

Thanks to Mietjie for including me in her treasury.

It is so encouraging to see so many South Africans on etsy.

2011-08-02T13:37:00.004+02:00

Talking of birds.. ........these paper sculptures were made by Anna Wili Highfield.

Zebra Finch

2011-08-01T15:03:00.006+02:00

A 'doodle ' of feathers.

This Zebra Finch flew into our house and perched on a mirror frame. With a lot of flapping,running around and trying to distract the cat, we finally caught him and put him in the only available (hamster)cage. After a few days we felt sorry for him so went to the pet shop and bought him a mate. Apparently they do breed in cages so we bought a bigger cage and are waiting patiently! I do love the markings , especially the spots on the wings and the zebra stripes on the tail.

Succulant Chicken

2011-07-22T15:11:00.006+02:00

Lovely succulant chicken with a yogurt sauce and seasonal vegetables. My son, who made this delicious meal, is in his final year of school and will be going away to study next year. Besides missing his company, we are really going to miss his cooking!

gift for a friend

2011-07-19T11:10:00.006+02:00

A cushion made for a friend...I hope she likes it! I used a vintage pattern but thicker cotton and crochet hook to update it a bit.

Cushions complete

2011-07-18T13:08:00.002+02:00

Cushions finally completed an in my shop.

Treasury

2011-07-17T16:21:00.002+02:00

Happy to be included in rainboeliza s treasury....summers eve.

embroidered bird cushion again!

2011-07-15T13:42:00.002+02:00

Still working on the cushion cover, which has now become more of a collage than patchwork.

embroidered bird cushion

2011-07-13T14:46:00.003+02:00

Work in progress.......decided to take a break from beading for the moment and make up some cushion covers. I have piles of fabric and need to use it. I also enjoy doing the embroidery but HATE making up the cushions. No matter how many times I measure, I never seem to be able to get them square, or straight, for that matter! Can anyone give me some tips on how to get the wrong side neatly finished off without an overlocker?

Autumn Beads

2011-07-12T14:04:00.002+02:00

My latest necklace! This is also a 'cellini spiral', creating a spiral ropey sort of effect. I have tried to do a closeup shotso that you can see the detail of the beadwork.

Starfish

2011-06-27T13:46:00.005+02:00

Still with the beading, I have become fascinated with making shapes and 3-d effects. Besides the obvious hearts and balls I came across this starfish and as it is with these things, everywhere I look I see starfish. This one is made by sally starfish and can be found on etsy. With starfish on my mind I couldn't help but notice this felt starfish on etsy made by fog and swell.

This is my creation, a cellini spiral and 3-d starfish which can be slipped off if you prefer the necklace on it's own.The small beads are iridescent shades of dark green highlighted with a crystal bead in a champagne colour.There is a third bead in the mix but is a bit difficult to see in the pic.

2011-06-21T10:35:00.003+02:00

Necklaces for a wedding. Unfortunately I didn't take a pic of the necklaces, only the packaging!

Won't make that mistake again! They were rather beautiful in crystal, white and silver beads with a hint of grey.

The cards were attached with white thread and matching beads. I was very happy with the outcome and hope the bride was too!

This is a "Cellini Spiral "and uses over 3000 beads. The pics don't really do it justice, this "bead photography" is completely different to photographing fabric. I took some close ups but they were all out of focus so I need a bit more practise. My digital printing is now a thing of the past and I intend to restock my shop with beaded products. I need to build up a bit of a range and then hopefully start selling again. I do really enjoy the beading but it is extremely time consuming. I love the textures you can create by changing the size or type of bead, the colour combinations and different designs. It really is a learning curve for me but I am loving every moment !

More Beads

2011-05-03T10:39:00.004+02:00

I have been busy beading (in between a number of family happenings, some not so good!)and have found the process really therapeutic. All of these necklaces are made from two very simple patterns, the colours creating the different effects. I have moved on to a bit more complicated designs and would you believe, more time consuming processes! I will post those soon.

This one I made for a friend and found the very simple envelope/box on the internet. Unfortunately I can't remember exactly where at the moment. You can use coloured paper or decorate the box to match the gift. I tried all sorts of complicated patterns and eventually settled on this one. It 's simply a matter of cutting a square and folding it. The staple is not really necessary and the trick is getting the right paper (too thick won't fold and too thin tears). The colours havn't come out so well and are much brighter and more shiny in real life. I will have to try and improve my photos!

Addicted to Beading!

2011-02-23T14:49:00.003+02:00

A new pattern, which unfortunately you can't see too well in the pic, made up of a combo of matt and shiny red beads. I will try and get a better photo when I have completed the necklace.

The completed slate grey and aqua.I have hundreds of colour combos going around in my head but I want to learn a few different techniques first before I get to carried away with the colours! It's really fun and I have to say ADDICTIVE !

2011-02-18T10:17:00.003+02:00

A new pillow I am working on combining a few of my favourite things - linen,birds, maps, embroidery and lettering! I'm not quite sure how it's all going to come together at the moment but I'm just going to let it evolve as I go along.

I love the way the light comes through the blinds and makes shadows across the pic. I must say I hated the blinds when we bought our house and I wanted to rip them all out. They are not very pleasing to look at, in fact quite ugly if the truth be told, but have turned out to be very practical on those really hot summers days when the sun is beating down on my workspace!

Beading

2011-02-15T10:07:00.003+02:00

My latest venture! A friend of mine invited me to come to a beading class with her and this is my first attempt. It's very time consuming, but the repetition is so therapeutic and I LOVE doing it!

The trick is the tension - if it's too tight the necklace won't bend around your neck, if it's too loose the cotton thread becomes visible. As you can see I started off very loosely and ended off a bit tight. The good thing is you can undo it from where you started, once you get the tension right. Also, the beginning is at the back of your neck so it's not to serious if it's a bit wobbly.

Pencil cases

2011-02-10T16:41:00.003+02:00

Patchwork pencil cases I 've been working on. Some I have given away as gifts and some I have listed in my shop.

I love doing the embroidery, beadwork and patches, but am not so keen on making up the bags. Nothing ever seens to be straight, no matter how many times I measure and iron!

First Post

2011-02-01T15:04:00.003+02:00

My new years' post is a bit late I know, but better late that never! I feel so guilty with regards to my infrequent blogging but other things always seem to get in the way. I feel doubly guilty because I so enjoy reading other peoples blogs and I know what effort and dedication it takes to make a post every few days or, as in some cases, everyday! Thanks to all you bloggers out there!

I saw this pattern on Jezzes' blog and was intrigued. I printed out the pattern here and started to knit. It is fascinating and not that difficult but you can't stop in the middle of a row and you have to know exactly where you are in the pattern. I unpicked the whole thing twice because I lost my place and could't figure out where to start again, other than that it's really easy!

I didn't make anything out of it, I just wanted to see if I could do the pattern. It really is addictive, as Jezze says, and maybe I'll try again when the weather cools down a bit.

Treasury

2010-11-08T16:35:00.003+02:00

Thanks to strawberry lane crafts for her beautiful selection and

to ARTbyMCB for including my bug cushion cover in his treasury.

SA silly sale

2010-11-03T14:44:00.002+02:00

These are some of the items Jezze has selected from the participating 'SA silly sale' shops. To find more go to SAsillysale.

Gift Bag

2010-11-02T12:59:00.003+02:00

A gift for a friend. I had some canvas bags left over from another project which I slipped inside the crochet bag. I hope this will add a bit of stability and keep it from stretching. The handle stretched to almost double it's original length and had to be shortened (twice)!

I used a piece of the fabric I printed a while ago, for a tag and I think it looked rather inviting! She loves purple, hence the colour combo!

Birdy notebook

2010-10-19T16:14:00.003+02:00

This beautiful notebook I found on hensteethart blog inspired me to try one of my own.

I didn't use fabric for the inside cover, which was a mistake because the paper is a bit to soft and floppy. I love the idea of using random textures for the pages and I added in recycled envelopes, lace and handmade paper.

The paper was made by a friend of mine and I am going to give it back to her in the form of a notebook. I know she will appreciate it! I also used some paper from an old atlas in the cover.

Mine is not half as nice, but thanks Viv for the inspiration!

Leaf printing

2010-10-05T16:14:00.003+02:00

My second attempt at printing, this time using leaves. The effects are fantastic but it is rather a messy process. The most difficult thing is getting the ink on the stem and leaving enough space to hold it when you place it on the fabric.

I don't have a very big garden so I've started looking for leaves where ever I go . This leaf is some type of lemon scented herb that I found in a friends' garden. It worked well but unfortunately I don't have more leaves to practise with. I 've planted a slip which is growing well but will be a while before I can pick the leaves.

This is a geranium leaf which also worked quite well. Apparently the softer and more furry the leaf the better. If it's shiny and smooth the dye doesn't penetrate well and you don't get such nice detail.

Printing

2010-09-29T11:28:00.003+02:00

As my digital printer isn't working I've been looking at other ways to decorate fabric. My first try was cutting out a leaf, attaching it to an old block and printing. I just placed the leaf randomly and didn't really think to much about the spacing etc

Obviously the secret is the application of the paint to the lino, to much makes blobs and spreads, and to little limits the coverage.

The great thing is that you can print light on dark which I couldn't do with the digital printer. Not much compensation I must admit but at the moment I don't have much option!

Feathers again

2010-09-07T11:33:00.003+02:00

I have never seen one of the feathers in my life and within two days have seen two, one on Gennine's Art Blog and the other on tinctory.

Apparently it is a jay feather, how beautiful!

Beetles and Bugs

2010-09-03T12:13:00.002+02:00

Thanks to StickManJewelry for including me in her treasury. I love to see how other people interpret the same things in their designs.

Buttons

2010-09-01T15:44:00.003+02:00

I saved this pic a while ago and can't remember where I found it, so apologies to who ever it belongs to! I love buttons but must admit my collection is looking a bit sad at the moment. Most items you buy nowdays have those awful plastic buttons... what happened to all the beautiful wooden, tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl buttons?

The finished product

2010-08-30T16:39:00.004+02:00

The final product..a cushion cover. It didn't come out exactly as I imagined but that's because I didn't place the design correctly in the first place. I have a tendancy to go ahead without really thinking about the finished product, ignoring things like seams, extra fabric for zips, french seams etc! I like to do a french seam on a cushion cover if I'm selling it without an inner because there is nothing worse than buying a beautiful cover and finding untidy seams on the inside. Also the embroidery is pretty untidy on the wrong side so I added in an extra facing . All this fabric makes the seams quite thick and bulky but I'm not sure what the solution is... maybe an overlocker? Even better, find someone else to make up the cushion!

More feathers

2010-08-26T15:40:00.002+02:00

The bug has bitten... I can't stop embroidering feathers! Instead of wasting my efforts, I'm making cards. I don't know about you but I never seem to have a card when I need one. I get so irritated with myself because I usually end up making something sloppy at the last minute. No more!

Embroidery

2010-08-25T17:11:00.007+02:00

I was looking at my messy basket of embroidery thread the other day and was suddenly inspired to sew something. Then the beads caught my eye....

.. and this was the result!

I find this 'back stitch' ( Ithink that's what it's called) embroidery very theraputic and almost addictive. Once you start you just don't seem able to stop.

All I need to do now is complete the birds and make them into cushions.

I 've used a heavy linen ,which doesn't show up well in the photos, but looks great with the black, red and white.

Etsy Treasury

2010-07-19T11:14:00.004+02:00

Thanks so much to LilMissS for including my bag in her Charlie Chaplin inspired

treasury.

Textures

2010-07-15T10:34:00.005+02:00

Wonderful textures from the beaches of Mozambique!

The charming bedroom in our palm leaf beach house.

The rural communities are very poor and live off the coconut palms and the sea. The coconuts are used for food and the palm leaves for building houses. The hard wood of the stems for basic structures of houses and fences. Fresh fish and prawns are sold daily as well as fresh bread or 'pao'.

The palm leaves are woven together in the most intricate patterns. This was the wall of our seaside beach hut!

Holiday!

2010-06-22T13:55:00.002+02:00

Our planned holiday to Porta Du Ouro fell through at the last minute and so we decided to go to Jeffs Palm Resort instead. We have been there before, it is quite a long way up the Mozambique coast, so the water should be warm and we are hoping for plenty of sunshine. This was the view from our bungalow on the previous stay. Looking forward to it!

2010 World Cup

2010-06-12T12:59:00.003+02:00

Ready for the 2010 World Cup! We have our scarves....

We have our tickets! Seriously though, I'm not that interested in soccer, but do want to experience the 'once in a lifetime' World Cup and definately want to see the Green Point Stadium.

Marilyn

2010-06-09T16:12:00.005+02:00

Pleased to see my 'Marilyn' cushion cover in Legend lorelei lunacy treasury today! The face is a bit dark in the photo but looks much better in the original. Maybe I should re-shoot it in a better light.

Bookbinding part 3

2010-06-01T16:46:00.002+02:00

The completed book! I love all the different colour pages and the rough edges. I'm still not absolutely satisfied with coptic binding.
The cover came out quite nicely and was fun to make.
The paper is delicate and quite difficult to work with. I'm not sure how tight to pull the thread. If it's too tight (which looks the neatest) you can't open the book but if it's too loose the pages sort of fall separately where the signatures join. I really need to go for a lesson somewhere to learn the finer points.

The coptic binding stitch is quite an art but I'm sure it is a case of 'practice makes perfect'

I will just have to keep trying!

Beaded Book

2010-05-31T14:06:00.003+02:00

A friend of mine makes the most beautiful paper and was kind enough to make these sheets for me. Now, because they are so special , I am afraid to try and make them into a book in case I mess them up. I 've started with an embroidered and beaded cover.

The paper is quite delicate and can't be fiddled with too much.

Today I am going to attempt to attach the cover to the sheets with coptic stitching, which is quite pretty and not covered with a spine. A deep breath and here goes!

New

winter knitting

2010-05-25T11:53:00.002+02:00

I used a vintge?(20 years old) pattern to make this waistcoat, sleeveless jersey thing but it didn't come out exactly as I expected. Not surprizing as I changed the collar, sleeves size...pretty much everything except the actual stitch pattern! I think I may just add some sleeves as the original pattern. If all else fails Kitkat obviously things it would make a great blanket!

knitt

Pay Pal

2010-05-18T10:32:00.002+02:00

My first order using PayPal, what a pleasure! No more 'buy now 'buttons, cancelled orders and trying to convince customers that it's worth all their trouble. I received confirmation of payment at the same time as the order, but I'm sure you all know that already! I just took a while to get hooked up with FNB.

Recycled envelopes

2010-05-04T10:22:00.007+02:00

I 've seen this idea of using old envelopes to make a book on a couple of sites, one of them being myhandboundbooks, and find it fascinating. I think we are so conditioned in our ideas of what a book should look like. I showed the finished product to one of my friends and she said "It would have been lovely if you hadn't used the window envelopes!" Well that's the whole point! Anyway, to take you through the process I started with a pile of old window envelopes and cut them into a workable size. Then comes the stitching. I used an ordinary 'in-and-out ' stitch and read the instructions afterwards only to find out that you must have an uneven number of holes!

Then I attached the cover to pieces of board. I still haven't quite got the corners right. I have an old atlas I bought at a secondhand book shop that I used for the cover. (I know you shouldn't cut up books but as I'm recycling it into another book I figured it's sort of acceptable.)

The pages, or signatures, are then attached to the cover. This is the tricky part and I'm sure there is an easier way than sticking, pulling apart and re sticking three times before the book will open and close properly, I just haven't worked it out yet!

Finally, my hand bound, hand cut, hand stuck, recycled notebook. If I had to sell it at this moment the price would be about $100.00!

Winter is here!

2010-04-22T16:33:00.003+02:00

I made my son a winter hat or "beanie," as we call them in SA, and all his art student friends thought it was great! We now have a thriving business going. You can guess of course who is making the money and who is doing the work! I really do enjoy making them though, especially now that the weather has turned cooler.
I'm not quite sure how the jacket came about, I can assure you that isn't the usual dress code!

Bookbinding part 2

2010-04-13T11:21:00.003+02:00

Part 2 of the bookbinding project! The tricky part is to attach the stitched pages to the cover. I reinforced the spine with a piece of paper and the cover with two pieces of cardboard. It's quite difficult to get everything lined up. You also have to put glue, just the right amount, on the spine so that the pages sort of stick together.

The book at the top has the right amount of glue, the one below, not enough hence the gaps inbetween the pages.Too much glue however seeps onto the pages.

I was reluctant to reinforce the spine because it covered up all my beautiful stitching.I tried some fabric tape but the glue I have didn't work so I reverted to paper.

When sticking the cover pages its best to put a piece of paper inbetween to stop the glue going everywhere.

The cover page attached to the cover. As you can see its all a bit bubbly, maybe the application or the type of glue. Not sure which but will have to investigate a bit more.

Finally! A completed book!
All a bit wobbly but much better than my first attempt.

Bookbinding

2010-04-06T10:48:00.006+02:00

I came across this fantastic blog myhandboundbooks a while ago and have been hooked ever since! I went onto u tube and found a tutorial on bookbinding and let me assure you, it is far more difficult than it looks! The pic below is my third attempt and looks O.K. but the cover still has to be attached and that's very tricky. The most difficutl part, I think, is getting the thread pulled tight without tearing the paper. The thread is covered in wax (I just rubbed it over a candle) and stiched in rather a complicated pattern creating a sort of chain stich up the spine of the book.

This is my second attempt and as you can see, very loose. I did manage to attach a cover but not a covered spine. Now of course the next step is paper. The paper I used is recycled but not 'rustic' or 'handmade' enough. I did a paper making course a long time ago and all I remember is a lot of messy pulp and lots of water. I think I 'll just have to scrounge some scraps from a very clever papermaking friend!

I also think that the more natural the paper the less it matters how precisely the pages are cut or fit. Reading other bookbinding blogs I am amazed at what they 'bind'-used envelopes, old letters, back of cards, wrapping paper, the list is endless!

Well, I'm going to keep trying and hope to improve. At the moment it takes ages and an overheated computer from stopping and starting the tutorial over and over again. I have a book but the instructions are not easy, for me anyway, to follow.The most exciting thing is decorating the covers but I havn't quite got there yet!

Summer Berries

2010-03-16T09:52:00.003+02:00

A summer pavlova! I love the way the berries reflect the colours in the table cloth. Anyone who has been to Mauritius will recognize the colourfull, hand embroidered, island figures.Wish I was there now!

New start!

2010-03-09T11:11:00.004+02:00

I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth, just had a bad creative start to the year! My digital printer has given me endless trouble and only seems to print when it feels like it! At the moment is not printing magenta at all, which obviously affects all the colours, except black. Also, the fabric supplier I use for my tea towels has closed down and I need to go to Cape Town to try and find a new supplier. I've been trying to think of something else to make for my etsy shop but it seems that all good idea's are taken!

I haven't been blogging because I feel I have nothing to blog about but I still read other peoples blogs and look forward to their posts everyday. I suppose that is a bit selfish really so I have decided to make an effort. I do so admire all of you out there who put in so much time and effort to take pics everyday. In an attempt to clear my mind I started by tidying out my fabric stash. Considering that I don't really sew much, I seem to have accumulated a fair amount of fabric!

I just need to get started and today is the day! It's a very late start to 2010 but I suppose 'better late than never!'

Merry Christmas

2009-12-18T08:07:00.003+02:00

With no small children in the house and no need for stockings etc. I must admit our decorations have become a bit sad! At least I have put up the tree and hopefully next year will be a bit more energetic about other decorations! May you all have a Blessed Christmas with your families and friends. I hope to be back next year bursting with enthusiasim, creativity and energy!

Pack your bags

2009-12-01T17:13:00.003+02:00

These vintage suitcases, found in a second hand shop, make me think of how much travel has changed. We throw everything into a soft tog bag or ruck sack and off we go! No trunks, hat boxes,leather and beautiful brass trims. Our bags only last for one or two trips and in the bin they go, to make room for a new branded beauty.I would love to know where these suitcases have been, if only they could talk!

Matric dance

2009-11-16T11:31:00.004+02:00

My son and his girlfriend went to her matric dance recently and I took these pics for them.

Beautiful detail on the shoes and dress!

When you come to take photo's in Hermanus you realize how many great views there are. Living here you sort of take the stunning scenery for granted.

It was quite a windy, grey day but we mananged some lovely shots.

etc.etc.

2009-11-13T12:40:00.005+02:00

Another interesting shop found on my travels to the Natal Midlands! The wind has blown the sign around but it is called etc etc!
I absolutely LOVE black and white checked floors. I know they can be a bit over the top but there is something about them that is sooooo appealing!

Pretty prints and orchids.

I also love vintage cups and saucers and have a small collection of my own. I always feels loathe to use them in case they get broken, but I suppose that is silly, they are no use if not enjoyed!

spring flowers

2009-11-09T12:00:00.004+02:00

Unfortunately I had to go into hospital for a few days, but the upside was all the gorgeous flowers I received!

Baby soft!

2009-10-29T17:15:00.002+02:00

This is a blanket I made for someone who is having a baby using tunisian crochet. It's sort of a mixture between knitting and crochet. You use a looooong crochet hook and pick up all the stitches as you would on a knitting needle and then cast them all off again. I'm sure there are other patterns but this is the only one I know!

It makes a beautifully soft blanket if you use 4 ply wool and quite a thick needle. The crochet flower is just a bit of detail for fun!

Lavender wreath

2009-10-20T17:06:00.002+02:00

There is so much lavender in the garden at the moment that we decided to make a lavender wreath. First we cut some shoots from the honeysuckle creeper and wound them into a circle ( I'm sure you could use wire) Then we picked loads of lavender flowers and, taking bunches of four flowers, laid them across the wreath and secured them with string.

Don't cut the stems, they form the bulk of the wreathKeep going, it is time consuming! As you can see, my son did it for me, I only took the pics!This is what the back looks like.

We have left it to dry and I will show you what it looks like in a couple of weeks time. It smells delicious !

Trees

2009-10-13T09:58:00.003+02:00

While on my visit to Kwa Zulu Natal, I came across some interesting trees. As I love texture I couldn't resist these beauties. This one is a thorn tree (i think) and has bark that looks like layers of paper.

This is a Leopard tree and needs no explaination to the reason for it's name!

I'm not sure what this tree is, other than to say it is magnificent! It can be found in the park at the top of the Howick Falls.

Pastel Paintings

2009-10-08T15:26:00.004+02:00

While trying to tidy up my messy workspace the other day, I came across this old box of pastels and decided to try them out.
They work perfectly for the texture of the animal fur, but you do need to layer the colours and it is quite time consuming. I find it very therapeutic, almost like knitting a stitch at a time, drawing in a hair at a time! This one still needs a lot of work, there's a lot of paper to cover!

Midland greens

2009-10-06T12:27:00.004+02:00

Well, I'm back from my holiday in the Kwa Zulu Natal midlands. It is still as beautiful as ever with the start of spring and everything turning green . I couldn't resist a pic of these scrumptious looking salad greens. My Mom is an avid gardener so wherever we went we had to stop at the garden centers. This one was at a farm stall called Piggly Wiggly.

There are hundreds of farm stalls, restaurants and craft shops along the Midlands Meander which wanders, or meanders, through the most picturesque countryside. Shops are tucked away down dusty farm roads and it's really quite an adventure following the map, getting lost, and trying to find all the places on your list!

This is the view from a cluster of craft shops across the valley to Piggly Wiggly over on the other side.I must admit I didn't take as many photo's as I wanted to because I wanted to use my camera and not my cell phone. This backfired somewhat because the camera is rather cumbersome and difficult to maneuver in restaurants and shops. Next time I think I will just stick to the cell phone and go for quantity rather than quality!

Holiday!

2009-09-01T12:20:00.003+02:00

I am going to the Natal Midlands for a few weeks, to see my family, and will be back towards the end of September. I am also going to take a break from blogging and hope to return with great pics!

notebooks

2009-08-27T11:24:00.003+02:00

I've been having problems with my printer and decided to test it out with various designs. I used them to make these personalized note books for my friends.
I need to work on my sewing skills a bit, but all in all was quite happy with the outcome!

lavender and lemons

2009-08-24T12:22:00.004+02:00

Spring has definately arrived!
The lavender is in full bloom,buzzing with bees and ready for picking.

I love the lavender colours mixed with lemon yellow.

Cocktails to celebrate the beautiful sunshine, appreciated after all the rain!

Summer Salad

2009-08-17T15:50:00.002+02:00

Sunday was a beautiful sunny day, most welcome after all the rain! We celebrated with a summer lunch of spinach filled filo pastry parcels, asparagus quiche and this gorgeous avo, feta and fresh basil salad. Yummy!

Rainy Days

2009-08-12T09:23:00.004+02:00

Winter rain...... necessary, but not always welcome! It 's really a day to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book .Unfortunately I am going for a haircut, shudder at the thought of all that water around my ears! Seriously though, I love the rain, especially soft rain that falls for days so that everything can get a real good soak.

Zips

2009-08-05T10:40:00.002+02:00

A couple of weeks ago I set out on a quest to find a professional way to insert zips and I think I may have found the answer!

This is from a tutorial I found here at house on hill road blog. It is very confusing and I must admit I still don't really understand how it all comes together but, believe me, it does!

The entire zip is concealed and looks very professional. I'm going to have to try it a few more time before I 'll be able to do it without the instructions, but it really is worth the effort!

All things orange

2009-07-29T12:26:00.004+02:00

Orange is not one of my favourite colours, but as we're in the middle of winter, I find myself noticing all things citrus. From there it's an easy step to shades of peach, yellow and salmon.

From there another step to pure orange,

And finally to the intense, sun baked orange of a warm winters day!

maps

2009-07-22T11:50:00.002+02:00

I love maps, atlases and vintage books. We have a secondhand bookshop in Hermanus with the most amazing books. I found this atlas and couldn't resist buying it, even though it is moth eaten and discolouredMost inspiring colour combinations.

Dedication in the front of the book. Although this was written over 50 years ago, it still rings true for today.

This map bag, inspired by the atlas purchase, has already been sold and is living happily in the U.S.A

This is a tea towel specifically designed for Hermanus, combining the map idea with the stylized whale shape.

New cushions in my shop

2009-07-12T16:16:00.004+02:00

New cushions in my shop.I really enjoyed making these and think I 've got the hang of the zip in the back opening. It's amazing how sometimes the zips go in like a dream and other times they WILL NOT lie flat! I think it really is a case of 'practice makes perfect.'

Mind benders!

2009-07-02T13:50:00.001+02:00

These are 3 D images painted on delivery trucks! I must admit I can't get my mind around them, even though I know they are illusions!

Catch of the day!

2009-06-29T14:10:00.008+02:00

I must admit I'm not very keen on boats, bait and fishing, but I do love to eat the fresh fish. It does help to have a husband and son who love fishing and another son who loves cooking. Fortunately they can all fillet fish and I get presented with beautiful fresh fillets, ready for the pan, or if they are feeling REALLY energetic, cooked and ready for the plate!

I just love the colour of this 'red roman', living up to it's name ,with all the beautiful shades of pink and gold. I think this would make a great painting don't you?

collage cushion

2009-06-21T20:07:00.004+02:00

I'm so please that 'Audrey' has already been sold and is on her way to Norway, so I guess I'll have to make another one. I am having thoughts about Marilyn, Charlie...... the list is endless!

New cushion in my shop

2009-06-19T15:41:00.002+02:00

This is a new design I 've listed in my shop. I love the idea of mixing the designs and patterns with the monotone of the old photograph.

pebbles

2009-06-17T15:13:00.002+02:00

There is nothing more soothing than water flowing over pebbles as this photograph by Lori Hinrichsen shows. (You can see more of her work in her etsy shop chasing stillness.) That of course is the first thing that comes to mind but there are so many creative people out there giving a new look to pebblesI saved these a while ago and have forgotten where I found them, but aren't they fascinating!This one speaks for itself and can be found here.

I know felt pebbles aren't anything new, but I just love the way the hardness of the stones is so successfully translated into the softness of the felt.

I found these on etsy at makeyourpresentsfelt!

Birthday celebration!

2009-06-09T17:12:00.008+02:00

A sixteenth Birthday celebration! A bottle of champagne from my winnings and yummy food courtesy of the Birthday boy and upcoming chef!

Lamb, served with garlic and bacon green beans, roast butternut and roast potatoes.

Lemon tart with rasberries, a sharp taste but delicious!

Bugs and magnolias

2009-06-04T16:15:00.004+02:00

While still in 'insect' mode, I came across these photographs, by Kari Herer, on etsy. She has combined the magnolias with old illustrations of flowers and bugs.

I just love the way the flowers become part of the drawing and visa versa. These drawings really put my attempts at botanical sketches to shame. I also like the way they are so systematically arranged. How on earth did she find EXACTLY the right size flower for every drawing! Finally, white is my favourite colour.

I really want one of these photographs!

Mosaic mural in Hermanus

2009-06-02T13:36:00.003+02:00

These stunning mosaic panels are the result of a competition held, in Hermanus, by the Enlighten Education Trust.
Nyanga artist, Sandi Mdekazi, received R40 000 as winner of the Sunshine Foundation sponsored Mosaic competition in September 2008. He moved to Hermanus for the duration of the build from mid January to the end of April to oversee the interpretation of his drawings into mosaics.

As you drive into Hermanus and go down Swartdam road to get to the new harbour, you will see these beautiful panels all along the roadside.

You can read more about the artist, the wall and the creative process here.

For anyone visiting Hermanus it is really worth a look, especially at this time of the year when there are no whales to see!

Sporting weekend

2009-05-26T16:36:00.007+02:00

To Wellington on Sunday morning for a duathlon (5km run, 20km cycle and 2.5km run). Fortunately still in the junior section, next year will be double all the distances for each discipline.
Off to Paarl Gymnasium for rugby on Saturday morning. This is a beautiful school set in the vineyards surrounding Paarl. Unfortunately I was so busy taking photo's of the rugby, I forgot to take any pictures of the stunning autumn countryside!

Treasury

2009-05-21T12:32:00.003+02:00

My new cushion made it into Aimee's treasury, you can see her work here. I was thrilled to see how other people use beetles and insect in their designs. (I draw the line at spiders though!)

Insects

2009-05-20T10:57:00.001+02:00

Talking of insects, how about this clock from Josh Owen?

New cushions in my shop

2009-05-19T15:40:00.006+02:00

bug zoo! New cushions in my shop! I've taken AGES to make these because I wanted to add in some brighter colours, either in the backing or binding. I tried red binding on the beetle, which I thought would look stunning, but somehow just didn't work so I opted for the more neutral look.
The difference in the cotton and linen doesn't show up so well in the photos and maybe next time I need to use slightly more contrasting fabrics. Anyway, I enjoyed making them, especially the embroidery, simple as it may be, and the addition of a few beads!

bugs and beetles

2009-05-16T10:10:00.007+02:00

Bugs, beetles, moths and butterflies have been used in design for centuries and I'm sure are second only to flowers and plants as inspiration for unusual colours and patterns. I have always been fascinated with insects and over the years have done quite a few drawings but have never really known what to do with them. After seeing the beautiful cushions made by Tara Badcock I decided to try the same concept, of printing over two different fabrics, using my 'bugs'.

I scanned my drawings, did a bit of work on them using Photoshop and then printed them on two different fabrics. I had to join them after printing because the seam can't go through the printer.

This process is very time consuming because you have to get the join exactly right but I am happy with the result.I have quilted the insect and added a few beads.

I have made cushion covers and they will be in my shop as soon as the weather improves and I can take some decent photographs. It is amazing how when you are working on something you seem to see it everywhere. Imagine my surprise when I went onto Jezze's site yesterday and saw her block printed beetle! I am so impressed by her patience in cutting out the blocks and printing each one so carefully onto tape. It adds a new meaning to my definition of 'time consuming!'

tapestry

2009-05-15T13:42:00.004+02:00

After seeing Beryl's beautiful tapestry pincushions I am seriously thinking of cutting up this cushion cover and turning it into pincushions. As she so sweetly put it "no one is going to sit on my tapestries!" I started this years ago and, although it's very nearly complete, I somehow lost interest in it. I do vaguely remember something about running out of the teal background colour. The thing I like about this type of design is that each square is a design of it's own and is some how less intimidating than one huge surface!

Pin cushions

2009-05-12T14:03:00.004+02:00

This is my pincushion that one of my children made for me about 10 years ago and for that reason I am reluctant to stop using it, although it is starting to look a bit worse for wear! I 've been noticing pincushion all over the place and have listed some that I like.

Unfortunately I can't remember where I found this beautiful crochet pincushion other that to say it was somewhere on etsy.These little lovelies were spotted on skinny la minx's blog and were made by a lady called Beryl.

Finally, the blue colourway of the linen crocheted pincushion from the unknown crafter on etsy! I love tapestry and crochet and these have inspired me to combine the two and make some new pincushions for myself.

Strawberry cheesecake

2009-05-04T08:56:00.002+02:00

I made this cheesecake for dessert yesterday and as I put it out to eat, I noticed how beautiful the sunlight looked falling across the strawberries. I must add that I don't have the patience to do this type of decoration and would have plonked the whole strawberries on top in a random arrangement! This was painstakingly decorated by my son, the aspiring chef.

Talking of cooking, there are super giveaways on the good life eats.
Competition rules here.

Treasury

2009-04-20T09:43:00.003+02:00

Wow! My graphic Leaves tea towel made it onto another treasury. Will someone please buy it now! I really think this is a case of the photograph being more appealing than the actual product! Thanks to Sleep Dream Play. You can see more at her web site here , or her blog here.

creative bird cushions

2009-04-16T15:21:00.004+02:00

These beautiful cushions are made by Tara Badcock.
You can see more of these her creations here. Tara uses freehand machine embroidery and hand embroidery to create these wonderfully feathered creatures. The use of different textured fabrics just adds to the dimensions of the designs. I love the way the embroidery crosses over the different fabrics.

2009-04-13T18:22:00.002+02:00

My slate tea towel was featured on another treasury, see it here http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=50125 +

It seems that this is a very popular design for treasuries but unfortunately not for orders! Ah well, at least someone likes it for some or other reason!

Trust you all had a very Blessed Easter and didn't o.d. on chocolates like I did!

Prizes!

2009-04-07T14:13:00.003+02:00

Kim was kind enough to bring my prizes all the way to Hermanus. This is the hand over! Besides the champagne, there was this beautifully wrapped and decorated box full of all the other exciting gifts! How lucky can you get!

Treasury

2009-03-31T10:30:00.002+02:00

I have been lucky enough to be featured on natalyasots treasury. You can see more of her colourful ceramics here.

I won.......everything!

2009-03-30T08:47:00.004+02:00

I got so excited about winning Kim Gray's Birthday competition that I didn't read the e mail properly and thought I had won the dress. I won EVERYTHING!Champagne from Haute Cabriere !

A hamper from Poetry!

A gift voucher from Old Khaki!

A seed heart brooch by Usisi from Babazek!

Sara is also throwing in this hand bound leaf print journal.

This party-pink-star-of-the-night” purse by Jesse Breytenbach.

I won !!!!!!!!

2009-03-28T10:19:00.003+02:00

I can't believe I won this dress in Kim Gray's Birthday competition! Aren't I lucky! I never win anything so I am really excited and can't wait for my prize, and what a prize. Thanks Kim and I hope you had a great Birthday. It seems quite unfair somehow that I get such a fantastic gift on YOUR Birthday!
There it is , MY name in black and white! I must say this is all thanks to Jezze because she alerted me to the competition on her blog. Thanks Jezze!

Etsy treasury

2009-03-23T16:31:00.004+02:00

Pleased to see that one of my tea towels has been included in MS Handbags treasury. You can see the shop here.

Stanford

2009-03-23T11:19:00.005+02:00

On Saturday morning we were up bright and early to head off for the small village of Stanford, which is about 20 min drive from Hermanus, for their annual triathlon. Being a sleepy village we shouldn't have been surprised when we arrived at the time advertised in the local paper, only to find that we were an hour and a half early! Anyway, after the organizers decided not to do the swim in the river because the water was a bit cold and bike problems, my son eventually finished with an excellent run and a good time was had by all!Stanford is on the banks of the Kein (small) river which wends it's way to the lagoon and eventually into the sea just outside Hermanus. A fun activity is to go down the river on the African Queen. Unfortunately we didn't have time for that this weekend.

Savoury triangles

2009-03-16T15:36:00.006+02:00

Cooking is not one of my favourite passtimes and I am always thrilled when I find a recipe that is easy and everyone enjoys. This is one of those!

Savoury Triangles

1/2 bunch spring onions sliced

30ml butter

30 ml flour

1/2 cup milk

125 gm cooked spinach,drained

salt and pepper

1 cup cheddar cheese grated

1 egg lightly beaten

1 X 500g pkt phyllo pastry

I must admit I don't stick to the recipe exactly. You can use different types of cheese and other fillings like chicken mushrooms and assorted veg.

Saute` spring onions in butter until wilted.

Add flour and cook over medium heat for 3-4 mins, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon.

Add rest of ingredients and leave to cool

To make triangles, open pastry and cut into strips, about 5 per sheet. Brush with a little melted butter and top with a second strip of pastry.
Place a teaspoon full of filling on the corner of the pastry strip.

Fold into triangles, making sure the sides are straight and the corners sharp.

Brush with butter and bake at 200C (400F) for 15-20 min. until puffy and golden!

These are a family favourite and I often get an sms from my boys, when they are coming home for the weekend to "please make triangles!"

more etsy finds

2009-03-09T10:37:00.008+02:00

More stunning cushions I found while browsing through Etsy. These are designed and handmade using applique embroidery and beads, by Bridget Davies. I just love the designs and the way she has used such simple everyday items and settings.

etsy find

2009-03-04T14:57:00.006+02:00

I find these four seasons mini cushions and matching mugs from Baileydoesntbark so soothing and restful in their simplicity. I love white as a colour especially for my home and garden. I have just bought a white bougainvillea for my garden, in the hope that it will show up at night with the outside lights on.

I can't see the forest.....

2009-02-25T13:15:00.006+02:00

Thanks to Woodstock Clock for including me in her treasury!I absolutely love the aquamarine and silver tree!

Texture

2009-02-19T14:30:00.005+02:00

Some of the dictionary definitions of texture.... 'the grain of feel of a thing' or 'feel, touch, appearance, surface, grain' or 'the feel, appearance or consistency of a substance or fabric.'

The contrasting textures in this palm are fantastic, there is the super smooth, bright green of the stem contrasted with the fibrous fronds as they break away from the trunk. I almost feel as if I should be making paper or something from this fabulous fibre! It has been so dry and windy lately that any plant would struggle to survive but my trusty old palm is doing quite well despite the adverse conditions. Thank goodness we had some beautiful rain this morning!