Umbrella Stand!

I just love my Umbrella Stand! And these are the reasons why:

1. I can see the umbrellas through the squares!

2. One day I can paint it white!

3. It is obviously a Wine Rack - [it's just had a career change after retrenchment!]

North and South!

All this talk of seasons and hemispheres! Now here is a completely different angle - The World Upside Down Map!

It makes you think! Doesn't it? I found out about it via Mind Shift. You can buy one at ODT and read more about the whole concept here.

Signs of Spring! Signs of Autumn!

I keep on reading about signs of Spring in the North! Well here in the South - it is signs of Autumn! And with all these leaves lying around - I just had to do something with them!

There are loads more leaves waiting to be dispatched from the Liquid Amber in my garden!

There's a Whole lot of Orange Going on...

After the nice neutral, cool and whiteish Belgian blog of yesterday, I just had to bring you some more Orange again today! It seems to be happening all over the place - especially here in the Southern Hemishphere. Maybe it's because Autumn is upon us...

Jesse of Jezzeblog in Cape Town just printed this delicious tape and has listed it in her etsy shop! Capetonian Heather of Skinny La Minx spent the Easter weekend photographing her Vintage Cups and Mugs. I just love seeing the whole series and how she interpreted them into the design of her latest Mugs Tea Towel Francesca has also had an Orange time lately when she was rewarded for her kindness and recieved this lovely wristlet from Naughtyagapanthus in Australia .

According to Squidoo: There is usually strong positive or negative association to orange and true orange generally elicits a stronger "love it" or "hate it" response than other colors!

Belgian B&B

With my impending trip to Belgium in July, I have been browsing the net for all things Belgian.

Designer Sofie Lachaert has 2 delghtful B&Bs in Tielrode and Gent. I would just love to do breakfast here... after spending a night here... Sofie, together with Luc d'Hanis has designed this pure silver Sugar Cage available from Droog!

Pass the Sugar PLEASE!!

A Retro Celebration

I have just passed my 150th blog post!

About 150 posts ago, I said that I found orange a surprising colour! Well, I have some more orange-ness to share with you!

These cushion covers:

Are backed with a shweshwe type print!

This cushion cover:

Is made from a retro tapestry and orange satin-backed crepe!

They are in my etsy shop - along with some found "brand new" seventies cookware! In fact - put your sunglasses on and have a look at my whole new "Retro" Section in my etsy shop!

Easter

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

From He is Risen Flickr Pool:

kishbee:

wvgasguy:

And this one from collidedwithgod:

Pencil Posy

Earlier this week, while shopping with a friend in Durban, I came across a packet of pencils. Do I draw? No. But I was drawn by the creative potential locked up in this box. I had a chat with myself and decided I should buy the box - they cost less than a bunch of flowers and would last a lot longer! Yesterday we had a power outage, but fortunately the sun was shining beautifully. So I placed the pencils in a vintage vase and experimented with my 'infinity' board and camera.

The pencil posy is now happily at home on my coffee table and by last night had already received some comments from a visitor! I like it when decor evokes thought and feeling maybe even puzzlement and humour!

Wire Coathanger!

I find great delight in giving ordinary objects an extra-ordinary value or purpose. Ordinary objects like pegs, pencils, candles, dominoes, carpet bowls, seedpods, etc. all have a beauty of their own, which is often only truly appreciated when they are placed in a different environment. Here is some hanger inspiration I have found while looking around! Ali Siahvoshi created this Hanger Cascade Light!I have been intrigued with the Coathanger Installation by Todd Bracher for a long time!

101 Design Studio also have an elegant light fitting!
Read all about the origin of the wire coathanger here and at Designboom! Fascinating stuff!

Signs of Art Deco Times!

In my final post on Art Deco Durban, I have to finish off on a humorous note. I just love the signs from around the world in Charle's Art Deco home!

These 2 sides of the same sign are a reminder of apartheid days in South Africa and were fitted onto the side of train carriages. The applicable side was displayed as necessary!

Countdown...

It is always a pleasure to visit Cape Town's Elsje Designs and see the wonderful events they put together. Have a look here to see the handmade favours, beautiful stationery, trendy decor and so much more that goes into the celebrations they put together.
Why am I doing a weddingish post?
There is a lot happening around my home that reminds me that I am going to be a mother-in-law next month!!
Here is a sneak peep at the raw silk bridesmaid's dresses which have just arrived!

Swathes of Sari!

I have added 2 more Sari Table Covers to my etsy shop. I have such a passion for Vintage Saris. I am intrigued by the variety of colours and patterns - sometimes just too garish and loud for me, but mostly beautiful and inspiring. I have a long narrow dining table, so it looks really good adorned with a Sari Cover. I love the humour of having the pattern anchored down 1 side of the cloth - confirming it's origins as an eastern garment!

Have a look at them here

Lovely Leather

Plastic shopping bags are definitely a thing of the past. But I really like Diane Steverlynck's copy of the well known plastic bag - Made with a single piece of soft leather!

What a luxurious way to Shop!

Why am I telling you about a Belgian product and a Belgian Designer?

Because we've just booked to go there in July! We'll be visiting family living there! Yay!!

Macrame Lighting!

In keeping with my post yesterday on my Macrame Vases, I thought I would have a look around and see if Macrame features anywhere in the design world.

There is not much - but I do like what Pernilla Jansson has done with the electric cords in her Macrame Light Fittings

Is there more life for this Knotted Craft beyond owls and pot plant hangers? I think so!

Plectranthus in Macrame!

I am delighted with my "new" Macrame Vases - here with some indigenous Plectranthus flowers.

This is how they came about...

I found a couple of odd little macrame squares while thrifting! At first I thought I might use them in my bathroom as facecloths, but they took exfoliating a little too seriously! I decided to hand-stitch the edges together and then fit the macrame sleeves over some extra-large tumblers.

I am not sure what these were in their former life? Maybe some little place mats? But I am happy with what they are doing now!

The Feel of Art Deco

The Art Deco Movement seems to have been a Modern Decorative Reaction to the austere War Years. It was a mixture of Many Styles and Cultures! This showed up in so many areas - and textiles and coverings were no exception!Our friend Charles travels widely and is able to source International Textiles that fit so well into his Art Deco Home. He has beautiful African Designs, Animal skins, Kenti Cloth throws and Rich Turkish Fabrics. Read more about Art Deco Durban and Charle's Art Deco Home here. Its all a lot of fun!
By the way DADS is the catchy acronym for The "Durban Art Deco Society". They are affiliated to ICADS - International Coalition of Art Deco Societies.

Candles for a Cause

Today's theme is candles -
First some lovely local lights made by Renette of Renette's Candles.

She lives in Knysna and creates these beautiful sand candles from wax and sea sand.
Secondly - there will be a whole lot of candles burning in my neighbourhood today. A mass peaceful protest is taking place as 6 men suspected of brutally assaulting a local resident and her dad last Sunday appear in our local court this morning. The protesters will carry candles and placards with POWAR [Protect our Women Against Rape]. I am heartened by the response of the community and by the courage of the victims themselves. This is a small way of standing with them.

Fun with a Retro Set

A while ago I found this lovely tea set, in a sad state. I bought it and had the covers beautifully re-chromed. I love the set because it is white, it is vintage and the bright shiny chrome gives it a clean fresh feel. Have you ever tried taking a pic of something that is so reflective? I decided to position the tea set with the white handles facing me - then my camera and I could hide behind them.
But I really wanted to show the set off properly!

Here are some of my attempts: I still haven't worked out how to be an invisible photographer yet - but it is a lovely [actually mismatched] set!