Friday, May 30, 2008

Kitchen Revamp - Finishing Touches

The Final in my kitchen revamp series...
These are some of the accessories that decorate my recently redone kitchen!
A meaningful sign from a friend... Some Vintage wineracks, painted white...Storage baskets - painted white ...A Carol Boyes fruit bowl
Still on my wishlist: This signed and numbered digital print from Jesse:

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Granny Square Chairs!

I have been enjoying doing some crochet work lately and so was tickled by these fun and funky Dutch Wool & Wood stools featured on The Style Files! A clever application of an old craft! They can be custom made to order.
I am busy on a small crochet project at the moment, which I hope to show you soon!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

How We ate a Delicious Monster!

A while ago I showed the beautiful Delicous Monster flowers in my garden. The flowers have faded now, leaving the "Fruit". I picked some to make an interesting table decoration. I love taking what I find outside - inside to add interest to my home.

I had a feeling that the fruit was edible. So I did a bit of research and found that it did in fact taste like a combination of banana, mango and pineapple. The secret is that the green tiles must start to loosen. If you eat it before that, the fruit will contain too much oxalic acid and burn your mouth. We plucked up courage and tried it and it was - Delicious! We shared it with guests on the weekend too. But don't take my word for it. Check it out here, here and here.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

My Lovely London List 2

Mint in Westminster is on my list of places to visit in London in July. Full of delightful designer items and gorgeous gifts. They stock these mouth watering ceramics by Doris Bank If you can't get to Mint in person, visit their lovely websight here or read more about it at Apartment Theray

Monday, May 26, 2008

Airy Arums

I love Arum Lilies. They seem to have just the right spot in my garden, and they usually flower prolifically. Arums were on my mind the other day when I came across this:It is a limited reprint by Sanderson, originally produced in 1858 and used in Winston Churchill's home!
The arums in my garden, are not flowering at the moment... ...but it didn't stop me from picking some of the leaves last week when we needed some freshness in the house. I am pleased that they bring my odd collection of "white" vases together and give the room an airy feel.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Literary Folds

A good way to beautifully use some old paperbacks! I made these table decorations from vintage books! I don't read novels, so I had to buy some from a charity shop. I giggled inwardly when the shop assistant kindly pointed out to me that I had bought 3 copies of the same book. I told her it was fine, I wasn't going to read them - just fold them! Fold them? Yes Fold them!
I got the idea from: Matthew Mead: Head over there for lots more "fresh ideas for modern living"!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Brrr! Time to Put Jesrseys on!

Winter is upon us here in the Southern Hemisphere, which has prompted me to to think about warm, cuddly cushions!?!

Strikk lives in London and knits her beautiful cushion covers from wool dyed in South Africa! What an interesting link! Afra from Turkey has this "Trees in Love" knitted pillow cover!
My cushions are well prepared for winter with their recycled fairaisle jersies and tapestry jackets!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

My Lovely London List 1

Heather of Skinny LaMinx jetted off from Africa to London yesterday. The good news for me is that I'll be there too in early July and I am planning how I will fill my precious few days there. Some places I want to revisit, and others I plan to visit for the first time: The delightful Labour and Wait in East London is definitely on my list.

The shop celebrates the simple honest things in life and sources hardware, clothing and other products from around the world, many of them still made in the traditional way. If I didn't have a 20kg restriction on my luggage - these are some of the things I would take home:

This Giant dustpan and brush made in the USA

This doorstop weighs 3kgs and is made by a knotting enthusiast in the UK : As is this Sailors brush, knotted out of a single peice of rope:

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Red Hot Pokers

The Red Hot Pokers are flowering in our garden again. They remind us every year of the anniversary of us arriving here. Fifteen years ago, our garden was bare and scraggly, except for 1 or 2 gems - the Red Hot Pokers bloomed in all their fiery glory to welcome us - and these same indigenous perennials still fill us with joy every early winter!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Ice? Mint? Teal? Azure?....

A gift of a clock from my sister-in-law, prompted me to hunt around my home [and store room] for goodies to make up this scene. I also hunted for names to describe these related colours - and came up with rich words like "Aquamarine, Teal, Mint, Ice, Seagreen, Azure or Cyan"
I just love the way such different objects - new and mostly old - can be united by their similar colours.
PS: I would not mind adding a panel in this wallpaper by Orla Kiely!!!

Friday, May 16, 2008

Leaf Walk!

Yesterday I took my "Skirt" and "New" Shoes for a walk in the leaves! The skirt is made out of ties, like the dress here. I collected a number of brownish ties, unpicked them, opened them out and then joined them together!
The shoes were white - and I wanted them brown, so I spray painted them. I've done it before and as long as I keep the spray can handy for touch ups every now and then, it works well!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Modern Hunting Lodge

Interior Designer, Writer for Decor8 and Blogger - Vanessa of Turquoise is busy putting together a hunting lodge for a client. She asked her readers for input. It made me think back to my post last week on Cecile and Boyds. They have won the Conde Naste Traveller "Best Hotel in the World" 3 times since 2002 for their design of Luxury Game Lodges for Singita! So Vanessa - and the rest of us - here is some mouth watering African Inspiration:

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Seen around lately...

Afternoon Sun,
Pod Mahogany Seeds, and
Beautiful White Dish...
[given to me by a special friend who knows just how much I love white!]
Captured by Christy, my daughter who seems to notice moments like this!
And like this...

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Recycled Beautifully

Isn't this beautiful? A carpet made out of discarded woolen blankets combining traditional needlework and floral patterns This is the work of Jo Meesters and Marije van der Park and forms part of the collection - re: use re: make re: value
So pleasing for the recycling, repurposing heart inside me! [via Bientot Demain.]

Monday, May 12, 2008

Where's ...?

I enjoy "Where's Wally" [Where's Waldo in the USA]! I love the challenge of finding something or someone in a graphic crowd!
Which is why the Gift wrap designed by writer and illustrator Alex Latimer is so appealing. Made up of local South African images - it calls me to get involved - to see if I recognise road signs or other images from my country!These cassette tapes form part of a much larger drawing of his old collection found in a shoe box. It makes me want to stop and search. Which artists do I remember/like/dislike? Read his daily comic strip here!

Friday, May 09, 2008

A Happy Story!

A while ago, Jeanine Hays of Aphrochic asked me if I knew how she could get hold of some porcupine quill lampshades!
Soon, 2 readers came up with some suggestions. Jeanine says she now has some on order and will let me know when they arrive! How lovely to help each other out from opposite sides of the world!

The first place I thought of looking was Cecile and Boyd - a homeware store in Durban .They did not have the lampshades we were looking for - But it is one of my most inspiring Decor Destinations.
According to their web sight "Cecile and Boyd's have a subtle yet distinctive style that blends International design with African influences, classic with contemporary"

If ever you are in Durban, a visit to their showroom is a must!

Thursday, May 08, 2008

How Now Design

I love the work of Abbey Hendrickson! She has a way of celebrating the ordinary and presenting it refreshing ways!

Bee Hive with Scrolls of Paper:
Pencil Art Work:
Ingenious Clipboard Collection:Vintage Bird Collection:
Visit her blog here, her etsy shop here and her flickr here for loads more inspiration.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Decorate with what you have!

I enjoy the innovative use of everyday objects - When the ordinary becomes extra-ordinary! I like what Danny Seo did with these wine corks: Tembe, the game lodge we just visited, was full of clever natural decor ideas, using materials that are close at hand:

This white skull of a Red Duiker decorates a ledge:

The thatched rooves give the place a lovely feel:

And don't you love the twig loo roll holder?