Friday, September 12, 2008

Clothing, Decor and Me

Debi Treloar is an ex-Zimbabwean-now-Londoner photographer whose work has appeared in many Decor Magazines and books.I am really happy to see these particular pics of hers, where items of clothing make the rooms look so good! I have quite a big collection of vintage clothes, which I have sourcerd on my 'travels' to thrift shops. Unless I make them into other things like this and this, I always have in mind that they will hang outside the cupboard to beautify the room! [Although I must confess that a Lime Green Jacket and funky floral brown shirt have found there way into my cupboard!]I have started photographing my collection and hope to sell some of my stash through my second etsy shop soon! I hope these wearable works of art will beautify rooms [and maybe also people] around the world!
Do pop over to Debi for more wow interiors!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

More Side Tables!

I am pleased to say that I have seen two copies of the Magazine Side Table that I wrote about last Friday.
Anairam of Fra[a]ing made this lovely version along with some other pretty paper projects the other day: If your Spanish is good [or you use Google Translate], you can read about how Immanualidades made this version!
Thanks to you both for the mention and the even bigger compliment of actually trying it out!
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has given it a go!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Glove Cushion Covers!

Finally I have my series of hand-stitched Cushion Covers in my etsy shop! Each one has a vintage pair of gloves appliqued with a short comment stitched on too!I'd like to introduce them to you:
"Home at Last" "Round and Round the Garden to..." "I Could have Danced all Night" And "Turquoisery"!I have my own Glove Cushion Cover in my lounge and it still fills me with joy! Hand shapes are pleasing and lively!

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

New Series

Thanks To Jesse of Jezzeblog for commenting on my Elle Deco Guest Post yesterday and telling me about the work of Laura Cahill featured on Dezeen Design Magazine. This lampstand is made from recycled books and I just love her "Heavy Read" chair! Pop over to see her beautiful book vases which can hold water too!

I have just finished a series of 4 hand stitched cushion covers [with more to come!] I was looking forward to showing them to you today, but my pics really did not do them justice. So if the light is good today, I will snap them again and show them to you tomorrow.

Monday, September 08, 2008

Elle Deco!

I am a guest blogger on Elle Deco today! Pop over there and have a look at all sorts of inspirational stuff!
In particular I enjoyed the recent article on South African Award Winning Designer Haldane Martin.

Read the interview with him and so much more.

Friday, September 05, 2008

Table Tut!

I decided to try my hand at making my own Folded Magazine Side Table after showing this one last week. It is quite delightful and adds a dose of colour and humour to my living room! I topped it with a display of vintage silver dishes.
I love it when my home evokes reaction from visitors, and this 'table' certainly has! ...What is it? ...How did you make it?
This is how you can make one too: You will need 4 magazines with good quality pages.
Open the magazine and take 6 pages at a time. Roll the outside edge of the pages to the centre of the magazine. Keep going round until all the pages have been 'folded' in this way. Do not make a sharp creased fold, just a gentle roll fold. There is no need to glue or stick - the pressure of the folds keeps everything in place.
Finally take the 2 cover pages and fold them in half - outwards. This must be a sharp fold.
Repeat with the next magazine - then position these 2 semi-circles back to back. Staple the 2 covers together, close to the spines of the mags to join into 1 circle. Repeat with the other 2 magazines and then stack the 2 cylinders on top of each other. I separated the layers with a tray, but they can be stacked directly on top of one another. Enjoy! And when you are over your table - recycle responsibly!

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Pics of Pillows or are they Cushions?

Gemma Comas is a talented Interiors Photographer. I like the way she captures these cushions! They form part of her impressive portfolio.

Posting Cushion Covers on my etsy shop has got me thinking about whether I call them "Cushion Covers" or "Pillow Covers". To me a pillow is something you sleep on at night and a cushion is something you sleep on during the day [when you catnap on the couch!] I realise that it is an American thing to call 'cushions' - 'pillows' and that the rest of the world calls 'cushions' - 'cushions'! I found some help on the subject here!

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Paper Cutting

I enjoy working with paper. A number of years ago, my German friend Gertrude introduced me to the craft of Scherenschnitte. I tried my hand at few projects at the time. I found some of my old cutouts the other day. I remember how, thanks to my simple snipped projects on my window, I was able to have 'cows grazing under the trees' or 'geese pecking at the flowers outside'! I came across the amazing work of Kanako Yaguchi. She uses the Japanese paper cutting method of Kirigami to inspire all sorts of beautiful products!These designs are like super-duper stylish snowflake patterns. Pop over to her web sight to see what she's been up to here or read more about her at Pingmag here.
PS.Remember Heather of SkinnyLaMinx's Cut Tut! It is classic inspiration to start wielding a craft knife straight away!

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Blue Poppies

I've finished another scarf pillow cover! I snapped it yesterday in the late afternoon light. [I like the way these covers look good from the top and sides too, because of no seams there - and the pattern continuing around!]
It had some good 'blue' company in the form of a check linen table cloth - a delightful scrolled thrifted vase and a beautiful pot stand, bought for me by my sister-in-law, from a street-side market when we popped over into Germany on our recent visit to Belgium.

Monday, September 01, 2008

Tree of Happiness

Happy Spring day to those of us in the Southern Hemisphere! This is a silhouette of the magnolia tree in my garden which is bursting into flowers, before the leaves arrive!I was so delighted to receive a Tree of Happiness Award from Flower Press! [The creator of some beautiful gocco prints]
I have to list 6 random things that make me happy! Here goes:
  • My first cup of coffee in the morning! I make it on my trusty espresso machine and usually have it together with my husband.
  • Browsing through Design magazines or books at my local bookstore
  • "Finding" something full of potential at the local charity shop
  • Painting things white! It improves most them!!??!
  • My home at the moment. We have been doing bits and pieces of renovating - and I am liking the outcome!
  • Travelling to Cape Town or overseas. I love being exposed to creative ideas in a different environment!
I am going to pass this award on to Estelle [she doesn't have a blog YET, but she is such an encouraging reader of mine]