Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2016 i Ideas

It’s officially spring but the weather in the Cape is still grey and surly, and because I can’t go out, I recently spent some time looking at everything that is available in the multitude of online stores where we can do our shopping these days. Judging by the range of products and the discounted prices it would seem that the end-of-year bargain season is already in full swing. The R239 sale in particular caught my eye. There is something for everyone - man, woman, homebody or adventure seeker - at that price. I would prefer a nicely rounded number like R250; a bit more expensive but it just sounds better and it makes the sums easier. It would be interesting to know how that particular number was decided on. And…

       In the passage there’s a painting of The Little Red Hen Tea Room, painted in 1962 – 16 years before Frikkie and Wilna Rabe bought the property in Voëlklip. This heritage is the origin of the red elements throughout the house . . . well, that and Wilna’s love of red. There are the red-painted wooden rafters, a red surfboard that came with the house, a red telephone, and the sign in the lounge that reads: ‘LIFE SAVING APPARATUS AT THE RED HEN TEA ROOM/REDDINGS TOESTEL BY RED HEN TEEKAMER’. The sign was previously down near the beach, but after the restaurant closed and was sold, and the life-saving equipment had to be relocated, a neighbour picked up the sign and brought it to the new owners. And with…

ICED COCONUT BISCUITS   MAKES: 15-20 PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes Baking TIME: 10-12 minutes Oven TEMPERATURE: 170o C • 250g butter, at room temperature • 250ml Huletts castor Sugar • 1 large egg • 5ml vanilla essence • 5ml coconut essence • 10ml cornflour • 750ml cake flour ROYAL ICING • 1 large egg white • 500ml Huletts Icing Sugar, sifted • 3ml lemon juice 1 Beat the butter and castor sugar together until creamy. Add the egg, vanilla essence and coconut essence and beat until just combined. 2 Mix the flour and cornflour together and add to the creamed mixture. Mix the ingredients together until a soft dough forms. cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes. 3 Place the dough between two sheets of plastic…

EGG-BOX SET Decorate an egg box and pack all sorts of small needlework items into it. YOU WILL NEED • egg box • white spray paint • floral fabric • fabric glue • sewing items (such as old wooden cotton reels with ribbons or thread, balls of wool, pretty scissors, thimble, tape measure, buttons, pins, and so on) TO MAKE 1 Spray paint the whole egg box white – inside and out – and leave it to dry. 2 Measure the top and inside of the lid and cut pieces of floral fabric according to these measurements. TIP We cut the piece for the top a bit larger so it extended over the side edges. 3 Glue the fabric pieces in place with fabric glue. 4 Pack the needlework items…

I am house-sitting in Kirstenhof in the Western Cape and came across a collection of IDEAS magazines from 2013 and 2014. The crochet cake dome in the February 2014 issue looked so pretty. On reading the instructions I had to laugh! To stiffen, make up sugar water with two parts sugar to one part water, boil, cool, soak the crochet work and leave it to dry over a bowl. When I was 14 years old in 1957, 30-yard and 100-yard petticoats came into fashion. But, once washed they went limp. Someone suggested sugar water. We hung up the petticoats to dry on the washing line, then onto a coat hanger on the cupboard door handle. Next morning they looked fabulous - but on closer inspection they were alive with tiny…

REGULAR MARKETS • MARKET AT THE FORT Taking place from 10am on the last Saturday of every month at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein, there’s fashion, food, wine tasting, music and more, all with a focus on contemporary African style and culture. Entrance is free. For details, go to constitutionhill.org.za. • 1 FOX MARKET SHED Located in Johannesburg’s old mining district of Ferreirasdorp, this market offers street food, local crafts and clothing, plus live music and lots of space for kids to run around. Entrance is free. Open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, go to 1fox.co.za. Northern Cape 22-26 November The Kuier-Kuier Christmas Market takes place in Bridge Street, Monument Heights, Kimberley. For details, email kuierkuierkersmark@gmail.com or go to facebook.com/KuierKuierKersmark. Western Cape 31 October 2016 to 29 April…

vermilionroots.com Christine Leong’s cooking style is informed by her Oriental-Malaysian background and having a chef dad who ran a Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. She now lives in San Francisco. She loves to explore the cuisine of different cultures, but finds herself drawn to foods from the region she grew up in. Many of her recipes are Asian, made simple for everyone to recreate easily. She likes to shop at her local farmers’ market and focuses on seasonal plant-based recipes. sarahhearts.com The daughter of a graphic designer, Sarah Khandjian started her blog with a line of handmade bags and screen-printed apparel, selling her products in the student union, online, and at craft fairs to help supplement her college income. When she married, it was ‘a simple, handmade wedding where I…

FRUIT TREATS FRUIT & DATE BALLS Makes: about 60 Preparation time: 30 minutes • 250g butter • 250g pitted dates, chopped • 250g dried fruitcake mix • 1 large egg • 125ml sugar • 1 packet Tennis biscuits, crushed • desiccated coconut, for rolling 1 Melt the butter and pour it over the dates and fruit mix. 2 Beat the egg and sugar together and stir into the fruit mixture. 3 Add the crushed biscuits and mix well. 4 Roll the mixture into small balls. Roll each one in coconut. Place the balls into small paper cups. Store in an airtight container until ready to package. PACKAGE IT Pack the fruit and date balls in a round box. Decorate the lid with scrapbooking paper and tie a matching ribbon…

SIMPLE SLIPCOVER YOU WILL NEED • white fabric • embroidered traycloths • matching sewing thread TO MAKE 1 Measure the chair from the seat over the top of the backrest and down to the desired length of the slipcover. Add 3cm to this measurement for hem allowances. Measure around the backrest and divide this measurement by two to calculate the width of the slipcover. Add 4cm to this measurement for 1cm ease and seam allowances. Use these measurements to cut a one-piece panel for each slipcover. 2 Overlock the top and bottom hems and sew a 1,5cm-wide hem at each end. Measure the height at the front of the backrest, plus half the depth at the top edge. Fold one end of the slipcover panel over to the length measured,…

PIGGIE BAG This cute bag will put a twinkle in a little girl’s eyes. YOU WILL NEED • template on page 65 • purse clasp • fabric scraps in three different prints • iron-on interfacing • glass eyes • polyester stuffing for the snout • contrasting embroidery thread TO MAKE 1 Adjust the top edge of the pattern on page 65 if the clasp differs from the one we used. 2 Cut two pieces of the body pattern from the fabric in the size required, for the outside of the body, and two pieces from contrasting fabric for the lining. Also cut two pieces from the interfacing. 3 Iron the interfacing to the fabric pieces for the outer body. Place the two pieces together with right sides facing and stitch…

DOODLE DIARY Transform a plain notebook with a few doodles on the cover and colour some of them with markers. YOU WILL NEED • plain A5-size book (we bought ours at The Deckle Edge) • black fine liner • pencil • coloured markers TO MAKE Draw the design of your choice on the cover of the book in pencil, then trace the pencil lines with the fine liner. Wait for the ink to dry then add colour to some parts of the drawing. PACKAGE IT Wrap the decorated notebook along with another plain one and include a set of coloured pencils or markers with the gift so the recipient can embellish the plain journal too. PORTRAIT JOURNAL llustrate a hardcover diary with a sketch of the recipient and make a…

CHARLIE CHAPLIN BAG Find a Charlie Chaplin silhouette on the internet, print it out and cut it out to use as a stencil. Spray glue on the back of the stencil and place it on your white gift bag. Use a sponge roller for the paint work. First pour a little black craft paint onto a sheet of paper and roll the roller through it a few times. Roll the roller roughly backwards and forwards over the stencil and the bag so the silhouette stands out clearly against the black background. Allow the paint to dry before removing the stencil. We completed the design by adding a bow-tie button. BAG WITH FLOWERS AND LACE Cut a strip of lace just longer than the width of the paper bag. Fold over…

CHARLIE CHAPLIN BOX Find a photo of Charlie Chaplin on the internet and print it out in the desired size. Buy black and white striped scrapbooking paper or giftwrap, or design your own and print it out on white computer paper. Cover the lid of a white cardboard box with the striped paper. (It’s best to use spray glue for this.) Cut out your picture and glue it in the middle of the lid. Decorate the edges of the picture with matching ribbon or washi tape. STICKER TIN A tin is already an attractive packaging option as it is, but give it your creative stamp by playing around with pictures, photos and stickers. The tin can be used afterwards to store all sorts of small items. Look out for vintage…

If your business is anything like ours, the Christmas holiday season is probably one of your busiest and most profitable times of the year. Again if you are anything like us you would have done some of your planning for the holiday season mid-year and maybe even some of the ordering for stock and materials. And, like us, you will also now be looking at the season coming up with some degree of panic as you realise how much you still have to do over the next few weeks to get your ducks in a row. The end of the year is also so tricky from a family and social point of view with seemingly every party and school concert and you-name-it being held in the last few months before…

Pop artist and curator Alex Hamilton and his wife Zelda have an art gallery in Woodstock, Cape Town. It’s a wonderfully inspiring and unpretentious place jam-packed with delightful surprises. On one side is the clean, white gallery space where artworks are exhibited. On the other is the studio where Alex works, as well as the ‘museum’ where – over many years – their books, ornaments and vintage collectables have found a home. On the wall, Alex’s assortment of vases is arranged according to colour and there’s a collection of porcelain and glassware – some of the other beautiful things that resonate with this self-acknowledged compulsive collector. ‘I believe these items come into our lives for a reason. Every object, every book, every picture tells a story about someone’s personal journey.’…

FRUIT: apricots, avocados, cherries, guavas, melons, papapaya, peaches, pineapple, plums spanspek, strawberries, watermelons. VEGETABLES: asparagus, baby marrows, beans, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, globe artichokes, leeks, peas, spinach. HERBS: basil, bay leaves, dill, fennel, mint, sage, thyme, marjoram, origanum, rosemary. FLOWERS AVAILABLE IN NOVEMBER: achillea, agapanthus, allium, alstroemeria, amaranthus, anthuriums, Asiatic lilies, asters, calla lilies, carnations, celosia, chincherinchees, chrysanthemums, delphiniums, everlastings, gerbera, gladiolus, godetia, heliconia, lavender, lisianthus, orange balls, roses, sandersonia, sea holly, some proteas and fynbos, statice, sunflowers, trachelium, veronicas.…

Celebrate summer Boschendal’s Chardonnay-Pinot Noir is a fabulous choice for summer entertaining. This dry blush wine is sophisticated and delicate and can be paired beautifully with a variety of foods – especially sushi, salads, seafood and fresh and fruity desserts. • Available nationwide for about R100 a bottle. Sweeten up A luxurious box of chocolates always makes a good gift and Lindt has plenty to choose from, including the Lindor Gold Cube for R64,95 and the Swiss Luxury Selection for R134,95. You could also give someone you love the gift of a chocolate-making class under the guidance of the Lindt Master Chocolatiers. • Book now at chocolatestudio.co.za to secure your space for classes in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 3-29 December. FOR THE KITCHEN Sagaform’s kitchen products make beautiful gifts…

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: two hours plus drying time YOU WILL NEED • biscuit and royal icing recipes on facing page • ice-cream cookie cutter • sharp knife • gel food colouring (we used brown and pink) • piping bags • nr 1 icing nozzles • couplers (optional) • rainbow sprinkles • wire cooling racks • ramekins Follow the recipe on the facing page to make the biscuit dough. Roll it out to a thickness of 3mm and use the ice-cream cookie cutter to cut ice-cream shapes. Use a knife to cut out the ‘puddles’. Cut off the tops of the ice creams. Cut some straight and others at an angle. Follow the recipes on the facing page to bake the biscuits and to make the royal icing. Keep aside…

THIS MOOD, THAT ESSENTIAL OIL • Lavender for relaxation and sleep • Rose to brighten your mood • Ylang-ylang for stress relief • Lemongrass for energy • Jasmine to relieve anxiety • Rosemary to lift self-esteem • Citrus to ease sadness • Peppermint for fatigue ROOM SPRAY Spritz this natural spray anywhere that needs a bit of freshening – bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, wardrobes . . . (Instructions on page 56.) TO MAKE Mix 1-2 cups water with 20-30 drops of essential oils, depending on how strong or light you want the scent to be, then pour the mixture into small spritz bottles using a funnel. Recycle pretty old perfume bottles, or buy new ones. We found ours at Bonpak (bonpak.co.za). PACKAGE IT Decorate the room sprays by writing the…

FABRIC DREAMCATCHERS YOU WILL NEED • embroidery hoops • remnants of lace, broderie anglaise, printed and plain fabric • sewing thread • oddments of crochet cotton No. 5 or mercerised embroidery thread • embroidery needle with large eye • feathers • buttons DREAMCATCHER IN ONE FABRIC  1 Cut a circle of lace fabric that is large enough to fit the embroidery hoop when it is secured in the frame. 2 Fit the fabric circle into the embroidery hoop and secure. Using the crochet yarn and working in small neat straight stitches, embroider the fabric circle with two vertical rows. Use the design in the lace to determine the row and try to stagger the lengths of each row. Attach a button at the end of each row. 3 Complete the…

Book title: GIVE (Metz Press) Author: CARlA VISSER Leisure Books club price R205 Recommended retail price R245 DINOSAUR BOOKENDS This is the perfect present for any child who loves to read. YOU WILL NEED • plastic animal • 2 heavy blocks of wood • spray paint primer • spray paint in bright colour • strong adhesive • crack filler (Polyfilla) • fine sandpaper • handsaw BONUS IDEA: Use plastic animals to create unique stationery cups. Choose the child’s favourite animal. Use a hot-glue gun to attach the animal to the cup, but make sure the tail of the animal rests on the surface you are working on. Coat the entire outside of the cup with spray paint. Leave to dry then fill the cup with colourful pens and pencils. Sand…

NAME JAR Spray paint a pickling jar and the lid white and leave them to dry. Spray on another two or three coats so the colour is solid. Type the recipient’s name on your computer in an attractive typeface – space the letters so they will fit around the jar – and print out the name on white paper. Cut the paper in a strip and glue it onto the jar. Finish off with a matching ribbon tied in a bow. JAR WITH LARGE FLOWER Use three colours of cardboard for this project. Cut a circle the size of the lid from the colour that you want to make your flower. Cut out six large petals and glue them just inside the edge of the circle allowing them to overlap…

STAMPED CHARLIE CHAPLIN PARCEL YOU WILL NEED • brown cardboard and/or brown paper • Charlie Chaplin picture • rubber linoleum • linocut set • carbon paper and ballpoint pen • black craft paint and sponge roller• craft knife and cutting mat TO MAKE 1 Trace the Charlie Chaplin picture onto a piece of linoleum with carbon paper and a ballpoint pen. 2 Use a sharp V-point tool to cut away around the outlines before you use the same tool to cut away the inside detail. 3 Cut away the background with a large half-round blade. Cut away everything that must not be part of the lino stamp. 4 Cut off the excess lino and you have your Charlie stamp. 5 Squeeze a little black craft paint onto a hard surface…

GIFTS FOR THE TABLE I’m inviting a few friends for a Christmas meal this year and want to suggest that we swap small gifts at the table. How should we go about this? A Gifts that are exchanged around the table can help to break the ice, especially if the guests don’t know each other well. The secret Santa tradition is that everyone in the group draws a name at random beforehand – this is the person for whom they must buy a gift. The gifts are then handed over anonymously. HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS FOR EXCHANGING SECRET SANTA GIFTS: 1 CHOOSE NAMES The names are usually put into a hat beforehand and everyone has a chance to draw one. If this is not practical, you can do the…

Baker’s paradise The recipe in the September 2016 issue for the sticky caramel and peppermint crisp pudding made with bread dough was great to try. I have been buying the bun version of this from Aragon Cake Supplies in a premix form for a year now and it’s awesome to try it with bread as well. Aragon has made my life so much easier and it would be good for other moms to know about them. I had an emergency recently and while I waited in the store, the owner made up a batch of caramel pecan butter crunch icing for me and gave me two containers – one for my cake and the other to eat with a spoon in the car going home. Eating the warm, smooth goodness…