Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2016 i Ideas

White , old and preferably with a touch of gold - that was always my decor default mode. Working month in and year out in a creative environment, where new ideas are our bread and butter, has taken its toll, however, and now my house looks like a studio where there's something happening on every wall , but none of it goes together. When we walked into Pieter Vosloo and JanHarm Vorster's house in Cullinan , I felt as if I had arrived home. Everything that I love was in front of me , in abundance - the gorgeous fabrics, the chandeliers, the white wooden floors, the old cupboards ... to be honest, that huge open living area that stretches from the bed to the kitchen is exactly how I…

YOU WILL NEED • digital image • smoothly ironed fabric (we used a cushion cover) • iron-on transfer paper (we used two A4 sheets) • craft knife, cutting mat and metal ruler • pencil First print out the picture on plain paper in the correct size, as a reference. Flip the picture on your computer so it is a mirror image and print it out again. Divide the mirror image in half widthways. Copy the two sections of the image onto the transfer paper. TIP Copy them so there is a thin strip of white paper at the edge where they join, so you don’t lose any of the picture. Cut off the white strips on both A4 sheets of transfer paper with your craft knife and metal ruler. Place…

Nothing says soft and romantic quite like a touch of delicate lace. White lace-insert top (R659) from Zara. Earrings (R149) from Accessorize. Stay cool in a white spaghetti strap dress embellished with embroidered blooms. Dress (R899) from Element. Add texture to a soft summer look with embroidered detail. Dress (R1199) from Poetry. Wellington boots (R1 559) from Aigle. Keep the heat at bay this summer by layering floaty, sheer items over each other. Top (R559) from Zara. Lace camisole (R499) from Mango. Bracelets (R399) from Accessorize.…

Celebrate this special milestone in vintage style with a mixture of nostalgic elements. Choose a colour scheme of soft pastels and use lots of roses and rose pictures to create a romantic setting. Set the table with your best crockery and cutlery – and, of course, lovely photos of you on your wedding day. Copy more wedding photos in the desired size onto plain white paper. Cut them out in a circle so they fit in the centre of a small plate or saucer. Paint a thin coat of modge podge on the back of the photo and stick it in place on the plate. Seal with another few coats of modge podge and leave to dry properly before using. Make your own little cake stands from old candleholders and…

We are all guilty of it: we buy the book because we like the cover, the wine for its label, the perfume for the bottle. Something speaks to us from the shelf and it is at this moment that we will choose one product over another because we like the promise of what is inside. Attractive packaging heightens the shopping experience and the ritual of unwrapping a purchase is a delight at any age. As busy shoppers we appreciate clearly labelled goods that help us make the correct choice and when we buy a gift we want it to convey the thought that went into choosing it. So often as producers our focus is on production quality and we run out of time, cash, energy and creativity when it comes…

baked goods and homeware gifts, and I think we learnt a lesson or two. Pop-ups are not always completely straightforward to set up, and although you may run yours only for a short while (the recommended time to see a return on your startup investment is between six weeks and three months), they take months to organise. Our pop-up opened on 3 December, but we started our planning in March. The most important thing to nail down is the right position. There’s no point being in a beautiful place with no pedestrians walking by. What you need is maximum foot traffic. Since you will be open for a short time, you will need to make an immediate impact through high visibility in a busy location. Don’t bother to go ahead…

Combine ornate doorknobs and drawer handles with a variety of old glasses to make mini glass domes. Use an epoxy glue like Alcolin Rapid-Epoxy or Bostik Super Epoxy to glue the doorknob to the base of the glass. Place the domes over individual pastries or desserts on decorative saucers, or over a rose in a little bit of water for a table decoration. Make eye-catching candles by attaching colourful glass doorknobs to the base of vintage jelly moulds. Use Alcolin Rapid-Epoxy or Bostik Super Epoxy to glue on the doorknobs. Insert a wick and fill the moulds with melted wax to make your own candles. Mini trophies and books from Onsite Gallery. Find similar doorknobs at H&M, Poetry and Builders. Paint plain wooden doorknobs with white PVA paint. Leave to…

Try working in a shallow, nonstick container – anything from a tray to a baking sheet will work. Use a funnel or make a paper cone to pour the extra glitter from the container back into the jar. BEAT THE HEAT Even though I have cotton Q sheets, they sometimes still feel very warm in summer. What can I do to cool them down? A Make your own ‘cold compress’ by filling a cotton sock with rice. Tie the sock with twine and freeze it for two hours before bedtime. Then slide it between the sheets. Because rice is dense and starchy, it stays cold for a long time. QI have a jar full of wine corks I’ve been collecting over a few months. What can I do with them?…

Accessorize 021 447 7718 Aigle 031 301 2464 Alcolin 021 555 7400 Banks Kitchen Boutique 021 461 3190 Bostik 021 555 7400 Builders 0861 335 2739 Exclusive Books 011 798 0000 Game 011 427 3000, 021 555 7500 H&M 021 826 73 00 Habits 021 671 7330 Lulu Belle 012 346 6424, 021 671 5728 Mango 011 783 7907 Miglio 086 130 4050 My Pretty Vintage 021 551 2242 Onsite Gallery 021 462 1357 Peter Osborn Furniture 021 534 2904 Plan B Vintage 082 491 3677 Plascon 086 020 4060 Poetry 021 464 5893 Witchery 0860 022 002 Woolworths 0860 022 002 Zara 011 302 1500, 021 446 8700…

hearthandmade.co.uk Claire Donovan’s blog is full of craft projects, DIY instructions, crochet tutorials and patterns, interior design inspiration, party plans, freebies and printables. She is always on the lookout for budget friendly ways to create a comfortable and stylish home, including using second-hand pieces and upcycled finds. If you are enjoying the new Ideas series on journaling, browse her art journaling posts where she shares layouts, tips and a step-by-step project. lovelyindeed.com What started as a creative lifestyle blog, with a focus on DIY, travel, family and style, has grown to include consulting, creative workshops, speaking engagements and crafting books. Chelsea Foy from California describes herself as ‘a maker from way back when, and my mom still has the macaroni necklaces to prove it’. These days, she says, she makes…

YOU WILL NEED tulle (2,5 x waist measurement, plus 3cm) three pieces of mesh fabric (2,5 x waist measurement, plus 3cm) lining (2,5 x waist measurement, plus 3cm) fusible interfacing matching machine thread 20cm zip one 18mm button TO MAKE NOTE All seam allowances are 1,5cm. 1 The skirt consists of a lining layer, followed by a tulle layer, and finally three layers of mesh fabric. Cut the width of each piece of fabric to the desired length of the skirt, plus 1,5cm for a seam allowance at the waist. Use the lining offcut to cut a waistband measuring 9cm wide. The length of the waistband should be the waist measurement plus an extra 2cm ease (to accommodate the gathered seam allowance of the skirt), plus 3cm for an underlap,…

YOU WILL NEED • ceiling tiles made from polystyrene • water-based paint in dark grey and white • craft paint in rust or hammered metal colours like burnt sienna, dark brown and black • paintbrushes • rough steel wool • candle Paint the ceiling tiles with the dark grey water-based paint and leave to dry. Use the craft paint in rust or hammered metal colours and paint it on the raised parts of the tiles that you want to accentuate. Leave to dry properly. Take a piece of candle and rub it here and there over the raised parts of the tiles. Take care not to damage the polystyrene, but also make sure you rub a reasonable amount of wax off onto the tiles. Apply a coat of white water-based…

There are a few very effective new anti-ageing trends and procedures that you could consider and most of them won’t break the bank. Most of these procedures can be performed by cosmetic physicians, dermatologists, plastic surgeons and in some cases (such as Fraxel) highly skilled beauty therapists with a background in nursing. Always do your homework, look closely at the practitioners’ websites and don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as you need to in order to be sure, before deciding on a treatment. This new French technology has already garnered a great following in Europe and was launched in South Africa in October last year. It is an anti-ageing treatment that redensifies the skin in order to wipe out the signs of time. HOW IT WORKS: The face is…

YOU WILL NEED • biscuit recipe on page 56 • square cookie cutters • fondant in the colour of your choice • cornflour • small rolling pin • fondant embosser with quilting pattern (or a plastic ruler) • paintbrush • 24 jars or tins • royal icing • piping bag • nr 1 or 2 icing nozzle • fondant roses or other decorations (optional) For each box you will need six square biscuits, one slightly larger than the other five. You can cut away from the sides of the large square if there is a big size difference. If you don’t have square cookie cutters, measure and cut the dough into squares. Bake until golden. Set aside to cool completely. Roll out the fondant so it is fairly thin, on…

Stickers are useful for gift packaging. Print them out on sticker paper and cut them out. Use your logo on all your packaging and stationery to keep it uniform. You can play around with our rose wreath template on page 62, if you prefer. Scan it in on your computer, choose your typeface and use a design program to add the name of your business to the logo. Remember also to include all the necessary information and contact details. Or ask a graphic designer to help you if you are not confident about doing it yourself. With your basic logo ready, you can now use the same design on all your stationery. Arrange all the information neatly across the available space and print out the cards on medium-weight cardboard in…

Serves: 4-6 Preparation time: 45 minutes 600g minute steaks 30ml sunflower oil 1 onion, finely chopped 4 cloves garlic, crushed 10ml paprika 2 bay leaves 15ml red wine vinegar 5ml sugar 2 small French loaves potato chips, fried and ready to serve sliced tomato, red onion and lettuce, to serve CHAKALAKA 45ml sunflower oil 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 5ml grated fresh ginger 1-3 chillies, chopped 15-20ml curry masala 2 large carrots, grated 4 tomatoes, grated ½ green pepper, cubed 1 small can baked beans in tomato sauce 50ml chopped fresh coriander tip To save time you can buy ready-made chakalaka in a can. Warm it up and serve it spooned over your steak. You can also serve the steak and chakalaka in a vetkoek or wrapped in…

YOU WILL NEED tiles (we used 15 sheets of nine small tiles each) high-resolution vintage-look digital picture modge podge antique glaze suitable sealant sponge roller, paintbrush and paint tray craft knife and cutting mat Choose an image that will print big enough to cover the area to be decorated. First print a small version and divide it into blocks according to the area to be decorated, as a reference while you work. If you have photo editing software, you can divide the image into blocks with the ‘tile’ function. Print out the picture in the desired size – we used several A3 pages to cover our 15 sheets of tiles. Cut away the excess white paper around the edges so the pieces form the complete picture according to your block…

or the past three years, Wendy Koutlis has been living in the peaceful and friendly little town of Fouriesburg in the Eastern Free State. It is nestled along the foothills of the magnificent Malutis between the towns of Clarens, Bethlehem and Ficksburg. Wendy says she’s never been happier, and it’s easy to see why – she can express her passion for crochet every day in the neat sandstone house she shares with her partner and pets. A dirt road runs past the house and livestock often come here to graze, so even though her home is in town, it nonetheless feels like a farmhouse. ‘Here, we still live close to the land.’ Wendy lived in Durban for 20 years before deciding to relocate after her mother died suddenly and she…

We downloaded images of vintage flour sacks from the internet and transferred them onto fabric to make these lovely cushions. YOU WILL NEED picture of your choice fabric of your choice matching machine thread zip inner cushion in the correct size dressmaker’s pen TO MAKE 1 Cut the front and back pieces of the cushion cover from the fabric in the desired size, plus a 2cm seam allowance all around. Mark the sewing line in the bottom seam where the zip will be inserted. 2 Make a mark on your sewing line about 3-4cm in from both sides of the bottom seam and then stitch the seam as follows: sew the first 3-4cm with a normal stitch length, set your machine to a long tacking stitch and sew to the…

Do you love creating unique décor items for your home? Or do you want to transform your living space with a new décor scheme that won’t cost the earth? For decades, Bernina has been passionate about bringing you tailor-made machines to make your creative dreams come true. With Bernina’s wide range of premium Swiss sewing, overlocking and embroidery machines, you can confidently take on any décor project, big or small. You can also enjoy a host of state-of-the-art software and versatile accessories, designed with your creativity in mind. Create interesting wall hangings with fabric, ribbons and machine stitchings. Add a dash of colour and texture with a pretty flower ball: embroider each pebble detail and sew the wire in position to shape the pebble. Just like stumpwork done by hand.…

NAILS Essence The Nudes Nail Polish in 07 Hope for Love (R34,95) ALSO TRY: Essence The Gel Nail Polish in 15 Hey, Love! (R24,95), Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Color + Base Nail Enamel in 400 Royal Flush (R119), Wet n Wild MegaLast Nail Color in Candylicious (R56,95). FOR YOUR SKIN Babor Cleansing Rose Toning Lotion (R474). Be your own Valentine and spoil yourself unashamedly this month with skincare products or perfumes that have rose as an ingredient, or with make-up in the loveliest shades of red and rose pink. FOR YOUR BODY Café de Bain Indulgent Bath Crème Raspberry & Rose Crème Tarte (R59,95). ALSO TRY: Justine Cantare Body Butter (R120). ROMANTIC ROSE SCENTS Chanel Chance Eau Vive EdT (R1 565 for 100ml), Oscar de la Renta Oscar Flor EdP…

Makes: 3 boxes Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus refrigeration time Baking time: 12-15 minutes Oven temperature: 170o C Decorating time: about 1 hour, plus drying time YOU WILL NEED 200g butter or baking margarine 200g Huletts White Sugar 1 large egg 10ml vanilla essence 5ml finely grated lemon zest 420g cake flour 1 Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric beater until light. Add the egg and vanilla essence and beat well. 2 Mix the lemon zest into the flour and add to the butter mixture. Beat with the electric beater on the slowest speed until combined. Press the dough together with your hands and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for 30 minutes. 3 Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut out 15 squares…

From my own experience of starting a business, these are a few things I’ve learnt about startups and being an entrepreneur: Having your own business is insanely hard and not for the fainthearted. The hours are rubbish, the rewards minimal, the competition is fierce and customers don’t really care that much. No matter how many sales projections you forecast they will be wrong and your costs will be double. You will live in penury and be constantly humoured (as you are doing something you ‘love’), the risks are all yours and things can get quite scary. Better start putting on those big girl panties right now if you do decide to go ahead. Nobody will be interested, especially the banks, when you go knocking on their doors for an overdraft…

Make your own journal with built-in storage pockets. YOU WILL NEED A4 hardcover book with the pages removed A1 sheet 200gsm paper in cream or white bone folder metal ruler pencil craft knife clamps piercing awl upholstery needle super muslin (strong fabric) strong thread beeswax book binding glue tip You will find most of these items at speciality craft stores. CREATE SIGNATURES (PICTURE NUMBER 1): A signature is a sheet of paper that is folded to make the pages that become a section of a book. Place the A1 sheet of paper lengthways on a flat surface. Place the open book jacket close to the bottom left-hand corner of the paper. Trace the book and mark the position of the gutter. Extend the top and bottom lines across the length…

YOU WILL NEED ornate picture frames decorative items, like glass beads, shells and pearls silver embroidery thread fishing gut 180-grit sandpaper epoxy glue degree chart (print one) handsaw TO MAKE 1 You need six pieces of frame to make a hexagon. Make sure the pieces are all equal lengths. 2 The corners need to be cut to a 60-degree angle; take note that the frame’s original decorative edge must be facing outwards. Rest the frame pieces on the degree chart with the ornate side facing upwards and cut the 60-degree corner outwards to the left and right. 3 Cutting by hand doesn’t make for precision work and the joins may be slightly out. Sand the material to help ensure a better fit. 4 Stick the ends of the frame pieces…

LETTERS MUST BE ORIGINAL AND MUST NOT HAVE BEEN OFFERED FOR PUBLICATION ELSEWHERE. • WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, SHORTEN AND EDIT LETTERS. • WE WELCOME YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND WILL CONSIDER PUBLISHING THEM IF THEY ARE OF A SUITABLE QUALITY. I have a small vegetable patch in my back garden and recently I planted fennel seeds for the first time. The plants seem to be very happy and have grown beautifully. Having never used fennel in any of my dishes, I was excited to discover your crunchy chickpea salad on page 54 of the October issue. I picked my first baby fennel bulb and made the salad, minus radish but with home-generated sprouts. I also added some baby spinach and sweetcorn quiches to the plate. Wow! My husband and…

We’re back at JanHarmsgat se Agterplaas in Cullinan from Friday afternoon 19 February to Sunday afternoon 21 February for a weekend packed with creative inspiration and good company. And of course two completed stitchcraft projects to take home with you – a gypsy curtain and this cute caravan pincushion. Bernina are bringing their latest machines and their team, to make sure that even the greenest of us get to finish the projects. We can only accommodate 30 people in our group, so don’t delay in booking your place! For just R2 250 for a single room or R2 070 per person sharing, you can be a part of this wonderful sewing adventure. • BOOK YOUR PLACE BEFORE FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARYwith Marweya Smal of Ideas at marweya.smal@media24.com or 021 408 3040.…