Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2020 i Ideas

It’s seldom necessary that I have to rewrite my entire letter to you. And completely unheard of that our printers are shutting their doors before we can deliver our latest Ideas into their capable hands. And how the distributor’s trucks are parked off rather than out delivering our magazines to shops far and wide. It is two days before we all have to isolate ourselves and I am sitting here in my home office reading how everyone is preparing to WFH (work from home). New systems, new ways of communicating and meeting, and apparently a difficult thing for the millennials who are ‘herd animals’ and don’t like being on their own. In the beginning our team simply carried on as usual. After all, we have all been working alone from…

TAKE A SEAT Nothing looks more comfortable than a big slouchy armchair. We put our cover on the chair with the raw edges outwards to add texture, but if you need a break from the undone look, turn it through to the right side. DIFFICULTY: advanced TIME: one day Use some old fabric or sheets, or paper, to cut and sew a mock-up cover to fit the chair. Sit on the chair and cut the fabric to fit that section, and pin the pieces together as you go along. When you are happy with the fit, use the mock-up pieces as your pattern to cut the cover pieces from sturdy linen or cotton and sew them together. Chair cover by Terena le Roux ORGANISER Keep all your craft goodies close…

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 2-3 days YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS ♥ technical diagram on page overleaf♥ backing board (we used SupaWood) - 344mm x 344mm x 9mm (part 1)♥ mirror: 343mm x 343mm x 3mm (part 2)♥ wood (we used SA pine) - 2 000mm x 142mm x 22mm (parts 3 and 4)♥ picture frame with glass window (part 5) (we repurposed an old frame and resized it to an outer dimension of 412mm x 412mm)♥ 2 x 50mm flush hinges with screws (part 6)♥ 1 x magnetic catch (part 7)♥ 2 x 2A55 slotted hangers with screws (part 8)♥ pine wood filler♥ wood glue♥ 12 x 4mm x 45mm wood screws♥ 1 tube of silicone rubber sealant♥ white water-based enamel paint TOOLS ♥ hand drill♥ 3mm drill bit♥ countersink bit♥…

YOU WILL NEED ♥ shortcrust pastry ♥ rolling pin ♥ pie filling ♥ pie tin ♥ sharp, non-serrated knife ♥ ruler ♥ small cutters SHORTCRUST PASTRY ♥ 300g cake flour ♥ 150g cold butter, cut into cubes ♥ about 75ml ice water APPLE AND RASPBERRY FILLING ♥ 1 tin pie apples, drained ♥ 1 punnet raspberries (or 375ml frozen berries) ♥ zest of 1 lemon ♥ 60ml brown sugar, plus extra to sprinkle over ♥ 15ml cornflour Mix the flour and 2.5ml salt together. Add the butter and use your finger tips to rub the butter into the flour. The mixture should resemble breadcrumbs. You can also use a food processor to do this. Add threequarters of the water and mix very gently with your fingertips. Lightly press the mixture…

DIFFICULTY: intermediate TIME: about 50 hours YOU WILL NEED ♥ Nurturing Fibres Eco-Cotton: 3 x 50g Vanilla (for joining), 13 x 50g in the colours of your choice (Sunglow, Willow, Lime, Ruby Pink, Bordeaux, Sunkissed Coral, Mint, Orchid, Aventurine, Ocean, Anvil, Violet and Watershed were used here)♥ 3,5mm crochet hook♥ tapestry needle♥ 1 ottoman 42 x 42 x 42cm TENSION Hexagon measures 8cm between the flat sides. Adjust your hook size up or down to obtain the correct tension. ABBREVIATIONS (US terminology) blo - back loop only C1, C2, C3 - colour 1, colour 2, colour 3 ch - chain stitch dc - double crochet 4dc-cl - 4 double crochet cluster hdc - half double crochet NJ - needle join (invisible join) rnd - round sc - single crochet sl…

DIFFICULTY: average TIME: weekend YOU WILL NEED ♥ plastic laundry basket (see step 1 below)♥ T-shirt yarn in the colours of your choice♥ needle with a large eye♥ sharp scissors♥ kebab stick TO MAKE 1 First look for a laundry basket with openings that are just big enough for you to be able to weave the T-shirt yarn through them, and the openings should also not be too far apart. The idea is to cover most of the plastic with your weaving and to give the basket a pretty, handmade appearance. NOTE: Our basket is from the plastic store Mambo’s, which has branches countrywide. 2 Plan your pattern with the different colours of yarn so that it will repeat right around the basket. We kept it simple with a zigzag…

It was the moment of truth: ‘I’m just quickly helping an old uncle and auntie here with their car that has broken down,’ the youngster on his motorbike told his friend over the phone. Our car had stopped dead, and was refusing to budge, right across the road from the undertaker(!) as we drove into Oudtshoorn on our way to the sea. And I was an old auntie. Auntie. That’s what my brothers’ and sisters’ children and their generation call me and I don’t mind it at all. But ‘old auntie’? Never. I will rebel against that for sure. Luckily I find myself in excellent company. Positive ageing was highlighted at the Global Wellness conference in Singapore at the end of 2019 as one of the 10 biggest wellness trends.…

The comfort of a home filled with a sense of belonging and a feeling of peace… this is a goal for most people I know. The thing with this desire and intrinsic need is that it is not something you can obtain by simply walking into a specific building or room. It is not the walls of a home that give us peace and belonging - this elusive tranquility may be embodied in a space but it comes mostly from a deep-rooted, healthy understanding of yourself. To feel at home somewhere and be at ease starts with feeling at ease and at home with yourself. There are many barriers that keep us from getting to know ourselves - including the changes that we undergo throughout our lives. These barriers can…

@BIBBYSKITCHEN Johannesburg, South Africa Food writer and stylist Dianne Bibby’s photos of her food creations will transport you to loftier heights in the kitchen. She is generous with her recipes, sharing everything from vegan to the meatiest dishes on her blog, bibbyskitchenat36.com. @KNITTINGBEE_CPT Cape Town, South Africa Whether she is at the beach, camping or going for a pedicure, Bronwyn Hiles always takes her knitting with her. Her speciality is cosy accessories like gloves and scarves, and she loves to share her inspiration on her Instagram page. @LYNDA.GARDENER Melbourne, Australia Décor stylist Lynda Gardener’s work is a mixture of old and new, of designer pieces and finds from flea markets, antique and second-hand stores. She posts her unique projects in soft monochromatic colour schemes on Instagram.…

Dear Terena, We live in Southeast Asia and two of the best things to bring back after a trip to South Africa (or to have friends and family bring us when they come to visit us) are the latest Ideas magazine and biltong. Where we live in Laos (here better known as Lao, a small, developing country next to Thailand), members of the indigenous Khmu tribe have for thousands of years been weaving bags from the fibre of the tropical kudzu creeper (Pueraria phaseoloides) that grows wild in the country’s tropical jungles. Traditionally, they used the bags to collect food in the jungles and veld, and later in the farmlands. The fibre is now registered under the trade name JungleVine. Unlike, for example, the wild hemp plant, the kudzu vine…

DIFFICULTY: medium to advanced TIME: one day YOU WILL NEED ♥ terracotta tiles (250 x 250mm) ♥ chalk paint in the colour of your choice (we used white) ♥ undercoat (optional) ♥ paintbrush ♥ tile cutter Paint the tiles with chalk paint. If you are using the tiles in a place that will be used frequently, it’s best to apply an undercoat first. Leave the tiles for about 24 hours to dry before starting the next step. Once the tiles are properly dry, insert a tile into the tile cutter and score the cutting line down the centre. Press the tile cutter down to break the tile along the scored line. Take one half of the tile, turn it sideways and insert it into the tile cutter again. Score and…

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 1-2 days YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS ♥ technical drawing on the page overleaf♥ wood (we used SA pine) - 1000mm x 162mm x 22mm (parts 1 and 2) - 600mm x 29mm x 22mm (parts 3)♥ pine wood filler♥ wood glue♥ 12 x 4mm x 45mm wood screws♥ matt white spray paint♥ black water-based enamel paint TOOLS ♥ hand drill♥ 3mm drill bit♥ countersink bit♥ mitre cutting saw♥ Phillips screwdriver♥ sandpaper: 100, 150 and 220 grit♥ clamps♥ craft knife♥ artist’s paintbrushes or sponges CONSTRUCTION OF THE BOOK HOLDER 1 Create parts 1 to 3, referring to the technical drawing for exact specifications. Drill, countersink, glue and attach all the components. Conceal the screws and imperfections using wood filler. FINISHING TOUCHES AND ASSEMBLY 2 Sandpaper the book holder…

MEMORY WALL Create a memory wall filled with family photos and personal keepsakes. We arranged a collection of vintage frames, family photos, Grandpa’s hat and Great-granddad’s spirit level, but you can add anything that you reminds you of your family. WIRED AND IN PRINT Make your own frames with wire. You can also hang frames without glass over smaller photos. Or have a family photo printed on fabric and hang it, like the tapestries of old, on the wall. SOFT TOUCH Print a family photo on fabric and use it to make a unique, personalised cushion. (Our photo was printed on cotton twill.) Fabric printed at ArtLab (artlab.co.za, 021 448 1421)…

DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: one day YOU WILL NEED ♥ black-and-white photo of your choice, printed on fabric♥ embroidery threads in the colours of your choice♥ embroidery needle♥ embroidery hoop TO MAKE 1 Start off by having your photo printed on fabric; these days there a lots of places where you can have it done.* 2 Decide which sections of the printed picture you want to embroider and work out your colours so there is a nice variety. 3 Insert the fabric into your embroidery hoop and starting embroidering. You can use any stitches that you prefer. We used satin stitch to fill in the flowers. For the finer sections and dot details we used French knots. 4 When you have completed the embroidery, you can have the fabric framed, use…

DIFFICULTY: average TIME: 5-6 hours to complete a pair YOU WILL NEED ♥ DK weight yarn - main colour: 100g (320m / 350 yds) - 3 x contrast colour: 15g each (50m / 55yds)♥ 4,5mm crochet hook♥ stitch markers♥ tapestry needle and scissors WE USED Nurturing Fibres DK in 4 colours MC: Vanilla CC1: Imperial CC2: Sunlit Kelp CC3: Monet SIZE The slippers will fit an average size 5-6 (but this is easily adjusted) Circumference at ball of foot = 24cm Length = 25cm TENSION 12 rows x 11 sts = 5 x 5cm ABBREVIATIONS (US terminology) blo - back loop only CC - contrast colour ch - chain stitch dc - double crochet dec - decrease (single crochet 2 together) inc - increase (make 2 single crochet into next…

OLD-WORLD CHARM This beautiful bathroom with its soft colours in an Edwardian house in Green Point, Cape Town, is reminiscent of a bygone age of gracious living. The owner, museum curator Christopher Peter, says the bathroom used to be the kitchen before it underwent this complete transformation. The Victorian free-standing basin dates back to the 1940s and provides a touch of old-world charm to the bathroom. On the right is a large walk-in shower, where the old kitchen sink used to be. The mint-green mosaic tiles and rose-pink walls make a nice contrast, with the flower carpet and vintage mirror and chair rounding off the picture. BLACK-AND-WHITE RECYCLED You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make your bathroom special. In this bathroom, clever plans were made with…

With a few simple templates you can celebrate the important women in your life this Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is a celebration all about honouring your mom, your mother-in-law, your grandma … in fact any maternal figure in your life. It is one of those unoffical holidays that often creep up on you and without knowing it you find yourself scrambling for a lastminute gift or tempted to write it all off to commercialism. But this year, we have some great semi-home-made printable gift ideas that you can do that will have your mom feeling that extra bit special. And as a bonus, we have created an all-year-round ‘Home is Where the Heart Is’ version too! (Go to ingoodcompany. co.za/downlaods to download the printable materials.) You will find the designs…

WINNING LETTER ART IS CREATIVITY MADE VISIBLE I am a South African living part-time in Mozambique. I and my husband, who works here, have been living happily and peacefully among the locals along with our cats, tortoises and chickens for the past six years. With the start of the new school year I was approached by one of my employees about a community crisis. The daughter of my neighbour across the street was without an art book for the start of her school year. Although the price of a new book was a mere 150 meticais (roughly R38), this school requirement was very far down the list of priorities for the average Mozambican family. I was approached to assist with plan B, which was the ring-binding of a lot of…

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE SO YOU NEVER MISS YOUR ISSUE OF IDEAS! FOR AN ANNUAL SUBS CRIPTI ON OF R433.50 YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR PRINTED COPY OF IDEAS EVERY SECOND MONTH.* USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS TO SUBSCRIBE: * CALL 087 353 1307 (lines open Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm). * EMAIL YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS to subs@ideasfactory.co.za** * SMS “SUBSCRIBE IDEAS’ to 33153 (R1.50 per SMS).** IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY THE MAGAZINE ONLINE OR WISH TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ONLINE EDITION, go to www.magsathomedigital.co.za. Buy a single digital copy for only R60 or subscribe to the digital edition for R330. For queries, email digitalsupport@magsathome.co.za or call them on 087 405 2222. OR * DOWNLOAD OUR IDEAS APP and purchase your digital copies there. *…

LIVING ROOM In the living room, the large painted canvas acts as a background for the fabric and flower compositions. The old wrought iron garden planter (left) is a little rusty, but becomes chic juxtaposed with a beautiful flower painting. KITCHEN Above the counter is a work by the Italian artist Ubaldo Franceschini, Laurence’s husband (see also the page overleaf).‘We wanted to keep the rustic character of the kitchen with its stone fireplace and the dark grey walls, and we added a note of elegance with the addition of the three crystal chandeliers,’ Laurence explains. The rustic table is three metres long and can seat up to 14 people - ideal for dinners with friends and relatives. TIP To customise candleholders for the dining table, adorn them with flowers, leaves…

FRENCH CHIC Give an old shop cupboard a new lease of life by adding curvy legs and a coat of shiny black lacquer paint. We found our cupboard in a second-hand store as a sand-coloured melamine unit with no legs, but the mirror at the back and the art deco-like grooves on the sides appealed to us. DIFFICULTY: advanced TIME: 2-3 days Sand the cupboard down before painting it with a layer of undercoat. Leave it to dry then spray paint a coat of black nondrip varnish over the undercoat. Wait until it is touch dry before applying the next coat. Repeat until the colour is solid. Be very patient with this cupboard as it needs quite a bit of time to dry in between each of the coats of…

OSTRICH STEAK AND PEPPER PIES A good home-made pie filled with tender chunks of meat and gravy is very hard to resist. Ostrich goulash is more economical and healthier than beef; you’ll be surprised how delicious this filling tastes too. Serves: 6 Preparation time: 45 minutes Cooking time: approximately 2 hours Oven temperature: 200oC ♥ 40ml butter♥ 40ml olive oil♥ 1kg ostrich goulash pieces♥ 30ml brandy♥ 2 medium onions, chopped♥ 3 cloves garlic, crushed♥ 15ml flour♥ 1 litre prepared beef stock♥ 10ml bruised Madagascan green peppercorns (or use 5ml ground black peppercorns)♥ 2 bay leaves♥ 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and cubed♥ 2 sheets of ready-made puff pastry♥ 1 egg, whisked with 15ml water 1 Heat a little butter and oil together in a heavy-based saucepan. Once the pan…

My box is inspired by memories of my mother… of her in her sewing room, stitching and embroidering. She was a needlework teacher, so I grew up in a house with cupboards full of fabric, lace and thread. With this project you can create your own box full of memories. DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: a lovely weekend project YOU WILL NEED ♥ box with shelves (ours is from PNA)♥ mementos, such as old photos and pictures, vintage dress patterns, old-fashioned thread spools, and prettily packaged buttons, thimbles and needles♥ edge trimmings, like lace and an old measuring tape♥ paint in the colour of your choice♥ modge podge♥ antique rub (we used Dala Antique Rub, an oil-based product)♥ craft brushes♥ glue gun♥ craft knife and cutting mat♥ ruler♥ metal hooks, to hang…

COLOURWORK WRAP CARDIGAN Knitted seamlessly, top down. DIFFICULTY: intermediate to advanced TIME: 4-6 weeks. Special skills: Fair Isle knitting on RS and WS. Size: Medium (size adjustable with wrap) Gauge: 20 st and 18 rows = 10cm x 10cm (blocked) YOU WILL NEED ♥ Nurturing Fibres Supertwist DK: MC - 6 x 50g (Glacier), CC1 - 2 x 50g (Conch Shell), CC2 - 2 x 50g (Odette), CC3 - 1 x 50g (Pear), CC4 - 1 x 50g (Cedar), CC5 - 1 x 50g (Slate)♥ 3.5mm (rib) and 4.5mm (main) circular knitting needles for knitting back and forth and in the round♥ 10 stitch markers♥ scissors♥ darning needle for working ends away♥ 1 Incomparable Buttons card - L192 Hearts ABBREVIATIONS CC - contrast colour k - knit k2tog - knit…

LAUNDRY SYMBOLS Now you will never again need to wonder what the circles, buckets and triangles mean! Copy our design with the laundry care symbols in the desired size onto white paper and place it in a frame that suits your colour scheme. SOCK BOARD Peg a lonely sock here until its lost mate has been tracked down. Copy the quote in the desired size and frame it. Cut a wooden board the same size as the frame width and glue a row of wooden pegs along the board. Attach it to the wall underneath the frame containing the quote. TIPS FOR STAINS Keep this on hand for any washday emergency… Copy the design with the guidelines for treating stains and marks in the desired size onto white paper and…