Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2021 i Ideas

‘I was in the right place at the right time,’ is what I usually say. That’s how I arrived in Cape Town 22 years ago after a spur-of-the-moment decision to swap my afternoons with my child at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg for afternoons on the beach. I worked freelance doing styling and knew very few people in my new city. And just then, Woman’s Value was looking for a fashion editor to work on a freelance basis. Which placed me where I needed to be when the magazine wanted to appoint an assistant editor the following year and gave me the chance to find my feet before dit started up a year later and needed a bilingual editor. Six years later I was back in Johannesburg, now as publisher, and…

STRAWBERRY AND LIME LOLLIES Makes: 4–6 YOU WILL NEED ♥ 1 lime ♥ 500g strawberries, washed and hulled ♥ 15–30ml castor sugar, depending on taste ♥ 50ml water (or vodka for adult lollies) Prepare your fruit. Finely grate the zest and juice the lime. Keep 2–3 strawberries aside to use for decorating. Purée the remaining strawberries with the sugar. Add the lime zest and juice and the water or vodka. Rinse the lolly mould with water. Slice the reserved strawberries as thinly as possible. Stick the slices to the side of the mould and use a skewer to move them around. Slowly pour the strawberry mixture into the moulds. Insert an ice-cream stick and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight. TIPS 1 Thick, puréed fruit makes decorating the…

SHIBORI DRESS DIFFICULTY: moderate TIME: 3–4 hours Size 32-34 YOU WILL NEED pattern on page 65 4m white fabric (2 x 1,5m are dyed and 1 x 1m left plain white) matching machine thread TO MAKE 1 Cut out all the pattern pieces: 1 x front and 1 x back from the dyed fabric and 2 x flaps from the plain white fabric. Seam allowances of 1,5cm and a 2,3cm hem allowance are included in the pattern. 2 Cut binding (2cm wide) on the bias of the fabric for the armhole openings, neck edge and tie bands for the flaps: for the armhole openings and neck edge the length of the opening plus 1,3cm; for the tie bands two of 30cm x 2cm each. 3 Prepare the flaps. Fold over…

DIFFICULTY: average TIME: a day for a school of fish, depending on how much detail you use YOU WILL NEED ♥ fish template ♥ polymer clay in the colours of your choice (we used Fimo from Staedtler in white, light blue and dark blue) ♥ rolling pin ♥ craft knife and cutting mat (or use a hard tile) ♥ metal ruler ♥ kebab skewer ♥ talcum powder (or flour) Knead the clay for the basic fish shape in your hand until soft before you start rolling it out. Sprinkle a little powder over your cutting mat and blow the excess away. (The powder helps to prevent the clay from sticking to the mat.) Use a rolling pin to roll out the clay to about 3mm thickness. Place your fish template…

HEIRLOOM CALENDAR DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: 12 hours YOU WILL NEED ♥ fabric ♥ tracing method of choice ♥ embroidery design ♥ embroidery hoop ♥ embroidery needle ♥ embroidery thread in colours of your choice ♥ sharp scissors ♥ pen or pencil 1 Trace the design onto your fabric using a light box or any method of your choice. Other alternatives are using a water-soluble transfer pen or carbon paper and a pen or pencil. For the latter, you can remove visible drawing lines that your embroidery did not cover with spirits. 2 Stretch your fabric in the embroidery hoop. Fill in the flowers with satin stitch and the leaves with a few lazy daisy stitches. Embroider the outlines in back stitch. 3 Work the letters in the same way as…

There is something about the colour blue that inherently reveals a connection to movement, to a sense of journey. Oceans, rivers, sky. Whenever I look at blue in its natural environment, in the expanse of the sky, in the freedom of a mass of water, the idea of blue being a guide to somewhere beautiful and new awakes within me. We feel an innate sense of relief and calm with the introduction of blue to our environments. It is, more often than not, a colour relating to rest more than any other colour in the spectrum. But it also gently guides us into understanding that movement is good, because blue that remains still for too long becomes an unhealthy shade of green, then an unwholesome brown, muddled with stagnation. All…

With today’s emphasis on simplicity, durability and authenticity, Kristen McClarty’s eco-printing practice and products are right on trend. Kristen took an indirect route to where she is now. There was no art school, nor were there decades on a design team. During her childhood in rural KwaZulu-Natal, she learned, among other skills, to sew and to identify the local plants and trees. A move to Cape Town after university and marriage was followed by a 13-year stint in corporate law, until she took time off in 2010 to concentrate on her family and her art. (mygreenroute.wordpress.com) Having practised many types of creativity and crafting throughout her life, those interests and skills came together in 2019 when she started her textile art business. ‘My objective with my brand, Inyoni – the…

WRITE TO US & WIN! The writer of this month’s winning letter will receive a Linen Drawer voucher valued at R1 000, redeemable from their online store www.linendrawer.co.za. Linen Drawer produces top-quality bed, bath and table linen with free delivery countrywide. They offer bed-linen ranges produced from pure cotton percale as well as from pure linen. They also sell quality winter sheeting, duvets and pillows, blankets and throws, mattress protectors and bed wraps – all designed to ensure that you and your family have a good night’s sleep, every night. For more information, go to www.linendrawer.co.za or call 021 872 0108. LOCKDOWN LEARNINGS Being someone who is always making something from leftover materials, I found myself with time on my hands during lockdown. I love working with fibres and textures,…

PRAWNS WITH CHILLI AND BASIL BUTTER It’s easy to create an impressive and delicious meal using prawns. Keep it simple by cooking the prawns in their shells and serving them hot with flavoured butter and fresh lemons. Serves: 4 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 6-10 minutes ♥ 1kg whole prawns, deveined♥ 125ml soft butter♥ 2 cloves garlic, crushed♥ 1-3 chillies, seeded and sliced♥ handful of basil leaves, thinly sliced♥ 5ml grated lemon zest♥ 40ml canola oil♥ lemon wedges and potato chips, to serve 1 Remove the heads from the prawns but leave the shells and tails in place. 2 Mix the butter, garlic, chillies, basil and lemon zest together and set aside (or refrigerate if you are preparing this in advance). 3 Heat a heavy-based pan over a high…

ITAJIME METHOD DIFFICULTY: fairly easy TIME: about an hour per cloth, plus drying time YOU WILL NEED ♥ white linen or cotton fabric ♥ fabric dye in the colour of your choice (we used Guarany in indigo) ♥ table salt ♥ 2 wooden blocks ♥ elastic bands ♥ 2 plastic or glass bowls ♥ rubber gloves Use one of your wooden blocks to determine the size of the folds and fold your fabric concertina style along the length. Ensure that a centimetre or so of the fabric extends at the sides of the block, so it can folded around the block later. Now fold the long strip concertina style in squares, until you end with one square. NOTE: The size of the wooden block will determine the size of the…

DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: about 5 hours YOU WILL NEED straw bag (preferably with no lining) darning needle raffia rope (It is much sturdier than paper raffia and won’t break easily. We found some at PNA.) sharp scissors TO EMBROIDER 1 This is a project to have fun with and to do freehand, as you can’t really sketch a design onto your bag. You can roughly plan on paper where you want to place your designs. 2 The petals were created by using a sort of lazy daisy stitch. From the centre of the flower, work V-shaped stitches going outwards, then work the round part at the top, using the round section of the lazy daisy stitch. 3 As you are embroidering on a bag with a much harder texture than…

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 2–3 days YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS diagrams on page overleaf wood (we used beech) 135mm x 135mm x 14mm thick (part 1) 204mm x 120mm x 30mm thick (part 2) 128mm x 30mm x 30mm (parts 3) 3 glass test tubes with rim, 20mm x 150mm (35ml) (parts 4) 2 x 2A55 slotted hangers with screws (parts 5) clear epoxy adhesive clear lacquer spray (we used satin finish) TOOLS drill press or hand drill 20mm spade bit mitre cutter or hand saw coping saw sandpaper: 80, 150 and 220 grit wood clamps half and flat round files TO MAKE THE COW PARTS 1 Start by scaling up the parts diagram on the page overleaf to twice scale using a 10mm grid. Alternatively, scan the diagram and print…

It was during a silent retreat at Temenos in the artists’ village of McGregor in the Western Cape a few years ago that a friend remarked: ‘One of the most wonderful things that life has taught me is that idea of connecting the dots.’ The fire crackled, it was ice cold. Her words sank in. Coming from her, I believed them. She had been through the driest deserts of life and pulled herself out of the deepest dongas. Over the next few days, in the garden with its quiet corners and peacocks parading their purple, turquoise and green, I thought a lot about her words. Self-reflection. The quote from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, now widely known, sums it up perfectly: ‘You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only…

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: one hour YOU WILL NEED ♥ bees wax ♥ heavy bottomed cooking pot ♥ leaves ♥ fabric spray paint (Dala) ♥ fabric item, for printing Start by designing your pattern: Arrange the leaves on the fabric you will be printing. Melt the wax in the pot until clear and remove from the heat before the wax burns, as burnt wax will discolour the fabric. Using tweezers, dip a leaf into the wax to coat completely. Working quickly, place the leaf on the fabric as per your design. Press down firmly until the entire leaf is stuck to the fabric and the wax has pulled into the fibres. Repeat until your pattern is complete. Work carefully: Melted wax is very hot. Once the wax has cooled and set,…

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COCOFEATURES.COM Dutch artist Pauline Kick does not like too much clutter in her home. Actually, you could say she’s a minimalist. Nevertheless, her home exudes warmth and charm, thanks to her and husband Hans’s preference for natural colours and materials, and sturdy antiques. And let’s not forget the authentic characteristics of their house: a centuries-old bakery. It’s a true paradise all year long but especially in summertime, when the garden is lush and flowers are abundant. This lovely old building, which they share with their dog Storm and cat Tilanus, is in IJlst, a town in Friesland that got its city rights in 1268 and thus is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands. It’s one of the smallest and prettiest as well, bisected by the Ee, a river…

DIFFICULTY: moderate TIME: half a day YOU WILL NEED fish pictures on previous page white cotton canvas matching machine thread fabric for lining zip fastener (more or less the length you want your opening to be) TO MAKE 1 First print the fish pictures on to your cotton canvas fabric. You can do it with iron-on transfer paper – simply follow the instructions on the packaging – or you can have it done professionally. We had ours done by Petrol Clothing Co. (petrolclothingco.com). 2 Trace the shape of your fish print onto paper and mark up to where your lining will go. Cut 2 pieces for the lining and cut out your printed fabric. Remember to add 1,5cm seam allowances all around. 3 Mark the position of the zip fastener…

DIFFICULTY: average TIME: weekend project MEASUREMENTS To fit extra small to small Actual all-round measurement: 90cm Length: 57cm Sleeve length: 30cm Flower square: 10cm YOU WILL NEED cotton DK: 2x100g white and 1x100g each turquoise and gold 3,5mm crochet hook ABBREVIATIONS ch – chain dc – double crochet lp – loop prev – previous rep – repeat rnd – round RS – right side sl st – slip stitch st(s) – stitch(es) tr – treble yo – yarn over TO CROCHET FIRST FLOWER SQUARE Base rnd: Using gold, ch4, join with sl st into first ch to form a ring. Rnd 1: (RS) ch1 (does not count as first st), 12dc into ring, join with sl st into first dc [= 12dc]. Fasten off. Rnd 2: Using turquoise, ch11, sl…

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 3–4 days YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS diagrams on page overleaf plywood (see step 2) 6 x 480mm x 320mm x 21mm thick (parts 1) 1 x 100mm x 320mm x 21mm thick (part 2) 2 x 79mm x 94mm x 21mm thick (parts 3) 1 x 94mm x 320mm x 21mm thick (part 4) SA pine 2 x 202mm x 20mm x 20mm (parts 5) wood filler (pine) wood glue (Ultra) sanding sealer 1 can of matt white spray paint 1 can of satin-finish clear lacquer spray 32mm panel pins (200g) 3 x 7.5 cm flower pots with saucers spray adhesive TOOLS hand drill multi angle drill guide drill bits 4mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm spade bits 4mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm portable jig saw sandpaper: 100,…

In the book The Artist’s Way, author Julia Cameron writes that any regular, repetitive action primes the well of creativity. Legend has it that the Bronté sisters and Jane Austen preferred writing to needlework and would hide their papers under their sewing to avoid detection, but according to Julia there’s more to mending than meets the eye. “Needlework, by definition regular and repetitive, both soothes and stimulates the artist within. Whole plots can be stitched up while we sew. As artists, we can literally reap what we sew.” This is borne out in numerous studies that have shown that rhythmic, repetitive movements can help you to focus your attention, which in turn calms your mind and becomes meditative. It is not so much about the completion of the project but…

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED ♥ brightly coloured sheet of plastic (100 micron) ♥ craft knife and cutting mat ♥ sheet of glass ♥ stencil glue ♥ graphic image for template ♥ adhesive tape ♥ décor items for stencilling ♥ brush ♥ paint or spray paint Tape your image to the cutting mat to secure it in position, then place the glass sheet over the image. Measure the width of the area you will be stencilling and cut the sheet of plastic to size. Stick the plastic on to the glass. Follow the design, carefully cutting the shapes from the sheet of plastic with your craft knife. Take your time, to make sure you get the shapes cut cleanly, and keep in mind what areas you want…

WHEN YOU NEED YOUR CREATIVE FIX, ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE OUR LATEST DIGITAL EDITION. SIMPLY DOWNLOAD OUR IDEAS APP ONTO THE DEVICE OF YOUR CHOICE AND YOU WILL HAVE US AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. * You can find us as IDEAS MAGAZINE on the APPLE APP STORE as well as in the GOOGLE PLAY STORE for Android devices. * You can buy a SINGLE DIGITAL COPY FOR ONLY R60 or SUBSCRIBE TO A YEAR’S EDITIONS FOR R330. And if you’ve missed an issue, you can simply click on the issue you still need and add it to your basket to update your library.…