Sommaire pour May 2015 de Ideas

About five years ago I lost my heart totally and completely to a rug that I really couldn’t afford. With its light background and flower design it would have pulled together all my décor and furniture beautifully. And although I knew the wool and the weaving were top quality, it was the look that captivated me rather than the softness underfoot. (Though that would have been wonderful too.) The shop manager looked on sympathetically at the magnetism between me and the rug, and for a week he and I tried, without success, to figure out a way in which I could have the same design on a more affordable carpet. After that, every time there was a sale he would let me know, but even at half the price I…

Make a set of your own plates to go perfectly with the rest of your fine crockery, or start a new business. We did some investigation and found a method that worked well for us. You will need glazed plates. There are two parts to the process: printing the design on waterslide paper and then firing it onto the plate. For both processes you will need a specialist (unless you have a kiln), but it’s worth it once you have your plates! Your design You can draw or paint your own design, or use another design, as long as you scan it in high resolution and have it in a digital format. Decide how large you want to have the design on your plates – the printer will need to…

DO YOU KNOW OF A LOVELY NEW SHOP OR BEAUTIFUL DÉCOR OR CRAFT RANGE THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? IF SO, EMAIL US AND WE WILL CONSIDER FEATURING IT ON THIS PAGE. ROMANCE IN THE AIR Spoil your loved one with a romantic weekend away. The Belgrace boutique hotel between White River and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga goes all out to make guests feel special. The décor has a warm, European feel. To find out more go to their website, belgrace.co.za, or call 076 539 0409. Deer me Make your own stag trophy. In Good Company makes it easy with these DIY kits that contain everything you need. They include the gorgeous floral fabric, felt for the antlers, stuffing, sewing threads and a needle. They cost R475 each. Order them from…

GILD YOUR FURNITURE Whether you choose gold, silver or copper, your chair will definitely look more luxurious with its shiny new coating. Apply the metal leaf before you reupholster the chair. PREPARATION Prepare your chair as follows for the different materials. GLASS AND PLASTIC Make sure the item of furniture is dust and grease-free by washing it with lukewarm vinegar water. Dry it properly. You can now apply the gold leaf directly to the surface. WOOD You can also apply gold leaf directly onto wood, but once again make sure the surface is dust and grease-free, and dry. Wipe off dust with a damp cloth that you have dipped in a sugar soap solution. If you want to paint the item of furniture beforehand, first apply a universal undercoat and…

There’s hardly an item of modern-day make-up that can’t be traced back to ancient Egypt. As long ago as 10 000BC men and women doused themselves in fragrant oils and water, and used coloured pigments and powders to accentuate their features. Just think of Cleopatra’s famous black eyeliner. Believe it or not, but this year on 15 May, Maybelline – the affordably priced favourite of women the world over – celebrates its centenary. It all started in 1915 with Mabel Williams, who wanted to enhance her eyelashes and eyebrows and ended up using a paste of black charcoal powder and Vaseline. Her entrepreneurial brother quickly saw the potential in her concoction and came up with the name Maybelline (Mabel + Vaseline). To celebrate the big birthday, this beauty brand is…

Stitches used: bullion knot and detached chain stitch. Embroidered rose You will need pair of over-the-knee socks DMC six-stranded cotton thread in the following colours: 3689 (pink), 211 (light purple) and 964 (green) embroidery needle embroidery scissors Using the pink yarn, make a bullion knot (wrap the yarn around the needle 10 times) and secure the knot with a little stitch to form a small curved line. Sew the next bullion knot (wrap the yarn around the needle (12 to 14 times) from the top edge on the left of the 1st stitch around to the bottom right of the 1st stitch. Make the 3rd stitch from the top of the 2nd stitch, around to the left on the bottom of the 1st stitch (wrap 12-14 times). Change to the…

You will need template on facing page crepe paper scissors florist’s wire florist’s tape (pink or white) hot glue gun Copy the flower template (ours measures 15cm across) and use it to cut as many blossoms as you need from crepe paper. You’ll need one per flower, but you can use two for variation, if you prefer. Gently pull on the petals to make the paper curl slightly. Apply a little hot glue to the centre of the flower then twist the paper tightly to form a point at the base. If you’re making a double flower, add the second petal before you twist the base. Cut a length of florist’s wire, fold it in half and wind the florist’s tape around it. TIP If you pull gently on the…

While people who open their own businesses are often able to raise start-up capital, they then sometimes find that they can’t seize opportunities for growth because they did not plan for it. Successful entrepreneurs are people who have a good financial plan to tide them over when the market slows down and to produce more when demand grows. We looked at a few options for small-business funding. SAVINGS Using your savings to start your business is a good idea. When you start making a profit, save to ensure that you will be able to afford the expenses that are associated with growth. BANKS All the major banks offer financing for small businesses and managers who help entrepreneurs choose from the various banking packages available. The choices can be quite bewildering,…

Send your letter by email to ideased@media24.com with ‘Ideas/You said it’ in the subject line, or by fax to 021 408 3046. Remember to include your address and telephone number. The writer of this month’s winning letter will receive a hamper containing the SENSAI Shidenkai Hair Care Series. These products were created with three functions in mind › to volumise, to strengthen and to reduce hair loss. Formulated with Koishimaru Silk EX, the series improves hydration of both the scalp and hair itself to prevent scalp ageing and hair loss. The total value of the hamper is R1 935.…

@home 0860 576 576 Artvraat jaques@artvraatdesigns.com Abode 072 261 3540 Accessorize 021 447 7718 Aldo 011 884 4141, 021 671 2333 Biggie Best 021 534 8662 Casamento 021 448 6183 Clarks 011 455 0917 Country Road 0860 022 002 Damn Good Looking jennifer@damngoodlooking.co.za Design Team 021 653 1973 Dulux 0860 330 111 Elbeth Gillis 021 423 2220 Elke Designs 079 601 9726 Elsje Designs 021 976 7111 Emvee Ceramics 021 982 0465 Essie Letterpress 022 921 3789 Exlusive Books 011 798 0000 Fabric Nation f.nation@gmail.com Farriers 021 7614767 Fidders 021 886 4655 Gonsenhauser’s Fine Rugs 021 462 4819 Habits 021 671 7330 Handmade By Me sera@handmadebyme.co.za Imagenius 021 423 7870 In Good Company 079 041 8927 JT McMaster 021 448 4223 Kartell 021 418 5382, 011 447 7062 Kat van…

You hear the words ‘bespoke’ and ‘customised’ everywhere nowadays, so how difficult is it to design your own fabric, and to have it printed? We wanted something soft and feminine, with colours that flow into each other like a watercolour painting, and we wanted at least one vintage piece, of course. Before you start thinking about your design, first find a place that can do the fabric printing for you, and ask them about the process they use. We did what everyone does these days: asked our friend Google about a company in Cape Town that uses fabric-printing techniques such as flatbed, rotary and panel. We chose the flatbed technique, which is done by hand, usually employed for fashion and décor items, and suitable for fabric of short to medium…

NO-FUSS TREATS The new Sasko Quick Treats range makes preparing a snack really easy. There are eight variants to choose from, including cheese and chives or vanilla muffins, scones and crumpets. Add just three ingredients to your Quick Treats mix and then bake. • Available in supermarkets for approximately R12,99. Try a new tea Chaplon Tea was recently launched in South Africa. The flavours include Full Moon (a blend of herbal and green teas), Fruity Quince and Ceylon Single Estate. Chaplon farms naturally and sustainably, and doesn’t use chemical pesticides or fertilisers. Find it in selected stores, or go to www.chaplon.co.za to order online. CHEESE WITH DISTINCTION Add a piece of Montagnolo Affine to your cheese platter next time you entertain. It’s a semi-soft, full-fat white mould cheese, marbled with…

You will need cake covered in butter icing measuring tape fondant icing in the colour of your choice rolling pin cutting mat (optional) pizza wheel or small sharp knife ruler plastic sleeve damp cloth strip of greaseproof paper Measure the top of the cake and mark the centre. Draw lines on top dividing the cake into 12-16 segments. You will use these lines to guide you when you start placing the fondant. Measure the length from the centre to the bottom of the cake to determine how long the pleats must be. Roll out the fondant to the desired thickness. Ours is thin. Cut the edges straight with a pizza wheel – the fondant must be longer than the length you measured earlier. If you don’t have a cutting mat,…

You will need • fabric • fabric dye • elastic bands or twine Place the fabric on a flat surface. Starting at the edge, gather the fabric into small lengthwise folds. Using rubber bands or twine, tie sections along the length of the gathered fabric, spacing them a few centimetres apart. Ensure that each rubber band is wrapped tightly to prevent the dye from seeping under it and into the fabric. Dye the fabric according to the instructions provided with the dye. Rinse the fabric until the water runs clear. Leave the fabric to dry completely before removing the rubber bands. Should the ties be removed too soon, there is a risk of the dye flowing into the tied-off sections of the fabric.…

COCO CHANEL For Coco, a well put together look meant straight lines, the little black dress, tweed and wool suits with pencil skirts and layers of pearls and chains. Update this style by mixing a cream tweed-look jacket with a black wool skirt. And remember, as she said: ‘A good woman with good shoes is never ugly.’ GRACE KELLY To emulate her style, try feminine dresses with tailored tops and calf-skimming skirts nipped at the waist. JACKIE ONASSIS Embrace simple silhouettes in a classic colour. Look for perfect tailoring and always wear oversized sunglasses – you never know when the paparazzi are going to strike. ‘MY LOOK IS ATTAINABLE. WOMEN CAN LOOK LIKE AUDREY HEPBURN BY FLIPPING OUT THEIR HAIR, BUYING THE LARGE SUNGLASSES AND THE LITTLE SLEEVELESS DRESSES.’ -…

You will need African Expressions Joy:– 1 ball light pink colour 1039 (A)– 3 balls medium pink colour 1137 (B)– 2 balls dark pink colour 1109 (C)– 1 ball grey colour 1057 (D)– 8 balls beige colour 1286 (E) 4mm crochet hook Abbreviations NOTE Start every rnd with the correct number of ch to form the first stitch: 1 ch = 1 dc, 3 ch = 1 tr, 5 ch = 1 trtr. Join motifs together as you go, or crochet all 165 motifs and then join them together – arrange different colours evenly, with one of motif 2 in every row. Remember to weave in loose yarn ends as you go. To crochet MOTIF 1 Work 30 of each colour combination: 1. A (1st rnd), B (2nd rnd), C…

Everything starts with an illustration, explains Victoria Verbaan, the artist, illustrator and designer behind Victoria Verbaan & The Smoking Daxi design studio where all things creative are celebrated. The studio’s stock in trade covers a range of fabrics and wallpaper, fine art prints, commissioned artworks, ceramics, handbags, silk scarves, umbrellas and scatter cushions, all of which feature the distinctive Verbaan touch in muted pastels and softened lines. ‘My work is the place where I have fun. It’s fairy tale and fiction. Contradiction. Fashion. Nature. Emotion, but nothing too serious. I look at a lot of content for inspiration: books, blogs, magazines, faces, colours, nature and the shop window at Bergdorf Goodman department store. I love the challenge of my work and without it I’d be lost,’ says Victoria, who studied…

* Each person will receive a goodie bag that includes gifts from Granny Goose and Graham Beck. Learn how to design an emblem and make your own lino stamp to use on your wedding stationery AND Learn how to fold and finish flowers for a gorgeous paper bouquet BOOK NOW! CAPE TOWN Simondium’s Country Lodge DATE: Saturday, 25 April 2015 PRETORIA Stephnie’s in Lynnwood DATE: Saturday, 9 May 2015 STARTING TIME: 9.30am to start at 10am PRICE: R395 per person BOOKINGS: Book with Marweya Smal on 021 408 3040 or marweya.smal@media24.com. • Bookings will be confirmed once payment has been received.…

CRAFT SPILLS TIPS HERE IS SOME ADVICE FOR DEALING WITH CRAFT-ROOM STAINS. PAINT To deal with a fresh water-based paint stain on clothing, try using a spoon or blunt knife to scoop up as much paint as possible, before blotting gently with a cloth. Don’t let the paint dry. Using a sponge, work a solution of detergent and water directly into the paint, rubbing gently with your fingers before rinsing thoroughly. Repeat until most of the stain has disappeared from the clothing. If some stain remains, apply nail polish remover to an absorbent cloth and blot before rinsing well again and laundering. GLUE Scrape off any excess glue with a flat-bladed knife. Soak the stained garment in water to see if it loosens the glue. Wash in hot water –…

LIMPOPO • 1-3 May The annual Haenertsburg Food Wine and Beer Festival in Limpopo offers cooking workshops and demos by well-known chefs, wine tasting, craft beer and a country market. For more information, call 082 370 8567 or go to www.foodandwinefestival.co.za. WESTERN CAPE • 2-3 May The Riebeeck Valley Olive Festival showcases olive oils, olive products, a body product range and wines. From 9am and 4pm; tickets cost R100 per person. For details, go to www.riebeekvalley.info. • 29-31 May At Made in the Cape, local designers, artisans and crafts people exhibit their innovative handmade goods at Cavendish Square. Go to www.facebook.com/MadeInTheCape. • 28-30 May The South Peninsula Handcraft Centre holds a craft exhibition at the Civic Centre in Fish Hoek. View embroidered, knitted and crocheted items, quilts, beadwork, paper crafts,…

At our creative consultancy, where we help brands to express themselves more creatively on virtual and real platforms, we are finding that the trend of ‘customisation’ – in other words being your own designer – is one of the fastest growing trends in design. In the past it was big industry leaders like Nike and Levi that were associated with customisation. However, many businesses are now getting involved because of the popularity of this trend. One of my favourite recent ‘create your own design’ examples was the Magnum Pleasure pop-up store in Cavendish Square in Cape Town, where people could design their own ice creams. And fabric company Design Team offer patchwork pieces to customers and urge them to post their designs on Facebook. Customers are now encouraged to be…

You will need • 72 x 39cm printed fabric • 72 x 39cm calico • matching sewing thread • 20m cotton cord (4mm) • two circular cane handles (approximately 17cm in diameter) NOTE All seam allowances are 1,5cm. Cut the cord into 20 x 1m lengths. Fold each cord in half and tie 10 to each of the cane handles with a lark’s head knot. Immediately below the row of lark’s head knots, tie a row of square knots using two pairs of cords for each knot. Skip the first pair of cords and start tying square knots with the second and third pairs, 5cm down. Use a 5cm cardboard strip for spacing. Finally, tie a third row of square knots 5cm below the previous row, starting with the first…

Bacon FLATBREAD Serves: 4-6 Preparation time: 1 hour, plus rising time Baking time: 15 minutes Oven temperature: 220o C Dough 250g stoneground white bread flour 50g rye flour 8ml instant dried yeast 15ml olive oil Topping 6 baby potatoes, thinly sliced (or use sliced mushrooms) 250g proper bacon from your butcher or deli 200g crème fraîche or sour cream grating of whole nutmeg 50ml chopped fresh Italian parsley 125ml thinly sliced red onion fresh rocket, to garnish 1 Dough Mix the flours, 2ml salt and the yeast together. Add 175ml lukewarm water and the olive oil and mix in. Knead by hand or use a food processor and knead until the mixture is smooth and leaves the sides of the bowl. Cover and set aside to rise for an hour.…

* DIFFICULTY: average * TIME NEEDED: two days You will need printed photo (see step 1) block-mounted canvas acrylic gel medium modge podge or craft varnish craft brush cloth Choose a black-and-white or colour photo and use your computer’s ‘flip’ function to turn it into a mirror image. Print out the photo on a laser printer (not an inkjet printer) according to the size of your canvas. Ours is A4 size. Cut away the white border around the photo, if your prefer. Paint a generous coat of acrylic gel medium evenly over the canvas – we used Dala Acrylic Gel Medium. TIP If you are unsure of how much gel medium you need to apply, you can first do a trial run on a surface other than your canvas. Place…

CONTRAST COLOURS (facing page) Play with contrasting colours to complement your pink canvas. Light green and blue are colours that work well with pink, and gold is also a good option. PAINT EFFECT Play around with different paint techniques to update your space. Start by painting a solid pink colour and then roughly paint a white block over the pink. Use this white block as the focus area for hanging your pictures. DIY RUG Add a modern touch to your pink interior by having your own rug printed. We printed a rose but you can have any design printed that you wish. The printers will probably advise you to go for darker colours when printing on a rug, as the colours will last longer and the rug won’t show the…

Vintage-dress brooches * DIFFICULT: average * TIME NEEDED:two days Resin from Pac-Chem. You will need old dress patterns brooch clips thick fibreboard resin epoxy glue modge podge brushes craft knife and cutting mat paper cup or other disposable container ice-cream sticks toothpicks To make 1 Look on the internet for dress patterns that you like, print them out on plain white paper in the desired size and cut them out roughly. (Ours are 6cm tall.) 2 Paint a coat of modge podge over the fibreboard, place the cut-out picture on top and rub it smooth with your fingers. 3 Allow the picture to dry then paint another coat of modge podge over the top to seal it. Leave it to dry again then paint on another coat of modge podge.…

Measurements To fit bust 81-86(91-97;102-107)cm Actual measurement at lower edge 88(99;110)cm Length to shoulder 66(68;70)cm Sleeve seam 12cm You will need 10(11;12) 50g balls of Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton DK in Natural shade no. 086 1 pair each of 3,25mm and 3,75mm knitting needles 2 double-pointed 3,25mm knitting needles cable needle NOTE Instructions are given for the smallest size with the larger size in brackets( ). Where one set of figures is given, it applies to all sizes. Abbreviations Tension 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over st st patt using 3,75mm Ns. Back Using 3,75mm N, c/on 45(157;169) sts. 1st row (RS): k12(17;21), * p2, (k1 tbl, p7) twice, k1 tbl, p2, k1 tbl, (p7, k1 tbl) twice, p2 *, k41(43;47), rep from * to * once more,…

1 Work your butt off! Building a business is a process and there are going to be ups and downs. 2 Keep going, no matter what. Ignore rejection and keep knocking on people’s doors. 3 Remain upbeat. There will be the odd gloomy day when you feel let down or disappointed. Keep moving forward and try to look on the bright side. Appreciate the good days more. 4 Do what you love. Following your passion makes you happy and eventually the rewards will come. 5 Never take your eye off the ball. You will, of course, make mistakes. It’s how you rectify them that counts.…

Best friend Some may think that to be a housewife is to have a lot of spare time on one’s hands, but that is definitely not true! Arranging and sorting your ‘nest’ is a full-time job and before you realise it, it’s the end of another day and you still didn’t manage to see that girlfriend you’ve been promising to visit. And that realisation can even make you feel lonely sometimes. But I am so thankful for Ideas. ‘She’ is the girlfriend I will always make time for. I look forward to going to ‘pick her up’ at the shop and bring her home and spend hours with her, planning new projects. Ideas makes me feel inspired again, makes me smile and re-establishes my sense of purpose. Evelyn Monteiro, Faerie…