Indice dei contenuti per November 2015 in Ideas

I's strange how those 'aha' moments sometimes take years to strike. As I walked around among our readers at our recent sewing weekend in Cullinan , looking at their half-finished aprons , it occurred to me that a few rows of stitches could turn a piece of plain white fabric into something special. Nothing too complicated or difficult , not expensive and not time-consuming. Some decorative stitches with your sewing machine and there you have it - a lovely gift. And then the thoughts started to grow at the back of my mind: what could I make with just a few simple stitches? Given the speed at which this year has flown , Christmas is around the corner and with the sad state of finances (the country's and my own)…

katiescucina.com Katie Jasiewicz from Florida in the USA is a home cook, food blogger and recipe developer. Katie’s Cucina is the place where she shares her love for food, developing and cooking mouthwatering recipes weekly, baking indulgent desserts and sharing foodie travels from coast to coast. She has been cooking since she was nine years old and tries to take a few classes each year to learn new skills. Join her on a culinary adventure where life always tastes good. damasklove.com ‘Crafting is a huge part of my life,’ writes Amber Kemp-Gerstel. She works as a child psychologist in Miami and crafts in the evenings. ‘I’m on a one-woman mission to bring out your crafty side. No matter what you think – you are crafty. You are creative. You have…

BLUE AND WHITE PAPER Make Delft-inspired stencils and stamps (instructions on page 34) and then use them with ink or watercolour paint, or a combination of the two, to decorate your own paper. To prevent it warping, use paper of 200gsm that is suitable for ink and watercolour – it is available in pads of up to A1-size sheets. When the 200gsm paper has been decorated, you can photocopy your designs onto thinner paper to use as giftwrap. Combine your paper with other matching giftwrap (you can use our paper on page 45) for a coordinated look. Add touches of gold leaf for a bit of sparkle and finish off with a matching ribbon and rosette gift tag (instructions on page 38). CREATE A PATTERN We used the patterns on…

Deep blue and white is a cool combination, literally. It makes us think of the Greek islands and whitewashed houses, summer fun and pared down, stylish simplicity. This summer blue eyeshadow is back on the make-up agenda with a vengeance. The trick is to apply it prominently on the eyelid, up against the eyelashes, and to combine it with thick eyeliner, in the style of the Mediterranean sex symbols of the 1950s and 60s. Think Claudia Cardinale and Gina Lollobrigida. TRY: Clarins Ombre Matte Eyeshadow in Cobalt Blue (R270); Palladio Baked Eye Shadow Trio in Blue Lagoon (R45); and BioNike Defence Color Silky Touch Compact Eyeshadow in 402 Bleu Nuit (R115). Put paid to an oily, shiny face caused by the summer heat with Beauté Pacifique Oil-Free Moisturizer (R745); replenish…

SET THE SCENE Fill your garden or courtyard with rustic tables, mismatched chairs and long benches and invite your friends over for a Mediterranean feast. Add a few bottles of wine, some sun-ripened tomatoes, sunshine yellow lemons and platters of flavoursome food and you’re all set for a long, lazy afternoon get-together. PLACEMATS Cut circles of various sizes, 5-10cm bigger than your plates, from white linen and red-and-white gingham. Decorate the circles with the cross-stitch heart below or other hand-embroidered stitches and use them in layers as festive placemats. SUNHAT DIFFICULTY : intermediate TIME : two hours You will need pattern on page 72 50 x 75cm white heavy-weight cotton for hat 50 x 75cm red and white cotton gingham for lining iron-on interfacing matching coloured thread pencil To make…

Oils in all forms are enjoying a renaissance, especially in the beauty industry. So it’s no surprise that perfume oils are starting to appear too, with Giorgio Armani taking the lead with the new 1. Armani Sì Perfume Oil (R1 395 for 50ml), which is applied with a pipette and lasts a lot longer than any of the spray perfumes in the range. The use of oils in skincare is also on the rise. La Mer’s The Renewal Oil (R2 380) with almond oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil and bluegum oil is a potent anti-ageing formula. Or try 2. Doctor Duve Glowskin Active Vitamin C Oil (R1 283). 3. Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate (R700) is the day variation of the wonderful Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate (R700). 4. Clarins Tonic Body…

Accessorize 021 447 7718 Baleia Wines 087 234 8621 Biggie Best 021 534 8662 Builders 0861 335 273 Call It Spring 021 551 1527, 031 584 7431 Candle Deli 021 552 4937 Coco Africa 072 383 3227 Exclusive Books 011 798 0000 Frazer Parfum 021 421 9159 Global Beads 021 976 8091 Habits 021 671 7330 Havaianas 011 327 1540 Hoi P’loy 021 447 1433 Jasmine Tea Mill 083 408 1273 Jet Clothing 0860 113 639 Le Creuset 021 671 9550 Mango 011 783 7907, 021 418 0916 Melissa’s 011 614 5757, 021 424 5540 Merrypak 021 531 2244 Mr & Mrs 021 424 4387 MRP Home 0800 21 25 35 Mungo 044 533 1395 My Pretty Vintage 021 551 2242 Non-European 021 408 7600 Nostalgie Textiles 072 246 3483…

COFFEE GUIDE This chart shows how all the different coffees are made and is perfect for a kitchen wall. Copy our ‘Know your coffee’ illustration on page 27 onto cardboard and frame it. COFFEE FUDGE Fudge with a bit of a kick . . . what bigger treat could there be? Makes: about 30 pieces Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: about 30 minutes 125g butter 300ml evaporated milk 30ml instant freeze-dried coffee granules 1kg sugar 30ml golden syrup 1 x 385g can condensed milk 200g white chocolate, roughly chopped 5ml espresso coffee granules 1 Heat the butter, 185ml evaporated milk, coffee granules, sugar, syrup and a pinch of salt together in a large saucepan over a low heat. Stir occasionally. 2 Once the ingredients have melted together, increase the…

STEP-BY-STEP CAKE BORDERS DIFFICULTY : easy (practising on a piece of wax paper first will make it easier) TIME : 30 minutes Royal icing Beat one large egg white until foamy, then beat in 5ml lemon juice. Add 350g sifted icing sugar and beat on low speed until all the sugar has been incorporated. Beat for another minute until thick and white. Add a little water and stir. The icing should lose shape and flow back into a smooth surface in about 30 seconds. Fill a piping bag with two spoonfuls. You will need measuring tape wax paper craft knife or scissors round cookie cutter pins or masking tape piping bag interchangeable nozzle coupler (optional) nr 2 round tip nozzle small star nozzle royal icing 1 Measure the circumference of…

1 Vase (R499,99) from MRP Home. 2 Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (The Borough Press, R143). 3 Baleia Erhard Pinot Noir (R180) from Baleia Wines. 4 Watering can (R329,96) from Pylones. 5 Cut glass (R79,95 each) from Woolworths. 6 Plate clock (R190) from Recreate at Quirky Me. 7 Platter (R780) from Melissa’s. 8 Printed cushion on natural linen (R575 with inner) from Sharon B Design.…

Celebrate in style with the Protea range from Anthonij Rupert Wyne. Ready for you to drink and enjoy, these delectable wines come in beautiful bottles inspired by the Cape floristic region and designed to be reused and recycled. The heritage of the vines is innovatively tied into the distinctive packaging designs – everything about this range seeks to marry the old with the new. The Protea range is available direct from the farm or from selected wine shops and retail outlets. The white wines sell for about R49,99 per bottle and the reds for R59,99 per bottle. Did you know? The Protea packaging is the brainchild of renowned designer Mark Eisen, and was one of the winners at the World Packaging Organisation’s 2014 WorldStar Awards in Düsseldorf. UPCYCLING IDEAS The…

1 Striped napkins (R180 for a set of two) from Skinny laMinx. 2 The Pasta Book by Gennaro Contaldo (Penguin, R170). 3Solar lantern (R139,99 each) from MRP Home. 4 Jug in Cool Mint (R420) from Le Creuset. 5 Ravioli maker (R250) from Woolworths. 6 T-bar sandals (R450) from Havaianas. 7 Cookbook holder (R250) from Coco Africa.…

When we visited Annatjie, the doors of Te Wees were not yet officially open, but inside there was already a cosy corner set up with a pot of tea and a lovely plate of rusks. Before she opens, she still has to help with all the arrangements for her son’s wedding, but it’s already clear that this little shop close to the main beach will be more than just a place to buy restored and nostalgic pieces – here there will be time to chat. In her daughter Emré’s letter, which she wrote to us telling us about her mother’s new project, she referred to her as an ‘upcycle artist’ who was the talk of the town during the 2014 December holidays . . . Her studio was an inspiration…

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QUICK & EASY Frame our quote and art prints File our giftwrap and patterns Sew and decorate an apron - four ideas Cook with coffee: recipes for everything from a spice rub to fudge Make keyrings from fabric offcuts Cut and embroider festive placemats Craft salt and pepper bowls from clay Cut pretty bottles for herb planters Hang up a vintage tin lampshade Flavour food and drinks with roses TREAT OF THE MONTH Create a decadent chocolate slab Syrups, powders and cups for a coffee lover Decorate an elegant three-layer cake Turn porcelain pieces into jewellery Transform a traycloth into a handbag Buy our special stitchcraft edition TAKE YOUR TIME Sew and decorate cute gift bags Stamp and stencil presents and gift decorations with Delft patterns Stitch a sunhat and…

If you are locked in a constant struggle with cellulite and water retention, you’ll know by now that caffeine is your body’s best friend – when applied externally. The former supermodel Cindy Crawford swears by ground coffee beans for keeping her thighs smooth.…

CARAMEL BUTTER CAKE Makes: 1 x 20cm cake Preparation time: 20 minutes Baking time: 30 minutes Oven temperature: 180o C 230g (250ml) butter, softened 300g (375ml) Huletts Caramel Sugar 3 large eggs 1 tsp (5ml) caramel essence 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla essence 370g (675ml) self-raising flour 170ml milk Icing 225g (245ml) butter, softened 460g (885ml) Huletts Icing Sugar 40-60ml milk Method Preheat the oven to 180o C. Grease and line 2 x 20cm cake tins with baking paper. 1 Beat the butter and caramel sugar together until light in colour. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the caramel and vanilla essences and beat well. 2 Sift the flour and add it to the butter mixture alternately with the milk. 3 Pour the mixture…

FLORAL FLAIR Invest in a skirt that you can wear anywhere – with the right accessories. Top (R379) from Zara. Skirt (R499) from Poetry. Bracelet (R980) from Mr & Mrs. Handbag (R999) from Accessorize. Shoes (R699) from Call it Spring. PLAIN PLUS PATTERNED (Facing page) Team a patterned dress with plain accessories so that your outfit doesn’t overwhelm your frame. Dress (R875) from Non-European. Necklace (R549) from Accessorize. Espadrilles (R699) from Call It Spring. STAY WARM Look for a light summer coat to wear over your outfit on cooler days, or simply wear a shirt dress as a jacket. Shirt dress (R659) from Zara. T-shirt (R69,99) from Jet Clothing. Trousers (R449) from Mango. Scarf (R349) and handbag (R899) from Accessorize. Shoes (R69,99) from Truworths. TIMELESS CLASSIC (Facing page) Nothing beats…

DIFFICULTY : challenging TIME : two to three hours What is wood burning? Wood burning (pyrography or pyrogravure) is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. It is also known as pokerwork. Prepare everything and place the board on a flat surface. Position the carbon paper and the image on the board and use the pencil to trace the image. Remove the image and carbon paper. Your design will now be transferred onto the board. Insert the groove tip into the wood burning pen and switch on the pen. Hold the wood burning pen as you would a normal pen. When the pen is hot enough to work with, draw along the lines…

ROSE TIN LAMPSHADE Transform a vintage cake tin into a lampshade that you can give to someone as a gift. Simply punch a hole in the centre of the base and enlarge it with a screwdriver until it is big enough to thread an electric cord through. WRAP IT BEAUTIFULLY Here are some giftwrapping ideas: • Use our paper on pages 88-89 to wrap your packages, rounding each one off with a matching ribbon. • Photocopy the gift tags on page 91 in the desired size onto white cardboard and cut out. Punch a hole in each tag and insert a length of ribbon or twine. • Place a small gift in a round box and add mini marshmallows. Decorate the top of the box’s lid with rose-patterned paper. •…

Living . . . an ‘art-full’ life is not about painting pictures or creating sculptures or designing buildings – although it can be. It’s about realising that every day we can make our lives into a work of art, and one in which we show the world who we really are and what is important to us. When we learn to see the art-full possibilities in ordinary things and moments (although I don’t really think they should be described as such!) everything changes and we become full-time artists of our lives. And there are words that seem to have the magic and power to be a kind of catalyst for us to access that creativity and passion in our lives, even if we think we have been blocked for a…