suitcase light

My friend Zanmari can make something from nothing, or something amazing from stuff we may just store in a cupboard or donate.  Always tinkering, always imagining, always collecting, a magician with a needle, thread and scraps of fabric.  I just love this wall light that she recently made for her friend Terri, "The birds around us."  Keep track of all her creations on her facebook page: Hint of Mockery

everything i want to be

This makes me smile. A calm, happy smile.  I don't know what Kazoo is, but I will find out.  This is everything I strive for.  How I want the world to be. We even killed the tv a while ago... (not so much dvd's), and we all know I bake (because it makes me feel good, and happy when I am sad), and I drink too much tea.  I think tea alone, makes the world a far better place.  Olivia won't allow me to sing (I am that bad), so only in private.  So let this be your thought for the day too. And try to make the world a better place.

tinkering tuesday: flower brooches = flower cupcakes

It's amazing what one can do with a bit of felt and a glue gun.  I think the glue gun and staple gun are 2 of the most underrated pieces of equipment.  We should be taught at school the joys, and the things we can conjure with these two toys at hand!  SO i made some brooches, pins, clips and hairbands from a tutuorial which i found at craftiness is not optional via pintrest. And then i did a quick test on some cupcakes, and it worked perfectly... thinking white ones would be gorgeous for a wedding... though they are a little finickity, but so worth it.  These are regular vanilla cupcakes, smothered in white chocolate ganache, and then flowered with fondant icing.

tissue paper flowers for christmas

if you popped by the shop yesterday, you may have caught me up a ladder, in heels hanging up blue and red flower garlands for Christmas...  i usually wait for December to put up decorations, but these are not too christmassy, and just too pretty to only have up for a couple of weeks.  Lots of people asked yesterday how to make the flowers, so here is a quick how too. It's quick, cheap, easy, pretty and fun to make.  These ones are just a little bigger then a tennis ball, but you can make them any size.. you may just have to use more sheets of tissue paper for bigger flowers.

what you need:

tissue paper

thin wire (i used a twistie which i bought from agrimark)

pair of scissors

string

Cut your tissue paper into selected size.  I cut an A2 size into eighths.  Then divide all your pieces into piles of 4 or 5 sheets.  The more sheets of tissue paper you use the fuller your flower will be.

You could make huge ones to hang in the garden on christmas day, or little ones to string together and hang around the christmas tree. Have fun!

today we made... tiny little flags

little baby flags to decorate your cupcakes, handmade by us.

tomorrow i'll have tooth...

The top little sophie-lou is wearing is too beautiful on her... bought it from Grow, and is part of the Sticky Fudge range by Cape Town local designer, Lauren.  Met her a few years ago while styling for Kamers Vol Geskenke, she is such a lovely lady, who loves what she does... and I just loved her baby clothes range.  The designs are simple yet eye-catching, and the quality is better than most.  And priced well.  The softness of this fabric is perfect for sophie's gentle skin... and they have them in big girl size too. Will have to get one for olivia..

fragrant roses fresh from the farm...

it's rose season again!  these gorgeous bunches are picked on a farm just outside town belonging to Philip Joubert.  they make me so happy... imagine growing roses for a living...  i went to their warehouse on the farm to buy arms full of roses, and it was a fairytale experience.   roses everywhere, women wearing their babies and children running around.... and roses EVERYWHERE..

i love old school birthday parties... before the shop, cupcake was a "birthday parties like your granny remembers" kiddies party planning company.. and grew into what we are today... though no more parties.. lots of hard work.  But this week we are doing a favour for an old client.  We did Jessica's 7 year old party and now she's turning 11!  So we are whipping together a little pamper party for her and her friends.  Very exciting and we will keep you updated.

sweetpea...

 i love this time of year... all my favourite flowers in bloom!  Sweetpeas, freesias and ranunculus... i made these little paper blossoms yesterday.... (i'll put a tutorial on later).. which we are going to tie together in a garland for decoration...   going to make a bright ranunculus bunch next!

happy days....

lille's pop up book video... a cherry on my day...

O for owl

Cross stitch

i just can't stop cross stitching... think the husband may ban this at home soon...

the muizenberg spring market

we popped round frances (from flick and my china) and carl's spring backyard market on saturday, in muizenberg.. it is always a dreamy, relaxed affair.  with vintage clothing, beautiful dolls, jewellery, clothing, ceramics, photographs and more created by local designers, and something new and fresh to buy every time.   help yourself to tea, coffee and delicious chocolate cake, baked by carl's mum- and leave the money in the tin.  relax on the lawn, and let the children run free. carl made a yummy curry, which martin refused to share... he went and bought me my own huge helping.  and when you leave, it's just a market, but you seem to feel a little bit more whole.

pretty bunting by: mags and me

'mags and me' is the brainchild of my sister-in-law Margaretha and her friend, Yolande. I just love this double sided bunting (which means you can hang it anywhere and it looks beautiful from both sides!) and all their happy little creature dolls that all come with their own delightful story... and a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Margaretha today, so happy i got you as my sister-in-law.

Meet Frankie, Hilda, Langbeen Leen, Gerald Giraffe and Felix the Owl.

Every character comes with their very own unique and cute fairytale in either english or afrikaans.

So when you tuck your little critter into bed with his favourite Mags and me toy, you can read him teddy's special bedtime story!

Go to Mags and me to download their little tales..

pretty rucksacks

so pretty and so smart!  found these at that funky curios shop (yes one exists!) in church street... worth a peak!

my china

My dad, when i was a kid, would refer to all his friends as 'my china'....including my mom and i some days.  The term has petered (apt wording, my dad's name is peter) away over time, and i  can't remember the last time i heard my dad utter those words, but it sure warms my heart to see how they have become something quirky and beautiful in these lovely pieces.

I love everything Frances makes, and i just love getting new stock for the shop, because there is always a new product or design that you just have to have!  Most recent are these cute bunnies (there are also birds) and also the teeniest salt and pepper shakers with her distinctive animal and indigenous floral designs.

The cork stoppers are my absolute favourite.  All my friends and family have received one as a gift, and my pink giraffe is always keeping the bottle of wine on my kitchen counter company.  Though they also work well as stoppers for her vases, which then morph into a salad dressing dispenser.  There are also protea, more animal and heart designs to choose from. Visit 'my china' for more images, and a peek at her blog.

woodstock vintage 2

so i saw this very cool old snow board with very funky image at woodstock vintage a few weeks ago... and being as poor as a church mouse, i had to suffice with a photo... then last night i pop round at my friend Annabelle and there hanging on her wall amongst all their fantastic art work is the beloved snowboard!  i am so glad it found the perfect home..

mary poppins

Make a pretty penny and drop by Mary Poppins at 201 Bree Street (next to the funky vespa shop).  They will buy all your kiddie things that you no longer need, and resell it at their store.  Or go take a peek.  Let's face it, some of your baby things only get worn a couple of times.  Everything is very good quality.  There are clothes (quite a few sort after brands), cots, carry-gyms and other essential,  toys and some lovely vintage bits in between.  And i love the recycling and re-use edge.  

But if you don't have the time, or there is stuff they don't want, you can always drop it of at our church at 265 Main Road, Sea Point.  Or email me your details and we could organise pick-up.  We will make it available to the community by selling it at reasonable prices at our annual church bazaar.  All that does not get sold, will go to a local orphanage or children's hospital.

woodstock vintage: poetry for your home

Hear hear to my friend Nazeem who has at last opened his own store:  Woodstock Vintage.  This man has an incredible eye... beautiful things just seem to gravitate towards him, and he brings them to us at the most affordable prices.  He has been satisfying my pretty things addiction for many years now, selling his finds at my favourite local bootsale, the 'milnerton market', where you can still find him on a sunday.  So visit him there or at his store, 131 Sir Lowery Road, Woodstock and check out his facebook page for his newest treasures..

fable...

How dreamy and whimsical are these locally designed childrens fabrics.  Kelly Silberman and Marike Rood have collaborated together here and created 'fable', a selection of locally designed and produced textiles, upholstered products and wallpaper... makes my heart smile...  fable.dot.co.dot.za