Start a party ‒ use our invitation templates Stencil special napkins (and fold them) 7 delicious desserts Decoupage your serving boards in time for those first guests ‒ p26 Stitch a pretty picnic set
SEPTEMBER 2014
ON THE COVER STYLING: CARIN SMITH • PHOTO: ED O'RILEY • MODEL: EMMA FROM BOSS MODELS • MAKE-UP AND HAIR: JADE FROM SUPERNOVA • TOP AND SKIRT FROM TRUWORTHS • SHOES FROM TRENERY • BRACELET FROM IMAGENIUS • FLOWER FROM LOVE PAPER SEW • CHAIR FROM SPACE FOR LIFE • BUYER'S GUIDE ON PAGE 125.
14 Craft & décor 14 16 28 52 58 78 84 88
Rose-inspired items for you and your home Transform your space with a few clever decorating tricks Make garlands of paper flowers Dye, print and stencil your way to a colourful dinner table 10 ideas for quick and easy place cards Sew and crochet a picnic set ‒ and embroider your gumboots! Good ideas: lifestyle Give old chairs new attitude with paint, fabric and paper
92 Your life 92 98 102 106 108 112 115
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17 On the cover 16 26
Brighten up your home with flowers Decoupage your serving boards in time for those first guests 30 Seven delicious desserts 54, 66 Stencil special napkins (and fold them) 61 Start a party ‒ use our invitation templates 78 Stitch a pretty picnic set 120 Decorate a celebration cake step by step
30 Food & entertaining 30 38 51 61 64
Pretty desserts to finish off a special meal Entertainment series: Time to celebrate! Good ideas: food Use our designs as inspiration for your invitations Set a table to impress, whatever the occasion
70 Fashion & beauty 70 74
All you need to know about having well-groomed nails Spring fashion in all its pastel and floral prettiness
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25 PAGES OF
CREATIVE PROJECTS!
26 How to 26 56 66 117 120 122
Decoupage wooden boards to make serving platters Dip-dye an ombre table runner Fold origami butterfly or heart-shaped napkins Make your own standing lamp Make modelling-chocolate blossoms to decorate a cake Sew a beautiful gathered cushion
4 Regulars 4 From the editor 7 Follow us on social media 8 Quote of the month 9 Your creative calendar 12 Books and blogs 48, 54, 61, 80, 90, 119, 124 Templates 114, 126 Order our Ideas stationery and wallpaper 125 Buyer s guide 128 Subscribe and pre-order our special editions 131 In your next Ideas
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y son Anton was very young when he wrote in a short essay about his mother that owers make my mom happy . My ďŹ rst proud thought was that he was such a sensitive soul, until I looked around me and realised that he simply had two healthy eyes. Because my default setting is owers. When I m happy, I buy owers; when I m unhappy, I buy owers; stressed, sad, over-the-moon cheerful . . . as long as there s money or a card in my purse, I buy owers. And if not, I pick them. To put together a totally ower-inspired issue of the magazine is, however, a dierent story and after last October s oral theme, the team decided as one woman: This is the last one. There was not another thing that we could or would do with owers ‒ we were completely out-blossomed. But as soon as the ďŹ rst bunches of peonies from the Netherlands appeared in the shops in midwinter, all our good intentions fell by the wayside and we agreed that for a pretty table setting there is nothing that looks lovelier than gorgeous roses. With entertaining as our main focus for September, we simply had to include a little more ower inspiration. And so spring remains spring here in the Ideas oďŹƒce. Even if the Cape weather doesn t necessarily want to play along, we believe it s time to throw open your doors ‒ not just to let the sun in, but also to welcome back the guests who have spent the winter hibernating in front of their own ďŹ replaces. It is still that time of year when we all have a dream party burning inside us, when new recipes beg to be tested and the white wine and bubbly lie chilled and waiting in the fridge. So dig out your old white tablecloth, dip the ends in a bit of fabric dye and brighten up your dining room and your life for the wonderful spring months ahead.
M
Bon appĂŠtit!
There are times when humour is more important than vanity, so when caricature artist Martinus van Tee captured my inner Barbra Streisand so beautifully at our Trunk Show, I couldn t resist sharing his drawing with you. On Mandela Day, the team made over three rooms at St Anne s Homes in Cape Town. Once again, many thanks to Mr Price Home for the linen, Allan Smith of Premier Scaolding for the wall paint and Jani Goussard from Paint & DÊcor for the cupboard paint and for adding her hard work to our eorts.
Follow me on instagram.com/terenaleroux
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The pictures of one of our followers, Artytruda, caught our eye on Instagram. She s a mom from Johannesburg, loves all things creative and agrees with Picasso that art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life . Follow her on instagram.com/artytruda
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The culinary garden . . .
SAGE has a long history of medicinal and
PHOTOS: ED O RILEY AND SUPPLIED
Lasagne with pork and sage Heat 30ml olive oil and sautĂŠ 2 chopped onions and 125ml chopped fresh fennel bulb until soft. Add 3 crushed cloves of garlic, 250g chopped bacon and 500g pork mince. Cook over a medium-high heat, stirring, until the meat browns. Add 1 can of tomatoes, 5ml fennel seeds and 10ml dried sage or a small handful of chopped fresh sage. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 100ml chopped Italian parsley and 5ml lemon zest. Set aside. While the meat is cooking prepare a cheese sauce: melt 100g butter in a saucepan. Add 125ml our and stir over the heat for a minute. Remove from the heat. Add 1 litre of milk gradually, stirring to prevent lumps. Return to the heat and stir until thickened. Remove from the heat, stir in 10ml Dijon mustard and 65ml Cheddar cheese. Season to taste. Spread a layer of pork ďŹ lling over the bottom of a greased ovenproof dish. Top with lasagne sheets. Top with cheese sauce. Top with lasagne sheets and repeat the layers, ending with cheese sauce. Sprinkle with 65ml Cheddar. Bake in a preheated oven at 180oC for 40 minutes.
culinary use, and its grey-green leaves make it a lovely ornamental plant too. Modern evidence shows possible uses as an anti-sweating agent, antibiotic, antifungal, astringent and tonic. It has also been found to be eective in the management of mild to moderate Alzheimer s disease. Sage (Salvia oďŹƒcinalis) is a hardy, droughttolerant perennial and is easy to grow, having only three major requirements ‒ good sunshine, drainage and air circulation. Culinary sage is highly aromatic and is best used fresh. Because of its strong avour, it should be used sparingly. It goes well with pork, liver, patĂŠ and sausages, and is often used in stuďŹƒng for poultry. It s ideal with Italian dishes and blends well with mild cheeses. Try covering a pork roast with sage leaves before roasting; or separate the skin from the chicken breast, rub butter on the meat, place some sage under the skin, season to taste and then roast.
Write it down and make it happen! Buy a large picture frame and insert a pretty piece of fabric or scrapbooking paper behind the glass. Use a dry-erase pen to write your to-do list onto the glass. Simply erase each task with a cloth when you ve completed it.
20 SEPTEMBER
4-7 September Find inspiration at the home, dÊcor and lifestyle exhibition, the Cape Homemakers Expo, which takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Entrance for adults is R70, pensioners pay R50 and children under 12 enter free. • Tickets can be bought at the door or from www.webtickets.co.za. • For details, call 021 511 2800 or go to www.homemakersonline.co.za
Gold, silver or copper leaďŹ ng is easy to do once you ve been shown how. . . Join LIZEL CLOETE, our craft and DIY expert, at a workshop where she will do a demonstration and assist you in person. The gilding workshop, valued at R600, will take place in the Durbanville area. We re oering it to our readers at a special rate of R500. The morning will include your take-home gilding kit (gilding leaf, glue, varnish, metal powder and all the right brushes), one-on-one demonstration time as well as all your refreshments. Tickets are limited and available only until 8 September. Email workshops@createstudio.co.za for more information and to secure your booking.
The Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay now has Vintage Saturday every second Saturday of the month from 9.30am to 4pm. Find a feast of vintage fashion, each item chosen for its quality and style. There will be the usual wide range of craft and artisan food stalls, as well as live music. For details, go to www.bayharbour.co.za
26-30 September Cape Town City Ballet, with guest stars from the Hamburg Ballet and accompanied by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, presents three ballets, Spring and Fall, Vaslav and Le Sacre at Artscape. This event is an exhilarating celebration of dance and music. Book at Computicket or call 021 421 7695.
Make a DIFFERENCE The Princess Project helps less fortunate girls get the matric-dance dress of their dreams by asking those with evening dresses, shoes and accessories they no longer wear to donate them to the cause. Skip will feature a series of videos on its Facebook page, and for every share a video receives, Skip will donate R500 to the project. Go to www. princessproject.co.za or www. facebook.com/SkipSouthAfrica
• Temple of Dance, a fusion of African and Indian classic music and dance, will be performed with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra at Artscape on 18-20 September. It tells the story of Shakti, the Indian goddess of creativity, who is born to descendants of indentured labourers. It is a trans-media story, told g acr across multiple platforms. For details, go to www.templeofdance.co.za • Short & Sweet Dedicated to the exhibition of short ďŹ lm as an art form, Short & Sweet showcases a bouquet of short ďŹ lms, animations and music videos in the ambience of an Old World theatre in Cape Town. Season 3 takes place from 13 August ‒ 24 September. Screenings are Tuesdays at 7pm and Saturdays at 5pm. Go to shortandsweet.tv/cities/cape-town/ • Dutch-period vegetable garden Be sure to visit the recreated vegetable and herb garden in the Company s Garden in the city centre, which was originally developed over 360 years ago to supply fresh produce to sailors travelling to the East Indies. The aim is to educate people about urban agriculture and the medicinal properties of the herbs and vegetables.
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28 August ‒ 5 September Don t miss the Clanwilliam Wildflower Festival. Entrance costs R30 per adult, R25 for pensioners and R5 for children. For details, go to www.clanwilliamwildflowerfestival.co.za 4-6 September Attend the Sewing, Knitting and Craft Workshop at Greyville Racecourse in Durban between 9am and 4.15pm daily. Entrance costs R95 per person per day. There will be many different workshops and classes and many opportunities to shop for all kinds of exciting craft goodies. Go to www.sewingandcrafts.co.za for details. 4-7 September Hobby-X Midrand is on at the Gallagher Convention Centre. Chat to the experts, be inspired by demonstrations and take part in hands-on workshops. You ll also be able to stock up on all kinds of must-have products. Entrance costs R50 for adults and R20 for kids. For more information and to book for workshops go to www.hobby-x.co.za 6 September Enjoy a delicious three, four or five-course set menu, with or without wine pairings, at Winchester Mansions in Sea Point, Cape Town while being entertained by jazz from Amanda Tiffin and Dave Ledbetter. To book, call 021 434 2351 or email harveys@winchester.co.za 6 September Learn more about genealogy and how to research your family tree at the annual Genealogy and Family Heritage Festival. The event takes place in Lynnwoodrif, Pretoria and entrance is free. There will also be a tea garden with food stalls. For more information call 082 441 2325 or email isabelg@mweb.co.za
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8-12 September During SANParks Week, South Africans with a valid identity document have free access to all South African National Parks as day visitors. For more information, go to www.sanparks.co.za 15
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18 September One&Only Cape Town hosts a charity auction dinner with chef Reuben Riffel and Kleine Zalze wines. Proceeds go to the Wilderness Foundation s Forever Wild Lion Programme. Tickets cost R750. Email Restaurant.Reservations@ oneandonlycapetown.com or call 021 431 4511.
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24 September Attend the Big Braai Day at Hidden Valley Wine Estate near Stellenbosch. Tickets cost R420 and include a bottle of Hidden Valley Sauvignon Blanc or Pinotage to take home. Email info@hiddenvalleywines. co.za or go to www.hiddenvalleywines.com 25-27 September Attend the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz at the Sandton Convention Centre. Tickets from Computicket. A one-day pass costs R750, and a two-day pass is R1 250. For more information , go to www.joyofjazz.co.za
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11 September ‒ 31 January 2015 View Wine Made Art at Tokara in Stellenbosch. The artworks are by students from the Marie Stander School of Art, who transform wine into art when they dip their paintbrushes into 2011 Tokara Shiraz to portray their interpretations of Cape Town as 2014 World Design Capital. For more information, go to www.tokara.com or email wine@tokara.com 15-21 September This is Clean Up & Recycle Week in South Africa, so make a big effort to clean up your home and neighbourhood. If you don t already recycle, now is the time to start!
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Pretoria Homemakers expo takes place at Parkview Shopping Centre in Pretoria East. You ll find the latest in home improvement, décor, furniture and lifestyle trends. For details, go to www.homemakersonline.co.za or call 012 661 7003.
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27-28 September At the Franschhoek Uncorked Festival you can sample superb wines and enjoy cellar and vineyard tours, food and wine pairings, art exhibitions and live entertainment. A weekend pass costs R120 per person from www.webtickets. For more information, call 021 876 2861 or go to www.franschhoekuncorked.co.za
CRAFT & DÉCOR
compiled by Diana Procter
dian a.pr oc ter@ med ia24 .com
ALL BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE AT EXCLUSIVE BOOKS OR WWW.KALAHARI.COM • PHOTOS: ED O RILEY OR SUPPLIED • BUYER S GUIDE ON PAGE 125
theitaliandishblog.com
From Drab to Fab by Almie Louis (RHS, R220)
Knitting Smitten by Jessica Biscoe (Pan Macmillan, R279)
Transform old and everyday objects into beautiful dÊcor items. The projects use crafts like crackle glazing, decoupage, gilding, papiermâchÊ and ageing, with photos that will inspire anyone keen on learning a new craft. Choose from lights, wire baskets, wall hangings, frames, gold-leaf boxes, tins, tables and stools, and more.
The love of knitting has spread to all generations. Once you have learnt a few core techniques and mastered the basic knit and purl stitches, try your hand at some of the fresh and funky patterns, from a chevron cushion to mittens, a chunky moss-stitch cowl, a hedgehog paperweight and a triangle-motif throw.
FICTION
true to her Italian heritage, loves to feed people. She says cooking from scratch is easier than most people think; and it s healthier and cheaper. She used to be a painter and loves the creativity of the kitchen ‒ developing her own recipes is just another way for her to ďŹ ll a canvas . Her food photos enable her to show readers how to create her dishes, step by step.
as a way to bring a new approach to design blogging through her passion for colour. She creates beautiful colour palettes drawn from an inspirational image. Her inspiration could be anything from a ower to an idyllic beach to a decadent dessert. The idea is that you use your favourite palette when planning a new season s wardrobe, or as inspiration in decorating your home.
FOOD & WINE
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (HC, R248)
Fallout by Sadie Jones (RHS, R285)
Smashing Plates by Maria Elia (Kyle Books, R306)
Love Your Wine by Cathy Marston (Bookstorm, R175)
When the Nazis invade France, Marie-Laure and her father ee from Paris with a dangerous secret. Werner is a German orphan whose engineering skills are helping the Germans track down the resistance. In the village of Saint-Malo their lives converge. This novel is about radio, a diamond, and the ways, against all odds, we try to be good to one another.
Three friends set up a radical theatre company in London in the 1970s, part of a new generation of writers, directors and rising voices. When Nina, a fragile actress, strays towards their group, Luke recognises a damaged soul and is torn between loyalty, desire and his own painful past, until everything he values, even the promise of the future, is in danger.
Maria Elia brings the avours of Greece into the 21st century with her modern take on classic dishes. This is a book for culinary adventurers ready to explore what Greek cuisine has to oer. The recipes are a product of a summer spent experimenting at her father s tavern in Cyprus and will open your eyes to a new world of Greek cooking.
Cathy s approach to wine is friendly and unpretentious. Whether you re unsure about ordering wine in a restaurant, or baed in a bottle store, or like wine and want to know the science of it, she will give you the conďŹ dence to enjoy drinking wine; to see it as a pleasure, not a potential source of embarrassment; and to try something new.
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1 Ceramic monster (R660) from Sootcookie Ceramics at Imagenius. 2 Wall decals (R270 per metre) from De Waal Art. 3 Washi tape selection (from R30) from Merrypak, Mr Price Home and M.studio. 4 Plinth (R350) from Chandler House. 5 Wallpaper (R450 per square metre) from Robin Sprong Wallpaper. 6 Rose cushion (R119,99) from Mr Price Home. 7 Drawer liner (R99) from Home etc. 8 Shopper (from R700) from Soil Design. 9 Set of two fabric napkins (R180) from Mitat. 10 Heart plate (R240 for a set of four) from PiP Studio at In Good Company. 11 Rose-detail wedge sandal (R399) from Woolworths.
PHOTO: ED O RILEY
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BUYER S GUIDE ON PAGE 125
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With spring in the air, we went shopping to ďŹ nd you the latest rose-inspired items. car in. sm ith@ me dia 24. com
COMING UP
ROSES 11
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The change of seasons brings with it a desire to freshen things up, so we thought we d show you how to transform your space with a few clever decorating tricks.
by CARIN SMITH photos ED O RILEY assistant LINNAE VOSLOO
Give your much-loved old couch a new lease of life by recovering the worn sections. Add a few different pieces of fabric and embroider on some flower shapes. An upholsterer will be able to help you add the embroidered pieces to your couch. The mat is made from printed vinyl that is durable enough to use as a floor covering. Mat (R550 per metre) from Smart Art. Hand-embroidered couch (from R44 500) from Casamento. Portrait cushion (R89,99), floral cushion (R69,99) and square bird canvas (R399,99) from Mr Price Home. Embroidery hoop artwork (R960, aloe) and (R720, kingfisher), small ceramic-framed picture (R750) and black ceramic-framed picture (R1 100) from Haas Collective. Portrait with flowers (R500) and paper plate (R80) from In Good Company.
Transform the drab interior of a plain wardrobe by covering it in pretty vintage-style pictures of owers. You can stick them down with a bit of tape or, for something more permanent, use modge podge to decoupage them onto the wood. Wardrobe (R7 500) from Living Legends. Paint colour: Blooming Perfect from Plascon.
It s very easy to create your own wall art. Simply take a high resolution image of your choice to your local printing company and they ll print it on a thick bond paper or canvas. Don t frame it; stick it to your wall with clear tape and then add pretty washi tape to complete the picture. Washi tape (R24) from Cotton Candy.
Create a gorgeous floral bed by layering different pieces of fabric over each other and grouping flower-themed cushions together. A good idea if you are on a budget is to keep an eye out for sales of end-of-roll fabrics at local interior textiles companies. Finish off by adding hems, or leave the edges unfinished for a Bohemian feel, if you prefer. Small green frame (R29,99) from Mr Price Home. Large frame (R319) from Loads of Living. Fabric (R852 per metre) from St Leger & Viney. Duvet cover (price on request) from Peter Osborn Furniture. Cushions (from left): (R290) from Soil Design, (R119,99) from Mr Price Home, and (R650) from Modern Stranger.
Make a unique chandelier by combining a variety of light ďŹ ttings with a oral theme and hanging them in a cluster. Keep the cords together with a brightly coloured cable tie. Lights: glass jar (R240) from Present Space, globe (R80) from Hoi P Loy, ceramic (R285) from Milk, and roses (R199) from Typo.
To avoid having to plug in four separate lights, feed all the wires into one plug.
When the roses are in full bloom, anything that can hold a bit of water will work as a vase, whether it s a painted tin, a measuring jug or a cake stand. Vases: 1 (R79) from The Crazy Store; 2 (R170) from Okasie; 3 (R155) from Elsie Burger at Loads of Living; 4 Painted paint tin; 5 (R200) and 6 (R140) from Okasie; 7 (R39,99) from Mr Price Home; 8 (R95) from Weylandts; and 9 (R420) from Love Lolla Present Space. Wallpaper: Sanderson in Design Porcelain Garden (R1 409,04) from St Leger & Viney. Fabric: St Leger & Viney Malabar Floral colour Royal (R767).
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‒ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Second-hand chairs are quite easy to find and can be updated by reupholstering them. A combination of patterned and plain fabrics will give a more modern look, and it may also be less expensive than using a single upholstery fabric. Wallpaper (R6 691,80 per roll) from Romo South Africa. Light (R399,99) from Mr Price Home. Armchair (R7 000 in Stuart Graham Shabby R270 per metre and Calico R340 per metre excluding VAT) from Space for Life. Large faux flowers from Love Paper Sew.
Make colour photocopies of patterned fabrics and wallpaper to use as decorations in your tea-table setting. Use different patterns and colours to create an eclectic yet feminine look. You can also cover interesting boxes, make a paper flower, and stick pictures on your wall, to add to the botanical feel. We covered a cylindrical box to look like a cake and cake-slice boxes, and added cake stands to fit the theme. Kingfisher print (R720) and ceramic paper boat (R290) from Haas Collective. Cups and plates (R260) from In Good Company. Rug (R29 484) from Gonsenhausers Fine Rugs.
Decoupage plain wooden boards and transform them into stylish serving platters. You will need • wooden chopping boards • pretty, thin paper (such as giftwrap) • modge podge
• • • •
non-toxic varnish brushes rough sandpaper craft knife, cutting mat and metal ruler
Get your paper ready. We used colour photocopies of various designs of scrapbooking paper. Cut the paper slightly larger than the wooden board.
Keep the paper on hand and paint the wooden board with a layer of modge podge.
Place the paper on the board while the modge podge is still wet and paint another layer of modge podge over the top. Rub the paper smooth and leave it to dry overnight.
Sandpaper the edges of the board so that the paper comes o here and there and you can see the wood again. Sand the board in a few more small places so that it looks nice and weathered.
Paint the board with another layer or two of modge podge and leave it to dry overnight.
Seal with a coat of non-toxic varnish such as Woodoc s polyurethane sealant. Leave it for seven days to set properly before you use the board. You will then be able to wash it by hand in warm, soapy water.
Boards (R46,99 each) from Woolworths.
BUYER S GUIDE ON PAGE 125
by LIZEL CLOE TE photos ED O RILEY ex tra st yling CARIN SMITH
On board
Gorgeous garlands
by LIZEL CLOE TE assistant CISKIA HANEKOM st yling CARIN SMITH photos ED O RILEY
You will need • giftwrap printed with flowers • firm cardboard • narrow ribbon or cord • glue gun or double-sided adhesive tape • spray glue
To make 1 Cut the flowers roughly
from the giftwrap ‒ look for paper printed with different sizes of flowers so you can alternate them attractively. 2 Spray glue over the back of the flowers and stick them onto the cardboard. Cut them out neatly. 3 Arrange the flowers in the order you want to use them ‒ you can either follow a pattern or simply arrange them in a way that appeals to you ‒ and stick the flower clusters a few centimetres apart onto the ribbon or cord with double-sided tape or your glue gun. 4 Hang the string up against a wall or make it part of a celebration table s décor. It will also look pretty over a door or window, or thread it through the railings of a wrought-iron bed. Table (R5 500) from Pedersen & Lennard. Stool (undecorated, price on request) from Chair Crazy. Vases (from R70) from Quirky Me.
BUYER S GUIDE ON PAGE 125
Make strings of paper flowers that you can use throughout the year as decorations in your house or on your table.
Sweet endings Choose one of these pretty desserts to ďŹ nish o a special meal. by LOUISA HOLST photos ED O RILEY st yling HANNES KOEGELENBERG
Raspberry souÊ (recipe on page 32)
Chai-spiced baked cheesecake (recipe on page 32)
Raspberry souÊ Serves: 6 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Oven temperature: 180oC
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2 large eggs, separated 40g (45ml) castor sugar 30g (55ml) cake our 250ml milk 2ml vanilla extract
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1 Put 100g berries and 50g castor
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200g fresh raspberries 80g (90ml) castor sugar melted butter, for brushing 50ml cream
sugar into a saucepan with a tightďŹ tting lid. Cover and warm over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved and the berries are just
3
4 Easy tropical layer pudding
5 6
7
tender. Remove from the heat and press through a sieve or blend until smooth. Brush the insides of 6 ovenproof ramekins with melted butter and dust with the remaining 30g castor sugar. Stir the cream into the remaining berries and divide among the ramekins. Beat the egg yolks and 40g castor sugar together until thick. Stir in the our. Warm the milk and vanilla in a saucepan until it begins to simmer. Add a little of the milk to the egg mixture, then stir the egg mixture into the milk in the saucepan. Cook over the heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat. Fold the berry purÊe into the egg mixture and set aside. Whisk the egg whites until soft, but not yet sti. Stir a spoonful into the egg mixture and then fold the egg mixture into the remaining egg whites. Fold very carefully to keep the air in. Divide the mixture among the ramekins. Place the ramekins on a tray that has been preheated in the hot oven and then bake for 15-20 minutes or until the souÊs are well risen. Dust with icing sugar and serve immediately.
Chai-spiced baked cheesecake Serves: 8-10 Preparation time: 30 minutes Baking time: approximately 50 minutes Oven temperature: 180oC • • • • • • • •
150g digestive biscuits, crushed 75g (80ml) butter, melted 3 x 250g packs of cream cheese 200g (230ml) castor sugar 5ml vanilla extract 45ml cake our 2ml ground cardamom 2ml ground cinnamon
Amarula and strawberry cream ice-cream loaf (recipe on page 34)
• • • •
1ml ground allspice pinch of ground cloves pinch of ground black pepper 15ml chopped preserved ginger (optional) • 250ml sour cream • 3 large eggs • 1 large egg yolk Topping • 250ml cream, whipped • fresh cherries or berries, to decorate 1 Grease and line the base of a
22cm springform cake tin. Mix the crushed biscuits and melted butter together and press into the base of the cake tin to line. Bake in a preheated oven for 5-8 minutes, then remove from the oven and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 160oC. 2 Beat the cream cheese, castor sugar and vanilla extract together until smooth. Mix the flour, spices and chopped ginger into the sour cream and then mix into the cream cheese mixture. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. 3 Pour into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes. The cake should be just set, but with a very slight wobble. Turn the oven off and leave the oven door slightly open. Leave until cold. 4 Topping Whip the cream until stiff and then spread over the top of the cheesecake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Slice with a sharp, warm knife and garnish with cherries or berries.
Easy tropical layer pudding Serves: 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes
• • • • •
50g macadamia nuts, chopped 50ml coconut flakes 250g ready-made custard 250g Greek yoghurt 1 fresh pineapple, peeled and diced • 1 papaya, peeled, seeded and diced 1 Place the oats, sugar, nuts and
• 100ml rolled oats • 50ml brown sugar
coconut flakes into a frying pan and stir over a medium heat until
toasted. Set aside to cool. 2 Fold the custard and Greek yoghurt together. 3 Mix the fruit together. Spoon a little of the fruit mixture into individual glass serving dishes or glasses. Top with some of the toasted nut mixture and then some of the custard mixture. Repeat the layers, ending with a sprinkle of the toasted nut mixture.
Amarula and strawberry cream ice-cream loaf
• pink food colouring • 375ml cream
Makes: 2 loaves Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes
1 Line the bottom and sides of a
• 2 packets of strawberry cream biscuits • ready-made berry coulis (or sauce) • 2 litres vanilla ice cream, slightly softened • 500ml chopped marshmallows • 30ml butter • 80ml Amarula or other cream liqueur (or use cream if you prefer no alcohol)
loaf tin with baking paper or foil. Line the bottom of the loaf tin with a layer of strawberry cream biscuits. Top with a few spoonfuls of berry coulis. 2 Cover with a layer of ice cream, then biscuits and more berry coulis. Put in the freezer. 3 Melt the marshmallows and butter in the microwave or in a saucepan over a low heat until melted and smooth. Add the liqueur and a drop of pink food
colouring. Set aside until cool. 4 Whip the cream and fold into the marshmallow mixture. Pour over the biscuit layer. Top with more ice cream. Cover and freeze until solid, preferably overnight. 5 Remove from the tin and remove the baking paper or foil. Use a sharp, heated knife to cut into slices to serve.
Apple cider clafoutis Serves: 8 Preparation time: 30 minutes Baking time: 30 minutes Oven temperature: 200oC Batter • 3 large eggs • 100ml apple cider (or use milk instead) • 150ml milk or cream • 5ml vanilla extract • 90ml (170ml) cake our • 105g (125ml) sugar • 120ml butter, melted Filling • 4 Pink Lady apples • 55g (60ml) butter • 85g (100ml) sugar • 45ml apple cider • freshly grated nutmeg • icing sugar, for dusting • cream or ice cream, to serve 1 Batter Put all the ingredients
2
3
4
5 Apple cider clafoutis
except the butter into a blender. Add 90ml of the butter and blend until smooth. Set aside. Cut the apples into very thin slices. Remove the pips and stalks and discard. Grease a 25cm ovenproof pie dish with the remaining butter and place it into the preheated oven to warm up. Filling Heat the butter and 75ml sugar in a saucepan. Add the cider. Once the sugar has melted, add the apple slices and simmer for 3-5 minutes until just tender. Remove the preheated pie dish from the oven and immediately
Quick microwave chocochino pudding (recipe on page 36)
pour in half the prepared batter. Place the apple slices on top (reserving the juices from the pan) and then pour the remaining batter over the apples. Sprinkle with the remaining sugar and nutmeg to taste. 6 Put into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the centre has set. Cover with aluminium foil if the top browns too quickly. Remove from the oven and spoon the reserved pan juices over the top. Dust with icing sugar. Serve warm with cream or ice cream.
Quick microwave chocochino pudding Serves: 6 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 4 minutes • • • • • •
15ml instant coee powder 15ml boiling water 85g (90ml) soft butter 85g (95ml) castor sugar 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 85g (155ml) self-raising our, sifted • 50g dark chocolate, chopped • thick cream and cocoa powder, to serve
with cocoa powder. This dessert is best eaten soon after it is made.
Guava and strawberry fridge tart Serves: 10 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes • • • • • • •
1 Drain the guavas and reserve 2
3
4
1 Mix the coee granules with the
boiling water to dissolve. Set aside to cool. 2 Beat the butter and sugar together until light. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the coee solution and beat well. Fold in the sifted our and the chocolate. 3 Divide the mixture among six greased microwave-safe ramekins. Cook on full power for two minutes. Change the power setting to medium and cook for a further two minutes. Remove from the microwave and set aside for two minutes to ďŹ rm up. 4 Just before serving, top with a dollop of thick cream and dust
2 cans guava halves in syrup half a packet tennis biscuits 10ml gelatine powder 1 can caramel treat 25-30ml lemon juice 250ml cream fresh strawberries, to garnish
5
6
7
the syrup. Dip the tennis biscuits into the guava syrup and then place them in a square or rectangular dish so that they overlap slightly. Put the gelatin into a small bowl and add 50ml water. Leave to swell. Heat the caramel and 250ml water in a saucepan and whisk until the caramel has dissolved. Stir in the gelatine mixture. Once the gelatine has dissolved, remove the mixture from the heat and set aside to cool. Remove the seeds from the guavas and discard, then chop up the esh and stir it into the caramel mixture. Add the lemon juice, to taste. Whip the cream until sti. Fold a little cream into the guava mixture then fold the guava mixture into the remaining cream. Spoon over the base. Set in the fridge. Top with sliced or halved fresh strawberries just before serving. Cut the fridge tart into squares to serve.
Guava and strawberry fridge tart
Invite the special people in your life to join you in celebrating an important occasion with a scrumptious meal in a beautiful vintage-style setting.
by LOUISA HOLST photos ED O RILEY st yling, craf ts and menu designs HANNES KOEGELENBERG
Time to
SHOT ON LOCATION AT SIMONDIUM S COUNTRY LODGE (021 874 1046, www.simondiums.co.za) White platter (R450), knives and forks (R100), teaspoons (R60) and chandelier (R1 800) from Plan B Vintage. Floral plates and napkins (price on request) from Woodstock Vintage. Buyer s guide on page 125
rnut Fragrantly spiced butte and tomato soup Prawn salad sing with lime and basil dres Crumbed pork with risotto and bles Mediterranean vegeta Pear and hazelnut tart with fresh fruit
Set the scene
For this special day, nothing is too much trouble. We set one long table with oral plates, crystal glasses and coloured glass vases ďŹ lled with owers. We used soft pink, mint green and lilac for our colour scheme. The corrugated iron and raw wood in the background work well as a contrast to the pastel colours, and they keep things interesting. To complete the romantic picture, we played with lace and vintage items.
Flowers
Arrange pink and white owers like peonies, hydrangeas and roses in a variety of vases and place them on the table. We also scattered petals on the table and oor, and decorated an old chandelier with owers, lace and ribbon.
Fragrantly spiced butternut and tomato soup Serves: 8 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
45ml olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, crushed 15ml freshly grated ginger 750g butternut cubes 2 sticks celery, chopped 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped 1ml ground cumin 3 whole star anise 1 can Italian plum tomatoes 1,5-2 litres prepared chicken or vegetable stock 5ml grated lemon zest 10-15ml lemon juice microherbs, to garnish cream, to serve small bread rolls, to serve
Menu
Choose one of our designs on pages 48-49 to match the table that you are planning for your special occasion. Copy the design and print or write your menu on it.
1 Heat the oil and sautĂŠ the onion
for a few minutes until it softens. Add the garlic and ginger and sautĂŠ for a further two minutes.
Fragrantly spiced butternut and tomato soup
2 Add the butternut, celery, carrot,
3
4
5 6
cumin and star anise and stir well. Cover with a lid and cook over a medium to low heat for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice to prevent sticking. Add the tomatoes and stock and bring to the boil. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until all the vegetables are tender. Remove the star anise and discard. Blend in a liquidiser until smooth. Season to taste and set aside to cool. Chill until just before serving. Reheat until the soup is simmering. Stir in the lemon zest and juice. Serve the soup topped with microherbs. Add a dollop of cream, if you prefer. Serve with bread rolls.
Prawn salad with lime and basil dressing Serves: 8 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes • 3 pieces of lemon or lime peel • 750g peeled prawns, tails left on • 2 packets baby salad leaves • 2 avocado pears, peeled and cubed • 6 spring onions, cut into julienne strips • 250ml julienne strips of raw beetroot Dressing • 50ml freshly squeezed lime juice • 150ml sunower oil • 5ml grated lime zest • 30ml ďŹ nely shredded basil 1 Put 250ml water and the
lime or lemon peel into a saucepan. Bring to the boil. Add the prawns and cover with the lid. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the prawns turn opaque. Remove from the heat. Drain and cool.
Table plan
Be creative and design your seating plan to ďŹ t in with the rest of your dĂŠcor. Line a baking tray with a piece of scrapbooking paper that matches your theme. Tie two pieces of rough twine tightly around the baking tray with the knots at the back. Print or write the table numbers and guests names on rectangles of coloured cardboard and hang them from the twine with colourful small pegs. Finish o with a paper bird and owers.
Placemats
Copy the placemat template on page 50 in the desired size onto cream cardboard. Put them on the table with a lace handkerchief alongside.
Prawn salad with lime and basil dressing
Place cards
Make place cards that you can hang from the guests chairs. Print the names on cream cardboard and cut them in strips. Punch a hole at the top and thread a ribbon through it. Decorate with a paper bird that you attach to the card with a small peg. Tie the ribbon to the chair.
Crumbed pork, creamy risotto and Mediterranean vegetables
2 Whisk the dressing ingredients
together and pour over the prawns. Toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve (but serve within an hour). 3 To serve Arrange the salad ingredients on individual serving plates. Top with prawns. Spoon any extra dressing over the prawns. Serve immediately.
Crumbed pork Serves: 8 Preparation time: 35 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes • 250ml dry ciabatta breadcrumbs • 10ml mustard seeds • 250ml freshly grated Parmesan
• • • •
about 250ml cake our 3 large eggs 3 pork ďŹ llets sunower oil, for frying
1 Place the breadcrumbs, mustard
seeds and Parmesan into a shallow bowl. Put the our into a separate shallow bowl. Whisk the eggs in another bowl. 2 Cut the pork into portions. Season with salt and pepper. Dredge in our and shake o the excess. Coat with the beaten egg mixture, allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl, and then coat with the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat with all of the pork. 3 Heat a layer of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Fry a few
pieces of pork at a time, turning them to make sure all the sides are browned. Remove from the heat just before properly cooked through and set aside. Cook all the pork in this way. Put the meat onto a baking tray and reheat in a hot oven for 10 minutes just before ready to serve. 4 To serve Cut each meat portion in half and serve both slices with some creamy risotto and Mediterranean vegetables (see recipes on page 46).
Pear and hazelnut tart (recipe on page 46)
Creamy risotto Serves: 8 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes • • • • • • • • • • •
30ml olive oil 30ml butter 1 large onion, chopped 2 sticks celery, chopped 250ml risotto (arborio) rice 625ml prepared chicken stock 125ml dry white wine 2 sprigs of fresh thyme 125ml cream 125ml grated Parmesan shaved Parmesan, to serve
1 Heat the oil and butter in a
saucepan over a medium heat. SautĂŠ the onion and celery until soft. Add the rice and stir well so that all the granules are coated. 2 Heat the stock in a separate saucepan. Add 125ml of stock, the wine and the thyme and simmer gently, stirring occasionally. Once the liquid has been absorbed, add another 125ml of stock. Continue in this way, waiting until the liquid has been absorbed each time before adding more stock. 3 Once all the liquid has been added continue to cook until the rice is al dente or still slightly ďŹ rm. Stir in the cream and Parmesan and season well to taste. Remove the thyme sprigs and discard.
• 2 punnets baby rosa tomatoes, halved • 25ml red wine vinegar • 30ml sultanas • 30ml black olives, pitted and chopped • fresh basil, to serve
1 Beat the butter until creamy.
1 Slice the brinjals and sprinkle with
3
salt. Allow to stand for 10 minutes, then wipe o the salt. If you are using large brinjals, cut the slices into cubes. Heat a layer of olive oil in a saucepan and brown the brinjal pieces on both sides. Remove from the pan and drain on absorbent paper. Set aside. 2 Heat the remaining olive oil and sautÊ the onions until almost soft. Add the garlic and sautÊ for a minute, then add the remaining vegetables except the tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes. 3 Add the tomatoes, vinegar, sultanas, olives and cooked brinjal. Simmer covered for about 3 minutes or until the vegetables are just tender. Season with freshly ground black pepper and check if the dish needs more salt. Add the basil leaves just before serving.
• • • • • •
6 small brinjals or 2 medium-sized 90ml olive oil 2 medium-sized onions, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 red peppers, seeded and diced 2 orange peppers, seeded and diced • 2 punnets courgettes, sliced
4
5
6
7
Pear and hazelnut tart Serves: 8 Preparation time: 60 minutes Baking time: 20 minutes Oven temperature: 180oC
Mediterranean vegetables Serves: 8 Preparation time: 40 minutes, plus standing time Cooking time: 20 minutes
2
• • • • • • • • •
60ml soft butter 70ml sugar 60ml ground hazelnuts 45ml cornour 1 large egg 1ml vanilla extract 3 ďŹ rm, but ripe pears 20ml lemon juice 1 sheet ready-made pu pastry, thawed but cold • castor sugar, for sprinkling • icing sugar, for dusting • fresh fruit and vanilla ice cream, to serve
8
In a separate bowl mix the sugar, nuts, cornour and a pinch of salt together. Stir into the butter. Add in the egg and vanilla extract and beat well. Refrigerate for an hour. After an hour, cut the pears into thin slices. Remove any pips. Drizzle the slices with lemon juice and set aside. Take the pastry out of the fridge. Cut it in half. Then cut two thin strips from the side of each piece. Put both large rectangular pieces onto a baking tray that has been lined with baking paper. Brush the edges of the large pieces with a little water and then stick the strips along the edges to form a rim. Remove the nut ďŹ lling from the fridge and spread it over the base of each rectangle. You may not need to use it all; it should not be too thick. Cover the ďŹ lling with pear slices, arranging them so that they overlap slightly. Sprinkle with castor sugar. Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is golden and pued up. Cut into individual portions and dust with icing sugar. Serve with a selection of fresh fruit and vanilla ice cream, if you prefer.
Table numbers Make numbers for the top and bottom ends of each table, if you are using more than one. Print the numbers on cream cardboard in a colour that matches your dÊcor and cut them out in a pretty shape ‒ you can use our frame template on page 48. Use a glue gun to stick the numbers to a piece of lace in a contrasting colour and hang them from the table with a drawing pin.
T
he delicious potato is one of the most versatile starches in the world and also one of the easiest to prepare . . . a perfect partner for T-bones, Grabouw boerewors, Karoo lamb chops and ostrich steaks from Oudtshoorn. One of the easiest and tastiest ways of preparing potatoes is to bake them ‒ wash the skin, prick, wrap in foil and pop onto the coals or into the oven for about an hour. If you don t have the time, the microwave works just as well. The result is a fluffy potato with crispy skin; just add a drizzle of olive oil and some salt and black pepper. Have you tried smashing baked potatoes? Bake baby or medium potatoes for about 40 minutes. Take them out the oven and press down with the back of a spoon so they flatten out. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and bake for a further 10-15 minutes ‒ a real treat with braaied fish or a juicy steak. Potatoes are also the most sustainable carbohydrate ‒ they are good for you and for the environment. They have much lower greenhouse gases and water usage compared with other carbohydrates and they are naturally fat-free and packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals, so you can tuck in guilt-free!
*
Like us on Facebook @ Official Potato Nation
PERFECT potatoes Celebrate spring by firing up the braai and preparing some scrumptious potatoes.
Table number frame (page 46)
Menu designs (page 40; see more designs on page 49)
FOOD Entertaining Louisa Holst looks at a few fabulous food ideas.
DRESS UP YOUR CAKE The mini-bunting cake decorating set from In Good Company helps turn an ordinary cake into something special. The set includes a cake frill, bunting and toppers. Available online from www.ingoodcompany. co.za for R85.
PHOTOS: ED O RILEY • STYLING: HANNES KOEGELENBERG
POP IN FOR COFFEE If you live in Bloemfontein and still haven t discovered Koekela Cafe, stop by for coffee or brunch, or hire it as a venue for a special occasion. It s in the heart of town and each room has its own special feel and unique décor. The beautiful garden provides the ideal setting for summer functions. Go to facebook.com/KoekelaCafe.
Floral delights Sip on a fragrant cup of tea made with real flowers. Carmien Vintage Romance flower tea is a blend of Rooibos and Honeybush plus a selection of dried flowers. It s perfect for a special tea party or to serve as a palate cleanser between courses, or with dessert. Available along with a wide range of other healthy Carmien Rooibos teas at supermarkets nationwide.
Cool drinks
Try out the new Four Cousins Fiver range. These crisp, refreshing winebased coolers will appeal to all young-at-hearts. Available in five flavours, Fiver is an extension of the Four Cousins collection of wines, sparkling wines and cream liqueurs. Available at liquor outlets nationwide.
Brighten your windowsill
These gorgeous herb planters from Le Creuset cost R398 each. They are made from dense stoneware that blocks moisture absorption and prevents cracking. The exterior enamel is stain and scratchresistant. Choose a colour to suit your kitchen and have your favourite herb on hand to add fresh flavour to your meals.
by LIZEL CLOE TE assistant CISKIA HANEKOM photos ED O RILEY st yling CARIN SMITH
Dye, print and stencil your way to a colourful dinner table with one of these three simple projects.
1 Here is a quick and easy way to turn bought placemats into something special. Choose a high resolution photo or picture that matches the rest of your table dĂŠcor and print it out in colour onto fabric transfer paper. Cut it out neatly with your craft knife and iron it onto the placemat according to the manufacturer s instructions. Plastic cutlery (R80 for a set of three) and pink glass plates (R70 each) from In Good Company. Plates (R130) and bowls with gold rim (R120 each) from Woolworths. Undecorated placemats (R15,99) from Mr Price Home.
Print a stylish design onto bought napkins. Use our branch wreath template below or another design that will match your table. Copy the template in the desired size and stick it onto your cutting mat with masking tape. Stick a sheet of acetate on top. Cut out the design carefully to make a stencil. Mark the front of the stencil with a marking pen, and mark the position of the stencil on each napkin. Spray glue onto the back of the stencil and place it on the napkin. Use fabric paint and a stencil sponge to dab the paint in layers over the stencil. You can also use ordinary spray paint. Leave the paint to dry after each layer and remove the stencil carefully when you are ďŹ nished. Stencil the remaining napkins in the same way and heat set the paint by ironing the napkins on the wrong side of the fabric.
2
Undecorated napkins (R13,99) from Mr Price Home.
3 Create your own unique table runner with a soft, feminine ombre colour.
Table (R5 500) from Pedersen & Lennard. Chair (price on request) from Haldane Martin.
You will need Use the same dip-dyeing technique to make napkins. We coloured our napkins pink, for a pretty contrast. Vivacor Guarany dye is also suitable for dyeing nylon, lycra, wool and silk and already contains a ďŹ xative, which means it doesn t need to be made colourfast.
Wash the fabric, leave it to dry and iron it. Cut out in the desired size ‒ ours is 52 x 300cm ‒ and stitch double-folded hems or leave the edges raw to fray a little.
Start the colouring process by dipping the fabric into cold water and then squeezing out most of the water by hand. Fold the fabric in half lengthways and roll it up loosely ‒ this helps to create the lovely ombre appearance.
Dissolve the dye in the correct amount of water according to the manufacturer s instructions. We used Vivacor Guarany dye in turquoise, which we bought at a fabric shop.
Pour the dye mixture into a suitably large plastic container or bucket that is half ďŹ lled with water and stir well.
Dip the open end of the rolledup fabric into the dye and hold it there for a few seconds so that the colour is absorbed. Repeat until you are happy with the colour and ombre appearance.
Open the fabric and follow the manufacturer s instructions to set the colour, if necessary. Hang it up to dry. With our type of dye it is better not to leave the fabric in the sun to dry.
BUYERS GUIDE ON PAGE 125
• white linen or cotton fabric • fabric dye in the colour of your choice • plastic container or bucket • metal spoon • measuring jug • latex gloves
will elevate your creative possibilities to new heights...
and with a foot fit for every occasion, you will enhance both your creative ability as well as your investment. For more information contact your nearest BERNINA dealer or contact BERNINA head office on 011 726 1800, or write to marketing@berninasa.com or visit www.bernina.co.za
facebook.com/berninarsa
twitter.com/berninarsa
info@elevatedesign.co.za
e d a r a P t e e F ’s a Bernin
1
3
2 1 Vintage flower cards We made these vintageinspired place cards by first printing the guests names in colour on cardboard and then photocopying a floral print onto the cardboard, also in colour. Cut out in a rectangle and use a bone folder to fold in the middle. TIP To enhance the vintage feel, rub a paper serviette lightly over the print to give it a faded appearance. 2 Napkin with paper ribbon Find a delicate floral frame or garland image on the internet, convert it to white on a black background and print it out on paper. Cut a notch at one end, to make it look like a ribbon, and attach it to the end of a napkin with a pearl-headed pin. Find similar napkins at Country Road. Cutlery (R80) from In Good Company. 3 Mini wreath Gently bend a sprig of herbs or pretty small flowers into a wreath shape. Fasten the ends with a piece of thin ribbon. Curl the ends of a strip of paper with the guest s name on it and place it in the middle of the guest s plate along with the herb wreath.
by CARIN SMITH photos ED O RILEY
Here are a few ideas for lovely place cards that are quick and easy to make.
IN PLACE
4 4 On a doily Stamp your guest s name in the middle of a paper doily using single-letter ink stamps. Place the doily in the centre of the plate. Pink glass side plate (R70) and plastic cutlery set (R80) from In Good Company. Dinner plate (R130) from Woolworths. 6
6 Drinks bottles Use a white marker to draw a frame and write each guest s name on a glass bottle. Finish o by adding straws decorated with small scrapbooking embellishments. Bottles (R60 each) and straws (R50) from In Good Company.
5 5 In black & white Browse vintage shops or ea markets for old photographs that resemble your guests, or that will suit the occasion, and use them as place cards. Use a black or a white pen to write the person s name on the photo. Bowl (R120) from Woolworths. 7
7 Antique keys Tie an ornate old key and a strip of card with your guest s name on it to the guest s cutlery. Put them on the napkin at the place setting.
8
10
9 8 Paper flowers Make paper roses from tissue paper and add a stem made from florist s wire and florist s tape. Photocopy rose leaves and write or print each guest s name onto a leaf. Cut out and attach to the wire stem. Place the roses in bottles or on the table at each place setting.
10 Scrapbook style Use remnants of fabric, ribbon and paper to decorate plain gift tags to use as place cards. Print the guests names onto white paper and cut out in strips to wrap around the cards. Use miniature pegs to attach the cards to the napkins. Pegs (R100) from In Good Company.
BUYER S GUIDE ON PAGE 125
9 Flying the flag Stick a pretty piece of paper around a small sosatie skewer with double-sided tape and cut a V-shape at the end. Stick a small white flag with the guest s name onto the coloured flag. Stick the skewer through two macarons in matching colours and use floral washi tape to complete the place setting.
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IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS â&#x20AC;&#x2019; USE OUR UNIQUE INVITATION DESIGNS AS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEXT DINNER PARTY.
Youre invited! designs by ENID DE BEER
$ 0 1 ( 1 / ( % 5 $ 6 7 WHETHER YOU RE HOSTING A CASUAL BREAKFAST OR A FORMAL DINNER PARTY, THIS GUIDE WILL HELP ENSURE THAT THE TABLE IS SET TO IMPRESS. by TANI KIRSTEN photos ED O RILEY
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Forget about simply folding your napkins in half. Follow our steps over the next few months and amaze your guests with your artistic ďŹ&#x201A;air. by E TMAAL VAN JAARSVELD
Turn the napkin so it lies in a diamond shape in front of you, seams facing upwards.
Fold the top point over onto the bottom point to form a triangle. Press the fold line well and open your napkin again.
Fold the left-hand edge onto the right-hand edge, press and open the napkin. Fold the bottom edge up to the top edge and press. The napkin will now form a rectangle, open edges at the top.
Using the pressed fold lines, fold the left and right-hand sides inwards to the inside of the rectangle. The napkin will now form a triangle.
Press the fold lines and place the napkin with the point facing towards you. Now fold the top layer s top points downwards to the bottom point and press the fold lines.
Now fold the left-hand point over onto the right-hand point, press the fold line well and open the napkin again. Turn the napkin so it forms a square.
You now have a diamond shape on the top layer and a triangle on the bottom layer. Keep the napkin with the point facing towards you.
Fold the bottom point of the triangle upwards, until it protrudes by about a third above the top seam. Make sure that the lines at the top and bottom edges are parallel and press the fold lines.
There should now be two points of the diamond shape at the top. Pull each one carefully downwards and press the fold lines. Keep the bottom two points facing towards you.
Fold the point that sticks out at the top under the napkin. Press it ďŹ&#x201A;at.
Fold the napkin in half vertically and press it. You now have an inverted L-shape with a cap at the point. The longer leg of the L must lie horizontally at the top.
TO COMPLETE YOUR BUTTERFLY NAPKIN â&#x20AC;˘ With one hand between the wings and the ďŹ ngers of the other hand on the line that was folded in step 12, fold the butterďŹ&#x201A;y open carefully. â&#x20AC;˘ Shape the wings.
Now ďŹ nd the point just under the cap on the shorter leg and the point where the shorter leg s inside edge meets the longer leg. Fold the napkin on the line that joins the two points and press it.
THE COMPLETED HEART NAPKIN Tie a pretty paper strip around the napkin and place it on the plate.
Turn the napkin so it forms a square in front of you, with the seams facing upwards.
Fold the napkin in half horizontally and press.
Fold the napkin again along the centre line. The open side must face downwards. Press.
Find the centre of the top closed edge and hold your ďŹ nger on it. Fold the left and right-hand sides inwards so you create the shape of a house. Press.
Turn the napkin around so the point of the house faces down. Fold the two outside top corners inwards by about a third. Press.
Fold the inside top corners inwards by about a quarter. Press.
Turn the napkin over so it forms a heart with an opening in the middle.
At your
fingertips Nails these days are considered to be essential accessories for a well-groomed and fashionable appearance. Gel manicures are increasingly popular, but make sure you have the best tips at hand.
by ELSA KRĂ&#x153;GER st yling CARIN SMITH photos ED O RILEY
NAIL TRENDS
Every woman wants beautiful nails. Not only do well-groomed nails symbolise your femininity, but they are also a barometer of good health. That s why you ll often see a doctor checking your ďŹ ngernails before making a diagnosis. (Turn to page 73 to see what your nails reveal about your health.)
The current fashion in nails, and the latest nail-care products, make it easy to have a set of beautiful, shiny nails that look freshly painted for longer, and which don t chip or flake, so you no longer have to reapply your nail polish as regularly as before.
Gel manicures The new gel manicures (Shellac and Gelish are the best known) save time, look beautiful and are highly durable. They have to be done at a salon, plus it isn t cheap, but women love gel lacquer. Two of the big names in nail polish ‒ O.P.I and Essie ‒ now have their own gel manicure colour ranges for use in salon treatments. A gel manicure is painted on just like nail polish, then baked under a UV lamp to set it. It looks like nail lacquer and behaves like gel. Removal can be challenging. You either have to grow the gel manicure out or have it removed professionally via a soakoff treatment at a salon, which costs between R40-R75 extra. Once it starts growing out, however, women often peel it off, damaging their nails and leaving them thin, brittle and prone to breaking. PORTIA NTSHOLO OF ESSIE, who are launching their colour range in salons this spring, has this advice: Preparation Your nails must be healthy and smooth. If they are damaged you should first have a regular manicure to help condition your nails. A gel manicure is not suitable for someone who is allergic to nail polish and similar products. Maintenance Wear kitchen gloves when doing chores. Regularly apply cuticle oil to soften and moisturise your cuticles. If your gel lacquer starts losing its sheen, apply a topcoat to restore the shiny finish. Removal Gel lacquer needs to be removed with a specially formulated nail-varnish remover. Don t try to scratch, buff or peel it off yourself.
This will only weaken your nails. Give your nails a rest between gel-lacquer treatments, especially if you have weak nails. There is now a gel treatment that you can do at home (Essence has one), complete with UV lamp to set the nail polish. You can also get the gel effect with the new Infallible Nail Polish (R99,95) from L Oréal Paris, which has a special topcoat that gives a gel-like finish.
Nail shape Happily, the bird claw stiletto nails that were so popular among movie stars and pop singers are now something of the past. They were impractical and more than a little creepy! The good news is that classic almond and oval-shaped nails are back in fashion. They re easy to maintain and the tips of your nails aren t weakened by excessive filing.
Nail art Let out your inner graffiti artist. The creativity of nail art doesn t excite only teenagers and trendoids. You see it everywhere nowadays ‒ on the red carpet and on concert stages. The latest nail art can be glued on or painted on with nifty nail-art pens and the possibilities are endless ‒ limited only by your imagination. With something like the Amazing Shine Nail Art Pen in Silver (R49,95 at Dis-Chem) you can paint any pattern on your nails. The latest trend is to colour in a halfmoon, then do the rest of the nail in a metallic or pastel shade. TRY Nail Candy Mani-Pedi Pen (R99,95), containing nail polish, a small brush and a fineliner with which to draw on nails.
THE FUTURE IS NOW Nail art could be a new form of wearable technology. Brainiacs are already looking into the possibilities of installing sensors on our nails to remind us to take medication, help us to stop smoking, or enable us to carry data. You heard it here first. . .
Do gel manicures heighten skin-cancer risk? Researchers in the USA are looking into the possibility that gel manicures may be a health risk. Gel lacquer has rapidly become popular around the world and it s easy to see why: it s a dream come true to have a nail polish that dries instantly, doesn t smudge, is durable, doesn t chip and lasts for as long as three weeks. Now doctors are asking if gel manicures may permanently damage the nails, or cause blood infections, encourage fungal growth or even increase the risk of cancer. The focus has been on the three to six minutes in total that your fingers spend under the UV lamp during the course of a gel-lacquer application. The website totalbeauty.com says dermatologists have warned that UV lamps are like the sun on steroids, which means you get an intense burst of UVA/UVB exposure every time your hands are under the lights (normally 15 seconds at a shot). According to the Los Angeles Times, scientists from Georgia Regents University have studied the lamps used and have concluded that the risk of skin cancer is very low, and that it would require extensive, prolonged exposure to pose a major health risk. Their advice is that you should protect your hands and nails with sunscreen before placing them under a UV lamp, and reapply it again afterwards.
stained, dull nails can be repaired with Mavala Mava-White Optical Nail Whitener (R144); and O.P.I Avoplex High Intensity Hand & Nail Cream (R145) moisturises hands and nails. If you struggle with fungus under the nails, try O.P.I Fungus Fix Nail Serum (R394) or Mineral Line from the Dead Sea Nail Restorer (R65,95 by Dis-Chem) for under-nail problems, including mild infections or fungus. Lastly, oil works wonders for brittle nails and dry cuticles ‒ try Essence Studio Nails Caring Nail Oil (R38,95).
PROTECT FIX IT
Not only do dry, torn cuticles look unattractive, but they can also influence the health of your hands. The cuticle protects the nail bed from which your nails grow, so if your cuticles are torn and become inflamed or infected, it can lead to serious and painful bacterial infections, leaving you with unsightly nails and unattractive hands. Dry nails are a result of general skin dryness ‒ too little moisture and a lack of oils ‒ exacerbated by not protecting your hands when working with domestic detergents such as dishwashing liquid and cleaning products. Some nail polish removers also strip out moisture. If your hands and nails are in bad shape, it s time for a bit of pampering: Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Nail & Cuticle Therapy (R250) is as good as its word ‒ if you ve not worn your gardening gloves and your nails are in a sorry state, this will help improve their appearance in no time. A serum penetrates deep into the nails to deliver a powerful punch ‒ if your nails are very dry and brittle, try Mavala Mava-Flex Serum for Nails (R187). Strengthen weak nails with Mavala Nail Shield (R220), which reinforces and protects with a nylon fibre base and sealant; yellow,
Our nails are out there all day every day, no matter what we re doing ‒ whether you earn a living in front of a computer, or if you re crafting, sewing and cooking at home. Without proper protection your nails are exposed and prone to breaking, dryness or splitting. Even if you don t wear nail polish (which actually protects your nails, provided you wear a base coat), you should be protecting your nails properly with the right products: Essie Millionails Treatment (R200) contains a fibre shield and iron strength protects against breaking, peeling and splitting; Mineral Line from the Dead Sea Crack-Laque (R65,95) will heal and smooth damaged nails after nail art; Mavala Cuticle Cream (R138) softens and strengthens cuticles to protect against bacterial infections; WetnWild Shine Clear Nail Protector (R24,95) provides a clear protection barrier that s virtually invisible.
STRONG START Whether you regularly pamper your hands by going for a salon manicure, or prefer to do it yourself at home, make sure your nails are in tip-top shape before you start experimenting with this spring s exciting new colours. You need the right tools to take
proper care of your nails and they should always be clean and sterile. Your basic toolkit for nails should include the following: Nail-varnish remover Alcohol and acetone-free removers don t dry out the nails as much as regular ones, but they re less effective at removing darker colours, so it s a trade-off. The new Sorbet removers (R39,95 at Clicks) are enriched with essential oils such as rosemary, orange and geranium to remove all traces of nail polish, enhance the condition of your nails and even leave them lightly fragranced. Nail clippers Invest in a pair of good quality, sharp nail clippers like Studio Basics 6 Piece Manicure Set (R69,95) or the Cosmetrix Manicure Set (R59,95). Replace your clippers as soon as you notice that they re no longer sharp. Emery boards Choose ones with a fine-grit sanding surface so the nail doesn t tear when you shape and file it, and always file in one direction only ‒ not back and forth. Studio Basics Fashion Shapers (R24,95). Nail buffer gently smooths and polishes your nails to a satin sheen. Mavala Nail Buffer Kit (R210) stimulates nail growth and gives your nails a healthy, pink colour. Orange sticks are used to gently push back cuticles. Essence Gel Nails at Home Cuticle Pusher (R38,95). Cuticle remover and oil firstly to soften then remove dry cuticles, and then to provide a nourishing oil treatment. Essence Gel Nails at Home Super Rich Hand & Nail Cream (R47,95) or Essence Gel Nails at Home 3 in 1 Nail Oil (R38,95). Base coat and topcoat A base coat stops the colour pigment of nail polish from penetrating the surface
they re so popular. Last year green nails were on trend, this year it s blue.
METALLICS AND TEXTURES
of your nails, and prevents yellow stains and dryness. Some base coats also act as a ďŹ ller if the surface of your nails isn t smooth. This helps nail polish adhere better and last longer. A topcoat gives an attractive gloss ďŹ nish and also makes your nail polish last longer. Essie Ridge Filling Base Coat (R200) or Ralo Cosmetics Smoothing Ridge Filler (R44,50).
O.P.I Nail Lacquer Push & Shove Duet Pack (R160) for metallic chrome nails with a reďŹ&#x201A;ective mirror ďŹ nish; Essie The Lace is On 848 (R119) resembles lace; O.P.I Nail Lacquer Liquid Sand in Jinx and O.P.I Nail Lacquer Liquid Sand in Solitaire (R160) leave the surface of your nails feeling like sea sand; and Ralo Cosmetics Glitter Top Coat (R44,50) gives a glitter ďŹ nish. Also try metallic colours like O.P.I Nail Lacquer Next Stop The Bikini Zone (R160); Essence EďŹ&#x20AC;ect Polka Dots (R38,95); and Essence Colour & Go Nail Polish in 164 Crazy Fancy Love (R24,95).
BRIGHTS
BEAUTIFY
Probably the best part of any kind of manicure is getting to play with all the fun, new colours. You don t have to be married to any one colour â&#x20AC;&#x2019; you can change it as the mood takes you, or to match your outďŹ t. Right now, it s all about shine and this season more is more. Give your nails a mirror ďŹ nish with a metallic nail polish. Silver and chrome are leading the way. You could also play with texture â&#x20AC;&#x2019; there s sand, leather, glitter and matt. Juicy shades of neon pink and orange are everywhere this spring, and the yummy pastels look good enough to eat â&#x20AC;&#x2019; no wonder
L OrĂŠal Paris Infallible Nail Polish in 010 Keep Magenta and 013 Orange Extreme (R99,99 each) for a gel-like ďŹ nish; Essence Colour & Go 156 Me & My Lover (R24,95); and Ralo Cosmetics 27 (R29,50).
PASTELS Colours so cute and sweet you ll want to lick your ďŹ ngers. Ice Box Colors in Crème de la Crème 64 (R110); Ice Box Colors in 65 Nothing to Prove (R110); Essie Nail Lacquer in Lilacism (R119); Essie Nail Lacquer in Mint Candy Apple (R119); L OrĂŠal Paris Infallible Nail Polish in 005 Irresistible BonBon (R99,95); and Wet n Wild Megalast in Undercover (R49,95).
BLUES O.P.I Nail Lacquer in Can t Find My Czechbook (R160); Essie in 841 Rock The Boat (R119); and Ice Box Colors in 63 Mermaids Are Real (R110).
What your nails reveal about your health Take a careful look at your nails. Are there any irregularities like uneven colour or ridges on the surface? These may look harmless but a doctor might see things diďŹ&#x20AC;erently. A good doctor will always study your nails carefully before making any diagnosis. Your nails could point the way to possible health problems: â&#x20AC;˘ White or colourless: liver problems such as hepatitis. â&#x20AC;˘ Yellow or thickened nails that grow slowly: lung diseases such as emphysema. â&#x20AC;˘ Yellow, with pink at the base: diabetes. â&#x20AC;˘ Red nail bed: heart disease. â&#x20AC;˘ Pale or white nail bed: anaemia. â&#x20AC;˘ Ridges or riďŹ&#x201E;es on the surface of the nail: psoriasis or arthritis. â&#x20AC;˘ Clubbing of the tissue around the ďŹ ngertips: lung problems. â&#x20AC;˘ Irregular red lines at the base of the nail fold: lupus or connective tissue problems. â&#x20AC;˘ Dark lines under the nail: melanoma. Source: mayoclinic.com/health/nails/
Soft, faded blue denim jeans are the perfect staple to build your spring wardrobe around. Wide-legged denim jeans (R3 646) from Habits. Floral blouse (R599) from Forever New. Braided bracelet (R75) from Lulu Belle. Sandals (R380) from Truworths.
(Facing page) Pastel mint is a refreshing colour that goes with almost anything in your wardrobe, and it suits most complexions. Mint dress (R595) from The Space. Porcelain butterďŹ&#x201A;y brooch (R100) and heart brooch (R415) from Imagenius. Wooden brooch (R90) from Big Blue.
It s time to embrace spring in all its pastel and floral prettiness. by CARIN SMITH photos ED O RILEY
Nothing says light and airy quite like a white summer dress. Look for one with delicate layers of lace and soft pleats, and complete the look with matt gold sandals.
BUYER S GUIDE ON PAGE 125
Dress (R675) from Woolworths. Sandals (R499) from Call It Spring. Light green necklace worn as a bracelet (R230) from Imagenius. Bracelet (R130) from Lulu Belle.
Invest in special pieces and look out for handworked items to add style and individuality to your outďŹ t. Hand-embroidered kimono jacket with tassels (R1 950) from Lulu Belle. Skirt (R280) from Truworths.
Model: Emma from Boss Models. Make-up and hair: Jade from Supernova. Ladder from Peter Osborn Furniture.
st yling CARIN SMITH photos ED O RILEY
under the trees
It s time to head outdoors and embrace the warmer weather. Make our beautiful picnic blanket and placemats, tart up your gumboots and you are ready to go!
1 Use the template and work all the by ELIZABE TH FESTER
You will need â&#x20AC;˘ to embroider, use remnants of Vinnis Colours Cotton DK in the following colours: Willow Green (593), Blue Bell (533), Peach (558), and Ruby Grapefruit (542) â&#x20AC;˘ sharp embroidery needle (medium size) â&#x20AC;˘ ďŹ&#x201A;ower template (below) â&#x20AC;˘ dressmaker s pen
stitching in small, neat running stitch. Draw scallops at the top of the gumboots and embroider using the Blue Bell cotton. 2 Copy the ďŹ&#x201A;ower motif in the desired size, cut out and trace onto the sides of the boots. Work the outline with Ruby Grapefruit and the centre with Peach. 3 Trace the leaves and embroider with Willow Green. 4 Work all ends away at the back as you ďŹ nish each motif.
To make Do not trace all the patterns at once as it may leave marks on your gumboots. Trace as you go.
by KEVIN SWARTS
You will need (per placemat) â&#x20AC;˘ one 30 x 45cm piece of fabric A for the upper panel â&#x20AC;˘ one 30 x 45cm piece of fuseable batting â&#x20AC;˘ one 18 x 45cm piece of fabric A for the pocket â&#x20AC;˘ one 45 x 4cm length of bias binding (fabric B) â&#x20AC;˘ one 39 x 54cm piece of fabric B for the bottom â&#x20AC;˘ one 55 x 4cm-wide strip of fabric A for the tie â&#x20AC;˘ matching coloured thread
To make
Boots (R201) from Agrimark. Plates (R39,95), tray (R275), napkins (R120) and tumblers (R35) from Woolworths. Jug (R89,99) and cutlery (R149,99) from Mr Price Home. Buyer s guide on page 125.
All seam allowances are 1,5cm. 1 Iron the batting onto the wrong side of the 30 x 45cm upper panel. 2 Use the fabric for the bias binding to sew a 1cm-wide binding over one of the long edges of the 18 x 45cm pocket piece. 3 Press all four seam allowances of the 39 x 54cm bottom piece to the wrong side. Press a second fold along all four sides of the piece, to form 3cm-wide ďŹ&#x201A;aps. Pin the upper panel in the centre of
by LYNN PYPER
Abbreviations ch dc rep rnd sl st sp(s) st(s) tog tr
chain stitch double crochet repeat round slip stitch space(s) stitch(es) together treble
You will need â&#x20AC;˘ 10 x 50g balls of Elle Premier Natural Cotton 4-ply in Leaf shade no. 061 or colour choice to match fabric â&#x20AC;˘ 3,5mm crochet hook â&#x20AC;˘ tapestry needle and pins â&#x20AC;˘ batting â&#x20AC;˘ 100% cotton fabric in selection â&#x20AC;˘ of patterns (24 pieces each â&#x20AC;˘ 22 x 22cm) â&#x20AC;˘ 180 x 120cm piece of matching cotton fabric for backing â&#x20AC;˘ matching cotton thread
To make the bottom piece, wrong sides together, using the crease lines of the ďŹ&#x201A;aps as placement guides. Pin the pocket piece on top of the upper panel. 4 Measuring from the left-hand side of the pocket, mark a line 8cm in and parallel to the edge. Mark a second and third line, 5cm apart, and a fourth line 12cm from the previous line. Sew along these lines through all layers of fabric, to form the pockets for the cutlery. 5 Fold the top and bottom ďŹ&#x201A;aps of the bottom piece over to cover the edges of the upper panel. Pin the ďŹ&#x201A;aps down and sew in place.
Next, fold the corners of the side ďŹ&#x201A;aps over diagonally and press. Cut the excess fabric from the corners of the ďŹ&#x201A;aps. Fold the side ďŹ&#x201A;aps over to cover the edges of the upper panel. Pin and sew in place, starting in one corner, then down the inner edge of the ďŹ&#x201A;ap and ďŹ nally the remaining corner. 6 To make the tie, press the two long edges of the 55 x 4cm strip to meet in the centre. Fold the strip over along the centre line and sew the open edge with top stitching. Sew the centre of the tie to the middle of the right-hand edge of the placemat.
FABRIC BLOCKS 1 Cut 24 blocks each 22 x 22cm from the cotton prints. 2 Fold a 1,5cm seam allowance around all edges of the blocks and press â&#x20AC;&#x2019; the blocks should now measure 19 x 19cm. 3 Using the 4-ply Premier cotton yarn, sew a row of running stitches, 1cm long, along the outer edge of the block. Then sew a second row between the spaces of the ďŹ rst row. This forms the basis for the crochet. (Blanket stitches can also be worked although the above method is much neater.)
Start every row with the correct number of ch sts to form the ďŹ rst st of the row: 1 ch â&#x20AC;&#x2019; 1 dc 3 ch â&#x20AC;&#x2019; 1 tr 1st rnd: with Premier Natural Cotton start at the ďŹ rst running stitch next to the corner, 2 tr in each st on sides. In corner 1 ch between last and ďŹ rst tr of sides to form corner, sl st in ďŹ rst st (152 sts). 2nd rnd: sl st in next st, * 2 tr, 1 ch, skip 1 st, rep from * on sides. In 1 ch corners 2 tr, 1 ch and 2 tr, end with sl st in ďŹ rst st (112 tr). 3rd rnd: sl st in next st, * 2 tr in 1 ch sp, skip 2 sts, rep from * on sides. In 1 ch corners 2 tr, 1 ch and 2 tr, end with 1 ch, sl st in ďŹ rst st (120 tr). Fasten oďŹ&#x20AC;. Rep for all 24 blocks.
2 3
4 5
6
7
To join blocks together 1 Place blocks wrong sides facing
into 6 rows of 4 blocks. Starting
at the corner, sl st through both loops on the outer edge (this forms a neat ridge). Repeat sl st through both loops on outer edge until all 6 rows are completed and form strips. Darn in all loose ends. Place the blanket front on a ďŹ&#x201A;at surface and stretch. Measure the ďŹ nished size and cut the fabric for the backing to size, adding 2,5cm allowance on all four sides. Fold, press and stitch the hems. Cut batting 2cm smaller than ďŹ nished size of backing. Attach the batting to the backing fabric with tacking stitches or machine stitching. Place the blanket front on the batting (right side facing upwards with batting sandwiched in between layers) and tack in place. Attach front to back using small stitches around the edge. Ensure the crochet hook can go through last row of crochet for outer edge.
Outer edge 1st rnd: attach yarn to outer edge, work 1 dc in each st and 1 dc in each 1 ch sp around edges. In 1 ch corners 1 dc, 1 ch and 1 dc, ending with sl st in ďŹ rst dc. 2nd rnd: sl st to 3rd st on left side of corner, 1 tr, crochet then 1 tr on righthand side of previous tr, (forms cross), slip 1 st and do next cross, rep on sides. In corners crochet ďŹ rst tr in 1 ch sp and second tr in st before 1 ch corner, 1 ch, next cross, crochet ďŹ rst tr in st after 1 ch sp and second tr in 1ch sp, ending with sl st in ďŹ rst tr. 3rd rnd: 1 dc in each sp between 2 crosses, 1 ch, rep on all four sides. In corner 2 dc, 1 ch and 2 dc, ending with sl st in ďŹ rst dc. 4th rnd: 2 tr tog in each 1 ch sp, 1 ch. In corner 2 tr tog, 1 ch, 2 tr tog, ending with sl st in ďŹ rst tr. 5th rnd: sl st through both loops on outer edge to form ridge. Fasten oďŹ&#x20AC;. Darn in all loose ends.
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To crochet
Lifestyle Dala Watts looks at what s new and interesting in the shops. ts med ia24 .com dwa t ts@ DO YOU KNOW OF A LOVELY NEW SHOP OR BEAUTIFUL DĂ&#x2030;COR OR CRAFT RANGE THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? IF SO, EMAIL US AND WE WILL CONSIDER FEATURING IT ON THIS PAGE.
LUXURY LUX RETAIL THERAPY Re-ďŹ ned.com Re-ďŹ ne is a cyber mall that provides local and international exposure for some top names in South African design, like Mican, Anna Moss and Hellooow Handmade. Here you can browse eďŹ&#x20AC;ortlessly through the loveliest clothes, gifts, and dĂŠcor for inside and outdoors, all under one roof . Go to re-ďŹ ned.com for more ore information.
These lovely stationery items are from the online shop Macaroon. They are designed by illustrator Tracy Paul, who is known for her whimsical creatures. Go to macaroon.co to see the full range, or email your inquiry to taryn@macaroon.co.za
FOR YOUR HOUSE E
Inspiring words are to be found everywhere these days, from walls and ďŹ&#x201A;oors to cushions and stationery. Mr Price Home helps you to bring the words into your home with these colourful cushions (from R199) and notebooks (from R9,99).
The Scandinavians are at the forefront when it comes to dĂŠcor, and now with the gorgeous products from the new online store Simply House we can share in their good taste. Go to www.simplyhouse.co.za for a wide range of throws, cushions and other dĂŠcor accessories.
Photos on your phone Many of us are already hooked on Instagram and now there is also Prinstagram! This is a creative printing business that takes your photos from Instagram and other social networks and prints them on anything from canvas to posters and cellphone covers. Go to the website prinstagram.co.za to see everything that you can have printed. This cellphone cover costs R249.
PHOTOS: ED O RILEY AND SUPPLIED
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Take a seat Give an old kitchen or dining-room chair some attitude with a layer of paint and a piece of fabric or scrap paper. by MARLENE KRUGER from FANCY THAT! st yling CARIN SMITH photos ED O RILEY
t
Chair with chequered seat You will need • old kitchen chair • pretty fabric • universal undercoat (optional; see step 2) • paint in two colours of your choice • suitable sealant • modge podge • brushes • masking tape • fine sandpaper • sharp scissors
To make 1 Sand the backrest and seat of the
chair and wipe away the dust. 2 Paint the seat with the universal undercoat if necessary (the decorative paint we used did not require an undercoat) and leave to dry overnight. 3 For the chequered pattern, paint the whole seat with the first colour ‒ use your lightest colour first. Leave to dry then apply another coat. Leave to dry again then measure your seat to work out how big the checks must be. First mark the horizontal lines with masking tape and trace them in with pencil before doing the same with the vertical lines. Paint the chequered pattern with your second paint colour. TIP Use masking tape in the width that you want the checks to be ‒ this makes it much easier.
4 When the paint is completely
dry, carefully pull off the masking tape and neaten the edges, if necessary. Seal the paint with a suitable product.
5 Now cut your fabric slightly larger
than the backrest. Thin a little modge podge with water ‒ this is so that you will be able to shift the fabric into place if you position it incorrectly ‒ and paint a layer over the backrest. Put the fabric in position on the backrest and smooth it down with your fingers. Seal it with a layer or two of modge podge, leaving it to dry completely in between layers. When it is dry, trim the edges of the fabric neatly in line with the edges of the backrest. TIP You can also use pretty paper for the backrest, but then don t thin your modge podge with water when you decoupage it to the backrest. Paint: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Duck Egg Blue and Barcelona Orange (anniesloan.com). Seal it with Annie Sloan Clear Wax. Fancy That!: Call 082 879 5083 or go to fancythat.wozaonline.co.za.
Chair with spindle back Use an old wooden chair with a nice backrest for this idea. Paint the whole chair with a suitable undercoat if necessary, leave to dry overnight and then paint in the colour of your choice. We used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, which doesn t require an undercoat, in Old Ochre. Paint on more detail with a different colour paint, if you prefer. We used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Henrietta. Seal it with a suitable product. Now look for different pieces of paper that match well with your colour scheme ‒ you can use wallpaper, giftwrap or scrapbooking paper ‒ and decide how you want to use it. Cut the
you want to use it on and stick it on with modge podge. Seal it with another coat or two of modge podge and trim the edges neatly with a sharp craft knife when it is dry.
Chair with stencilled backrest We used an old kitchen chair again and our leftover paint for this idea. Paint the backrest one colour and then use our stencil below, or your own one, to paint on pretty detail in another colour. We used a dry roller to apply the paint very softly and then completed the detail in another colour using a thin paint brush. The design is finished off with a little gold powder, which is also repeated on Seal the the edges of the backrest. bac product. If backrest with a suitable suita reupholster the seat you want to reuphol unscrew it, cover it section as we did, un fabric and staple the with upholstery fabr using a staple gun. fabric to the back usi Screw the seat in place pla again and you now have a pretty pret new chair!
The owners of our wedding venue, Sean and Hilary Brito, were so accommodating and had so much patience with my endless questions. I fell in love with the space because it was a blank canvas that I could do so much with. The raw walls and wooden beams had the perfect rustic feel I was looking for, but at the same time, it s so classy. We hung the 60 white, grey and yellow pompoms that Mom and I spent a Sunday afternoon making from the beams. My gran crocheted matching squares for the bunting that looked so beautiful against the raw brick wall. I also made pinwheels out of magazine paper and used them to spell out the word LOVE on a plain white wall. What a great eďŹ&#x20AC;ect it had!
My bouquet was made from artiďŹ cial hydrangeas with plastic crystal ďŹ&#x201A;owers in between.
Jessica Harris from Port Elizabeth has a passion for design and crafting, and used her creative talents and attention to detail to make her and Shane s wedding day a special celebration. VENUE: THE GRANARY (GRANARY.CO.ZA) PHOTOS: CHANTELLE KENDRICK PHOTOGRAPHY (FACEBOOK.COM/ CHANTELLEKENDRICKPHOTOGRAPHY) DRESS: BLUSHING BRIDE DESIGNS (BLUSHINGBRIDE.CO.ZA) JESSICA: HEARTFELT DESIGNS (FACEBOOK. COM/HEARTFELTBAKESANDDESIGNS)
Our table centrepieces were cherry blossom trees arranged in tall vases that we ďŹ lled with stones spray-painted yellow. I spent an afternoon with friends picking up as many fallen bluegum twigs as I could ďŹ nd. I then glued little pieces of tissue paper onto the twigs to look like cherry trees in bloom. The only expense was the tissue paper and a bit of spray paint (it cost just R150 to make all the trees ). Instead of using fresh ďŹ&#x201A;owers, I learnt how to make paper ďŹ&#x201A;owers and made all my bridesmaids bouquets as well as the buttonholes for Shane and his groomsmen. Each bouquet was personalised with the bridesmaid s initial. My daughter Holly walked me down the aisle and carried a bouquet made from little ďŹ&#x201A;owers that my gran crocheted. I worked a button into the centre of each ďŹ&#x201A;ower and added wire stems that I wrapped in pearl beads. The bouquets are everlasting and the cost was minimal as most of them were made from magazine paper plus a bit of wire and ribbon that I had around the house. I recycled a lot â&#x20AC;&#x2019; old buttons, magazines, tin cans, and so on. The yellow, white and grey colour scheme that we chose was so fresh and pretty, and photographed beautifully.
I made paper roses for the men s buttonholes and we asked a local signage company to make the quirky badges for Shane and his groomsmen.
I made these cute ďŹ&#x201A;ags (above) for each of the ďŹ&#x201A;ower girls. For my hair accessory (top right), I bought the decoration and used my glue gun to glue it onto a comb. The cupcakes (middle) were decorated with sugar buttons. The placemats (right), which I designed on my computer and had printed, were biodegradable. I have a thing for hearts, so I had to incorporate them into the wedding. I sewed 100 felt heart brooches, one for each of our guests, and popped them in little packets sealed with a label that read: Wear your heart on your sleeve .
For a bit of fun and something a little diďŹ&#x20AC;erent, we gave each guest a glow-stick wrist band with the tag Let Love Glow . Our guest book was a picture of a tree â&#x20AC;&#x2019; the guests each signed next to their own green thumbprint leaf. It was a hit; it can be downloaded free from weddingchicks.com.
Cake pops (left) doubled as place cards as well as wedding favours. We loved our cake! Not only was it beautiful and different, but it tasted delicious too. I had seen a picture of something similar a while back and my ever-so-talented cousins from Cape Town made it come to life. The wording on the cake really captures what Shane and I stand for.
Our candy buffet, with all the treats prettily labelled. I printed Love is sweet, please take a treat with a laser printer onto little packets for the guests to fill with sweets.
E Karen Marx and Beréna Malherbe
very little girl dreams of having the perfect wedding when she grows up: a fairy-tale confection of a gown, her very own Prince Charming waiting expectantly at the altar, and the promise of a life filled with love, laughter and happiness. And while they can t guarantee Prince Charming won t turn into a frog in the long run, Beréna Malherbe and Karen Marx, joint owners of Mint & Magnolia wedding and function planners, have the skills and the passion to make those dreams come true. Mint & Magnolia s stock in trade is décor and flowers for all sorts of special occasions and their mission is to ensure that their clients get to enjoy their big day ‒ whatever that occasion may be ‒ without experiencing as much as a moment of stress. Our job, says Beréna, is to make sure everything runs smoothly for our clients so they get to truly enjoy their event. Sometimes this can be difficult to accomplish and there may be crises behind the scenes but we work very hard to keep stress, hitches and any potential problems away from the client, she says. Making things look beautiful, and loving what we do, keeps us motivated. Beréna and Karen offer a multifaceted service and their expertise extends to designing and planning
One
A deep love of décor and flowers drives these passionate event planners.
perfectday by TRACY GREENWOOD st yling DAL A WAT TS photos ED O RILEY
all sorts of celebrations â&#x20AC;&#x2019; from birthdays, kitchen teas and engagement parties to stork parties, anniversaries and, of course, weddings. Any event that celebrates life and love, they say, gets their thumbs up. They have an abundance of creative inspiration, thanks in no small measure to the pristine rural environment that forms their operations base. Situated in the Klein Drakenstein wine region close to Paarl, Karen and BerĂŠna work far from the hustle, bustle and distractions of city life. In fact, their only interruptions come in the form of the barking dog and inquisitive chickens that share their space. But this does not mean their business is limited to their immediate environment. Mint & Magnolia has run events as far from home as Sandton, where they managed a three-day conference. Our work takes us all over the Western Cape and if we need to sleep over because the destination is too far from home to make it a day trip, we are happy to do so, says BerĂŠna. When we did the Sandton conference we had no option but to stay over in Gauteng. It was crazy. We went to bed at 3am and started working again at 7am to make sure things went smoothly. It was incredibly challenging, but so rewarding! This enthusiastic duo has been at the helm of Mint & Magnolia for the past four years. BerĂŠna had worked with the previous owner and, when he retired, she and Karen bought the business as a 50/50 partnership using funds they had inherited from their mothers. We were both lucky to have supportive husbands to back us ďŹ nancially and otherwise when we took over the business, says BerĂŠna. For the ďŹ rst two or three months we made no money at all. BerĂŠna and Karen s personal lives are as full and satisfying as
SURVIVAL TACTICS MAKING IT AS AN ENTREPRENEUR REQUIRES DETERMINATION, CLIENT FOCUS AND SELF-KNOWLEDGE, SAY BERĂ&#x2030;NA AND KAREN. HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR GUIDELINES:
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BE PASSIONATE. You cannot run a business if you don t know yourself well or if you don t have passion for what you do. Along with passion comes a determination to make your business work. CONFRONT YOUR WEAKNESSES. Don t be fooled into thinking you know everything. Confront your weaknesses and source the right people who have the skills you lack. We know nothing about bookkeeping so we appointed a bookkeeper to handle this side of things. USE COMMON SENSE. Using money you don t have is fatal in business and in your personal life. We may not be natural bookkeepers but we do know how much we have in the bank. We always pay our employees salaries, our rent, our suppliers and SARS on time. BE NICE. You may not have the same style as a client but you should always make them feel good about their ideas. Never look down on anyone because a satisďŹ ed, respected client may lead to more business down the line. GUARD YOUR PRIVACY. You can t be on call all the time. Your family deserves to know that they are the most important people in your life. And you need time to yourself too. Try going to the movies alone or sitting quietly reading a book. SPEND WISELY. We have chosen not to spend huge amounts of money on advertising and marketing. Instead we let word-of-mouth advertising do the job for us. And it s worked! We are also featured on the websites of some of the photographers who operate in our space.
â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘
their business is. Karen â&#x20AC;&#x2019; who is married and has two children in their late teens â&#x20AC;&#x2019; used to be a teacher and BerĂŠna, a farmer s wife and mother of four grown-up children, was a nurse. We were raised in homes where there was an abundance of creativity, says BerĂŠna. Karen is from Piet Retief in Mpumalanga where her mom was a music teacher and a keen gardener. I grew up on a farm in Moorreesburg and learnt a great deal from my mother, who was also a talented gardener and a caterer of note. My mother taught me to use what little you have on hand to create beautiful things. The nature of their industry means that BerĂŠna and Karen work odd and often extremely long hours: We consult with
most of our brides after hours and weddings generally take place over the weekends, so we work on Saturdays and Sundays too, explains BerĂŠna. Summer is our high season, and we often miss out on family weekends away. Despite the challenges, both women say they wouldn t exchange their work for the world. Anybody who wants to go into a similar business should be aware of the commitment needed, says BerĂŠna. You work at night, over weekends and during the holiday season; and you need special people in your life who will give you the space required to grow your business. Contact Mint & Magnolia via www.mintandmagnolia.co.za or email: info@mintandmagnolia.co.za
GREEN SEASON Choosing ďŹ&#x201A;owers that are in season will save you money as they are readily accessible. Use this guide, courtesy of Mint & Magnolia, to make your selection:
SPRING (SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER) Amaryllis, artichoke, brunia, carnation, celosia, Casablanca lily, chincherinchee, chrysanthemum, delphinium, erica, freesia, godetia, gerbera, gladiolus, hypericum, lace, lavender, larkspur, limonium, lisianthus, pincushion, peony, poppy, phlox, protea, ranunculus, rose, snapdragon, sunďŹ&#x201A;ower, stock, sweet pea, snowball, strelitzia, tuberose, tulip, veronica.
SUMMER (DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY) Asclepia, alstromeria, brunia, carnation, Casablanca lily, crocosmia, chrysanthemum, gerbera, godetia, hydrangea, hypericum, larkspur, liatris, lisianthus, lace, phlox, protea, rose, snapdragon, trachelium, tuberose, tulip, veronica. AUTUMN (MARCH, APRIL, MAY) Alstromeria, carnation, celosia, Casablanca lily, chincherinchee, chrysanthemum, gerbera, hypericum, lace, liatris, limonium, nerina, protea, rose, snapdragon, sweet William, tuberose, tulip, veronica. WINTER (JUNE, JULY, AUGUST) Blushing bride, carnation, lily, cymbidium, cabbage, chrysanthemum, delphinium, hypericum, iris, Irish bells, limonium, larkspur, ranunculus, stock, tuberose, tulip, lace.
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Fun was had by all at this year s Ideas Trunk Show. photos ED O RILEY
The second annual Ideas Trunk Show was held at Simondium Country Lodge near Franschhoek from 12-13 July 2014 and yet again it was a great success. Ideas team members and some of the creative entrepreneurs whose work has been featured in the magazine ďŹ lled the rooms with gorgeous niche dĂŠcor items and hard-to-ďŹ nd craft products. About 3 000 craft and dĂŠcor enthusiasts saw the magazine brought to life and rushed to buy the one-of-a-kind makes that were featured in previous issues. They met the Ideas team and the entrepreneurs, enjoyed a glass or two of Graham Beck and savoured the delicious food on oďŹ&#x20AC;er. Many exhibitors sold out of their stock, proving once again that people love authentic, once-oďŹ&#x20AC; products. If you missed the Ideas Trunk Show this year, don t worry because we ll be doing it all again next year!
Exhibitors at the 2014 Trunk Show A Love Supreme facebook.com/aLoveSupremeCreative Annapatat www.annapatat.someammo.com Annie Sloan Chalk Paint anniesloansa.co.za Bake Me Happy facebook.com/bakemehappysa BiscuitScout www.etsy.com/shop/BiscuitScout Boerevintage facebook.com/boerevintage Bokke & Blomme www.bokkeandblomme.co.za Cotton Candi www.cottoncandi.co.za Create Studio www.createstudio.co.za Doeksisters www.doeksisters.com Domaine du Cap www.domaineducap.co.za Graham Beck www.grahambeckwines.com Handmade by Me www.handmadebyme.co.za I Love This & That www.ilovethisandthat.com In Good Company www.ingoodcompany.co.za Kruizement www.kruizement.co.za Light-Hearted aletia@lucasvisser.com M.studio www.ilovemstudio.com Met Liefde facebook.com/metliefdewinkel Mexican Nacho firas.saleh79@gmail.com Milda Deale mildadeale@gmail.com Mitat www.mitat.co.za Peg & Thread www.pegandthread.co.za Plan B Vintage www.planbphotography.co.za Purechild facebook.com/pages/Purechild/ 482931725144468 Safari Snacks www.pioneerfoods.co.za Sammy Shepard Art www.sammysheppard.com Soft Spot facebook.com/SoftSpotBaby Tamarillo Ceramic & Design www.tamarillodesigns.co.za .co.za Things facebook.com/Things007 Truth Coffee www.truthcoffee.com Vintage Collectables jlandsl@tiscali.co.za Vintage@Heart www.tania-wildheart.blogspot.com/ m/ Wilde at Heart facebook.com/alwayswildeatheart
Perfect
Too light
Too dark
Ideas photographer Ed O Riley explains why learning how to take good photos of an egg will help you to take better shots all around, including if you have your own business, or need PR shots, or pack shots for your web shop.
Y
ou may be wondering why on earth we are teaching you to photograph an egg! Well, the simple answer is that shooting an egg will help you to hone your eye for good lighting and teach you to pay attention to shadows, form and shape. Once you have practised photographing an egg in different ways, taking photos of most other things, including of products and people, should become quite a lot simpler. Let s start with creating a place to shoot. The right lighting is crucial. Try to find an area of your house or office where bright light shines through the window at the time of day that you want to shoot. Cover the whole window with a white, unpatterned bed sheet or piece of fabric. Next, move a table close to the window so the light falls on it. At this point the light should be soft and pretty and should fall uniformly over the table. If your window has burglar bars, adjust the position of the table until you have a shadow-free area on the table on which to place your egg. You now need two sheets of white cardboard; the kind of cardboard used for school projects will work perfectly. Position one piece of cardboard on the table so that it curves up on the one side and so that the light falls across the whole board. Once you are happy with your set-up, place the egg in the centre of the cardboard. Look at the egg: you should see a shadow on
the side that is furthest from the window. This is where the other sheet of white cardboard comes into play; place it next to the egg, on the side where the shadow is, to bounce light into the shadow. The light reflecting off the cardboard will be very soft so it will not take all the shadow away but will soften the shadow, giving the egg a three-dimensional look and stopping it from looking flat .
USING A TRIPOD Now that we have set up a place to shoot, let s talk about using a tripod. This is always a good idea as it holds your camera very steady, ensuring that your images are sharp and that they look professional. Using a tripod will also give you time to compose your shot ‒ you can move and adjust the egg to the correct position while keeping your camera in exactly the same position. In short, when using a tripod you only need to move one thing at a time, either the camera or the egg. You can use your tripod to experiment with taking shots at different angles. Try shooting at a straight angle, at a threequarter angle, otherwise known as looking down , or straight from above. When experimenting with different angles, remember to take note of the differences in shape and light. Next, let s discuss camera settings. This is the part that is the most difficult to explain
as there are so many types, makes and models of cameras and lenses. To simplify, start by switching off the flash on your camera and, if possible, set your camera to its manual settings and focus. My guidelines for settings for your camera on an averagely sunny day are: an ISO of 200, an f-stop/aperture of F16 and a shutter speed of 1/10th of a second. If you find this too dark, shoot at a slower shutter speed. Or, if this is too light, shoot at a faster shutter speed.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Now it is time to play with your camera; make sure there is space around the egg and that the focus is on the egg and not on the background. You want to have the egg completely in focus as, in this case, the background is irrelevant. Pay attention to highlights and shadows and see if you can capture the grain on the egg and its imperfections. Once you have successfully shot your egg and transferred the photos to your computer, be sure to keep your image at a minimum of 300dpi (dots per inch) as this will ensure that the image is of a good enough quality to print, or to email to clients or friends. Most importantly, have fun and practise, practise, practise!
Sign up at www.digital-photographyschool.com for tips and information about taking better photos.
by DOMINIQUE SWIEGERS
LET S
FOCUS
Whether you call it single tasking, mindful living or just focused attention, doing one thing at a time is simply better.
ILLUSTRATION: GALLO IMAGES/GETTYIMAGES.COM
A
t some point, multitasking had a certain charm. We all secretly wanted to be good at it. But we ve come to realise it has an ugly side. . . many, in fact. And while focusing on one specific task at a time sounds as lovely as it does ludicrous in the year 2014, there are plenty of reasons why we should all give it a try. It s early morning. You hastily head towards the laundry basket. But because your mind s as busy as a supermarket on payday, without realising, you take a detour to the dustbin. You step on the pedal and in goes your dirty T-shirt, landing softly on last night s leftover coleslaw. Sound familiar? Or perhaps you accidentally styled your hair with what you should rather have used to get rid of your winter-leg stubble. Maybe you were preparing lunch and inadvertently replaced the mayo part of your chicken mayo sandwich with something a lot less tasty. Chances are, you were probably doing these things while simultaneously brushing your teeth with a toothbrush that not only brushes but vibrates too, hair still wet from the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner you used in the shower. Whatever
comparable scenario you ve found yourself in as a result of multitasking (and using multitasking products on top of it), the outcome might be comical, but when it comes to productivity, multitasking can be catastrophic. In an online talk show, Good Mythical Morning, hosts Rhett and Link discuss the social inadequacy our society is causing in young people. By creating more and more digital devices we re fuelling tweens (kids between the ages of 10 and 12) addiction to multitasking. The moment these devices aren t at hand and the youngsters are forced into having a conversation with a stranger, they turn into shoe gazers , a phenomenon that can be ascribed to a lack of social skills development. But we know multitasking is not just bad for tweens; it s bad for all of us ‒ even for women, who like to see it as giving them the upper hand over their counterparts from Mars. In fact, it s about as detrimental to our efficiency as a box of chocolates is to a diabetic s health. We ve heard it over and over. Single tasking, where you focus on one thing at a time, is the way forward. To be honest, when I was doing research for this
article, I more than once rolled my eyes at the fact that everyone, from professors to bloggers, kept saying the same things: don t open multiple tabs at the same time, watch out for being overconnected, switch to silent during quality time with friends and family, steer clear of the compulsion to frantically check your social-media notifications. Tell me something new! , I wanted to shout. But here s the catch. I was turning up my nose while jumping between several articles on my laptop, taking bites of the dinner on my plate and occasionally checking my WhatsApp. Hypocrite , I believe, is the term we re looking for. I realised that the reason most people sound like broken records when discussing multitasking is that we re simply not listening. Sure, a portion of the population pretend to prick up their ears when multitasking is the subject matter, but very few of us actually make any changes in our lives. The proof? Just look around you. So this made me think. Maybe we feel like we re being preached at and that s what s hindering our return to the good old one thing at a time approach. It could be that we feel like toddlers who
Treat your ears to the perfect dose of inspiration, not interruption.
are being scolded for merely following the modern ways of the world we live in. If so, is that what s making most of us rebel against single tasking? Or does this all sound like mumbo jumbo, and FOMO (fear of missing out) is the real reason behind our inability to stop using an assortment of digital devices all at once? Most of us feel faint at the thought of not having Wi-Fi or cellphone reception. As a result, we view living a simplified, and ironically more streamlined life as something that is reserved for people who live in the remote countryside, or hippies. Good for them, but not for you. Learning how to stop doing too many things at once will take time. Our multitasking ways are deeprooted. However, we can start by taking baby steps. Here are four fun ways to start putting an end to your multitasking problem. Let s call it the M method.
1
Minimalism
American author Henry David Thoreau, who died in 1862, said: We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without. In all fairness, Henry
never experienced the joys of looking for new sideburn styles on Pinterest. Nor did he have the luxury of tweeting or Instagramming a picture of the absinthe he shared with his literary friends on a Friday night. So it was easy for him to say. Nevertheless, there s still truth in his words. If your desk looks anything like mine ‒ pens without caps and cups without caffeine ‒ let s hold hands in a circle and admit out loud: We have a desk problem . Clutter means distraction, which can make you lose your train of thought. More importantly, it ll steal your attention away from the single tasks on your to-do list. An organised workspace needn t be a boring one. If you have the luxury of customising your space, try combining vintage elements with some modern ones. Keep it simple, yet striking, and you and your brain will soon develop a dislike for scattered stationery that isn t tucked away in a drawer. When Cape Town interior designer Nic Tamlin (go to nictamlin.com to see his work) moved office recently, he decided to design his workspace a little differently. He realised that he could probably do without everything he hadn t used in the past year. He started working on clever ways to store things like samples, drawings and files, and to showcase his craft at the same time, proving that one can be creative and organised at the same time. But even with a minimalist workspace in place, he found that his mental workspace was cluttered . So he took
uncluttering one step further and now uses both music and an app called Todoist to assist him.
2
Music
Ever wondered whether listening to a song while working counts as multitasking? It depends. The answer can be no, but only if music is applied in the right way. In an article entitled Is background music a boost or a bummer? published in Psychology Today, Professor Joanne Cantor writes about how studies have shown that upbeat music, introduced at intervals, heightens the efficiency and precision of assembly line workers. On the other hand, our ability to perform cognitive tasks improves with some monotonous, Zen-type background music. Coffitivity.com is a great initiative. The site s creators recorded the ambient sounds in a coffee shop, allowing you to download a coffee-shop soundtrack to listen to while you work, wherever you might be. They explain: Research shows, it s pretty hard to be creative in a quiet space. And a loud workplace can be frustrating and distracting. But, the mix of calm and commotion in an environment like a coffee house is proven to be just what you need to get those creative juices flowing. Go to their website to read the research and treat your ears to the perfect dose of inspiration, not interruption.
3
Munchies
Okay, so you ve settled into your newly organised and spiďŹ&#x20AC;y space. Your headphones are humming with tunes that help you tune in. Now what? The good news is that you can start nibbling. Certain munchies can help you concentrate. Dark chocolate, for instance, contains a natural stimulant akin to caďŹ&#x20AC;eine. The friendly fat in avocado will improve your ability to focus. And you can t go wrong with blueberries or breakfast, because both will boost your memory. These foods will do their bit, as long as you don t have a huge meal at the oďŹ&#x192;ce (because we all know the naptime feeling that will follow straight afterwards).
4
Meditation
Don t worry, I m not suggesting hours of quietness and deep breathing. However, we try to get through so many things in one day that we sometimes forget to take a break every now and then. Zen teacher and author Steve Hagen says: If you can get past the resistance to meditation, nothing else in life will be an obstacle. By resistance he means that edgy feeling you get when you let your brain quieten down for a few minutes. If you are open to meditating, for example before work, but ďŹ nd the silence drives you a little insane at ďŹ rst, remember that it s doing plenty of good for your productivity and creativity. Like any addiction, there s no quick ďŹ x for multitasking. We can t just disconnect in a jiďŹ&#x20AC;y. But we can try. And there are many ways to do so, ways that should make things a whole lot clearer and you feel a whole lot calmer. Only then will you realise that doing one thing at a time adds up to a very productive day. So stop and smell that rose, even if it is in the rooftop garden at the oďŹ&#x192;ce.
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WIN!
Write to Ideas/You said it, Box 1802, Cape Town 8000, fax 021 408 3046, or email us at ideased@media24. com. Remember to include your address and telephone number. The writer of this month s winning letter will receive a CaďŹ&#x20AC;ĂŠluxe Verona Espresso capsule machine with a CaďŹ&#x20AC;ĂŠluxe CoďŹ&#x20AC;ee Capsule Holder and 50 capsules, worth R1 650. Sourced from leading coďŹ&#x20AC;ee-producing countries worldwide and roasted to perfection, CaďŹ&#x20AC;ĂŠluxe oďŹ&#x20AC;ers a quality and aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable Nespressocompatible alternative. Enjoy a perfect espresso in under a minute, with your CaďŹ&#x20AC;ĂŠluxe Verona machine. Available at all leading retailers, or online at www.caďŹ&#x20AC;eluxe.com. â&#x20AC;˘ CaďŹ&#x20AC;ĂŠluxe can be seen at the Cape Homemakers Expo, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, from 4-7 September 2014.
Although my roots are in a creative family â&#x20AC;&#x2019; a sister who is a photographer, a father who creates from wood and a mother who can sew, bake and upholster anything â&#x20AC;&#x2019; I fell far from the tree into a more academic world. Since books and lengthy essays are my more natural skill, I draw my creative streak from the ideas in your magazine. I ďŹ nd delight in following your recipes and the chocolate and black sesame pie in the July issue is at the top of my how yum is that list! It was such a hit with my oh-so-creative relatives that it now has a permanent place in my sweet-treats baking book. Thank you for the easy to follow creativity and the ďŹ&#x201A;air that it has. Ideas is chocolate pie for the soul. Lydia Bundred, Pretoria
BLANKET INSPIRATION I m taking the blanket I knitted and crocheted, inspired by the June edition of Ideas, to my daughter in England this month. I always buy two copies â&#x20AC;&#x2019; one for me, and one to send to my daughter. I don t read other magazines, but ďŹ nd myself prowling the aisles towards the end of each month, hunting for the new Ideas â&#x20AC;&#x2019; my monthly ďŹ x . Thank you all so much for such a fabulous publication. Sue ParďŹ tt, Pietermaritzburg
Creativity all around A while back I purchased the Wedding Ideas special issue, which helped me creatively in so many aspects for my November 2013 wedding. My focus has now changed to the Food & Entertaining section of your magazine. It s not that I m neglecting my DIY side, I m now also applying my creativity in the kitchen. Thank you for making my world more beautiful. Natasha Davids, Grassy Park
I just loved the embroidered family in your June 2014 issue. I embroider pictures drawn by our little darlings and make keepsake mini cushions. The ďŹ rst one I made is a drawing of Bart Simpson that my son Matthew did when he was ďŹ ve. Dianne Loom, by email
GOING GRAPHIC The July Graphics issue elicited an immediate: Yes! . Some time back I was inspired by options on my email system when adding photos into the text of an email. One can add a pin, a frame, picture corners or, my favourite, brushed edges . I used this idea to paint a rough frame directly onto my wall as the backdrop for a saucer and plate from our late mother s Noritake tea service. I have now carried the graphic idea further, copying your example, as a backdrop to other small projects already hanging on my walls. Paint is such a wonderful dĂŠcor option, as it can be changed at little cost. Thank you for the continuing high standard of your magazine. Corinne Winson, Warner Beach
LETTERS MUST BE ORIGINAL AND MUST NOT HAVE BEEN OFFERED FOR PUBLICATION ELSEWHERE. â&#x20AC;˘ WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, SHORTEN AND EDIT LETTERS â&#x20AC;˘ WE WELCOME YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND WILL CONSIDER PUBLISHING THEM IF THEY ARE OF A SUITABLE QUALITY.
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I decided not to spend money on a venue for my daughter s birthday party this year and instead converted her bedroom into a sweet shop for the day. It was a roaring success. The adults sat in the lounge, while the kids enjoyed ďŹ lling their party bags with sweets (so they packed their own party packs). They also used paper play money and chocolate coins to pay for their sweets. Chloe enjoyed helping me prepare for her party by ďŹ lling bottles with sweets and packing things neatly on a dressing table I converted by unscrewing the mirrors for the day.
PHOTOS OF SWEET-SHOP PARTY: CARLA SHANNON
Carla Turner, by email
IDEAS STATIONERY RANGE Our brand new stationery range has arrived! If you weren t able to buy yours at our Trunk Show, you can now order directly from us. 1 3 2
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1 Giftwrapping paper (R25 per sheet) 2 A5 notebooks (R40 each; R100 for 3) 3 Gift tags (R30 for 15 tags) 4 A4 notebooks (R70 each) 5 Postcards (R10 each) 6 Greeting cards (R35 each) 7 A5 wiro-bound notebooks with elastic band (R50 each) â&#x20AC;˘ C5 non-window envelopes (not pictured; R20 each)
Call Marweya on 021 408 3040 or email marweya. smal@media24.com if you wish to buy our stationery. NOTE The prices above exclude delivery costs.
compiled by CISKIA HANEKOM
From painting over a laminated wood ďŹ&#x201A;oor successfully to avoiding white circles under your eyes in photos, we have the answers.
DID YOU KNOW? Cucumbers are part of the melon family. Sow the seeds in September, October and November â&#x20AC;&#x2019; one to two plants will probably provide you with all the cucumbers you need. They re easy to grow, do well in containers and look pretty too. a trellis or wigwam. WHAT IS BATTING USED FOR IN UPHOLSTERY? Why does it look like I have white circles under my eyes in photos?
Your concealer is too light. Experiment with a darker shade or mix a little darker concealer with your usual one to get the perfect colour (take a photo of yourself with your phone to see what look works best).
Batting is made from cotton, wool or polyester, or a mixture of these, and comes in diďŹ&#x20AC;erent thicknesses. It is placed on top of the sponge to ensure that the upholstery fabric does not move or slip, and it also gives a softer ďŹ nish to the item. Remember that it is important to use good, thick sponge as this will aďŹ&#x20AC;ect the overall look of the upholstery.
PHOTO OF CUCUMBERS: THINKSTOCK â&#x20AC;˘ OTHER PHOTOS: ED O RILEY
It s best to train the vines up
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING BREAKFAST? recommend that a signiďŹ cant percentage of â&#x20AC;˘yourExperts daily food intake should come from breakfast. â&#x20AC;˘ Studies have shown that eating breakfast helps improve your memory, your concentration and aspects of your mental performance. Eating something in the morning can help improve your mood and make you feel less stressed. Going for long periods without eating can result in low blood sugar, which can aďŹ&#x20AC;ect mood. People who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight and more likely to be in their ideal weight range than those who skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast can make you more likely to reach for high-sugar or fatty snacksÍ&#x2DC;
â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘
Can I paint over a laminated wood ďŹ&#x201A;oor? Yes, as long as you prepare the surface correctly â&#x20AC;&#x2019; this will also ensure a longer lasting outcome. Remember that it will not last forever though. First test it on a small, out-of-the-way place before you tackle the whole ďŹ&#x201A;oor. Use an orbital sander and 180-grit sandpaper to ďŹ rst sand the ďŹ&#x201A;oor to remove the top shiny layer and to create a surface to which the paint will adhere. Clean away all the dirt and leave the ďŹ&#x201A;oor to dry. When you are ready, cover the skirting with masking tape and use a durable acrylic paint such as Plascon Wall & All and a sponge roller with an extension rod to paint. You can use a paintbrush for the edges. Apply two to three coats, leaving each coat to dry overnight before painting on the next. Seal with a sealant that is suitable for ďŹ&#x201A;oors.
Use toothpaste to clean the grout between the tiles in your kitchen and bathroom.
I am a complete beginner at embroidery and ďŹ nd I am left with small puncture marks in my linen afterwards. What am I doing wrong?
!
GOOD IDEA
Light ďŹ ttings and electric cords are available in an array of colours and designs nowadays, and there are many interesting ways to use them. Here s how to make your own standing lamp. by LIZEL CLOE TE assistant CISKIA HANEKOM photos ED O RILEY st yling CARIN SMITH
DOWEL LAMP (instructions on page 118) Cord covered with fabric (from R29,25 per metre) and modern light ďŹ ttings and accessories (from R15 each) from Flex and Co (ďŹ&#x201A;exandco.com or 079 598 1872). Available in assorted colours. Vases (from R70) from Quirky Me.
You will need Dowels: one 25mm in diameter; one 12mm in diameter â&#x20AC;˘ 32mm disc of meranti, 200mm in diameter â&#x20AC;˘ wood screw â&#x20AC;˘ electric cord, approximately 2m long (ours has a diameter of 6mm) â&#x20AC;˘ light ďŹ tting and accessories â&#x20AC;˘ light bulb â&#x20AC;˘ power drill with suitable wood drill bits â&#x20AC;˘ mitre box and woodsaw â&#x20AC;˘ wood glue â&#x20AC;˘ medium-grit sandpaper
Mark the position of the two holes for the cord at the top and bottom ends of the thicker dowel, as indicated on the diagram, then drill straight through the dowel using an 8mm drill bit. Mark the two points for the hole via which the thinner dowel must be pushed upwards through the thicker dowel, and draw a diagonal line across the side of the dowel to join the two points as marked. Drill a diagonal hole using a 12mm drill bit. Repeat to mark and drill two straight 8mm holes in the thinner of the dowels.
Select your drill bits according to the diameter of your dowels, and only slightly bigger than the cord you re using. In this case 25mm (a ďŹ&#x201A;at drill bit or a spade or paddle drill bit), 12mm and 8mm.
Use the diagram on the facing page as your guide to mark where the dowels should be cut. Use a mitre box to keep it straight, then saw oďŹ&#x20AC; the thicker of the two dowels at 70cm and the thinner one at 50cm.
Push the thinner dowel upwards through the thicker one, with the holes for the cord pointing upwards, and the bottom hole about 1cm away from the thicker dowel. Smear a drop of wood glue in the cavity to secure.
Smear a little more wood glue on the bottom end of the thicker dowel, and in the hole in the centre of the meranti disc. Insert the dowel. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any excess glue, then set aside and leave to dry.
Mark the centre of the meranti disc. Place the sharp end of the 25mm ďŹ&#x201A;at drill bit on this mark and drill the hole. Drill only until the sharp end protrudes from the disc on the other side, making only a tiny hole on its underside, because in step 7 the wood screw will be inserted here, from the bottom, to secure the thicker dowel.
BUYER S GUIDE ON PAGE 125
TOP FRONT 11cm
10cm
10cm 70cm: 25mm dowel
Screw the dowel in place, working from the bottom of the disc through the small hole. Make sure the hole is deep enough for the screw, otherwise the lamp won t stand level. Use medium-grit sandpaper to sand all the wood, then paint your lamp, if you prefer, but we left ours unpainted. Thread the cord through from the bottom, as indicated.
11cm
Mark diagonal lines for 12mm hole
TOP
5cm Drill 8mm hole
BACK
32mm
BOTTOM
FRONT
Wire the light ďŹ tting correctly, attach the switch to the cord, if you prefer, and the wall plug to the other end. Screw in the light bulb to complete.
BACK
TIP Work on an oďŹ&#x20AC;cut piece of wood when you drill.
4cm Drill 8mm hole
BASE 200mm Meranti disc
50cm: 12mm dowel 10cm Drill 8mm hole
8cm Drill 8mm hole
Melt the chocolate (we used Orley brand) in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Don t let any steam or water drop into the chocolate. Remove it from the heat and set aside.
Heat the glucose in the microwave until warm, not hot. Pour it all into the chocolate. Stir with a wooden spoon until it forms a ball and pulls away from the sides. Work quickly and don t over-mix.
Spoon the mixture into a small plastic bag or onto plastic wrap. Press it out thinly, close the bag and leave for 24 hours.
Make sure your hands are clean. Break oďŹ&#x20AC; a piece of what is now modelling chocolate and work it with your hands until soft and pliable. Don t allow it to warm up too much as the oils will separate. Roll a small ball into a cone.
Press the tapered-cone 5-star tool into the top of the chocolate cone to make a deep indentation.
Use the grooves that the 5-star tool makes to cut the top of the cone into ďŹ ve parts using the sharp-tipped scissors.
Press the ball tool into the centre to separate the ďŹ ve pieces slightly, then press gently on each part with the ball tool to ďŹ&#x201A;atten. Work in small movements to form a petal. Thin around the edges. Roll a small ball and press into centre. Break oďŹ&#x20AC; the bottom of the cone.
Use brown modelling chocolate to make branches. Roll small pieces, thinning them at the end. Stick onto the side of a cake covered with chocolate ganache. Add a dot of ganache to the bottom of the blossoms and stick them next to the branches.
CHOCOLATE BLOSSOMS You will need â&#x20AC;˘ 140g white baking chocolate, ďŹ nely chopped â&#x20AC;˘ 100g liquid glucose â&#x20AC;˘ tapered-cone 5-star tool â&#x20AC;˘ wooden spoon â&#x20AC;˘ sharp-tipped scissors â&#x20AC;˘ ball tool
TIPS â&#x20AC;˘ The ratio of chocolate to glucose varies depending on the fat content of the chocolate. â&#x20AC;˘ The quantity shouldn t be reduced as it will be diďŹ&#x192;cult to combine the chocolate and glucose properly. â&#x20AC;˘ Make milk chocolate modelling chocolate by using 120g chocolate and 100g glucose.
Beautiful
by TANI KIRSTEN photos ED O RILEY
blossoms
Make modelling-chocolate blossoms to decorate a celebration cake.
You will need
â&#x20AC;˘ templates on page 124 â&#x20AC;˘ 75 x 55cm cotton printed fabric for the back and the front centre circle â&#x20AC;˘ 100 x 30cm in four diďŹ&#x20AC;erent cotton printed fabrics for the front patchwork â&#x20AC;˘ 35cm zip fastener â&#x20AC;˘ matching coloured thread â&#x20AC;˘ 45cm round inner cushion
Use the templates on page 124 to cut all the pieces for the cushion. Start by sewing the centre back seam at each end so the zip fastener will ďŹ t into the opening. Insert the zip fastener. Sew the eight front patchwork pieces to each other and press the seams open.
Sew two lines of gathering stitches along the inner and outer edges of the front patchwork. Set your sewing machine on the longest stitch length so that it is easier to pull in the gathering stitches.
NOTE All seam allowances are 1,5cm. Sew all seams with the right sides of the fabric facing.
Divide the front centre circle into quarters and pin the corresponding quarters of the front patchwork. Gather and sew the inner seam of the front patchwork to the front centre circle. Distribute the gathers evenly.
Divide the back piece into eighths and pin to the corresponding eighths of the front patchwork. Gather and sew the outer seam of front patchwork to the back piece. Turn the cushion cover through to the right side. Insert the inner into the cushion cover.
Use this easy technique of gathering fabric together to make this beautiful cushion.
Gathered together
by KEVIN SWARTS photos ED O RILEY st yling CARIN SMITH
Gathered cushion Enlarge by 200%
Back Cut 2
Front patchwork Cut 8
Front centre circle Cut 1
Buyer s guide Big Blue 011 880 3994, 021 425 1179 Call It Spring 021 551 1527, 031 584 7431
Casamento 021 448 6183 Chair Crazy 021 552 2674
Chandler House 083 423 2001
Cotton Candy 082 460 0603 De Waal Art 021 790 9120 Forever New 021 555 3713, 012 643 0288 Haas Collective 021 422 4413 Habits 021 671 7330 Haldane Martin 021 461 1785 Hoi P Loy 021 447 1433 Home etc 011 622 0234, 021 551 3311 Imagenius 021 423 7870 In Good Company 079 041 8927
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Living Legends 021 447 2077 Loads of Living 011 700 3740, 021 527 4580 Love Lolla Present Space www.PRESENTspace.co.za
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Love Paper Sew 083 682 2224 Lulu Belle 012 346 6424, 021 671 5728 M.studio hello@ilovemstudio.com Merrypak 021 531 2244 Milk 071 687 4732 Mitat 021 858 1465 Modern Stranger facebook.com/modernstrangerct Mr Price Home 0800 21 25 35 Okasie 021 887 9904 Pedersen and Lennard 021 447 2020 Peter Osborn Furniture 021 534 2904 PiP Studio facebook.com/Pipstudio.oďŹ&#x192;cial Plan B Vintage 082 491 3677
%
# # ! $ """ # ! $
Quirky Me 082 417 1885 Robin Sprong Wallpaper 021 4479842 Romo South Africa 011 262 4167, 021 418 3228 Smart Art 021 439 9193 Soil Design 021 424 7812 Sootcookie Ceramics 082 087 8110 Space for Life 021 447 0808 St Leger & Viney 011 444 6722, 021 683 5233 The Crazy Store 021 505 5500 The Space 011 783 1935, 021 674 6643 Trenery 086 002 2002 Truworths 021 460 2300 Typo 021 552 2635 Weylandts 011 467 8001, 021 425 5282 Woodstock Vintage 082 370 8311 Woolworths 0860 022 002
Recreate this French-chateau look with our specially designed wallpaper Create a focus wall in your lounge, dining room or bedroom using our beautiful wallpaper. We have designed it as plain panels and as the five panels shown above, each featuring a piece of furniture, so it can be used in any number of creative ways, as you prefer. Smart Art will print the wallpaper to order, and will calculate the price according to the size and number of panels you need (the basic cost is R349m2 excluding VAT and delivery). To order, state which panel or panels you want (plain, or by number); measure your wall or walls (height and width) and email this information to marweya.smal@media24.com. She will send you a final quote. Smart Art has branches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and will fit the wallpaper at an extra cost in these centres too, if required. Our herringbone wallpaper (see facing page) can also be ordered in the same way.
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ON SALE NOW
Look to the East for fresh inspiration in your next ON SALE FROM 15 SEPTEMBER 2014
• Delicious sweet treats from Gran s recipe book • Colour your own shibori cloth ‒ learn how, step by step • Make sarubobo dolls for good luck • Stitch your own shabby-chic bed linen • Serve your guests pretty Asian mango and coconut desserts
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