1503

MARCH 2015

MAKE YOUR WORLD BEAUTIFUL

ISSUE NO. 417

03417 March 2015 • No. 417 • R42,00 (R5,16 VAT INCL.) Other countries R36,84 (TAX EXCL.)

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MARCH 2015

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ON THE COVER: STYLING: CARIN SMITH • PHOTO: ED O'RILEY • MODEL: DIANA FROM D&A MODEL MANAGEMENT • MAKE-UP AND HAIR: LYNDALL FROM SUPERNOVA • TOP FROM AUGUST AT MR & MRS • TROUSERS FROM HABITS • NECKLACE FROM ACCESSORIZE • SHOES FROM ALDO • BUYER'S GUIDE ON PAGE 6

On the cover

Food & entertaining We went shopping for ice-cream scoops, bowls, cones, and more Entertainment series: Turn up the mambo music and muddle the mojitos – it’s time for a taste of Cuba!

Good ideas: food Indulge with one of our fabulous ice-cream treats

Fashion & beauty

Ice-cream colours will have you feeling as cool as you look New, exotic and ground-breaking beauty products

Subscribe

and be inspired every month

36 40 46 52 56 58 78 82 84

We show you how to bring international style elements into your home décor Quick and easy ways to transform a plain door Crochet a wrap, inspired by designs characteristic of Qatar Pretty crochet patterns all the way from Poland Sew vintage-style bed linen using embroidered cloths Embroider a delicate frame around a favourite picture Good ideas: lifestyle Make travel-themed decorative plates for your wall Décor ideas using old-fashioned map paper Use our specially designed stamps for all sorts of craft projects

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We find out more about the snail-mail revolution An Italian photographer’s unique family portraits Cut out for it: growing a laser-cutting business We answer your questions Your letters

Your life

40 PAGES OF INSPIRATION FROM AROUND THE WORLD

On tour: 20 projects for you to make Crochet a purse for your coins (plus six more patterns) Embroider a frame Make dainty pansies to decorate your cupcakes Craft travel-themed plates for your wall Use our stamps for gorgeous napkins Learn all about ‘snail mail’ – it’s fun and creative

SAVE!

Craft & décor

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How to

Add a decorative trim to a door Crochet a wrap Decorate cupcakes with perfect fondant pansies Make little house-shaped pendants

Regulars

From the editor Buyer’s guide and competition winners Quote of the month Things to do and read this month Follow us on social media Specially designed paper printables Subscribe and save In your next Ideas

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ust recently I was telling someone how, years ago when I lived abroad for almost a year, I used to wait longingly for letters from home. I didn’t have a phone at home, no-one had cellphones, and email, Skype and Facebook were still unheard of. Every letter was like a gift and more than once I was reduced to tears just by seeing my mother’s handwriting on an envelope.

These days the world is a different place and a lot smaller. Almost everyone who uses social media follows and is followed by people from other countries and continents. We communicate regularly with friends, colleagues and contacts worldwide and as a result our cultures are no longer so strange and unfamiliar to each other. We follow people on Instagram because we find the same types of things pretty, and on Twitter because we have similar interests.

It’s also not quite so much fun to go shopping overseas now that we have so many of the British, Spanish and Australian brands to come across some of our gorgeous South African products in Berlin or Amsterdam.

It’s wonderful that Ideas is no longer only to be found here and that people can read us digitally wherever they are, with the result that from time to time we collaborate with inspiring contributors from interesting parts of the world. An email from Agnieszka in Poland with photos of her charming crochet work immediately had us excited.

Negotiations began in a mangled mixture of Polish English and Dala’s Free State English – you can see the results on page 46 and start crocheting. We discovered Magda with her Middle Eastern influences through her Pigtails blog.

And then Lizel and Carin brought in their memories of their recent trips to Russia and Japan to inspire us.

Whether you have a ticket in your drawer or simply an interest in what is going on in the rest of the world, this issue is for you. Travel with us – with or without a passport.

• Follow me on instagram.com/terenaleroux.

PHOTO: JOHAN WILKE • HAIR AND MAKE-UP: MELISSA FROM SUPERNOVA

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EDITOR Email CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR Cape Town Office Manager

Reception and General Queries Johannesburg Office Website Syndication manager

ART DIRECTOR Freelance Designer CHIEF COPY EDITOR DEPARTMENT EDITORS STITCHCRAFT FASHION AND DÉCOR CONTRIBUTING EDITORS FOOD CRAFT AND DIY STYLING DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER Office Assistant and Driver Retoucher

Terena le Roux ideased@media24.com Dala Watts Marweya Smal Natalie Herman 18th Floor Absa Centre, 4 Adderley Street, Cape Town 8001 Box 1802, Cape Town 8000 021 408 3042 2nd floor, 5A Protea Place, Sandown 2146 dailyfix.co.za Lucille van der Berg 021 408 3038 Enid de Beer Karmen van Rensburg Diana Procter

WOMEN’S INTEREST DIVISION Publisher ADVERTISING SALES HEAD: Advertising Sales (CPT) Key Account Manager (CPT) Sales Manager (JHB) Sales Manager (KZN) DIGITAL DIVISION Business Manager: Digital HEAD OF CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Product Manager Subscriptions and Queries

CEO: Media24 GM: Media24 Lifestyle CFO: Media 24 Lifestyle

Dala Watts Carin Smith

Louisa Holst Lizel Cloete Hannes Koegelenberg Lizette Stulting Ed O’Riley Fuad Fritz Katherine Clulow

@home 0860 576 576 Accessorize 021 447 7718 Aldo 011 884 4141, 021 671 2333 Bronx 021 590 7000 Builders Warehouse 0861 335 2739 Ceramic Factory 011 057 4314, 021 839 2103, 076 782 6965 Chair Crazy 011 791 6512, 021 465 9991 Chandler House 083 423 2001 Checkers 0800 01 07 09 Country Road 0860 022 002 Exclusive Books 011 798 0000 Habits 021 671 7330 Hertex 011 262 4108, 041 373 2887, 031 312 0632, 021 914 3390

Marina Smith

Sarah Curtis-Bowles 084 444 8880 Charlene Meyer 082 928 5970 Susan Pienaar 083 281 7300 Gina van de Wall 083 500 5325

Terance Winson 021 443 9418 Gadija Gamieldien Adele Minnaar 011 217 3263 Wikus Esterhuysen 087 740 1027 | 021 405 1019 ideassubs@media24.com Esmaré Weideman Charlene Beukes Raj Lalbahadur

Published by Media24, a division of Naspers. 40 Heerengracht, Foreshore, Cape Town 8001.

Copyright Media24. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the prior permission in writing from the publisher. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice and information given to readers, the editor, proprietors and publishers cannot accept responsibility for any damages or inconvenience that may arise therefrom. The editorial staff have the right to make alterations to any material submitted, and cannot be held responsible for the loss of or damage to any material submitted for publication. All prices quoted were correct at the time of going to press, and may vary from shop to shop.

Imagenius 021 423 7870 In Good Company 021 671 4852, 011 447 1628, 071 217 1240 Lulu Belle 012 346 6424, 021 671 5728 Marigold 021 422 5451 Melissa’s 021 888 2999 Moroccan Warehouse 021 461 8318 Mr & Mrs 021 424 4387 Mr Price Home 0800 21 25 35 Nerf-af 084 946 6326 NMC Bizco 011 466 0003 Onsite Gallery 021 462 1357 ORMS Print Room 021 465 3573 Peter Osborn Furniture 021 534 2904 Pick n Pay 0800 11 22 88 Pylones 021 418 1388 Queue Shoes 021 531 5450

Saks Corner 074 101 7552 Simondium’s Country Lodge 021 874 1046 Skinny laMinx 021 424 6290 Spree 0861 999 501 St Leger & Viney 011 444 6722, 021 683 5233 The Deckle Edge 021 180 4442 The Space 011 783 1935, 021 674 6643 Typo 021 552 2635 Vintage Bazaar 072 8484457 Weylandts 011 467 8001, 021 425 5282 Woolworths 0860 022 002 COMPETITION WINNER Milestone kitchen units V. Fourie, Kuilsriver

– Audrey Hepburn

THINGS TO DO IN

compiled by L ARA FOREMAN

creativecalendaridea

s@gmail.com

HAVE YOU HEARD OF A MUST-ATTEND EVENT OR MARKET THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? IF SO, EMAIL US AND WE WILL CONSIDER FEATURING IT ON THESE PAGES.

FREE STATE 27-28 February Sample a wide variety

of beers, enjoy German food, chat to the brewers and learn about different brewing techniques at the Clarens Craft Beer Festival. For information and tickets, go to www.clarensbeerfestival.co.za or www.webtickets.co.za.

MPUMALANGA 20-21 March Don’t miss the FNB Mpumalanga Wine Show at the Emnotweni Arena in

Nelspruit. There will be more than 60 wine producers and over 350 wines on show. Tickets are available at Computicket or at Shoprite/Checkers stores. For more information, go to www.mpumalangawineshow.co.za.

WESTERN CAPE

17-20 March Call in at Markgoed at Forest 44, on the R44 between Somerset West and Stellenbosch. You’ll find many new and interesting stallholders.

For more information, call 072 376 4935 or 082 774 1077.

25 February – 1 March The Cape Town Art Fair takes place in The Avenue at the V&A Waterfront. Visitors can meander along a specially created Art Walk. For more information, go to www.artfaircapetown.co.za.

• 1 March Head to Eikendal wine estate for the Weintaufe Harvest Celebration and enjoy superb wines, good food and alfresco family fun.

Open from 10am to 5pm. For more information, call 021 855 1422 or email info@eikendal.co.za.

Markgoed

Eastern Cape 6-8 March

e Attend Taste of PE at th ent Boardwalk Entertainm es Complex and enjoy dish p from Port Elizabeth’s to ods, restaurants, gourmet fo craft brews and wines.

• Tickets are available at www.itickets.co.za. , go to • For more information www.tasteofpe.com.

GAUTENG 25-31 March Browse to your heart’s content at the Tierlantynkies market in Zwavelpoort, Pretoria East.

You’ll find unique products, delicious food and lots of entertainment.

• Adults pay R30 to enter. • For more information, go to www.tierlantynkies.co.za.

Shop

LOCAL

&

SEASONAL

IN SEASON IN MARCH Vegetables: avocado, beetroot, brinjal, cabbage, carrots, celery, courgettes, cucumber, garlic, green beans, leeks, lettuce, mielies, mushrooms, onion, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, spinach, sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips.

Fruit: apples, bananas, figs, grapes, lemons, mangoes, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, pomegranates, quinces, spanspek, watermelon.

Herbs: basil, bay leaves, dill, mint, marjoram, origanum, rosemary, sage, thyme.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

• The BLAAUWKLIPPEN FAMILY MARKET takes place every

Sunday from 10am to 3pm at Blaauwklippen Vineyards wine estate near Stellenbosch.

Go to www.blaauwklippen.com.

• The BROOKLYN DESIGN FAIR takes place on the first Friday of the month from 4pm to 9pm at Brooklyn Square, corner of Middel and Veale Streets, Pretoria. For details, go to www.brooklyndesignfair.co.za.

• The first of the twice-yearly RONDEBOSCH POTTER’S MARKET,

featuring professional and hobbyist potters, takes place on 21 March from 8am to 4pm at Rondebosch Park, corner of Sandown and Campground Roads. Call 072 145 8433.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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5-8 March Hobby-X at The Dome, Northgate, Johannesburg

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15 16 17 18 19 20 21 PHOTO OF BEETROOT: THINKSTOCK

April IDEAS on street

19-22 March Decorex at the Durban Exhibition Centre

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Human Rights Day

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25 March End of school term (inland provinces)

March 2015 IDEAS 9

THINGS TO READ IN compiled by Diana Procter

Dia na.P roc 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 6

thefoodieat.org

CRAFT & LIFESTYLE The Exquisite Book of Paper Flowers by Livia Cetti (ST&C, R306) Livia shows you how to

make 27 popular flowers with tissue or crepe paper. Use the flowers for projects like garlands, table arrangements, cake toppers, bouquets, wreaths and hair clips. The projects are perfect for home décor, gifts, accessorising and entertaining.

Artfully Embroidered by Naoko Shimoda (Interweave, R336)

Vintage embroidery designs with a twist. Traditional Japanese and western motifs are made new with colour and embellishment, and 25 embroidered patterns demonstrate the beauty of traditional designs while keeping the projects fresh and modern. Templates are given for handbags, totes and so on, or use the motifs on your own designs.

10 IDEAS March 2015

FOOD Perfect Parties by Janet Kohler (RHS, R325) Find an

array of inspirational party ideas, complemented by delicious recipes. Be guided through every aspect of a party, whether it’s a birthday, engagement, picnic, baby shower, or wedding. From choosing a theme, through décor and preparation countdowns, to step-by-step recipes – it’s all there.

Konditor & Cook by Gerhard Jenne (Ebury, R387)

Konditor & Cook is a London patisserie famous for its contemporary and witty cakes and now the bakery’s founder shares the recipes – from the classic curly whirly cake to black velvet cupcakes and raspberry cheesecake.

The step-by-step instructions and stunning photos will help make your baking a little sweeter and cheekier.

FICTION To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris (Penguin, R190) Paul

O’Rourke is a dentist, a die-hard Red Sox fan, and an atheist. He’s also a bit of a jerk. Then someone begins to impersonate him online. As he investigates the identity theft, he has to confront his past and his future in a life split between the real and the virtual.

Everything I Never Told You

by Celeste Ng (Little, Brown, R209) A moving story of

family and the meaning of home, this book is both a page-turner and a sensitive family portrait. It explores the divisions between cultures and the rifts within a family, and uncovers the ways in which parents and children, and husbands and wives struggle to understand one another.

Rachel Walker is a food writer and cook who lives in London with her husband, who doesn’t mind her smoking salmon on the balcony, or fermenting batches of stinky kimchi in their little kitchen. Her blog started as a record of her recipes, but it’s now also a record of events, a place of well-written ramblings, rather than a purely recipedriven, instructional site.

The photos are good too. littlegreennotebook. blogspot.com

Jenny Komenda is a design blogger and decorator in New York City. She likes flea markets and power tools, parties and pillows.

She’s a mother and a decorator, and a die-hard DIYer. Join her and her family as they renovate their new (old) home with lots of love and plenty of elbow grease. As well as general blog posts there are lots of DIY projects and an inspirational gallery of décor photographs.

/E 10016532JB/

YOU CAN BURN OUT, OR YOU CAN REBOOT WITH NATRODALE. The habits we have today will determine our health tomorrow. If you want to age well and live young, it’s important to start from the inside out with Natrodale’s range of health supplements. Take charge of your health today. Challenge your age and challenge your attitude so you can live life younger. Available at Dis-Chem and Clicks stores, nationwide.

Natrodale B Complex High Potency.

Each capsule contains: Vitamin E 6,75 IU; Vitamin B1 5,7 mg; Vitamin B2 8 mg; Nicotinamide 18 mg; Vitamin B6 8 mg; Folic Acid 200 ug; Vitamin B12 5 ug; Biotin 100 ug; Pantothenic Acid 6 mg; Lecithin 15 mg.

For more information, refer to your healthcare professional. ZA.14.WLB.110 12/2014 Adcock Ingram Limited. Reg. No. 1949/034385/06. Private Bag X69, Bryanston, 2021, South Africa. Tel. +27 11 635 0000 www.adcock.com

The new B-Class.

Up for a break. Up for business. Up for anything.

Visit www.mercedes-benz.co.za to find out more. #UpForAnything Vehicle specifications may vary for the South African market.

THE BIG SCOOP car in.s mit h@ me dia 24. com

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Whether we’re talking colours, flavours or décor items inspired by it, ice cream is always a hit.

1 Long-handled plastic spoons (R59,99 for six) from Woolworths.

2 and 3 Large enamel spoon (R48) and small enamel spoon (R39) from Melissa’s. 4 Ice-cream scoop (R34,99) from Pick n Pay. 5 Ice-cream scoop (R399,95) from Pylones.

14 IDEAS March 2015

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PHOTOS ED O’RILEY • BUYER’S GUIDE ON PAGE 6

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1 Ceramic coke bottles (R230) from Imagenius. 2 Bamboo bowls (R215 for four) from a selection available on Spree. 3 Ice-cream printed cup (R34,99) from Pick n Pay. 4 Decorate your own ice cream (R149,95) from Typo. 5 Plastic ice-cream-coloured cups (R49,95 for four) from Mr Price Home. 6 Blue bowl (R45) from Woolworths. 7 Postcard (R20 per card) from A Love Supreme at Marigold. 8 Small cones (R24,99 per pack) from Checkers. 9 Ice-cream sundae glass (R39,99) from Pick n Pay. 10 Pink glass bowl (R180 for two) from In Good Company. 11 ‘Cupcake’ (R100) from Chandler House. 12 Ceramic cups (R90 each) from Marigold. 13 ‘There’s a dinosaur in my ice cream’ (R199) from Ceramic Factory. 14 Sweet dispenser (R299,95) from Typo. 15 Yellow bowl (R130) from Ceramic Factory. 16 Sauce jug (R130) from Ceramic Factory. 17 Melamine bowl (R135) from In Good Company. 18 Waffle cones (R43,95) from Woolworths. 19 Glass bowl (R19,99) from Mr Price Home. 20 Cupcake containers (R24,99 per box) from Checkers.

21 Paper cups (R65 for 20) from In Good Company. 22 Smaller polka-dot cups (R50 for 20) from In Good Company.

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ONLINE

Visit our

WEBSITE •TEMPLATES • IDEAS PRODUCTS •

FACEBOOK •PINTEREST •MYSUBS •LOCALFAIR.CO.ZA •

IDEES MOBI SITE •INSTAGRAM •TWITTER •

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dĂŠcor

We looked to the East and the West to find ways for you to incorporate international style aesthetics into your home. Simply introduce one or two of these elements per room, combining them with items you already have.

by CARIN SMITH photos ED O’RILEY and JAN RAS

March 2015 IDEAS 17

dĂŠcor

Is your style minimalist, sophisticated, timeless and elegant? Do you believe in spending more on one special piece rather than buying a collection of smaller items? Then the Parisian chic style will suit you well. Here is how to recreate that sense of elegance in your own home.

18 IDEAS March 2015

Look for furniture with curves, gilding or inlays like this writing desk. The concave-to-convex curved legs, known as cabriole legs, make it a classic French piece inspired by the rococo style of the early 18th century.

– Peter York

Desk (R2 500) from Vintage Bazaar. Bust (R1 200) from Onsite Gallery. Glass dome with candle (R129) from @home. Chair (price on request) from Chair Crazy. Selection of frames from @home and Mr Price Home, and vintage flea market finds.

Wall paint colour: Quartz Flint 8 from Dulux.

décor

Always have a chandelier in your home, even if it’s in the bathroom!

Every time the chandelier is cleaned, check the safety of the fittings and electrical wiring. Also, inspect glass elements and metal pins for damage or weakness.

As long as you have one or two gilded items, you’ll be on track.

Give your room a uniform look by finding frames in the same colour or spray paint them all one colour.

DOVE GREY – DULUX 50RB83/005

A few other items you can use to give your home a touch of French elegance are: Armoire: large wardrobe or movable closet.

Bergère: upholstered armchair with wooden frame and closed arms.

Chaise longue: a reclining chair with a seat that extends for leg support.

Fauteuil: armchair with open arms.

Sconce: light that is fixed to the wall.

Toile: Toiles de Jouy is a term for fabric with monochromatic prints of pastoral scenes.

Trompe l’oeil: ‘to fool the eye’, a two-dimensional painting of real objects having a three-dimensional effect.

• •

PALE PINK – PLASCON TIARA PINK P7-A2-2

PALE BLUE – PLASCON BIRDS EGG B3-B2-2

• • • • •

20 IDEAS March 2015

Keep to a muted colour scheme with hints of gold and copper. Colours to keep in mind are pale blue, dusty pastel pink and grey.

If all else fails, keep your canvas white and introduce these colours through the furniture and accessories.

Paint furniture in a colour that appears faded and use sandpaper to give the edges a distressed look.

Replace the handles on a chest of drawers or wardrobe with ornate, mismatched ones.

This style is defined as an eclectic mix of patterns and furniture – a cosy space for you to curl up, put your feet up and read a romantic novel set in the rolling green hills of rural England.

March 2015 IDEAS 21

Bring the English countryside indoors.

Mix vintage photos of family members with paintings of country scenes alongside an array of vases filled with oversized roses.

Mix personal heirlooms with natural items like shells, a bird’s nest or pine cones.

More is more with this look.

Cushions: A (R119,99) from Mr Price Home. B (R850) from Chandler House. C and D (R245 each) from Peter Osborn Furniture.

E (R159,99) from Mr Price Home. Floral fabric on chair (R300 for the piece) from Chandler House. Ornate frame (R199) from Spree.

Vintage soda bottle (R90) from Imagenius. Tea cup and saucer (R265) from In Good Company. Painting: ‘Still Life with Cattleya Orchid’, oil on canvas (R15 000) from Chandler House. Remaining props from Simondium’s Country Lodge.

décor B

E

C

D

A

Other items to use in your home for that English look are: upholstered furniture, slip-covered couches and chairs, painted cupboards, bookcases filled with old books, an oak dresser or sideboard, heirloom China dinnerware, Wedgwood and Royal Worcester porcelain on display, collected heirlooms, repurposed vintage finds, embroidery and lace, lived-in vintage pieces, ornate wallpaper, floral patterns and wicker baskets.

Choose floral patterns in crisp cottons, use ethnic textiles like silk and natural fabrics such as linen or hessian to decorate your room.

Choose paint colours that look as if they were once stronger but have faded over time.

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BUYER’S GUIDE ON PAGE 6

Fabrics and the layering of different patterns are important for this look.

If you’re travelling to the UK, Cabbage & Roses is a textile firm in England that specialises in historic and printed fabrics.

Also try Laura Ashley for wallpapers and fabrics. Alternatively, look closer to home for these: 1 Solstice Coral (R1 048,80 per metre) and 2 Genevieve Old Rose (R513 per metre), both from Hertex.

• SHOT ON LOCATION AT SIMONDIUM’S COUNTRY LODGE (WWW.SIMONDIUMS.CO.ZA) March 2015 IDEAS 23

dĂŠcor Create a serene, peaceful home that uses a clean, uncluttered way of life as its main influence, where balance, order, a slower pace of life and natural beauty are integral to the look.

Find similar couches at Saks Corner. Rug (R299,99) and batik cushion (R79,99) from Mr Price Home. Basket (R295), charcoal cushion (R395), ceramic mug (R99), platter (R299) and ceramic vase (R170) from Weylandts. Large black frame (R199,99) and wooden frame (R79,99) from Mr Price Home.

Small black frame (R249) from Country Road.

Use natural fabrics and elements of Japanese craft like this Shibori-style cushion.

LIGHT: A very important element in Japanese dĂŠcor is to bring natural light into your home with the help of large windows, sliding doors or screens (shoji). The beauty with screens or sliding doors is that they use minimal space. Avoid heavy curtains; instead use bamboo screens. WOOD: Make sure there is always an unpainted wooden element in your home. It could be bamboo flooring, wood trimmings on your doors, or wooden cladding on your wall. Alternatively, add a few smaller bamboo decorative items to your interior. PLANTS: Keep the plants simple and go for bonsai, bamboo and orchids.

24 IDEAS March 2015

A tatami mat is used as floor covering in traditional Japanese homes. It’s made from various natural materials and usually covered in woven straw with a cloth edging. Find similar locally or substitute it with a jute rug that will give you the same look and feel.

The tea ceremony (called chanoyu, sado or ocha) is very important for harmony in Japanese life. It not only helps to connect the hostess with the guest as she serves the tea but also provides the guest with a calm space in which to drink tea (matcha) and contemplate.

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Use simple, neutral colours inspired by nature, like faded greens, browns, opaque tones and grey stone.

Keep all fabrics natural; cotton, linen and bamboo are ideal to recreate this look. If you want to introduce patterns, look for simple organic prints that represent nature.

Hand-dyed items in the Shibori style will also work perfectly.

Brancusi Stripe

Abacus

2

Above: Fabrics 1 Sanderson Heather colour Ebony (R965,58 per metre) and 2 Chika colour Ecru (R877,80 per metre) from St Leger & Viney. Left: Cushion in Brancusi Stripe in Inkspot (R495 per metre) and soft bucket in Abacus in Inky Blue (R320 per pair) from Skinny laMinx.

March 2015 IDEAS 25

food & entertaining

Set the scene Keep the feeling rustic and informal and play with colourful accents.

Use a mixture of weathered cutlery and old silver and pewter plates and bowls to fit in with the theme. Decorate the table simply with ornamental cigar boxes, pictures of Che Guevara and vintage rose elements. A set of dominoes and some old-fashioned board games add to the Cuban feel and will also provide lots of fun.

by LOUISA HOLST photos ED O’RILEY st yling and craf ts HANNES KOEGELENBERG

26 IDEAS March 2015

Cigar boxes, chocolate cigars and flowers for the table (instructions on page 30)

March 2015 IDEAS 27

food & entertaining Ham croquettes Serves: 8 Preparation time: 45 minutes, plus chilling time Cooking time: about 20 minutes

• 60ml butter • 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped • 125ml cake flour • 375ml milk • 450g ham, finely chopped • 250ml fresh white breadcrumbs • 30ml finely chopped fresh parsley • 1ml ground nutmeg • oil, for deep-frying • creole sauce, to serve (recipe below)

Coating • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten • 250ml dried breadcrumbs • 65ml cake flour 1 Heat the butter in a saucepan.

2

3 Ham croquettes

4

5

Che Guevara cones (instructions on page 30)

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Add the onion and sauté until soft. Stir in the flour.

Add the milk gradually, stirring well to make a smooth paste. Stir over the heat until thick. Remove from the heat.

Stir in the ham, fresh breadcrumbs, parsley and nutmeg, and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cool and then refrigerate for about two hours until firm.

Once the mixture is firm enough, break it into small balls and roll them into small cylinder shapes.

Coating Whisk 15ml water into the eggs. Mix the dried breadcrumbs and flour together and put into a flat bowl. Dip the croquettes into the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumb mixture. Dust off the excess crumbs then dip into the egg and breadcrumbs again. Set aside and repeat with the remaining mixture. Refrigerate again until firm.

Heat the oil for deep-frying. When it is hot, fry the croquettes, a few at a time. Once they are golden, remove from the oil and drain on absorbent paper. Serve warm with creole sauce for dipping.

Creole sauce

Heat 30ml olive oil in a saucepan.

Add one chopped onion and sauté for two minutes. Add a clove of crushed garlic, a seeded and chopped red pepper and a chopped tomato. Sauté for two minutes, then add a can of tomato purée, 1-5ml Tabasco sauce, 30ml water, 2ml sugar and salt to taste. Simmer gently for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 30ml finely chopped parsley and 30ml cream.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Creole sauce

Fried fish with mojo sauce and savoury rice with black beans (recipes on page 30) March 2015 IDEAS 29

food & entertaining Fried fish with mojo sauce Serves: 8 Preparation time: 40 minutes Cooking time: about 40 minutes • canola oil, for frying • 2 fresh line fish, gutted and cleaned • limes and salad, to serve Mojo sauce • 125ml olive oil • 125ml freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice • juice of one small orange • 5ml grated orange rind • 6 finely sliced spring onions • 65ml chopped fresh coriander • 10ml dried origanum • 5ml ground cumin • 3 cloves garlic, crushed • 3ml freshly ground black pepper 1 Heat a thin layer of oil in a large

non-stick frying pan. Fry the fish whole for about 10 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness. The flesh should be white and flake apart easily once it is cooked. (You can also cook it under the grill, if you prefer.)

2 Sauce Whisk all the ingredients

together.

3 Once the first fish is cooked, remove it from the pan, cover and set aside while you cook the other fish. Put both fish onto a platter and pour the sauce over them. Alternatively, serve the sauce separately so guests can add their own. Garnish with lime wedges and salad.

Savoury rice with black beans Serves: 8 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes • • • • • • • • •

500ml basmati rice 40ml olive oil 2 onions, finely chopped 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1 red pepper, seeded and diced 5ml ground cumin 3ml ground turmeric 3 bay leaves 250ml black beans, cooked and drained

1 Rinse the rice and then cover

with water. Bring to the boil.

Simmer for 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave the lid on.

2 Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the onion until soft. Add the garlic and red pepper. Sauté for a few minutes, then add the cumin, turmeric and bay leaves.

Stir well, then stir in the cooked rice to combine well. Lastly add the beans. Cover and set aside until ready to serve.

Summer salad

Serve your fish and rice with a fresh and crunchy salad alongside. Mix a bag of curly lettuce leaves with a punnet of cherry tomatoes, a bunch of steamed asparagus, an orange or yellow pepper, seeded and sliced, 125ml cooked peas, two sliced avocados and one sliced onion.

Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice.

Che Guevara cones

Serve a starter or something sweet in these cones – we used ours for our ham croquettes. Copy the Che Guevara picture on page 34 onto an A4 sheet of white paper. Fold the paper into a cone and seal it along the side edge with doublesided tape.

Cigar boxes

Buy cigars in decorative boxes or embellish them yourself with scrapbooking paper that complements the theme. We also made a few of our own and put all sorts of things, from limes to cold drinks and dice in them.

You will need

• template for the cigar box on page 34 • sturdy white cardboard • double-sided adhesive tape • craft knife, cutting mat and metal ruler

To make

1 Copy the template on page 34 onto

the cardboard in the desired size and cut it out with your craft knife and metal ruler.

2 Make small pencil marks on the back of the cardboard to indicate the fold lines.

3 Use the metal ruler and trace lightly over the fold lines with the blunt side of the craft knife. Fold the box into shape and stick the flaps down with double-sided tape.

Chocolate cigars

We made our ‘cigars’ from rolls of Rolo chocolates. Cut strips of cigarcoloured paper to fit around the chocolate rolls and seal them along the side edge with double-sided tape. Make copies of the cigar label on page 34, cut them out and stick one onto each chocolate cigar.

Flowers for the table

Place a few loose rose heads on the table and in the cigar boxes, and finish off with rose pictures – that’s all you need for flamboyant flowers on the table.

Summer salad

March 2015 IDEAS 31

Banana cake with rum syrup Serves: 8 Preparation time: 30 minutes Baking time: 35 minutes Oven temperature: 180oC • • • •

32 IDEAS March 2015

1 Beat the butter and sugar

2

250g butter 250g brown sugar 3 large eggs 3 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed • 5ml vanilla essence • 250g self-raising flour • whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, to serve

3

Syrup • 30ml butter • 100ml brown sugar • 100ml light rum • flaked coconut, to decorate

5

4

together until light. Add the eggs and beat well. Add the banana, vanilla and a pinch of salt. Beat for a few seconds to combine.

Fold in the self-raising flour and then spoon the mixture into a greased ring tin.

Bake in a preheated oven for approximately 35 minutes. You may need to cover the cake with a piece of aluminium foil if you see it is browning too quickly.

The cake is done once a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and set aside to cool, then invert onto a serving plate.

Syrup Heat the butter, sugar and rum together. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then simmer for five minutes. Remove from the heat and spoon over the top of the cake. Scatter with coconut to decorate and serve warm or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream or scoop of vanilla ice cream.

food & entertaining

Cocktails Cuba libre Squeeze a little fresh lime juice into a tall glass. Add a few ice cubes and 25-35ml light rum.

Top up with cola.

Mojito Mix 180ml light rum, 60ml sugar, 90ml lime juice and a few fresh mint sprigs together in a cocktail shaker. Fill short glasses with ice, lime wedges and more fresh mint. Pour the cocktail over the ingredients in the glass.

March 2015 IDEAS 33

food & entertaining Cigar label (page 30)

Cigar box (page 30)

34 IDEAS March 2015

Che Guevara cones (page 30)

Cut line Fold line

craft This is the ideal solution if you like antique doors but you have a modern one and don’t want to try a paint technique on it. We bought a high-resolution photo from Shutterstock – there are thousands to choose from – and had it printed on wallpaper (or vinyl).

Make sure the format and orientation of the photo will work for the size of your door – the large-format printers should be able to help you with this. Use wallpaper paste to glue the photo to the door, ensuring that no air gets trapped.

You could have it done professionally, if you prefer and your budget allows.

Printing by ORMS Print Room. Rug (R720) from Moroccan Warehouse. Shelf (price on request) from Nerf-af. Jug (R189,99) from Mr Price Home. Red and blue plates (R19 each) from Pick n Pay. White dragonfly plate (R170) from Homebakes at Imagenius.

by LIZEL CLOE TE photos ED O’RILEY st yling CARIN SMITH 36 IDEAS March 2015

MAIN PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK • BUYER’S GUIDE ON PAGE 6

Imagine walking along a picturesque street, choosing a door for your home. You could get the same result with a few simple techniques.

Decorate a standard hollowcore interior door by using a striking trim. There are many different types available in a number of materials ranging from polyurethane to wood, and more.

Door (R175) from Builders Warehouse. Decorative panelling and corners from NMC Bizco.

Door painted with Plascon Velvaglo in Paradise City B4-D1-2. Hand-painted ‘Florabundah!’ chair (R4 500) from Chandler House. Wallpaper from a variety at St Leger & Viney.

38 IDEAS March 2015

craft You will need • decorative panelling • decorative corners (optional) • mitre box and hand saw • enamel paint of your choice • paint rollers and paintbrushes • wood glue (or use a strong adhesive like Pattex No More Nails) • wood filler • sandpaper • tape measure • long ruler

1

2

Decide how far you’d like to place the panelling from the outer edges of your door, then measure and mark accordingly – ours is 100mm wide right round.

Now measure the distance between the marks at the top and bottom, and those on the left and right, to determine the measurements of your panelling.

Mark where you must saw the panelling and use a mitre box and hand saw to cut each piece to size, with neat 45-degree angles.

NOTE Ours has special decorative corners that needed to be glued in place first. Once that was done, we measured, marked and cut accordingly.

3

4

Paint wood glue over the back of the individual pieces and press into place on your door. Apply firm pressure while making sure that each piece is lined up neatly and flush with the edges of your door. Leave to dry.

TIP If necessary, hold the pieces in place with masking tape until the wood glue has dried completely.

Use wood filler to fill in any gaps. Leave to dry before sanding lightly for a smooth finish. If you are working with an unpainted door, apply a universal undercoat before painting the door, otherwise simply apply enamel paint in a colour of your choice.

March 2015 IDEAS 39

craft & décor

40 IDEAS March 2015

projec t and photos by MAGDA DE L ANGE

ex tra copy KEVIN SWARTS March 2015 IDEAS 41

craft & décor

W

e found Magda de Lange through her blog, www. pigstails.blogspot.com, and fell in love with her photography and crochet work. She is an ethnographer, humanist and global learning specialist who, with her family, has lived in South Africa, Dubai, Penang, Hanoi, Bangkok and Mumbai. She is currently based in Doha, Qatar.

My crocheted wrap, which I call the Alek Hexagon, was designed to reflect the handmade plastercast patterns characteristic of Qatari buildings found throughout Doha.

I find the multi-layered cultural and rural landscape of Qatar’s earliest suburb, the Msheireb, intriguing.

This dilapidated area is known for its historic value and I fell in love with its gritty soul. The area is earmarked for extensive regeneration with a nod to both Qatar’s glorious past and soaring ambitions for the future.

This landmark destination will be reinterpreting the Msheireb’s old forms to create a contemporary city.

I already feel the loss. . .

An artist-led initiative, the ‘Sadaa Al Thikrayat’, or the Echo Memory Project, was established to record and collect a wide range of artefacts, stories and memories from Msheireb. This collection will be 42 IDEAS March 2015

used as resources by local artists, the community and international artists so the new development retains the memory and identity of Msheireb.

As a woman it is challenging to photograph an area that is home to mainly blue-collar migrant workmen from countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines. A woman is a curiosity and being stared at is part of the experience of living in the Middle East. My husband accompanied me as I went about my business of documenting the buildings and street life. Doha is one of the safest cities in the world and while the staring is harmless it is still an uncomfortable experience.

I decided to make a wrap since it is such a versatile and must-have item for expats living in Qatar. The country has a modest dress code that requires knees and shoulders to be covered. It also gets very hot here during the summer with temperatures hitting 50oC! Airconditioned malls, hotels, restaurants and office buildings in contrast are often uncomfortably cool and a wrap is a handy item to have, either to cover shoulders or for warmth.

I met creative and entrepreneurial mother and daughter duo Hester Bester and Martine Ryder while

living in Dubai and we immediately became firm friends. After Dubai and collective experiences that included travel to Southeast Asia and Central Africa, we met again in South Africa two years ago. When I needed some yarn for a Doha-inspired project, I turned to Hester and Martine, who are now based in Cape Town and have established Moya Yarns, to hand-dye me a few skeins.

Their high-quality yarns are lovingly hand-dyed in small batches using rich, colourfast pigments to get a subtle depth of colour for people ‘as crazy about juicy, glowing colour as we are’, says Hester.

• Email moya@theculinaryemporium. co.za or go to www.facebook.com/ moyayarns

Abbreviations beg ch dc dtr fol htr prev rep rnd sl st(s) tr

beg chain double crochet double treble following half treble prev repeat round slip stitch(es) treble

Alek Hexagon wrap

how to

1

2

3

Work 5 ch and close to form a ring.

1st rnd: 7 ch, dtr, 2 ch, * dtr, 3 ch, dtr, 2 ch *, rep from * to * four times, sl st to 4th ch from beg of rnd.

Beginning of 2nd rnd: dc into space between dtr of prev rnd, 2 ch, htr, 3 ch, 2 htr.

4

5

6

To complete 2nd rnd: * dc into fol space, (2 htr, 3 ch, 2 htr) into fol space *, rep from * to * end of rnd, sl st to 2nd ch at beg of rnd.

Beginning of 3rd rnd: sl st into top of fol st of prev rnd, * (dc, htr, tr, 3 ch, tr, htr, dc) into 3 ch loop.

To complete 3rd rnd: dc into top of fol 4 sts of prev rnd *, rep from * to * to end, sl st to dc at beg of rnd.

7

8

4th rnd: sl st into top of each st of prev rnd up to and including 1st ch of 3 ch loop, * (3 ch, dc, 4 ch, dc, 3 ch, dc) into loop, sl st into 3rd ch of loop, sl st to fol loop *, rep from * to * to end, sl st to beg of rnd.

44 IDEAS March 2015

NOTE Moya yarn is a super soft double knit with a high twist. Suggested crochet hook size is 3.5-4mm.

You will need to make 78 motifs.

To join the second motif to the first, crochet up to the 1st 3 ch picot in the 4th round, 2 ch, dc through the corresponding 4Â ch picot on the first motif, 2 ch, continue pattern and join the second corner in the same manner as the first. Continue joining motifs to first row until there are a total of 12. Starting from the left-hand side, join the motifs of the second row to those of the first row.

Each row will have one fewer motif than the previous row, forming a triangular wrap.

{

ELLE YARNS IT’S A

Lifestyle for timeless GArmeNts WitH style try oUr sAxoNy yArN. WWW.elleyArNs.com pAtterN No 7483

PHOTOS, STYLING AND PROJECTS FROM AGNIESZKA STRYCHARSKA

craft & dĂŠcor

When Agnieszka emailed us some of her work, we were so inspired we immediately got the instructions for you – all the way from Poland.

Agnieszka Strycharska is a blogger and crochet designer who lives with her husband, two children and a bunch of cats and dogs in an old house in the countryside near the Polish city of Lodz. She also loves painting. After working in management for 11 years at a large international company, she realised she had no time for herself, her 46 IDEAS March 2015

family and her passions and so she made some changes and is now happy doing what she really wants to do. She collaborates with Simply Crochet magazine and does projects and photos for Polish internet magazines. She taught herself to crochet and is planning to open an online shop for her crocheted items and vintage finds.

Agnieszka Strycharska

craft & décor

To crochet Abbreviations beg ch dc dtr fo gp(s) lp(s) rep rnd sp(s) ss st(s) tr

begin(ning) chain double crochet double treble fasten off group(s) loop(s) repeat round space(s) slip stitch stitch(es) treble

SCALLOP-EDGED DOILY

Base rnd: using pink, work 4 ch, ss into first ch to make a ring.

Rnd 1: work 3 ch and 17 tr in ring, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 2: join turquoise to first tr, work 3 ch, 1 tr in same tr, * 2 ch, skip 1 tr, 2 tr in next tr, rep from * until you have nine 2 tr-gps and 9 sps, 2 ch, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 3: join light mint to first 2 chsp, work 3 ch, 1 tr, 3 ch, 2 tr in sp, 1 ch, * (2 tr, 3 ch, 2 tr, 1 ch) in next 2 ch-sp, rep from *, ending rnd with ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 4: join light green to first 3 chsp, work 3 ch and 7 tr in same sp, 1 dc in next 1 ch-sp, * 8 tr in next 3 ch-sp, 1 dc in 1 ch-sp, rep from *, ending rnd with ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo. Weave in loose ends of yarn on wrong side of work.

work dc all around and make a long st down into rnd 2 between each flower petal, ending with ss in first ch, fo. Weave in loose ends of yarn on wrong side of work.

FLOWER BLANKET

AFRICAN FLOWER DOILY You will need

• 4-ply cotton yarn in pink, light mint and violet or colours of your choice • 3mm crochet hook • tapestry needle

To crochet

You will need

• DK cotton yarn in light pink, turquoise, light mint, light green or other colours of your choice • 4mm crochet hook • tapestry needle

48 IDEAS March 2015

Base rnd: using pink, work 4 ch, ss into first ch to make a ring.

Rnd 1: in ring work 3 ch, 1 tr, 1 ch, * 2 tr, 1 ch, rep from * until you have six sps and six 2 tr-gps, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 2: join mint to first 1 ch-sp, work 3 ch and 1 tr, 2ch and 2 tr in same sp, then work 1 ch, in next sp work * (2 tr, 2 ch, 2 tr), 1 ch, rep from * in each sp until you have six st-gps, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd.

Rnd 3: 3 ch, 8 tr in the 2 ch-sp, 1 ch, * 9 tr in next 2 ch-sp, 1 ch, rep from * 5 times in all, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 4: join in violet yarn, 1 ch,

You will need

• thick knitting yarn: 400g off-white, 200g turquoise • 6mm crochet hook • tapestry needle NOTE You can also use a thinner yarn and crochet hook if you want a different look for your blanket.

To crochet

Flower square (make 12) Base rnd: work 4 ch, ss in first ch to make a ring.

Rnd 1: 1 ch, 8 dc in ring, ss in first dc.

Rnd 2: work 6 ch (= 1 tr + 3 ch), * 1 tr in next dc, 3 ch *, rep from * to * 7 times in all, ss in 3rd ch at beg of rnd [= 8 tr with 3 ch in between].

Rnd 3: start in 3 ch-sp, work 1 ch, then work as follows: * 1 dc, 3 tr, 1 dc, rep from * in each sp, ending rnd with ss in ch at beg of rnd [= 8 leaves].

Rnd 4: starting between leaves, work 9 ch, then * 1 tr between next 2 leaves, 6 ch *, rep from * to * 7 times in all, ending rnd with ss in 3rd ch at beg of rnd [= 8 ch-lps].

Rnd 5: 1 ch, then work as follows in every ch-lp: 1 dc, 5 tr and 1 dc, ending rnd with ss in ch at beg of rnd [= 8 leaves].

Rnd 6: work 12 ch, * 1 tr between next 2 leaves, 9 ch *, rep from * to * 7 times in all, ending rnd with ss in 3rd ch at beg of rnd [= 8 ch-lps].

Rnd 7: 1 ch, then work as follows in every ch-lp: 1 dc, 7 tr and 1 dc, ending rnd with ss in ch at beg of rnd [= 8 leaves].

Rnd 8: ss to second tr on first leaf, 3 ch [= 1 tr], work * 9 ch [= corner], skip 3 tr and work 1 tr in 6th tr on same leaf, 5 ch, 1 tr in second tr of next leaf, 5 ch, 1 tr in 6th tr on same leaf, 5 ch, 1 tr in second tr of next leaf, rep from * 3 times more, ending rnd with ss in 3rd ch at beg of rnd omitting last 1 tr in second tr of next leaf.

Rnd 9: 1 ss in 9 ch-lp, * 4 tr + 4 ch + 4 tr in ch-lp in corner, then work (4 ch, 1 tr in next ch-lp) 3 times, 4 ch, rep from *, ending with ss in first tr at beg of rnd.

Rnd 10: ss to ch-lp in corner and work 3 ch, 2 tr + 2 ch + 3 tr in chlp, * 1 ch, 1 tr in each of next 3 tr, (1 ch, 4 tr in next ch-lp) 4 times, 1 ch, 1 tr in each of next 3 tr, 1 ch, 3 tr + 2 ch + 3 tr in corner ch-lp, rep from

*, ending with ss in 3rd ch at beg of rnd omitting last 3 tr + 2 ch + 3 tr in corner ch-lp, fo.

When you are working rnd 10, you can join the squares together in each ch-sp and in 2 ch-sp in corner.

Finishing

Change to turquoise yarn.

Rnd 11: in corner of first square work 3 ch [= 1 tr], 2 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, then * 3 ch and 1 tr in each ch-sp and (3 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr) in corners *, rep from * to *, working in between two squares 1 tr, 2 ch, 1 tr in ch-sp, ending rnd with ss in 3rd ch at beg of rnd.

Rnd 12: in corner work 3 ch [= 1 tr], 2 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, then * 3 ch and 1tr in each ch-sp and (3 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr) in corners *, rep from * to *, ending rnd with ss in 3rd ch at beg of rnd.

Rnd 13: in corner work 3 ch [= 1 tr], 2 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, then * 3 ch and 3 tr in each ch-sp and (3 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr) in corners *, rep from * to *, ending rnd with ss in 3rd ch at beg of rnd.

Rnd 14: in corner work 3 ch [= 1 tr], 2 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, then * 3 ch and 3 tr in each 3 ch-sp and (3 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr) in corners *, rep from * to *, ending rnd with ss in 3rd ch at beg of rnd. Weave in loose ends of yarn on wrong side of work.

Rnd 3a: In each dc work 7 ch, ss in same dc, rep until you have five 7 chlps [= 5 ch- and 7 ch-lps in each of the 5 dc].

Rnd 4a: in each dc work 9 ch, ss in same dc, rep until you have five 9 ch-lps [= 5 ch-, 7 ch- and 9 ch-lps in each of the 5 dc].

Rnd 2b: (still in off-white ) in 5 ch-lp work (1 dc, 3 tr, 1 dc), rep in each leaf, ending with ss in first dc, fo.

Rnd 3b: join in light orange or light pink and in 7 ch-lp work (1 dc, 5 tr, 1 dc), rep in each leaf, ending with ss in first dc, fo.

Rnd 4b: join in light green and in 9 ch-lp work (1 dc, 7 tr, 1 dc), rep in each leaf, ending with ss in first dc, fasten off.

Weave in loose ends of yarn on wrong side of work. Crochet a length of ch sts and attach the flower to the blanket with the chain.

AFRICAN FLOWER PURSE

Flower You will need

• 4-ply knitting yarn in off-white, light pink, light orange and light green • 3mm crochet hook • tapestry needle

To crochet

Base rnd: using off-white, work 4 ch, ss in first ch to make a ring.

Rnd 1: work 5 dc in the ring, ending with ss in first dc.

Rnd 2a: in each dc work 5 ch, ss in same dc, rep until you have five 5 ch-lps.

You will need

• 4-ply cotton yarn in mint, yellow, green and pink • 3mm crochet hook • purse clasp • tapestry needle March 2015 IDEAS 49

craft & décor

To crochet (make two) Base rnd: using mint or yellow, work 4 ch, ss into first ch to make a ring.

Rnd 1: in ring work 3 ch, 1 tr, 1 ch, * 2 tr, 1 ch, rep from * until you have six sps and six 2 tr-gps, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 2: join mint or green to first 1 chsp, work 3 ch and 1 tr, 2 ch and 2 tr in same space, 1 ch, * (2 tr, 2 ch, 2 tr) in next sp, 1 ch, rep from * in each sp until you have six gps, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd.

Rnd 3: 3 ch, 8 tr in 2 ch-sp, 1 ch, * 9 tr in next 2 ch-sp, 1 ch, rep from * 5 times in all, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 4: join in green or yellow, 1 ch, work dc all around and make a long stitch down into rnd 2 in between each flower petal, ending with ss in first ch, fo.

Rnd 5: join pink to centre of flower petal – it will be the corner of the hexagon: 3 ch, 1 tr in each of next 8 dc (skipping long st), 1 ch, then 1 tr into same dc as last tr, * then 1 tr in each of next 9 dc (skipping long st), 1 ch and 1 tr in same dc as last tr, rep from * 4 times more, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo. Weave in loose ends of yarn on wrong side of work.

To make up

Place two pieces together, join in pink yarn in between two flower petals, work dc around four petals catching both pieces in seam and fasten off. Sew a clasp in open upper part of the purse as in the picture.

FLOWER CUSHION You will need

• DK cotton yarn in pastel colours: yellow, off-white, pink, light blue, light green, dark pink, mustard, turquoise • 4mm crochet hook • tassel braid to go around cushion cover • 2 buttons 50 IDEAS March 2015

• tapestry needle • inner cushion

To crochet

Base rnd: using yellow, work 4 ch, ss into first ch to make a ring.

Rnd 1: in ring make 4 ch, 1 tr and 1 ch, then rep with 6 more tr and 1 ch in between tr, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo [= 8 sts].

Rnd 2: join pink or light blue to any ch-sp, work 3 ch, then 4 tr into the same ch-sp [you should have 5 sts], drop lp from hook, insert hook from front to back under the top 2 lps of first tr of gp, pick up dropped lp with hook and pull through st, * 3 ch, 5 tr in next ch-sp, drop lp from hook, insert hook from front to

back under the top 2 lps of first tr of gp, pick up dropped lp with hook and pull through st [= 1 popcorn], rep from * to end of rnd, working 3 ch after the last popcorn worked, ending rnd with ss into top st of first popcorn, fo [= 8 popcorns].

Rnd 3: join light green in between two popcorns and work 3 ch, in the same 3 ch-sp work an incomplete tr, yarn over, make another incomplete tr so that you have 3 lps on hook, yarn over and draw the yarn through 2 lps on hook, make another incomplete tr to have 3 lps on hook, then draw yarn through 3 lps, then 2 ch. In the same 3 chsp work 2 incomplete tr so that you have 3 lps on hook, yarn over and draw the yarn through 2 lps on hook, make another 2 incomplete tr to have 4 lps on hook, then draw yarn through 4 lps [= 1 cluster], 2 ch, rep, making 1 cluster, 2 ch, 1 cluster, 2 ch in each 3 ch-sp, ending rnd with ss into top st of first cluster, fo [= 16 clusters].

Rnd 4: join off-white in any 2 ch-sp, work 2 ch and 2 dc, in next 2 ch-sp work 3 tr, * in next 2 ch-sp work 2 tr, 1 dtr, 3 ch, 1 dtr, 2 tr for corner, then 3 tr in next 2 ch-sp, 3 dc in next 2 ch-sp, 3 tr in next 2 ch-sp, rep from * all round, ss in top of 2 ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Crochet 9 flowers in two colourways.

Place in three rows of three motifs each and using dark pink and dc, start with joining three motifs at a time and then joining the three rows together as in picture, fasten off. Weave in loose ends of yarn on wrong side of work.

Finishing

Using dark pink, start in corner of first motif, work 1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc in ch-sp of corner (rep in each corner) and dc all around joined motifs, ss in first dc, fo.

Change to mustard and rep previous rnd.

Granny squares side of cushion

Combine colours in different colourways, as in the picture.

Base rnd: work 4 ch, ss into first ch to make a ring.

Rnd 1: work 3 ch and 2 tr in ring, then *2 ch, 3 tr, rep from * until you have four 3 tr-gps and four 2 ch-sps between each 3 tr-gp, ss in top of 3 ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 2: join new colour in a 2 ch-sp work 3 ch, 2 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, then * 3 ch, 3 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr in next 2 ch-sp, rep from * twice more, 3 ch, ss in top of 3 ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 3: join new colour in a 3 ch-sp in corner and work 3 ch, 2 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, then * 3 tr in next 3 ch-sp, in next corner work 3 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, rep from * all around, ss in top of 3 ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Crochet 36 granny squares. Place them together in 6 rows of 6 squares each and join with dc in between every 3 tr as in the picture, fo. Weave in loose ends of yarn on wrong side of work.

Finishing

Using light pink, start in corner of first square and work 1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc in 3 ch-sp (rep in each corner) and dc all around joined squares.

Change to light violet and work in corner of first square 1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc in 2 ch-sp (rep in each corner) and dc all around joined squares. Weave in loose ends of yarn on wrong side of work.

To make up

Place granny squares side of pillowcase together with flower side, and using turquoise, work in corner of first flower 1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc in ch-sp (rep in each corner) and dc along the top and side edges of pillowcase, leaving bottom edge open. Sew on buttons to open edge of granny squares side, in line with dark pink joining lines of flower side. Sew on

tassel braid all around flower side of cushion cover. Insert inner cushion and button up.

PASTEL FLOWER PURSE

You will need

• 4-ply cotton yarn in pastel colours: violet, off-white, turquoise, pink, mint, and light pink.

• 3mm crochet hook • purse clasp • tapestry needle

To crochet (make two)

Base rnd: using violet, work 4 ch, ss into first ch to make a ring.

Rnd 1: in ring make 4 ch, 1 tr and 1 ch, then rep with 6 more tr and 1 ch in between tr, ss into 3rd ch at beg of rnd, fo [= 8 sts].

Rnd 2: join off-white to any ch-sp, work 3 ch, then 4 tr into the same ch-sp [you should have 5 sts], drop lp from hook, insert hook from front to back under the top 2 lps of first tr of gp, pick up dropped lp with hook and pull through st, * 3 ch, 5 tr in next ch-sp, drop lp from hook, insert hook from front to back under the top 2 lps of first tr of gp, pick up dropped lp with hook and pull through st [= 1 popcorn], rep from * to end of rnd, working 3 ch after the last popcorn worked, ending rnd

with ss into top st of first popcorn, fo [= 8 popcorns].

Rnd 3: join turquoise in between two popcorns and work 3 ch, in the same 3 ch-sp work an incomplete tr, yarn over, make another incomplete tr so that you have 3 lps on hook, yarn over and draw the yarn through 2 lps on hook, make another incomplete tr to have 3 lps on hook, then draw yarn through 3 lps, then 2 ch. In the same 3 ch-sp work 2 incomplete tr so that you have 3 lps on hook, yarn over and draw the yarn through 2 lps on hook, make another 2 incomplete tr to have 4 lps on hook, then draw yarn through 4 lps [= 1 cluster], 2 ch, rep, making 1 cluster, 2 ch, 1 cluster, 2 ch in each 3 ch-sp, ending rnd with ss into top st of first cluster, fo [= 16 clusters].

Rnd 4: join pink to a 2 ch-sp and work 2 ch, 1 dc in same sp, then 2 dc in each 2 ch-sp to end of rnd, join with ss in top of 2 ch at beg of rnd, fo.

Rnd 5: join in violet, 2 ch, dc in each dc to end of rnd.

Rnds 6, 7, 8 and 9: As rnd 5, but changing colours in each rnd as in picture.

Weave in loose ends of yarn on wrong side of work.

To make up

Place two pieces together, join in yarn and work dc in each dc halfway around to close lower part of purse, fasten off. Sew a clasp in upper part of purse as in picture.

CROCHET KITS TO ORDER Wool Junction is selling yarn kits for the scallop-edged doily and the flower cushion. To order, go to www.wooljunction.co.za or call 076 394 7138.

• http://niebieskachata.blogspot.com/ • https://www.facebook. com/pages/Niebieskachata/306793779417841?ref=hl

March 2015 IDEAS 51

craft & décor

Spend some time in second-hand shops and vintage markets to find a selection of embroidered cloths to make this nostalgic bed linen.

projec t KEVIN SWARTS st yling CARIN SMITH photos ED O’RILEY

March 2015 IDEAS 53

1 Hem one 202cm edge on each of

the two duvet panels with a 2cmwide double-fold hem.

2 Pin and sew the embroidered cloths to the right side of the white Size panel. Make sure that all the edges Double bed. of the cloths are inside the seam allowances and hem of the panel.

You will need • 205 x 202cm printed sheeting 3 Pin the two duvet panels, right • 205 x 202cm white sheeting (see note) sides together, matching the two • various embroidered traycloths and hemmed edges. Mark the centre of tablecloths the hemmed edges. Next, measure • matching sewing thread and mark a point 50cm on both • 9 press studs sides of the centre point. Start sewing the outer edge of the duvet cover from one of these points. First, To make sew across the hems, 90 degrees NOTE If broadcloth sheeting is to the edge, to just over the hem unavailable, join two 205 x 102cm fold on the inside. Continue sewing lengths down the middle. parallel and right next to the inner All seam allowances are 1cm.

54 IDEAS March 2015

hem fold, towards the first corner.

Sew the remaining edges of the duvet cover, ending at the second 50cm mark in the same manner as the first. Overlock the three raw seam allowances of the cover.

4 Turn the cover through to the right side. At 10cm intervals, mark nine pairs of matching points along the hems of the opening. Attach the press studs to the hem at these points, making sure that the two sides of the press studs correspond.

TIP Sew pretty cloths onto plain pillowcases, to match the duvet.

Carpet from Mr Price Home. Table from Peter Osborn. Bunting and clock from In Good Company. Frame from Loads of Living. Mug from Ceramic Factory.

BUYER’S GUIDE ON PAGE 6

craft & décor

craft & décor

You will need

We were inspired by our Ideas stationery range (search on kalahari.com under ‘ideas magazine’ or email Marweya.Smal@media24.com to order) and copied one of the frames that Terry Angelos designed for us to use in this embroidery project. For the picture, use a high-resolution digital photograph, or scan the picture of your choice onto your computer.

• template and stitch guide for embroidered frame • picture of your choice • transfer paper • white fabric • DMC stranded embroidery cotton in Dark Grey (colour number 3799) • embroidery needle • embroidery hoop • iron-on interfacing (optional, see step 2)

Back stitch

Stem stitch

Stem stitch

1 Decide how large your

Back stitch Back stitch Back stitch

Stem stitch

Stem stitch

Stem stitch Back stitch

Back stitch Stem stitch

Stem stitch

Stem stitch

Back stitch

Stem stitch

Back stitch Stem stitch

Back stitch

Stem stitch

Back stitch Stem stitch

56 IDEAS March 2015

picture should be and cut the white fabric accordingly. Copy the frame template alongside in the desired size. Trace the frame onto your fabric.

2 Print your picture onto the transfer paper using an inkjet printer and leave for five minutes so the ink can dry. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and iron the image onto the fabric. Make sure your picture is in the correct position inside the frame before you start ironing.

Iron interfacing onto the wrong side of the fabric to strengthen it, if you prefer.

3 Working with an embroidery hoop and three strands of cotton, and following the stitch guide alongside, embroider the frame around your picture.

We used a combination of back stitch and stem stitch.

4 Once the embroidery is complete, overlock or hem the edges of the fabric and then iron it face down on a towel. Now it is ready to frame and hang on the wall.

Embroider a delicate frame around your favourite picture and turn it into a work of art.

projec t ELIZABE TH FESTER st yling CARIN SMITH photo ED O’RILEY

Lifestyle

Dala Watts looks at what’s new and interesting in the shops.

DO YOU KNOW OF A LOVELY NEW SHOP OR BEAUTIFUL DÉCOR OR CRAFT RANGE THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? IF SO, EMAIL US AND WE WILL CONSIDER FEATURING IT ON THIS PAGE.

DESIGNER SANDALS

Design your own Galago sandals. Go to www. galagoonline.co.za and choose your shoe size and the colour for the ankle and T-straps. You can select more than one set of straps to mix and match so you have a pair of sandals for each outfit in your wardrobe.

Having one pair of soles with multiple uppers makes holiday packing simple.

BEADS FOR BABY BABE-Eeze silicone beads are ideal for babies who are teething. The beads are strong and non-toxic, and babies can chew them or simply play with them to keep their little fingers busy. They’re also pretty enough for Mom to wear around her neck, so they’re always on hand. They come in a variety of colours and styles and cost from R100 per string at Clicks.

This lovely ceramic bowl is part of a new Woolworths range of imported Portuguese serving plates and jugs. The items cost from R170 to R399.

Bags of style

NEW CONCEPT

Available from www. louharvey. co.za, or call 031 208 0930.

58 IDEAS March 2015

Créma’s new showroom in Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town looks like a gallery with the furniture, accessories and lighting displayed against a white background. As you enter you receive an iPad to scan the product codes for prices and other details. Look out for the Danish range Hay. Call Créma on 021 448 7775.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED AND ED O’RILEY

These beach bags are a new addition to the popular Lou Harvey range of handbags. They’re a good size and can be zipped closed. If you’re not going to the beach, they are just as handy as an overnight bag.

FOOD Entertaining Louisa Holst looks at a few fabulous food ideas.

Italian flavours Try the Waitrose range of Italian products available at Food Lover’s Market stores nationwide. The pastas (R26,99) are made in the Campania region of Italy from organic durum wheat. There’s also a range of tasty ready-made sauces (R44,99-R59,99) from which to choose.

COOL SCOOPS WINE AND DINE Visit La Bella Deli & Restaurant and Baleia Bay wine cellar just outside Riversdale on the Cape South Coast. La Bella offers delicious homemade meals and freshly baked products in a child-friendly environment. Enjoy a lazy lunch if you live in the area or pop in when you’re visiting the Garden Route. Taste and stock up on Baleia Bay wines and olive products. Go to www.baleiabay.co.za for more information.

You’ll need an ice-cream scoop when you try our delicious ice-cream recipes on page 62.

We loved these Pylones scoops with their funky designs. Available for R399,99 from the Pylones store at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town or online at www.happygifts.co.za.

If you are watching your carbohydrate intake but can’t always find the time to cook from scratch, help is at hand. Woolworths offers a carb-clever range of ready-made meals and accompaniments that exclude carbohydrates, but include plenty of seasonal vegetables, delicious creamy sauces and spicy accompaniments for full-on flavour.

• Meals range from R47,95 to R59,95 per portion.

COCKTAIL HOUR Looking for a mixer for your artisanal vodka, fine brandy or single malt? Fitch & Leedes has launched a range of mixers for discerning tastes.

They come in five classic flavours and are sold in glass bottles. From selected stores for around R10 per bottle.

food & entertaining

Indulge with one of these fabulous frozen treats.

by LOUISA HOLST photos ED O’RILEY st yling HANNES KOEGELENBERG

Raspberry, pecan and caramel ripple (left) and fresh mint and vanilla chocolate wafer (recipes on page 68) 62 IDEAS March 2015

Fruit and yoghurt lollies, and kiwi slice lollies (recipes on page 64)

food & entertaining

Makes: about 6 depending on the lolly moulds Preparation time: 30 minutes, plus freezing time • fresh fruit of your choice (mango, pineapple, strawberries, and so on) • 60ml fruit juice • 25ml sugar • 125ml Greek-style yoghurt

and then add a layer of yoghurt to each lolly mould. Freeze until firm. Continue with layers as you prefer. Alternatively, you can make solid fruit or yoghurt lollies.

Once you have put the final layer in, press a lolly stick into the middle of each lolly.

3 When ready to serve, hold the lollies under warm water for a few seconds to loosen them from the mould, then pull out of the mould and enjoy.

1 Choose a fruit and peel (if

necessary) then cut into cubes.

Blend in a liquidiser until smooth.

You need to make 125ml fruit purée. Stir in the fruit juice. Pour a layer of the mixture into plastic lolly moulds.

2 Freeze for two hours or until firm.

Stir the sugar into the yoghurt Easy lemon and ginger cheesecake ice cream

Press 2-3 kiwi slices onto the sides of the lolly mould and then freeze for an hour or two. Pour the fruit purée and fruit juice mixture into the lolly mould and then freeze until almost set. Add the lolly stick and freeze until firm.

Serves: 8-10 Preparation time: 30 minutes • • • • •

250ml cream 1 can condensed milk 1 tub smooth low-fat cottage cheese 1 fresh lemon (juice and zest) ½ packet of ginger biscuits, crushed in a food processor • 50ml honey, plus extra to serve • fresh fruit, to serve (optional) 1 Whip the cream until stiff peaks form.

2 Beat the condensed milk and cottage

cheese together until smooth. Stir in the lemon juice and zest.

3 Fold a little of the cream into the condensed milk mixture. Then fold the condensed milk mixture into the remaining whipped cream.

4 Pour half of the mixture into a loaf tin or other container. Put it into the freezer and freeze for an hour or until beginning to set.

5 Sprinkle the crushed biscuits over the mixture in the container and then drizzle with the honey. Spoon the remaining cream mixture over the top and return to the freezer. Freeze until hard. Remove from the freezer 10 minutes before serving, to make slicing or scooping easier. Serve on its own or with some fresh or grilled summer fruit and honey.

If you don’t have time to make ice cream from scratch, buy a good quality vanilla ice cream and try one of these scrumptious sundaes.

Bar One and peanut sundae Cut up 100g Bar One chocolate. Pour 100ml cream into a bowl and add the chocolate. Heat over a saucepan of simmering water. Once the chocolate starts to melt, stir until smooth. Remove

Nothing says comfort more than a draped dress in a T-shirt fabric.

Dress (R520) from The Space. Shoes (R479) from Bronx.

Heart necklace (R130) from Imagenius.

Celebrate the last weeks of summer with soft ice-cream colours that will make you feel as cool and fresh as you look.

by CARIN SMITH photos ED O’RILEY

Model: Diana from D&A Model Management. Make-up and hair: Lyndall from Supernova.

BUYER’S GUIDE ON PAGE 6

March 2015 IDEAS 65

fashion & entertaining

Inject a bit of playfulness into your wardrobe with stripes. Opt for a thinner stripe that is flattering for most body types.

Dress (R355) from Style Republic at Spree.

Bracelets (R150 for a set) from Lulu Belle.

66 IDEAS March 2015

Bar One and peanut sundae (recipe on page 64)

Tropical delight sundae

from the heat and cool. Chop a handful of salted, toasted peanuts and a handful of chocolate-coated peanuts. Put two to three scoops of vanilla ice cream into a sundae glass. Add a spoonful of Bar One sauce, sprinkle with chopped nuts and garnish with a maraschino cherry and a vanilla wafer biscuit.

Cookies and cream sundae Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream into a sundae glass. Add a few chopped strawberries and drizzle with strawberry coulis or sauce. Repeat with another layer or two. Top with whipped cream and chopped strawberry wafer biscuits.

Sprinkle with hundreds and thousands and finish off with a Belgian wafer biscuit.

Tropical delight sundae Peel and cube a mango and blend in a food processor until smooth. Add 50ml Malibu coconut liqueur (optional).

Layer vanilla ice cream with cubed fresh mango, the mango purĂŠe and fresh granadilla pulp. Top with toasted coconut flakes and a fresh mint leaf.

Cookies and cream sundae

food & entertaining

Makes: 1 litre Preparation time: 45 minutes, plus freezing time Cooking time: about 15 minutes • • • • •

500ml cream 250ml milk 160ml sugar 6 large egg yolks 1ml vanilla seed extract or other flavouring of your choice (see below)

1 Heat the cream, milk, sugar and 1ml

2

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salt together in a saucepan until just before the mixture begins to simmer. Remove from the heat.

Whisk the egg yolks. Add a little of the hot cream mixture to the egg yolks and whisk. Add about a third of the cream mixture, a little at a time, while whisking. Stir into the remaining cream mixture.

Return to the heat and cook over a low heat, stirring to prevent lumps. Once the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon, it is ready. Make sure the temperature is not too high because the mixture will curdle.

Remove from the heat and strain.

Stir in the vanilla extract if using and set aside to cool. Pour the custard mixture into a plastic container and refrigerate overnight.

Switch the ice-cream machine on and pour in the custard mixture.

Churn until the mixture is thick and frozen. Stir in the flavouring of your choice if using and transfer the ice cream to a container with a lid. Freeze overnight or until ready to serve. If you don’t have an ice-cream machine, pour the cold custard mixture into a shallow container and freeze. Once crystals start to form, remove from the freezer and whisk with a fork.

Return to the freezer and repeat 2-3 times, then freeze until firm.

FLAVOUR OPTIONS Fresh mint and vanilla chocolate wafer Once the custard has been removed from the heat, add 2-3 sprigs of roughly chopped fresh mint. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Just before putting it into the ice-cream machine, strain it and discard the mint. Add a few drops of green food colouring, if you prefer. Chop up a white chocolate Kit Kat. Once the ice cream is ready, fold the chocolate through. Freeze until ready to serve.

Raspberry, pecan and caramel ripple Place 125ml fresh or frozen raspberries into a bowl. Add 25ml castor sugar and leave to stand for 30 minutes. Once you have prepared the ice cream, transfer it to a container. Put spoonfuls of raspberry and 50ml toasted chopped pecan nuts and 50ml Caramel Treat onto the ice cream and then use a blunt knife to ripple the ingredients through the ice cream. Freeze until ready to serve.

Makes: about a litre Preparation time: 30 minutes, plus freezing time Cooking time: 5 minutes • • • •

500ml apple cider 150ml sugar 350g strawberries 350g blueberries or blackberries • 30ml lemon juice 1 Heat the cider and sugar

together in a saucepan. Bring to the boil and simmer for three minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

2 Blend the berries in a food processor until smooth. Strain and mix the strained liquid with the cider. Add the lemon juice.

Chill overnight.

3 Pour into an ice-cream machine and churn until frozen. Transfer to another container and freeze overnight or until ready to serve.

If you don’t have an ice-cream machine, pour the cold mixture into a shallow container and freeze. Once crystals start to form, remove from the freezer and whisk with a fork. Return to the freezer and repeat 2-3 times, then freeze until firm.

Berry and apple cider sorbet

March 2015 IDEAS 69

fashion & entertaining

Look for breezy wardrobe items with lace inserts and in lightweight linen.

Top (R600) from August at Mr & Mrs. Necklace (R119) and handbag (R500) from Accessorize. Linen trousers (R1 599) from Habits. Shoes (R899) from Aldo.

70 IDEAS March 2015

how to You will need

• Fondant • CMC or Dyocell (available from baking shops) • powder food colouring in the colour of your choice • yellow powder food colouring • small round cutter • cornflour • rolling pin • balling tool • foam mat (optional) • petal glue (optional) • small paintbrushes • bulbous cone tool • egg or painting tray • paper towel • black edible marker

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Work the CMC or Dyocell into the fondant. Colour some of the fondant in your chosen colour. Dust the work surface with cornflour and roll the fondant out to about 2mm thick. Use the round cutter to cut five circles for each flower. Use the rolling pin to roll the circles into slightly oblong shapes. Press gently so that they form even shapes.

Place the petals on a foam mat or on the palm of your hand (dust your palm with cornflour first).

Use the balling tool to thin the sides by gently working the edge of the petal.

Use a little petal glue or water to stick the petals together. Start with the two at the top back, then the two side petals and lastly the centre front petal.

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Press the bulbous cone tool into the point in the centre where the petals all come together. Press the tool in just deep enough to make a hollow, but don’t press it right through. Press the sides together gently so that the hollow is slightly elongated.

72 IDEAS March 2015

Place the flowers in a paint tray or egg tray to dry overnight.

Put a little powdered food colouring onto a piece of paper towel. Lightly dust a dry paintbrush with some colouring, then dust onto the flowers to shade and intensify the coloured petals. Add a little to the tips of the petals, if you prefer. Dust yellow into the centre.

Use the edible marker to draw lines from the centre of the flower outwards. Make the lines slightly thicker around the centre and thin them towards the ends.

by TANI KIRSTEN photos ED O’RILEY

Decorate your bakes with pansies that you can make in any colour.

March 2015 IDEAS 73

beauty

The search for eternal youth is never-ending.

We’ve put together a few of the latest and greatest, most exotic and ground-breaking products in the beauty world right now.

by ELSA KRÜGER st yling CARIN SMITH photos ED O’RILEY

F

rom the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space, the search for the next antiageing wonder product is a ceaseless race to try to find the ultimate elixir of youth. Caviar, crystals, stem cells, roses, apples, roots and bulbs, precious stones and metals, minerals, mud and even magic molecules that mimic bee or snake venom – here are a few of the best and brightest breakthroughs in beauty and skincare.

How it works: Meteorites consist mainly of silicone. The silicone reserves in our bodies decrease with age, especially in our skin, veins and cartilage. The silicone in Filorga’s new Skin-Absolute is necessary for the synthesis of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. The meteorite dust is responsible for the black colour of this product, but it disappears when applied to the skin.

Find it in: Filorga Skin-Absolute Ultimate Anti-Ageing Night Cream (R1 700).

74 IDEAS March 2015

How it works: The cellular DNA of caviar has anti-ageing properties because it stimulates fibroblast cells in the dermis layer of the skin to produce collagen and elastin. More collagen and elastin means the skin appears firmer.

Find it in: Matis Reponse Premier Eye Gel (R1 200). It’s a fine gel that is black in colour, but becomes completely clear when it is gently dabbed around the eye area.

How it works: A flavonoid-rich floral extract that strengthens cell membranes to provide improved protection.

Find it in: Noreva Trio White Corrector Pen Targeted Action (R279,95 at Clicks). It contains a floral extract as well as patented Reductol and Vita C2G that block the formation of melanin. Great for addressing brown patches and hyperpigmentation.

How it works: Growth factors are proteins that occur naturally in the skin. They act as cellular messengers, kick-starting the formation of collagen and elastin as well as the skin’s natural repair programmes.

Growth factors basically ‘instruct’ the skin to restore its own youthfulness.

EGF (epidermal growth factors): Scientists at BioEffect in Iceland grow barley in pumice stones by using strictly controlled amounts of nutrients, hydroponics and specific wavelengths of light. The DNA code of human EGF is loaded into the little plants before they’re left to grow for 90 days, after which the newly formed EGF is harvested for use in BioEffect products.

FGF (fibroblast growth factors): The Ericson Laboratoire cosmetic laboratory in France formulated FGF technology and patented it as Linefactor. Within 42 days it makes the skin thicker, firmer and denser.

It also repairs the loss of elasticity,

reduces wrinkles and improves skin texture, especially in older skin.

Find it in: BioEffect EGF Serum (R1 585); and Ericson Laboratoire Energy Lift Super Lifting Cream with FGF (R870).

How it works: Stem cells are totipotent, meaning they can divide and produce new organisms. All plant stem cells can form differentiated cell types and renew themselves. Stem cells (whether from human, animal or plant sources) stimulate regular cells to renew themselves. New plant stem cells are constantly identified and incorporated into skincare, the latest ones being from roses, the argan plant, apples and sea fennel.

Find it in: Rodial Stemcell SuperFood Cleanser (R750); and NeoStrata Skin Active Intensive Eye Therapy (R880).

How it works: Hexapeptide-10 is a polypeptide or chain of six amino acids. It stimulates the production of a protein in the body that boosts collagen formation and acts as a messenger for cell growth and multiplication. The result is firmer skin, improved elasticity and plumpness, smaller pores and fewer fine lines and wrinkles.

Find it in: Dr. Gobac Cosmeceuticals Day Balance Cream (R445).

How it works: This red resin, known as Sangre de Drago (dragon’s

blood), comes from different species of trees in Mexico, the Amazonian rainforests, Central America and South America. Rich in vitamins, minerals, phyto albumin and phenols (carbolic acid), it has wound-healing properties, stimulates collagen and improves firmness. It also soothes sensitive and stressed skin.

Find it in: Rodial Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Water (R650); and Clarins Super Restorative Day Cream for Very Dry Skin (R1 220), which contains extract of the harungana plant, also known as the healing tree or dragon’s blood tree.

How it works: Bee venom stimulates cell renewal by causing the skin to react as if it’s experiencing a light bee sting. Anti-ageing effects include fewer fine lines and wrinkles.

Find it in: Nip + Fab Bee Sting Fix Cream Deluxe (R425).

How it works: The active ingredient Syn-ake is based on a synthetic tripeptide that works like Botox. It relaxes facial features and expression lines, and works like certain types of viper venom that paralyse the muscles. It mimics the effect of Waglerin-1, a peptide found in the

venom of the temple viper, native to Southeast Asia. Its effective wrinklesmoothing compound acts rapidly.

Find it in: Nip + Fab Viper Venom Wrinkle Fix (R364).

How it works: Snail-slime extract is a beauty secret from the heart of Mother Nature. Years ago, workers on snail farms started noticing that their hands were looking softer, younger and smoother when they were harvesting snails. From there it was a small step to formulating a skincare range that utilises the extract as its active ingredient.

Find it in: Celltone Snail Extract Gel (R149,90).

How it works: Lancôme developed a breakthrough complex from their specially grown Lancôme

beauty

Native Rose, for use in a few of their exclusive and expensive skincare products. Then they figured out that it also softens and strengthens eyelashes, making them appear thicker and fuller.

Find it in: Lancôme Grandiôse Mascara (R399).

How it works: Silk has an anti-ageing effect on the skin and acts as a very gentle exfoliant that brings younger, fresher skin to the surface. It is widely used in Japanese skincare.

Find it in: Sensai Silky Purifying Silk Peeling Mask (R945). Apart from silk, Sensai Silky Purifying Silk Peeling Powder (R945) also contains an extract of the soapbark tree from Chile, which produces a silky foam.

How it works: Developed to improve and prolong the results of procedures such as Botox, this serum inhibits muscle activity that causes expression lines and helps prevent new wrinkles from forming.

Find it in: Optiphi Post-Tox Serum Post-Treatment Enhancer (R100).

How it works: The fruit of the baobab tree contains as much calcium as a litre of milk, more vitamin C than six oranges and more iron than a piece of red meat. Women all over Africa have been utilising the healing powers of its fruit oil for centuries to protect hair and skin against the elements. It promotes skin elasticity and cell renewal.

Find it in: Eco Products Baobab Oil (R219,31 for 100ml).

How it works: The healing, anti-ageing effects of macadamia oil include 76 IDEAS March 2015

keeping skin supple and elastic, and softening dry, damaged skin.

Find it in: Marc Anthony Healing Macadamia Oil Deep Moisture Body Butter (R144,95).

How it works: Golden chamomile is found in Africa. It’s a plant rich in flavonoids that helps to calm the skin and also soothes puffy eyelids.

Find it in: Dermalogica Ultrasmoothing Eye Serum (R760).

How it works: Black pearls consist of amino acids, zinc, selenium, titanium and proteins. The powder is used as a nutrient for skin, which renews and rejuvenates. It helps rid the skin of toxins and lightens dark marks.

Find it in: Black Pearl Age-Control Pearl Peeling Mask (R760). A mask that gently removes dead skin cells to bring younger, fresher, brighter skin to the surface.

How it works: A botanical sugar extract that helps thicken the epidermis, especially in the area around the eyes, which becomes thinner with age. It also strengthens the skin structure by improving firmness and reducing sagging.

Find it in: Kiehl’s Super MultiCorrective Eye-Opening Serum (R495).

How it works: An extract of an Asian mint species that prevents the breakdown of hyaluronic acid that occurs naturally in the skin by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme that causes it, and anchoring moisture where the skin needs it most.

Find it in: Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Hydro-Plumping Retexturizing Concentrate (R625).

How it works: A red extract rich in calcium with an astonishing effect – preventing the fat cells, which drag down the contours of the lower half of the face causing a double chin and folds in the neck, from forming and maturing. It stimulates the formation of collagen that strengthens and refines the contours of the face.

Find it in: Ericson Laboratoire Energy Lift Morpho-Slim Serum (R940).

• Aloe: Esse Refining Cleanser (R190).

• Mongongo seeds from the Kalahari: Africa Organics Mongongo Shampoo (R45) and Conditioner (R45).

• Chia-seed oil: Latinoil Hair Treatment (R295).

• Marula oil: A powerful antioxidant.

Esse Repair Oil (R260).

DID YOU KNOW? The difference between fine lines and wrinkles: wrinkles are formed by facial expressions. Unlike fine lines, wrinkles don’t disappear when the face ‘rests’. Wrinkles usually appear on the forehead, between the eyebrows, as laugh lines and in the neck.

1 Filorga Skin-Absolute Ultimate AntiAgeing Night Cream (R1 700). 2 Clarins Super Restorative Day Cream for Very Dry Skin (R1 220). 3 Kiehl’s Super MultiCorrective Eye-Opening Serum (R495).

4 Celltone Snail Extract Gel (R149,90).

5 Black Pearl Age-Control Pearl Peeling Mask (R760). 6 Rodial Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Water (R650). 7 Sensai Silky Purifying Silk Peeling Mask (R945). 8 Lancôme Grandiôse Mascara (R399). 9 Esse Refining Cleanser (R190). 10 Africa Organics Mongongo Conditioner (R45). 11 Marc Anthony Healing Macadamia Oil Deep Moisture Body Butter (R144,95). 12 Nip + Fab Viper Venom Wrinkle Fix (R364).

13 Eco Products Baobab Oil (R219,31).

14 Matis Reponse Premier Eye Gel (R1 200). 15 Nip + Fab Bee Sting Fix Cream Deluxe (R425).

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March 2015 IDEAS 77

craft & dĂŠcor

We made our own little plate using white air-dry clay and a glass plate to press a pattern into it in relief. Using a rolling pin, flatten your air-dry clay to a thickness of about 5mm, then use a craft knife to cut out a circular shape slightly larger than your plate. Place this clay disc over the back of your plate and cut away the excess. Press the clay onto the plate to transfer the pattern and roll lightly with the rolling pin to smooth out.

Leave the clay on the plate to dry overnight before peeling it away carefully the next day.

Set aside again to allow the inside to dry. Now you can paint your plate, or decorate it with goldleaf, if you prefer. Remember that a clay plate like this can be used for decorative purposes only.

TIP Spray the back of the plate with a light coating of nonstick cooking spray before pressing the clay onto it.

This will make it easier to peel off the clay the next day, without damaging your design.

78 IDEAS March 2015

by LIZEL CLOE TE photos ED O’RILEY st yling CARIN SMITH

This plate with its floral pattern stole my heart on a recent trip to Russia, but it was carefully preserved in a museum in St Petersburg. At least I could take a photo of it with my cellphone camera and I could transform an ordinary white plate into an attractive décor item that would remind me of my trip. Use a laser printer to make a colour print of a plate of your choice on waterslide transfer paper. Cut out the plate and soak the paper in lukewarm water to loosen the paper backing, then slide the picture onto your plate while still damp. Use your fingertips to smooth it out gently before blotting with paper towels, then leave to dry completely. Seal your plate with varnish, if you prefer, but remember that this plate is for decorative purposes only.

If you stroll around the streets of Amsterdam, you’re bound to encounter this simple cross-pattern design – it’s incorporated into the city’s funky official flag. Create a unique memento of your travels by transferring the pattern to a plate. You can choose any suitable paint, depending on whether you want to use the plate for eating or simply as a décor item. If you’d like to draw it yourself, you could use a ceramic pen that is suitable for writing on glazed ceramics. We chose a plate with gilded edging and painted a gold cross in the centre using broad brush strokes. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to bake it in the oven to set the paint, if you’d like to use it afterwards.

Waterslide transfer paper (R35 for an A4 sheet, R70 for an A3 sheet) from CREATEstudio (createstudio.co.za). White plate with scalloped edge (R59,95, undecorated) and grey plate with gilded edging (R160, undecorated) from Woolworths.

Moroccan plate (R250) from Moroccan Warehouse. Blue and white plate (R350) from Chandler House. Graphic plate (R120) from Mr & Mrs. Dragonfly plate (R170) from Homebakes at Imagenius.

80 IDEAS March 2015

BUYER’S GUIDE ON PAGE 6

craft & décor

craft

Old-fashioned maps have a certain charm about them and the subdued earthy colours make them the perfect craft paper.

Here are a few décor ideas to try.

by LIZEL CLOE TE photos ED O’RILEY st yling CARIN SMITH

Brighten up a wall or your dinner table with a string of map-paper hearts. Draw a heart shape onto cardboard and cut it out to use as a template. You can also fold a piece of paper double and cut out one half of the heart to make sure you have a complete, symmetrical shape. Use the template to cut out identical hearts from map paper. Cut enough to make a really long string. Arrange the hearts in rows so that you can stitch them together to make a string – we placed the hearts together two by two so the string is more three-dimensional, but you could even use three if you prefer. Set your sewing machine on a large running stitch and start sewing the hearts together across the centre. Keep placing the hearts under the machine’s foot leaving a small space between them, if you prefer. Finish with a long piece of loose thread and hang the string up or drape it over your table.

Cut and roll these roses in a flash and arrange them together for effect. Use our template below as an example and cut a wavy spiral from map paper – ours is 10 x 10cm in size. Cut the paper in a spiral of equal width towards the inside until you finish in the middle with a circle. Cut the outermost end straight and start rolling up your paper rose from there – this will form the inside of the rose. You can roll the rose around a kebab stick if it is easier for you. Hold it in place with one finger as you roll so it doesn’t slip, and roll it up tightly. Fold the circle end around the base of the rose when you have finished rolling it up. Let go of the rose a little, so the flower ‘opens’. Use a glue gun to insert a drop of glue under the circle at the base and then press the spiral section down with your finger onto the circle. Use the sharp end of a kebab stick to make a small hole in the base of the rose and glue the rose onto the stick with your glue gun.

March 2015 IDEAS 83

craft

With handwritten post becoming a trend again, we designed a page full of stamps specially for this issue so you can use them for all sorts of projects.

by LIZEL CLOE TE photos ED O’RILEY st yling CARIN SMITH photos ED O’RILEY stamp designs HANNES KOEGELENBERG

Brighten up your table with napkins that look like ‘letters’. It’s quick and easy to make them using iron-on transfer paper. Print out the stamp template on page 87 onto the transfer paper in colour and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to iron the stamps onto the napkins. For the postmarks we used craft stamps and fabric ink.

These napkins would also make a lovely gift for someone special.

These strings of flags are a fun way to decorate a cake. Copy our stamp template on page 87 in the desired size, cut out the stamps and stick them onto long pieces of string or embroidery thread in rows using double-sided adhesive tape or a glue gun. Tie the ends around two kebab sticks and press the sticks into the cake.

March 2015 IDEAS 85

craft

These postage-stamp houses make interesting pendants, or make bigger ones to display as part of your décor.

Go to page 88 for the instructions.

Use this idea to make original birthday cards, invitations or thank-you letters.

Cut out the postcards from firm cardboard – the standard size is 148 x 105mm – and round the corners with a corner punch before you stick your cut-out stamp designs in position.

86 IDEAS March 2015

how to 1 You will need

• stamp template on page 87 • balsawood plank of about 20 x 20mm • eyelet pins and rings • ribbon, cord or chain • modge podge

• craft brush • wood glue (or use ordinary craft glue) • medium-grit sandpaper • small wood saw • craft knife and cutting mat • metal ruler

Copy the stamp template on page 87 to fit on your balsawood – we made ours a little smaller – and cut the stamps apart.

• Take a look at our shop on localfair.co.za for more stamp designs that you can download.

2

3

4

Mark the size of your stamps on the balsawood and cut the wood into blocks with a craft knife or saw it if it’s a thicker piece.

Rub the sides of the wooden blocks on sandpaper to smooth them. The wood is quite soft, so don’t sand it too vigorously or for too long.

Cut or saw some of the blocks in half so they form triangles to use as the roofs of the houses. Also cut a few stamps into pieces that will fit on the front and top of the roof.

5

6

7

Spread a little wood glue over the top of the block and stick the roof in position.

Press an eyelet pin into the ridge of the roof – the wood is soft enough – and add a ring to the eyelet if you are using a chain.

Paint modge podge over the house and press on the stamps.

Paint on a second coat of modge podge and leave it to dry before painting on another coat. Seal with a coat of varnish, if you prefer.

88 IDEAS March 2015

BUYERS’ GUIDE ON PAGE 6

Balsawood from The Deckle Edge. Iron-on transfer paper (R35 per A4 sheet) from CREATEstudio (createstudio.co.za).

BUY MARCH NOW WITH: • March calendar • Postcard designs • Yarn holder If you don’t have them yet, buy January’s templates • Notepaper • Stamp designs Each monthly parcel costs R15, but if you subscribe in and February’s parcels too advance for 12 months, you will pay just R120 for a year’s worth of printable surprises.

Go to www.localfair.co.za/stores/ideas

March 2015 IDEAS 89

your life

by NADIA VAN DER MESCHT

T

hese days our letter boxes seem to be filled only with junk mail or bills, and our email inboxes are even worse. As a source of unexpected pleasure, though, nothing compares to a handwritten note penned with kindness, or a postcard from afar.

As we are faced with more and more technology, our need grows for real human connection. Traditional methods of communication have made a huge comeback.

90 IDEAS March 2015

Snail mail, as the name suggests, is the traditional, slower method of connecting and communicating via the postal service – as in days of old. It might be slow and sometimes unreliable, but renewed interest in sharing news by post is being fuelled by social media, the most unlikely of sources. The snailmail revolution has slowly gained momentum and is set to banish our postal woes for good.

The aim of snail mail is to share letters, postcards and gifts with pen pals. It is, however, far more interesting than the pen pals of the past. The movement is as much about creativity as it is about writing. Now pen pals exchange trinkets, stationery and items that show their heritage, almost always accompanied by a handwritten letter. Everything is packaged beautifully and decorated with the utmost care and creative flair.

There are several words associated with snail mail, for example pen pal, swap, exchange, trade, letters, happy mail, incoming and outgoing. These assist people to connect with snailmail enthusiasts around the world.

Instagram, the social media photo sharing app, is a hive of activity and the ideal digital space to connect with pen pals.

Hashtags are often misused, but with some understanding they are actually a very useful tool for grouping ideas. If you search for a hashtag like #snailmail on Instagram, it will automatically bring up all the photos pertaining to this theme, as shared by the international Instagram community. There are several other

hashtags that connect pen pals too, for example #penpalwanted.

As you follow more people, you are able to communicate with likeminded enthusiasts who might be interested in exchanging snail mail with you. To start the conversation, you comment on the other user’s photos and find out if they are keen to become your pen pal.

If you want to take a look at what it’s all about, view these hash tags on Instagram:

#snailmail, #showandmail, #snailmailrevolution, #penpal, #penpalswanted, #incoming and #outgoing.

Try to find people with similar interests and tastes to you.

Approach prospective snail mailers without expectations. Some will reply but others may already have enough pen pals. Try a few different people and hang in there until you find the right type of person to exchange with. You can either exchange internationally or find someone local, to keep postage costs down. Take a look at their biography and other photos or their blog (if listed) to see who they are and what they are about.

your life

• Don’t feel nervous or worried to chat to your new pen pal about what you would like to send. You can swap email addresses first in order to share your address details, likes and interests.

• Some pen pals focus on letter art, which is decorating and writing beautiful letters. They often send a few small paper-related items too, like stickers and postcards. Other pen pals send packages with items like lip gloss, sweets, handmade crafts and stationery.

• If you find the right pen pal, she shouldn’t be focused on how much you are sending to her, but rather on the love and care you put into the snail-mail package.

Decide on a budget that will work for you. Postage can be expensive, but sending flat items in paper envelopes rather than padded ones is much cheaper. In South Africa padded envelopes and flat paper envelopes are placed in different pricing tiers.

Seek out flat items like stickers, postcards, pretty envelopes and writing paper or twine. Some snail mailers also create washi samplers that are easy to post. This involves measuring out some of your own washi tape and wrapping it around a piece of cardboard or a thin plastic sheet. This way your pen pal can enjoy some pretty washi tape that she might not have in her own collection. It’s also a good idea to stay away from breakables; you never

92 IDEAS March 2015

know what rigours your package may be subjected to.

It’s worth paying extra for a tracking number, as it’s great for peace of mind. Ensure you ask for this option at your local post office.

Seal your envelopes well and ensure the address is neatly written and easy to read. Be sure to ask your pen pal for clear address details, including her full name. Remember to add your return address. Decorate items first and then place them in an envelope for postage. A lot of the overseas snail mailers decorate their postage envelope, but it’s better to decorate your envelope and then to put it in another plain envelope to post off. This ensures that your pretty snail mail stays intact and undamaged.

Get creative and have fun to your heart’s content. There are loads of free printables online as well as templates for making your own envelopes. Pretty magazine pages make great wrapping or DIY envelopes and offer a unique option for making your own stationery.

You are communicating with a stranger, but most pen pals are only interested in making new friends who share their love for crafting and snail-mail joy. It is best not to share your address online, but rather to communicate it via email with your pen pal. The same applies when photographing or Instagramming your incoming or outgoing post. It is good practice to cover all addressrelated details to keep them private.

Let’s chat about the basics of becoming part of the snail-mail revolution.

• Do take part in sending snail mail because you love giving and sharing.

• Don’t take part if your only goal is to receive free things with little regard for your pen pal.

• Do take part if you can commit to sending something, even if it’s small.

• Don’t take part if you are prone to flaking out on commitments.

You will bitterly disappoint a new friend who deserves respect and quality communication.

• Do take part if you love attention to detail and enjoy spending time decorating and wrapping small gifts. A penchant for letter writing also comes in handy.

• Don’t take part if you can’t stand wrapping gifts or putting pen to paper. You will soon get bored and disappoint your pen pal.

• Do take part if you have the budget to spend on postage.

• Don’t take on too many pen pals and realise you can’t afford the postage. Start slowly and build up from there.

For lovely examples of snail mail in action take a look at these Instagrammers: paperedthoughts, seaweedkisses, yssmail, bellajstyle, xoylee, nadiavdmescht, pyro_mail and cloudydaysandletters.

Sites to visit to find out more about snail mail:

• www.snailmail-ideas.com • oldfashionsnailmailpenpals.webs.com • www.pinterest.com/breebaffordmua/pen-pal-swap-snail-mail • lettersandgifts.tumblr.com • www.swap-bot.com • sweetteapaperie.com

your life

PHOTO: ED O’RILEY

Stylist Carin Smith could not resist gathering some paper goodies and making up snail-mail parcels of her own.

94 IDEAS March 2015

your life

Italian photographer Camilla Catrambone is working on a series of intimate family portraits – but her relatives are not in the photos.

MOTHER March 2015 IDEAS 95

your life

hen art director and photographer Camilla Catrambone (29) talks about her childhood, she paints an almost idyllic picture: a sweet Italian family in a picturesque town in Tuscany, where Grandpa and Granny shared the house and Mama was always devoted to putting the tastiest of dishes on the table every day. It wasn’t exactly like that, she admits, but that’s how she likes to remember it.

The photographer has found a very special way of capturing, saving and sharing these memories through unique family portraits. She doesn’t portray the people themselves, but instead creates assemblages of objects that tell something about each person in her family and her relationship with them.

‘I was born on top of a mountain in the vicinity of Florence,’ she says.

‘Our old farmhouse was surrounded by fields and consisted of three parts.

Along with my own family, my Uncle Stefano’s family lived there, as well as Granny Ilva and Grandpa Mario.

We had no neighbours; the house was very isolated. But I had the good fortune to grow up with my brother Jacopo and our two cousins, Marco and Lorenzo. There was only a fouryear age difference between us all, so when we came home from school we always had playmates. It was always the four of us, me the one girl among three boys.’

At 16, Camilla was invited to take part in an exchange programme with an American school. ‘I was wild about it, and my parents let me go.

So, I first stepped onto a plane to go and do my fourth year of high school in Florida. Later on, I studied graphic design in Milan. I didn’t like that city, so I tried my luck in Spain – Barcelona. I worked there for two years, switching between graphic design and photography. In those years abroad, I always kept in close

96 IDEAS March 2015

MOTHER

‘I have the closest relationship with my mother that a daughter could ever have. Both my parents and my brother are the heart of my life.

We talk every day; we always know what’s going on in each other’s lives.

Precisely because my mother is so close to me, I found it very hard to do a portrait of her. Her portrait shows one of the many things that I find amazing about her, that she’s made our family so close. Looking after the family was for her far more than just a daily task.

‘I only understood how much work she put into it once I was grown up and realised that my childhood was about as perfect as you can get. The key moment of every day was undoubtedly dinnertime.

Then we’d all be together, discussing the day and resolving any problems that came up. The smells of the past tell stories about tradition, love and authenticity. If you weren’t hungry, your appetite would come anyway, and if you weren’t feeling well, a delicious meal always helped. So when I started to think about how my mother was in the past, I concluded that she is absolutely the greatest chef of my family’s recipes.

‘Now my brother and I are grown up, she’s charging ahead rediscovering her own life. In a few years’ time, I think I’ll be able to do a whole new portrait of her that will show the new life she’s just begun.’

GRANNY ILVA

‘Granny Ilva was very beautiful. In their early years, she and her sister turned the heads of all the boys. She was born some time in 1917. She was never sure of the exact date, because it was different on various documents. She met Grandpa Mario right near where I now live in the heart of Florence. They fell in love, got married, and Granny Ilva became pregnant with Uncle Sandro. Ilva gave birth to Sandro during the war, while my grandpa was away fighting in the army.

‘Sandro was one when my grandpa saw him for the first time. In the meantime, “Captain Mario”, as they called Grandpa, and Ilva wrote letters to one another, like the one in the portrait. I’m very attached to that beautiful little photo of my grandmother. She wanted me to have it after her death, as well as her favourite collection of small boxes.

My portrait of her shows how gracious she was. She always wore a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. Clips, because her ears weren’t pierced. Granny Ilva had a natural elegance, or at least a refinement that I associate with women of that time – women who wore fur in winter, who had handkerchiefs embroidered with their initials, and kept their change in a small coins purse. These are all the things that she had in common with her two sisters.’

TEXT: CHRIS MUYRES • ARTICLE FROM FLOW MAGAZINE

W

GRANNY ILVA

your life touch with my family, and really missed them. I began to realise how lucky I am to belong to such a closeknit family. So I decided to move from Barcelona back to Florence.’

FAMILY TREE OF BELONGINGS Objects have always fascinated Camilla. ‘In one way or another, everyone can be recognised by his or her personal belongings. The things a person chooses, the objects to which a person becomes attached, the way they use them, all of that tells a story about someone. It’s like a fingerprint.

‘When I started this project, I had the feeling that my family’s belongings, starting with my beloved grandparents, were still full of their energy. They could retrieve shared moments and bring them right back to the forefront of my memory.

I started to feel a real need to use those beautiful old belongings.

Rearranging and organising the objects they’d used, I tried to create a particular image I’d had of that person. For example, when I look at the picture of my Grandpa Mario, it brings me back to the days when we sat at his desk and I can feel the atmosphere of that time again. The objects don’t tell the whole story of my grandpa, but stand for specific, precious moments that I shared with him.

‘The ultimate intention is to make an entire family tree out of the personal belongings of the people I grew up with. That makes each portrait something very profound and intimate for me. Now I’m working on a couple of new portraits: two of my dad, who’s a bit envious and angry that he hasn’t been done yet (don’t worry, Dad!), and one of my greataunt Derna, Granny Ilva’s sister, a fantastic woman.’

This article includes a number of family portraits from the series.

• More can be seen on Camilla’s website: Lacatra.com.

98 IDEAS March 2015

GRANDPA MARIO

‘Grandpa Mario is my grandfather on my mother’s side. He and Granny Ilva lived next door to us. After school, I often went to play in his office. He worked at a large desk, cluttered with papers, pens, a stapler, a calculator and a phone. . . The desk had all sorts of secret drawers, in which he kept such things as correction strips, carbon paper, rubber stamps and a letter opener. Beside his desk stood a smaller table for his typewriter.

‘Of course, it was great playing with all this stuff, and it’s amazing how lively my memories of this have stayed. I can still smell the ink and paper; I can still hear the rumble of the typewriter and the special sound it made at the end of a line when he hit the carriage return to start a new line. And the sound the telephone made when you dialled the chosen prefix: 055, one long and two shorter turns. Or the taste of Pastiglie Valda throat pastilles that I stole from his desk, and sugar that stuck to the bottom of the tin that I licked off with a wet finger.

‘I also have lots of memories of my grandfather that have nothing to do with his office. For example, as a toddler I used to fall asleep in his lap, like a baby koala bear, while he sat in his armchair watching the news or reading.’

GRANDPA ANTONIO

‘Grandpa Antonio is my grandfather on my father’s side. I never got to know him well. Not because he died young or anything, but simply because we didn’t see each other that often. My grandmother wasn’t close to him either.

The two of them were not used to showing love, but luckily they found a way of living together. It meant that my grandfather spent most of the day in his workshop, down in the basement of their apartment building. I was scared of those cellars under the building. You could only get there by a steep staircase, it was always pitch black, and I was scared of getting lost in the maze of identical corridors and doors. Most residents of the complex used their basement space for storage; my grandfather was the only one who spent his days there. He made wooden toys, like cars, but also kitchen items such as cutting boards and spoons. My mom still has a whole bunch of them in her kitchen. When it was time to eat, my grandmother never went downstairs to call him. Instead, she’d switch the light on and off until he came up. During the war, Grandpa Antonio was half-deafened by a bomb explosion. He wore a hearing aid that would start making a strange noise if you got too close to him. I’ll never forget that sound.’

March 2015 IDEAS 99

your your lifelife

Louise Spamer’s maternity leave included the birth of Cut, her own laser-cutting business.

by TERENA LE ROUX photos ELSKE KRITZINGER st yling DAL A WAT TS

100 IDEAS March 2015

Who and where

Louise lives with her quantity surveyor husband Jaco and their four children, Sebastian (12), Isabella (10), Liam (7) and Noah (2) and two dogs, Griffin and Coco, on the smallholding at Kameeldrift outside Pretoria where she grew up. Out of sheer boredom, this erstwhile interior designer started playing around with her father’s laser cutter while she was on maternity leave for six months. She enjoyed it so much that she soon bought her own machine, quit her job and founded Cut.

Product range

‘I started with laser-cut flags – I was pretty much the bunting queen! Nowadays I make a range of beautiful things for the home, as well as lots of special orders. I get my colour inspiration from the many different beads I see at markets – the ones that women wear around their necks and which reflect the mood of a moment.’

Personnel

‘I’m the sole “employee”! But there is an auditor who takes care of the finances for me. Having a background in illustration and design helps me a great deal when it comes to product development. I had to teach myself to do woodwork. And for marketing I’ve had to rely heavily on word of mouth, as well as being seen at the markets and expos where I sell. My kids are used to me being covered in wood dust and too dirty in the afternoons to go into the school to fetch them; by now they know they must come out to the car.’

Where to find Louise and her products • Tierlantynkies in Pretoria twice a year • Home markets • facebook.com/cutHandmadeDecor • Personal orders: email Louise at louise1spamer@gmail.com

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS HARD WORKING: there is no such thing as working nine-to-five Monday to Friday, especially if you work from home like I do.

CREATIVE: you absolutely cannot stagnate creatively; you have to keep your eyes open and stay in touch with everything that’s going on around you.

INDEPENDENT: you must be able to do what needs to be done

when it suits you.

March 2015 IDEAS 101

Q A • • •

• • •

• •

Why do some recipes specify a wooden spoon?

ven though a silicone spoon E basically does the same job, these are the reasons for the wooden spoon remaining a preferred tool: It’s strong, so it can stir thick things without breaking, and it can scrape things off the bottom of a pan.

It’s soft. With the possible exception of nonstick pans, it’s not going to scratch the finish of your cookware.

It’s insulated; if you’re making sweets or something else sensitive to sudden temperature changes, you’re not going to cause crystallization by putting in a tool that absorbs heat from your dish.

It has a high heat tolerance, so it won’t melt if it rests on the side of a pan or stirs something really hot.

It looks nice and feels nice in the hand.

For some of the above, plastic works fine. It’s soft and insulated, but it doesn’t have a high heat tolerance.

Also, it’s not very strong, so it won’t hold up stirring something particularly thick. Some plastics release chemicals when heated, and so if it’s not BPA free, there may be some health risks from using plastic utensils in hot liquids.

Silicone is a good alternative to wood; by and large, it will handle everything without a problem if it’s well made.

Metal utensils are strong and heat tolerant, but not as good as wood on the soft and insulated aspects.

compiled by TERENA LE ROUX st yling TARA SLOGGE T T photos TOBY MURPHY

From looking fresh after travelling to the best spoon to use, we have the answers.

102 IDEAS March 2015

your life

If you love a particular dress style and your favourite one is falling to pieces, take it to a dressmaker and ask her to copy the pattern for you. You will be able to have your dress made again and again for many years to come.

SOURCES: BOBBIE BROWN’S PRETTY POWERFUL AND 1001 QUICK FIXES & KITCHEN TIPS (PARRAGON); FINECOOKING.COM

Remind yourself of what you’ve completed and what still needs to be done by getting a rolling rubber stamp made stating ‘paid’, ‘returned’, ‘replied’, ‘gift bought’ and ‘done’. Working through your to-do list will be a lot more fun.

Q: My cut flowers never seem to last long in the vase. What can I do?

A: Keep your flowers in a cool spot

and away from any direct sunshine, and they will last longer. If you’re having visitors and you want to display the flowers in the centre of a room under the lights, only place them there just before your guests arrive.

Beauty tip The best trick to looking fresh after long-distance travel is to use corrector and concealer. Start with a corrector to brighten and neutralise discolouration under the eyes – pink tones for pinky-blue darkness and peach tones for purple-brown darkness. Apply with a concealer brush and blend with your fingers. Follow with your normal shade of concealer for a fresh, rested look.

YOU said it

We love hearing from you. Please send us your letters and emails. ideased@media24.com

Write to Ideas/You said it, Box 1802, Cape Town 8000, fax 021 408 3046, email us at ideased@media24.com, or go to www.ideasmag.co.za.

Remember to include your address and telephone number.

The writer of this month’s winning letter will receive a Jenam hamper valued at R1 500.

The hamper includes a selection of Jenam bags in fresh and funky prints, and a variety of Jenam bath and body products.

Go to www.jenam.co.za for stockists of the bag, bath and body products, or shop online at www.surpriseme.co.za

104 IDEAS March 2015

After years of looking forward to your magazine every single month, it seems only fair to let you know how much I enjoy your magazine.

Five years ago we moved from Holland to serve as missionaries in South Africa and Lesotho. Our expat neighbour back then introduced me to Ideas. A subscription was the perfect birthday present. What a joy it has been!

People come and go here at quite a fast rate, but Ideas has been my constant friend. I’ve had subscription after subscription, but I’m sad now because soon we will be migrating back home. The thought of having to miss your lovely magazine is daunting to me, although I could treat myself to an overseas subscription. That would be the ideal solution!

Thanks to the whole Ideas team for keeping me sane and creative for the past few years.

Bee Heemstra, by email

MADE WITH LOVE

I am a visiting swallow to your country. Recently, with a group of friends, we decided to take a long trip from Knysna, along the Wild Coast, and eventually ending up in the Kruger National Park.

We stopped at Port St Johns along the way and stayed at Umngazi.

While there I decided to treat myself to a massage and have a manicure and pedicure. While waiting to go in for my treatments, I thumbed through my first Ideas magazine.

I was fascinated by the diversity of ideas and came across the perfect one for Christmas: recipes for a lime cordial and a strawberry and pomegranate cordial.

On my return from my eyeopening but exhausting two-week trip, I started to make the cordials.

I sought out appropriate bottles and

made my own gift tags. They were my Christmas gifts to friends and neighbours, and to my gardener as well. Using an alternative sweetener to sugar, I also made one for my friend’s daughter, who is diabetic.

Everyone was delighted with their home-made gifts – all the more special as they were made with love. I even managed to save some for my dear husband.

I have now bought my first Ideas magazine and will continue to do so. I already fancy trying to make the filigree letter for my granddaughter, who is just about to move home. It would make a lovely homecoming gift to her for her bedroom wall. The papier-mâché bowls and the gift boxes are also on my to-do list. I wonder who will be the recipient of those!

Shirley Gardiner, by email

LETTERS MUST BE ORIGINAL AND MUST NOT HAVE BEEN OFFERED FOR PUBLICATION ELSEWHERE. • WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, SHORTEN AND EDIT LETTERS. • WE WELCOME YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND WILL CONSIDER PUBLISHING THEM IF THEY ARE OF A SUITABLE QUALITY.

Enthusiastic fan

New best friend

There I was, sitting in hospital after an operation, paging through the Ideas magazine of September 2014 that someone left behind.

Seriously, I can’t believe I have not found you before now! I think your magazine is my new best friend.

I really love crafting and DIY, and I simply have to try the recipes on my baking blog. Inspiration overload!

I know exactly what I want: an Ideas magazine subscription.

Liezel Wakens, Cape Town

I have been buying Ideas magazine for years and have found the most wonderful inspiration in it.

When I moved to a small town up the West Coast I started walking on the beach. I had seen in Ideas how an old piece of furniture can be revamped and decided to try to do it with the shells and driftwood that I picked up on my walks. I love being creative, be it painting a picture, making a chilli sauce, or designing bracelets, bags, jewellery or key rings.

I love the inspiration that this magazine and the people in it give me. Thank you to all who work so hard to bring us new inspiration and ideas every month.

Delicious lavender

Your ‘In love with lavender’ article in the November issue of Ideas was perfectly timed. My parents went on a walking tour through France in October and came back gushing about how wonderful all the lavender was. So I created an edible lavender hamper for them for Christmas, packed with lavender products – all home-made, of course. Included in the gift were the macarons, madeleines and lavender syrup from the article. Thanks for the fantastic inspiration!

Leanne Harris, Hyde Park

Anna Ivanisevic, Cape Town

CREATIVE HOME ART

I look forward to my monthly Ideas subscription as you have such interesting articles that inspire me to try my hand at learning some of the finer points of home art.

Articles that have inspired me of late have been those about decorating with roses and decorating glass jars (August 2014) and the fruit cake decorations and flavouring of sugar with lavender (November 2014).

The fondant doily article in the January 2015 issue was very inspiring but I found the doilies broke too easily so I made some hearts instead.

There is still hope for those over the age of 60!

Ivy Volker, Port Elizabeth

March 2015 IDEAS 105

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craft & décor

all aboard

Clay and lace

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We made our own little plate using white air-dry clay and a glass plate to press a pattern into it in relief. Using a rolling pin, flatten your air-dry clay to a thickness of about 5mm, then use a craft knife to cut out a circular shape slightly larger than your plate. Place this clay disc over the back of your plate and cut away the excess. Press the clay onto the plate to transfer the pattern and roll lightly with the rolling pin to smooth out.

Leave the clay on the plate to dry overnight before peeling it away carefully the next day.

Set aside again to allow the inside to dry. Now you can paint your plate, or decorate it with goldleaf, if you prefer. Remember that a clay plate like this can be used for decorative purposes only.

TIP Spray the back of the plate with a light coating of nonstick cooking spray before pressing the clay onto it.

This will make it easier to peel off the clay the next day, without damaging your design.

1 IDEAS March 2015

010315E ceramics.indd 1-2

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Go to www.mysubs.co.za.

by LIZEL CLOE TE photos ED O’RILEY st yling CARIN SMITH

If you love beautiful crockery and enjoy collecting such items on your travels, this is the ideal project for you. Complete the collection yourself if the perfect plate (or destination) has eluded you.

1/28/15 10:18 AM

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106 IDEAS March 2015

Find heaps of Easter inspiration and lots of ‘bright’ plans in your next ON SALE FROM 16 MARCH 2015

• Make everything special with a touch of lace • Freshen up your home with our clever, budget-friendly projects • Entertain with a creative Easter breakfast • Glue and paint your own golden hanger (plus plenty more ideas to bring a shine to your life) • Surprise your friends with cute decorated eggs

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