Red, Green, Hot

Irresistable chillies from my garden in watercolour. I have been having a lot of fun finding edible things that are either homegrown or selfseeded. there is nothing to beat 'freshly picked' for flavour and bursting goodness.

Watercolour

Finders Keepers

I found these deliciously juicy, rich yellow gooseberries growing in a sun drenched ditch.

Gooseberry watercolour

Summer sketch

Sunripened Tomato's sunday afternoon sketch

Can you tell I'm happily on holiday. Time to smell the tomato's, soak up the sun and as my kids say chillax.

Learning From The Great

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

Winston Churchill

Do you think he knew about me :) 

Success in the making.

Happiness Is Right Under Your Nose

I've just come back from a bitterly cold weekend up the West Coast in Namaqualand. Howling winds, rain, icy temperatures and dramatic landscapes (some of what you can see on my instagram shots). But the most visual fun I had was with the smallest of things, and a new lens that allowed me get up really close and personal.

Stained Glass Window

Window at Oude Molen.

Every week I pass this beautiful chapel like window as I climb a set of narrow concrete stairs to the pottery studio and it never ceases to make me think of growth, fairy tales and prayers.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

There is a timelessness to some days that is hard to capture. A perfect winter Cape morning is such a thing. It should be savoured, rolled around tongue and eyeball. Lapped up and splashed in - enjoy.

Make Your Vote Count.

On Monday, as I went to collect my morning brew, Honest Chocolate's take on the elections made me smile and reflect on the state of out nations politics. What are our choices? How do they stand up to closer scrutiny? Who do I like best? Will they deliver?

As tweeted by Margeret Young...

The melting pot in-progress - literally.

And Maybe I shouldn't take it all so seriously and just watch how things develop as the politics
heat up :)

Have a bitter-sweet, weekend.

If You've Got It, Flaunt It.

Sunset Beach - Cape Town

"Slow Down, You Move Too Fast."

Autumn, the adagio of seasons has arrived. Where ochers, browns, golds, dusty moths and candles flicker, the air smells of woodsmoke and the damp settles in. Time to slow down and tuck up and
settle down after the helter skelter of summer...

I found this huge moth on the windowsill in my kitchen. I think it's called a hawk moth but it reminded me in colour of the change of seasons. We've just had heaps of rain and you can tell by the crispness of the air in the morning that summer is moving on.
Personally I think it's about time for a bit of red wine by the fire :)

Still Life from the Potters Market

Unfortunately I did not manage to get the name of this particular artist but it's an image I will keep with me for a long time - just beautiful.

Pottering Over A Long Weekend

This past Saturday I visited the Potters Market in Rondebosch Park for the first time. 

What a feast for the eyes. From plates that are art, to platters to feast from there was something for everyone. I have tried to capture some of the bustle, creativity and people. 

Unfortunately I was not able to get the names of everyone's work that is featured here because of the crowds, however I have tried where possible and if your work is featured and you would like me to add a credit please contact me and I will gladly do so.

Belinda Ormond helped by Paul on the day

Belinda's (my teacher and mentor) lovely stall, with her beautiful vases, bowls, proteas and quirky little men put a smile on my dial.

 

The Rhino, birdy & grasshopper belong to Sonja Moore. 

Petro van Zyl & daughter from De Kleipot

more from De Kleipot 

Magical glazes by John the Potter

Music by Johan de Meyer and the Proudly Macassar Pottery

Spoons by Sonja Moore and purple nail polish by innocent bystander 

top right plates by PB ceramics & tiles by De Kleipot

So much loveliness makes the heart a happy place. 

Me Too

I found this beauty of a post by amanda briggs at dear ada while following a link on pinterest.

Real Botanical Love

" I'm a total sucker for botanical formatting. I mean the real stuff, tucked away in some some obscure vault or drawer in some ancient museum. I know that this is science but it makes my heart skip a beat from a artistic composition point of view. I love the real plant material, dried and fragile, stuck to the aging paper with paper tape. And how about the typed text that details the pertinent information, juxtaposed with the letter pressed text and then of course the lovely, fluid hand written information? These are as breathtaking as any collage or assemblage as far as I'm concerned. I could just go on and on but I thankfully won't. If you want to see more of these particular beauties go here. 
Oh, be still my heart!"   Amanda Briggs

I have never read a more eloquent piece on the subject
and I sincerely hope that she doesn't mind me sharing,
because it is exactly how I feel.
What a happy find, thank you Amanda for this,
and all the other inspirational posts.

I Think I'm In Trouble.

"Show me your garden 

and I shall tell you 

what you are."

Alfred Austin

 - found via Brainy Quote

Dead Plant Society: Roll Call

2014...and so it begins
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers come to an early demise
as the Mystery Midnight Trimmer
leaves yet another branch on the deck...

How the mighty have fallen

I wish someone would fess-up so I can come to terms with my loss and move on.
(Revenge after all, is a dish best served cold)