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.

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.

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

Grass Stiching

None of my on-going projects are in the position of being worthy of a visual record yet - so time for some eye candy... I found this via Mike McDowell's pinterest site and just couldn't resist :)
Featured on pavingexpert.com here (just scroll down). Imagine the possibilities!
P.S. I'm sorry it's such a small pic but I could not find better

Bag! Ladies!

Bag by Tjou-tjou

My fabulous new handbag! Do yourself a favour and pop over to tjou-tjou for a peek at Henriette's latest creation... and then get your hands on one - I am totally in love with mine.

All Picture No Sound...yet

MIG Moodboard

So this is the other thing I've been occupying my time with!
Part of my homework for The Blogging Your Way Course - I'm planning a more interesting but no less imperfect future and you're invited :)

Oops! I just realised I forgot to add this...
Some of the images I used I've collected on pinterest.

The seagull: Marc Johns
Water colour bird illustr: Matt Sewell
Beans: Peter at slouvlakiforthesoul.com
White ink on brown paper by: Oh! Deer Julie
Oh! and last but not least the cup: Annette Oberwelland
Stiched labels and pressed flowers: found via carly-mac.tumblr.com

Say It Like It Is

Look what I got today! One of tjou-tjou's beautiful hand stitched cards - customised for yours truly. I think it deserves a frame and place of importance in my kitchen. 

You'll make me smile everyday my friend tks.

Pic and design by Henriette from tjou-tjou

Out Of Print

I have always loved print, and when I laid eyes on this little edition I could not walk away.

They just don't make them like this any more.

 Thank God for libraries!

Random Radish...

I'm a vegetarian (duh!)

No, I've never been in love

Yes, I do blush (in many colours)

Cover-up; the weathered look is really unattractive

Real women have hair

Above ground is positive?

You've gotta have greens - so just get over it.

You're weird - I like that

(next seasons colour chart)

Blogging, Birthdays, Buddies en Dorings

I am now the proud owner of one of the sweetest tin mugs ever to grace this earth - see more of her fab designs here.

Sometimes you need a special kind of friend to remind you what you've started, what you've achieved and what you've left by the way side. Henriette from tjou-tjou is such a friend. It's been six months since I've visited my own blog and I've missed this space. So, Henriette thank you my friend for my very special pressie and for sitting on my case (ever so nicely). Jy's my favourite "doring in die vlees".

I Know Cool People

Yarn bombing by IsaBeauPeep outside the CCIC Cape Town

I happened to drive past  this 'yarn bombing' yesterday and actually recognised the handy work of IsaBeauPeep. It left me smiling from ear to ear - you go girl!

Fees Van Die Engele

Translated it means "Festival of the Angels" and it's a small Christmas market in Somerset West.

Henriette from tjou-tjou had some of her beautiful products on display. I wish I had taken more pics because not only were the products beautiful but the way they were displayed was as well. She'll also be at "Kamers vol geskenke" next weekend so keep your eyes open if you're going.

Tjou-tjou at Fees van die Engele

I've got mine :)

Herb Drying - my first try

Going home to roost has become a frequent stop-over for me - all because of this post. A simple but beautiful herb dryer caught my eye and I was hooked. So much so that I've made one for myself. I made it out of earthenware clay and the pattern is a roll-stamp I carved 2 years ago.

Herb dryer with thyme, rosemary, curry bush & bay leaves; inspired by this post.

 I didn't have anything else but her picture to go on so I kinda thumb sucked - not that it's rocket science but then again that's what makes it.

Going home to roost

This is such a simple idea, unfortunately I could find no further link or reference to it anywhere else.
I have to say I thoroughly enjoy the various sections to her blog.

Wabbits In Spwingtime

 We've all been at it again - the handover was yesterday at 'Yours Truly'. See more of the bunnies and the idea behind them.

And here she finally is... my bunny faces added to Ronel and Henriette's contributions - shwe-etie (pronounced schweetie)

Spring Fever

Over on sweet&soutie the bunny rabbits are already multiplying. 

This really cool project was the brainchild of Chantelle and Henriette and based on the dada and surrealist movements "Exquisite corpse" drawing process. 

Drawings by Victor Brauner, André Breton, Jacques Hérold and Yves Tanguy, 1935.

Everyone gets to add their own personal touch to a single bunny (I'm looking forward to having a hand in this too)- the results are really starting to look very interesting. The bunnies will then be sold in aid of a charity. Little things can make a big difference. Ears off to you ladies! Follow the process here.

Spring Has Sprung - At Last...

Henriette from tjou-tjou sent me this link last week - but I only feel able to post it now.

Why you may ask? Well, because I woke up to the sun shining! (Cape Town is always a few steps behind the rest of the country in reacting to official dates)

The GreenMarker

Aren't these little bookmarks posted by jokemijn and for sale at whiterabbitexpress just the thing to mark the date.