The Magic Of Mexico
19th June 2013
This morning my favourite online shop Yuppie Chef sent me an inspired email about The Magic of Mexico - a new range of cooking supplies they stock.
Perfect timing for our Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup this evening!
Mmmmmmm.
CommentAfrika Burn
13th June 2013
Inspiration for 2014.
Lots of timelapse + a trek to Afrika Burn.
This is what it’s all about…
Dinosaur Boy
17th April 2013
I love the Dinosaur Boy card I bought this morning by Cape Town illustrator Whimsy.
Now I need to get it stamped up and in the post for my munchkin nephew.
Topshop
15th April 2013
Finally, the new Cape Town Topshop is opening at the V&A Waterfront this Thursday.
Hope it’s good!
Mat & May
15th April 2013
I discovered Mat & May last week and found some pretty cool bits and bobs in their store. Leather satchels and cute purses, as well as some sexy notebooks, cards and papers.
I love that these stationery-cum-nik-nak-cum-accessory style shops are having a revival. Aussie store Typo (at Canal Walk) is another great example and is perfect for finding fun little gifts in.
Dark Star Safari
8th April 2013
I bought Dark Star Safari for Si for his birthday. He read it and loved it, and I just finished it and loved every single word.
I think Paul Theroux is my new hero. His overland trip from Cairo to Cape Town was inspiring, funny and eye-opening.
Next up Sunrise with Seamonsters.
Mount Nelson
8th April 2013
I think the photos pretty much explain it all, but just in case – Afternoon Tea at the Mount Nelson rocks.
Almost one of everything they had in miniature.
• Samosas • salmon pikelets • tomato tarts • spinach tarts • cheesecake • eclairs • hazelnut torte • macaroons • milk tart • lamingtons • red velvet cupcakes doughnuts • fruit • a mix and match of all kinds of chocolate bites … and of course • cucumber sandwiches.
We drank:
Lemon tea, Darjeeling tea + a sneaky glass of Simonseig Sparkling Brut.
Who won?
It was officially declared a tie.
The Great Cape Town Sweet Off
5th April 2013
Later today I’m heading to the Mount Nelson Hotel for Afternoon Tea with my sweet friend Steffi.
We’re sort of going to celebrate our birthdays, but the truth is she thinks she can eat more cake than me. I doubt this, so a sweet off challenge has been declared.
If I don’t pop, I’ll be back next week with a sweet report.
** All of these delicious creations are from Afternoon Crumbs, a super cute blog run by the sister of one of Si’s colleagues. Check it out for the cool photography and lots of tasty recipes.
Johnny Neon / Hearts
3rd April 2013
Eeeek! This video for Johnny Neon’s Hearts is amazing.
Dave – the director at Cape Town production house MacDuff – spent the weekend looking after his friend’s dog Lemon … and this is what they got up to.
(Look out for the bit on the beach when Lemon shakes everywhere. Brilliant!)
(Thanks Ewa)
Heart Of Gold
26th March 2013
Can’t wait to go and check out Jordan Metcalf and Daniel Ting Chong‘s latest collaboration at Salon 91.
Heart of Gold opens tomorrow and is on until April 20th.
Be sure to stop by if you’re on Kloof Street.
Holi One / Cape Town Style
22nd March 2013
…and here’s a bit of colour for your weekend!
Holi One was awesome. The best thing I’ve done by far in a long, long time.
This amazing photo was taken by Iain and the awesome video was put together by Justin.
Same time, same place next year guys?
Flower
20th March 2013
One of my lovely florist friends is doing a wedding in the Winelands today and guess who gets to be her assistant? Yup!
I’m sure I was a florist in a previous life… Can’t. Wait.
See you tomorrow folks!
In Rainbows
19th March 2013
I found some Michael Elion crystals making rainbows all over the street this morning.
Thank you world for giving us amazing artists to help make life more beautiful!
#colourmehappy
The Wave
18th March 2013
Si and I decided that it would be a cool idea to buy a piece of art each year as an anniversary gift and this is #1. A print by Tasmanian surf photographer Stu Gibson.
We bought the file from Stu and printed it big (it measures just over 1m) at Orms on Metallic Lightjet paper.
It’s been making me smile all weekend.
Michael Elion
13th March 2013
Michael Elion is the South African artist who hung a gigantic, crystal covered heart between 2 palm trees in Camps Bay last year. It went up just in time for our wedding and featured in almost all of our guests photos at some point!
He’s also the artist who created a man-made rainbow in the middle of the city for Creative Cape Town.
This morning I saw a photo of him in a cherry picker hanging crystals from street poles. I’m guessing it was outside The Dog’s Bollocks as the photos were by yard_ct on Instagram. I’ll go and find them on the weekend and report back with pictures.
Candy Skulls
12th March 2013
Found this guy at Cape Town based Sobeit Studio and thought he was rather cool.
He’s apparently anatomically correct too.
Enmasse
11th March 2013
Yesterday I cashed in the enmasse voucher my sweet husband got me for our anniversary and man, was it fun!
I was suitably impressed when we arrived (I had to take him with me really, didn’t I?) and the space they occupy is beautiful. Double height ceilings, double height windows with everything painted a dark, navy blue that oozes calm.
I’ve always thought their branding was awesome, and we’ve been receiving the Matrix (their fortnightly newsletter) for a couple of years now – so although I kind of knew what to expect it was still a cool treat.
The massage is done without oil so you’re given white Thai style pajamas to wear, and once you’re upstairs you lie on a Japanese floor mattress for the massage itself. The music we listened to included Bon Iver, Ed Sheeran and Smashing Pumpkins so it was completely unique in that sense too.
Afterwards you can hang out in their tea room (which was a whole experience in itself), relax, read a magazine and choose from 49 flavours of tea.
Everything from the white Havaianas down to the double walled glass tea cups had been thought through and it was the perfect Sunday afternoon treat. I’d definitely recommend a voucher as a gift or to treat yourself because … well, just because.
Maybe we can go again next week?
1. Havaianas
2. Tea Filters
3. Glass Teapot
4. Double Walled Glasses
5. Tea Sand Timer
Goldfish
4th March 2013
We saw Goldfish play at Kirstenbosch yesterday and it was awesome.
What a BEAUTIFUL place to have a show (and I can’t believe we didn’t go to a Summer Concert before!) Yikes.
Design Indaba 2013
4th March 2013
I ended up popping into Design Indaba for a quick run around yesterday morning, and these were some of my favourite finds…
Farah Hernandez
I’m a sucker for succulents and the little guys potted in Sara Hernandez’s gorgeous ceramic hangings were absolutely divine.
Nina Du Plessis
These wooden geometric wall hooks were amazing … and very reasonable at R80 a hook.
Milame Design
Emma Atkinson’s ink drawings were cool and reminded me of one of my favourite prints by Supermundane.
Mona Pants
I completely fell in love with Simone le Roux’s creatures. She has some awesome illustrated characters on her Behance site, but the handmade dudes were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
The Tale of Balaclava Bear / Sootcookie
I’m always drawn to Tanya Laing’s work and last year I picked up a Sootcookie ceramic paper plane which I love. The Tale of Balaclava Bear is a collaboration between her and Alex Goldberg and although I’m not so into the bears themselves, I think the story behind them is awesome.
Jinn
The simple elegance of Jeanine Benjamin’s bracelets and rings were lovely. Too bad she didn’t have that triangle bracelet at the expo because I would’ve bought it for sure.
Mervyn Gers Ceramics
Although this brand felt a little commercial (and have designed ranges for some big name restaurants and vineyards around Cape Town) I couldn’t help but fall in love with these African/Chinese plates. The dragon, rhino and machine gun combinations were beautiful and bizarre.
20eight
Concrete jewellery, lighting and bowls with some lovely angles.
Simple Intrique
I spotted this folded African map on some Design Indaba signage before going into the expo and it was even more beautiful in real life.
Design Indaba 2013
28th February 2013
Yes, it’s that time of year again folks, when the best of the South Africa design world come out to play at Design Indaba.
Like always I wish I had some spare cash to actually see some of the conference (Jessica Hische is speaking on Saturday) but I’m happy enough to pop down tomorrow to get inspired, and I’ll put a post together next week of all of my favourite finds.
Stay tuned!
Paper Love
21st February 2013
Exactly 1 year ago today I was on the beach hanging out with my awesome friends and family, drinking champagne and going crazy with excitement waiting to (finally!) marry my absolute best friend in the whole world.
It still makes me breathless to think about it.
Happy paper love baby. Keep on rocking my world.
xxx
Lalesso X Pichulik
5th February 2013
On Saturday at Neighbourgoods I discovered Pichulik, a handmade jewellery brand with pieces made from climbing rope.
Not only are Katherine-Mary’s jewellery designs awesome, she’s also done a collaboration with Lalesso to produce a range of bags and purses.
This gorgeous Jaali purse has gone straight onto my birthday wishlist.
Holi One
4th February 2013
In a month’s time Cape Town will be hosting the first ever African Holi Festival of colour!
Run by Seed Experiences Agency (the same guys who put on Rocking The Daisies) they say, “The global HOLI ONE festival is not directly linked to the original Holi Festival, nor with it’s religious aspects, but is definitely inspired by it and shares the same values – a day steeped in the old Indian tradition of bringing people together in love and peace, a tradition that transcends backgrounds and cultures.” So basically loads of colour, love, partying and powder throwing with no need to get religious. Perfect!
Holi One is on March 2nd at the Grand Parade – so get your white clothes on, buy your tickets here and see you there!
The Month Of Love
1st February 2013
Hello February!
It’s the month of love and I’m very excited for 2 reasons:
1. Valentine’s Day = the perfect excuse (not that we ever really need one) to go out and have a slap up meal somewhere cool.
2. Wedding Anniversary #1 = happily married bliss for one year – another perfect excuse for bubbles and delicious food!
Can’t wait.
(Charly’s Bakery cupcakes hand-delivered from our sweet Mush)
