Let's Travel Again

A million years ago, you know, when this blog started, I liked to go travelling on Fridays (remember Londolozi? Or Mozambique?! And Pemba Beach Sanctuary?). Its something I think we should do again. We can indulge our Friday-is-here-and-I-want-to-run-away feeling! I was reminded of these recently, when I went over to that lovely blog, greige, and saw the Oyster Box Hotel.









Gosh, looking at that last pic, I can actually taste the salty air!



Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! And to my American friends, Happy Halloweeeen! I'm going to be Morticia Addams at a party tonight. Who/what are you going to be?

(Fantastic last image from here)

Afro Modern Meets Kate Spade

Wow, this pic could definitely have fit into the animal hide decor posts I did a while back. I love, love, love seeing African elements used in a modern, kick-ass way.



This is the living room of Deb Lloyd, the art director of Kate Spade. So chic!

You can see more pics of the living room over at the Neo-Trad, and more of the photographer, Nick Brandt, in a previous post I've written on his work.

Kamersvol Geskenke

This Wednesday Kamersvol Geskenke is starting again. Five days of glorious inspiration; a showcase of South African handiwork and craftsmanship.

For my non-Afrikaans speaking readers, the name means "Rooms Full of Gifts". It's where artists, crafters, foodies, interiors junkies and others get together. I so, so, so wish I could make the trip to Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West (there is also now a smaller version in Pretoria this year) to participate. Sigh.

Here are some pics from their gallery for us to get into the spirit.

















And some of my favourite bloggers will be there: the Wren, Skinny Laminx and Jezze. You can read more about their trips from last year if you click on their names.





(last two images from the Wren, and Skinny Laminx)

While I'm Away

Due to a couple of big projects that have come my way, I've been distracted. While I'm gone, there is a fun new blog for you to check out: Elle South Africa has got online!



With a fun header by Ms Skinny laMinx, its off to a stylish start. You can read more about Elle staffers, what they're up to and up-to-the-minute trends... plus the Elle Senior Fashion Editor's name is Kirsty, just like mine, so we're in good hands! Right not there's posting on Paris fashion week, snippets from upcoming issues and some new fashion items to die for!





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See you soon! xoxo

A Graphic Heritage

To top off this week's heritage-inspired posts, I'll share with you something that came my way via The Daily Heller (and its not furniture-related, promise). What a surprise last week to Anti-Apartheid posters staring out at me from my work email.







All of these are by British-born artist, David King, who was art editor of the Color Magazine at the London Sunday Times, and also a producer of political posters and graphics in the late 70s and early 80s. You can see (and buy) some of his collection in Cleveland, at Productive Arts. You can read more about it on Steven Heller's blog.

Scandi Style in Africa

In keeping with this week's heritage theme, here are some SA boys celebrating their Scandinavian heritage in the African context surrounding them. And, of course, the combo is pretty cool.

Pedersen + Lennard (I'm not sure what their first names are... hmmm...) create everything from lamps to seating from things found lying around (chicly photographed alongside South Africa's ever-present but fashion's very current, velskoene).

How about a light created with buckets...



Or seating made from buckets?



Here's a great way to turn heritage on its head! Putting a lovely cushy pillow on what many of us have placed our behinds on at some point, the good old crate.



I also love the grid table and the Mugabe lamp (I'd like to hear the story behind that name)....





And the last thing I am going to show you is how beautiful a simple thing like a towel peg can be. *Sigh*. I love it when design does good.



You can read more, and see more of their lovely wares on their website.

Heritage

In honour of the wonderful Heritage Day that South Africans are so lucky to celebrate (and we all say... YUM!) this week I'll have some posts based on heritage. I seem to be a bit late with my celebrations because the actual holiday was last Friday, and we only had our little lekker* braai yesterday, it is always better late than never.

First off I'd like to introduce you to (if you are not already acquainted) to James B Hannah.




James wields his welding tools to create some pretty impressive steel sculptures (I love the red girl and could definitely see her gracing one of the walls of my home).





Besides the beauty of the sculptures, James also creates some practical furniture.



My favourites are his braai chairs and tables. I think its only fitting that this set goes with this post, not only because its about heritage day but because I grew up with the original braai chair and table this draws inspiration from (as did many South Africans). I love how he's reinvented them on modern lines.





If you'd liked to see more, you can visit James' website, JHB Design.

*SA slang for delicious, good, cool, etc.