Rooms on View

Today Rooms on View opened for another exciting year's exhibition. I look forward to reading all about it on their website, and from my friends in South Africa. Jezze posted on her contribution to the South Africa House exhibit, which will be iLunch: a lunch table decorated and set with South African wares (for my American friends, a few of the more anglicised Zulu words used today have an "i" in front, like ilunch, although I am nots sure if this actual word is really used). This is Jezze's contribution... I hope to see more in her etsy shop soon!



One of the exhibitors who has caught my eye is togu'na . Unfortunately, all I can see is their website, which is still being constructed. I look forward to letting you know when I see it up and running. The home page looks really promising, I'm sure their exhibit will be fantastic!



Another exhibitor who caught my eye was Biggie Best. I grew up with Biggie Best selling very flowery stuff... I did have a set of curtains that I LOVED with a calico color background, with tiny ribbons twirling down, and roses in between, I think. I loved them but don't think I could deal with them now :) although I do still love a really pared back girly/country look.

I was really pleased to see what Biggie Best is doing now... I particularly love the French ticking. Ooooh!




I am a bit of a fabric sucker, which I blame on having a quilter for a mother. A good friend just bought me some silk fabric from China: a red cherry blossom! I am so excited... when I have some time off I get to sew with that plus the shwe shwe I got a while back from a great friend, and in a surprise gift from SA. Can't wait.

And a special thanks to my friend Ros for reminding me that Rooms opened today. What would I do without you?

A Year in the Blogosphere!

I can't believe that I started this blog a year ago... 150 posts and time has flown by. I've really enjoyed being able to find my favourite southern Africa goodies and get them online. My only wish is that I wasn't quite so busy so I could get more up here!



Thanks for the support and reading!

Isn't That a Song?

I recently discovered Parklife (via Skinny Laminx and Jezze) and like where they're headed! Buy SA stuff online, in dollars, pounds or rands. Lovely.

My faves: Skinny's flowers



and Muti's tshirts.



And the fact that I can see all Muti's products via a link. Lekker, thanks Parklife!

Throwing Bubbles

Love this jug from Mick Haigh, called the Bubble Jug.



(As seen in the House & Leisure magazine, Nov 07)

A Spot of One's Own

Seen recently on the SA Elle Decor blog... my own office is in the center of the house, in the dining room. This makes me yearn for my own room, which I could girly-fy.



Which reminds me... I should call Amazon and find out where my latest issue of Elle Decor is, it hasn't arrived yet...

SA in the Design News

I met up with an old, good friend (check out her super foodie blog!!) for lunch on Sunday after far too long of missing her company, and she had just been shopping at H&M. While there she found their latest magazine... and lots of it had been shot in South Africa!



I love the turban-style head gear, very South African! There was also saris, and lots of animal print and silver jewellry. Gorgeous. I must head over there for some new fun summer pieces for my wardrobe.

The magazine also had a piece on visiting Cape Town, with a really comprehensive list of places to visit... from the Afro Cafe (which I've blogged about before) to the Neighborhood Goods Market, in which you can find the lovely textiles of Skinny and the beautiful work of Jezze. They even had a little tidbit on where to go to learn more about Apartheid. I was a little surprised to see that, I haven't seen that before this kind of lifestyle publication, so it's great. I have a lot of people my age in the States are not aware of Apartheid, which I think is more of from Apartheid being a big issue to earlier generations than anything else.



So, if you're in H&M, be sure to pick up a copy (there's no H&M in SA yet, is there?)

Swinging in the Breeze

hi, it's me again. You thought I'd forgotten you, hadn't you? Not to worry, I was just wrapping up the semester, getting on track at my new job and then sneaking off for a long weekend (yep, Maine was awesome!)

But now back to the serious work of talking about art and design from southern Africa! May I bring your attention to the delightful work of Design Abode? They started out as straight up-and-down interior designers and ended up producing beautiful furniture using local talent. Lovely!