Design Indaba This Week!

So, if you're going to believe Steven Heller, South Africa's Design Indaba is the largest design conference in the world.



I haven't been over to the Design Indaba website in, like, forevah, and was very impressed with it's new clean, shiny face when I popped over there to see what was happening this week at the conference in Cape Town.



There are a lot of lovely things going on, from the exhibition of superb South African design at the Expo, to internation guest speakers, like Marian Bantjies. She is, truly, an inspiration to me, so I am quite sad that I can't be there. Well, maybe one day she'll visit Boston.

For more info on what's going down, straight from the horses' mouths, check out Elle Deco SA's blog and The Wren's (who managed to bag a ticket AND a goodie bag. Lucky girl).

PS: My beautiful Migrating Bird will be winging it's way to me tomorrow. As soon as she flies in and has a new home, I'll give up some pics.

Putting Pieces Back Together Again

Over at Jezze's blog, I enjoyed how someone who ordered one of her tea cups but ended up with a broken one, resolved the issue.



I love these pendants! The buyer sent the cup over to the Broken Plate and they made good use of them. For $35 you could have one of your very own, with $5 going to a worthy cause.

Another favourite of mine, is Jezze's print of a migrating bird... beautiful.

Its my birthday today, and as a card that I've received says, if I were my age in dog years, I'd be dead! Perhaps I should treat myself to the print (only $7, unbelievable quality) while I still can. I could see it sitting beautifully on my desk at work in a red frame... if I were at work. I'm off now to enjoy my birthday at home :) Enjoy the rest of your day, my dears!

Inspiration

Two of my favourite things: crockery and flowers. As seen in House & Garden South Africa, Jan/Feb 2009

And Now Presenting...

Stoned Cherrie in New York!



Congrats to Nkhensani Nkosi, as her lovely line of clothing will be gracing the runways at New York fashion week. Here's hoping that it's lots of the right attention and makes huge waves!



(Read more at LadyBrille)

It's 9:30 and time for an update...

Check out the New York Times for more info ("Anybody tuned into fashion knows that sub-Saharan Africa is currently in vogue (and in Vogue)")... there is an article on the African Fashion Collective, with whom Stoned Cherrie is showing. The report chatted to Nkhensani, "For Nkhensani Nkosi, the founder of the South African label Stoned Cherrie, African fashion has been signified by "the Big Five and leopard prints" for too long. She was referring, of course, to the checklist (lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, rhino and leopard) every big game hunter and tourist with a point-and-shoot hopes to bag."




For more on what Nkhensani and others said, read this, and check out a slide show of The African Fashion Collective here (unfortunately I don't recognise any Stoned Cherrie stuff)

Home on the Couch

So, after much deliberation, I bought my cowhide pillow. I like it, what do you think?



Now I just need to make sure that Lou doesn't bury his bones under it!

The Great Outdoors

I always find myself drawn to outdoor areas, and I love places like this, with African elements: the tree trunks, animal hides and cool colours. (Is that a shweshwe stripe on the pillow!?)



And when looking at places like this, I am usually not surprised that the furniture comes from one of my all-time favourite South African shops: Weylandts.

As seen in South African House & Garden magazine, Jan/Feb 2009

Wish I Was There

I was going to say that I hope these guys ship overseas, but this shop really looks like a place you need to go to and enjoy in person. Next time I'm in Cape Town, it's a definite!


The Rhubarb Room sells gifts and clothing, and have a cafe', all in French style.

A Special Arrival

Today is a special day. My nephew was born this morning! After being excited all day, I find myself at a loss to express how wonderful and special this occasion is. So, all I can say is congratulations again to his parents, who I know are going to be wonderful in their new roles, and I look forward to many happy years of being an aunt. Thank you!



This is art that I bought for my nephew's room... it 3D illustration by the talented Helen Musselwhite (check out her work, she also does art for grown-ups, and is a pleasure to work with), and she called it Bushveldt Buddies. With a love of wildlife running strong on both sides of the young man's family, I thought it would be fitting to have something along those lines for his nursery, to be with him every day.

Can't wait to meet him!

A Private Safari

One of the best things to do when you're in southern Africa, is to go on safari. One of the best places to do that, by far, is Londolozi Private Game Reserve. I recently became aware of the Granite Suites at the Reserve and had to share these beautiful images with you. The elephant is easily my favourite, bringing his majestic presence to the living area.










The elephant photo is originally from House & Garden magazine (Jan/Feb '09) where the designer, Yvonne O'Brien talks about her primary objective was the work with the unique and giant granite rocks that are outside the camp, in the Sand River. I love it... it makes me think of lying in bed at night, hearing the hippos hurumphing outside, birds calling and smelling the sweet smell of African grass.

Cab Sav, Anyone?

Even though I am not a wine drinker, there is something I have known for quite some time. South African wines are fantastic. Apparently the folks over at the New York Times didn't. Anyway, they've made amends with this lovely article on how fabulous our cabernet sauvignons are. Particularly those "moderately priced" ones from Stellenbosch. And in my humble opinion, what's even more heavenly than cab savs that are "balanced, with a sense of structure and shape, that are indisputably cabernet sauvignon with flavors of cassis and violets, cedar and minerals"? Visiting Stellenbosch and sampling them myself, of course! And I don't even like wine. Enjoy the rest of the review here, with listings of the wines that are available in the States.

PS: This completely counts as art and/or design (the subject of this blog). Fine wines do not happen by happenstance.

Unbelievable

Um, so after all my complaining about not getting the tealight candle holders that I wanted in South Africa, I was at Anthropologie on the weekend and found myself some very similar ones, in fine bone china, that look like artichokes.


Of course, I snapped them up.


Oh, they are delightful. I couldn't find them on the Anthropologie website, but if you like them, I'm sure you'll find them at your local branch.

(yippeee!)

Summer On My Mind

With more than a foot of snow outside, I am definitely dreaming of spring. With that in mind I am in love with these pieces from habits, based in Cape Town.





Check out the dress here and the shoes here.