Blog Archives
10 Smashing Mother’s Day Gifts
By Marica
Mother’s Day is just around the corner and as you know from previous posts my recent Mother’s Day track record hasn’t been so good… not that I haven’t been trying. This year however I’ve decided to keep it simple – dead simple. In fact, I’m not even going to set a foot outside my front door – this year, I’m gift shopping online!
I am so thankful for the new wave of South Africa online design and décor shops – a few years ago none existed. Now you can comfortably browse and purchase the best that South African design has to offer without leaving your couch.
I have selected ten awesome Mother’s Day gifts from a few local online stores. The items range from budget – for those with a tight pocket, to luxe – for those who REALLY want to spoil mom and can afford to. Please be sure to follow the link in each image caption to the relevant online shop – nothing wrong with a bit of online window shopping!
{Please click on images to enlarge & start the slide show}
Keep Mom’s toes nice and warm this winter with these adorable cable knit slippers from Woolworths – R 120.00. Not only is cable knitting super trendy, it also super cosy! | http://www.woolworths.co.za/Home/Women/Lingerie/Slippers/Cable-Knit-Slippers/501897324.pid
I absolutely adore this unique Dark Urchin Necklace designed by Chris Krafft! It’s so stunningly beautiful I might steal this one for myself. Available from Meekel – R 621.00 | http://www.meekel.co.za/jewellery/dark-urchin-necklace
The Three Pink Flowers Cushion, handcrafted by It’s Me Tanya, is soft, fresh & feminine! via 5rooms.com – R 549.00 | http://www.5rooms.com/gifts/It-s-Me-Tanya-Three-Pink-Flowers-Cushion-With-Inner-Pillow-11648.html
This blue and white, knife and fork design tea towel is hand-printed onto a cotton / linen blend by Maradadhi Textiles. Available from Meekel – R100.00 | http://www.meekel.co.za/linens/cutlery-tea-towel
Handcrafted ceramic jug set from the Mervyn Gers Swallow & Cherry Blossom range from Africandy – R513.00 | http://www.africandy.com/large-jug-swallow-cherry-blossom-range-5779.html
Want to REALLY spoil your mom? This luxe 100% silk designer scarf will do the trick! Designed by L’MAD featuring the art of Michael Taylor, this scarf is SERIOUSLY hot! Available from Africandy – R1,734.51 | http://www.africandy.com/michael-taylor-scarf-243.html
This fantastic gift set of luxurious body products includes Sensual Body Oil, Massage Oil and Sweet Orange Wrinkle Banisher. via Utique – R180.00 | http://www.utique.co.za/shop/sensual-body-oil-massage-oil-sweet-orange-wrinkle-banisher/
Forget a Mother’s Day card – rather get one of these quirky canvases designed by Nevertheless. Available through Hello Pretty @ R320 each | http://hellopretty.co.za/nevertheless-canvas-and-wall-art/worlds-best-mom-block-mounted-canvas
Watch the colours develop right before your eyes while the tea leaves infuse in a Nigiro glass teapot. via Yuppiechef – R425.00 | http://www.yuppiechef.co.za/nigiro-tea-making-equipment.htm?id=7215&name=Nigiro-Glass-Teapot
This beautiful Shaw Sisters set of kitchen utensils is crafted
from coconut wood, with a brightly sprayed handles. Available from Meekel – R154.00 | http://www.meekel.co.za/cutlery/coconut-utensils
Meet Keri Muller
Capetonian film production company, Green Renaissance, recently made this lovely video introducing Keri Muller of Simple Intrigue and her breathtaking, intricate paper creations. The clip gives a little insight into her creative process and her passion for using the written word in a very unconventional way…
Milkshed
By Marica
Another emerging creative stand that caught our eye at this year’s Indaba was that of product designer Blaire Rieger. The story of Milkshed, a recently registered NPO, is a heart-warming one. They transform reclaimed wood, offcuts, and other discarded potential-filled materials into cute and quirky handcrafted furniture pieces. The best part – 100% of the profits (that’s right, every single cent) is pumped back into the local community where it is most needed.
“We care about the integrity of wood. A lot. Our products are all made from reclaimed wood and when each piece arrives at the Milkshed its destiny is determined not by some preplanned design but rather by its unique character. This process is facilitated by the ‘The Wood Whisperer’ aka Douglas who transforms the wood into something truly special whether it be a lamp that will cast light onto the pages of an avid reader’s book or a young’uns very first little tricycle.” ~ Blaire Rieger, Milkshed
One of these community projects includes the renovation of a school on the outskirts of Cathcart. Previously little more than a ramshackle outbuilding, Milkshed facilitated the school’s simplistic and inexpensive transformation. Found objects such as an old shopping trolley and some shipping pallets, now with the help of a fresh lick of bright paint and some TLC, became quirky toy storage and colourful upholstered activity/sleeping mats. Like Blair says on their Facebook page: “It’s about small changes that have a big impact. And that’s our story.“
To find out more about Milkshed please visit their website: here, or the Facebook page: here.
{Tricycle Image via curatethisspace.com}
{All other images via Milkshed}
Related articles
- Design Indaba 2013 Awesomeness (thedesigntabloid.com)
- Design Indaba Conference 2013: Day 2 (thedesigntabloid.com)
- Emulate by Tersia Fisher (thedesigntabloid.com)
- Farah Hernandez Porcelain (thedesigntabloid.com)
Farah Hernandez Porcelain
By Marica
Last week we featured surface designer Tersia Fisher as one of our favourite Emerging Creatives at this year’s Design Indaba Expo. As promised, this week we’ll introduce you to yet another creative, a talented lady by the name of Farah Hernandez…
Farah creates fresh individual porcelain pieces that range from paper-thin vases and framed porcelain “canvases” to dainty planters – both wall-mounted and hanging.
Her current range allows her to combine her three loves: illustration, porcelain, and plants. Staying true to the ancient porcelain tradition of “cobalt on white” (first popularized in 14th century China), her latest collection makes use of blue as its only colour. Farah however keeps the overall style contemporary – clean and elegant lines with light-hearted whimsy illustration.
She uses the white porcelain as a blank canvas, emphasising the hand-painted designs - intricate patterns that evolve into simplistic shapes and landscapes. Farah paints the illustrations free hand, without pre-sketching the designs. This “doodling” as she calls it, insures that each item is an unique once-off – she has no desire to become a mass-producer.
To find out more about Farah and her beautiful creations please visit her website: here, or her Facebook page: here.
{Images via Farah Hernandez}
Related articles
- Design Indaba 2013 Awesomeness (thedesigntabloid.com)
- Design Indaba Conference 2013: Day 2 (thedesigntabloid.com)
- Emulate by Tersia Fisher (thedesigntabloid.com)
