Tag: Ideas Magazine

{DIY} Fabric Covered Letters via IDEAS

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We found the cutest DIY project on the IDEAS Magazine website and we just had to share it with you. These fabric covered letters will look smashing in a nursery or kids bedroom. It seems like an easy little project that will also give you the opportunity to get rid of leftover pieces of fabric. I’m sure you can also try the same trick with wallpaper samples, scrapbooking sheets, or beautiful gift wrapping.

You will need
• polystyrene letters
• fabric remnants
• pencil
• set of compasses
• ruler
• needlework scissors
• modge podge
• paintbrush
• cutting mat

See the original DIY post on the IDEAS website: here

{Click on the images to enlarge and view the step-by-step instructions}
1) Cut a fabric square a few centimetres larger than your letter.
1) Cut a fabric square a few centimetres larger than your letter.
2) Place the letter on the fabric as a mirror image and trace the outlines of the letter with a pencil.
2) Place the letter on the fabric as a mirror image and trace the outlines of the letter with a pencil.
3) Measure the thickness of the letter with a ruler or measuring tape. Our letter measured 15mm.
3) Measure the thickness of the letter with a ruler or measuring tape. Our letter measured 15mm.
4) Place the pencil in the compass and measure 15mm then set the compass accordingly.
4) Place the pencil in the compass and measure 15mm then set the compass accordingly.
5) Place the point of the compass on the pencil outline of the letter on the fabric so the pencil is 15mm from the edge. Follow the line of the letter with the compass point and draw a pencil line 15mm right around the letter.
5) Place the point of the compass on the pencil outline of the letter on the fabric so the pencil is 15mm from the edge. Follow the line of the letter with the compass point and draw a pencil line 15mm right around the letter.
6) Cut out the fabric along the new outline that you have drawn.
6) Cut out the fabric along the new outline that you have drawn.
7) Paint the right side of the letter with a layer of modge podge.
7) Paint the right side of the letter with a layer of modge podge.
8) Turn the letter over and stick it in position on the wrong side of the fabric inside the lines.
8) Turn the letter over and stick it in position on the wrong side of the fabric inside the lines.
9) Turn the letter over and paint another layer of modge podge over it, then leave it to dry for an hour or two.
9) Turn the letter over and paint another layer of modge podge over it, then leave it to dry for an hour or two.
10) Cut notches in the fabric at the corners and curves.
10) Cut notches in the fabric at the corners and curves.
11) Paint a coat of modge podge on the sides of the letter and stick the fabric in place, smoothing it down with the paintbrush. Leave to dry.
11) Paint a coat of modge podge on the sides of the letter and stick the fabric in place, smoothing it down with the paintbrush. Leave to dry.
12) Once the modge podge is dry you can turn the letter over and trim away any excess fabric that sticks out at the back with your needlework scissors.
12) Once the modge podge is dry you can turn the letter over and trim away any excess fabric that sticks out at the back with your needlework scissors.
13) Paint a piece of fabric with modge podge on the right side and leave to dry. Now cut the fabric into 15mm strips using a rotary cutter.
13) Paint a piece of fabric with modge podge on the right side and leave to dry. Now cut the fabric into 15mm strips using a rotary cutter.
14) Stick the strips around all the edges of the letter with modge podge and leave to dry.
14) Stick the strips around all the edges of the letter with modge podge and leave to dry.

Who’s Going To The Trunk Show?

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There is an exciting new first happening this weekend in Cape Town… the first ever Ideas Magazine Trunk Show! Now as you might know from previous articles, we here at Design Monarchy love our Ideas Mag – so this is a a show we dare not miss!

Ideas Magazine Trunk Show - The Design Tabloid (1)

It is set to be an awesome boutique showcase of locally-made bespoke home décor and accessories, unique handmade and crafted items, as well as originally designed wares. Many of the vendors and exhibitors attending the Trunk Show this year have previously been featured in Ideas Magazine, and their work will be showcased at the show in a visually amazing space created by the Ideas team.

One of the things Rose and I are most excited about is the fact that the Ideas team create 99% of the DIY items featured in the magazine and this is a once off opportunity to purchase them! 

idees mat.tif“One of the biggest global trends at the moment is the ‘handmade movement’, reflecting people’s need for personalisation in a world of mass-produced products,” says Ideas magazine editor Terena le Roux.

“DIY has replaced DKNY, so much so that almost half the adults in the US regularly practise DIY and in the UK, the market has grown by 33% over the last 5 years,” says le Roux.  “Where craft was once seen as old fashioned, there has been a shift to authentic, one-off products and the growing amount of successful craft markets and on-line craft shops and marketplaces show that there is a market for modern, well-crafted products.”

“Whether you love to create, or are just inspired by the extraordinary craft of others, the Ideas Magazine Trunk Show is a unique browse-and-buy experience that personally introduces the creations of over 20 talented exhibitors to an audience ever on the hunt for handmade and niche products for yourself and for your home,” says le Roux.

Here’s a peak at some of the exhibitors at the Ideas Magazine Trunk Show:

•     Mitat – bespoke home decor products with designed and screen-printed fabric and paper

•     Dots Quilts – paradise for quilters and quilt-lovers alike

•     Oscar W Designs – retro and vintage style crates, furniture and signs

•     Vintage collectables

•     Biscuit Scout – hand-knitted décor items

•     Bokke & Blomme – expressive decor accessories spelled out in ‘word’   format

•     Cape Craft – the go-to source for decorative punches, stencils and anything laser-cut or engraved

•     Photoblox – get your favourite Instagram, Facebook or digital photo printed on a wooden block

•     Nicoletta – sweet inspirations for smashing cakes that shimmer, sparkle and bedazzle

•     Peg & Thread – beautiful hand-made sewing, knitting and creative kits in vintage-chic packaging

Before or after a look and a shop, guests can have a bite to eat in the Lodge’s vintage dining room or sip on a glass of wine in the show’s wine lounge. Also on sale will be difficult-to-source craft equipment.

Ideas Trunk Show:

When:  Saturday 13 July, 9h00-17h00, and Sunday 14 July 9h00-16h00

Where:  Simondium Country Lodge, Paarl-Franschhoek Road (R45)

Cost: R30

Tickets can be purchased at the door or directly from Taheerah Abrahams at Ideas magazine, email Taheera.Abrahams@media24.com or call 021 408 3837

For more information log onto www.ideasmag.co.za Look for the Ideas magazine page on Facebook www.facebook.com/Ideasmag or follow @Ideas_magazine on Twitter.

Review: Ideas Magazine

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By Marica

Being in the interior design industry, our studio library contains many magazines (and I mean a-freaken-lot). Magazines are a great source of inspiration and it keeps us informed about what’s happening in the local and international design scenes. Over the years (and hundreds of mags), we have separated wheat from chaff and established a short list of our favourite magazines that we seldom deviate from – we are quite the magazine elitists.

However, earlier this year and quite per chance, Rose bought an Ideas Magazine (it contained an article on Toile that caught her eye)… and we LOVED it!

Ideas speaks to a different facet of my creativity – it stirs my “you can do this yourself” muscle (a part of me I believed to have died after the horrible décor DIY trends of the mid to late 90s). However, with the current handmade and nostalgic fads doing the rounds, I am newly inspired to create with my hands (btw, something I’m not very good at).

Ideas is page upon page of awesome and original décor, fashion and culinary DIY inspiration. Every time I turn a page, I find myself exclaiming, “I can do that!”, “That is SO clever!”, “We should do this!” It completely inflames and satiates the DIY diva in me at the same time!

Predictably, my favourite features are the “Craft & Décor” and “How To” sections. Ideas also include a “Templates” section at the back of the magazine with patterns, motives & cut-outs used throughout the magazine – that way you can just have it photocopied or blown up to scale to create the brilliant items you just read about.

Guys and gals at Ideas you can pat yourselves on the back – you give out an excellent magazine, and after that one impromptu purchase we haven’t missed one issue!

Check out Ideas Magazine’s website for some more DIY goodness and very interesting and crafty ideas…here.