@ngelonfilm

nursery inspirations

2012-02-14T08:52:00.000+02:00

So we're finally in our new house (woot! I'll blog about that later). But what it means is that baby now has a room, and we can begin setting up. So i thought i'd paste some of my inspirations here.
We're going with grey and white - specifically grey walls and cot, with white cloud motif and curtains - up in the cloudy sky.

The grey and white will be offset by some of the crazy colours we already have in toys, books and decals. So baby's sleeping area will be calm, and play area will be wild :)

Cauliflower Kelly

2012-01-12T13:19:00.001+02:00

Just a quick update as I haven't been here for so long. Baby Kelly is now just over 1kg and 40cm in size - about the size of a head of cauliflower apparently.
He has biceps, and lungs, and taste buds. And new Paul Frank sneakers.

toby's secret society

2011-11-09T10:01:00.004+02:00

One of my fave designers ever, Gary Baseman, recently released his own 3" series with Kidrobot, Toby's Secret Society. It features the ever-present Toby (who's been around the world and back) and his secret society of "11 spirits and brethren".

Hubby brought me my first ones back from Cape Town, and I love 'em!

Now to find Veritas, my missing truth, and hopefully, the others.

cookies!

2011-11-09T09:38:00.002+02:00

I love this :)

Mango Kelly

2011-11-07T10:15:00.001+02:00

He's carrying on like he's read the baby growth manual :)
He's like clockwork! My baby app says I should feel fine from now, and I do. It says I'll feel hungry, and I do. And today, it says I'll start feeling him move, and what do you know... As the gynae explains it, "it'll feel like gas bubbles". Nice.

Power of suggestion? Who knows - but that would be very powerful! I prefer to think that the universe has given me the easiest baby in the world, knowing all my trepidation and resistance to the idea beforehand. I've not had to deal with any of the really debilitating side effects (nausea, weight, swelling, cravings, food avoidance), and for that I'm very grateful.

I also realised my surgery last year has made me immune to just about everything that would ordinarily have freaked me out - scans, probes, expanding uterus, the birth. When you've had a 2kg fibroid removed, how different can this be?

You sneaky, sneaky universe! I see you at work...

cats! I ask you...

2011-11-02T11:05:00.002+02:00

Sweet Potato Kelly

2011-11-01T15:35:00.000+02:00

It's a boy! And yes, apparently he's now the size of a sweet potato.

I was again a little nervous for this morning's scan, as I really can't tell if there's anyone down there, or if I'm putting this on. No illness, discomfort, or crazy appetite to speak of. But he's in there, all tucked up and doing his yoga. So the plan is to now just embrace how utterly devoid of symptoms this pregnancy is, and let him just get on with it and do his thing.

Working our way through the produce section. Next up - mango!

cheeses of nazareth

2011-10-27T13:51:00.002+02:00

barbie is a babe!

2011-10-25T13:05:00.001+02:00

Not all Barbies which obviously offend a lot of people's sense of feminism, body image expectation etc. But for this one, I'd make an exception!
Favourite designer tokidoki has landed a massive coup - he's designed a limited edition Barbie and they've been brave enough to do something they've never done before - give her tattoos!
She comes clad in typical tokidoki gear, right down to pet dog Bastardino.

Also, she's totally and completely sold out. So this is probably as close as you're going to get to her.

Peach Kelly

2011-09-30T13:25:00.002+02:00

So this morning we went for my 12 week scan, officially the end of my first trimester - whoopee! They say the symptoms you're experiencing should ease up in your second trimester, and mine seemed to work like clockwork. One day I was queasy, the next day I wasn't. Thank you very much.

It did, however, leave me with a disconcerting feeling akin to "hello, you still in there!?!". Which is why this morning's scan was a relief. All is still in order, Peach (so named now, because he/she is approx 7cm long, the size of a Peach) is still there, growing swiftly, and - oddly - doing the macarena. I didn't know babies moved so much at this stage! We could actually watch on the scanner as Peach bobbed, weaved and did everything except help the gynae get her snapshot.

So we're on track for April 2012, and all the pandemonium it brings with it.

swatch it to me

2011-09-30T13:22:00.000+02:00

kidrobot vs swatch

Olive Kelly

2011-09-01T16:17:00.002+02:00

We have a baba on the way, due in April next year. Did I just say that?

It's name (it hasn't decided what gender it wants to be yet) isn't Olive, that's just what size it is right now. A green olive to be precise, 2.54cm long. That's according to one of the many apps I've found on pregnancy in itunes. It seems the mobile revolution Apple brought about with their iPhone is even changing the traditions of motherhood. Wondering whether you can eat that delicious looking camambert? Look it up online! No more having to read a book, call your gynae or ask your mom. And no, by the way, you can't eat it.

Which surprised me actually. Although I really thought the list of foods to avoid would be a lot longer, but the only ones I've really had to give up are sushi, cheeses like Camembert and feta and cold meats like ham. And, of course, alcohol. Other than that, there's really not too much change to your daily diet. Other than the fact that you eat like a horse all of a sudden. I can go from full to famished in minutes, and it's bloody hard to keep up! I've taken to carrying a bag of carrots or an apple around with me. You never know when the hunger is going to strike.

The only other symptom I can complain of right now is fatigue. Severe, debilitating fatigue. If I'm not in bed by 9 every night I won't make it through the next day. Quite an adjustment for R, who's wondering what to do with himself when I want to tootle off to bed at 8.30, but I've learnt this lesson the hard way.

And I guess that really isn't all that bad. For the moment. I've managed to skip morning sickness, bloating, constant peeing and most of my clothes still fit. Stupendous.

Right now my What to Expect app is telling me that I have 31 weeks and 2 days to go, and apparently Olive has officially moved on from being an embryo to a fetus. He/she has a new liver, spleen and gallbladder. My Pregnancy Today is telling me I should start taking belly photos this week, but there really is nothing to take yet, so that'll have to wait for a bit.

then and now

2011-08-19T11:20:00.002+02:00

This is Elly and Pim, my mother's second cousins (as far as i can tell) in Holland.
For a couple of years now I've been working on a project to preserve the memories and stories of the Dutch side of my family. Initially I tried to find out who each person in each picture was, but that proved very daunting, so now I'm just scanning and uploading all the pics and saving them on Flickr.

One day I'll go back and add the names and stories.

It's proved to be a fascinating project that has reconnected me with family I never knew I had - like Elly and Pim above. They have a family tree of the van Hoofts (my gran's side) running back to 1374! I don't know who did the work to put that together, but it's incredible.
It's also shown me a world I've never seen before - immigrants arriving at a new harbour, family portraits in a country devastated by war.

See an older world you never knew here.

custom labbit show

2011-07-28T14:01:00.004+02:00

On Saturday 6 August, ToiToy in Cape Town will be holding their second custom vinyl toy show, this time using Frank Kozik's iconic Smorkin Labbit - and I'm super excited!

Not just because I love toys, and I do, but because I've been actively involved in this one, selecting some of the designers that would get to customise the 10" bunny-with-an-addiction.

The pieces will go on display on Saturday 6 August at 10.00 in the ToiToy store on Kloof St, but will only be available for purchase from the ToiToy website (for the benefit of international customers).

Here are the ones done by designers I chose:

Board Brain by Paul Oxborrow

Commander Jin by David Maclennan

Trash Magnet by Hilton Qiu

Senor DeMario by Ivana Raguz

Say My Name by Hannah Hughes

You can get a sneak peek of the rest of the customs here.

an exhibition

2011-07-27T09:50:00.003+02:00

Nathaniel Stern is back in the country for a short sojourn and bringing his famous "lily scans" with him. Only this time, they're not our local Emmarentia lilies, but American Midwestern lilies.

For those who haven't seen this particular work before, Nathaniel has had a custom body-pack made so that he can strap on a desktop scanner and a laptop, and then he wades in to a lake - and literally scans lilies. Read more about his process here.

His latest exhibition will open this Saturday (30 July) at 2pm at Art On Paper (44 Stanley in Johannesburg).

it's for a good cause

2011-07-22T12:11:00.002+02:00

Who wouldn't want a pink breast cancer charity ninja from Shawnimals??? There are only 100 pieces, and she comes with a 6x8" print.

plush, it's for a good cause

via Clutter magazine

munch munch

2011-06-23T15:30:00.000+02:00

And if all that Dunny cuteness wasn't enough for one day, meet the Fluffy Friends! Plush toys with teeth that'll chomp their way through to your heart.

today's the day!

2011-06-23T14:38:00.000+02:00

Dunny 2011 is launched.
At Kidrobot stores around the world, people will be gathering to rip open little boxes and ooh and aah at their contents. Dunny 2011 looks like a fantastic series, and I can't wait to get my paws on some of them.

kidrobot vs swatch

2011-06-17T14:19:00.000+02:00

A while back i saw a release blog post of a Kidrobot and Swatch collaboration with this beautiful watch and dunny by Tara McPherson. Each watch comes with a custom dunny, and you can only buy the two together.

Desperately searching for where to buy this one, I found this - it's a bazooka of a watch collection and I want it!

There are eight watches in the collection, with a dunny for each, as well as an 8 inch Frank Kozik dunny. Other designers include Gary Baseman, Joe Ledbetter, Tilt, SSUR, Jeremyville and MADL.
Only 300 sets will be available worldwide.

Let the search begin!

girl talk

2011-06-07T15:14:00.002+02:00

happy africa day!

2011-05-25T09:20:00.002+02:00

It's Africa day today! I have no idea what that entails or means, but happy Africa Day :)

mr birthday

2011-05-10T08:58:00.001+02:00

Yesterday was Roger Hargreaves' birthday, the man who created the Mr Men. Google honoured the day with a variety of Mr Men Google logos - so cute!

Mr Messy is my favourite :)

bunny bunny bunny

2011-05-04T16:10:00.000+02:00

hoppity holiday nails

none was given...

2011-04-21T15:53:00.002+02:00

This so beautifully depicts my cat :)

inspiring tv

2011-04-19T11:23:00.001+02:00

I have never been a fan of reality TV - not any form of it. But recently I find myself wrapped up in two particular shows. What's different about these, is the spirit in which they're done. Even though they both focus on the contestant's skills or talents, and choosing who's best, there's no need to break people down for TV ratings. Like Idols. It also isn't just mindless entertainment, like Big Brother.

My new addictions are Project Runway and Masterchef Australia. Masterchef Australia I find absolutely awe-inspiring as a TV show! The positivity that simply GUSHES out of those presenters and hosts is astounding. They don't criticise for TV's sake, they're not mean to make a point or to live up to some scripted characterization. They really are interested in fostering the best chef potentials they can find. And their habit of giving contestants a leg up in the industry - even those who fall out early in the game, proves that. It really isn't TV we've seen before. And the fact that it's so successful shows you don't always have to have a bully to make good reality TV. And on a purely human level, I think it shows that us as an audience are capable of enjoying a show where people aren't being beaten down. Well done Aussies. Well done us.

Then Project Runway. Wow. How did I miss this for 6 seasons? I'm truly glued to that show. The creations are mind blowing, the talent extraordinary. I would give my left arm to be able to create what these people do. But then I wouldn't be able to do it properly. So I won't.
But it really is an inspiring show, and what these people are able to create in one day... I'm jealous. I'm a bit behind on the broadcast and am watching it on PVR, so no spoilers please, but right now my favourite is Seth Aaron. In the episode I watched last night he created a coat of the "New York sky at night". It's all black leather swirls and sweeps. Beautiful! I would love me a Seth Aaron masterpiece in my coat collection. Love love.

sometimes it's hard not to want everything you see

2011-04-18T14:20:00.000+02:00

retro digital

2011-04-13T10:23:00.000+02:00

Leica made a lot of noise when they brought out their classic Leica camera as a digital - and then miniaturized it! Gorgeous. And here's another in that vein that I can't help but want want want!

It comes in both digital and analogue, depending on your preference. Check out the rest here.

"going dutch" not so easy anymore

2011-04-12T12:40:00.001+02:00

So the Netherlands recently swore in a brand new parliament made up of a coalition of smaller parties. Interestingly, these parties are a lot of the "fringe" parties we tend to see in our own elections - Christian democratic parties and very conservative nationalist parties. And now they hold the power.

What this has led to is a sharp change in what people up until now have perceived as Dutch tolerance. Language tests for potential immigrants, banning the burqa and closing off the famous "coffee shops" to foreign tourists. The Netherlands seems to be following in France's footsteps (who have already banned the burqa) in trying to reclaim their culture and heritage.

On our trip to Amsterdam we certainly didn't feel like we were in a Dutch city. The famous red light district seems to be mostly east European run, the bars are full of British louts on bachelor parties, and there are only foreigners on the streets. To be expected in any major European city for sure, but we've not felt it quite to that extent, except maybe in Barcelona - another one of Europe's playgrounds.

I have to admit I agree with the language policy for immigrants - I don't see why a country should accept you if you make no effort to fit in. I've never understood how you get to benefit from a country's health, education and welfare systems without making any attempt of your own to fit in to that culture. You chose to immigrate there, you chose that country, you need to make the effort.

Refugees are of course a different subject, and one I think Europe is really struggling with. If you didn't choose to live in France - you're fleeing for your life - I can understand how having your traditional garb banned is a problem for you. And maybe moving again to another country isn't that easy an option. But for the most part (ie: the rest of the immigrants in the world, us notorious saffas included), I think you need to fit in with your chosen country's laws and standards. I would never, for example, move to Iraq where I know I couldn't live with their culture's views on women. It's a choice.

It's a difficult argument, and one everyone has an opinion on. In the case of the Netherlands, I think they run the risk of pushing their new conservatism too far, purely because of the scary right wing mouthpiece they have in government pushing for the changes (who is already in court facing five charges of inciting hatred against Muslims - charming). But stories like this Time one still piss me off. Shame, she has to learn the language so that she isn't sent back to live in dangerous Pakistan where she fears for her life. But what, she's made NO attempt to learn it in the 16 years she's already been living there? Shame.

ultimate sewing table

2011-04-12T11:52:00.000+02:00

This glorious table will be launched at this year's design Salone. It's not just a table - it has a comfy chair built in too. Co.Design mention uses like waiting rooms, airports and libraries, but this would make the most fantastic craft/sewing table, where you need oodles of flat space, but smetimes you also just need somewhere to plonk your derriere.

chocolate lego men - for realsies!

2011-03-23T13:12:00.001+02:00

More in the kitchen fun! Sugar Swings has put together a great "how to" to help you make these cute Lego men - in chocolate! All you really need is a lot of patience and the Lego ice cube tray mold. I have the patience - if anyone finds the mold PLEASE let me know!

bread bears!

2011-03-23T09:34:00.002+02:00

How utterly gorgeous are these bread bears? They're really just little bread rolls baked in to cute shapes, but what a way to impress your guests :)

hoppity happenings

2011-02-28T15:01:00.000+02:00

A revived interest in felt creations, a great buy at a haberdashery, and an upcoming stork party all mixed together to make the GIANT BUNNY CUBE!

All you need is a large piece of felt (any colour you want your bunny to be), marker pens, thread and a complimentary colour - and this super easy pattern.

ta-da!

You can of course make any creature you want with this basic shape, just changing the features and colours of your felt. I've also upsized my bunny, but you can make them as big or small as you like.

felt funnies

2011-02-27T16:12:00.000+02:00

A haberdashery store in Joburg recently had a sale on craft goods, and I got a fantastic little pile of bright, fun felt squares - perfect for small felt creatures and goodies! While I was laying out the colours though, someone else decided they were perfect too...

Perfect to attack that is!

Imagine her excitement when she sees the pile my mom brought me!

beeg, very beeg

2011-02-16T11:45:00.000+02:00

Check out this amazing art installation in Athens, Greece, where artist Shoboshobo created giant puppets and took over three buildings and a courtyard.

There were six giants in total draping their limbs over eaves, windowsills and stairs.

for cat people

2011-02-14T16:29:00.000+02:00

from robin ^_^

bunny nuggets

2011-02-09T14:06:00.000+02:00

I've been told I can't have a bunny - the staffie will eat it. So instead I want a whole farm of bunny nuggets! Dozens of them! In all colours! These knitted creatures are so simple, yet so cute. Now who can I nag to start making me some...?

cyber funnie

2011-02-09T12:49:00.001+02:00

from nadja

glam glass

2011-01-25T10:53:00.001+02:00

Shopping in NY early last year, I was thrilled to discover a bottle of Evian water at a Paul Smith counter - designed by Paul Smith!

And so starts another collection that's just too beautiful to pass up - glass bottles of Evian by some of the world's top designers. Also in the collection is this simply gorgeous one from Issey Miyake, the one and only:

Other designers in the range include Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix.

- Posted from my iPad

new year, new stuff

2011-01-24T20:34:00.003+02:00

I'm not very big on New Year's resolutions, but I do like to try think of one or two things I'd like to change every year. Not as big as quit smoking (I don't smoke) or lose weight or any of those, but little promises to myself.

Wait - I guess resolutions is exactly what they are.

This year I have one major one I'll share... Be more creative.

This one's actually quite important, as last year my lack of creative outlet may have helped cause (depending on your world medical view) a bit of a medical calamity for me. Now that it's sorted, and I'm passed it, I'm determined not to make the same mistake again. I will be bright, and colourful and crazy and creative.

To this end, I've been searching through some of my favorite crafty blogs, and feel amazingly inspired after today! There's so much i want to try, make, play with. My last project was such fun (if totally experimental) that I'd like to do more in that vein.

Here are just a few I've added to my list:

Felt monsters...

Throw pillows...

and christmas ornaments

What are you doing this year?

- Posted from my iPad

happy new year

2011-01-24T10:59:00.002+02:00

I can't seem to log in to blogger.com, but thank goodness for smart mobile devices and their apps :)

Something new for you for 2011...

You may look at Facebook’s new profile layout and wonder why they bothered, but someone looked at it and saw inspiration…

When Facebook launched their new profile layout, French artist Alexandre Oudin saw it as a creative opportunity. Using Photoshop, and one can only assume a lot of time, Oudin cut himself a profile picture that fit in to all the available spaces – the traditional profile pic as well as the five new “recently tagged” photos. His resultant profile is pretty cool.

Schweppes have taken this idea and turned it in to a nifty Facebook app, the Schweppes Profile App, helping you to get the same affect but without the tedious Photoshop time. It’s quick, simple, sexy and – best of all – isn’t Schweppes branded. The user gets something they enjoy out of the application and Schweppes gains fans for their fanpage that they can communicate with at a future date.

Win win.

Source: we are social

Written for Hit Refresh.

- Posted from my iPad

may the force of typography be with you

2010-12-03T09:50:00.000+02:00

I got this from rory - totally cute

ring ring!

2010-12-01T16:02:00.002+02:00

Blackberry, iPhone, HTC, Android - the battle of the smartphones is on! But what if you're not interested in mailing your clients in Japan while you're lying on the beach? Or creating a map that will lead you back to where you parked your car? Or letting the world know what you're doing, minute-by-minute in 140 characters?

What if you just want a phone? That takes calls and makes calls. And that's IT! Then John Doe Amsterdam's phone is just for you! A risky bet in the age of smartphones to be sure, it has no camera, no fancy ringtones, no GPS. What it does have, though, is pen and paper built in for you take manually write down someone's number. Yes, pen and paper.

For anyone who's ever felt the itches of technophobia setting in, this one's for you...

Written for Don't Look Down's Hit Refresh blog.

cute overload

2010-11-29T13:57:00.001+02:00

The Captains of Cute, Tado, who are widely known for their characters and designs dripping in cute with their big bright eyes have now done a collab with UK brand Gola. There are gorgeous shoes for men and women, a clothing range and bags that are screaming to be turned in to a collection. Think my wardrobe is in trouble...

pedal power!

2010-11-29T13:02:00.001+02:00

This one's for all the cyclists out there - or for those who know cyclists. I never dreamed I'd be amongst that group, but there you have it. My hubby is a cyclist, and apparently I'm a cycling widow :)

Apple has once again filed one of those patents that get everyone all excited and hot under the collar with expectation. We've seen music in your pants, music in your shoes, now they're bringing music to your bike! And so, so much more.

The Apple smart bike promises to integrate not only your bike and your tunes - but all the metrics riders are so keen on measuring on each ride - how far did I go, how high did I climb, what was my heart rate? All the things that right now they measure with crappy little Garmin devices.

There's even a patent mention of, ahem, a holographic or 3D display. Curious. But then Apple always are.

objecthunt

2010-11-17T11:51:00.003+02:00

A popular design blog, NOTCOT, recently put together an inspired competition for New York Design week - the first time I've seen twitter used so well, while staying in touch with the brand/ethos running the project. Welcome to #OBJECTHUNT.

Using silhouettes of recognisable objects in design (think the Aarnio puppy, Gehry's wiggle chair, Swiss army knife) NOTCOT created stickers which they posted around New York City for the week that New York Design Week was running. The idea was to track down the stickers and tweet an image of it along with the hashtag #OBJECTHUNT - every new object you tweeted was an entry in to the competition for some great prizes - weekends away, hotel stays and one of the design objects featured.

What's really incredible about this competition is that they've managed to tie a social platform in to real life in a creative way. It'll stick in people's minds, and they'll associate the brands involved with cool, fun and edgy. The key is to reinvent a platform everyone thinks they know so well.

Check out the #OBJECTHUNT stickers in the wild...

Written for Don't Look Down and Hit Refresh.

family tree

2010-11-02T09:57:00.003+02:00

Over the last couple of years, I've become very curious about my family history, as told through photographs. My maternal grandparents emigrated to South Africa just after World War II, there being nothing left for them in Europe, with my uncle - still quite young - in tow on the three-month-long boat journey.

Along with grainy, faded images of their life in Europe before they came across, I've also found fascinating images of South Africa in the 1940s - Durban harbour, the airport before security became an issue, a public swimming pool, a worker gang in town central. They're a slice of history that I'm not finding in some history book, but within my family's own collective. I love it.

Gathering what I could from my uncles and mom, I've begun the long process of scanning all the photographs. My first mission is simply to preserve the images, some of them badly faded and crumbling. Next I'm hoping to find a simple and effective way to upload them so that my family around the world can also see them, help identify them, and hopefully share some of their own.

They started off in a Wordpress blog, but that really doesn't serve my purposes for photographs very well. I've now moved them on to Flickr, as it's a two-click process from within iPhoto to get them there, but this still isn't quite right.
Hopefully I'll stumble on something soon, but until then you'll see regular updates on the right of this blog as I slowly complete mission one - preserve a piece of my history -->

sleep mobility

2010-11-02T09:26:00.002+02:00

taken from Hit Refresh blog:

"Ok, this has nothing to do with technology, tv or new media but sometimes a guy just wants to have some fun and what better way than hitting the great outdoors in a suit you can run around and sleep in! I personally hate sleeping bags – they’re restrictive and uncomfortable and once you’re finally snug and in, turning around feels like you’re in a cotton coffin. The fact that you can get into this padded bodysuit without having to tuck in, means a lot more time for tequila around the fire – heck, you can even pass out on the spot…

And yes Ulindi, they come in different colours."

written by Robin

rock on

2010-11-02T09:16:00.000+02:00

Save electricity! Make your own!

Sometimes easier said than done, but Rochus Jacob’s Murakami Chair helps you do just that. As well as being a comfortable, rocking, reading chair, the chair generates its own energy from the reader’s rocking, lighting its own reading light. So simple. So obvious. So ingenious.

Says Jacob:”I was looking for opportunities to generate energy through activities we naturally do. The final result is a rocking chair that enables the user to experience production and consumption of electricity in a gentle and rewarding way.”

Rock on!

escapee!

2010-10-19T00:13:00.000+02:00

my first stop motion

one small step for design...

2010-10-18T18:01:00.000+02:00

So on Saturday, Simon tweeted that he'd come across some pretty obvious design rip-offs in a well-known SA store. Not on the side of the street or in a dodgy flea market, but in YDE of all places. Young Designers Emporium.

"Out shopping & came acros this BLATANT RIPOFF of the @TokiDoki brand @ YDE Canal Walk! pic#1 pic#2"

Those of us who follow and enjoy Simone Legno's work (Tokidoki) were pissed off and seriously disappointed that a large store who claim to be centred on original design would carry something like that. A tweeting crusade ensued. Well, I say crusade, but mostly Simon tweeted @YDEtweets and @Tokidoki a lot, and we re-tweeted everything he posted. The more eyeballs the better.

Today, he got his response...

“@YDEtweets: @TokiDoki @HelloVinyl After further discussions, the designer has made a decision to recall the bags.”

How fabulous is that? It shows the power of twitter and the power of our opinions. If three of us had walked in to a YDE store and complained about the bag to a store manager, I doubt much would have happened. But using a tool like twitter that has the potential to spread far and wide puts the brand in your hands. You now have a say in a brand's PR.

[as an aside, let's protect our designers and their hard work! tweet fakes whenever you find them!]

grow, garden, grow!

2010-10-18T10:34:00.000+02:00

After our failed attempt at a veggie patch, and the garden not surviving as beautifully as we'd hoped after our wedding, we decided to get someone in to help. We have a beautifully spaced garden, but a tricky one with complicated soil thanks to the biggest tree in the neighbourhood standing in the corner leaking alkaline onto everyone around him. But he's gorgeous, so you work around him.

Anamaria arrived, took one look around and told us our garden didn't suit us, and it was too old fashioned for a young couple. All in broken Spanish. She's great :)

It's been a lot of fun watching it all go out, then all go in, and seeing things through someone else's eyes - someone who can explain to you what's really going on.

My favourite piece so far, and the section I was weeding this weekend, is the cactus garden (though if Anamaria heard me calling her succulents cacti...). There are loads of pics to come from this project, but here's the start...

dunny doppelganger

2010-09-27T13:23:00.002+02:00

My new dunny arrived in the mail this weekend - woo-hoo! And it's quite a curious one. It's from David Horvath's 2 Faced dunny series, which does two things I've not seen before - a) the artist has included himself and partner (Sun-Min Kim) in the series as dunnies, and b) there's a story to the series. This is David as he sees himself dunniefied:

@samthepenguin (a fellow dunny collector) has his very own custom dunny of himself, created by @lunarseablythe and it's too cute! Would love to see a series where the designers put themselves in to dunny form.

my top ipad apps

2010-09-23T11:05:00.066+02:00

I figured it was only fitting to draft my post about my favourite iPad apps from within a blogging app. First time using it, so this should be interesting.

The iTunes store is filled with thousands of apps for iPhone and iPad, some extraordinary, some useful, some entertaining and some downright useless. It can be quite time consuming browsing through this vast library and I think people mostly rely on the "featured" pages to guided them on what's worthwhile. But a little peer suggestion also goes a long way, so this is my list of my current favourite/must have apps on the iPad for those of you out there lucky enough to be playing with one:

Blogshelf: follow your favorite blogs in a neat, bookshelf styled rss feed with images. It is $5 but I've found it well worth it. $5
iBook: this is an obvious one, and to me as given as the iPod app is on an iPod. Kindle competitor allowing you to read digital books from the iBooks store, much like iTunes. Slick, organized, user friendly, and people I've asked have said much better than Kindle app. Only waiting for the store to be stocked up now. Free

Converter: simple, well designed units converter, including currency. $1
Jumbo Calculator: free calculator based on the apple calculator on iPhones and dashboards. Free
Marvel/DC Comics: reading comics on the iPad is awe inspiring. Suffers from the same issue as iBooks (not enough material has been digitally converted yet), but an iPad without a comic book reader is nekkid I tell you. Free, with in-app comic purchases, $2 an issue
xkcd: everyone needs a good daily giggle. Free
Google analytics: keep track of your blog and site stats. Free
All subway HD: I have an unusual love of subway systems and riding trains. I love this one - every subway map in the world, from Adelaide to Zurich. $1
eBay: with my recent vinyl toy hunting, this has served to heighten my addiction - beautiful layout of your watched items, clean easy communication with your sellers and lovely browsable search. Still missing some key features (saved sellers, saved searches), but there's little I go to ebay.com for now. Free
Flipboard: presents your personal Twitter and Facebook accounts in a magazine layout - like reading a mag of your favourite people - beautiful, if a little unreliable at this stage. Free
Twitter: the free, official app for twitter - best app I've used for managing multiple accounts. Free

So what are your favourite apps?

(While I used Blogpress to write the bulk of this post, I did find it a bit cumbersome. Look forward to the day Google/Blogger develop an actual blogger app. Better suggestions welcome.)

scavenger hunt

2010-09-23T09:58:00.000+02:00

Since I discovered Kathie Olivas in Paris (yay for Artoyz!) I've been determined to find more of her figures. But they've been quite a rare species, bordering on extinct, with all online stores sold out of everything she's ever made.
In my recent eBay obsession though (which I'll elaborate on another time), I've managed to pick up some gems! (and at excellent prices, for those who suffer from shopping locally too)
These are the two latest additions to my collection: a rare (200 pieces worldwide) pink Masao (i like pink!) and Daisey from series 2.

I'm also waiting on a limited edition blue Beaumont, and an orange Cosmic Penny. *excited*

optimash prime

2010-09-22T16:00:00.002+02:00

Yes, that is my new Transformer's Potato Head, otherwise known as OPTIMASH PRIME! dun-dun-dun

All the other hubbies on the cycling trip brought back chocolates and floral tops for their wives. I love mine much better ^_^

funny facebook

2010-09-22T15:38:00.003+02:00

I got this from nadja, and it really made me giggle...

From Cool Material.

snoozes

2010-09-20T14:53:00.001+02:00

kitty will sleep anywhere new and vaguely comfortable

even some places that aren't that comfortable

and some places that are downright strange

poor little fishy

2010-09-20T13:46:00.001+02:00

Years ago I read a factoid that said every time you flush the loo, you're using 22 litres of water. 22 litres. Exactly. The number stuck with me, and I'm very aware every time I use the bathroom now of just how much water I'm flushing away. If hubby flushes a piece of tissue paper, it freaks me out. It's such a waste of water for something that could go in the bin. Little things stick and they help.

And thats the idea behind Poor Little Fish, a washing basin that makes you quite aware of how much water you're using every time you turn on the tap. Above the basin is a fish bowl with a little goldfish swimming in it. As you let the water run, some very clever piping makes fishy's water level go down in sync with your water use. Use too much, and fishy drowns! (if he can drown in air that is? suffocates?)

The water you're washing your hands with isn't the same as the water in the bowl, but its quantities are perfectly tied, so you cannot get away from the affect you're having on little fishy. Check out how it works here. It's very smart, and actually quite pretty. I'd put this in my restaurant bathroom...

rainy day dunny

2010-09-10T13:51:00.000+02:00

A quick post on a dunny I never knew I wanted... This is Jon Burgerman's Rainy Day Dunny, released as a special item by Kid Robot, and only availble in stores on rainy days. How cool is that!?! Burgerman had already designed a rain-themed dunny for his contribution to the Ye Olde English series in 2009, and just introduced a deviation in colour, with some stylistic changes.

I so would have kept my galoshes by the door in the hopes of rain so that I could run out and get one. There are only 1000 of him out there, so if you stumble on one, you know where to send him :) He's lovely.

what, me worry?

2010-09-09T13:07:00.001+02:00

Those of you old enough to be familiar with the freckles and cross-eyed gaze of Alfred E. Neuman will be thrilled to know that there's a MAD cartoon starting! Underwire reports that a MAD Magazine cartoon starts on Adult Swim this week in the States, bringing to life all those crazy movie spoofs they're so well known for, as well as your favourite MAD characters and artists - Spy vs Spy, Don Martin and Sergio Aragones. I think this is a great addition to the Adult Swim line up, and with Robot Chicken's Kevin Shinick involved, it's bound to be wicked.

Click here to watch their Transformers short.

365 days to go!

2010-09-09T08:45:00.002+02:00

Today it is exactly 365 days until the 2011 Rugby World Cup - colour me excited! I think the Soccer World Cup has gotten us in to World Cup fever, and anything will do. Not that I'm not a rugby fan, but honestly the Ryder Cup has me excited right now.

So our teams will travel to the furtherest corner of the globe and do battle - for that really is a battle field no footballer will ever understand. How I wish I could be there on the sidelines!

Sadly, the entire competition will take place over six weeks, which is an almost impossibly long time to be away. Who has that kind of time? And money? So I guess the Rugby World Cup will mirror the Soccer one in that it's only the world's elite who will be attending. And some Aussies. Meh.

cool hunter local

2010-09-06T17:48:00.002+02:00

Recently I read a post on The Cool Hunter site that featured none other than our very own Mother City! Well, specifically, it featured a masterpiece of architecture designed and built for a "prestigious African client". I hate them already and I don't even know them :)

This is a sneak peek of one of the interiors I loved (on the left), but be sure to check out the almost-airport-like house itself on The Cool Hunter - it's somethng else.

dunny delight!

2010-08-27T10:42:00.001+02:00

They've arrived! My new dunnies from Vinyl Destination (thanks Simon) are here. From left to right we have:
Clutter from the Ye Olde English series, Lady Aiko from the Femme Fatale series, and Tado also from the Ye Olde English collection.

happy hobos

2010-08-25T11:39:00.001+02:00

Fast Co Design has run a story on a designer item you’re not likely to see on the streets of South Africa any time soon – a compact mobile home designed specially for the homeless…

Looking like a small food delivery truck, the Bufalino has a mini cooker, drawers for organising your stuff and a small moped-like engine to get around with. Designer, Cornelius Comanns, has even given it a fabulous interior and exterior motif. Granted, the assumption is that you have food to cook, stuff to organise and money to buy petrol, so maybe it’s a little more for elite camping or playing vagabond in the countryside.

With a facility to plug in a laptop, it’s probably not for your average homeless…

Written for Hit Refresh, images from Fast Co Design.

ghostb by yeung

2010-08-23T09:38:00.001+02:00

thesinisterpenguin tweeted about this little guy yesterday and he really caught my eye. Designed by Bubi Au Yeung (you'll remember her Treeson figures too cute!), there are only 50 GhostBs around, and as of this morning, only 11 left for pre order. He comes in a few colour variants with a little base that lights up, giving him a night-light sort of glow. But I think he's pretty cool just on his own.

You can order him now from the Crazy Label shop, and see more of Bubi Au Yeung's work here.

ipaddington

2010-08-20T13:45:00.001+02:00

Recently, hubby surprised me with the gift of the year (ask any digital blogger). An iPad! What every girl wants, right? Ignoring all the hype, the fact that I *love* apple, and that it's a first generation product many nay sayers said would need improving - it's awesome!

In the short time I've had it, we've become joined at the hip. And through the usual barrage of useful/fun/amazing apps, I'm able to turn it more and more in to my must-have daily companion. I watch TV on it, read books, shop on eBay (but more about that later), keep up with facebook and twitter, play games, store presentations, display photos, check mail, and get tailor-made news from all my favourite blogs and websites. Tailor-made being the key. It personalizes everything I need and actually becomes a completely customized tool through the apps that I choose to load. My iPad is a very different creature from hubby's iPad.

I'll blog my list of favourite apps soon for those who don't want to browse the store for days on end *hoping* for something useful. But for now, I have to go check what the exchange rate is so I can do some more shopping on eBay ;)

*sent from my iPad

i am bare!

2010-08-19T13:34:00.002+02:00

Some time back I posted about Am I Collective's Bare auction. And believe it or not, I actually did manage to win a Bare! I managed to win this not-so-little guy customized by Linsey Levendall...

I chose him in the end, because the design was quite Conrad Botha-esque, and he was a gift for hubby, who's a big Botha fan.
It made such a difference seeing the Bares on display when we were in Cape Town - the site really didn't do some of them justice, and man were they bigger than I thought!

dunny 2010

2010-08-19T13:07:00.002+02:00

If you're even vaguely in to vinyl toys, you'll know by now that today is the release date for the Dunny 2010 series. It's probably the most hyped series I've ever seen, with pre-release "leaks", an advent calendar of designs and pre-sales live on eBay for months. Craziness!

But it's more a reflection of the growing industry of vinyl toys I think, than of a series that is a fabulous feat in design. Don't get me wrong - there are some awesome critters in this series, but no more awesome than the critters that have come before them.

Despite knowing that, I've bought in to the hype, and I wait with anticipation. I'm also jealous as hell of those lucky enough to be in Cape Town right now for the launch party. Bastards. But never you mind... the eBay trawling has begun... *evil laugh*

outfit shopping

2010-08-19T11:07:00.004+02:00

It's been ages since I blogged and *plenty* has been keeping me distracted/busy/otherwise occupied. So I have loads of posts rattling inside my brain that are wanting to get out, and I'll get to them all.
But I think first and foremost what's bugging me is it's time for a blog design update. I've enjoyed this layout and keeping all its bits and pieces up-to-date, but I'm keen for a simpler, cleaner look and feel for a while.

So know that I'm back, but I'm noodling around for a new outfit for my wee blog.

mwah x

dinosaur ballet

2010-05-18T12:04:00.000+02:00

today is...

2010-05-13T10:17:00.002+02:00

...muesli and yogurt inna chicken day.

powerless - why i'm hating city power right now

2010-05-04T11:48:00.004+02:00

Right now, I'm feeling incredibly frustrated and powerless. Which is also my intended pun for the moment.
We've struggled endlessly with City Power in the 3 years we've lived in our house, being cut off on numerous occasions for a) previous occupier not paying a bill b) account being in incorrect name/address c) lack of communication between people who get your money, and people who take your power. None of which City Power care about, or are willing to investigate until after you've paid your astronomical bill, then sat in their queue for five hours with ten years of paperwork to try convince them they may have made a clerical error.

Our bill is bizarre at best, being higher than most of our friends' and colleagues. We live in a two-person home, have no under floor heating, no electric fence, we work all day, we seldom cook, we don't leave unnecessary lights burning and we have piped gas from Egoli Gas. Yes, we're perfect candidates for a LOW bill. Yet every month we pay double what the family next door pay who are a family of four, with two youngsters needing constant heated water, underfloor heating, they have an electric fence, and husband runs his own gym out of his home, so they use power all day long. The mind boggles.

In an endeavor to figure our why our bill is so high, and to try and rectify it before we get cut off in the middle of winter again, I've a list of things to try:
a) fix all leaks that may be wasting water on the property
b) understand and submit own meter readings
c) switch to a pre-paid meter

I've started with point A, and to my horror it seems there is a hidden leak on the property somewhere, so at least I have something I can tackle on the water front. Cue leak detector.

On to point B, we've registered on the City Power website, learned how to read my meter, and submitted my own readings. Success! Imagine that feeling of accomplishment, understanding, and finally being in control of something that's been a hazy fog to you until then. The day after submitting my reading though, I get home to a friendly note from City Power... They've come - unannounced - to read my meter themselves, as the reading I submitted was less than the average they have on record for me. Less than the "average". Isn't that what an "average" is? It's not a constant - it's a collection of numbers, up and down, that are AVERAGED out. No matter. You want to read my meter you're welcome to read my meter. The meter reader's note, though, says that I am to be available to let him in on 1 May to read the meter again, failing which, I go on to 14 day notice of having my power cut off. WTF!?! So many large font expletives I could put here, but nevertheless, you have to play the game with a city administration, so I make arrangements for someone to be at the house - we take it in shifts - all day on 1 May in eager anticipation of the meter reader. Who never arrives.

So you arrive at my house unannounced and unscheduled, you tell me I need to wait for you all day Saturday, because your managers don't have the foresight to provide a specific time - or even a time bracket - that would make this an easy thing to do. And after we wait for you, AND YOU DON'T PITCH, I am being punished? For helping you out and being proactive? Bloody hell.

And to top it all, an attempt to call you, dear City Power, to try and find out where your man was, when he might "pop in" again, and to rectify the situation so that I don't get cut off, merely leaves me hanging on my phone for a straight hour on four separate phone calls, none of which get to a single one of your consultants, because... you guessed it... you cut me off.

On to point C I guess...

tokidoki lurve

2010-04-16T16:22:00.004+02:00

shamelessly ripping off tokidoki to brighten up the library...

yikes! flesh tone dried *orange*! will have to redo that bit

will be sure to include heart and crossbones so everyone know's whose work it really is :)

a tale of two kitties

2010-04-12T13:47:00.007+02:00

The neighbour's cat has started to come and visit, and for a while there, we thought it might be a friend of Vegas'. But now we know better - it's there for one thing, and one thing only...

*nom nom nom*

*satisfaction*

dunny!

2010-04-07T12:08:00.004+02:00

I got two new Dunnys while in Cape Town - Tara McPherson and Mizuno Junko's creations for the new "Fatale" Dunny series - all done by female designers. Other notable femme fatales in the series include Kathie Olivas, Aiko, Anna Chambers and Amy Ruppel. Superb!

today is...

2010-04-07T12:03:00.001+02:00

...bumblebee nails day!

the saddest thing you ever did see

2010-03-29T10:09:00.000+02:00

no rings allowed

2010-03-26T13:10:00.004+02:00

nadja sent me these lovely coasters - they're ideal for marking which drink is yours, while not leaving ghastly rings anywhere. Perfect!

fm-land

2010-03-24T09:18:00.004+02:00

So yesterday I noticed something amazing - my car sound system can now tell me what track I'm listening to - from the RADIO!
And not all the radio stations either, Highveld seems to have beaten 5fm to the punch this time around - well done.
I love the idea of innovation happening in an environment we assume is stale and had its heyday.

today is...

2010-03-23T15:00:00.004+02:00

...fried egg nails day!

happy princessday!

2010-03-01T11:08:00.008+02:00

my breakfast in bed

vegas wants to be involved too

vegas appropriates my wrapping

kitty in a paul smith tent

all my glorious prezzies!

thanks wubby xoxo

today is...

2010-02-23T15:55:00.002+02:00

...toadstool nails day!

library complete!

2010-02-23T09:36:00.004+02:00

It's taken a while to update this, but the library project is complete! With books, toys, chess set, carpet, chairs, table and everything!

green mantis

2010-02-22T12:52:00.002+02:00

colour me...

2010-02-22T12:28:00.005+02:00

One of my favourite, favourite blogs ever is Color Me Katie, a blog written by New York artist, Katie Sokoler, detailing all the projects and activities she gets up to that brighten her world. Every time I read it, I feel inspired to go out and do exactly what she's doing, only it doesn't translate so well here. For example, riding the tube without your pants on. Love the idea. Won't work here. Colouring in the snow. Love the idea. Won't work here.

But I don't think that should stop me, and I've decided to take Katie's blog as a guide and inspiration - how can I colour up my world?
Last weekend I bought myself a bucket of giant chalk, to try Katie's chalk project. It didn't work nearly as nicely as I'd hoped because a) a quiet suburban road doesn't really have an audience b) tar is a LOT coarser on our roads than I realised.

But I still got to make a colourful rainbow for when we arrive back home :) Onwards and upwards from here!

today is...

2010-02-22T12:21:00.002+02:00

Zebra nails day! Actually, it was last week, but I didn't get round to posting the photo.

today is...

2010-02-08T09:58:00.002+02:00

Ladybug nails day!

hair today, gone tomorrow

2010-02-06T19:51:00.002+02:00

everyone needs one of these in their neighbourhood

2010-02-05T14:18:00.000+02:00

dinner for twelve

2010-02-05T14:05:00.003+02:00

Nomiya is a new project situated on the roof of Palais de Tokyo, in the same vein as the Everland Hotel before it. It's a temporary structure, made entirely of glass overlooking the Eiffel Tower - and it's a restaurant.

Designed by artist Laurent Grasso and developed in conjunction with Electrolux Art Home, Nomiya seats just twelve people for a most memorable dining experience.
The auction is now open for Valentine's dinner! Who's in?

See a collection of images of Nomiya.

fawtly towers

2010-02-02T10:18:00.004+02:00

So R and i went to Dullstroom over the weekend so he could do some mountain bike training. I was looking for somewhere to relax and read while he was out. A girl's lazy weekend on the couch.
I found a spot that looked charming and cozy enough online, and off we went to Auldstone house.

Unfortunately while its mentioned on their website that Auldstone house is on the main road, what you have to realise is that the main road is a truck thoroughfare - it only quietens down at night and on Sunday. Not something you'd think of when going to a tiny town like Dullstroom.

But that's not what really bugged me...

While sitting there on Saturday morning, i received a marketing text message from Auldstone House advertising their whiskey tasting nights. I'd only arrived the night before, and wasn't going to be there come Wednesday, so huh?
I also didn't request marketing messages, or give permission for them to use my mobile number for that purpose. When i mentioned this in a survey i was asked by Auldstone to fill in, i received a prompt reply from Dullstroom Reservations telling me that "More often than not we have guests thanking us for introducing them to such a unique experience, most of our guests are really pleasant." Excuse me!? No, "thank you, noted, we have removed your number from our database". Instead i was told that "most of our guests are really pleasant".

I was also told "you're the first to complain. You can't please all of the people all of the time". I've never been treated with such unprofessionalism and rudeness from the hospitality industry before - especially when YOU ASKED ME to take time out of MY schedule to fill in YOUR survey so you could "improve your service" to guests going forward. It totally shocked me. But the more i thought about it, the more it fit - Dullstroom is expensive and arrogant, and really doesn't live up to its reputation. I'd do Nottingham Road before i did Dullstroom again any day.

So thank you Auldstone House, for cermenting an opinion i thought i might have been misguided in. I won't be back.

i made that

2010-01-22T13:38:00.006+02:00

so this is the project I alluded to in my Etsy post.
These dolls were made for Mu & Me designer, Daley, using her own designs. Plagiarist :)

glass half full

2010-01-18T15:15:00.003+02:00

How beautiful is this set of drinking glasses? I can't find who designed them, but they're being featured on OutNext...

etsy bitsy

2010-01-15T13:36:00.001+02:00

Just because you spend your life online and surrounded by tech in this digital age doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate a good handcrafted quilt. Or ashtray. Or bag. Or any number of items made carefully and lovingly by those with the talent to do so.

Etsy brings you all these handcrafted goods in a format you can understand – a website. It’s also given me a goal to reach with my new-found hobby. *plots and schemes*

summer scents

2009-12-11T14:15:00.002+02:00

This is my new perfume for this summer - isn't the packaging delectable?

red [LV] relief

2009-12-08T09:36:00.002+02:00

Iconic brand Louis Vuitton recently gave six well-known professionals the opportunity to design their ultimate carry-case in keeping with their professional needs, and the aesthetic of the world-reknowned brand.

Celebrity chef Ferran Adrià, photographer Annie Leibovitz, musician Gustavo Santaolalla, painter Damien Hirst, fashion designer and Louis Vuitton’s creative director Marc Jacobs and family heir Patrick-Louis Vuitton all designed leather trunks and bags to be created as once-off pieces to go on auction in aid of the Red Cross.

To commemorate the event, LV also designed a limited edition Red Cross medical kit (pictured). Just what every home needs in case of bumps and bruises.

stormtrooper 365

2009-12-04T09:22:00.004+02:00

What do Stormtroopers do on their day off?

You’re done sweeping the Death Star, conquering rebels and chaining up that annoying woman yet again. Now what?

With a picture a day for a year, Stefan is showing us what Stormtroopers get up to on their days off. Everything from sandcastles, to Tetris and disco. It’s Stormtrooper 365!

“Getting rid of Swine Flu”

hip parentals

2009-12-03T13:24:00.001+02:00

We’ve all met our parents far too late in life. Their youth has passed, their hip days are gone, their wardrobes aren’t what they used to be.

But once upon a time, your parents were cool. Or they were nerds. Or hippies. Either way, they were younger, dressed differently, spoke differently and listened to music that was of their time – not 20 years in to the dust. Your parents were awesome.

My Parents Were Awesome carries user-submitted photographs documenting this time before your parents had to become responsible and upstanding members of society – all because of you probably. It’s nice to be reminded they were young once with their whole lives ahead of them, and to get a peek in to generations and decades gone by. It’s nice to see their youth immortalised and remembered.

do you poken?

2009-12-03T09:32:00.001+02:00

You Google. You text. You chat. Do you Poken?

That what the guys at Poken want to know as they launch their new product to those addicted to their online social lives. Pokens offer a link between your “real world” life and your “cyber” life. Meet someone new, touch Pokens, and you have all the cyber data you need to be able to find them online – their MSN, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, whatever. The Poken caters for over 30 different networks, allowing users to customise the information that they give out when they “Poken”.

These “social cards” can by synced to your Outlook contacts or your Apple contacts, allowing other people to control the information you have about them – it’s always up to date, as they’re keeping it current for you.

Pokens can be bought in various shapes and designs to meet your tastes, and it’s likely the options will expand over time (think Mimobots). While it’s still a fairly new wave waiting to be caught, Pokens do offer an interesting look into what’s to come as people try to link up their two social lives – online and in reality.

View the welcome video here.

best bar none

2009-11-17T14:00:00.003+02:00

Japanese firm D-Barcode have taken a small everyday icon and turned it in to a work of art. The ubiquitous barcode gets a working over as they tailor each to its designated product. To paraphrase their website: some big ideas are really small.

See a collection of their products on their site and on The Dieline.