Tabla de contenidos para January/February2022 en Ideas

CONTACT ME I'm probably putting the cart before the horse, but I feel there’s something I must say in this letter and not wait until the next one. Next time I will say a great deal, but for now I just want to say: When I wrote our New Year letter to you five years ago, it was to say goodbye. Probably the worst letter I’ve ever had to write, tears in my eyes and my fingers shaky on the keyboard. And now I’m sitting here, five years of letters later, and I’m still chatting to you, this time with a light heart and hand. Many thanks to all of you! Perhaps that’s why this issue seems to me to be such a lovely mixture of creativity, positivity…

BEDSIDE CABINET DIFFICULTY: reasonably easy TIME: half a day YOU WILL NEED: ♥ wooden bedside cabinet (or other furniture piece you wish to decorate) ♥ paper design ♥ A1 sheets white paper ♥ modge podge ♥ sandpaper (optional) ♥ craft brush ♥ craft knife and cutting mat ♥ metal ruler ♥ matching wide ribbon ♥ drawing pins TO MAKE 1 Prepare the cabinet before you start spraying and glueing: Remove any drawers and unscrew the drawer and/or door handles. Lightly sand the cabinet if necessary (this is so that the paper adheres better) and wipe it clean with a damp cloth. 2 Work on a drip mat and spray paint the cabinet’s legs in the colours of your choice. Leave to dry completely. 3 Copy one of the paper designs on…

Makes: 1 x 23cm flan Serves: 12 Preparation time: 1 hour plus cooling time (make it the day before you need it) Oven temperature: 180o C YOU WILL NEED Custard: ♥ 750ml full cream milk ♥ 1 vanilla pod (or use 5ml vanilla extract; see step 3) ♥ 5 large egg yolks plus 1 whole large egg ♥ 250g castor sugar ♥ 125ml cream (or use milk if preferred) ♥ 60g cornflour Pastry: (Instead of making your own pastry, you can use 2 rolls of store-bought shortcrust pastry) ♥ 250g cake flour ♥ 20ml castor sugar ♥ 125g butter ♥ 50ml ice cold water ♥ 1 large egg yolk 1 First prepare the custard filling. Cut the vanilla pod in half (if using), scrape the seeds out and add seeds…

I came across some words by George Bernard Shaw that justify my over-the-top chandelier. ‘If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you might as well let it dance.’ An exuberant chandelier with blue, red and green pieces of glass, brimming with old brooches and necklaces. It shines in magical prisms when the morning sun catches it and it brings me neverending pleasure. For others, old costume jewellery; for me, a sparkling reminder of an exceptional woman’s life. It helps to fill the emptiness left by the daily phone call to my mother that I can no longer make. My mother had 50 brooches! Multicoloured bright stones and pretty marcasite. They had graced the lapels of her wool, cashmere and camel-hair jackets and coats since the 1940s. Brooches in the…

We first discovered Fébé and Mishka on Instagram, where as @febe_and_mishka_in_wonderland they even put Alice to shame. Because in and around their house and garden in Onrus near Hermanus, they style their magical scenes, dress up for the occasion, and make, bake and mix together to create the loveliest things, which the man of the house, Ian, is only too happy to help capture. One look at their collection of photos and videos and you already know – this is not your everyday family. My son immediately noticed the artistic tattoos on Fébé’s manicured hands and decided he liked our readers. Our stylist Hannes’s fine eye for detail admired the coordinated clothes and no-one could miss Fébé’s amazing bob. And we have endless admiration for nine-year-old Mishka who chooses creativity…

DIFFICULTY: intermediate (and patience needed) TIME: for the cushion, about 4 days SIZE Finished project is approximately 45cm x 42cm. YOU WILL NEED ♥ quilting fabric in 5 different shades, or more if you prefer ♥ rotary cutter and rotary cutting mat ♥ Prym Fabric Glue Pen or any other fabric glue pen ♥ paper templates (see patterns on page overleaf; use 180g paper, which is thicker than normal computer paper) ♥ shades of Mettler thread for sewing crosses (Apliquick Invisible Thread can also be used) ♥ rickrack for final finishing (optional; can also use piping in shade of your choice) ♥ approximately 50cm matching fabric for back ♥ quilt ruler 12 inches x 6 inches for cutting of strips and ‘square’ at end of project (Note: Quilting is traditionally…

NEW SHOPS, DÉCOR AND CRAFT dala@ideasfactory.co.za FOOD AND RESTAURANTS ideasmagazinefood@gmail.com CONNECT WITH NATURE THIS SUMMER Need to stock up on summer essentials? Why not consider some green goodies? The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF South Africa) offers some must-have items that are local, sustainable, support conservation and encourage people to get out and experience the beauty of South Africa’s natural environment. All the products available on the WWF SA online store are ethically or sustainably sourced and made from recycled or recyclable materials. They sell a range of stylish beach bags, recycled-plastic T-shirts, reusable silicone straws and colourful reusable water bottles. To view the products, visit https://shop.wwfsa.org.sa/ FOOD TRENDS FOR 2022 Vegetables and healthier choices remain huge trends for the new year. Eating food that is good for your…

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 2-3 days YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS diagrams on page overleaf plywood (we used birch plywood) – 500mm x 330mm x 3.5mm thick (parts 1 & 3) jelutong (or any other light wood) – 250mm x 330mm x 40mm thick countersunk brass wood screws, 3mm x 12mm wood glue (Ultra) warm white LED fairy lights (part 4) TOOLS drill press or hand drill 6,5mm and 2mm drill bits countersink bit portable jig saw, band saw or coping saw sandpaper 80, 150 & 220 grit slotted screwdriver (small) MAKING THE CACTUS COMPONENTS 1 Refer to the parts diagram on the page overleaf for the dimensions. Alternatively, scan the diagram and print it out to 200% scale. 2 Paste parts diagrams 1 and 3 onto the birch plywood; paste part…

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 2 hours (until dry) YOU WILL NEED ♥ heart-shaped template of your choice ♥ ceramic pieces to fit inside template ♥ gold powder (available at most craft shops) ♥ two-part epoxy adhesive ♥ wooden plank to work on ♥ wooden stick (we used a small kebab skewer) Tip: When applying the gold epoxy mixture to the edge be quite generous as you want a visible 'gold' seam, so the gold should bulge out slightly but not so much that it drips. PAPER PLATE COLLECTION Start by photographing a variety of heirloom side and dinner plates. Choose different colours and sizes, and look for plates with interesting rims. The next step is to choose a favourite family photo and then to have all your photos printed onto white…

DIFFICULTY: intermediate TIME: one week SIZES Small (medium, large) YOU WILL NEED ♥ 3 balls (50g each) Kismet Raeesah 100% pure cotton in colour 58 (main colour) ♥ 1 ball (50g) Kismet Raeesah 100% pure cotton each in colours 33 and 66 ♥ 1 ball (50g) Elle Premier Cotton 4-ply in orange ♥ 2,25mm crochet hook or preferred size to get a very tight tension ♥ bra cup insert of your choice ♥ embroidery needle for yarn ♥ sewing thread in the same colour as the main colour of bralette if you want to sew the bra cup in ABBREVIATIONS beg – begin(ning) ch – chain stitch cont – continue dc – double crochet htr – half treble inc – increase rep – repeat rnd – round sl st –…

Stitching has not always been an essential part of my life. Although my very talented mother taught me to knit, crochet and embroider at a young age, to be honest I was far more interested in writing, making art and baking up a storm in the kitchen! It was only when I was living in London in the early 1990s that the sudden increase in the number of cross-stitch magazines and books caught my attention. And, in my typical ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ style, I jumped right in and started designing pieces almost straight away. After returning to South Africa I went on designing for international magazines and publishers, and also had my own design company for a while. Then, a few years ago, I chose to…

Summer lies deep and dense around our ankles, I can still smell sunscreen in the air and sweet watermelon … but it’s January, February is around the corner, the new year is here. Just as the early summer sun tears us from a blissful night’s slumber into a sudden and sharp day, so the first calendar days of 2022 and all the usual metaphors call us to new beginnings. And I struggle, as I do every year, to get my head in the right place. I long so much for the holidays! The void that December leaves in us perhaps has something to do with how fast the month passes: One day we are still popping Champagne corks and swimming in the sea, and the next moment we are back…

‘Go in the direction of relief’ has been a guideline for living I have always found enormously helpful. I’m fairly sure, though not certain, that I can attribute it to Abraham Hicks, and a talk I listened to over a decade ago. I’m entirely sure that it’s often served me well. Not sure which of two decisions to make? Think about which one feels like more of a relief – and go in that direction. This advice failed me, absolutely, when my mom died suddenly in 2019. In the 13 days between her diagnosis (four different kinds of cancer) and her death, I kept grasping around for relief, but there was none to be found. And in the dark and seemingly endless days of grief that followed, I looked for…

@HONEYBEADESIGNHIVE Toronto, Canada Textile artist Rebecca Caulford is in a league of her own when it comes to recycling. She uses only vintage fabrics and remnants for her colourful outfits, which you can order on honeybea.ca. You will also find inspiration for the loveliest crochet projects on her Instagram. @THEWANDERINGJOURNAL_ Philippines A new year brings fresh eyes and a new way of looking at your world. What better than to bookmark and organise your thoughts than in a creative journal? Take at look at The Wandering Journal’s Instagram for inspiration to start your own. @KOBA_ILLUSTRATION Cape Town The artist and animator Kobie Nieuwoudt inspires us with her designs and videos. Her illustrations with their distinctive tongue-in-cheek style are also printed on products such as T-shirts and coffee mugs, which you…

'About six years ago, we went to a childhood ‘A friend’s farm for Sunday lunch. It was late in the afternoon, we were sitting at a table under the trees, our host had just brought a pitcher of lemonade for us to drink and the kids were riding horses as the sun was setting. It couldn’t have been more picture perfect and I leaned over to my wife Angela and said, “This is what life is about”,’ says Justin Gomes. Justin, an owner of a successful advertising agency, thinks in visual narratives. From that moment of pastoral bliss, he and Angela began developing their vision for being semi-self-sufficient on a beautiful piece of land that offered them an opportunity to lean into the life they wanted while still being close…

SUMMER COUSCOUS SALAD Couscous is quick to prepare and you can change up the flavours according to what ingredients you have in your fridge. We’ve used snow peas and strawberries, but you could use cubed cucumber, garden peas, sweet peppers, baby corn or cherry tomatoes and any type of berries, or sliced peaches or nectarines. The lemony dressing adds a fresh tang. Use ordinary couscous or look for the larger variety called pearl couscous or Israeli couscous in the health section of your supermarket. Serves: 4-6 Preparation time: 30 minutes, plus cooling time Cooking time: 10 minutes ♥ 30ml olive oil ♥ 1 clove garlic, crushed ♥ half an onion, finely chopped ♥ 250g pearl couscous ♥ 375ml prepared chicken or vegetable stock SALAD ♥ 30g fresh watercress or rocket…

WHY DOODLE? Doodling can help you focus, especially during long business or office meetings. As you create the repetitive marks, your brain slows down, and you stimulate your self-control mechanism which in turn helps you to pay better attention – which then helps you to retain the information you’re hearing. It’s also a great way of calming your mind and alleviating anxiety. And which of us doesn't enjoy simply letting loose with pen on paper without the stress of having an end goal? Draw an indoor garden filled with vases and pots of flowers and hanging plants that won’t need any care and attention. All you need is a black marker and a design to copy. Or you can copy and cut out our illustrations on the pages overleaf and…

DIFFICULTY: challenging TIME: 2-3 hours YOU WILL NEED vintage drawer 2 x short half rounds with both ends cut at a 45-degree angle (length and width according to size of drawer) 2 x longer half rounds with the ends cut at a 45-degree angle (length and width according to size of drawer) 2 hinges 8 screws (slightly shorter than the width of your half round) screws to secure door to drawer acetate (clear plastic) same size as your drawer photo corners adhesive photo corners electric screwdriver or drill staple gun with staples decorations of your choice TIP If you don’t have a way of accurately cutting the ends of the half rounds at 45 degrees, ask your local hardware store to help you. DID YOU KNOW? A half round is…

DIFFICULTY: intermediate TIME: 3–4 days SIZE Medium (more or less 56cm all round) YOU WILL NEED ♥ 2 balls (50g each) Vinnis Nikkim crochet cotton in Natural ♥ 1 ball (50g) Vinnis Nikkim crochet cotton each in Sunshine, Orange and Avocado ♥ 3,75mm crochet hook tapestry needle ABBREVIATIONS beg – begin(ning) ch – chain stitch dc – double crochet htr – half treble lp – loop ML – magic loop rep – repeat rnd – round sl st – slip stitch sp – space st(s) – stitch(es) tr – treble yo – yarn over NOTE: Crochet 7 granny square blocks, each measuring about 8cm x 8cm. Do not crochet too loosely. STITCHES USED 3-bobble stitch (3-bob): yo, insert hook into st, pull up lp, yo, draw through 2 lps on…

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZE 12,7cm × 13,3cm YOU WILL NEED ♥ embroidery design on page 107 ♥ 25cm x 25cm 28-count antique white Jobelan by Wichelt (stitched over 2 threads) with stitch count 71 wide × 75 high ♥ 2 pieces of foam core board ♥ embroidery thread ♥ embroidery needle ♥ embroidery hoop ♥ cotton fibrefill, light batting or soft felt ♥ piece of patchwork or floral fabric measuring approximately 17,8cm x 17,8cm ♥ fabric glue ♥ satin ribbon, at least 0,8cm wide, in a colour of your choice ♥ hat pins or pins with beaded tops TO MAKE 1 Cut the fabric to measure at least 20,3cm x 20,3cm, fold in half and count out from the centre to start stitching at a convenient point, following the colour chart…

WINNING LETTER BEAUTY, HOPE AND ENTHUSIASM My enthusiasm surges like a high tide every time I see a new Ideas magazine on the stand, only to be replaced by frustration at my own lack of craftiness/DIY expertise/skill. But I still keep on buying your irresistible bucket-load of inspiration every time! There was a beautiful crocheted lacy scarf in the September/October 2020 issue. I have to switch off all media when I settle down to work on it in order to keep my brain clear for interpreting the data. This is not hard when we have regular power outages, but still, my scarf doesn’t look nearly as good as the picture. Then there was a salsa recipe. I decided to make it for my son-in-law’s birthday but it was a disaster…