Содержание выпуска: January/February 2023 — Ideas

It was three in the afternoon when I ordered a cappuccino during a recent trip to Italy. Loudly. Scandalous! The people nearby almost got whiplash as they turned to see what such an uninformed, uncultured straniera (foreigner) looked like. Coffee with milk is for breakfast, preferably with something sweet or a cornetto, their version of a croissant, but with less butter. Because Italians don’t believe that butter makes everything better. In fact, you’re not likely to even find it on the table. The town is small, but there are three shops stocked with wonderful, mostly local products and the pavement outside is stacked with fruit and vegetables. To buy fresh and cook yourself is simply a lifestyle there. And the fuss around suitable times for milk might make me laugh,…

Researchers call ‘blue zones’ the eighth wonder of the world. There are five of them – these amazing regions on earth where, according to statistics, people live the longest: the island of Sardinia in Italy, the Okinawa islands of Japan, the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica, the island of Ikaria in Greece, and Loma Linda, California, USA. These areas are all relatively warm throughout the year, quite small and remote, and close to the ocean. But regardless of their geography, the secret to the longevity there – the people live to at least 90 years of age and often older than 100 (with notably low rates of cancer, heart disease and dementia) – is found in a much more comprehensive, holistic recipe. It includes moderation in diet, peaceful coexistence and…

1 Cover the work surface with foil. Roll the clay out smoothly to slightly larger than your chosen frame. In order to get a good relief, the plant parts will need to be pressed in fairly deeply. Therefore, it is important not to roll the clay too thin (2-3cm thickness will be best). 2 To set the border for and size of your artwork, carefully place the wooden frame (or other frame of your choice) onto the clay and mark the outline. Remove the frame. 3 Arrange the botanical specimen(s). Roll over with a rolling pin and press all the plant parts deep into the clay. Make sure that the leaves and flowers are nicely fanned out and have no kinks. Be carefully not to press the plants right through…

Whether in a rented home or not, when the baby room had to be done, there was no doubt – the walls needed to be repainted. With a décor theme of llamas, cacti and rainbows, Anelle and husband Riaan set out to paint the former study, with Riaan’s bicycles on the wall, into a peaceful haven for baby Mila. This was however the final step. Before this, Anelle spent her entire pregnancy making an amazing and very work-intensive mobile, crocheting a blanket, embroidering hoops and hand-painting cushions for the newcomer. On weekends she roped in her mom Elaine to help sew together miniature rainbows, little llamas and the fun cushions for the room. The last thing she did before giving herself at least 10 days of rest, switching off her…

On a Pinterest embroidery group, an anonymous wise person explained why slow stitching calms me. ‘It’s the rhythm of the needle drawing the thread through the fibres of the fabric that brings one to calmness. It’s like music for the soul.’ If I had to guess, the musical version of slow embroidery would sound something like Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies. Soothing and serene, a slow tempo. A meditative melody perfectly in tune with back stitch, split stitch, satin stitch, the French knot, chain stitch and featherstitch. A British group, Stitching Together (stitchingtogether.net), which brings together researchers, project commissioners, textile artists and enthusiasts to foster dialogue around the advantages of ‘participatory textile making’ – doing needlework together by hand – shared a strong message with the world in 2020. They employed embroidery…

Make a set of these easy notebooks so you always have somewhere to jot down your thoughts. We made 12, one for each month of the year, and numbered them, to make it easier to identify them and for when we want to look at them again later, to reflect back on our year. DIFFICULTY: easy to medium TIME: a few hours (drying time included) YOU WILL NEED cardboard (nothing thicker than 225gsm) paper (any scraps laying around) bone folder wood glue small stiff-bristle brush craft knife and cutting mat metal ruler and pencil clamp fabric scraps printed numbers 1 Cut the cardboard for your book jacket in the size of your choice. Stack the papers on top of each other neatly and place them on the cardboard so you…

FOR AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION OF R484.50 YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR PRINTED COPY OF IDEAS EVERY SECOND MONTH.* USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS TO SUBSCRIBE: * Call 087 353 1291 (lines open Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm) * EMAIL YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS to ideas@onthedot.co.za** AND for Idees to idees@onthedot.co.za * WHATSAPP your details to 087 353 1292. OR * IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY THE MAGAZINE ONLINE OR WISH TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ONLINE EDITION, go to www.zinio.com/za/Ideas OR * DOWNLOAD OUR IDEAS APP and purchase your digital copies there. You can find us as IDEAS MagaZine on the APPLE APP STORE as well as the GOOGLE PLAY STORE for Android devices. TERMS AND CONDITIONS *Your subscription is provided on a pre-paid basis and is available…

❁ NEW SHOPS, DÉCOR AND CRAFT dala@ideasfactory.co.za ❁ FOOD AND RESTAURANTS ideasmagazinefood@gmail.com CREATIVE FABRIC Melly Williams is a self-taught surface pattern designer from Cape Town who loves to work in watercolour, gouache and digital media. She recently collaborated with Caversham Textiles in KwaZulu-Natal to launch a range of home décor fabrics. There are six different designs to choose from. Shop for this fabric online at www.mellystudio.com. NEW SUMMER COCKTAIL We all know (and love) a G&T, but now you can try the new De Krans P&T, the first port-style wine and tonic cocktail of its kind in South Africa. Produced by De Krans Wines, best known for their port-style wines, this is a sparkling, naturally sweet, premixed product with an alcohol of 6%. The fresh fruity flavours are balanced by…

WHEN FOLLOWING A MEDITERRANEAN DIET, REMEMBER THESE TIPS: Focus of using lots of fruit, vegetables and herbs that are in season. Make the vegetables the main part of the meal and eat lean chicken and seafood (especially oily fish) rather than red meat. Use olive or avocado oil instead of butter. Include plenty of wholegrains and pulses and avoid refined ingredients. Include seeds and nuts. Avoid sugar and too much alcohol. CANNED VEGETABLES AND PULSES Beans Chickpeas Lentils Tomatoes Tomato paste Roasted peppers Artichoke hearts Grape vine leaves CANNED FISH Anchovies Sardines Tuna Salmon GRAINS, NUTS AND SEEDS Pasta noodles Rice Couscous Bulghur wheat Barley Quinoa Polenta Nuts Seeds DRIED HERBS AND SPICES Basil Oregano Mint Rosemary Thyme Sage Bay leaves Fennel seeds Dried crushed chillies Cumin Cinnamon Cloves Saffron…

BIRDHOUSE PLANTERS YOU WILL NEED wood offcuts white water-based paint paintbrush saw and circular saw hammer and nails measuring tape TO MAKE 1 Decide how big you want the birdhouse to be and cut out a front and back panel of the same size and shape from your wood offcuts. Cut a gable shape at the top of each one. You can play with the shape of the gable, as we did with our ‘crooked’ house, as long as the front and back panels are the same. Cut an opening in the front panel with your circular saw. 2 Now cut out the two side panels and the base, to fit in between the front and back panels. For our asymmetrical house, we cut one roof panel as well and…

INSPIRATION TERENA: This year, I made a long-held dream come true for myself by buying a house in a small hillside village in Italy. I wanted to remember my first visit to my house with the gorgeous church, the view over the valley from my bed and the large paintbrush that was used to whitewash the entire apartment. DALA: We recently moved to Swellendam where I fell in love with what is now my Victorian house. My husband’s beloved Queen died, candles burn brightly thanks to Eskom’s power cuts and I am reading the book Frida Style Icon, about Frida Kahlo. She is always an inspiration for me. ELIZABETH: Tea and toast are my comfort food. Bridget, our darling cat, died recently and the angel wings are for my good…

WINNING LETTER THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR I was already planning Christmas and holiday times with childlike excitement in October – still a bit into the future but every new day brought the time closer to when I would gather all my children and grandchildren under my roof again! The enjoyment of the planning breeds happiness and helps me to recall memories of my own childhood Christmases: the hustle and bustle of cleaning the house from top to bottom, the wonderful aromas and preparation of food and my Mom moving with invisible wings on her feet through the aromatic house. There was always music – classical, Christmas, Frank Sinatra singing Jingle Bells, ‘Dashing through the snow, on a one-horse open sleigh’, (while we South Africans bask in our…

When antiques collector, décor-shop owner, interior decorator and lover of all things vintage Lynda Gardener first walked through the doors of an old mattress factory in North Fitzroy, a ‘gritty’ inner suburb of Melbourne, Australia, it was not a pretty sight that greeted her. Wires hung from the roof, buckets were needed to catch the dripping water where the roof had partly caved in, cracked old concrete floors were covered with oil stains from the site’s former incarnation as a vehicle repair yard, and the rear of the building was a toilet block. ‘I didn’t dare to look out the back,’ she confesses. But, living next door, Lynda had secretly coveted the building for years. ‘I used to spy on it from our top windows and dream of what I…

PRESERVED LEMONS Take advantage of fresh ingredients when they are in season. You can make preserves and then use them at a later date throughout the year. This lemon preserve is very simple to make and is a favourite ingredient in many Mediterranean dishes. It will add a tangy and fragrant zing to your marinades, dressings, seafood or chicken dishes, salads, curries or tagines. Makes: 1 large jar Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus preserving time ♥ 8 large lemons♥ about 125ml coarse salt♥ 6 fresh bay leaves♥ fresh juice of 4 lemons 1 Wash the lemons then cut a piece off the top of each one. Cut in half lengthways. Cut a lengthways slit halfway through each piece, without cutting through the base. 2 Add a spoonful of salt to…

Creating something with your own hands is an incomparable feeling. Kneading the soft clay, turning it into a flat surface and arranging fresh plants and flowers on it is both a sensual and mindful experience. To see and feel the traces of the leaf veins in the clay, following the curling and twisting of the tendrils on the finished relief, the tiny stamens in their perfection in miniature – how amazing and magnificent nature is, to the smallest detail. And the good thing: You don’t need endless patience; you will soon be able to hold your work of art in your hands. Because plaster of Paris is always in a hurry, it tries to capture every shape and detail that is offered very quickly, making this art form quick and…

WALNUT AND SUNFLOWER SEED CRUNCHIES These are a delicious lunchbox treat instead of a sugary biscuit. For a gluten-free version, replace the cake flour with a gluten-free flour mix and be sure to use gluten-free oats. Makes: about 24 squares Preparation time: 15 minutes Baking time: 18-20 minutes Oven temperature: 180° C ♥ 200g rolled oats♥ 100g cake flour♥ 15ml baking powder♥ 100g coconut sugar (or raw brown sugar)♥ 100g chopped walnuts♥ 50g sunflower seeds♥ 2,5ml salt♥ 150g unsweetened peanut butter♥ 100g coconut oil, melted♥ 100g honey♥ 2 large eggs 1 Preheat the oven and line a 20 x 30cm baking tin. You can use a baking sheet for flatter crunchies (remember to reduce the baking time). 2 Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. 3 Mix the…

DIFFICULTY: intermediate TIME: three weeks YOU WILL NEED 4mm crochet hook (body and border) 5mm crochet hook (join) stitch markers tapestry needle small scissors Vinnis Colours (Nikkim) Avocado 530 x 1 Sunshine 535 x 1 Pink 521 x 4 Ballet Pink 522 x 4 Blue Bell 533 x 3 Baby Blue 534 x 2 Raspberry 559 x 1 Peach 558 x 3 Navy 589 x 2 Natural 500 x 3 MEASUREMENTS Approximately 1,1m x 1,1m ABBREVIATIONS (American terminology) begcl – beginning cluster ch – chain stitch dc – double crochet dc2tog – double crochet 2 together dc3tog – double crochet 3 together (cluster) hdc – half double crochet rep – repeat rnd – round sc – single crochet sc2tog – single crochet 2 together sm – stitch marker sp(s) –…

BULLET JOURNAL I simply can’t resist a lovely notebook. So there have been a few times that I’ve stood with my heavy-as-lead suitcases hoping and praying they would allow my luggage onto the overseas flight without it costing me a small fortune for excess weight. Here one from a market in Florence, there one from a department store in Berlin. And of course lots of others from my local stationery shops. Pretty but without a purpose, for years they piled up in my cupboard, until I discovered the usefulness and joy of a bullet journal. Yes, in the journalling world, this is my choice. Before that I was a person with lists everywhere, yellow Post-it notes wherever you looked and a diary to plan my life. Now I have everything…