At Blombos with Robs, Flash & Zorro

We spent Friday night at Blombos with Robyn, Flash & Zorro. It was Robyn's first time staying at Blombos & about time too! :) The dogs LOVED it!

We spent most of yesterday (Saturday) chopping out unwanted weeds...clearing the spaces in the stoep...clearing overgrown plants from the little 'outhouse'... brainstorming our longdrop system...& building a path to link it to the house along the olive grove.

 

Valiant Swart

One day, when I was 9 going on 10 years old, I watched an interview on the SABC children's program slot with a girl who's deepest wish was to own a tape recorder.
I had no idea what a tape recorder did, but I decided that I also wanted one with all my heart. Lucky for me, my birthday was close & my parents decided to fulfil my deepest wish & obsession. Of course, when I got it, I discovered that it was even more wonderful than I had imagined: Not only could I listen to whatever radio station I wanted to: I could tape things off the radio...or even my own voice talking - or singing! (not a great idea)

Within the next year or so, 5FM finally came to George - We only had "serious" radio stations [like SAFM which we could listen to the English version of Afrikaans programs] - & Kfm [which I didn't enjoy] before that. I discovered a whole new world of music. At that time, DJ's got to play what they wanted to play instead of record-company driven playlists. It was fantastic.

I became an avid listener of Barney Simon's hard rock/metal slot which I looked forward to with great anticipation. I had to listen to as quietly as the sound slider could go as not to let my family know that I was awake past my bed time. I loved recording my favorite songs - I particularly remember waiting up night after night for 'Stairway to Heaven' to come on - finger ready in anticipation on the record button. It finally did come on and I managed to tape it. That tape, like so many others, eventually got so stretched from repeated listening, but I would still listen to it.

During this time, I started hearing the name Valiant Swart mentioned. I always pictured this amazing guy who was so unbelievably talented...& elusive as I never actually found out what he had done that was so wonderful. Over the last 20 or so years, I have heard his name pop up time and time again but I somehow still had not found out properly who he is or what he does.

One of our friends in Stillbay, Annabel, invited us to join their table at a dinner & show at a place called 'Stables' last night. I was pleased to find out that the 'show' bit was a performance by Valiant Swart. What a treat! Although his music [mostly blues] is not the type I would choose to listen to regularly, his most awesome stories between songs & his poetic lyrics had me quite spellbound.

His words painted pictures in my head so beautiful that I can't even describe how awesome they were. It made me wish that I understood Afrikaans much better than I do - there are so many descriptive words that just can't be expressed in English.

Some of the songs are realy fun - like the one about the girl who wears too much eyeshaddow...to more serious ones where he touches on real issues - such as the one about a beggar called 'kleingeld' where he sings about the circumstances of how that little person came to beg. One of the lines is so poetically put: 'Jy breek jou heelgeld & pass jou vlenters aan' [You break your 'whole-money' and pass your {rags/broken bits} on]

The chorus from "waar die dromers dwaal" [where dreamers wonder] goes:

net links van die ewewig en regs van die balans
[just left of the {another word for balance} and right of the balance]
tussen die vorige geleentheid en die laaste kans
[between the previous opportunity and the last chance]
daar waar die eggo teen die weerklank slaan
[where the ego collides with the {weather-sound / lightning}]
daar kom jou drome vandaan
[is where your dreams come from]

In Gumboots

Geoff and I drove to Stillbay on Wednesday afternoon as we had organised workers to assist us in cleaning & sorting the Blombos property out a bit. We had Jaapie helping us with the gates & fences...and a lovely lady called Flossie did an amazing cleaning job on the inside of the house.

Geoff and I went into town & got some supplies & some gumboots for Geoff to match the ones I've had for the last 15 years....We re-packed the bits of wall around the cow-destroyed 'olive grove' which only has one and a half olive trees struggling along. It was such a beautiful, windless and warm winters day. My favorite kind!

Felting Course Pics

Jeanne at Blossom posted some pics of our felting course - you can view the post here.
You can see me...hard at work :)

Felting Course - Week 4

I had my last day of my 4 week felting course last week & we had to put together a project - something of our choice which combined the skills learned over the previous 3 weeks. I decided to make a hand bag.

I felted 3 long thin 'cords' which I plaited together for the handle. I graded 3 different felt colours from dark grey to light grey to natural for the main 'body of the bag. I decided to add a flap so that the bag can close nicely. I also felted some lace into the front and the back of the bag (the image doesn't show it very clearly, but it is there!). This project was a great learning curve & I'm pleased with the result.

I will most likely work on it a little more...add some porcelain buttons etc.



We had Nin's Lemon Meringue again. Yum!

Guest Starring A Bunch Of Stoners

Geoff and I were looking for a version of one of our favorite songs this morning...
and found this:

Felting Course Week 3

This week at felting we practiced felting through fabric. I first practiced on a square of white cotton muslin (top 2 pics). It is tricky to do the edges! I did one layer of wool in the centre and a double, slightly thicker layer on the edges. The texture on the back is awesome!

My second piece was with a bigger piece of pink muslin with white wool felted into the centre. I used 3 layers this time to get it thicker..and I added some pink polka dots. With this one, I put wool on the back as well as the front of the edges to felt through from both sides. It is not easy to get the edges even! I'm happy with the outcome though.

One of the things I really look forward to when going to felting (besides the actual felting part) is Nin's amazing tea time treats.

• Week 1: We had the most beautiful honey-sago cake which was SO more-ish!
• Week 2: We got thoroughly spoiled with a 'chocolate shot' *(an espresso cup of hot, melted cream + chocolate + ?). She gave us the choice between a slice of milk tart or apple strudel...We were delighted when Jeanne suggested we have a half slice of each & Nin agreed! YUM!
• Week 3: Lemon Meringue.

Who knows what is in store for us in week 4....!

Nin is the little shop semi-adjoined to Blossom. Off Main Road, Kalk Bay, turn up the little road by the Ice Cafe (Colyn Rd) look to the left and you can't miss them!

Grace Cooper

I just got back from visiting my sister T'Neal, her husband, Dave, & their brand new (1 day old) baby: Grace Cooper. T'Neal is totally SMITTEN with her... Grace is totally beautiful - and so calm she even half-slept through a nappy change (well done Dave!). I held her for a long while & she just made the sweetest little sounds...I am so overwhelmed by the awesomeness of becoming an aunt for the first time.

Needle Felting

I love this little shop called 'Feel Good Stuff'  in Longbeach Mall as it has loads of wool and beads and stuff to make stuff out of (my favorite kind of stuff!!).

The other day when I made a turn through there, I noticed that they had a needle felting starter kit...

...I could not resist, so  I went back for it on Friday last week & finally had a chance to play last night! I wanted to put something boy-ish onto JD's slippers (Grace's got hearts and buttons). Inspired by one of my fellow felting course ladies, Tara, who made a scarf for her son with colourful cars all over it, I decided to needle felt little cars into the knit-felted booties...and it worked beautifully!! :

I have now learned 3 felting methods. So chuffed! :)

Geoff's 'Casual Installation'

I took a seriously fancy bath this morning...read more

Grace's Birthday!

I am beyond excitement and have hardly slept. T'Neal phoned just after midnight to let me know that they were on their way to the hospital as her water broke.  I phoned my parents shortly after and they were in a tizz trying to decide what to do > whether to pack the bakkie and leave with all the things they wanted to bring to Cape Town....or just jump in the Golf and get here as quickly as possible! By right now they should be at the hospital (although they won't be able to see her).

At 5am I was woken after a beautiful dream where we were all sitting chatting with T and Grace just popped out and she was so incredibly beautiful. She had lovely blue eyes & long brown hair. (*it was a dream!). I phoned her and she said that the contractions had become stronger but still irregular and far spaced. I'm feeling so emotional > constantly seconds ay from tears of joy. I can hardly believe that the day has come!

..and what an absolutely beautiful day it is. Geoff and I were up for the sunrise...countless birds singing in our garden on this warm winters' day. A good day to be born.

Shelley & Steve

Geoff is working. I am supposed to be working. But it is Saturday and I'm browsing through my favorite blogs...catching up with friends on email & enjoying the warmth of the sun coming through after the rain & the snow on distant peaks making the wind icy. I had a lovely email from my friend Shelley to which she attached a picture of herself & one of her sweetheart of a husband, Steve. The pics are so beautiful I had to post them :) They are living in London at the moment...they just spent some time in France & they leave today for a few days of exploring fjords in Norway.

I emailed the travel agency.

Some Surf

The sunset overlooking Kommetjie yesterday:

Cape Flats

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that after living in Cape Town for the last 6 or so years, I had not known that the Cape Flats is actually a MASSIVE expanse of housing & industry consisting of many areas that I have heard of before (and not a group of high rise accommodation flats in Zonnebloem area). The subject hadn't really come up (probably because I don't watch news/read papers)...I had had no reason to go there...and it hadn't occured to me to enquire further when the Cape Flats was mentioned for the first 2 reasons.

On Sunday I went with Elaine on a very unexpected journey to Philippi to visit Pete at the animation workshop he was facilitating. It was amazing to see washing on lines all over the place, people braaing on the main road and cows at a major intersection.

We also saw some amazing signage...and a place where you can have your hair cut & phone for an abortion.

The place that we went to was quite amazing...it is an ex-cement factory. Elaine and I had some fun walking around and taking some pictures of the place...and our shaddows :)

The trip was a good reminder that we do actually live in Africa - with all its quirky African 3rd world-ness.

Amy Butler Fabrics

We're 5! Take 15% off your order. This was the email from Sew Mama Sew! on the 11th of May...and the discount included sale items! :) ...I finally bought Amy Butler fabrics & 2 patterns I have been eyeing since I discovered her online...

I had a mad scramble between getting from Felting to a web client meeting at 2pm to get to the post office...and my package was waiting for me..bound with a ribbon was the oh so fabulous package I have been looking forward to!

...watch this space!

Felting Course Week 2

I had a rather delayed start to the morning...flew out of the house and arrived 5 minutes late for felting. It was fine though as I settled into creative relaxation about 2 minutes after sitting down & starting to work on the techniques for this week.

First I felted around a sort of a heart shape which went semi-well...followed by the making of felt balls. This may seem easy, but believe me: its not!

Then I felted around a drinking glass to make a small felt bowl which I am so happy how it turned out :)

How Cool Is Google?!?

I was surprised when I couldn't save the Pac Man Google logo in my favorite Google logos folder...till I clicked it... and it came alive! This is for Pac Man's 30th Anniversary as Featured by Google ...and it is actually for 2 Players!

There is an 'Insert Coin' button next to the 'Google Search' button & if you click it a second time, Mrs Pacman will appear and you have to do a mad ambidextrous thing to try and control both players at the same time without ending one of the lives prematurely! (if you don't have someone to play with you that is!) :)

Here are the direction to Play Pac Man 30th Anniversary with two players:

Hit the “Insert Coin” to start Pacman & hit the “Insert Coin” a second time to bring up Mrs. Pacman.

Keys to use:

Google Pacman Player 1 - Pacman:
-Just use the arrow keys to move Pacman around

-Google Pacman Player 2 – Mrs. Pacman:

* “w” key-up
* “a” key-left
* “s” key-down
* “d” key-right

Knit Felting Again

Did I write yet that I also have a nephew on the way? My brother Stan & wife Karen will be giving birth to a baby boy (Joshua David) some time in September....and so I have started knitting for him! I have started with some felted slippers (similar to the ones I made for Grace) which I will embroider something onto as soon as they are dry. Perhaps a train...or a doggie or a spider :)

I have no idea about what will fit babies or when these will fit him...I suppose one has to just trust the pattern! I used the Elle Marino Solids this time round. It hasn't felted quite as thickly as the ones I made for Grace (yarn spun by a local spinner) so they are a little bigger than the others...

...perhaps they will still shrink a little more with drying (?)

DIY on Design*Sponge

Again thanks to Thaya (goodness - what an inspiration your blog is!!), I went to have a look at Design*Sponge's blog-style site because of the DIY 'felt bag from scandinavian needlecraft' project... What an awesome idea! ....has my brain ticking on what is going to be possible with my new felting skills! :)

PS: If anybody feels like sending me the Scandanavian Needlecraft book for my birthday (soon), I will be thrilled!

First Day Felting

I was so excited to find out (thanks Thaya!) that Blossom in Kalk Bay does felting courses! I stared this last week Thursday on their 4 week course:

• Week 1 - basic felting technique,go home with a scarf out of one of the techniques you learn.
• Week 2 - Felt balls, beads, round a shape 3 dimensional shape/sculpture.
• Week 3 - Felt through fabric then start combining techniques to decide on a project for the next week.
• Week 4 - work on a project together for the whole morning......

All materials are supplied, tea, coffee and cake...
(Nin's delicious honey cake last week!!)

1. The first thing we did was learn the basic felting technique(s)
2. We played around with making a 'holy' fabric
3. We made a scarf

I have been feeling (overwhelmingly much) that I must make the most of every moment of my life & do as many of the things I want to do that I can. I don't want to get to a point where I wish that I had done more...

Mothers keep telling me that once the kids come, there is time for absolutely nothing that you actually want to do...and today is the only day to start doing these things: and the only time is right now.

In The Artist's Way, she says that some people say Do you know how old I will be when I finish [said dream - say studying something they've always wanted to study]? and the answer to that is - YES: the same age you will be if you do not do it.

I am unbelievably happy with the first results of fulfilling my dream of learning these felting techniques.

Flower Neck Scarf

Yay! I just finished it! :)

Felted Slippers for Grace

I knitted these slippers (for my sister's soon to be born baby girl, Grace) on our trip to George and back & felted them last week...I'm quite chuffed with how they turned out! I've actually added pink felted hearts with green buttons in the centres which I've added to both sides...I'll get a shot of her wearing them one day and post it.

...and with hearts and buttons added:

I'm busy with some blue ones for my brother & his wife's little boy who will be born in September....will post pics when I'm done!

Matching Luggage

I have been quite concerned about traveling safely with my Canon Selphy printer ( the idea is that I would like to create my photo album as we travel ) so I applied the same pattern logic as the camera pouch I made onto a much larger scale. I included a pocket on the front and one on the back to store paper, my paper cutter, double sided sticky tape etc in. I can even fit my camera charger in as well

I got Geoff to help me put strong pearl front studs on the camera case as well as the printer case to close them both...I think I will still put a bit of Velcro onto the back pocket to keep it really securely closed.

3 more sleeps till take off.
Unbelievably much to do before then.

Still Getting Started...

I started knitting a crochet blanket because the Moxy ones are a little bit beyond my budget & I've never seen one that I like the colours of [plus the actual truth of the matter is that I like to make things myself!]

I got started with some lovely Elle Homespun & some other bits and pieces I'd used for something else (I bought 3 balls (Elle Gold Chunky)of the grey for R10 each from the sale bin at The Wool Boutique in Fish Hoek...I had bought the pink, blue and green (Elle Gold Aran) to knit some baby stuff. Then T'Neal suggested I edge all the blocks in one colour. I managed to match up the colour of the centres with an Elle Traditional Aran Knit in the perfect cream!

Kalk Bay Shop

My sister in law, Colleen [aka Koeksista] is such a dynamite person!
We had a early-ish morning chat which led us in the direction of speaking about The Railway House (she works there) needing a blog...and so we got a blog up and running! About time too! This is the first day's page:

I was THRILLED to discover that the blogger domain kalkbayshop.blogspot.com was available as the shop has been under threat of a new name for a mighty mighty long time now. The Railway House will most likely be called 'Kalk Bay Life Design' in the near future...so I've registered the domain http://www.life-design.co.za/ which will (hopefully) have some lekker stuff on it very soon... it will be a 'landing page' for all of Geoff's (and probably mine too) projects.

We have Geoff's blog (in desperate need of update) running - which has his personal projects on it...and Copper Bath will also fall under the Life Design umbrella!

Watch those spaces!

Introducing Yuliya Nilssen

My very very talented friend, Yulia Nillsen asked me to design a logo for her & I am in LOVE with her knitting! ...so we did an exchange: I designed her logo & business card... & she made me a pair of slippers such as the ones pictured! They have leather soles which is great as they are non-slip (brilliant because we have cold cement floors!)

You can visit her website here and place an order for your own pair!

I also got a house stone from her *(brilliant as we were looking for something to stop our front door from bashing against the entrance mirror!)...She has painted the most exquisitly imaginitive designs on river stones (see the pic below!)

LOVING New Blogger Designs!

I really just LOVE the new theme options in blogger...what do you think?

Family Veldrif Weekend

On the weekend of the 16th of April, my mom and dad, brother + wife, sister + husband, Geoff and I, headed off to Veldrif for the weekend (for mom's 50th birthday). We stayed at the most awesome house - River Time > the website photos don't do it justice at all!

Here are a few pics from the weekend:

The river jetties

Family photo fun...can you spot the 2 pregos?
Clue below >

Yay! Grace Cooper in da tum. Due between the 30th May - 8 June 2010!

Afternoon Beach Fun

I forgot my wetsuit last Wednesday (we were meant to go and surf Muizenberg)....so we decided to go for a walk on Fish Hoek beach...which ended up in an unexpected impromptu construction mission!

The start of the waterway from the mountain to the sea

Making progress

Geoff working hard from the top end

OOOH! Random passers by joiner-inners!

Everybody mucking in!
(one lady joined in as her dog destroyed a wall & she ended up sticking it through till the end!)

Another joiner-inner!

Success!!

Some wonderful flow :)

Montegu / Greyton Weekend

Geoff and I headed in Montegu / Greyton direction a couple of weekends back. The main reason was for Dwain and Danelle's wedding..We left on the Wednesday and went through to Montegu to visit an alpaca farm... Now I want some more than ever!! I got some wonderful alpaca wool to create something with & Geoff bought some stunning stock for his shop.

There's a phenomenon in Montegu: Sacred Ibis that flock to a particular tree. It was so beautiful (and noisy) that we had to stop off and take some pics! :

Sacred Ibis

Alpaca mom & daughter

The wedding couple! Dwain & Danelle xx

Finally settling

Geoff and I are finally settling into our new home. The only irritation is a whole bunch of dogs in the neighbourhood which I've never seen get walked. No wonder they bark out of boredom!

We've spent 2 weeks away since moving in so it was great to spend last weekend at home...pottering around...going for the odd surf. Hopefully we'll be fully unpacked soon & I can just RELAX!

New home...Day 1

We moved yesterday. Actually, we are not quite finished moving but we did the bulk of it yesterday.

It is quite perfect moving just before Easter weekend. 4 days of un-interrupted settling.

Today was day 1. We had a lovely sleep last night. The odd getting used to dogs barking...neighbours having a noisy braai...there things will take a bit of patience to get used to.

We spent a lot of time organising today. Geoff set up the music and i sorted the kitchen out as much as possible.

The pool is amazing to have. I have not connected with the garden yet...crossing fingers that my proposed veggie patch will be approved soon!

I took the photo in this post on my first swim yesterday :)

Tikolo

My sister's sweet little angel of a snow white budgie was visiting us for 2 weeks while she and her husband were off to Thailand for a second honeymoon before their baby girl, Grace arrives.

...at least we thought she was a sweet little angel! We found out how one little bird can make enough of a racket to drive us half round the bend!

I've re-nicknamed Tikolo (who was previously nicknamed 'Ticks') to 'THE NOISE BOX'. Shame, she's quite old, and she really is very sweet...kind of like a granny who's past caring what everybody else around her thinks.

I actually missed her a bit this morning when stirring my barley grass (the spoon makes quite a noise on the sides of the glass) & there was no equivilant noise from around the pillar as there has been for the past 2 weeks...The flat seems very quiet without the little extra life inside it.