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Dark Red

June 7, 2010 in Featured by wendren | 2 comments

What is the difference between maroon, burgundy and ox-blood?

Maroon comes from the French word maroon (“chestnut”) and is a brownish-red like the suede leather on this ‘antique linen and leather bag’. Did you know that the word maroon used as a verb is to put (a person) ashore on a desert island and abondon that person there, as pirates or mutineers sometimes did (ref).

Ox-blood is also said to be a brownish-red colour but richer and brighter than maroon. The pigment comes from a rare type of Italian coral but the colour is said to look like that which an ox bleeds, hence the name.

Burgundy is a colour name that has its origins in a French wine region and it refers to red wine. The first recorded use of burgundy as a colour name in English was in 1915 so it is a relatively new name. This is the colour of the double stripe that runs through this ‘antique linen and leather bag‘.

Now you know something you didn’t know before …

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Blog Cleaning

May 11, 2010 in Featured, Interesting Finds by wendren | 5 comments

I know…I know…my blog and my shop have been rather neglected.

In my defense, Ive been painting the house (I couldn’t take living in a butter dish any longer), lecturing full time and keeping Wren afloat.

I now have time off (yippeee) and to start off, I thought I would tidy my blog up. There are so many great blogs out there and whilst living through the past few months, I haven’t taken the time to stop, chat and be inspired.

How awesome are:

…these hand drawn flowers in a vase?

Made by Jurianne Matter and found via Bloesem.

These budding storybook notebooks found via anything goes.

Astulabee attended a dimensional fabric collage workshop. Here is one example as to why (only sometimes) I wish I lived in the US (or if I could wish for absolutely anything, South Africa was closer to the US). With that mention, Heather Moore of Skinnylaminx is over in NY and having a wonderful creative sabbatical fulled with all these kinds of workshops – it’s great to see.

I love Oh Joy’s new website (or has it been like this for a while? – sorry, love the nature image widgets). It’s autumn right now in South Africa and although gardens are usually most loved in spring, I am loving this new season. All my Watsonia’s and Chasmanthe’s are shooting, my rocket is starting to take and everything seems to be recovering well from the Cape’s windy and hot summer. Design Sponge has a post on Marie Susa (of Susa farms) scented geraniums. Wouldn’t those make lovely tussie-mussies?

How clever are these business cards by Andrea Romani (en environmental consultant) found via laissezfairedesign?

Often I am challenged to develop a ‘new’ and more interesting business card but my response is that the ones I have are cheap, serve the purpose and are easy (and I think look pretty cool for the boring business card). To go and develop something more ‘captivating’ takes time and money – well not these. LOVE IT!

Also….how clever are these packing crate drawers by Maurício Arruda found via Design Milk? I have an open cupboard in our newly painted kitchen. The kitchen is big so I don’t desperately need the shelf space and I don’t know what to put there. Wouldn’t these be great and add colour? Adding this to the ‘to do list’…

Also….our post box is just about had it and needs an upgrade but I refuse to get one of those awful metal ones. How gorgeous are these post boxes in a photograph from Being Brazen’s Blog.

During this ‘inspiration feast’ I realised all my local favourite bloggers were no longer on my roll. I am SO sorry – please forgive me. I missed out of wonderful things like these crocheted stools by wood & wool via Beatnik Bazaar.

On the handcrafted note, Jesse (of Jezze Blog) always brings out the most fantastic little hand items (always beautifully packaged). I love her new printed buttons (left) and Jenny Arnott’s hand stitched buttons (right)(found via Print & Pattern)

Soozibee’s blog is always very down-to-earth and I love her new landscape prelims. I also love her sketchbook (I say this with a guild running up my spine becuase I should have a sketch-book too – note: add to to-do list (wow, this list is growing).

…and I’m wondering…where on earth was I when all these great things were being posted???

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The Polaroid Puzzle Box

May 4, 2010 in Featured by wendren | 2 comments

My grandmother gave Jeremy a gift a while back. It took us about 15 minutes of wondering what sort of puzzle box it was when it slid open and revealed itself as a Polaroid camera from an era gone by.This camera was made in the 1970s and was the first instant SLR in history, and the first camera to use Polaroid’s new integral print film, which developed automatically without the need for intervention from the photographer (ref). This was revolutionary at the time, and a precursor to today’s 600 and Spectra films.

The sad thing about this camera is that you cannot buy the film anymore and the story leading up to the hope that maybe the film will be available at the end of the year is quite romantic. To cut the long story short (read the full story here), at the closing down party of the Polaroid Film Factory in 2008 two men met: a Polaroid fan and the former Polaroid production manager. They agreed that there is a special magic about Polaroid camera’s and both felt that it was worth trying to continue production of the film.

Together they raised enough money to lease the old Polaroid factory for a decade and buy all of the old machinery but the bad news was that the special hard-to-make dyes needed to create the instant film had been used up. The task was named the ‘Impossible Project‘ because many believed the dyes were literally, impossible to make again. Ten engineers and a year later they have created an original self-developing process and the first batch of monochrome film that is compatible with the SX-70 (ie, Jeremy’s camera) was released in March this year. The full colour film is promised to arrive later this year and I cannot wait for either to arrive in South Africa … (I just hope it is somewhat affordable).

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I “love Nostalgic Whimsy”

April 8, 2010 in Featured by wendren | 1 comment

Have you ever seen a suitcase vanity for your wall before? I hadn’t but I love it.

This would also make a great medicine cabinet.

“Love Nostalgic Whimsy” also makes pet beds. I have seen pet beds before (and made one for my dogs) but these beds for cats or small dogs are by far more beautiful than any I have ever seen. I love the detail and how each one is different. My favourite is the round suitcase from the sold items (far right).

There are also other fun things in “Love Nostalgic Whimsy” etsy shop. For example, teapots that have become a lights and a pin board made with chicken wire.

What a wonderful etsy shop. It makes me feel as though I am in a fantasy world …

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Trends from the Design Indaba Conference

March 10, 2010 in Events, Featured by wendren | 2 comments

There is one speaker at the Design Indaba Conference that I would never miss: Li Edelkoort. As always, her visuals are beautiful and her insight into design is brilliant. This year was no exception and becuase I was part of the exhibition I got to go to a second presentation by her on the Sunday – what a treat.

Here are some key points that I picked up from her presentations that I think are seeds worth planting in either your head or heart, watered, and left to grow into fantastic ideas or whatever they might be.

1. Togetherness. Families are working together and groups of people are coming together. This is obvious in some ways, for example with social networking, but in another it is surprising becuase many people thought that lifestyles would become closed and people isolated. However, we are reacting differently by wanting (and needing) to be with people and have ‘real’ relationships to those who matter. The individual is ‘giving himself to the group’.

The MOST BEAUTIFUL item at the Design Indaba (in my opinion) are these hanging lights designed and made by Jeremy’s cousin, Stuart Douglas & Co.

2.Another interesting change linked to relationships is the importance of grandparents to grandchildren. This relationship has never been as strong as it is today because children and grandparents have the time to spent together whereas mom and dad are too busy working and growing their careers to develop as deep a relationship. The influence of grandparents on the younger generation is increasing.

Lights made from cotton string and jute twine by Moonbasket.

3. Li and another amazing presenter, Bruce Nussbaum, spoke about how “taking things, remaking things and making things beautiful” is what we do and want. The consumer no longer wants to just consume, we want to “create beauty and share it”. Li clarified what we define as beauty today:

Materials: Brushed metal (ie, not shiny and bling but glamorous). Lots and lots of natural wood combined with ceramics and leather. Feathers. Minimal with texture.

Lights designed by David Krynauw.

Colour: Soft, tender but colourful neutrals. (Oh, and yellow is going to be the new pink apparently).

Shape: Chubby. Voluptuous. Simplicity.

Ceramics by Wonki Ware.

In conclusion, this is the image (drawn in a moment at the presentation in my notebook) that is left with me from Li’s presentation:

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Alejandro Aravena @ the Design Indaba Conference

March 8, 2010 in Events, Featured by wendren | 3 comments

My favourite speaker the Design Indaba Conference this year has to have been Alejandro Aravena.

Now I am not an architect and am not particularly an architectural fan but Alejandro really had me on the edge of my seat. He introduced us to his career in quite an intense way and I kept having to re-read his words to allow them to sink in and by that time he had already progressed onto his next strong statement. Trying to listen, comprehend and follow I scribbled some key phrases down (not much I know) …

He asked, why does low-cost housing depreciate in value and how can these kind of houses be built, 1. within the budget provided by the government, to 2. be an asset to the home owners and 3. help them better their living standards? This is a problem that is very real in South Africa and RDP houses as we call them, are like match boxes in a bigger match box piece of land. It also never takes long for this piece of land to be rented out and built on and before you know it, there is no space, just extended shack rooms with 7 families living there.

I was desperate to find out how he solved this very difficult and real problem. He asked why build a half-good house? Rather, quite literally, build a good half house. His logic is that this way they can build on to half a good house as they can afford to. He took the money given by the government and invested a large portion of it into the land becuase position is important to those who have to use public transport.

He then took the remaining money and put it into the structure of the building as opposed to the finishes. When the tenants were asked if they would prefer a bath, shower or hot water they all choose a bath. They have never had hot water so that was not a necessity and in a bath they can do their washing, wash the children and use it for a variety of other things. The insides of these homes were barren. Really, the bare necessities.

The other really amazing feature about these homes is that they were built with a ‘temporary wall’. This allowed the home owner to build onto the house when they could, without damage to the existing structure.

It was an amazing project that completely blew me away. The creative thinking was so complex and the outcome so simple it was in every way what I would call awesome design. I hope some Alejandro homes get built in South Africa.

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Original T-Bag Designs

February 10, 2010 in Featured by wendren | 3 comments

It is amazing the difference that a single person can make to the lives of others. Meeting Jill from Original T-Bag Designs the other day made me realise this becuase she has really put together an amazing company that has achieved this.

Original T-Bag Designs originates out of the need to create job opportunities for others. Instead of throwing away the tea bag after you have had a cup of tea, why not let it be reused creatively. In 2000 Jill created a company that did just this and their creations are quite amazing. My favourite is the tea bag angel collection.

They get the used tea bags, empty, rinse and iron them. These can then be used to make coasters, greeting cards, artworks, bags, angels (like above), book tags … they really do a lot with the simple tea bag.

You can either visit them at their workshop in Hout Bay and/or buy and discover more about them online.

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My favorite crafters – Merry Go Round

January 29, 2010 in Featured by wendren | 5 comments

Next to my spot at the Neighbourgoods Market there is a shop that showcases ceramic artworks and along with starting the morning with freshly baked croissant, I must stroll through it. Clementina Van Der Walt, the shop owner, is one of favourite crafters and even if the work on the shelves is the same, I always find it amazingly inspirational (and P.S. she has a great blog too).

I love the organic lines of Clementina’s work – There is a peace that can be found in it.

Clementina’s inspiration is West African textile designs and the African landscape. Perhaps that is what I love most about her work – the sense of Africa transcends through her designs.

One day when I am big (hint hint, Wedding Register Idea) I would love to own a Clementina bowl and a Hennie Meyer vase (or in the correct description term: vessel).

There is such a fun and quirky element to his designs that it is hard not to fall in love with them.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

This is a Merry-Go-Round post and Ruth, Lily, Fabienne, Mariana and Agathe have all written about their favourite crafters too.

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Gauze Poetry

November 26, 2009 in Events, Featured, Inspiration by wendren | 4 comments

Hesere Gildenhuys ‘Gauze Poetry’ was the highlight of the CPUT exhibition for me. She is a B.TEch Surface Design student that I feel produced something truly beautiful, interesting, engaging and strong with meaning.

Hesere Gauze Poetry 1

To give you some insight into the art pieces I will drop few key words: phenomenology

Three torsos

embodiment

Body blisters

perception and representation

Gauze Poetry NEck

self reflection

They are inspired by traditional body adornment of African women in tribes such as the Kaleri, Ga’anda, Nuba, Maro, Mbaye and Zaire. Geisha’s from the Japanese culture with their blank white faces and painted red lips were also very inspirational. Overall, I think Hesere has produced something very special.

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Withered Tulips

October 5, 2009 in Featured by wendren | 4 comments

My beautiful bunch of tulips started withering. They went from tightly cupped buds to sprawled out twisted and curled petals hanging dearly from a bright green stem. Although no longer perfect, they still displayed magnificent colour and form so I took them outside and started playing.

See more pics on flickr.

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Smith’s Rosebud Lipbalm

September 8, 2009 in Featured by wendren | 4 comments

Rosebud Lipbalm

I have been eye’ing these gorgeous Smith Rosebud tins for some time now and when I finally scooped the last bit of lip balm from my pot, it was a perfect opportunity to place my order. I bought the Rosebud Salve for myself and the Strawberry Lip Balm for my sister. Not only are the tins gorgeous but the balm is wonderful! I cannot wait to buy some more from Kim Grays fabulous shop. They are the perfect christmas gift.

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Creativity Thinks

September 1, 2009 in Featured by wendren | 1 comment

capetowncreatives.co.za is a new site showcasing some of Cape Town’s best creative talent cross a collection of genres. Lucky for me, Wren is listed there (see the Wren portfolio).

Creativity Thinks

I have also written a guest blog post for them about ‘Persevering through creativity’ which reflects on where I am at the moment. Ive got half a dozen half completed projects, all of which are on the road to becoming awesome new Wren products. This is an exciting time but this road can also be less than fun as technicalities of design, production and price need to be ‘ironed out’ (pun intended). It is much more fun to come up with the ideas.

Cape Town Creatives

Visit the ‘creativity thinks’ blog to read my guest post.

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FUN jackets are BACK!

August 6, 2009 in Featured by wendren | 3 comments

I know I am not really in a position to tell you how SUPER AWESOME these kiddies jackets are because the maker is my mom, but at the same time I have the inside story and speak from experience having loved my jacket to threads.

It has taken years to convince my mom that just because my sister, all our friends and I have grown up she should not stop making the jackets that were so adored. I had Bambie with Thumpa, my sister started with the Whale (and a hiding fish inside) that got passed down to my cousin Bryan which then got passed down to my littlest cousin Natalie. Here is a picture of all four of us wearing our jackets.

Family FUN

It is not just a family affair because all the kids on the block wanted their own. My mom made loads and there was not one that was the same or one that went unloved. They were a huge hit!

Instead of working with images like Pokemon, Barbie or Miley Cyrus she works with nursery rhymes, fairy tales and cute creatures such as bunnies, friendly dinosaurs and so on. The idea is for kids to be warm, enjoy the magic of stories that are often today replaced with tv cartoons.

Why jackets? My sister never wore a jersey and always took her jackets off no matter how cold it was. My mom, exasperated, made a paddled sleeveless jacket with an elasticated bottom (to keep the warmth in) out of denim (so that it would not show the dirt) with a cute story on the back and on the inside and my sister never took it off. Problem solved. Read more here.

Finally my mom has gotten back into sewing (after I broke her sewing machine) and is making jackets again. She has always been a Sub B/Grade 2 teacher and is now a headmistress of a primary school. This is away for her to enjoy the kids she so loved again – the jackets are fun, worn to be had fun in and they are her fun, hence the name.

Visit the FUN shop on etsy > www.fundeesigns.etsy.com

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Etsy Finds

August 5, 2009 in Featured by wendren | 1 comment

Etsy Finds

Japanese Binding Kit, Collage Paper Window Wreath, Eco-Friendly Cow, Blue Fabric Sweet Leaves and a set of 4 Shirae Illustrated Magnets.

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Household Garbage

July 15, 2009 in Featured by wendren | 2 comments

How absolutely fantastic are these ‘Garbage’ objects by Gilles Eichenbaum! His website is all in French without an option to translate so I spent the better half of the morning jumping between google translate trying to find out a little more about these lights that I wish I had.

His story is full of quirks, laughs and very honest truths. He mentions going through twenty ‘crappy’ jobs in ten years and never doing any of them properly. He studied journalism which he jokes only took taught him to sell drafts and understand press relations. When asked how he started ‘Garbage’ his response brought back memories of my grandparents … he traveled a lot and when only at one place for a short while, you make a plan for a table, a light and so on. He never thought this would inspire him or become his living.

When asked if he was worried about calling what he makes ‘Garbage’ his reply is his slogan: “Your garbage cans are talented, although I differ from them.” I think many of us would disagree. The ability to see this kind of potential in household objects that have been pushed aside to the back of the cupboard is a talent. I have a coffee perculator that the rubber seal has gone, perhaps I should find someone who can weld it into something like this lamp below for me.

‘12 degrees 5‘ is Jeremy’s favourite item (below). I love how we each choose two very different items as our favourites – you can see the feminine vs masculine taste in each. ha ha

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« Older entries

Featured

Dark Red

Blog Cleaning

The Polaroid Puzzle Box

I “love Nostalgic Whimsy”

Trends from the Design Indaba Conference

Original T-Bag Designs

My favorite crafters – Merry Go Round

Gauze Poetry

Withered Tulips

Smith’s Rosebud Lipbalm

Creativity Thinks

FUN jackets are BACK!

Etsy Finds

Household Garbage

Wren SHOP:

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