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Chill Out Carpets

December 11, 2008 in Featured Artists | 2 comments

Having just written a post about some inspiring posters and then my home-made coffee bag carpet I thought I would share these funky, with a touch of modern-day-kitsch, motivational carpets by Chill Out with you - a mix of my two posts:

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The carpets are 100% cotton and are hand woven locally in Cape Town. They are also printed locally by a job creation initiative…and what is really cool is that you can have any colour you want printed!

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An even greater thing about Chill Out carpets is that a large percentage of the profits goes to Nkosi’s Haven: a Johannesburg based non-profit organisation that  cares for destitute HIV positive mothers, their children and AIDS orphans. They do not just raise money for this foundation but are actively involved and every year fly two ‘Haven’ children to Cape Town on World AIDS Day to enjoy a ‘holiday of a lifetime’ with them. I think this is very special. (The photograph below was taken with the cast of the theatre production: High School Muiscal)

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So buy a Chill Out carpet, give and be inspired.

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I love …

August 11, 2008 in Interesting Finds | 1 comment

I often ’shop hop’ through etsy and enjoy marveling at other’s talents. Here are a few of my recent favourite favourites.

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From top left to right: A hand painted and etched Ivory and white cylinder vase by oneblackbird; An adorable embroidered bird with bling by hownowdesign; Crochet patterns for a very cute family of little Chinese Zodiac animals by edafedd; A print of an original illustration done in watercolour and ink called ‘Cardboard Town’ by monjojo; An upcycled butterfly brooch pin made from playing cards by BululuStudio; and a crochet, string wrapped, wood and felted beads summer bracelet made by Stemellina.

My favourite artist: Ian Van Zyl

July 25, 2008 in Featured Artists, Me | 6 comments

My favourite artist is Ian Van Zyl. He is local (from Umhlanga Rocks) and gets his inspiration from traveling for long periods of time in the country I spent most of my childhood years: Botswana. But, that is hardly the reason I have aspired for years to own one of his artworks. He depicts wildlife in such a true and clear way. All I have to do is look at his art and my heart aches for the wide open spaces and serenity of the ‘bush’. This is what I love.

Not only is the mood of his paintings captivating for me but he paints my favourite wildlife animal: the Zebra, with emphasis on what I love most about it: the full round bum, the strong contrast of the asymmetrical stripes, the soft rounded head and the gentle eyes. I think they are the epiphany of Africa.

Even more, I adore colour and he embraces it making it a feature in his art. He does not shy away from strong colour’s as most wildlife artists do.

His works are mostly in oils and I one day want to own an original. However, I will have to do a lot of saving for that. This is why I am so excited: as a belated birthday present from my Aunt and Uncle I received a signed A3 print of one of his Zebra paintings. This is such a special present as now I own a part of an Ian Van Zyl painting.