South Africa

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Frustrations

July 19, 2010 in Me by wendren | 1 comment

My world has been turned upside down for the past two months. My computer went belly-up and I attended the funeral with tears and much anger. I am not shy to say: “never buy a Packard Bell in South Africa”. Today I got my laptop back and tomorrow it goes in to be operated on and have its hardrive removed. For two months I have recreated almost all of my docs (which has made Pye very upset because she never got ‘her’ chair until late into the night, hence carefully placing herself between my fleece and my pulled up knees. It is a bit awkward and after a few minutes it becomes uncomfortable for me but she is so cute and I like the company).

I have been working on a borrowed PC and last week I got a mac which is exciting, but the new interface and operating system has really pushed my patience. I’m at my wits end with these machines …where do I start and where does it all end? Please, cant I have some normality back? It will be nice to just work and not have to ‘made-do’ with temp docs or programs.

Great Things

June 11, 2010 in Wren by wendren | 3 comments

Today is the kick-off of the Soccer World Cup. The feeling around South Africa is quite special. Almost all the cars have flags and even our post-man was dressed in Bafana Bafana gear with a flag.

In all this World Cup maddness I’m going on a road-trip up and through South Africa to the Kruger National Park. From there we are camp hopping all the way up to the Mozambique border. I will be back on the 24th of June – see you then.

RAPO – New Cement Laptop Bag

April 14, 2010 in Wren by wendren | 2 comments

If you could not decide between the black OPC or the red Surebuild PPC Cement Laptop Bag then the RAPO bag is your answer.

The RAPO PPC Cement Laptop bag is a mix with the text red and the background black. I think it looks very cool.

The inside instructions have changed a bit – no more measuring by wheelbarrow. Rather, the inside panel and back list the ‘Uses and Advantages’ of using RAPO Cement. My favourite ‘Use’ (which translates very well for the use of a laptop bag) is: “To assist in counteracting of cold weather …”

Go to the RAPO PPC Cement Laptop Bag listing in my etsy shop.

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.

Tea Bags and Map Bags join together

February 9, 2010 in Wren by wendren | 2 comments

Early this morning I spent time with a few very enthusiastic workers from Original T-Bag Designs (more about them later). The idea was to show them how to fold the donated maps I had organized into Wren gift bags with the hope that they would be keen to make them.

Like with most people, the maps and the places on them drew them right in. Russell (above in the blue shirt) found a town far away that he was fond of on the very first map he took from the pile. He had no problem at all folding this one up – he was a natural at it.

Rachel and Elaine and Peggy

Working in small groups and pairs they are taking on this project as a way to supplement their income which is exactly what I hoped this project would do. I am very excited about this new wren expansion becuase not only do I think the product will be fantastic (I have a huge variety of maps and I have designed a special ribbon and swing tag for them which I hope will arrive soon), but becuase it has the potential to make a difference in people’s lives.

Carol Mills Fabrics

November 9, 2009 in Me by wendren | 3 comments

fabric-books Quite some time ago I designed two fabric ranges for ‘Carol Mills Fabrics’. The first book consists of five and the second four fabric designs (all in various colour ways).

cape-flora

cape-wine-and-marine

cape-fishing-and-arrival

My favourite fabric is ‘Arrival’ (above right).

indigenous

pinotage

‘Pinotage: Grape of the Cape’ (above) was used for wine cooler bags.

stormy-sea

All these fabrics are still available in most fabric stores as far as I am aware.

‘Obama Hair Cut’ Salon

July 22, 2009 in Interesting Finds by wendren | 1 comment

Sometimes Africa is not that far behind the world. For example, it did not take this small business very long to get with the trend and open a Barack Obama ‘Change your look, yes we can’ hair cut salon. To see this picture close up click here.

Wren on the ‘O’ List and that’s not all…

June 25, 2009 in Wren by wendren | 12 comments

It is pouring with rain but that did not stop me running out to buy my copy of the Oprah Magazine (July).

There is something about seeing your stuff in print (and it never seems to bore, although I don’t talk with much experience as this is only the third time Wren has been in print). Thanks Kim.

Whilst waiting for the Oprah Magazine to be packed onto the shelves (yes, I had to wait) I opened the Top Billing Magazine remembering that ages ago I sent them some requested pics. What a thrill to see (on the last page, in the very bottom corner and with teeny-tiny font) a Wren Bird Pouch. Every bit counts.

Local Etsy Sellers

June 9, 2009 in Featured by wendren | 3 comments

It seems that the good news of Etsy has spread through Cape Town like the welcome warm weather we are having and there are now quite a number of us. Here are some of the newest shops:

1. Bamboo Seaweed yarn from Scarecrow Organics
2. Yellow Cooee T-shirt from Mielie Girl
3. Beautiful Butterfly Belt from Meant To B
4. Heartfelt Brooches from May Be Me
5. Cream girl on her bike from Whispers of God
6. Brian the Lion from Gypsytrove
7. Africa Rules necklace from House Martin Creation
8. Gold Leaf Earrings from Queen Magpie
9. Bird on Branch Moonseat from Moonseat

Why I love vitamin water

April 23, 2009 in Interesting Finds by wendren | 3 comments

Forever Jeremy spoke about this brilliant stuff called Vitamin water that he used to buy by the crate load when he lived in America. To us South Africans, Vitamin Water was a myth.

vitamin-water-bottles

However, at the Design Indaba this year the delegates got given free bottles of Vitamin Water. I flew home and handed over what I thought tasted a bit like Oros to a ecstatic Jeremy.

I’m not so keen on the taste or what they are but I am drawn to their colourful labels and fantastical stories (that have a very South African flavour to them). Glaceau marketers have really made a fun drink and if it does not make you feel better, then reading the story on the label will.

vitamin-water-label This is my favourite story:

Berry Flavoured: XXX (triple antioxidants)
c’mon get your mind out the gutter, we only named this drink xxx becuase it has the power of triple antioxidants to help keep your body cells healthy. they are basically kiff little ninjas – trained assassins that use really, really small nunchucks to beat the daylights out of nasty free radicals.

so in case you’re wondering, this is not called xxx to disguise any dodginess, it does not hang around on hillbrow street corners, or contain explicit adult content, or anything considered “uncensored”. and it has never been seen live or nude, but it is definitely out there.

Actually, this one might be my favourite:

Organce Flavoured: Essential (C+Calcium)
ah, orange juice commercials. funny stuff. mom cheerily prepares some huge breakfast while the rest of her family sleeps. sure, this could happen. but every morning? please. maybe if mom were heavily medicated, in which case we wouldn’t condone operating a stove or any electrical appliance.

for those of us who don’t live in an orange juice commercial, there’s still a way to get your morning vitamin c plus calcium, so you can get out and seize the day (or whatever else takes your fancy for that matter) without the whole spaced out mom thing.

vitamin-water-label-2

If you also cannot decide what story you prefer then read them all here or go down to a shop and ask for a bottle of Vitamin Water. They are on free promotion at select stores at the moment (how great is that!?!).

VOTE!

April 22, 2009 in Events by wendren | 6 comments

sa-voting-day-2009-poster1

Poster, poster, on the pole,
Who is the fairest of them all?

South Africa has its provincial and national elections today. It is a public holiday and I am off to stand in the long lines to cast my vote. It is something I always feel is taken for granted – the right to vote is one we should be honoured and thankful for. It was not that long ago that women were not allowed to vote and in many countries men and women do not even have this opportunity. Vote.

My SA Blog Nominations

March 24, 2009 in Featured by wendren | 7 comments

Yesterday I cast my vote(s) for the SA Blog Awards but in order to do this I had to visit as many of the blogs listed in the finals as firefox would allow. This, although a long process, was very interesting becuase I came across a lot of new fantastic blogs:

P.S. I am visuals person so it is unfair to say that the list below is a true reflection of the best blogs becuase if a blog has no images there is little chance I will hang around long enough to read the titles of the post let alone the articles (I am being honest). For this reason I captured an image from each of the blogs nominated below for this post.

‘Please find this‘ .......……...(Nominated for Best Photographic/Original Writing blog)

…..………. ‘Cape Town Travel‘ ..……………….(Nominated for Best travel/group blog)

………‘Between 10 and 5′ ..………………….(Nominated for Best New Blog)

… …..…. ……‘The Given’ .….….…………......(Nominated for Best Design Blog)

Some of the blogs in the finals I already know and LOVE. These were easy votes: Skinny laminx’s, Kim Gray’s and Dave Duarte’s.

My South African Toile

January 16, 2009 in Me by wendren | 4 comments

I adore Toile’s. They are so intricate and beautiful. I have done a range of South African inspired Toile’s for Carol Mills Fabrics which I will show you one day but today I thought I would show you the first one I did and one which I still hope I can find a purpose for one day.

Inspiration came from South African things: The doilie (drawn as a floor mat) underneath the wrought-iron table with a chicken sitting on top of the plates and cups; my next door neighborus who are actors and actress’s with their dog ‘Didi’, an old wagon wheel, a bird cage inside a suitcase with Mossies on and there is even a garden knome that you find in so many old South African gardens.

I also super-imposed using photo shop the design into a setting to show an example of how it could be used (below).

The design is a little rough on the edges and not as refined as traditional Toile du Jouy’s but perhaps that is not a bad thing. I am still trying to ‘hear’ what this design wants or needs to feel finished. Any ideas?

Flying South

September 16, 2008 in Wren by wendren | 1 comment

The birds have flown South for the summer…but they have arrived to discover that we are having the longest winter ever down here in Cape Town. Last month we had between 300-500mm of rainfall and it has not stopped.

To see these new birds visit my etsy shop’s bird pouch category.

P.S. I will upload new bags later this week.

South African Etsy Sellers

May 6, 2008 in Interesting Finds by wendren | 2 comments

There are quite a few South African’s on etsy and I think this is TERRIFIC!

Here are the few that I know about…

CandyDesign is a team of two sisters who create the most beautiful invitations, announcements, greeting cards, stationery, original prints and other pretty gifts. Colleen Roberts from DizzyDezign is also a textile designer by paper and in her shop she sells her designs printed and embroidered on teatowels, cushions, and pillowcases. Heather Moore from Skinnylaminx sells printed brilliantly designed and coloured teatowels, aprons and cushion covers. Freshly Found loves to find vintage or interesting items such as silk suits, pots and pans, baking sheets – you name it, Freshly Found has found it and given it a new and exciting life. Jesse Breytenbach has two etsy shops: Jezzeprints which sells prints of her drawings and comic art and Jezze’s Shop which sells her block-printed cotton tape, knitted and crochet brooches and gorgeous coin purses.

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