design time

Hope you all had a super weekend! Popped into Design Indaba on Saturday and these fabulous children's fabrics caught my eye. Fable is a newly launched range designed by Kelly Silberman and Marike Rood. It is fresh and playful, yet subtle - the perfect balance between modern life and old world ideas. For more info and to drool over the different designs, please visit www.fable.co.za

Have a great week x

pretty pinwheels

Kids will love these patterned pinwheels as they spin around in the wind. To create your own, follow the simple instructions below. Have a great weekend x

Supplies 

• Scrapbook paper (preferably with double-sided pattern)
• Wooden dowel
• Bostik clear glue
• Double-sided tape
• Scissors
• Sticker/button

Instructions

1. To create a dual-sided pinwheel, gather double-sided scrapbooking paper
2. Cut paper into square shapes — 18cm x 18cm.
3. Fold square in half diagonally to create a triangle. Crease.
4. Open the triangle and fold diagonally the opposite way. Crease.
5. Open up the triangle and flatten out the square.
6. Cut along each diagonal fold three-quarters of the way to the center.
7. Pull the tip of every other corner toward the center. Use double-sided tape or clear glue to adhere the first tip to the center, then each folded-in tip on top of each other. When you finish, you'll have the pinwheel shape.
8. To make your pinwheel spin, you'll need to push a pin through the center (a straight pin works), and put a bead or two beneath the pinwheel. You'll drive the pin into your dowel with a hammer. If needed, fold over (or cut and then fold over) any part of the pin that sticks through to the back to prevent injuries.
9. Finish your pinwheel with a decorative sticker or button in the center.

oodles of poodles!

Love this delicious idea from Elle Decoration SA - a simply stylish and fun feature wall for your little lady. It's really easy to create with printable instructions and free poodle stencil, inspired by artist Conrad Botes - click here to download. Looks like designer wallpaper without the designer price tag!

food fun

Use these cool cutters to turn ordinary, everyday, same-old, boring sandwiches into fun, funky, exciting shapes and puzzle pieces! These kid-friendly gadgets are made of fully ABS FDA certified food grade plastic and are dishwasher safe. They are designed taller than the average cookie cutter, making it super easy to cut through two slices of bread and spread all the while keeping your sandwiches light and fluffy. The Lunch Punch is available at www.playstuff.co.za. These may just solve your fussy eater problem!

chair crazy!

Looking for fun, functional furniture for the kids? Something that will compliment your contemporary home? Well then, Chair Crazy is just the place. These child-size versions of the originals are brilliant and the kids will love the cheerful colours and smooth curves.

A smart and sleek rocker - the perfect piece for a modern nursery! And when 3am feeds are a thing of the past this stylish, comfy chair will work well in any other room.

Pop into their Cape town showroom or contact a rep in Joburg or Durbs.

Happy days x

teddy bears' picnic

Aren't these too cute? Have fun baking a batch with your little ones this weekend. Would also be a hot favourite at a kid's birthday party. A big shout out to Australian Women's Weekly! 

Yummm! 

Have a lovely weekend x

Prep Time: 35 mins

Cooking Time: 15 mins

Makes: 12

Ingredients:

200g butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar

1 egg

40g dark eating chocolate, finely grated

1 1/4 cup (175g) plain flour, sifted

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

24 smarties

12 dark chocolate discs/melts

12 ice lolly (wooden) sticks

Method: 

1. Pre-heat oven to moderate. Grease 3 oven trays and line with baking paper.

2. Beat butter, essence, sugar and egg in a small bowl with electric mixer until changed to a pale colour; do not overbeat. Stir in chocolate, sifted flour and cocoa. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. 

3. Roll 24 level teaspoons of the mixture into balls. Roll remaining mixture into 12 large balls for teddy faces. On each tray, flatten four large balls with palm of hand to form an 8cm diameter circle. Position two small balls on top of each circle for ears. Flatten balls with palm of hand. Slide ice lolly stick two-thirds of the way into dough on each face.

4. Position smarties into dough for eyes and disc/melts for nose. Bake uncovered for about 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on trays. 

Store in an airtight container.

off to market

Check out this cool, new Jozi market which takes place every Sunday at Arts on Main. It's all set to be the premier food and design market, bringing you the best in local, natural and organic products. The kids can hang out at Chalkboard (drawing on the furniture and walls is permitted) or catch a movie at The Bioscope while you let loose at Melanie's yoga funk class. Sounds fab...so pop by for a bite to eat, some retail therapy and a great time!

let's play dress up

What to do after school? Print out these cute paper dolls and their wardrobes from weelife, think up some crazy outfits and colour in to your hearts content. Then get them dollied up to strut their stuff on the runway! Have fun x

cat got your tongue?

Always at a loss for where to eat out with the kids. Well look no further...tucked away in the vineyards and olive groves at the crest of the Helshoogte Pass is a little gem. Tokara Delicatessen offers a relaxed, child-friendly environment with toys, books, organic jungle gyms and a huge nest in a nearby tree. Sit on the deck and enjoy simple dishes with a healthy spin that are incredibly well priced. There's also a special kid's menu. Don't forget to book! See you there x

love is in the air!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and woke up to breakfast in bed. Monday is 'Shop' day so here are some LOVEly things to snap up in SA:

[a] growing paper: gift tags with a twist

[b] liesel trautman: undeniably modern ceramics

[c] koop: bunny bookends

[d] my gold heart

[e] designwerkstatt @ clever little monkey: stackable storage boxes

[f] wall tattoos: 'love' vinyl sticker - available in different colours

[g] ebony & ivory: black heart jacquard tape

[h] woo men: irresistible comic character plush toys

[i] blackbirdsa: bottletop heart by chloe essery

[j] tamarillo @ clever little monkey: 'i love you' canvas

Care more, love deeply and treasure always,
Happy Valentine's Day xx

sweets for my sweetie!

The LOVEliest day of the year is just around the corner and i'm cuckoo for these cupcake toppers. This weekend roll up your sleeves and get busy baking some chocolate (valentine's just wouldn't be valentine's without chocolate) cakes and decorate with holli sampson's heartflags. Click here to download the pdf, print out and enjoy! Aren't they just too delicious? Have a good one and lots of love xx