New Acquisitions #11

This is what my desk looks like:

Scary, hey? That little space in the middle towards the front is where I work. So that is what prompted my new acquisition. A school desk!

I must state that I am not one of those people who think back longingly to their school days, nostalgic tears trickling down their cheeks. Although I did very well academically - usually top of the class - I hated school. Let's face it, I was considered a nerd. Never popular. Always on the outside looking in. So the immediate affection - even love - I felt when my eyes first fell on this desk was rather weird, if not suspect. But consider this - a lid that lifts to reveal a lovely space for storing notes, pens, books and so on; a little groove for my pen and pencil; a seat that lifts, the perfect back rest, the solidness of it. I mostly use it for working on my laptop. The strange thing is that I did not go out and look for something that would solve my untidy-desk-with-5x5-inch-space-for-working  problem. No, I just walked past a junk shop and saw this lovingly restored desk, and then only did I realise that I needed to solve the untidy-desk-with-5x5-inch-space-for-working  problem. I didn't even realise I had a problem until I saw my school desk. So I do not really know how to classify this one ...
Have a great weekend, every one. School's out!!!!!

New Acquisitions #6

This felted scarf in off-white & grey merino is a creation of skaapie. It keeps my neck cozy in a most agreeable manner. (I got it at the Saturday market in Tokai forest.) It has also inspired another acquisition which I will show tomorrow.

New Acquisitions #5

I have a whole week of new acquisitions lined up. You will think that I have been shopping up a storm, but you must remember that these represent two-and-a-half months worth of shopping. That doesn't sound so bad, does it?

This knitted dog was made by a Zimbabwean woman - she was selling them outside the hotel near our house. She had a whole row of sweet little animals. I didn't see her again - I wonder what happened to her? I know that some Zimbabweans left the country after threats of xenophobic violence were made after the World Cup - was she one of them?

New Acquisitions #4

I coveted these when I first saw them - I love all the artists featured. Also, I have a thing for cards - playing cards, tarot cards, post cards, ACEOs, and yes, even  kids' games such as Happy Families. The first lot sold out before I could get my act together, and then I saw on Esti's blog that I had another chance to order them. Yay! It is like having 32 miniature works of art. (See here for all the artists).

Have a great weekend everyone. Be a Happy Family.

New Acquisitions #3

Yes, this is not useful or necessary, but oh, so beautiful! And they last for ages.  I got four proteas at the Porter market (in Tokai Forest).

Wabi-sabi - a philosophy.

I recently read this book by Leonard Koren after annekata mentioned it.

A small, unassuming book, printed simply, with a few black and white photographs ...

Leaf decomposing on sidewalk - Leonard Koren

 ... short enough to read through in one sitting. It has kept my mind occupied for over a week now. So, not the kind of book that you read and promptly forget when you close it.

It sets out Koren's idea of what wabi-sabi entails, and starts out like this:
"Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.
It is a beauty of things modest and humble.
It is a beauty of things unconventional."

He goes on to describe the links with Zen Buddhism, attempts to explain the subtle differences between wabi and sabi, compares wabi-sabi with Modernism, and then sets out what he considers to be the wabi-sabi universe - its metaphysical basis, spiritual values, the state of mind it fosters, its moral precepts, and material qualities.

I think the Ngoni stool I purchased recently embodies some of the elements of wabi-sabi. Unadorned, sturdy, rustic, imperfect. Used. Although wabi-sabi is not necessarily about functionality, I like the fact that my stool can be used (and has been used) as a neck rest, a stool for meditation, a cutting board, and to hold tea lights.

What Anairam Found

Saturday was the last car boot sale of the year. And the next one is only in February! How to bear it??
Anyway, this time I got a few lovely bits and pieces ...

A lappie - intended to be sewn onto a cushion cover, and two mini-books (7x9 cm) with photographs of London - published by Valentine and Sons Ltd.

A tiny polar bear - just in case they all really do disappear. It is planning to take a walk across Westminster Bridge to the Houses of Parliament. What will it say, I wonder?

These two miniature plastic figurines - Japanese warriors? The lamp and umbrella can both move!

This book - not to read, but for the cover. I think I have mentioned before that I collect book jackets - preferably 1950's and older.

Inside I found this old Cape Tramways ticket ...

My best buy - a tiny carving of a deer - the legs and even hooves are beautifully detailed. I think it is bone and am thinking of making a necklace with it.
And lastly ...





... a small book called Bedside Book of Discoveries with these (and more!) beautiful wood engravings by Hellmuth Weissenborn.

Sort of Weekword

Oh, I have SO missed blogging and visiting all you blog-people, I truly feel a bit deprived! It is great to have family around, but it does alter the normal flow of one's life. Some of it of course I am very happy to skip (i.e. working) but others (socialising in blogworld) I do really miss.

I did not formally join Leenie's weekword (feast) - no time to produce something - but I do want to show off the feast of goodies that arrived in the post this week. Alexandra's beautiful superhero t-shirt was accompanied by a glorious array of goodies - a beautiful print, a selection of cards, leaves, and even the paper that was used to wrap the shirt features an amazing print!









I also ordered the lovely Sarah's beautiful face bird and gold-leaf paper doll - they have both brought a feeling of playful whimsy to my home ...





They were accompanied by a delightful felt brooch (wearing it now!), a watercolour bird and some bird ephemera.

A feast of creative arty bits have invaded my home - and I feel ready to ... MAKE STUFF!

Some more Stuff

This Saturday was ... car boot sale! Yayyyyy!! This is what I bought:

A half-used starter felting kit. It included some coloured woolly bits, a felting needle and a rectangular sponge. I am not quite sure how to use it, but I have already made a wonky heart. Stab, stab, stab. Quite good for working off aggression, I can imagine ...

A set of pastel-coloured plastic mugs. Interestingly, not made in China as I imagined, but in Thailand.

These lettering manuals. Who cares that I don't own a Speedball pen? I just love letters!

And an old set of metal signwriter stencils - I used them this weekend to make a colourful garland for a lovely, sweet friend who celebrated her birthday on Sunday - we had the most divine lunch at La Colombe to celebrate!

Happy #6

Other people's junk makes me happy.
Lisa's Happy Week made me so happy that I might do an extra happy post every now and then. As you probably know by now, car boot sales make me very happy. Also charity shops, junk shops, church bazaars - any place where I can view other people's cast-offs and choose some quirky pieces for my home. I love it that these items have a history, and when the history is not known, I make up a story and imagine one. Recently acquired:

This one and the one below date from the 60's I think. They are for keeping dishes warm - you add small tea lights. Found at a local Methodist church white elephant stall.

A small scale - found at Kassia and Figg in Kalk Bay.

This rectangular mirror must have been the side-piece of an old dressing table. I love how the silver on the inside is breaking up at the top. Found at Mix in Prince Albert.

Now just imagine ironing your clothes with this little cast-iron iron. Makes me tired just thinking of it. I'll use it as a door stop rather. Also found at Mix.

Jacci's Jotters

I met talented Jacci last week to pick up my order of jotters - and I have to say they are even better in real life! Lovely front cover designs, great paper inside - just perfect for doodling, journal-keeping, note-making and lists. I ordered them as presents, but ha, ha! I have already appropriated two for myself. Jacci is having a giveaway on her blog, hop on over and enter!

(PS ... despite warnings, I have caught L'Usband's bug - head pounding, snuffling away, dripping on the keyboard - you can all be very glad that you are satellites away from me.)

Market buys ...

I visited the Tokai Fresh Food Market on the weekend, and for once I did not stuff my bag (or myself) full of edible goodies (although I did succumb to a delicious pecan chocolate brownie), but focused instead on the wearable goodies ... and got myself these:

... a sweet felted heart brooch by skaapie (her creations also sell at Blossom and Beatnik Bazaar - both in Kalk Bay)

.... and a great T-shirt with original designs by artist Ian Hunter of Signs and Wonders, based in Muizenberg. This design is called General Apathy and Major Boredom - I really love the idea of wearing someone's art (although I do not think the name is applicable to me - at least, I hope not!) The T-shirt is quite big though, so I am thinking of changing it into a skirt ...

Scale

I found this scale in a local junk shop this weekend. Nice, hey? It is still in working order, too!

Now at last I'll be able to follow all those recipes that use pounds and ounces.

... the beauty of doing the dishes ...

For the past ten days, when I do the dishes ...

I let my eyes travel upwards ...

... until they reach the jesse breytenbach print I got myself for xmas (from here ), and which I love with a passion ...

... and that is the beauty of doing the dishes.

Kamers Vol Geskenke

We visited KVG today (literal translation is Rooms Full of Gifts). I've never been before, so it was quite a treat. Lots and lots of gifts - I managed to pick up a lovely tea towel and pencil case by Heather Moore of skinnylaminx for a friend, plus one of her transfers that I want to put on a sliding glass door we have, a sweet little notebook and badge by Jesse of jezze, and quite a few other little bits and pieces. Le'Usband took one look at all the buzzing females inside, muttered " ...stuff..." and parked himself under a tree with his book. I simply couldn't take pictures inside the main venue, there was not room to turn, but I took a few shots of the vintage and gardening stalls outside ...

On the way back we stopped at Pniel to buy some of these ...

had lunch at Boschendal ...

and saw this ...

All in all a great way to to end the week and start the weekend ... Happy weekend, dears!