Snous in Stellenbosch.

Laughing her head off at Beezy Bailey's upside-down sculpture ...

... and smelling the roses outside Milieu.

Rain blossoms.

(Ink, acrylic, embroidery on canvas.)

Word for the Year.

My word for the year is:

I would like to take a few courses and workshops, concentrating on acquiring new knowledge and skills, and perhaps polishing some old ones. 
I want to see every experience and conversation as something that I can learn from.
I want to learn from books, movies, situations, people ...
And I want to learn from you.
I wish you all a great 2012!

Bowl.

I finished crocheting a bowl/basket from the grass twine I bought at the car boot sale. (The knitted squares became two mats for putting hot dishes on the table.)

Slow and painful work, but I like the result. Kind of wabi-sabi, don't you think?

New fabric tape.

When I last tried to make fabric tape it was a bit of a disaster. It involved wax paper and glue and sellotape, if I recall correctly. Glueing the fabric on was a messy business, and when I tried to use my tape, the wax paper did not peel off properly. I have since discovered another method on this blog - using double-sided tape. Amazingly simple.

Dang. I should have made these in time for all those Xmas parcels I had to wrap ...

Berlina in Baardskeerdersbos.

I acquired my newest art work - a beautiful reduction woodcut by artist Joshua Miles -  on a visit to my brother in Baardskeerdersbos.  Miles is his neighbour. (The car belongs to my brother - a  vintage Alfa Romeo Berlina.)

If you are ever out Baardskeerdersbos way, and you would like great food, visit my bro's restaurant Baardies. My favourites are the mutton and waterblommetjie pie, oxtail stew, bobotie, carrot and courgette soup and Guinness cake - très yummy!

Have a great weekend, everyone.  Be kind and be good.

Lazy Bunting.

Summer is almost here. I thought I would welcome it with some cheerful bunting, but alas, the energy and enthusiasm for the task waned after stitching the individual triangles. So I simply pegged them onto the washing line.

Not to boast, but I think it is a pretty clever idea - now I can change the order of the flags at a whim. And I can add new ones when I find the time to whip up a triangle or two, and I can change the spacing between them. Wow, after all the worries my parents had about me, it turns out I am a genius!

Of course, when laundry day comes around, I'll have to take them ALL off, and then put them ALL back on again.
Hmmmm.
Perhaps not a genius ...