Easter Creativity.

With Easter 2014 just around the corner, it is time to set up the Easter tree and be creative and design some new decorations for the 2014 Easter edition!

So for Christmas  I create beaded angels, last Easter and Easter 2012 I made easter button decorations, so what to make this year?
 

Last year's button Easter Egg shaped decorations.

Good question...... so I looked at my stock, I found lovely bright yellow beads..... what to make?
Well add some wings and a black head and you have ......Bees!

Bright Easter 2014 Bees!

 In my garden I found to my surprise, and for the first time ever, some March Lilies!

All you need is LOVE.
But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.
Charles M. Schulz.

A delightful selection of chocolates from Lausanne by Raphael Chocolatier.

 
Time to go back to the workbench and see what else I can create for this Easter....maybe I will draw some inspiration from some of my purchases from Paris and Lausanne last year?

Bulk Bead shopping at Fried Freres in Paris did not fit my budget, but at least they had another outlet for smaller purchases!

The most organised bead shop I have ever experienced, La Droguerie in Paris. My friend, Tina was also fascinated at the selection and order in this shop.

Having shopped up a storm.... well, what I could afford...... I vow to return for more beading and creative inspiration. If only I lived closer........

Swiss order and precision...... at the New Bead Box  in Lausanne.

 Until next time....just go out and be creative!

Earth Hour 2014.

So, what are you going to do to honour the Earth tonight between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm? Follow earth hour on www.earthhour.org.za

Here in Cape Town we are proud to be the Global Earth Hour Capital of the World!!! Well done Cape Town.  

We all need to take more time out of our routine to enjoy the local towns, and wildlife on our doorstep. We have our own world waiting for us.......

Take time out to relax and enjoy our national heritage...... and the nature that surrounds us.

We can and will show the world how we are striving for sustainability. 
We have such a beautiful city to look after and share with the world....we need to be wise with our limited resources.
 

Our magical mountain as seen from Milnerton Beach.

Happy memories of being able to walk on the beach......I hear the words of the song, "Picking up pebbles and throwing them into the sea " in my mind! What can I say...... only happy memories of  being able to walk on the beach.

Cape Town welcomed STS Lord Nelson from the Jubilee Sailing Trust with open and windy arms! Follow then on www.jubileesailingtrust.com

I believe that it is not only about one hour of darkness tonight, but a 365 day commitment to the earth.
We each need to commit to be green and earth- friendly each and every day.
Create your own 'signature' to describe what it is that you do each and every day to live the green and eco - friendly way.
 

Grow your own herbs.

Create a Potager and cultivate your own herbs, vegetables and fruit. You will discover some magic by working with the earth.

My list would start like this:

I reduce clutter and donate to charities and Flea markets.
I recycle everything possible: paper, plastic, glass, metal, batteries .....
I make compost from all organic matter, vegetable peels and cuttings, garden cuttings, leaves, twigs, tissues, shredded waste paper and so on...... I save seeds to cultivate and propogate new plants.
I am a Locavore and shop locally and support local markets.
I grow my own herbs, vegetables and salad ingredients.
I cook, craft and create my own gifts!
My garden loves birds, bugs and bees.....
I switch off lights and electrical appliances when not in use.
I hang out my washing in the sun and prefer not to use the tumble dryer.
I use natural products for cleaning.
I re- use gift wrap, cellophane and packaging items, ribbon, elastic bands etc...
I love to knit and feel the texture of wool between my fingers.....
I re- use all shopping and carrier bags...better still, I make my own! 
I repair old clothes and create new designs and gifts.
I use sample fabrics to create bags and wrap gifts....
......and so the endless list continues......

I was impressed to note a new trend in Europe recently. Ardent fashion shoppers are avoiding the high streets and are staying away from glitsy carrier bags in exchange for local charity shops and flea markets. Better still, the trend is to create one's own clothing.....how wonderful, I love and live for this kind of creativity. Go Girls!  
The best we can do is to teach the younger generation to be creative and to live this life. It must be a natural footprint for all of us. 

Beading classes in the cosy kitchen in Lods, France with Otilia last year.

Sunday afternoon Flea Market shopping in rural France.....  a must for any shopaholic!

Here is a wonderful project  I experienced in Lausanne, Switzerland last year. In a  creative way , old and  used electronic and mechanical waste was collected and exhibited in a green and creative way in the most spectacular setting along the lake.
Old motorcycles, television sets, computer monitors and so on were integrated into the garden design in a public setting to bring about awareness of recycling.
This has to be one of my favourite settings in the world!
 

What a tranquil setting along the lake in Lausanne. Pristine, clean, eco - friendly, dog friendly and wheelchair friendly!

Recycled and revitalised to create a statement along the walkway in Lausanne.

Who would have thought old TV sets and computer monitors could be used in this creative way ?

A new kind of Art in the Park?

Love this world, live a green and eco - friendly life, today and ALWAYS!

Make the earth smile with us.........

Don't hurry
Don't worry.
You're only here
for a short visit.
So be sure to stop
and smell the flowers.
"Walter Hagen."

Otilia showing us how to relax, unwind and enjoy nature.

 

Gifts galore @ SA Food and Wine Blogger Indaba 2014.

The highly sought after bags..... a limited edition for 2014.

Hooray!!! What can I say? I attended my first Food and Wine Bloggers Indaba on Saturday 22nd February 2014. What a treat for the senses, the mind, the heart and soul and the sense of humour!

Being just slightly sceptical about the access and facilities, I decided to embark on a pre-Indaba check -up! Being a Paraplegic and having a beautiful Service Dog at my side, I decided that it would be wise to make sure that we were both welcome at the Upper Eastside Hotel.
So, I gallantly invaded the team at Upper Eastside busy setting up for another event prior to our Indaba....I was welcomed and happily taken on a tour of the required facilities for both myself and Sweet Olivia....a dog also needs a place to relieve herself at an all day long Indaba!

Oh how we all LOVE this bag!

.....and so the excitement mounted....all the posts of the Goodie Bag contents kept on tempting those of us who had already registered for the Indaba.....we could not wait to get our grubby paws.....yes, Olivia as well, on the delightful and tempting goodie bags!
I have to say that Olivia was after the Cookie Letter press, as Mom always bakes her homemade cookies.......well, that was just to tempt Sweet Olivia to join me! Special thanks to Yuppiechef for sponsoring this item. We will be baking loads of cookies in the future!

Sweet Olivia enjoying the tea break with a cool bowl of water and ice blocks!

On this note I have to mention that the reason I was made aware of this year's Indaba was because of a post on SA Guide - Dogs Association for the Blind's site about the event. SAGA was to be the charity to benefit from the charity auction at the end of the day. What a delight !
We registered immediately and waited for the spectacular day to arrive!

Time to get creative...... Easter baking is around the corner. Watch this space!

And so we arrived.....early enough, found a suitable and accessible parking....in the lift and we were ready for the big day.
We found our name tags....none for Olivia though, well next time! Only joking! 
The foyer area was humming with anticipation.......the mood was palpable.......when were we going to begin???? Where were the goodie bags?????

And so to the welcome and introductions....thanks to Paul Raphaely from NoMU for his linguistic skills......
and sense of humour. ..... I am happy to say this thread continued throughout the day....more later.

The challenge of the day began, fitting all the speakers and workshops into the allocated time slots! Well done to all for the strict time keeping.....it was quite like being back at lectures!
Discipline....something we all need!

I realised that I would never become a commercial blogger...I am not sure that I have the energy required to face the music every day. The guest speakers involved in the panel discussions made this all clear. The challenges of the real business is not easy!

I enjoyed the enthusiasm and jovial atmosphere created from the start of proceedings, especially from Fritz Brandt of Men can Cook. The thread of being enticed to advertise items you do not subscribe to hit home....I think the doiley thread continued throughout the day! I loved the sense of humour attached to this!

We were forced to break for lunch.....oh yeah...food......well, for me it was first a visit to the watering spot for Olivia.....we loved the herb garden at Upper Eastside!
Lunch was a delightful spread from the buffet.....standing in line was obligatory, Olivia!

And so to lunch.....well, a drink for myself and snacks and more ice for Olivia. Only a dog lover will appreciate this image! Classic!

By now we were digging for Victory......and ready for the workshop, thanks to Matt Allison from Planting Thoughts. It was great to hear the theory behind this theme and to prepare ourselves for the activity.
Upper Eastside Hotel has a dedicated area for the cultivation of herbs, so it was a natural area for us all to congregate for the workshop. Olivia was delighted to have an active play area!
We planned and planted.....the rest was left for Upper Eastside to cultivate!

The rooftop herb garden at Upper Eastside.

Matt Allison working his magic in the rich, earthworm enriched soil.

The afternoon sessions were looming and we were all waiting for the grand finale.......I really enjoyed all the tips and theory shared at the photographic workshop by Christine Meintjes in the afternoon.  We all love and live for our special day where we say "I do" and enjoy the creative home making time thereafter. Thanks for all your inspiration ....beyond wedding photography. 

Beautifully styled settings for the photographic workshop.

Our minds were bulging with geeky  theory and photographic information.....the choice of writing recipe books or being likeable on Social media. What to do? Who knows?
Only us.....we have the choice to make it or not?

Olivia enjoying more attention......

But still we have not reached our Goodie Bags......first the auction for South African Guide - Dogs  Association for the Blind. My Sweet Olivia and I were delighted to be present at the event to represent SAGA . My Sweet Olivia is a Service Dog trained by SAGA .  
I was astounded at the generosity of all the sponsors of the hampers and vouchers for the auction, as well as the response and availability of cash from the delegates. Thanks to everyone who helped raise the astonishing amount of R 30 000.00 . It will go a long way to assist in the training of a future Guide or Service Dog.
To get back to the jovial atmosphere and entertaining thread that ran through the day.....it was those beloved "gold doyleys" that Fritz started the day with during the morning panel discussion....well they crept up at the evening auction as well. Had to love the laughter.....thanks Fritz Brand.   

All the action at the auction......oh what a show!

So the time arrived for us to depart as Sweet Olivia was tired of munching on a few Hills Science Diet pellets to keep her going.......time for supper! May I also mention that Hills Science Diet sponsor Olivia's food. Special thanks to them for their continued support.

Some of the delightful goods in our goodie bags.

...... and the information to accompany the goodies.

Thank you Pesto Princess..... we love your products!

Magazines to indulge in.......

Goodie Bag time had arrived....the waiting was over. Thanks to ALL the generous sponsors for filling our bulging bags....so much so that the handles came adrift! We waited patiently in line as everyone was excited and ready to head off home with their delightful, heavily laden "WTF" designer bags by Obbligato! Dare I attempt to mention ALL the sponsors, starting with wine from Spier, cheese from Fairview, pesto from PestoPrincess, jelly from First Choice. NoMu, Yuppiechef for the delightful Cookie Letterpress set, ORYX  for the desert salt, Nicoletta  Fair Cape, Cecilia's Farm, 
Inspired Foods,ClemenGold, Tuffy, Sir Juice, Nouvelle Mushrooms, Rio Largo for the Balsamic Vinegar and Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Visi and TASTE for the magazines.Last, but not least I have to mention a bit of sweetness from Sweet Temptations Toffees...... yum......Thanks to everyone.

  
Should I have omitted any sponsors....please accept my humble apologies. Special thanks to Colleen and her team at Food and Wine Blogger Indaba for ALL their hard work. They have hearts of GOLD!

And so to end on an international note. My gift of Oryx Kalahari Basin Salt managed to wing its way to my special friend in France. This is the cosy kitchen in a small town Lods, where my lifelong friend Tina lives. Happy cooking Tina!