Category Archives: events

win win…

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A few months ago I received an email from a family who were looking to adopt a child from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because adoption is such an expensive process they were looking to raise the appropriate funds by having a big giveaway on their blog, Outnumbered and living to tell about it. With the thought that last year there were 147 million children living without parents and only an estimated 25,000 adoptions in mind, I immediately offered to help by supplying them with a tea towel for their giveaway. Apparently I wasn’t the only one, as they managed to get so many products, that they have been able to have 2 completely separate giveaways.

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Today I heard that they have a referral and will be adopting a little 4 year old girl to be their new daughter. I am so delighted to hear this and timing couldn’t be better as the 2nd giveaway (including a handmade by me tea towel) is up for grabs as of today! You can help support their adoption too by entering the giveaway here, a donation of $5 equals one entry and it really is so easy to do! If you can’t help financially maybe you can share the link with your friends and families. The winner will be chosen randomly on May 27th… Winner takes all!

Here is what is up for grabs…please click on this link to enter the competition, and see the actual giveaway post on their blog, as well as all the live links to all their lovely sponsors…

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http://craftadoption.blogspot.com/2013/05/fundraiser-giveaway.html

House and Leisure Night Market

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I just want to give all my Joburg peeps a heads up that all kinds of delicious and delightful Handmade by Me products will be available to buy at the first House and Leisure Night Market in Kramerville this Thursday! Our super awesome stockist Room Online will be selling a lovely selection of our products, including our new tote bags and purses, along with a huge array of other gorgeous designer goods.

“When it comes to optimising your night market shopping experience, House and Leisure has specially selected some of South Africa’s foremost designers, makers and artisans to showcase and sell their creations. From fashion to homeware, you’ll be able to find gorgeous offerings from top-quality vendors.”

Please do one of these in Cape Town House and Leisure!!

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In anticipation of the event this is what House and Leisure had to say about Room Online:

“When it comes to craft and design, too often the fruits of the independent designer’s creativity remain hidden away in tiny studios and backrooms, where few can appreciate or acquire these precious gems. This is especially true in South Africa, where independent designers typically don’t have the budget or resources to market their goods on a large scale.

Room Online hopes to change all that. We’re the first of our kind: an online platform whose primary mission is to showcase South Africa’s wealth of local design and decor talent. As the founders, we’re passionate about all things South African. Because of this, we’ve trawled the length and breadth of our vibrant country to be bring you the very best in design and decor. We’ve created an online retail space where you can browse and buy beautiful things for your home, all of which have been locally-inspired, locally-designed and locally-produced.”

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Handmade by Me, Decorex and the CCDI…

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As most of you know handmade by me made it to the Cape Town Decorex this year as a part of the CCDI Collective Store. The expo ended yesterday and I was lucky enough to go and have a mooch around last Thursday. Here are some photos of (mostly handmade by me goodies) on display alongside the 40 something designers that were all chosen to be featured. Please excuse the shoddy iphone picture quality!!

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While I’m at it, I would really like to introduce you to the Cape Craft & Design Institute (CCDI) and tell you a little more about what they do. And if you are a crafter, or a designer who makes products and lives in the western cape, this is for you!

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The Cape Craft & Design Institute (CCDI) was set up in 2001 to promote and grow craft as an economic sector in the Western Cape province of South Africa. A not-for-profit company, the CCDI is a joint initiative of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The CCDI has also been adopted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) as a model craft hub, to serve as a template for the establishment of similar craft institutes in other provinces of South Africa.

The CCDI supports craft producers and helps to network all players in the product-to-market chain. This includes craft producers and designer-makers, retailers, marketing agents, exporters and service providers such as designers, product developers, skills trainers, business development practitioners and mentors. Government and other funders form a vital part of this collaboration, to build relationships across sectors.

For more details check out their website www.ccdi.org.za

And lastly….don’t forget its the lovely Woodlands Market on tonight from 6pm!! I have lots of lovely aprons and tea towels if you’re looking for any last-minute mother’s day gifts! Its a perfect day for it, I hope to see some of you there : )

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all aboard the week ahead…

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And speaking of going to market, we have a great line-up of events happening over the next week! Magpie Motel‘s Durban pop up shop, Cape Town’s Decorex 2014, The Doilie Market in Durbanville, and our favourite, The Woodlands Market in Vredehoek! And what with Mother’s Day round the corner, there is no better time than now to do some last minute gift purchasing!

Kicking it all off from Wednesday 24th to Friday 26th, is the first Magpie Motel pop up shop held in Durban. Most of you may remember the awesome goodies on sale at their hilton venue, well now you can get all that and more, and a little closer to home…well for all the Durban folks anyways!

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Then very importantly we have Cape Town’s Decorex 2014, South Africa’s finest décor, design and lifestyle expo! It’s on at the CTICC and starts on Thursday 25th and runs until Sunday the 28th. I won’t be there personally but you can find a wide variety of handmade by me goodies on display at the CCDI collective stand. I am very much looking forward to being on the other side of the “table” for a change…

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Then Saturday we are going to be doing our first Doilie Market at Poplars, D’Aria Winery in Durbanville. They seem to have got it right with cover in case it rains, heaters in case its cold and a huge play area to keep your kids entertained! And of course lots and lots of awesome things to buy! Its meant to be a beautiful day so we’re really looking forward to giving this a go…we hope you will pop in and say hi if you’re in the area: )

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And finally on Monday 29th we will be back at our favourite Woodlands Market. I love this market, and its not because of the pizzas or the wine, but because you’re guaranteed to have a good time…and possibly indulge in a little retail therapy while you’re at it : )

Woodlands Blank dateAnd if you can’t make any of these, then you can always find something for Mother’s Day at the handmade by me online shop! I highly recommend the cup o tea chef apron which is guaranteed to brighten any tea lovers day : )

this little piggy went to market…

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Most of you get to see handmade by me’s online presence every day, but some of you might not know that we are also avid marketers, always looking for the next great place to be selling our wares! We have been trying out a few different markets over the summer and so I thought I’d share some of the pics which have only really featured on our facebook page…till now : ) Hopefully this will convince you to come say hi at the next one which will be… The Doilie Market at Poplars, D’Aria Winery Durbanville, on the 27th April.

The Treasury Market

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The Doilie Market

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The Market at Val de Vie

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Magpie Motel Popup Shop

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The Lock Stock Market

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Tjing Tjing Market

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Design Indaba Expo

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For any information about which market we will be at next, check out our facebook page, or email me : )

And the winner is….

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…Shafiqua Du Sart! Congratulations Shafiqua you have won the handmade by me and presents in the post‘s awesome giveaway of a “secret surprise” in the pink vintage squares design delivered to your door. Please make sure that either myself or the lovely Raj from presents in the post have your address. We hope you enjoy your lovely prize : ) Thanks so much to everyone who entered and helped make our competition such fun!

And because we have received such great feedback from you all we have decided to extend all orders for this month’s (well actually March’s) presents in the post surprise. yay! Here is the direct link to order your present today, or feel free to browse the presents in the post website to find out more information.

Please note that this Sunday the 7th April will be the FINAL day for any handmade by me/presents in the post orders.

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And on a completely different note handmade by me will be at the lovely Treasury Market this Saturday 6th April! It is always on the first Saturday of every month and is in conjunction with the weekly Stellenbosch Slowmarket at the beautiful Oude Libertas venue outside Stellies. This is one of my favourite markets and it is ALWAYS a good day out so if you are in the area please pop by and say hi : )

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Happy looooooong weekend : )

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It’s more like happy easter, but I like to say happy looooong weekend everyone : ) I don’t have any bunny or egg designs to whip out and amaze you all with, but I do have a big fancy feature filled with birds and flowers and trees and all things pretty in the latest issue of Condé Nast House & Garden! My Birdy Num Num design is the basis for this month’s colour palette breakdown which apparently “blends the barriers between pretty shimmer pastels and warm winter tones”.

Wishing you all a lovely long weekend! I am off to a wedding in the Karoo, hence all my excitement this morning, lets hope this forecasted rain doesn’t get as excited as I am!

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Here is a closeup of the birdy num num in linen cotton…

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And here is a closeup of the birdy num num in soft 100% cotton…

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And lastly…birdy num num wallpaper

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All available from the handmade by me online shop…

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Please also don’t forget you only have 2 more days to enter our handmade by me and presents in the post awesome giveaway!!! Its so easy to enter and you can win a suprise gift in the print of your choice delivered to your door! Click on the link above or the image below and it will take you straight to the competition page. Good luck : )

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monday afternoon catch up…

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I am super happy to let you all know that I have had one of my fabrics featured in the latest edition of House and Leisure alongside a really great selection of fabrics by different South African textile designers. You can see my pink vintage squares fabric there on the third shelf from the top! The fabric is available to purchase by the yard directly from the handmade by me online shop where I offer 3 different types of fabric in the same design (100% soft cotton, a linen cotton blend and an upholstery weight 100% cotton twill), all depending on what you would like to use it for. You can find all the info you should need at the pink vintage squares fabric listing, and if you would like any more information or have any questions please email me, I am happy to help : )

Here is the shoot House and Leisure did…

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Here is a closeup of the fabric in the linen cotton blend…

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I would also like to point out the AMAZING “3 ways with chilli” recipes inside, which were created and made oh-so-pretty by the great chef and owner of The Woodlands Eatery Larry Steenkamp and food stylist Kristy Snell. Who knew baby corn could look so pretty! And I’ve had that red chilli prawn curry…and it is truly HEAVENLY with that salsa!

And on a completely different note please don’t forget to enter the presents in the post and handmade by me awesome giveaway! Its super easy and you can win a secret suprise in the handmade by me design of your choice delivered right to your door. The competition is only on THIS WEEK so get entering and please spread the word!

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And for any pink vintage squares fans out there, here are some ready made products available to purchase in the pink vintage squares design…

cushion cover

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tea towel

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napkins

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vintage apron

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tote bag

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wallpaper

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All available directly from the handmade by me online shop : )

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here’s to bubbly sundays…

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A new market is starting at the Val De Vie Wine and Polo Estate in Paarl. Its on on certain Sundays (dates below) and its sponsored by Pongracz which for me is reason enough to go, but I hear there are going to be lots of awesome sellers with with lots of gorgeous products to sell and foods to eat and wines to taste and music to listen to and..and…and…

Handmade by me are going to there at the first of the markets this sunday with a whole lot of fresh stock, and we hope that if you head down this way you will pop in and say hi and check out what I imagine is a most gorgeous venue!

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If you are looking for the exact address it’s Val de Vie Estate, R301, Jan van Riebeeck Drive, Paarl, 7646 or check out their website for more details.