all aboard the week ahead…

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…

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 we’re flying through space…

Firstly I would like to say a big thanks to everyone who ordered a handmade by me surprise with presents in the post! This is now closed and all orders will be making their way out to you : ) For anyone who missed out on this, check out presents in the post here, they have different designers featuring each month and I know for certain that there are some awesome one’s lined up!

And on this rainy monday morning I am delighted to share with you my latest features in the lovely Garden and Home magazine this month : ) Both my fly away birds cushion cover and my space rocket solar system wallpaper were featured and I couldn’t be happier!!

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And here are some closeups of the fly away birds cushion cover, also available in tea towels, napkins, tote bags, purses, aprons, lampshades and wallpaper.

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Tea Towel

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Napkins

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Tote Bag

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Vintage Apron

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And here is a closeup of the space rocket solar system wallpaper, also available in cushion covers and lampshades…don’t you think this design would make an awesome bedside lamp for a little boy’s room…

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Cushion Cover

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And don’t forget all my fabrics are now available by the yard directly from the handmade by me online shop : )

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pretty pretty purses…

…for everyone!! They’re pretty, and popular and pretty good pricewise! You can use them for money, for makeup, for pens and pencils, for the odd bits and pieces you always lose in your handbag, or for whatever great reason you can (make up) think of. These are my new tote bags’ best friend! You may have noticed them on my market tables for the last few months, and I have finally had a chance to shoot them properly….soooo here you go…

AND I am even more excited to let it slip that they will very soon be available from my very own South African Handmade By Me online shop! Yay!!!!! I’m afraid I can’t reveal much more than that for now….but as always…watch this space!

Pretty Proteas Purse

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Pink Flamingo! Purse

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Fly Away Birds Purse

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Birdy Num Num Purse in Purple Blue

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Indigo Blue Purse

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Cats ‘n Dogs Purse

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Black Origami Birds Purse

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my new totes amazing tote bags…

My new tote bags are have arrived and look how fantastic they have turned out! I will be making them in all designs so feel free to get in touch if there is one you are specifically after…I can’t wait to make a fly away birds tote and a pink flamingo, and I think the proteas and strelitzias will look ever so stylish! I also have matching purses so if you’re looking for a great gift idea, try a tote bag and matching purse, or go wild and mix it up! All totes now available through my Etsy store or through my lovely stockist Hello Pretty : )

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Black Origami Birds Tote Bag

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Pink Vintage Squares Tote Bag

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Blue Origami Birds Tote Bag

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Happy new year!

Happy new year to all my lovely followers and to any new visitors! Wishing you all an exciting and successful year ahead. I hope that this going to be a great year for all of us. I definitely have high hopes for Handmade By Me 2013 and I am so excited that I can share it all with you right here…..sooooo watch this space! Please also note that Handmade By Me has a facebook page and its the place where I post about everything! To become a follower and keep up to date with all kinds of exciting new products, photos and plans, big or small, click here.

And we are starting off the year with some exciting news about a big new Handmade By Me online stockist, 5 Rooms. 5 Rooms is South Africa’s online home and living store, and is your one stop shop for furniture, homewares, accessories, appliances and décor. They offer free delivery for any orders over R250 which is fantastic for any cushions, cushion covers and aprons, plus great return options if you decide they’re not for you. Either way you are going to love browsing through all the lovely items which boast both international and local designer brands.

Click here to link straight through to the lovely Handmade By Me section on 5 Rooms.

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Now available at… La Grenadine Petit Hotel

For those of you who have not heard about this absolutely beautiful guesthouse in Cape Town you are in for a treat. It is exquisite. The owners Max and Melodie have the most beautiful attention to detail and have turned a simple farmstead into a gorgeous and relaxed, beautifully designed and decorated, and somewhat eclectic place to stay. And its just off kloof street…say what? You have to see it to realise its true beauty but for now these pics will have to do… : )

For any more information regarding this inner city paradise check out their website
La Grenadine Petit Hotel

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La Grenadine is an elegant guesthouse tucked away in the bustling heart of Cape Town’s City Bowl.

Employing the best of local design talent, we had a lot of fun matching vintage and modern as we individually designed five beautiful en-suite bedrooms in a unique mix of industrial and French Provençal styles.

We see La Grenadine not merely as a guesthouse, but – whether it’s in the form of a debate in front of a wintry fire, or a summer evening party that moves to the music of our extensive record collection – as a home away from home. We’d like you to see it that way too. Feel free to borrow a book from our eclectic collection and read it in the orchard, select your favourite jazz or soul record, sip tea from antique Meakin crockery, or snuggle under French hand-embroidered linen while watching a DVD.”

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And now they are now stocking some Handmade By Me items…look how beautiful their new guesthouse boutique looks…I am beside myself with delight!

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Neighbourgoods Christmas Night Market this friday!

For anyone who’s still wondering whether they’ll make the pre-christmas postal deadline, Handmade By Me is all stocked up and will be at the Neighbourgoodsmarket Christmas Night Market this Friday 14th of December. Any person will tell you, this is where the best selection of christmas goodies can be found. For any of you still wondering what to get who, pop in here, there’ll be something for everyone guaranteed.

Hope to see you there!

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Hello Pretty market and official launch…and you’re all invited : )

And finally the day is almost here when one of my favourite online stockists Hello Pretty officially launches their shop to the public with a lovely designer market consisting of all the lovely products they stock. Now you can see everything you’ve been drooling over the past few months for real! And meet the people who make them! I myself already have a few items I have been eyeing out for a while now and can’t wait to see what the day has to offer. Its on at the lovely Woodstock Foundry and apparently there’s free candyfloss!!  What more could a girl on a public holiday ask for : )

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And a few of us lucky Hello Pretty designers found some of our products featured in Fair Lady‘s Fabulous Gift Guide. Here’s my Pink Flamingo! cushion cover…available from…..Hello Pretty : )

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My Pink Flamingo! Cushion Cover up close…

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YOU gift guide goodies…

Firstly I want to thank everyone who came to the Stellenbosch markets over the weekend. Despite the raging black southeaster friday night eventually turned out to be a success, and saturday was even better. What a beautiful venue. I really recommend venturing out to the Stellenbosch Slowmarket for their weekly market on a saturday! Oude Libertas is really gorgeous and there don’t seem to be any queues to the toilets or ATM despite the fact that it is a really busy market. There are plenty outdoor areas to hang out on the grass with views across the vineyards, and eat cheese and drink wine, and there’s live music!  I will definitely be back!

And on this pretty dreary looking monday I thought I would show you my products in the YOU magazine Christmas Gift Guide this year! How exciting! And what a great selection. My Pretty Proteas cushion cover is featured in the “In Full Bloom” collection and my Blue Origami Birds Cushion Cover is featured in the “A Natural Thing” collection. See more images below, and both are available from me here.

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My Pretty Proteas cushion cover up close…

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And my Blue Origami Birds cushion cover up close…

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