South African Handmade Collection - Decorex Jhb

It was such a great experience to be part of this - the most stunning South African craft from all the provinces in ONE space! There were smokefired ceramic coffeemugs, hand embroidered cushion covers, felt throws, beautiful bags, beadwork, stunning ceramic tiles, woven grass baskets, handcrafted silver jewellry, etc, etc.

Best Product Award went to Sithabe African Crafts from Cape Town - my neighbour on the Western Cape Handmade pavillion. Well done Mathokoza and Nono - I love your garland mirror frames! Go to www.sithabecrafts.co.za for their full range of products. Katie Thompson's repurposed furniture created quite a stir - people were in awe of her suitcase chair, petrol can lampstand, suitcase cabinet and other out of the ordinary decor items. Visit Recreate's website www.recreate.za.net to see her unusual products.

I came back inspired by my fellow South African crafters and craft designers to think out of the box and to move to the next level. There is so much more we can do - the journey has only just begun!

More bead samples

Black spots on bright colours make stunning focal beads! The carved black bead is called Table Mountain...

Texture, Raku, Animal print, Marbles

Colour, size and shape

This is our updated range of shapes, colours and sizes. All the beads can be glazed in any of the colours. If there are any other shapes or colours you would like us to make, please let me know.

Happiness is.....

....mixing a new glaze recipe and loving the fired result!!!

Getting ready for SAHC

I have been stringing beads non stop the past 2 days and this is the result - beautiful bright beads on shwe-shwe fabric! Our stand at the South African Handmade Collection (Decorex Johannesburg) will be colourful and very bright. I was inspired by a fashion article in the July edition of Elle magazine and fell in love with colour all over again. So this is me in the studio with said beads in hand - watch out for us at Decorex Johannesburg and please come say hello.

Brights to warm up the studio!

Its only 14 degrees in the studio today and its been raining the past 2 days. As we live in a winter rainfall area, lots of rain in June is not unusual for us. Autumn was beautiful and the vineyards looked absolutely spectacular turning slowly from green to all shades of brown. The vines are bare now and the soil in the vineyards are covered in soft green grass. Beautiful!

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the kiln today - bright red beads with white polkadots greeted me and the grey, cold day wasn't that bleak anymore! Angelico and Lidihanna worked on new marble beads this week and we can't wait to see them glazed and fired. We are using local terracotta to make them and they will be called Wellies - can you guess why?

Our booth at SARCDA Trade Show, Johannesburg

I think that you will agree with me that our booth looked great at SARCDA. The original idea was totally different - the props didn't make it to Johannesburg and Calvin came up with this most beautiful and authentic Earthbutter look!

Happy New Year!

Ja, I know its late but I would still like to wish you all a WONDERFUL CREATIVE 2011!! We were asked to give a pottery demo at the Department of Sport and Cultural Affairs' Award Ceremony last week at the beautiful Kronenburg Function Venue outside Wellington. On the photograph from left to right: Cheryl, Petronella and Faheema. Thank you girls for doing such a great job that evening!