Ideas

Packed with creative ideas and inspiration

Ideas2 min read
From The Editor
Travelling has always been one of my favourite things to do. Whether it’s a day-long (and these days increasingly expensive) flight to a far country or a road trip through the Karoo, travel makes me happy. It’s the anticipation beforehand (apparently
Ideas5 min read
BOOKS TO READ in May/June
diana@ideasfactory.co.za by Ruth Hogan (Two Roads, R315) The new novel from the bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things is an uplifting story of mothers and daughters, families and secrets, and the astonishing power of friendship. Tilly was a
Ideas6 min read
What’s New
You’re sure to brighten up a rainy day with this beautiful English Country Garden raincoat from rosehipdesign.co.za. Priced at R990, they are totally waterproof and gorgeous to wear. Low-alcohol and no-alcohol drinks are a growing trend as consumers
Ideas3 min read
OLD & NEW
From the outside, Graham and Elsabé Crawford’s Green Point home looks quite different from the other properties in the cobbled street. The single-storey house with its interesting wood detail and cool garden stands in pleasing contrast to the neighbo
Ideas6 min read
NATURE My Muse
At the age of 53 I am now more than ever amazed at creation. It’s as if the whispers of nature loosen things up in me. One of my favourite places is the promenade in Sea Point, where I stare for hours at the waves, feel the misty spray on my face, sa
Ideas3 min read
Petal POWER
DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: one hour Use a basic sugar biscuit recipe to bake a batch of round biscuits. Once they have cooled down it’s time to add your edible flowers. Pansies, violas and marigolds all work beautifully and these days are even availabl
Ideas6 min read
Naturally Good
We live in a time when the cosmetics industry and science are increasingly working in synergy with nature. It’s not only purely organic and natural products that are in demand – in the cosmeceutical and dermaceutical laboratories the trend is for mor
Ideas2 min read
Autumn Splendour
The sun comes up later and we all move a little slower as the seasons change from autumn to early winter. It feels as if my skin still remembers the sultry summer and wants to hang on to some part of it, but now the lemonyellow sunshine falls ever mo
Ideas2 min read
Hang In There
DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: 45 minutes YOU WILL NEED:♥ freshly cut raw-wood disc (40-50mm thick) ♥ 10mm rope (2 x 3m) ♥ clear lacquer spray paint ♥ electric sander ♥ 60-grit sandpaper ♥ drill with 10mm wood drill bit ♥ pencil ♥ measuring tape ♥ scissors ♥
Ideas8 min read
Hot And Spicy
If you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser next time you’re entertaining, this is it. Your guests will think they are at an Indian restaurant when they tuck into these tender pieces of meat in a rich, creamy curry sauce. Serves: 4-6 Preparation time: 40 m
Ideas1 min read
Doughnut Delights
BAKED DOUGHNUTS: Makes 10 x 7cm doughnuts. OVEN TE MPERATU RE: 180oC ♥ 250ml self-raising flour ♥ 2,5ml baking powder ♥ 80ml castor sugar ♥ 1 large egg ♥ 50ml melted butter ♥ 80ml buttermilk FLAVOUR VARIATIONS: ♥ 20ml lemon or lime juice, keep the ze
Ideas3 min read
Fun For Father
This is a wonderful project for doing with the children. Mom can help by tracing the design onto the tablecloth and the youngsters can do the painting. Use a white tablecloth, preferably linen so that the paint adheres better. Don’t use too many colo
Ideas2 min read
Let’s Play, Dad!
DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: two hours dom inoes: ♥ 2 x 69 x 22 x 2.4m pine, planed all round (PAR) ♥ child-safe paint (3-6 different colours) ♥clear sealer (we used Armour from Granny B’s) bo x: ♥ 1 x 94 x 22 x 1.8m pine PAR ♥ 12 x 4 x 40mm wood screws ♥
Ideas2 min read
Promotion
When we decided to tackle this work area, patterns, texture and colour were at the top of the wish list. We wanted an inspirational space where ideas could flow often and easily. With Tjhoko’s versatile range of products and their wonderful colour pa
Ideas2 min read
Artist On Hand
DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: 1-2 hours ♥ watercolour palette (most stationery stores sell inexpensive sets that are suitable for beginners) ♥ A4 watercolour paper 120mg/200mg ♥ extra paper to try out colours and brush strokes ♥ medium-sized watercolour bru
Ideas9 min read
Combat The Cold
DIFFICULTY: advanced TIME: 4-5 days Size: length 47cm ♥ Vinnis Colours Nikkim DK (50g balls): 4 balls Dark Purple, 2 balls each Blue-Red, Natural and Burnt Orange, 1 ball each Sunshine, Blue Canard and Pink ♥ 3mm crochet hook ♥ needle with large enou
Ideas7 min read
Black Beauty
I once met a man who displayed ‘found’ things all around his home – peacock feathers, interesting bits of wood – and had the habit of writing his name and the date of the discovery on each item. In black marking pen. This must be the most basic way o
Ideas6 min read
Lovely LIGHTS
DIFFICULTY: challenging TIME: half a day ♥ fabric remnant for the petal shapes ♥ fabric strip 3 x 30cm in same colour as petals ♥ wire (0.75mm) ♥ wire cutters ♥ cold glue ♥ container to mix glue in ♥ hard bristle paintbrush ♥ drop sheet with plastic
Ideas3 min readFashion
Cool Coat
DIFFICULTY: for confident sewers TIME: two weekends To fit size 10 ♥ pattern on pages overleaf ♥ 3,2m medium-weight canvas at 150cm wide ♥ 1 snap fastener, 18mm wide ♥ 2 skeins white embroidery thread ♥ tapestry needle Note: 1.5cm seam allowance incl
Ideas2 min read
Home sweet HYGGE
Loosely translated, hygge – pronounced hoo-ga – is a sense of comfort, togetherness and well-being, a lifestyle concept that is often given as the reason why the Danish are reportedly the happiest people in the world. From picking the right lighting
Ideas3 min read
Simply Perfect
How many people do you know who still choose to embroider monograms by hand? Who don’t use an overlocker, because then it looks as if you’re in a hurry – which she isn’t. And who believe that ugly things are bad for you and who get claustrophobia in
Ideas2 min read
About Dusting
I was crazy about feather dusters when I was little, in particular the ones with long handles for reaching high places and colourful feathers to make your dusting prettier. We had a few of those, most of them mine. But these days I forget to dust. Es
Ideas2 min read
You Said It
During the time off work that I had during December, short as it was, I considered my stash of all the years of Ideas magazines that I have in the library of my ‘She Shed’. What to do with them, I pondered. I have enjoyed them so much over the years.

Ideas

More Issues From Ideas