Hey December! I'm back in action!

Hey friends, I know it's been forever since I last posted here. To tell you the truth, I've had the worst year ever! My mom and I went to Pretoria in October to celebrate my gran, Paulina's, 70th birthday and my 31st… That was the highlight of my year! Surrounded by family and friends, I was spoilt rotten! Although I missed Dave and the fresh sea breeze, it was soooo good to be able to spend time with so many of the people I love! Any case, I just wanted to say "I'm still here" while I still feel up to writing this post.

My aunts all did a wonderful job with organising my gran's 70th Birthday party! It was held at Lynnwood Primary School where they have the loveliest little venue which they rent out for special events. I'm not sure who the caterer was, but the food was both pretty and delicious! Well done to all parties involved. My gran's 70th was quite a memorable one.

So much detail and Lavender everywhere, because it's my gran's favourite herb, smell, colour…. you get the point. My mom and I were so fortunate to be there and to share this joyous day with her.

At 70, my gran is on Facebook, works a digital camera, sends us whatsapps regularly… this granny is quite up to speed with technology. She also posts recipes on a few Facebook groups, I think she might even be more socially active than I am.

Everyone pitched in and with a lot of organising and work my aunts gathered photographs of each of the 4 daughters, 6 grand daughters and 2 great grand daughters. They then had a calendar made with the four generations of woman in our family. Aren't they just beautiful? All of them!

My grandparents are so cute together, I can only hope that Dave and I end up like them at that age. Well, I was born on my grandmother's birthday and since I can remember, I've had two birthdays! One with friends and one with family. It's always a special birthday when we're able to celebrate it on the day, together.

To my gran, who is a regular here on OddOneOut, thank you for your endless love and support. I appreciate every link you share and every like or comment you leave, love you!

xxx

Bellbottoms Revisited

Ah, my favourite antique store in Pretoria. I used to go there so often, we lived a few blocks from there. Back when I was still studying, I would go on these walks in our area in Villieria (Pretoria). I walked everywhere and loved it! I would come across little thrift shops and bead shops and would find quite amazing things…

Back to Bellbottoms, then. My very first Bellbottoms post was way in the beginning, when I just started blogging and for some reason that post has become one of my most popular posts. It is an awesome little shop, parking is limited to about four spaces if you're lucky. The last time I was there (before we moved to Hermanus almost four years ago) they had two repaired Jukebox units standing there! For Sale! Wow, if only I had a house, and money back then…

So last year, we went back up to Pretoria for a little holiday. And to celebrate my 30th with friends and family(as most of then still live there), and my best friend was having her baby… who, by the way was born on my Birthday! What a gift! Wow I'm rambling! So much has happened that I haven't been able to share with you due to my crazy workload when I got back and then the Christmas holidays and then more work and then I started singing in the lounge of a 5 Star Hotel….and then! and then! and then…..!

What I want to share with you now, is my recent visit to Bellbottoms, September 2013 with two of my lovely cousins (Bernadean and Zandienne). It was their first visit there, it was awesome and afterwards we went out for sushi! It was amazing to spend time with them, I miss them so much. They kept me busy that whole day and when we went back to my godmother's place, my family had thrown me a surprise party! It was out of this world, but that's a share for another time…

-to my cousins: "thanks you two, for a wonderful and unforgettable day! I'm so proud of the ladies you have become, I miss you both terribly and love you dearly!" and to Bellbottoms: "may your doors always be open and that memories can be made for generations to come"-

xxx

  

a Holiday and my 30th Birthday Bash

Hello my friends! I have missed you so! I just have to firstly apologize for the halt in Skirt posts...a few unforeseen happenings have tied my hands. I was visiting family with Dave, my parents and little brother. They just left for home this morning and I'm staying on another week to see friends a spend some tome with my favourite people here in Pretoria.

So far this past week was crazy, awesome and went by way too fast! My Gran and I share birthdays and we usually held joined family parties(when we still lived here in Pretoria). This past Friday, my family organised a 30th Birthday surprise party for me(a week early). It was awesome! This was my very first surprise party! I was so overwhelmed, I started to cry. My Aunt Zelda and her daughter Zandienne, found my Pinterest board, My 30th Birthday Inspiration and organised decor and props for a photobooth, the works! My god-parents got most/all of the food and organised their back yard for an out door movie night... It was just so amazing! Thanks to my parents, friends and familie...and Dave! You guys made my 30th a most memorable day!

Love you all

xxx

Hello Blog! I've missed you soooo!

Hi friends, I know it's been a while. First we had a problem upgrading the Mac's software and then we had trouble reloading our programs. Then I got busy with Dave's work sending me more freelance work... I know, excuses - excuses. But I'm back now and I just wanted to share something with you before I go on with the 30 Projects. 

-Last year, Dave's brother (Paul) and his wife (Yuseon) sent him two books and me two book vouchers. It took me forever to find something that was worth getting. The bookstores in our area don't stock a wide variety and because I didn't know what I wanted, I couldn't just order it. But at last I found these pretties-

 -Thank you Paul and Yuseon! These are awesome-

 -These are both from Chronicle Books. They are beautifully designed and put together. The Carpe Diem Journal is full of quirky quotes and the hand drawn lettering is oh so inspiring. The Little Book of Lettering, is an amazing compilation of typography artists such as John F. Gardner, Daniel Davis, Luke Lucas and so many others-

I'm definitely going to look out for more Chronicle Book prints, their fresh design make you want to plan your decor around these books. When was the last time you bought a book? Please share your findings in the comments below. It's so difficult to find good books if you don't know what's out there. 

xxx

Good bye our dearest Vicky

Today a week ago Vicky passed away. I know she was only a dog, but she had been a part of our family for twelve years. It was bad enough when Milo died, but at least we still had Vicky. Our two Dachsies were really family! It's like some little part of me is missing, there's a little hole where they used to be. Strange how a person can get so used to a little animal. Small things, like expecting her bark when you come in the gate or saving your left over food for her and then realizing she's not there anymore. Well, Vicky and Milo, we miss you very much and can never forget you!

Vicky kind of adopted Dave and myself the past year. She would spend most of her time hiding out on our couch. That was after Dave taught her to use the pouf to get onto the couch. Whenever Vicky went missing, this is where we'd find her.

  -man, how she loved that couch!-

xxx

Just a quick lazy Sunday post...

What a chilled-out day, over at my parents place sponging off their internet for the last time(I hope). We're still sorting all that stuff out, after the move. It's such a hazy, partly cloudy day with the coolest breeze, it's just lovely! Doing some net surfing and checking-in on all my favourite blogs... and pinning off course<3 p="p">

I think Dave and I will go for a long beach walk now, haven't been down to Grotto Beach in a while. I will take some pics for you and post it soon as I can.

-here's a pretty picture of my pretty lunch-

Hope you had a lovely Sunday, too<3 p="p">

xxx

In loving memory of our dear grandfather...

It has taken me a while to even think of writing this post. I don't really know what to say. This year has taken it's toll on many of us. Through the tears and the missing him, I'm just so thankful that his suffering is over. My dear grand-dad past away on the 10th of November after three weeks of severe pain. A few months back he had surgery to remove a melanoma from his back, the surgeon said that he got all the cancer and this was a big relief to all of us. Not long after that surgery, the cancer was back and had spread too far too quickly. 

We all miss him so much...

 -I will never forget how (even on his deathbed ) he sang old songs and told little jokes, winking at me when he got my grandmother all worked up. He liked pulling her leg just to see how she would react-

-I think of him almost every day, it's hard to accept the fact that he is gone-

xxx

Home baked Olive bread

This is the easiest recipe ever! I popped into our local supermarket and bought bread dough. Rolled the dough out as thin as I could and sprinkled the surface of the dough with roughly chopped Olives. I then closed the dough up randomly, cut it into even pieces with a smooth sharp knife and baked it in the oven for 35 minutes at 200 Degrees Celsius. Take them out as soon as they start browning slightly. These are so delicious, we had them Hummus and sometimes just plain cause they're just so good! This particular night we took the biggest two rolls and made chicken burgers<3

-We felt like having a "braai" (it's like barbecue) so we made marinated chicken fillets, stuffed mushrooms and a potato dish all over the open fire. It's the best!-

xxx

Our week in George: Day #4

What a busy day this was! We started this day with a visit to the Hartenbos Museum. How interesting! They have all types of antique and traditional implements used by the Voortrekkers/Boere(this is what you might call the "old folk people" of South Africa, in the times before electricity). When they were still nomads they traveled in wagons we called the ossewa. When they started settling, they used peach pips to decorate they're floors(as shown in the second row, third photo). But what interested me most were the textiles of course...  

-such pretty textiles, dainty knits, fine crochet and lovely granny floral prints. Every wagon displayed in this museum was equipped with the most beautiful hand-sewn quilt. Every item in this museum is an original, all these things have been made, used, worn, by these people many years ago-

-After the museum, we went to the Sea Gypsy for lunch. It's a seafood restaurant at the Mossel Bay harbour, right on the sea! The view while you eat is amazing and so is the food-

-such beauty! We walked this Nature trail at the Mossel Bay lighthouse, we couldn't really get a picture of the lighthouse for the trail. The view of the sea while walking is unbelievable and the air is so fresh. As you walk this path, you realize every now and then that you are quite high up and the way down is scary and rocky. Then you look up and the beauty of this place overcomes you. As you stare at the swells and the waves crashing up against the rock way down below, it feels like you're about to be engulfed by this mass of deep dark blue-

-The day came to a relaxing end at home while Dave's mom performed "dances with chickens" and made her delicious cheese bread. Dave's dad braai'd (it's like barbeque only better) the chicken and the rest of us became couch potatoes till the food was ready. We chilled, we ate and the rest is history-

xxx

Our week in George: Day #3

This was a chill day at home. We woke up late, had coffee and rusks and then Yuseon told Paul to get their suit-case out of the garage. It was prezzy time! They'd packed a huge luggage bag full of gifts for their South African family (that includes me and Dave, yay). We also had quite a few gifts for them to take home but sadly the photo's I took of the handmade gifts were lost. I would very much have liked to share them with you:(  Any way, this is how the day started.  

-Dave designed Paul and Yuseon a very special book with photo's he took of them when we first met Yuseon about three and a half years ago (top two photo's). Then, what was a Borrat mustache, became a Freddy Mercury mustache when Paul put it on.... and then when we looked through the photo's later we saw "where's Waldo?". Waldo would be very jealous of  Paul's stripy shirt! The last pics of me (at the bottom here) are of the most amazing dress that Yuseon had bought me. She didn't even ask me what my size was and when I tried it on, it was a perfect fit! It's just beautiful, thanks you guys, for all our beautiful gifts-  

 

-I dubbed this battle "Rosemary River" because of the big Rosemary bush on the left there and when it rains the water is lead through this blue pipe into the bedding, making a river. Any way, Dave saw these little army men and was overcome with nostalgia. Missing his brother, he bought a pack and put it away until he would see his brother once again... and the outcome was war!-

 -time for Sunday Lunch, the South African way. Especially for Yuseon, Dave's Dad made roast lamb which cooked all day. It was delicious! Dave's Mom made all the veggies (also traditionally South African) of course, yummmmm! After lunch we went to the Botanical gardens to play a bit of cricket. I suck at sports. Dave's Mom, on the other hand, kicked ass!-

xxx 

 

Our week in George: Day #2

Hi-ya friends! What a strange month this has been. The first week I had fun in George, the second week I got sick, the third I got busy and then sick again. Now I'm starting to recover and I even know what day it is again. So to catch-up with you guys, I've decided to do a double header this week. This means that I will be doing two posts per day this whole week. I hope you're ready for some fun...

-this day we drove out to Mossel Bay, enjoyed the beautiful scenery while the boys played a bit of Rugby on the beach and a strange old man spent the day with his Dachshund-

-we drove a bit further where we stopped at another beach to enjoy the calm of the waves, the gathering Kelp Gulls and the way the earth became darker and all the electric lights started flickering across the waters. We then ended the night with the most delicious dinner at a restaurant which name I have now forgotten but will post as soon as I remember, cause it was great!-

xxx

Our week in George: Day #1

Well hello... I'm back from a quick holiday in George, Western Cape. We spent the week at Dave's parents place. Dave's brother, Paul, and his wife, Yuseon, came to visit there all the way from South Korea. We haven't seen these two lovely people in three and a half years! Isn't that crazy! Any-hoo, we were on quite a tight schedule that Dave's dad worked out for us. The first day we spent walking the amazing nature trail at Herolds Bay, wow! What a view and to be surrounded by utmost beauty!

-someone had cemented this heart(above) onto a rock, right on the edge of the cliff-

 -there are the most beautiful houses around the Herolds Bay Beach area,
but these ones(above) really stood out-

-Yuseon made us Vietnamese spring rolls(as starter) and Korean Chicken(as main)

It was delish! I asked her to right down the recipe for me, so I will be making this dish soon-

xxx

In loving memory...

Milo past away in the early morning hours of the 13th. She had been with us for almost 11 years. We miss her very much:)

Vicky, on the left, is still with us. She has never spent a day without Milo before and is quite lonely. She even looks sad at times. Vicky searched for Milo the whole day after she had died. We've lost pets before, but this was just terrible and so unexpected! 

Fase #1: Done

David and my dad, hard at work. My dad made the pickets with recycled wood. It took quite some time as he made them one by one and then put them all together. Then began the hard work of putting them up. And not even to mention the paint work! David and I made turns painting the different coats, we still need to do one more coat on the pickets around the tree and then that's done!

Oh, it looks so yummy...and edible!

Dogboxstudio has proven to be more popular as a mobile studio (which is understandable in the photography of pets). That is why we have come to the decision to convert the studio into a little shop:)

..and all the way to Joburg!

Man, How time flies! I've got so many photo's and posts and news and awesome stuff to share and catch up on... But first, When in Gauteng we went to Joburg to do some supply sopping, and stayed over at Dave's grandparents:)

What a pretty garden...

David's grandfather (Kenneth, Morris Badenhorst) and grandmother (Hope, Deseree Badenhorst). Dave's Gran grabbed her pot of flowers for the second photo, she said that they were so pretty and are blooming now for the first time... 

All the way to Pretoria...

David had two weddings to photograph in Pretoria and I tagged along... I love the long road!

On our trip we found a Tortoise in the road, David almost threw the car over not to hit the poor thing. We put it through the fence and just hope it doesn't want to "go to the other side" again like Rango... 

In Pretoria, we stayed over at my Gran's house...

 

William John Foxcroft(my grand father) and Paulina Foxcroft(my grand mother)

Pretty Copper Owls and age-old porcelain in my Gran's house...

..hooo...hooooot!

These two old guys have been in my Gran's house since I can remember. They are cast busts made by Coert Steynberg a famous South African Sculptor. 

 David and I in my grand parents' backyard...

I have loads of fun memories, playing "army" with my brother in this backyard:)

These pretty Odd's I made for family and friends while visiting...I gave the others away before I could photograph them though. Anyway... hope you gals like 'em!

- a heart with heart -

During 2010 I was continually inspired by so many bloggers... I have always had a thing for second hand shops and saving the planet and just trying to do my part. Always seeing the potential handbag where you might see a tea cozy. A crochet rug where you see plastic bags, a dress where you might see a bunch of old stinky ties... Well, after stumbling upon Heidi&Seek last year, Hayley(thinker maker) made me realize that I was well on the right track and that I could be even more environmentally conscious in my creating. So then I started thinking not only of what type of materials I use but also where it came from. That's when I started going to charity shops, not for my usual "item-to-be-transformed" but for items which fabric could used to make something totally new. My Gran turned 80 last year October and had received a beautiful American-themed-quilt from my uncle the month before...     

So I went to our local HOSPICE with the picture painted in my mind's eye and I found some old (all cotton) stuff :)

1. I made my pattern from old newspaper and cut The front basis and the buttoned back out of the red blouse.
2. Here I did the same, making smaller heart patterns and cutting one out of each of the other shirts, pinning them in place, I went to my sewing machine to applique one layer on top of the other.
3. For the finishing touch, I made a crochet flower from postal string, worked it off. I cut a small circle from the off-cuts of the red blouse, placed it inside the flower, positioned it on my front piece and sewed it on with a button. Some more buttons were sewn on just because I love buttons.
4. Using crochet thread, I out-lined some of the heart layers with zig-zag and cross-stitch embroidery stitches. Pinning my front and back panels together, facing each other, I sewed them together with my machine. I then used my buttoned back to turn inside out. 

 ...And there you have a pretty, cozy, American themed heart cushy...

 ... these buttons used to unbutton a shirt not long ago.

 A cushy like this one you just wanna squeeze!

Happy 80th Birthday, Ouma Oriel!

(standing next to my Gran, is my cousin Christa, from Honduras)

What a memorable day<3

A PRETTY CUSHION FOR BABY ALANDRA

My Cousin, Christa, recently visited from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, with her baby Alandra. I had seen some pictures of Alandra's room on Facebook and decided to make little Alandra a cushion in the colours of her room.

It was quite fun making this little scatter cushion and the idea of the appliqued buntings just came to me after working on it till well after midnight... This is an ALL GREEN gift. All the materials used to make this beautiful personalized gift were acquired from Charity shops. The green backing used to be the front of a man's button-shirt.

 

I must say, I was surprised at how pretty this one came out:) 

Hello Owly! Here You Are At Last!!!

In June I won a bundle of fabric from Haley's blog  thinkermaker . The reason I chose Bundle#1 was that each piece of fabric sent me on a trip down memory-lane and the pink one took me right back to when I was four... Oh, how I loved that room:)

I had told Hayley what I would make with each of the 3 pieces... The pink one's fate was to become a plushy Owl for my new niece, Leia. So I googled a few soft toys and owl images, made a photoshop-collage and started planning.

Off course I had to get some extra fabric to add to the look, and some coconut wood buttons for eyes...
After my planning and designing, I drew out a pattern on some old newspaper, cut the pattern out of the material and started the work! This project was my second ever sewing project, done with no help from experts. I was so surprised and delighted when Miss Owly was born, I didn't want to part with her.

I'm sure Little Lea will take good care of Miss Owly and that he will bring her great joy and make her some awesome memories... :) 

*Thank you, Hayley... If I hadn't won Bundle#1, I probably wouldn't have made Miss Owly.*