Cupcakes+Cowboys - vintage blocks

A picture from Cupcakes+Cowboys (a lovely baby decor shop on CapeTown) of my vintage blocks. I think they look lovely against the blue and white stripe cotton fabric.

The shop has a range of blocks available

VroueKeur - Article Eau-la-la

In the latest issue of "VroueKeur" (a lifestyle magazine in South Africa) there is a lovely article on Eau-la-la - a shop selling my felt goodies.

They were so kind as to include my zippy bags and handbag. Yeah!

Africa - Tote handbag

Just a quick peek into the making of one of my tote bags.

Choosing the designs and colours take up most of the time.

After putting the colours and images together they are cut out and sewn onto the base of heavy industrial felt.

The lining is cut and the bag is put together, including the handles and trim.

There you have it, a finished one of a kind bag.

dids - tags

After months of planning to have labels/tags printed for my felt products (just because I was either to busy,lazy, forgot about it....) they are finally printed and starting to make their appearance on my goodies. I just looove it! It gives my humble creations a feeling of importance and professionalism.

Look out for my "dids" label.

Vintage Design Fair

This coming weekend is the first Vintage Design Fair in Hatfield Pretoria.

It is the brainchild of 2 sisters wanting to create a platform for local designers.

It promises to be a great event with live music on Friday 4 November, good food and designer goods. The ideal venue for early Christmas shopping.

My range of "dids" felt products will also be available.

You can find more details on their facebook page.

Tutorial - Vintage Blocks

I recently sent an order of Vintage Blocks to a lovely children's decor shop in Cape Town called Cupcakes and Cowboys.

Here are some photos showing the steps in making the blocks.

Use your imagination and create a set for yourself, friends and family.

A sample of a complete set.

I use meranti wood, which is a good quality hard wood. My have my local wood merchant cut lengths of 1.2m x 5cmx5cm
The first step is to paint the entire length of wood with a coat of white acrylic paint. Wait for it to dry and then cover with strips fof different coloured pattern paper. I use a solution of wood glue, diluted with water. Make use of scrapbook paper and wrapping paper. Another good idea is to buy a small piece of cotton fabric you love and have colour copies made.
After you have covered the length of wood, cut them into square blocks.

In the photo above you can see wood thats been covered with paper and then cut into blocks.


Now you have blocks with 4 sides covered in pattern paper and 2 sides still in raw wood finish.
Your next task is to paint the exposed wood with a layer of white acrylic paint. This will seal the wood and give a non porous surface for the glue to adhere to.

Print the images you want to use slightly larger than the blocks. This way you won't have a problem with pictures being crooked or not fitting.

After the layer of white paint has dried you will find the surface feels rough. Give the painted sides of the blocks a quick sand with a fine grid sanding paper to smooth the surface.

Use your diluted wood glue to adhere the images. Make sure to rub out any airbubbles once the image is stuck on the block.

After the glue has dried the hard work starts. Use sanding paper to sand all around the blocks, exposing some of the wood and giving it that vintage look. Make sure to also round the edges of the blocks. Hold the sanding paper at an angle to the edge of the block, this ensures that you only sand on the edge and not damage the paper.

Clean of any dust from your blocks and use a sealer to protect them. Use a good quality water based sealer that won't yellow with age.

There you have it. A simple way of creating a stunning addition to your child's room.

Mosaic Class

Last Saturday I had a group of ladies at my studio for a mosaic class. We had such a lovely time. It was especially good to have my little sister at a class :)

Everyone hard at work

With my sister Ilze.

Ilze busy with the dirty business of grouting.

Even Suzie gave her stamp of approval.

Felt - Africa range

More items in my Africa range. They are being delivered to the shop at Blos Restaurant today.

Felt Tote bags

More handbags in my spring range. I think the dark wood goed well with the charchoal felt.

These bags are available from Fient Lifestyle Gallery at Duncan Yard, Pretoria.

Each handbag is branded with my Dids logo at the back.

Shweshwe inspired notebooks

Last year I made some Nelson Mandela paper collages for an exhibition. I have one left which is keeping me company in my studio.

After rummaging around for fabric I came across small pieces of shweshwe left over from the collage project. Shweshwe = used by traditional African women to make dresses).

I combined it with iconic South African images on my notebook covers

The Protea (our national flower) and the magestic Kudu (large antelope)

My inspiration - Nelson Mandela (fondly called Madiba)

New Felt Tote bags

A new handbag (which has already found a new owner) with an old time vintage feel. I am busy exploring the use of wooden handles on my bags. Today is experimentation day...