Renovating Stawberry Cottage

It's time to give my old dame a face lift. I have started in the kitchen and had to take a break while working on the Dirkie Sanchez Project. I am keen to pick up where I have left off.

Wresteling with new skills

The suite of Dirkie Sanchez is now a thing of the past. It was a great project and I can say it's official, I now know how to sew on leather, satin and suede. Not an easy task and no, don't even think of using the same needle for all, you'll soon realise that they each have their very own personality and special needs.

I spend hours sequencing masks for the pillows and once again I made a quilt after promising myself that my quilting days would have to wait until I am well into old age an have loads of time on hand... well, no such luck.

Now that I am packing away what remains of the project scattered throughout the house, I can feel happy with a job well done. We have given our Lucha Libre Wrestler a home where adults will be able to go and visit and play. There are costumes and masks hiding in the dressing room, the bed is a wrestling ring and there is enough detail and tips on the blinds to get them going.

So what next...?

Theatre in my garden

The girls and I got together for our first, of hopefully many, creative explorations.
It was to be of a theatrical nature with the help of Ashley. The initial inspiration came from Ashley's "car goblins" that caught Sarah's eye. These mesmerizing masks staring blankly out of the back window of her car became the object of our curiosity.

Armed with aprons, water, gypsum, Vaseline and some Chardonnay (and Mark and Sarel cooking lunch in the corner) we readied ourselves for the wet messy affair.

It was quite an experience being confined inside these faces that reflected our own, yet drying as a snapshot in time. As the layers build up an overwhelming sense of isolation takes hold and inside your own image you become anonymous and unable to speak until you are released from your mask. It was a marvelous feeling that needs further exploration.

Next stop... Sarah's - for a lesson in oil painting!

The magic of elsewhere

One of my most favourite things is traveling with Mark. I abandon all my preconceived notions of how things should be and I simply follow his lead. It is through this blissful abandon that serendipity can play it's magic tricks and I am able to discover the charming corners of our stunning country.

This past weekend was just such a marvelous moment. Mark spoiled me to a night away in Riebeeck's Kasteel. I am in love with this little gem. The Traveller's Rest was our home for the night and it is truly a sight to behold. The red walls are covered with collectables and decorations. Silver, porcelain, kitsch and art, all living happily side by side in their red jewel case.

Time seems to take a break when you are in elsewhere. In our short stay, we enjoyed the fantastic quilted handcrafts of woman all over the Western Cape, we watched a green and white a wedding go by and we had a feast at the Kasteelberg restaurant.

Back in real time I am hanging on to this memory and the knowing that it won't be long before I go back for another little visit.

Creative little genius

I am so in love with the name “Boomerang pie”, simply because it's the masterful creation of my 6 year old son, Jack. Sunday was the magic day when a very excited Jack and his co-creator (Mark also know as "dad") were busying themselves in the kitchen creating, what can only be described as the most delectable, Lemon Meringue Pie.

Almost in unison with the oven timer, Jack excitedly announced that the “Boomerang pie” was ready!

And as the delicious sweet decadent morsels find a happy home in my belly (and my tighs) I ponder this great name of many happy returns. I just knew that this would be the name for my blog and that naturally being of genius origin, it can only inspire me to come up with small blessings in its honour.

Beautiful artwork by my favourite artist Mark Ryden