French Sunset Worldwide

The French Sunset Worldwide kicks off this weekend at a secret location in Cape Town! A day bursting with red, white and blue will have you licking your lips at the stunning food and festivities on offer for only R250!

If you've ever wanted to wine and dine like the French, then this event is just for you.

Included in the ticket price is a complimentary hamper with typical Parisian picnic cuisine.

Each basket includes a bottle of local wine and cheese, a French baguette and a traditional Crêpe Suzette. Do note that this on-the-house hamper won’t be enough to sustain you throughout the day. Bring along your own basket of goodies or simply order one

via frenchSUNSET.co.za

Dress in white, blue and red themed colours of the event, leave your cares behind and journey into the tricolor adorned universe set in the most soothing location. This is the rendezvous for fun loving individuals to meet and mingle with like-minded people. Together enjoy the sunset in the unique way we have in store.

Book a seat on a table or a picnic spot on the field and get treated to a warm welcome with a GIFT BOX filled with delicacies upon arrival before indulging yourself in a wide range of entertainment throughout the afternoon and early evening:

- Live Music by French Embassy Trio & Sylvestre Kabassidi

- Stand Up Comedy by SIV NGESI

- Sunset Movie Projection

- Interlude DJs sets by "La French Connection" DIDIER & OZY

- Lucky Draw with lots of prizes ...

Tickets are available from www.frenchcunset.co.za 

(General tickets: R250 // Table seated tickets: R350). 

You will be informed when Picnic baskets will be available.

Silverstain Glass Studio | Cape Town

Silverstain Glass Studio | Enter Enlightenment

From traditional and classical buildings to your home or workplace, Silverstain Glass Studio brings the beauty and elegance of art into your world.


Anika van der Merwe, the Head Artist of the studio, has spent the last few years working with various studios in the United Kingdom as a glass painter and stained glass artist.  With her Fine Art and Stained Glass qualifications and completed apprenticeships, she has recently returned, bringing her expertise to South African shores.

A selection of projects Anika has worked on:

Saint Mary the Virgin, Harefield,  United Kingdom
Welsh Church, Paddington,  London
Church of the Transfiguration, Kensal Rise, London
All Saints, Tooting, London
Saint Andrews, St Albans, United Kingdom
Saint Bartholomews, Barbican, London
Saint Bartholomews:  William Harvey Heart Centre

"We are inspired, qualified and experienced artists, specializing in the creation and restoration of decorative and timeless Stained Glass.
 With 12 years’ experience in the field of Stained Glass and Fine Arts, we provide a range of techniques covering the art of kiln-fired; and painted Stained Glass; and designing modern, traditional, and ecclesiastical lead lights and windows. Including the hacking out, temporary glazing, fitting, and installation of windows in both woodwork and stone.
"

Anika van der Merwe

Anika has achieved so much and is an inspiring artist striving to produce high-end, exquisite stained glass and conceiving workable designs, from a thumbnail cartoon sketch to a full-scale design.

 

Anika is excited and honored to be included in the fantastic Mosaic & Glass Arts International exhibition in 2023. The dates are September 1 - 30, 2023 at CEPA Gallery, Buffalo, New York! The exhibition series will feature the Society of American Mosiac Artists and the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) with various segments including Fine Arts, Site-Specific, and Architectural Art.

A special exhibit by Kate Kerrigan will dazzle and delight, as the exhibition elevates fresh perspectives of architectural stained glass and mosaic art.

Anika said "The Best in Show award is deeply appreciated and I am happy to be representing South Africa and what we are capable of creating in this crazy lovely country. Also to Ree Treweek , Angelo Carelse and Johannes Mashiri, great work guys!"


Here’s the link if you’d like to know more:
mosaicandglassartsinternational2023.artcall.org

There is a great freedom of expression in Stained Glass. In exploring the rich variety of colors and textures combined with the streaming of natural light. It becomes a medium for personal expression or pure decorative sophistication.

Contact Anika here

www.silverstain.co.za
View more of their work on facebook: www.facebook.com/SilverStainGlassStudio
Share: Silver Stained Glass Studio, Cape Town

"Silverstain Glass Studio in Cape Town delivers exceptional artwork with graceful precision"



Kamersvol Geskenke 2014

A Gift of Design - by Leandri De Kock

If you haven’t been to Kamersvol Geskenke (better known as simply “Kamers”), you’ve been missing out. 
Haven’t heard of it? You've been hiding! And you're in luck, because there is still a chance for you to experience this amazing event in 2014! 

First, let me tell you a little bit about it.

The project first started in 2003 in Stellenbosch when a group of close friends vacated their home to literally create “kamers vol geskenke” (rooms filled with gifts), starting with only 40 exhibitors. But this has never been and never will be your average craft market. Kamers is fully run by women and the event showcases only the best of the best since it has grown exponentially bigger every year. 
Application to be an exhibitor is also not just a walk in the park, and exhibitors have to comply with very specific and strict criteria. Kamers showcases new and fresh talent to sell unique things that you wouldn’t find anywhere else, including home ware, furniture, art, decor, jewelry, clothing and cosmetics. Therefore, when you come to Kamers, expect the exhibitions and stalls to be locally manufactured, original, fresh, different, inspirational and exciting. And if that isn’t a mouthful, don’t get me started on the food and, most importantly, the wine. So while enjoying some live music, grab a freshly made gourmet pizza and a glass (or a bottle) of wine.

Since Kamers has moved to bigger event spaces such as Webersburg Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, it has started supporting various initiatives as it has grown, giving more opportunities to young entrepreneurs to showcase their work. Most recently Kamers collaborated with the Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI) at the Castle of Good Hope as part of the Word Design Capital Cape Town 2014 initiative, creating a smaller version of the usual pop-up retail event. This took place in the beginning of June this year, but if you missed it, there is still the opportunity to attend the larger scale events later this year at the two beautiful locations. 

Now that you’ve heard of it, be sure not to miss this amazing project!
Stellenbosch: Webersburg Wine Estate 4-9 November 
Irene, Pretoria: Open Window 2-7 December

You can grab a copy of the 2014 Product Review by visiting: blog.kamersvol.com 

Keep up to date with Kamers here:
www.facebook.com/Kamersvol 
www.kamersvol.com

Touch Wood Designs and Jewelry

Touch Wood Designs

Natalie Wood spends her time making one-of-a-kind jewelry by hand. Her passion for making crafts has grown from a young age. Always fascinated by beautiful objects her pieces are created with an essence of nature and elements of surprise.

Situated in Somerset West, Cape Town, Touch Wood Designs brings a smile to any lady’s face which of course, inspires Natalie to pursue her passion.

Natalie’s friends would touch wood and afterward touch Natalie for luck hence, the name Touch Wood and surely enough her surname is Wood too. 

Natalie is sure to be able to cater to every woman’s style and needs. Natalie says “My jewelry varies to all categories in jewelry accessories.” 

Her work is mostly beaded jewelry with a significant style to every piece she makes and lastly, Natalie loves bringing joy into people’s lives through her work.

Go on and touch wood here: 

https://www.facebook.com/touchwoodjewellerynw

 touchwoodjewellerynw

"Handmade jewelry created with love and thought, designed by Natalie Wood :), and other jewelry at bargain prices."

A Glowing Craft - Lighting by Heath Nash

Heath Nash has an extremely creative side to him and this is seen in his design work. He just makes really cool things!

With every lamp that he makes, his signature is always unique. Heath Nash was credited with a Arts major at UCT in Cape Town, and has since then, decided to branch out into interior crafts, wiring, binding, and has explored many other methods of creative crafts. 

Heath has the ability to make something magnificent out of your home with objects you call ‘rubbish’ made from old plastic bottles
He sparks a very beautiful culture which creates real South African passion and unity. 
This you can enjoy with a warm glow in the comfort of your own home.

Read his story here: http://www.heathnash.com/story.php

 

Africa is Now - Showcase by Design Indaba - EXPO 2014

With Cape Town receiving the title of the World Design Capital for 2014, the annual Design Indaba has shown exactly why we are on a whole other level in the world of design. Story by Leandri De Kock.

As usual, the Design Indaba expo, held at the CTICC in February, had all the things you would expect from the biggest design expo in the southern hemisphere – 
handmade items, home ware, architecture, furniture, jewellery and fashion, with everything manufactured locally. 

What makes DI different to other design expo’s is the quality of the exhibitors, their detail and the depth in their displays, and for the first time this year, the expo features designers from all over the continent, expanding the global impact our local designs currently make. DI features over 450 exhibitors all carefully chosen to represent South Africa, and specifically Cape Town for the World Design Capital title.. but it’s the general focus Design Indaba and their exhibitors have that makes this expo stand out...


Every item you see, from furniture to fashion, focuses on architecture, the use of textiles, sustainability, and making everything as environmentally friendly as possible.

At the moment, we live in a society where we are so used to everything being described as “green” or “eco-friendly”, and we can easily get tired of the redundancy, but what Design Indaba has done is make these old ideas refreshing and sustainable in an African context. The exhibitors use different ideas of modernity and bring it into a traditional African sense without making it the type of thing you see at every tourist curio shop.

"Design Indaba delivers every year, showing just how amazing and advanced South African designs can be."

The feature exhibit this year is the “Africa is Now” showcase, describing Africa as resourceful, sharp, transformed, tradition reinvented and urban, each with their own designs on how Africa is exactly that. 
The expo also has different platforms for young creatives, such as the “Emerging Creatives” project which is sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture, who gives designers of the next generation the opportunity to get on the platform next to the established designers at Design Indaba.

The elaborate fashion shows, produced by the Cape Town Fashion Council, brings 20 shows to the expo, showcasing local fashion and couture by South Africa’s leading designers. Putting a “tribal glamour” twist on the fashion, it also focuses on the “green” idea and using sustainable and recyclable materials in their designs.

It can’t be said that the expo showcases everyday designs, or builds on ideas you’ve seen before. Design Indaba delivers every year, showing just how amazing and advanced South African designs can be. But it goes without saying, that with the title of World Design Capital for 2014 in Cape Town, Design Indaba obviously had to make it their best and most innovative year so far...and they most certainly did that!
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WDC2014 GUILD International Design Fair - Introducing Africa

Introducing Africa’s Global Design festival, GUILD, a wave of Cape Town’s World Design Capital year (WDC 2014). The inaugural event unifies top leaders, artists, designers and speakers from national and international galleries. This event runs from Friday 28 February 2014 and will end on Sunday 9 March 2014. Story by Maxine Williams

Design Network Africa - Designer Joseph Nii Noi Douwuona

 
 
This truly inspiring event will feature speakers, exhibitionists and attendees from over 17 different countries across Africa, United States of America, South America, Britain and Europe.
 

Nacho Carbonell - working in Eindhoven, The Netherlands

‘I like to see objects as living organisms, imagining them coming alive and being able to surprise you 
with their behaviour. I want to create objects with my hands, then I can give them my personality. 
I turn them into communicative objects that can arouse one’s sensations and imagination. in short, 
what I want to create are objects with a fictional or fantasy element, that allow you to escape everyday life.‘
- nacho carbonell 

Exhibitors at the WDC2014 GUILD International Design Fair line-up.

    •    Nacho Carbonell (Holland): Featured Designer For Guild 2014
    •    Origins Centre (South Africa)
    •    Southern Guild (South Africa)
    •    Design Network Africa (Africa)
    •    R 20th Century (New York)
    •    Rossana Orlandi (Italy)
    •    V&A Museum and the British Council (UK)
    •    Coletivo Amor de Madre (Brazil)
    •    Agents of the 3D Revolution (Global) 

Senegalese designer Babacar M'Bodj Niang-
Design Network Africa

GUILD Design Fair by joining a guided tour with fair director Trevyn McGowan.

  

Co-founder Trevyn McGowan - 

"More than just a fair for beautiful objects, GUILD represents the coming together of dedicated, focused curators, designers and institutions who are striving to preserve and provoke unique, groundbreaking design and have been advertising South Africa’s creative and unique Arts and Culture for numerous years through the agency Source & Platform Southern Guild."

Don't miss David Wiseman's exquisitely crafted, nature-inspired pieces up close, courtesy of R & Company. On at The Lookout, Granger Bay, V & A Waterfront, open 11am to 8pm daily, and from 11am to 4pm on Sunday 9 March, closing day.Tickets R75. www.guilddesignfair.com

Original handmade accessories by Madame

The smooth, flowing beauty in these handcrafted jewellery items can only attract the finer delights in one's eye.  Brightening up our screens all the way from a quaint little town in Sofia, Bulgaria. Madame reveals an exquisite combination of grace and harmony in her work.

"All our creations are made with natural materials, leather and semi-precious stone.  They please the eye with their natural beauty and stimulate the body to infuse positive energy."

 

 

Via Madame - "These creations are a compliment to a woman's beautiful combination of style and fashion."

 

"Later we realized the importance that the accessories had in our outfits, of just how the bracelet or necklace might give each dress completeness and originality.  So we decided to create fine handmade accessories and offer you our idea's. To bring a little ray of joy in your everyday life!"

 Please visit Madame Facebook for more of her amazing work!