Lost Is A Place Too

NEW NECKLACES IN STOCK

2012-02-12T12:41:00.000-08:00

I have new necklaces in stock!
Available directly from me, contact me at hello@laurenfowler.co.za
or come visit the Lost Is A Place Too studio at 150 Albert Road, Woodstock.

All necklaces are R220
View more here.

I LOVE YOU DUDE

2012-02-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

So! February is the month of love. Slap bam in the middle, we have Valentine's Day. I don't care what anyone says, it's rad. It's rad to feel special. It's rad to go out for a nice dinner and it's rad for your partner to get a beautiful heart felt gift.

A personalised x-stich hoop!
Could it be more perfect?
Not only is it a pretty wall decoration, it's also a symbol of love in your home, an affirmation if you will. Also, if you live together, it's kinda like a gift for yourself too.
All cross stitch orders come with a free Grr Bear card.

I'll be taking orders up until the 10th of February (Friday)
A 4" hoop, black or white canvas for R400 add R50 for a 5" hoop.
If you want your own custom hoop, they start from R450.
I'm also doing a special on the "RAD owls piece":
I'll customise with your initial and you lovers initial (L & G) instead of writing RAD or, your favourite word.

Ideas of fav words could be:
-lifie
-lovah
-biscuit
-noonoo
-myluuav
-dude
-woman/man beast

LEARN X STITCH AT THE KIDULT EXHIBITION

2012-02-07T13:03:00.000-08:00

On the 15 of February, from 12pm - 1pm I'll be conducting a workshop on how to make your very own cross stitched wall hanging. We're basically gonna have a bitch craft.

This workshop is open to anyone who wants to learn one of the oldest forms of embroidery, a beautiful vintage art form, cross stitch.

Work created will adorn the walls of the art class for the duration of the exhibition and can be collected by workshop participants upon the closing of the exhibition on 23 March.

The workshops are for kidults 18+, unless specified otherwise. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. The workshop is R95 and includes material costs.

You can secure your seat by doing an EFT into the account below, and to send an email with proof of payment, the workshop you wish to attend and your name and number to hello@thefringearts.co.za

Standard Bank - The Fringe
Account 070254621
Branch 020009

For a full workshop schedule and more info go to
http://www.facebook.com/events/355598511124765/

BACK AGAIN

2012-01-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

I'm back from the karoo and back to real life.

I'm moving into my studio at the Woodstock Foundry this week.

Watch out for updates here or follow me on twitter to follow me every step of the way!

TAKE CARE & ADRIAAN KUITERS SHOP OPENING

2011-12-21T15:23:00.000-08:00

I feel like there are new shops opening up all over Cape Town's city bowl. It's got me all excited and this is one the best of all! Take Care and Adriaan Kuiters finally have a home on Kloof St!
Their shop warming takes place this Friday the 23rd at their new home 73 Kloof St.
I already stopped in yesterday and purchased myself 2 new outfits. YAY!

Take Care is a wonderful collection of basic, beautifully designed women's clothing by Jessica Harwood.
Adriaan Kuiters wardrobe is clean, sophisticated and on trend for any stylish male, by Keith Henning.

XMAS GIFT HELP

2011-12-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

I know exactly what you're all thinking.
Christmas is in a week, I haven't bought a thing, I'm so stressed out and I'm STILL at work and I don't want to go to a mall and and and...

I'm here to help.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been keeping my little eyes open for rad gifts to buy friends and family that aren't mass produced and lame. I've also included quite a few unisex or male type gifts as we all know that getting guys socks and bottle of whisky is so unimaginative.

No. 1
COFFEE AND TEA
Everyone enjoys a cup of coffee or tea, but a box of joko and a can of nescafe just isn't gonna cut it. Enter Rosetta Roastery. I found out about this little coffee roastery a couple of days ago at the Freeworld Design Centre Artisan market. Their coffee is tasty and complex.
I bought a gift box of this coffee for R225. Inside, there are 3 different types of coffee. You can make up your own box and order it online on their website, here.

For those of you who enjoy a peaceful, ritualistic kind of tea, Lady Bonin is your woman. Jess' romantic take on tea has changed the way we see this anytime beverage. Each tea is wrapped in muslin and placed is a glass clasp jar. Check out the different teas and their prices here. Jess can deliver in the CBD or your tea may be collected from Observatory in Cape Town. Alternatively, you can have it couriered to you for an extra cost.

No. 2
CHOCOLATE
So, you don't wanna buy chocolate that's gonna make someone feel guilty, fat and under appreciated. This is where Honest chocolate solves everything. The two chocolatiers, Anthony and Michael, have gone to great lengths to bring us a sugar free, dairy free, guilt free, raw, beautifully packaged chocolate. They use agave nectar instead of sugar as well as vanilla pods and coconut oil to bring out the awesomeness in the raw, organic cacao. They have a range of 3 products: Bon Bons; Slabs (my favourite is the 88% 'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark'); and Chocolate spread. Find out more about the chocolate here.

No. 3
CRAFT BEER & WINE
If you know me, you know that I love craft beer. And Union Craft Beer that is. Buy a 4 pack from the And Union beer salon on Bree St for R90 or purchase some of the fine wines, sure not to disappoint any friend or family member.
More info here.

No. 4
A INTERESTING READ
Rattlesnake Books in Muizenberg is one of my favourite little shops. They stock beautiful old books as well as gorgeous engravings, maps, quirky objects and paintings. You can get it all here. They're very new, so their site is still under construction here, alternatively you can see some pics on their facebook page, here.

No. 5
A GOOD HAIRCUT
A man looks his best when his hair is treated with kindness. The good folk down at Barnet Fair give old fashion barber cuts, hot towel shaves and beard trims. They take the time to make a man feel his best. Ladies, this is the mani-pedi for your man. Vouchers are available on request, get more info here.

No. 6
SOMETHING TO LOOK AT
My prints have been selling quite well over the last week to men as well as woman. You can purchase a print, ranging between R350 to R450. Have a look at what's available here. I've also just released another two prints which are shown above.

No. 7
JEWELLERY
Inkheart Jewellery has interesting, original pieces. Each piece is hand crafted from silver, all handmade and not your run of the mill iconography. Nina's jewellery boasts octopus pendants, owl rings, solid silver umbrellas and snowflakes. Pieces range from R250 to R800 Keep up with Nina's new pieces here.

No. 8
SKINNYLAMINX
Heather Moore doesn't need any introductions. A tea towel, an apron, a cushion cover, all the home essentials. The new Skinnylaminx shop can be found at 201 Bree St, Cape Town. Yay! Or order online here.

No. 9
A LUNCH PROMISE
My new favourite restaurant is found at 133 Bree Street, Clarke's bar and eatery is the best place for a burger and a beer. Whoever you take here is going to love every minute of it. With fresh clean white walls, windows full of plants, Deluxe coffee and pretty, friendly staff, what's not to like? More info here.

No. 10
THE CUTEST BOWLS EVER
Sessi Bee creates the cutest handmade bowls. Each one is totally different, I can't think of a reason why no one would like these. Find Sessi Bee's Blog here and here Facebook here.

MARKET TONIGHT AT TJING TJING BAR

2011-11-29T00:24:00.001-08:00

Together at Tjing Tjing Bar tonight.

I'll be selling my wares amongst these other fabulous friends and fellow creators.

There'll be free drinks from Bacardi for the early birds. Get there early so you can get in, last time there was a queue to get inside.

I'll have my prints, xstitch, cards, tags and feather earrings for sale.

I do commissions such as personalised blog headers, branding, custom x-stitch hangings and anything else you'd like to throw my way, come have a drink with me and let's chat :)

See you at 6pm!

Lost & Found

2011-11-24T01:58:00.001-08:00

Hey!

If you're in JHB, you should go to this tonight / 24th November!

I'm exhibiting some of my work as well as 2 new pieces in the theme of "lost and found"

I'm quite proud of these two pieces as I spent countless hours on them.

I'm also very excited to be exhibiting in Johannesburg again.

Here are some sneak previews of my works in progress from my posters.

The prints will be on sale as editions.

GENE KIERMAN & ALBERT COERSTE AT HAAS

2011-11-14T07:45:00.001-08:00

Gene's exhibiting his artwork this Friday at Haas gallery!
See you there for a glass of wine and awesome art!

WHEN A FONT TURNS INTO A SONG

2011-11-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

I've been doing some Font downloading.
Lots of it. I came across this beautiful blog with a list of free fonts that has taken me most of 2 evenings to get through all the amazingness. I'm not even sure how I got through to the blog in the first place, it was probably through my Pinterest.

I made a new typography friend through all these links and I tweeted at him (@JamesTEdmondson) and mentioned how beautiful I thought his typography is and he sent me this!

Then, I came across a very cool design web design site and saw this snap shot of a site with a cat on it and some other lovely desaturated images. When I clicked on said image, it took me to a site filled with animated gifs!! My favourite!
I clicked on the cat having a self bath instantly. Then some music started playing and it was quite nice.
I then saw that the whole album was a free download.
So, I downloaded it.
I'm listening to it as I write this and it's very lovely, soft, folky, ukeleleleleyy music, beautiful male vocals and and. Great website, great music, all for you.

Look at the rad gifs, listen and download here.

Sean Lam:
Hanging Up The Moon is a 'self titled' 11 track album comprising of a series of home recordings.

It's been awhile since I've done something musically and this album is the result of me trying to satisfy that urge to get back at music making. Since I currently do not have the time to commit to my band, the only way forward is to do this alone and at home. All the recordings took place in ungodly hours (hence the moniker), mostly because that's really the only window of time I have. The stillness of the night and early mornings also helped, for I was simply working on this album in my study and not a sound proof studio.

In terms of the music, its really raw and simple stuff. I wanted to get back to writing songs that I can play in their entirety using just a guitar or ukulele, campfire songs if you'd like. Going folk this time around allowed me to better focus on the crafting of words. The minimal instrumentation was also fitting in terms of the mood and feelings I was trying to convey. The process of writing these songs and getting them out of my head have been rather therapeutic for me. I do hope you will enjoy listening to the album as much as I enjoyed making it.

Thanks

Advertising on Between 10 & 5

2011-11-01T02:16:00.000-07:00

I made an animated gif for my advert on the Between 10 & 5 site.
You can check it out here.

I wanted it to look like a fuzzy black & white tv screen flashing "subliminal messages" of my work.
Let me know if it works :)

I'm sharing the advertising space with Says Who, Studio Muti and Social Contract

SA Blog Awards

2011-11-01T02:08:00.000-07:00

After tweeting this link and talking about with other prolific bloggers in the country, I've decided to not take part in the SA Blog awards. At all. Ever.

If they can't take the time to research what's happening in the blogging world in our country, then I can't take the time to even pretend like I want to take part.

Another blogger forwarded me a letter from the SA Blog awards (no one has got back to me yet) and this is what they have to say:

Thank you for your comments regarding the categories.

We are aware of the recent Cape Town award. The design category is however a very broad category and as such there are several different types of sub categories for design, as you have correctly pointed out.
It is however not feasible or practical to create awards for categories and sub categories, and virtually impossible to get clarity on the design category.

As an example design could be fashion design, web design, business design, communication design etc...
These blogs could then spill over into other categories which are more definable.
We are trying our level best to ensure the blog categories are easy to enter, understand and practical to manage.

We really do appreciate your input, and will consider additional categories in future.

Best Regards
SA Blog Awards

So that's the answer why your design / DIY / Fashion / web design / interior design / insert anything creative here, will not be taking part in the SA Blog awards. Because it's too broad a subject therefore it most certainly doesn't count and we'll leave it out altogether.

Dear SA Blog Awards...

2011-10-26T02:48:00.000-07:00

This is a letter I've just written to the SA Blog Awards. You can see the Categories list here.

I'm writing to inform you that your categories are terrible.
I can't fit my blog into any of these "boxes"

There is no section for Design or illustration or the arts or Craft or DIY or Interior Design, the list goes on.
You're going to have a very large group of people under the "Entertainment / Lifestyle" category, which, in my opinion is going to make it very unfair to the people who are in fact just trying to fit their blog in somewhere.

I'm not sure if you did any research into what kind of blogs are happening in South Africa, in fact, I'm sure you didn't.

If anything, the second option box should at least be a sub category of what you've put in the first option.

Example:
Option 1
- Entertainment / Lifestyle
Option 2
- DIY
- Interior Design
- Illustration / Design
- Journalism / Writing
etc.

Please take a look at my blog and tell me where it fits in.
http://lostisaplacetoo.blogspot.com/

Cape Town is Best

2011-10-26T01:48:00.000-07:00

Hurrah!
Cape Town won the title of being the 2014 World Design Capital!
You can watch the Cape Town on top of the world video here.
I have a little cameo in there myself near the end.

Yay for Cape Town, great things are coming our way.

New X Stitch Hoops

2011-10-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

There's this song by The Kills called Alphabet Pony and I get the song stuck in my head. A lot.
So, I made this x stitch hoop to try and get the song out my head...you know, like sometimes people say you have to sing the whole song through, well, I had to x stitch the song out.

I like it. I'll make you one if you want,
they're R350 each and measure at 4"
Perfect for you, as well as a child's bedroom.

Xmas Post #1

2011-10-25T01:27:00.000-07:00

I don't know what to get everyone for Christmas.
LIES!

Tip. Start doing your Christmas shopping now you noob.
First of all, 3 rules to keep you feeling warm and fluffy: buy vintage, buy handmade, buy local
You can get all three of these things on the Beatnik Bazaar new shop online webpage thing!

Danielle Clough

2011-10-25T01:06:00.000-07:00

Danielle Clough is not just a photographer. She's a life capturer.
Drawing inspiration from her friends, artists and everyday life, she finds new ways of capturing these mini moments between what's happening and what is about to happen.

Such beauty.
Dee shoots on film as well as digital.

Check out her tumblr here.

Brainwarmth

2011-10-18T02:07:00.000-07:00

My friends Alex and Mike are a little bit "geniusy"
They've released this album under the name "Brainwarmth" just saying this makes me feel like someone has removed the top of my skull and placed one of those infrared lights on it. Not in a painful way, more of like a numb kind of squishy feeling. That's also how their music makes me feel.

"Floaty Girl" has got to be one of my favourite tracks on the album.
"Leave me alone, I'm being invisible" is just beautiful proving that boys can make pretty music too. Piano and rain music. Love
"Drawing on your jeans" is a spooky piece of organ music with rap. Radness.
"Lies" is a kind of electro meditation.

Mike: What's you favourite combination of colours?
Alex: Black on Black
Mike: Black on Black
Alex: Black on Black

Brain Warmth is the experimental side project of Mike Zietsman (P.H.Fat) and Alex van Rensburg (3CPU, Mosth'enth, Boomslang, ScarCream). The best phrase one could use to describe their music is "organic, lazy, selfish, electronic rap music". The second best phrase one could use to describe their music is "a series of very bad inside jokes".

Their debut album "look at my gun" is a collection of their experimental rap works that was mostly constructed using crap old samplers and by running shit through old reel to reel tape machines. They had a lot of fun making it and they figured that because they made it, they might as well give it to people to listen to.

Being on time, having a job, making a mark - Brain Warmth is for people who don't care too much about those things. In a world full of musicians trying their best to cut through the clutter by outshining each other, Brain Warmth is like a pair of sun glasses that a listener can use or dispose of at their own whim.

You can download it here FOR FREE!

Drowning & Flying at Muti Gallery

2011-10-14T00:04:00.000-07:00

I'm showing my work in the Muti gallery window until the
7th of November.
There are two pieces, "Flying" and "Drowning"
they are both R7,000 each

They are both handrawn originals on Fabriano paper.
Find out more on the website.

I've included some process pics too.

TRUCK //

2011-10-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

I've been searching for a bed frame for a long time, couldn't find anything I liked and Gene offered to build one for us. This got me all excited trolling through many, many Pinterest pages. I finally came across Truck, a Japanese furniture company. Not only do they have beautiful bed bases, they make a whole bunch of other stuff! Desks, couches, wall units, chairs etc. The pieces are all mid century style and made with only the finest of quality materials.

I've fallen in love with this company. I've basically pinned their whole website to my Pinterest board. Also they put cats in their pics and that's just awesome.
Visit them here

2011-09-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Bridget, Jesse and I dressed the window at The Fringe Arts in preparation for Creative Week. We made cute little bunting thingies out of stamped paper, wool, ribbon and old book pages.

This is how it looks. You can go down there and help yourself to a little "paper thingy" from the floor of the display, there are some really beautifiul stamped pieces of paper by Jesse and I've hand drawn on some other bits and pieces.

PASTE

2011-09-12T05:21:00.000-07:00

It's on, it's happening.
I did this victorian shack hybrid home for the project.
Here are these cuties standing next to it in Khayelitsha.

Find out more here.

Music This Friday!

2011-09-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

This Friday, you can watch all these bands.
You can hear them and look at them.

6 bands for R50
That's R8.33 per band.
That's ridiculous.
See you there!
FB event here

Pakamani Creche

2011-09-12T05:07:00.000-07:00

Yay!
The Pakamani Creche got painted on Saturday.
I was unable to go to the paint day, but the students from Reddam did an excellent job!

Xanele writes:

Transforming Pakamani Creche in Kayamandi: 10 September 2011. Pakamani creche is situated in the heart of Kayamani and is run by teachers Monica and Cordelia, two wonderful woman. As part of the Sappi Ideas that Matter initiative, in collaboration with Builders Warehouse, we re-painted the creche with the help of students and teachers from Reddham House (who did a fundraising for See-Saw-Do earlier this year). The design was made by Lauren Fowler. It was a fun day indeed!

To find out more about Xanele's work, visit See Saw Do here.

Creative Coffee Mornings

2011-09-09T02:15:00.000-07:00

I did a talk this morning for the Creative Coffee Morning.
This is what I said:

“Imagination is more important than knowledge”
Albert Einstein

I struggled for a long time to come to terms with the textbook definition of “intelligence”
At school, I struggled in subjects which demanded remembering facts an dates.
I excelled in subjects where one was left to make up the answer or work it out. I personally feel that this is a harder task as the answers are not fed to you and require more brain work to conjure up something rather than relying on regurgitating information. My Geography isn’t it’s best, but I could draw you a very interesting map.

But first, some background.
I was born, 1985, cape town city bowl.
I drew 8 legged butterflies.
I went to school and hated my drawings and had holes in my knitting.
I went to high school and doodled cartoons of me and my friend kim.
I went to college and learned about scamping and drew motorbikes.
Then, one evening, my brother mentioned how he loved that my characters had such a range of emotions with such few lines.
Then. I saw it too.
Then other people saw it.
My confidence grew as I drew and eventually, very quietly, I tried calling myself an illustrator.
It felt nice. I did it more often. I told everyone, I told the magazines, I told the agencies.
Now it’s on my business card.

I had worked in a web design agency for 3 months after college and after realising it was “not for me”, I started out as said illustrator and it was hard.
It was many nights feeling freaked out with my heart in my throat, eyes peeled open wide,
“a clockwork orange” style.
So, to busy myself whilst the flood of work came my way in ancient chinese torture droplet speed, I took a job at a little boutique shop on Long Street. With a degree in Brand Communication and sewing buttons onto pieces of felt, my father, was thrilled...

During my time at the shop, I had plenty of time to meditate on how broke I was. So, I started knitting, drawing, sewing, anything to keep my mind off the debt I was racking up with my father.
There used to be a shop down in Kalk Bay, called Blossom which was run by Sandy Mitchell. At the time, they started having these amazing exhibitions every 2 months showcasing their stockists talents in a themed show. I did many of these and a lot of my products came form these “brain pushers”
My range of circus gift cards, my tea cosies and teddy bears, my cross stitch hoops, the list goes on!
This is where the craft and thing making side of me really came out.

Now, if you’re going to start out as a freelancer, you either have to have lots of money, a lovely set of parents, or do about ten other things to keep that dream alive.
I did the following:

Worked in clothing shops telling people they looked “fab”
Served sushi to successful people, as well as to my 3rd year lecturer (embarrassing)
Took notes at Focus Groups from whisky to face wash.
Did telephonic market research recruitment

Selling soft furnishings over the phone
and designing business cards for my mother.

Finally, I caught a break, a couple of local magazines started hiring me for editorials, horoscope illustrations and these lead to other jobs. My saving grace was a company that hired me a couple of times a month to do some graphic design work and a lot of it. This was my cash cow. I started earning “real money” I was so relieved and started paying my father back that very, very long IOU. To this day, I’m not sure they know that I had no idea how to use Illustrator, even when I said I did and was frantically googling how to do use transparencies. These are the clients you keep happy, the ones that give you repeat business. Whether I was hung over, ill, busy with another job, whatever, I dropped everything for them. They eventually expanded and didn’t need me anymore, but that was fine because I was looking for more challenging work now that I felt more confident.

So, for the past four years, I am finally doing what I love. And getting paid well to do it.
Now, to talk about being a person who’s job is to be creative for others.
It’s awesome, but draining. I often feel like I have this huge never ending well, flowing with new ideas, new concepts and there’s just not enough time to do them all!
My well will never empty!
I scream with manic delight.
Guess what. It does.
And when you get a big job and you’re lapping up dribbles, you’re in trouble.
I cannot express the importance of “filling the well” I never understood it before when people spoke of being burnt out, I didn’t understand this concept of running out of ideas. Then it happens to you. For me, I need a walk. A walk in the park, a walk on the mountain, a walk around the block. I need to see things that aren’t my work, that isn’t the next product or illustration. I need to see the simple things on this earth. The trees, the rocks, the water. This will always bring you back, back to the source of where it all comes from in the first place. Whether it’s star gazing or grass inspection, we must see and touch the other living stuffs.

Motivation VS Procrastination
The war never ends. Procrastination will flirt with you with all it’s amazing delights.
The lamp shades need cleaning, oh, I haven’t practiced guitar in so long, what’s that, dishes?
Being creative is weird.You have all this energy to make things and draw stuff whilst sitting in your car or watching movie, standing in line at the shops. It strikes you at the weirdest times. It’s a great feeling when work and motivation suddenly synchronize in perfect harmony. You feel golden, you feel like you’re working at the speed of light, yet also slowly, in a graceful humming motion of the universe. Or something.
Illustration and art have always been two aspects of my career that I find confusing. The illustration part of me knows that they are doing this work for a commercial nature and the artistic side of me knows that the images I create must be conceptual and evoke an emotion or reaction. But I often find them blurring into one another.
At the end of the day, my paranoid self draws many lines for detail, many hours wrapping my head around a concept and then puts it out into the world with hands over the face and an eye peeping out. In my type of work, you heart and soul pieces go into almost everything you create. When someone scrutinizes that, it feels like they’re looking at your face REALLY close up. The longer they look without any reaction, the faster your heart beats. This is a natural reaction, when your client says it’s not quite what they were looking for and your stomach drops into your shoes and your heart fills with lead, you smile, you say, “sure, what is it that you had in mind? I want you to be happy with the end product.” or if you really believe in the work that you’ve done you stand your ground and explain your concept to the client and ask them their opinion on what they think you should do to make that clearer for them. At the end of the day, it’s a tricky thing to deal with. Creative people are already a little unsure in the first place. It’s an aspect of my work that I deal with everyday and with it, I’ve become better with people and how to deal with them. I think this is where people who create for the commercial world and artists are different. Artists tend to stay in their studios, paint, have an agent, have a show at a gallery. In my work, I deal directly with my client and I get the luxury of getting steered into the right direction when I go off centre, even when it’s a hard pill to swallow.

Working in Cape Town, I feel that my clients are more relaxed and also more open to crazier or more interesting ideas. I’ve had a few international clients and they’ve always felt a little safe. I think in my line of work, Cape Town is such an ideal environment to be in, where people take in creativity into their everyday lives. This, I think is really special for such a small city. I love that the people I’ve worked with, young, old, corporate and whacky have all understood what I do and why it would be an asset to them. I take my hat off to my community, they’re switched on.

In the same vein, the feeling and experience that one can get from fulfilling another person’s vision, is out of this world. I’ll never tire of the feeling of the happy client. When you both come together and create something that you’re both ecstatic about. When someone buys an artwork of mine or a gift card, when I’m endlessly thanked for the time I put into for each cross stitch hoop, this is why I do what I do. These feelings can fill the “creative well” instantly and cause it to overflow.

In a nut shell, being a creative is challenging and fun. I’ve always enjoyed all aspects of creating and expression of self. If there’s anything I’ve learned in my life, it’s do what you love, be who you really are, without apology and feel free to love yourself, cause after all, you’re quite nice and you’re with you for life.

To end, a quote:
He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.
Lao-Tzu

So Many Things

2011-09-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

I have so many things to say!
First off, sorry for not blogging. I'm still fighting to get internet at home. They don't like it when they can't do a credit check on you...

ANYWAY!

I'll be speaking at the Creative Coffee mornings event happening this Friday at Escape Cafe to kick off Cape Town Creative Week. You can check out the event and RSVP here if you'd like to come, or read more about it and my interview here.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for further developments at The Fringe Arts on Kloof shop, as we have something special for Creative Week.

Thaya from Beatnik Bazaar is having a Spring Giveaway, exciting?!
I think so.

ENTER HERE

I've given her one of my Feather Earrings as part of the 1st prize, but you too can have on for R150.
Lovely.

Take Care // Spring 2011/2012

2011-09-01T04:01:00.000-07:00

Love these new styles form Take Care.
Check more here.
Photography by Julia Merrett
Model: Amor Coetzee

Panting

2011-09-01T02:59:00.000-07:00

I have a friend.
Her name is Thaya.
She has a shop.
The shop is called Beatnik Bazaar.
She sells beauty things.
I love her and her new online shop.

Please prepare your drool bowl for the pics:

Keep up with Thaya on her blog and visit her online shop here.

Honest Chocolate

2011-08-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

The lads from Honest Chocolate, Anthony and Michael, are opening their gorgeous new chocolate shop on Wale Street this evening!
We would like to invite you to the opening of our chocolate shop (and kitchen) in Wale Street, Cape Town! There will be lots of organic raw chocolate and wine so please come down and do some tasting and have a chat.

We will also be launching our new chocolate slabs. Each wrapper will be designed by a local artist/designer and depicts our collaborative interpretation of the flavour. A limited amount of the new slabs will be for sale on the opening night.

You will be able to get a sneak preview of the beautiful Commune.1 building within which we are housed (the building is officially opening on 1 September) and you will also be able to browse around Liam Mooney’s fantastic shop.

We look forward to becoming part of the growing artisan community in the area!
Date: Thursday, 25 August 2011
Time: 6.30pm
Place: 66 Wale Street, Cape Town
Dress vintage chocolate shop style!
If you can’t make the opening please feel free to pop in to the shop any time to have a chat and eat some organic chocolate!
Hope to see you there

Spring Sale

2011-08-25T05:41:00.000-07:00

It's Spring Sale time again!

On the 3rd of September 2011!

Please come join us for a free glass of bubbly and to welcome Spring back. It will be a wonderful day to see some of your favorite Designers selling together at this relaxed and happy Home Sale.

It will be held at 24 Dartmouth Rd Muizenberg from 9am to 4pm.

Please feel free to invite friends and to pass this flyer on to others you think might be interested.

This will be our 5th annual Spring Sale and we look forward to seeing you all there!

I'll be selling my x stitch hoops, gift cards, art prints and feather earrings.

Day Two at The Fringe on Kloof

2011-08-17T01:48:00.000-07:00

My second day at the Fringe Arts on Kloof Street was such fun!
We danced, we sang and I drew on the windows. Good times.

I gridded up the whole window and did a deer pattern to cross stitch.

You can too!

I started on my visual diary and stared out the window of shadow lines.

It was great. I'm looking forward to day 3 today. Drop by to say hi!

Feather Earrings

2011-08-17T01:38:00.000-07:00

My new feather earrings are here!

Available through me or through The Fringe Arts on Kloof St.

R150 each

All handmade all different styles, no two are the same!

Window Stitcher

2011-08-15T04:02:00.000-07:00

From today (15th August) until the 15th of September, I've taken over the two box windows as an artist in residence at The Fringe Arts on Kloof street. I'll be working from the windows for the week form 10am - 4pm, come and visit!

I'l be taking cross stitch orders, and just generally working from the window, making pretty, fiddling with the windows and changing stuff up.

Website Update

2011-08-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

I updated my website!
After many many hours, it's all on there.
My work, my stockists, my about me.
It's there. It functions. I'm done.
Yay.

Visit it here.

Art South Africa

2011-08-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

I'm now stocking Art South Africa with my prints, gift cards and gift tags.
(Look, that's me in the Design Indaba Art South Africa Broadsheet...fancy, you can take that for free)

They also have rad art, books and all back copies of Art South Africa.

You can visit them at Fairweather House, 176 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock : 021 465 9108

You Missed and Vice Versa

2011-07-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

My playlist is up over at Between 10 & 5.
Go here and follow the link to listen :)

Buke & Gass: listen and look more here & here
Sharon Van Etten: listen and look more here
Ella Joyce Buckley: listen and look more here & here
Wye Oak: listen and look more here
Miss Texas 1977: listen and look more here & here
The National: listen and look more here & here
Cat Power: listen and look more here
Warpaint: listen and look more here
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs: listen and look more here
Fonda: listen and look more here & here

Poster Competition

2011-07-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

I feel like Winter is getting to me a bit.

You know what always cheers me up?

A competition.

I'm giving away one of my posters again, this time the

"Feather Hands" print.

In addition to this competition, I've uploaded a free wallpaper

to use on your desktop.

Download it here.

All you have to do is leave comment on the comments section below and then you go into the draw.

Competition runs till August 17th 2011

Freeworld Design Centre Event

2011-07-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

Join us on the 4th of August from 17h00 for this event.

I've been chosen as 1 of 45 leading creatives to decorate a football for the Safe Spaces Campaign.

Please RSVP to info@freeworlddesigncentre.com

Hope to see you there!

House & Leisure

2011-07-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

I've been getting some press with House & Leisure recently.

First on their blog as item of the day, here

Then on Beatnik Bazaar's House Of The Year (HOTY) here

And finally, in their August issue, under "40 people to watch"!

Yay!
Thanks House & Leisure, I like you too.

PostalCo

2011-07-21T03:20:00.000-07:00

I came across PostalCo products when I visited the USA earlier this year. I bought a little yellow reporters notepad with fine grid paper for my cross stitch designing on the go.

PostalCo on their product:
"We wanted a way to carry papers and documents that would function and age well. Some experimentation resulted in a series of document carrying envelopes made from pressed cotton and leather with an adjustable button closure."

Here are some other beautiful products they have.

Mareli Heunis

2011-07-21T02:55:00.000-07:00

Mareli Heunis is a Pretoria based illustrator. I came across her work trying to find something else completely off topic.
Her work is wonderful.
I love her hand generated typography!

x stitch

2011-07-19T02:37:00.000-07:00

Oh people.
I have been cross stitching left right and centre!
Here are some new ones I've made for the new Vamp shop.

I'm definitely in the mood, so get your orders in now!

My Winter Wonderland

2011-07-14T02:26:00.000-07:00

I feel like I went through a dark patch right before working on this exhibition, so I channeled that into my artwork. I examined the theme of hibernation and the passing of time.

This Too Shall Pass

Prepare

Again, the exhibition is on till the 6th of August, framed works and editioned prints are available, as well as original doodles.

Winter Wonderland

2011-07-14T02:10:00.000-07:00

Photographs courtesy of Diary of Ward

Winter Wonderland opened at Salon 91 last night.
The quality of the work was outstanding.
I was blown away and feel so honoured to exhibit with such talent!

Adam Hill

Bruce Mackay

Jade Klara

Linsey Levendall aka Bison

The exhibition runs till the 6th of August, editioned prints are available.
Visit 91 Kloof St

Seven Swans

2011-07-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

I came across Seven Swans wedding stationery today.
Such gorgeous designs on there!

The invitation and layout of your wedding invitation really does set the tone of the event.
Check them out here.

Equal Education

2011-07-11T03:17:00.000-07:00

This sounds like a good idea.
We should all go to this tomorrow.

Taxidermy and Paxton Gate

2011-07-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

I've recently become obsessed with Taxidermy.

It reminded me that I went into this fabulous little shop in San Francisco called Paxton Gate.
Here are some of the pieces they sell.
I wonder if I could be taxidermied. I think my arms would make nice gloves.

I've also started a Taxidermy board on Pinterest. Follow it here.

Layering

2011-07-05T04:52:00.000-07:00

I had a conversation at Stock Exchange with my mum and another lady today and we were discussing how to stay warm without looking bulky. I then shared with them what was going on underneath my black velvet jacket and I thought I'd share with you too!

- First, the vest, important for keeping the body warm.
- Then, the long t-shirt that can be tucked into jeans keeping the kidney area covered.
- Now for warm bits. I wear this unsightly old blue cashmere cardigan, but it is SO warm, so it's worth having a really cozy, but maybe a little ugly, jersey underneath for warmth.
- Then the wool waistcoat. This really make a difference for body warm and it's not chunky because it's sleeveless!
- Then the fur collar, keeping the neck, chest warm and making me feel like a hunter.

Then the trusty old velvet jack to tie it all together.
And that's how I keep warm during chilly winter days!
P.S the longer I write this post, the more ridiculous I think it is. But I already took the pics. So. ya. whatever. wear a vest. stay safe..

Anni Jurgensen

2011-07-01T04:03:00.000-07:00

Anni Jurgensen makes the most beautiful earcuffs.
I love feather earrings and I recently bought some feathers to make my very own, but this is a rad idea too!

Check out her blog here.

Cowgirl Blues

2011-07-01T02:15:00.000-07:00

"cowgirlblues is all about creative personal connection. Each piece is individually crafted using traditional methods, often in unique ways. This involves many pairs of hands – from shearing the sheep and goats on Karoo farms, through spinning and dyeing the wool in our Cape Town studio, to knitting and crocheting the final pieces. Our materials are handled, touched, held, worked, softened and coaxed into their final form. We think you’ll feel the difference!"

Quoted straight from the website because we know
I'm really just all about pictures.
Visit the Cowgirlblues website here
Local. Beautiful. Handmade. What more could you want!

Sidewalk Cafe

2011-06-30T03:01:00.000-07:00

Picture nicked from Travel Start

Sidewalk Cafe is another Madame Zingara favourite of mine. Tucked away in Vredehoek, I feel at home amongst the patrons and casual atmosphere. The croissant with scrambled eggs, cheese and mushroom is delicious, ask for some fresh chilli for an extra bite (pictured below).

Cafe Paradiso

2011-06-29T03:53:00.000-07:00

Cafe Paradiso is possibly my favourite restaurant in Cape Town.
Delicious food, a bakery, awesome coffee, a selection of divine wines, friendly staff, a lunch buffet and free wifi, what more could you ask for?

Outside seating, a little romantic courtyard at the back and two cosy fireplaces inside, perfect for dinner, lunch with friends or a quick breakfast.
Pictured above, The Really Cheap Breakfast for R30

The Winter lunch buffet runs from Monday to Friday.
R35 a small plate and R45 for a large plate, including soup.
Fresh salads, stews, pasta, bakes, freshly baked bread and pates, you can't go hungry here.

Crocheted Mat

2011-06-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

Isabeau is in production on my very own crocheted mat. I'm already having fantasies of Thaya and I sitting by the fire and my house, having a craft date sitting our bums on this mat *excited!!

Skinny Legs & All

2011-06-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

I've just come across the sweetest, most beautiful little
restaurant on Loop Street.
Skinny Legs and All, Luxury Cafe shows off a menu filled with delicious, locally sourced, free range, home made dishes.
All the words I love.

With a vase of flowers on every table and free wifi, I'm thinking
this will be my new little coffee spot.

70 Loop St, Cape Town
Open Monday - Friday 07h00 - 16h00
and Saturday from 08h30 - 14h00
Closed Sundays.

Sale

2011-06-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

I went to a sale on the weekend and bought some lovely tea towels and cushion covers from Skinnylaminx. Look how gorgeous on my new dark bedding. Ah!

Lady Bonin was there in her gypsy caravan to keep us warm with her beautiful teas.
I also spied the most gorgeous bags by Missibaba and stunning lamp shades from Moonbasket.
I also got drunk on champagne and chocolate at 10 in the morning.
Yay for sales!

Winter Wonderland

2011-06-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

I'm taking part in a group exhibition with other illustrators called, Winter Wonderland.
I'm very excited to be doing new work for this show, something new and fresh in a new medium.
Hope to see you there!

Salon 91, 91 Kloof St
Opening Night: Wednesday, 13 July 2011 at 19h30
Show Dates: 13 July - 6 August

Illustrators include:
Adam Shear, MotelSeven, Jaco Haasbroek, Katrin Coetzer, Mine Jonker, Sindiso Nyoni, Jade Klara, Jordan Metcalf, Emma Cook, Jade Waller, Daniël Hugo, Andrew Sutherland, Miss Yucki, Marsi & Maya for Animal Kingdom, Kronk,
Bruce Mackay, Lorraine Loots, Clement de Bruin, Simon Berndt, Adam Hill, Cassandra Johnson, Mieke van der Merwe, Lauren Fowler, Linsey Levendall, Candice Ježek aka Ž & Jean de Wet.

View the facebook event here

Dark Horse

2011-06-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

There's a new shop in town.
Laptop covers are my favourite item in the shop.
Not to mention the custom furniture!
hellyeah.
Find them here or on 83 Kloof Nek

Winter Fair

2011-06-22T04:48:00.000-07:00

A Winter Fair!
Just what we need to warm up!
Check more details here.

Isa Beau Peep

2011-06-22T04:37:00.000-07:00

Wow!
I love these locally made crochet mats, definitely getting one for in front of my fireplace to craft on.

Read Isabeau's blog here
Mats are availble at the Fringe Arts, 99B Kloof St

House and Leisure Blog

2011-06-22T04:19:00.000-07:00

House and Leisure have a blog!
I featured as "Item of the day" a couple of days ago.
I'm feeling stitchy, get your orders in!

083 431 9513

2011-06-22T03:56:00.000-07:00

This is brilliant.
I saw my first sign yesterday on the highway that said "Escape Capsules"

I want to repost all the pics, but they're all too brilliant.
Check the blog out here.

Call the number and leave a message, "they'll probably call you back"
hehe

General Store

2011-06-22T02:17:00.000-07:00

After reading an article on Design Sponge about Alex Kopps and the Mollusk surf shop in Sunset, CA, I was reminded of my time in San Fransisco and Oakland. It also reminded me that I hadn't posted about General Store yet, one of my favourtie shops I visited!

Top Left: store front
Top Right: beautiful products
Bottom Left: Where I bought my Justin boots. nice.
Bottom Right: Loved this cute little greenhouse
made of reclaimed wood by Jay Nelson.

Classical Music: City Hall: 23 June 2011

2011-06-20T04:14:00.000-07:00

Everyone always asks me to tweet or blog about the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra BEFORE they play a show.
So, this is me doing it.

This Thursday (23 June) the orchestra will be playing at the City Hall.

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major Op.19
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp minor
Conductor: Thomas Sanderling
Soloist: Melvyn Tan (piano)

Get more info here
Ticket prices range from R180, R155, R130

Love ThySelfi

2011-06-20T03:24:00.000-07:00

Selfi is a local brand based in Cape Town.
The range is made up of beautifully folded pieces of fabric to make up an interesting geometric shapes that flatter the female figure.
Check out the new winter range here.

Accessories by The Summit

36 Boutiques

2011-06-20T03:10:00.000-07:00

36 Boutiques have launched a sneak peak of their website.
It's quite cool.
Have a look here.

You can see me walking with a large ball of yarn falling out my bag.
Knit or Die yo.

Yarn Bombing

2011-06-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday was International Yarn Bombing Day. I met up with some lovely knitty ladies and we chatted and sipped coffee at the Company Gardens. Then we bombed the rail of the National Gallery and surrounds. It was fantastic.

The finished rail.

Jesse getting her stitch on.

Keeping the statue warm.

Thank so much to Pam Sykes for organising all us woolly ladies together.

Marie Claire Green Lunch

2011-06-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

Last week, I went to the Marie Claire Green Lunch at The Conservatory in Fransschoek.
I had a ton of fun with Thaya, Hanli, Lize, Jessica and made some new friends too.

We learned all about Green Living, got drunk on rad wine, scored free swag, jived (yes. jived) to Hot Water and ate yummy organic food.

It was an all round fantastic day out in the winelands.

Clare Foxcroft Williams

2011-06-10T05:16:00.000-07:00

Clare is different from most photographers, she's interested in people and their bodies, people and their passions. Clare recently came round to my kalk bay home and took some photographs of me.

View more of Clare's work here.

The Fringe on Kloof

2011-06-10T04:20:00.000-07:00

The Fringe is opening up on Kloof St!
Come and wet your whistle in celebration of the new Fringe home.

99b kloof street
wednesday 15 june
6pm - 8pm

Check out the Facebook event here and the competition through running here

New Stockists

2011-06-10T03:42:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited to be stocking some new shops in Cape Town.

Haas

-cross stitch wall hangings
-assorted gift cards and tags
Find Haas on 67 Rose Street, Bo-Kaap

Vamp

-cross stitch wall hangings
-assorted gift cards and tags
-art prints
Find Vamp on the corner of Albert Road and Treaty Street,Woodstock

Blink

-selected gift cards
Find Blink on 71 Regent Road, Sea Point

36 Boutiques

2011-06-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

The good people at 36 Boutiques are following what
I wear everyday for 5 days.
Sheesh, talk about pressure!
I've been taking pics of myself with my mac built in camera
and my iPod.
And generally feeling like a douche bag.
See my clothes that don't have holes in them here.

adriaan kuiters

2011-05-31T05:18:00.000-07:00

The Adriaan Kuiters website, the perfect place to find some gorgeous designer threads for your man. My boyfriend bought some of these shorts, they're perfect with a button up shirt or casual t-shirt. The cut and line for these clothes make for the ideal closet essentials.

Visit the website here.
Model: Andrew Jamieson
Designer: Keith Henning

Kalk Bay Nostalgia

2011-05-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

I was feeling a little nostalgic about leaving Kalk Bay, so I went to the streets to take in one of my last Sundays in the bay.

I started at C'est La Vie for a coffee and a croissant.

I looked at some pretty, old things at What Not China.

I stopped to smell the herbs at The Kalk Bay Nursery.

I checked out some beautiful vintage clothes at London Road.

And mused over the pottery at the Pottery Shop!
Nice one Kalk Bay, my home!

Jaunted Haunts Press

2011-05-16T06:43:00.000-07:00

I know some people.
These people play some instruments and sing.
These people are truly inspirational.

I recently watched and listened and felt music made by
Righard Kapp and Givan Lotz.
It truly amazes me to see this kind of power before my eyes.

The label, Jaunted Haunts Press, (Righard Kapp) have put out a number of beautifully screenprinted, editioned albums by local artists.

Righard Kapp, a musician as well as an artist, is certainly one of the most entertaining people to watch. Someone who really feels his music when playing it. I sometimes feel anxious when Righard plays live shows, as the difficulty of the music he's written is so complex to me it astounds me that his fingers don't tangle whilst skipping across frets. Did I mention that he's left handed and plays a normal guitar upside down?

Givan Lotz sings in a tone that makes your heart want to break and fly at the same time. Interesting melodies and repeated, clear lyrics gives off waves of a kind of meditative qualities.
Just beautiful. I felt stoned when I watched him, utterly transfixed.
Find him here.
P.S He's also an artist...I know, right?

Ella Joyce Buckley is from another time, or maybe from a book. She seems curious to take things apart and see how they work. She's more a force of nature than anything else. Her music is layered and ethereal, her lyrics more aural poetry than anything else. Truly feminine and so easy to connect with, so different to anything I've ever really heard or experienced.
Did I mention she plays all the instruments herself?
You can find her new EP, Sway Church on the Jaunted Haunts Press shop.

The Big Day Photography

2011-05-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

The Big Day Photography website, a wedding photography service by Justin Badenhorst, has just gone live.
I love wedding photography and jumped at the chance to design the
Big Day Photography's logo and website.

Justin manages to capture those special moments on one of the greatest days of your life, The Big Day. Take a glance at the gallery, as well as contact Justin on his new website here.

Take Care

2011-05-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

Photos by Julia Merrett

Take Care's Autumn/Winter range is beautiful!
I love the classic shape, colour and simplicity
of Jessica Harwood's designs.
These are my favourite pieces and shots from Take Care's new range.

Photos by Tyrone Bradley

See more on Take Care's Facebook page.

San Francisco

2011-05-10T04:47:00.000-07:00

Realised that I still haven't mentioned the San Francisco section of my USA trip!
I arrived in the bay area and spent 2 weeks there.

I stayed in West Oakland and traveled into San Francisco almost everyday.
We ate breakfast at a local diner in West Oakland called Pretty Lady.
I ate pancakes and bacon and bottomless coffee, aaah yeah!

We managed to get out of the city on two occasions in a rental car. We went up to Muir Woods as well as Point Reyes.

Ah...the shops in San Fran.
There wil have to be many blog posts about these.
I have so many pics to wade through!

And the winner is...

2011-05-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

Shaun Franc Bond!!
Fantastic!

Out of 56 entries, Shaun has won a signed edition of "Bird"

You too can own your very own print for R450

I recently cross stitched this custom made hoop for Shaun which you can order from me too.

Hoops start at R350
Contact me here: lulafowler@gmail.com

Puma Bicycle

2011-04-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

I worked with Shaun and Craig last week on a photoshoot in Kalk Bay.
They photographed me at my favourites spots in the area, including the Kalk Bay Nursery, where i fondled some plants. We waited for trains to whoosh past and I rode up and down over short pieces of road to make it look like I'm a hardcore rider...

It was fun and I got to feel like one of those model people that are always in Kalk Bay getting shot for magazines, which was slightly awkward but still funny.
The bike is a really smooth ride with 8 gears and really big wheels.

View more of the puma bikes here and more of the pics of other Cape Town locals riding them here.

Bird Poster Print Giveaway

2011-04-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

Yeah.
How about that!
I'm giving away one of these bird posters.

All you have to do is comment below or tweet about it (don't forget to mention me, or i'll never know @lula_cat and use this link) or double your chances and do both!
Seriously, it's that easy.

Winner announced on May 1st 2011
That's all.
Good Luck!

Brooklyn: Shops

2011-04-10T02:49:00.000-07:00

Here are two shops in Brooklyn that were really rad.
The Future Perfect, I spoke about in my previous post.
A shop filled to the brim with awesome designer stuff.
Beauty.

Cinder Block Necklace [2008]
Kiel Mead

Pack Rack [2010]
Steph Mantis

Brooklyn Charm is one of those places that you walk into and instantly start drooling.
I spent A LOT of dollar there. I bought many wishbone charms, a bicycle charm, cat charms, so many charms. I'll photograph them and post them once I've connected them to some chain.

Wishbone charms

Easter Show

2011-04-09T07:46:00.000-07:00

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Come buy some locally produced artwork.

At Keenwa restaurant (50 waterkant st/fanwalk)
On Thursday 14th April from 17:30

RAD.

Artisan Easter Market

2011-04-08T08:06:00.000-07:00

Nina, from Inkheart Jewellery and I, will be selling our wares at the Artisan Easter Market at the Freeworld Design Centre.

Nina will be selling for me on the day.
The market takes place on Saturday the 16th of April, 9:30 till 15:30

Lots of beautiful, local, handmade goods on sale.
Find the perfect gifts to fill the present drawers!

Baby and Company Advert

2011-04-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

I sewed this advert.
Yes..I sewed it.
I think it's quite rad, they animated it quite sweetly.

Brooklyn

2011-04-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

I decided not to do site seeing and gallery wondering. Okay...I did a bit of it, but mostly, I was interested in how people live and eat and shop.

The little boutique shops consisted of lots of "ooooh!" and scrambling over to something to drool all over it, then my magpie eye would catch some other little brass coloured, shiny object and I'd dart over in my most contained manner, glance at the shop assistant to see if they were looking, then touch it and wish it were mine.
I'd do dollar, rand calculations in my head and put the object down softly and look unimpressed, leaving it to find something more inexpensive and look back longing over my shoulder at the most divine things and try and figure out how much money I really needed to eat everyday...

This happened on an almost hourly basis for me in New York and San Francisco.

The following images are from a shop in Brooklyn called The Future Perfect.
Love that name.

MOMA
I got to see lots of art at the MOMA, but most importantly, I got to see Marcel Duchamp's work and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

EATING
In America, as soon as you sit down, they give you a glass or a bottle of water. Why don't we do this here?
We sit and ask waitings (i don't like the word waitron) for water over and over and dehydrate because the waitings doesn't remember as it's not something that goes through a Micros system or something they can get a tip on. *sigh

With that rant over, 5 Leaves.
This is probably my favourite restaurant in Brooklyn, not that I ate out much, but I did go there for dinner or lunch twice. They give you little jars for water glasses and reuse glass water or wine bottles to serve you "seated water".
Maybe it's because everyone in New York walks and are all thirsty once they get to the restaurant....okay, enough on that now.

I ate the grass-fed burger with gruyere. They ask if you'd like your fries plain, OR tossed in truffle oil! I tested the truffle oil, it was delicious.

COFFEE
I drank coffee at a couple of places, it wasn't as rad as the coffee you find in Cape Town*, but still drinkable.

Drip coffee is all the rage over there.
It's like filter coffee...I don't really understand why it's a hyped up thing *

*coffee snob alert

I found this pair of shoes at a market, they're made by a company called Justin, they specialise in cowboy boots.
I was instantly obsessed and began my quest to try and find these in my size.

HELLO!

2011-04-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

Wow!
Where do I start!
I've neglected my poor blog so badly.

Let's start from the beginning.
February, I was loaded with client work, cross stitch orders, Design Indaba stress, which all came out quite nicely in the end and I managed to not bleed from the eyeballs.

I was grafting so hard to get some...well, chunks of money together for my holiday to New York and San Francisco. That being done, I made it to New York to start my vacation.

New York is a big city.
I spent most of my time in Williamsburg which is in Brooklyn.
I then moved on to West Oakland in the Bay area, San Francisco.

Please stay tuned for loads of pics and blog posts on my trip...I took a lot and did a lot to share with you all!

Design Indaba

2011-02-28T03:34:00.000-08:00

Wow. The Design Indaba was amazing.
Being picked as part of the Emerging Creatives was such a gift.
The work around me was so inspiring and I saw and met such beautiful people and products.

Thank you to Design Indaba, the DTI and everyone who came to visit and support me.

The Cook Shop

2011-02-09T00:28:00.000-08:00

I went to the Cook Shop for lunch a couple of weeks ago.
They have beautiful fresh salads and sandwiches.
The buffet is R35 for a small plate and R45 for a big plate.
Super yummy.

New X Stitch

2011-02-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

Been doing x stitch commissions left right and centre!
Although, I kinda did the yes/no one for me.
Order yours now!

4inch - R300
5inch - R350
Available on black or white canvas
lulafowler@gmail.com

Genevieve Motley Giveaway

2011-02-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

The Pretty Blog is having a Genevieve Motley giveaway!
Competition runs till Monday the 14th of February.

"one lucky reader can win their choice of any THREE of the
featured item, yes THREE!"
Find out more and enter here!

Photos I Took

2011-01-26T02:06:00.000-08:00

angry balcony lady in fish hoek

flowers from friend's farm.

sticks and webs up at silvermine.

Came across some pics that I took on my phone, thought I'd share them with you here.

A Quater Down

2011-01-21T07:20:00.000-08:00

Sjoe.
This big art thing is hard...
Progress:

Pakamani Creche

2011-01-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

Painting Creches Project!
I illustrated this for the Pakamani Creche.
Painting date to be announced soon.
If you're keen to volunteer, email : xanele@writeonafrica.org

dwawing

2011-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'm finally making some "big art"
fine liner on wood.
yay.

Feather Hands

2011-01-17T04:10:00.000-08:00

This is the art piece that I did for the Guten Tag exhibition happened on Friday night.
I'm selling A3 prints (unframed) for R400 printed on art paper .
Contact: lulafowler@gmail.com

Andy Lund & The Miossion Men and The Sleepers

2011-01-17T02:31:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow night at the Waiting Room.
It's gonna be a goodie.
Poster by Adam Hill

Hello Sailor

2011-01-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

Your good ol' Hello Sailor has returned!
Ryan's made the new space look like ship, it's so cute.
Perfect space for a drink/coffee/chat/meeting/drinking/eating/feeling rad.
Serving Deluxe Coffeeworks coffee, delicious food and Sailor Jerry Rum!

Opening Times:
Mon-Fri: 8:00am till 23:00
Sat&Sun: 9:00am till 23:00

You can find it at 122b Lower Main Road, Observatory.
Look out for the same little red bench outside.

Akimbo Closing Down Sale

2011-01-13T08:10:00.003-08:00

Akimbo is having a closing down sale this Sunday.
*Sadness
but yay for us!
:)

Quirky Me

2011-01-13T03:27:00.000-08:00

Have you been to Quirky Me at the Old Biscuit Mill?
They have a plethora of local product at affordable prices.
Amongst them: My China, Skinnylaminx, Pedersen&Lennard and Lauren Fowler { hey, that's me! }

I designed this print for owner, Ingrid Corbett (pictured above, top left)
It's the length of a queen size bed and makes the perfect headboard.

It reads:
"You know you're in love when you don't want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams" -Dr Seuss
aaaah!

Price: R1200
Available from Quirky Me only.

Arc Music School

2011-01-12T07:50:00.000-08:00

The new Arc Music School in Muizenberg opened this week.
Home classes are also available in the City Bowl on Wednesdays.
Click the image for more details.

4 x 45 min lessons R395
4 x 30 min lessons r295

Contact Gene
084 814 0124 or 021 788 9119