A Kirstenbosch mini-break

A Kirstenbosch mini-break

Thanks so much to everyone for the lovely birthday wishes on Friday. I had a glorious day, seriously spoiling myself by packing a book, a blanket and a pillow, and heading off to Kirstenbosch Gardens for the whole afternoon

I did manage to move about enough to take some pics, but mostly I lay on the grass listening to birds, leaves rustling, water gurgling, and tourists chortling, as I fell in and out of a delicious doze. Utter bliss.

More pics of my Kirstenbosch mini-break over at my Flickr page.

Big Day

Big Day
Sooo, it's my birthday today. Yippee! I'm giving myself the day off, partly because I occasionally like to be a nice boss to myself, and partly to deal with the half-horrifying, half-marvellous fact that my pic is on the front cover of the Friday section of the Mail & Guardian newspaper. Yikes, ulp, gosh, etc.

Of course, I'm thrilled to bits with the article, but wasn't brave enough to get the paper before 10:00, steeling myself with a bike ride, two coffees and an eggy breakfast first. It's a lovely article though, and I'm quite overwhelmed by the whole thing. Read it here, if you like.

Ok, now next on the birthday schedule: turn the computer off, then tootle down the road for a haircut. I reckon I need one to accommodate my newly-swollen head!

Giveaway @ Satsuma Press

Giveaway @ Satsuma Press
I'm so, so thrilled to have done another collaboration with the wonderful Lynn Russell of Satsuma Press. First we did two adorable cards and gift tags (she has them in her shop), and now we've done a card for Heath Ceramics, using their iconic vase shapes. Isn't it a beaut?

Lynn's organised two very generous giveaways to celebrate, with goodies from Heath Ceramics, from me, and from Satsuma to give away.  Hop on over to the Satsuma Journal to find out more and, of course, to enter. Quick! This one's a real treat.

Keep your eyes out...

 

Keep your eyes out...
This out-of-focus pic is just to tease you with the knowledge that tomorrow, Lynn Russell of Satsuma Press is going to be having a humdinger of a giveaway on her blog, with top notch goodies from Skinny laMinx, Heath Ceramics and Satsuma Press.

Check in at the Satsuma Press Journal tomorrow for more. I can't enter, of course, but if I could, I would!

Alexandra's shop

Alexandra's shop
Have you seen? My friend Alexandra Hojer has opened a gorgeous boutique in Kloof Street's Lifestyle Centre. I've been watching Alex and Philip build it over the past few weeks, showing incredible determination and (as usual) dedication to detail. Alex built her own cabinets and laid her own parquet, for goodness sake! And when you walk in, you'd never, ever guess it wasn't all done by highly-paid professionals.

The clothes are lovely too, of course. You can see the whole summer collection at the website, including this little frock that I'm very happy to own. Makes me look all sexy and dreamy, just like the picture (or maybe the "dreamy" bit is more "in my dreams"?)

Also, when I popped in yesterday, and saw that she has dresses and balloon pants with Jesse's gorgeous prints on them. Go see. It's really very special. And huge congrats to Alexandra, you're such a clever thing.

8 hours of posting

8 hours of posting
My Open Season on shipping (now closed) caused a total deluge of sales. I spent 8 solid hours just packing and posting yesterday.This pile below is about 1/3 of the total number of orders. Yikes!

Actually, I'm really battling for time at the moment, and have mountains of unanswered emails. Please, if anyone is waiting to hear from me, don't think I'm ignoring you. I just can't find all the hours to do it in. Also, blog friends, I'm missing your updates, but hope that conquering the posting and email pile will give me a bit more time for fun soon.

 I made a super-early start this morning, so maybe the summit is nigh.Onward and upward!

Open studio pics

Open Studio pics

Our open studio was a roaring success. Thanks so much to everyone who came, and special thanks to Molly and to Tammy, who helped out so very much. Tammy was also the bright spark who remembered her camera, and most of these pics are from her. Thanks, Tam!

Thanks, Martha

Thanks, Martha
Thrilled to bits to have my Teapots and Jugs tea towel appear on Martha Stewart's 2009 Christmas Gift Ideas page! Thanks so much to Lynn of Satsuma Press for letting me know about it. She also tells me that Martha's washing her cats today.

Also thanks to Desire to Inspire, who was one of the bloggers making the gifts selection for Martha's guide. There are some lovely things in the gift guide, so go check it out.

PS: Don't forget, my shipping special is still ongoing!

Open Studio = Open Season

Open Studio = Open Season

I hereby declare Open Season on shipping charges! That means that all you faraway folks who can't come to our Open Studio on Saturday can shop to your hearts' content, secure in the knowledge that your shipping costs will be a mere 50c per tea towel (down from $3.50) and just $1 per cushion (down from $5.00). 


Yardage, on the other hand, will be shipped at just $2.50 per quarter metre (down from $7.00)


It's cheap, it's cheerful, and it's happening NOW in the Skinny laMinx Etsy shop! But don't delay, as this special only lasts until the sun goes down in Cape Town on Sunday.


PS: The beautifully-tied tea towels pictured here, and more (all 10 boxes of them!), are courtesy of my Mom, who is hereby crowned employee of the month. Thanks, Ma!

Busy busy

Busy busy
Whew, it's all wholesale orders and illustration deadlines in the week approaching the Open Studio on the weekend, so I can't imagine I'll be posting much on this blog at all.

I hope lots of Capetonians (and jetsetters?) will come over to the Open Studio, but especially for those who can't make it, keep an eye out for my shipping special later in the week.

Tune in again on Wednesday for more...