What would you take?

"If your house was burning, what would you take with you? It's a conflict between what's practical, valuable and sentimental. What you would take reflects your interests, background and priorities. Think of it as an interview condensed into one question."

I recently came across this blog called 'The Burning House'. I've been thinking about the concept a lot over the past day with all the news surrounding Hurricane Sandy hitting Haiti and the East coast of America. Trying to think of what you would want to take with you if you were being evacuated from a burning house or fleeing your city with the threat of an oncoming storm is really tough. I remember as kids, hot and bored in the car for hours on end on the way to a holiday destination, we would ask each other the question: "If you were being sent to a dessert island and could only take three things with you, what would you choose?" At the time it was a funny question - but still a difficult one to answer. When I was about ten years old, the southern suburbs of Cape Town were covered in flames that crept steadily over the mountain behind my house and edged closer and closer to our home. One afternoon, we packed everything we couldn't live without into our car and raced towards my aunty's house. My dad stayed behind with a bunch of helpful friends to fight the flames. Mom, Graydon (my brother) and I spent the night with my Aunt and cousins, with  a bag full of clothes and a tiny birdcage squashing our parrot, Sylvester, and Ginger the chicken too close for comfort. A few days later, we were back in our home, everything in tact, with ash still smoldering just fifty metres from our house. I still remember that car ride to my aunt's house quite vividly. At the age of ten, I didn't understand it completely, but I knew the threat the fire was to our lives. I have so much I would want to take now. It would be difficult for me to fit it all into a single photo frame. But these entries below are quite interesting. Take a look at the blog itself to get more insight into the people behind the things.

Short and Sweet

After spending Saturday night and a few hours of Sunday morning boogying, this  afternoon was spent catching up on some shut-eye. What had already been a perfect Sunday, was concluded so sweetly by a little culture infusion. My lovely friend Chelsea invited me to a short film festival on the bowling green in Muizenberg this evening. Unfortunately, the Cape Town winds came out to play, and the picnic was brought indoors. With many more supporters that even we expected, we found ourselves curled up on a picnic blanket on the floor of the clubhouse. Grumpy kids moaned, and pins-and-needles caused lots of fidgeting, but with free popcorn and mini juice boxes in-hand, we were happy little clams. If the delicious treats weren't enough, the visual delights certainly made up for it. We watched eight short films all together, one South African, and the rest hailing from all corners of the globe. What made them all the more special, was watching the organiser of the event's passion and sheer joy as she introduced each piece over the microphone. As we wandered out after the show, I caught a glimpse of her chatting to a friend, tears filling her eyes from the joy of the entire event. Now that is beautiful! 

All of the films were beautiful and interesting in their own way, but I think my favourite by far was 'The Fantastic flying books of Mr. Morris Lessmore'. When introducing the film, the organiser read out this short summary: "Inspired, in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story. Of how we give our lives to books, and they do the same in 

return."

Apart from being such a beautiful story, the animation is so beautiful. Take a look at that library and just try to tell me you don't wish that was an extension of your bedroom. Thank you Chels for inviting me and ending off my weekend so prettily. 

Sundaze

I realised I haven't yet given a little update on the Blue Bird Garage market 'Burrow' did with 'Fleet Street' backpacks this past Sunday. Being the first Sunday market there, it wasn't yet very well known, but still had a fair amount of visitors. We found that people were interested in my clothing and Alison and Lilah's backpacks; however, they simply took a peek before moving onto the food stalls and tables and chairs to munch and chat. Maybe a Sunday just does that to people. People just want to spend time in each other's company and eat good food. It's understandable right, before Monday rolls around? That said, we didn't sell much, but it was still a wonderful day filled with such lovely support from friends and family and delicious berry cheesecake and Moroccan salads. Mmmmm! Alison took these lovely little snaps of the event.

Apiece Apart SS13

I have an impossible amount of favourited blogs in my bookmarks. I decided to glance back at some of them and weed out those that were questionable choices at the time of clicking that little + sign. Those that didn't grab my attention from the first or second post were quickly deleted; however, there were a few that kept me scrolling. On one particular blog, I found a post on the 'Apiece Apart' Spring Summer 2013 collection. It's too gorgeous, and everything I'm in love with right now. I can't actually describe it better than they have themselves on their website:

"APIECE APART is a line of elevated basics – building block pieces that are as versatile as the woman wearing them. The label is brought to life through clean lines, chic, simple shapes, impeccable tailoring and beautiful fabrics. It balances the simple with the sophisticated. The classic with the modern.  

APIECE APART was born during a trip to West Texas for the designers’ 30th birthdays. Inspired by the austere and beautiful landscape, Starr Hout and Laura Cramer conceived of a simplified wardrobe, one that could be packed into a single bag - simple items that could be mixed and matched to go anywhere and do anything.

APIECE APART’s SS13 collection creates a space where Scandinavia and Japan meet. The collection mixes Danish modernism with the imperfect, raw edges of Wabi Sabi.  The cool and modern combine with the warm and natural. Modern silhouettes are presented in natural fabrics and classic silhouettes are reimagined in forward fabrics. SS13 features Italian technicals, Spanish burlaps with crisp, clean cottons. "

Simple, natural, casual-cool. I am officially obsessed. You could call me plain and boring, but I just love spending money on things that I know I will still love in five years time and will be wearing at least a few times a week. My must-find item for Summer is a linen, camel blazer - I crumble at the thought.

Happy Saturday

Below are some snaps of my shirts modeled by the beautiful Janet Stewart. I also took some lovely shots of Alison and Lilah's 'Fleet Street Backpacks'. I adore the cream with navy stripe contrasted with light tan leather, and the pink striped one too. So pretty! So proud to have such beautiful and talented friends.

Crisp Summer

'Burrow' apparel now consists of a small, exclusive range of ladies' collared shirts. All in beautiful cotton and cotton-poly blend fabrics with simple, classical details that can be dressed up with smart bottoms, or spiced up with interesting accessories.

This week has been a busy one. 'Burrow' apparel will be selling this new range of ladies' shirts at a local market in Muizenberg on Sunday the 21st of October. The Blue Bird Garage Market, usually only operating on Friday evenings, has decided to kick-start summer and the steadily approaching festive season, with a new Sunday afternoon market from 11am - 3pm, due to their great success on Friday evenings. 

Still searching for a seamstress or appropriate CMT, I decided to crack on and do all the sewing myself this week. Although trying at times, I found it to be such a great challenge, as I have really gotten the construction down to a fine tune. I have decided to focus the 'Burrow' brand exclusively on ladies' shirts. I want customers to be drawn to the fact that I know what I am talking about, and that I am passionate and skilled at what I do. I feel the best way to do this is to submerge myself in one skill-set at a time and learning every aspect that comes into play - from pattern-making and construction to fabrics and qualities.

I have been looking into starting a local sewing training initiative, to teach those who don't have the opportunities and finance to study at private institutions like I did. The aim is to teach them valuable sewing skills so that they could either be the personal seamstress to a fashion designer, or use the skills they have learnt to start their own projects. Along with simply loving those around us, passing on skills and knowledge is one of the greatest gifts we can give. 

Below are some shots of the beginnings of the shirt range.

Bunny fever

Well, the name of my blog probably gives it away slightly (though the name isn't exclusive to my adoration of them), I am completely obsessed with bunny rabbits! Nearly two years ago, four of my best friends gave me a bunny for my birthday. It took me about two months just to name her...which was nearly the same amount of time it took for her to go stark raving mad. I named her Gracie Goose Pooh. Needless to say, you should feel sorry for my kids one day. I was completely in awe of her. When I got her she could fit in the palm of my hand, though it didn't take too long for her to grow into a giant lump of a thing. She lived in my bedroom and came running to the door when I came home from college every day. She would lick my chin and sprawl out on my chest while I watched TV. Some days, I would lay a picnic blanket out on the grass and let her hop around the garden while I read my Jane Austen. She would dig in plant beds and sniff the flowers, but every five minutes or so, just as I started getting niggley that she would run away for good, she would come hopping back to me to sniff at me and let me know she wasn't wandering too far off. Perfect right?...

One day she got cheeky and started nipping me when I wouldn't play with her. She stopped coming back when I let her loose in the garden and neighbors would stick their heads over the fence to watch me chase her around the garden (she was fast!). She ran in circles around my bedroom - so fast that she looked like a blur. That's when I knew she needed to be free. So, I took her to a little farm near my house to be free with all the other bunnies. That hasn't stopped me from dreaming of getting another one though. But this time I'll do it all differently. This time, my bunny will stay outside, with lots of space. My mom is getting laying hens soon, and she said I can get a bunny to stay in the coop with them. AAAAAH TOOO MUCH EXCITEMENT!!! Dreaming of bunnies all day!

Bunnies + socks = everything I adore

Gracie when she was sweet to me

Sunny Promises

I don't know about you, but as the whisperings of summer grow louder and louder I am always filled with a little sunny promise. The promise that something great is going to happen. I never quite know what it is. Maybe romance, possibly an exciting adventure; with fingers crossed it could even be both. Today, as I was driving, I maneuvered the position of my face to shield my eyes from the blinding sun and avoid an accident, and suddenly I couldn't shake the smile from it. The tiniest little butterfly fluttered up from the pit of my stomach and flew out into the space around me. Am I the only one who feels oddly nervous when what I am actually feeling is excitement? I am eagerly anticipating that woken-up feeling one gets after dunking their head under ice-cold sea water and the numbness has just worn off. And who wouldn't miss eating refreshing fruit salads as the sun slowly burns the dew off the lawn, or sipping on a glass of sweet bubbly as the sky turns red and he disappears to brighten somebody else's day? Nobody's heart can get broken in summer. That's what rain and blankets and hot chocolate and romantic comedies are for. Summer is for the possibility of something great. In summer, we can be kids again, and rustle off all that grown-up stuff we got tangled up in earlier in the year.

Kinfolk

Alison showed me this amazing website a little while ago and I thought it was brilliant at the time, but right now it's everything I'm obsessed with. Meeting with friends and like-minded individuals who value mouth-watering food and craftsmanship. Kinfolk is a thought-provokingly beautiful magazine that springs from the joy of a community of/gatherings between artisans and craftsmen who enjoy collaborating to create natural, uncomplicated days and nights of entertainment. Simple, unfussy fun...I couldn't think of anything better, especially when it's as beautiful as this...

Japanese lingo

I spent the past weekend at a music festival in Darling (Rocking the Daisies), just over an hour outside of Cape Town. This being the reason I haven't posted in about five days, but also the reason I thought back to a Japanese word I learnt a few months ago...

aware - (ah-weh-reh) The Japanese word for fleeting moments of fading beauty - the sad, bittersweet feeling when something is so good that you don't ever want it to end; like a good book or a mouthwatering hamburger. The word is normally used to depict the last couple of days of cherry blossom season.

It seemed perfectly fitting that I came upon the word and it's definition in a funny excerpt on 'Untranslatable words' in the Frankie Magazine, while sitting on the cold floor of the Dubai airport on an eight hour layover on the way home from my euphoric 10 week trip of Europe with Natalie. I wrote it down right away. Could it have been more fitting? 

As we drove home from Darling yesterday, sun kissed and a little rough around the edges from a weekend of dancing and laughing and camping and slipping in mud, I watched the rolling hills bounce past my window and giggled at the state of Hayley's ruddy face and exhausted expression and felt this feeling of 'aware' all over again. In fact, I have come to know this feeling far to well. I feel it whenever summer and warm nights out camping come to an end, or even just as the last smidgen of ice-cold Mango juice drops out of the box onto my tongue. In that moment, I wish I could rewind and live it out all over again, or just stretch it out like a large wad of bubble gum. But then there's always the next fleeting moment to keep me occupied...and there it comes again...

The video below has nothing at all to do with 'aware' really, apart from the fact that I wanted to watch it over and over again because Kirk and his wife are so funny. At least we can hit replay on funny videos! Filmed by 'The Selby' - be inspired by their passion and wit.

Crisp and clean

With some helpful advice from by business-minded Dad, I spent yesterday morning at the V&A Waterfront scouting out what the stores have to offer and getting an idea of costing and fabric qualities that are being pushed into stores this Spring. My initial mindset, not negative but slightly hesitant, was completely changed after a few hours. In the past, I haven't thought it helpful as an independent designer to look at large-scale retailers and compare oneself to them; but it turned out to be extremely beneficial. Getting a feel for what is on offer and how expensive the shops actually are, gave me a glimmer of hope that I can offer something unique, and my idea of pricing was radically changed. Being clued up on the more brand-power stuff can really loosen up some creativity and give some direction.

That said, the purpose of this post is to highlight my adoration for white shirts. I can't get enough. I was immediately drawn to them in the stores yesterday, especially those with interesting details and unusual silhouettes. I found a really beautiful, loose and slouchy, semi-sheer one in Country Road that I shamefully tried on, knowing Europe stole every option of that finding it's way into my cupboard. Doesn't somebody just want to give me money? Below are some styles I've been obsessing over recently.

 Christopher Kane brilliance