Recalibrate

I recently read a book by the name of 'Wild at Heart' and this line has been haunting me ever since:

"I want to hurl myself into a creative work worthy of God."

Beautiful right? But maybe you're wondering why it's "haunting" me. The word haunting usually has negative connotations, I get that. But that sentence gripped me in a way that was both deeply encouraging and deeply scary. I have been feeling these jitters over the past few years and have had many encouraging words spoken over me by wonderful men and women of God. Powerful words like: "Warrior" and "dynamite", and phrases like: "What you are doing right now is simply a test for something much bigger and much greater." And I feel it too. I don't believe these jitters are just my own pride telling me I'm super awesome or something. In fact, I feel so aware of my inability and my weakness. Yet, I feel a hunger and a thirst for adventure and spiritual warfare that I can't quite explain. I've started grasping onto lyrics in songs like:

"You make me brave. You call me out beyond the shore into the waves." (Amanda Cooke, Bethel Music)

and,

"You call me out upon the water, the great unknown, where feet may fail. There I find you in the mystery, in oceans deep my faith will stand." (Hillsong United)

I would sing them over and over again and weep with feelings of intense longing and perfect joy. Something is calling me beyond the shore into the deep. I believe that's where God wants me, amidst the crash and spray, relying on his perfect protection. When I drive around the peninsula on grey days I am always enamored by the choppy seas. They hypnotize me. Something about the storm is grabbing me.

It's finding a creative work worthy of God that I am so tested by. The more and more I get to know my God, the more and more I realise how completely unworthy and completely fragile I am. The deeper I dig into the spiritual, the more aware I become of my flesh.

Lately, I have become so aware of the ugly habits I have learnt when seeking comfort from sadness or insecurity or even just boredom. I have also become grossly aware of the ways in which Satan sneaks little lies (masked as truth) in here and there to stop me in my tracks and keep me from advancing in what God has called me to. He knows just how to make me lazy and passive.

So, you're wondering why the title of this post is 'Recalibrate'? I've set for myself the mammoth task of trying to expel any sign of addiction from my life and learn to rely completely on God. I believe it is only from this place that He can then use me for the great work He has planned. This all started when I caught myself walking into the house on Sunday afternoon, after an emotionally taxing weekend at church camp, and making a beeline for the chocolate drawer. I realised in that moment that though I think I am so reliant on God, I in fact reach for many other things for comfort on an hourly basis. And these things don't fill me up for very long. I am never quite so satisfied with these things as I am when I am immersed in the presence of God. Yet, I reach for them first. Their presence is sometimes more tangible and easy to get at the drop of a hat a suppose.

The following few points are going to seem very basic and practical in comparison to everything I have written above. But I find it incredibly interesting that the simplest of things, when used in abusive measures or for the wrong reasons, can actually do more harm than good. Tomorrow I start applying the following:

Quitting sugar - I plan to do Sarah Wilson's 8-week 'I Quite Sugar' programme. I'm HECTICALLY addicted to sugar. I did the programme last year and it was amazingly freeing, but somewhere between Christmas, birthday parties and the winter slump, I did a full-circle back to my naughty ways. Wilson's line from the intro to her book rang so true with me: "We have a deep-rooted resistance to quitting sugar. We grow up with an emotional and physical attachment to it. Just the idea of not being able to turn to it when we're feeling happy or want to celebrate, or when we're feeling low or tired, terrifies us." This is so true for me. But I want my natural reaction not to be to turn to chocolate for comfort, but for God to be my 'pick-me-up'.

Quitting procrastination - This one's tough! Mind-numbing is often the order of the day when I'm feeling tired or over-stimulated from a busy day. I find it so much easier to turn to the TV or browsing social media on my phone and excuse it as "Well, you've had a busy day," than it is to nurture my creative abilities, amp up my knowledge with a good book or spend some time writing and making plans.

Exercising more - I'm usually quite good at getting my exercise in, during the week. But I like to call it "lazy exercise". I'll take my dog for a walk around the block and call it exercise, or choose the 15min "relaxation" yoga class on YouTube instead of the intense 45 min one. I guess my fear is becoming obsessive about it like I was back in my college days, which was incredibly damaging for me, but I do want to be fit and strong and honour the amazing body God has blessed me with. Testing and exercising it is a wonderful act of worship.

The above doesn't seem like much "fun" on the outset. It seems like I'm being a bit hard on myself maybe and it's easy to wonder if God wants us to have any fun at all. But I believe He wants us to have more fun than we can even fathom or imagine. I just know that I haven't gotten it from any of the places I've searched for it before, because I've been searching in the wrong places. God loves matter - He created food for us to eat and enjoy and He loves us to socialise (in reference to social media) and He also loves it when we find rest and relaxation. The problem I think is when we rely to heavily on these things. And the more we rely on them, the more we rely on them.

I read this great excerpt from C.S. Lewis' 'Mere Christianity' this morning:
"'Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.'"

No. Don't go. X Photoganic collaboration

I recently collaborated with the lovely Victoria, of Photoganic Organic Fabrics South Africa to create these pretty 'Weekender' bags with matching Vanity cases. Victoria takes beautiful photographs and then digitally prints them onto the most delicious 100% organic fabrics that she sources from mills around the world. We wanted to create something classy through simplicity and effortlessness. 

The prints seen here are of fauna indigenous to South Africa, boats in the local harbour of Kalk Bay and a black-and-white 'log' print.

Conversation

I have fallen in love with conversation. It is not just the exchange of words; ideas. It is to pry open the part of you that is often fostered alone, and in silence. In those hours of the day that you spend alone, with only your thoughts. When you analyse what it is about the world that you love, and what it is about the world that you hate, and even what it is about the world that you know nothing of but wish you did. This is where you nurture your sense of 'place' in the world. Your opinions begin to nudge you into directions. Your opinions become choices. Your choices become consequences. 

When we make the decision to share, we open ourselves up to judgement. Sometimes we share, hoping that others will agree, but often...they don't. It is in these moments of disagreement that we make the choice to either let disappointment flood in, or to listen (really listen), consider another view of the world and let our understanding grow further. From here we question, sometimes ourselves, sometimes others. And where tides start to rise around our ideas/opinions; whether they were right, whether they were wrong, or whether neither is true; we have to hope in a discerning spirit. We raise a banner on the hilltop for what is true for us. Sometimes others stand with us. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes you look ahead, behind and to the side of you, and see others raising banners on other hilltops. Then you make the choice to smile and to see the cord that connects us all, no matter what our banners say. That we all want something better - for ourselves, our loved ones, our cities and countries. That's when you make the biggest decision of all...to choose to look at the cord that connects, and not the banners that divide.

All things bright and beautiful

So, it's been a few months since my last post. A few months full of exciting new things! To mention but a few...I've moved into a beautiful little house with two friends, bought a dog, and had the honour of making my friend's wedding dress. My heart is brimming with joy. It's amazing the joy God gives when you open yourself up to what He wants to do with you. Which brings me to what's next...

Along the lines of my previous post a few months ago, I've been developing a range of accessories to sell online and hopefully in some local retailers. It's been a challenging journey. I found my confidence quite shot to begin with, and I was nervous to start something completely alone. FEAT sock co. (the sock business I started with my friend Alison) is doing so well, but having a partner makes the risk-taking feel less risky (if that makes sense). And then, I found myself attempting to plunge into something all alone. But then I realised I'm not alone at all. I have felt this has been God-ordained right from conception to what will eventually be completion. The concept of honest & loyal product goes far deeper than just design, where God has breathed all over my experiences and hurts and triumphs and shown me that He has me exactly where He wants me - ready to use design to express what is on His heart about the way He wants us to treat each other and His majestic creation.

Last week, I took a deep breath and started a Facebook page for 'No. Don't Go.' I don't know why I was so afraid to start one to begin with. Within the space of 24 hours, I was receiving encouraging words from friends and friends-of-friends loving the product and telling me how excited they are about the concept. I also did some cleaning up on the website and now all there is to do is take some slightly more 'profesh' pics of the product and launch it onto the store front, ready for sales! Below are screenshots of the Facebook page and online store (followed by a cute pic of my new best friend, Teddie and my stunning friend Emily in the wedding dress I made for her).

More details about the store to come.

New things on the horizon

I have been working on a new and exciting range of products over the past few weeks. With all my talk about loyalty and simplicity, in both design and life, I have felt myself being nudged closer and closer towards starting a range of simple products and accessories that celebrate these ideals.

I managed to find an amazing importer of 100% organic fabrics and I have been drooling over the fabric swatches ever since I met with the owner of the company, Victoria, about a month ago. Below are a few samples I have produced so far. I will be taking them to a local sewing co-operative in the next week to see how effectively they can sample them. Excited!

Progress picture of 'No. don't go.' Multi-purpose tote in 100% organic cotton canvas and indigo-dyed denim.

Final product - 'No. don't go.' Multi-purpose tote in 100% organic cotton canvas and indigo-dyed 

denim.

'No. Don't go.' Ladies' pinafore-style apron in 100% organic, hand loom cotton 

'No. Don't go.'  Laptop and stationary case in 100% organic cotton canvas and indigo dyed denim

Measuring up

Two nights ago, I babysat a group of pre-teen girls who live just down the road. I always find it so interesting to gain insight into what goes through their impressionable minds. Usually, their insights are hilarious, soaked in fantastical naivety and strange observations of the world they live in. But, on this particular evening, I left with a heaviness, as opposed to the usual high-spirits I get from being around these funny little girls.

When I was their age, I remember spending evenings building blanket forts with my cousins, or making face masks out of ingredients I found in the kitchen cupboard with my best friend. And, most often, the evening ended with fits of giggles and dreaming about galloping horses through endless fields. Instead, I heard two young girls openly talk about the parts of their bodies that they hate. I witnessed them making lists of the 'pretty', 'skinny' girls in their class at school and saying how they wished they had their legs, or that they looked like them instead of themselves. I spent at least 20 minutes trying to convince them that God made no mistakes when creating them. That perfection doesn't lie in being "flawless", but in celebrating the bodies they have; by running, dancing and jumping because they can - because they are THAT blessed! What was even more sad to me was their reasons for wanting to look different. One being, their hopes of being models one day, or because they heard boys only like skinny girls. How bazaar that we think this way...

And it is 'we'. Because even though I felt saddened by the things they were saying...when I think about the things that run through my mind on a daily basis, I know that I am guilty of all the same thoughts. We compare ourselves to others, when we should be so elated by the fact that we are all so different and complex, and it is this that makes the world so beautiful. I found it so profound that just a few hours before going to look after these girls, I had decided to remove my scale from my bathroom and hide it in the back corner of a cupboard in another part of the house. So many times I have felt so great about being me, and I have felt so blessed with the body I have and the person I am, and then I step on that scale and think about how much I "should" weigh and how I "should" look, and suddenly I topple into a bottomless pit of self-loathing and feelings of worthlessness. When I hid that scale away I asked myself one question: "Who am I measuring myself up against?" Instead of my answer being 'the world' or some made-up model of "beauty", I chose Jesus.

Ezekiel 16:14 says: "And your fame spread across the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I HAD GIVEN YOU made your beauty PERFECT, declares the Sovereign Lord."

Building my wooden dreams

For about three years now, my dad and I have been chatting about building a little house-slash-studio together, for me to work and live in. Dad has been designing and building houses since before I can remember, and a lot of my love of architecture and structures comes from the input he always let me have in the projects he was working on. Even as a child, he would ask me for my advice on what windows to use and how I liked the layouts he designed. As a trained accountant, with no professional experience in architecture and building, my dad taught himself all he knows about it - which I find so uplifting. The idea that he could teach himself such a marvelous skill, one that has been used to build  four of our houses and renovated many others, is so motivating to me. 

Recently, we have dug a little dam at the bottom of our garden to be used to irrigate the property, and there is a raised level overlooking the dam that we'd like to use to build on. I am so excited to get stuck into the designing of the studio this year. My dad bought me my own drill and other little tools to encourage me to get stuck into the project. I have already used my drill in constructing displays for FEAT. sock co., and I can't wait to use it now to build my own little house.

I am inspired by so many different structural elements. And I'm finding it tough to straddle the line between the more rustic, log-cabin type cottage and the more contemporary, simplistic structure. There are certain features that I'd really love to include in some way:

Rough wood that fades with age, used in layered panels (as seen above). Narrow, bulkier panels set in-between wider, flatter panels to create noticeable ridges.

Open-plan space with a loft-area for sleeping. Large doors and panels of glass will let light in and create an outdoor-indoor space when left open.

I love the idea of using walls of poly-carbonate or glass to bring the outside inside; especially since it will be set in a forested area with the mountain as a backdrop. I also love the idea of exposing the skeleton of the structure in this grid-like way.

In some ways, the barn above looks both rustic and modern to me. The lines are minimalist, but still so inherently barn-like. The iron framed shutters are quite industrial and utilitarian, which I'd love to play with.

The sliding door = a must

Sometimes He whispers and sometimes He roars

I believe we were designed. I believe we have been thoughtfully and purposefully created by a loving God. He is a scientist, an artist, an engineer and a musician. And He created us in His image, with all  ability to design, create and inspire as He does. But, most of all, He is our Father and our friend. He disciplines and instructs us. He nurtures and pursues us. I realise this more and more everyday as pieces of the puzzle come together in my life. And to abuse the 'puzzle' metaphor even further, I have begun to see how certain areas of my life have formed those corner and side pieces that we all use to start off and create the framework for the puzzle. But, it's only when we start to fill in the middle bits with all the crazy, intricate pieces that we start to see the bigger picture. If you're anything like me, you want to just give up and look at the picture on the front of the box to see what it's going to look like. That would be too easy. I'm sure if you had to ask any puzzle-hobbiest where the beauty of building puzzles lies, I'm sure they wouldn't tell you it's in the picture, and that the beauty is in the challenge of the build.

Slowly but surely, over the past few years, I have begun to see how God has been planting little seeds in my heart. Things that I am passionate about have grown from little amusements, into grand ideas and dreams that I can't wait to see fulfilled in my life. He has also placed people in my life who help to feed and fuel these dreams - and in the strangest ways too. And as I have begun to recognise all of this, He has softened my heart too. Where once I was someone who struggled to shed a tear in one of the soppiest films, just two days ago I found myself tearing up over a cookery book in the Kalk Bay Books store because I found it so magnificent and moving. 

Some people hear God speaking to them in a loud, audible voice. I can't say that, that has ever happened to me. But, I have heard thunder roar of His power, and a summer breeze whisper of His gentleness. And where, in the past, I have felt Him whisper His plans to me silently, I feel like now He is roaring. 

Yesterday, I went for tea at The Annex in Kalk Bay with my friends, Alison and Frost; where the service was terrible but the Belgian Flourless chocolate cake is a pure dream. But, neither of us were even mildly concerned about the delicious cake or the terrible service. We couldn't shut up about the future and the way we think the world's going and how we feel we can make waves. Changes need to be made to mindsets, especially of our generation. We were throwing ideas around about community vegetable gardens in local, underprivileged areas, and about boycotting the 'me, me, me' mentality where all our money is spent on disposable technology, fashion and parties, and rather spreading an attitude of feeding and educating our communities. People these days are miserable. They spend their days tailoring their Facebook profiles according to how they'd like to be perceived and wasting endless hours on fickle friendships and toxic relationships. 

I believe in a God who can conquer the seemingly impossible, and I can't wait to see Him in action and be a tool for change.

And don't this look good...

Magical Germany

I was extremely blessed this festive season to spend two weeks over Christmas and New Years with my family in Germany and Austria. I got to experience snow for the first time when we spent two nights on the slopes of Lermoos, Austria. What a magical experience! Our friends from Munich came along and I'm so glad they did. One night, they organised a horse-drawn sleigh ride around the snow-covered valley. With shooting stars above us, bells ringing on the horses necks, hot air smoking up around our chilly faces and glasses of sparkling wine in our hands...I was in winter wonderland heaven!

We spent six nights in Munich, which I know quite well as I stayed their for two weeks with my friend Natalie on our European adventure in 2012. I love it that a completely foreign place started to become so familiar. I knew my way around the U-bahn and where to find the best little cafes and shops in the city centre. It felt like my second home and that made it so special. And it was great to share that with my parents and brother.

Our trip concluded with five nights in Berlin. I was so excited to go because Natalie and I so regretted not visiting the city in 2012. We had heard so many amazing things about it only after we had planned our entire journey. We were told it is shrouded in intriguing history and a wealth of different cultures of people that have made it a fascinating creative hub in Europe and the world. Given that we were only there for five nights and that most of the city was closed over New Years, I still feel like we got an amazing taste of the city. But I feel like my appetite has been wet, but I NEED to go back and be drenched! I'm not usually one for history, but visiting Checkpoint Charlie and learning the stories about the Berlin Wall, as well as visiting some prominent places during the Nazi Regime was eye-opening and actually got me excited to learn more about the history of places when I visit them. I drove a segway for the first time when we did a segway tour around the city. It was scary at first and extremely freezing being exposed in the frosty air for 2 hours straight - but so fun and invigorating once I got the hang of driving it and we zipped around to see all the hotspots.

But I have one favourite point that I learned and one favourite place that I got to see during our trip. One thing that really struck me was the European lifestyle. While everything in Germany is known to run so regimentally and smoothly, I also learned that they take their time to get outside and do more and spend time with each other (despite the cold). I love it that everything shuts down over the holidays and people take that time off to see their family and relax! On New Years day we bundled up and went for a walk around an icy lake. I thought we'd be the only ones braving the cold, but the lake was surrounded with hundreds of families and friends. People were jogging, walking their dogs, families were chattering and pushing baby strollers with toddlers tottering along beside them. We were staying with an extremely hospitable family, mere acquaintances of my parents who completely opened their house to us and showed us everything we could see of the city in 5 nights. Their little 11 year old daughter, Lara, couldn't speak much English and took a while to open up, but after 3 days, she and I were teaching each other English and German (and even some Afrikaans) and talking about bunny rabbits and horses and dancing. It really was so special.

Then comes to my favourite place. It's more an area, but there was one shop in the area that really captured my attention because it encapsulates everything I'm about right now. On one of our days in Berlin, our friends had organised to take us to a parliament museum, and I opted out and caught the train to Mitte (the creative and shopping hub of the city) to browse and explore. I visited a lovely shop called '& other stories' that sold clothing, accessories and beauty products, all in impeccable packaging! But, my favourite of all was a shop called 14 oz. And I fell in love with it even more when I watched the film that I've pasted below. It's definitely not a reasonably priced shop on first glance, but when you think about what they stand for in terms of their philosophy and ethos, spending more is completely warranted. I love the advice the owner of the store, Karl-Heinz Muller, gives when talking about filling your closet with classical, timeless pieces: "Buy less stuff, buy something good, and don't wear it out." Watch the video below, and you'll get why I'm inlove.

And...go to Germany as soon as you get a chance!

Please stay

Recently, I changed the name of my blog from 'Burrow' to 'No. Don't go.' and I have a reason for this. Initially, my reason for using the title 'Burrow' was purposeful. Firstly, I love rabbits, so that had a little something to do with it, but it was also something I thought of when I returned from travelling around Europe for 3 months. I missed home while I was away, but I realised this even more so when I got home. I spent hours in my bedroom surrounding myself with home comforts and reading and being surrounded by all the things I love and that inspire me. I realised that the place I am most inspired and fed is at home, in my burrow. It is here that I sit and reflect on all my outside experiences and I dwell on how beautiful life is and how blessed I am. This is all still true...

Over the past few months I have been reflecting on loyalty, both in relationships (as I mentioned in my previous post) and with the things we encounter everyday. I started to think about how design can be loyal. How we can choose to buy and use products that we can keep and use for longer, and that have a positive impact on their surroundings. For me, loyal design is simple and honest...it is what it is. It doesn't try to be something else. It's about quality not quantity. It's about timelessness and not glamour. It makes you feel like you're home. It takes you back to special moments in the past but also holds promise and hope for the future - because you know that it will still be there in 5 years time. To the more glamourous person, this probably sounds boring and unexciting. These people love trend, and they love what is transient and fleeting. They believe that nothing lasts forever so why try make it. This is true I guess, but how do you make memories in or with something or someone who you believe will be gone in a few months? I'm thinking about relationship - with people AND with design.

So, why 'No. Don't go.'? Well, while I was having these sporadic epiphanies about loyalty and honesty, I thought back to a trip my friend Natalie and I made to a Charity store in Somerset West one day after class. I found this tiny pair of striped, high-waisted denim shorts. I mean it when I say tiny...so I knew I would never be able to fit into them (even though I really wanted to try). But while I was analysing them, I found a little woven label on the back pocket that said 'No. Don't go'. I remember taking a photograph on my phone because I thought it was the cutest little label I had ever seen. I think I loved it because of how random it was. But I also loved what that statement meant - loving something or someone so much that you didn't want it to ever leave you. And this completely encapsulates how I'm feeling about basically everything right now. 

Below are just some images of things I love and think are timeless and beautiful.

Pursue what is true and honest

I've been thinking a lot lately about relationships. Times swing round when you begin to realise that certain relationships are either mutually fruitful or just plain toxic.

A few months ago, Ali was telling me of a story she read about a Swedish girl who was diagnosed with Uterine cancer. Her doctors told her she only had a short time to live and her only option was extreme courses of chemo and radiation therapy. Even that wouldn't cure her, but rather just make her live that little bit longer. She looked her doctor in the eye and said: "Do you know the cause of my cancer?" and when  he answered that he couldn't detect the exact root of her illness, that it could be any number of things, she said, "Well I can. It's two things! Toxic food and toxic relationships." She divorced her sap of a husband and removed herself from fruitless friendships and flushed all the toxins out of her body with juicing detoxes. Within a year, her uterus was cancer free and she was pregnant with her first child.

Over the past year or so, I have been focusing a lot on removing toxic food from my diet. I have been trying to identify the reasons why sometimes I feel so terrible about myself and why this affects the things I put in my body. During this process however, I have realised that this is runs parallel to my relationships with people. Why do I let some people treat me so terribly and who benefits from these relationships? While we try to feed our bodies with all things good and healthy, we should also try to feed our souls with friendships of the same caliber. 

Movies and romantic novels fool us. They tell us that love is supposed to be tumultuous and dramatic. They tell us that it isn't real if we aren't feeling fleeting moments of bliss alongside bouts of heartbreak. They tell us that we need to either be confessing that we cannot live another second without this other person in our lives, or that they drive us so insane that we can't stand the sight of them. They also instill the idea that love is fleeting and that we need to grab hold of it with both hands and MAKE. IT. STAY. Why should we beg those we love to remain in our lives? Surely that's not love?

The first line of 'Renegade' by Kings of Convenience spells it out: "I'm letting go, to see if you hold on to me." I think we've all done this at some point. We've just had enough of trying so hard to keep someone in our lives and we begin to test them to see if they really care. It's a hard place to be in, but it's also the point where you realise, "I'm worth more than this! I'm worth being cared about and having an effort made for me just as I care and make an effort for others." It's powerful...that moment where you really and truly believe it. It's powerful because it's the moment you look yourself square in the face and say "I am enough." And only great things can happen from being in that space.

So, this is the challenge, pursue what is real, steadfast and true. I find that in my Heavenly Father and in my family. The challenge is also to keep loving and investing in people's lives. Don't let your heart grow hard and cold. Don't isolate yourself from the world for fear of hurt or rejection. But rather, realise that you are enough and you are loved by those who truly matter, and whatever happens as a result of trusting in someone new - like water off a duck's back, move on and keep being loved and pursued by those who matter.

The loyalty of an old friend

Last night, a few of us attended the open studio evening for the newly renovated Woodstock Industrial Centre, now called 'The Woodstock Exchange'. It is such a powerful space, inspiring collaboration between creatives of all fields. Each floor houses skilled and talented artisans from illustrators, graphic designers and architects, to fashion and furniture designers. It did raise quite a few questions in my mind though. I found in walking into a few of the studio's that some of what they did was extremely undefined. Maybe that's cool!? Maybe it's a great thing to be able to tackle a bunch of projects, whether it be a simple, cutesy wedding invitation or a more conceptual brand management project. However, what I've been obsessing over, over the past few months is the idea of focussing on doing one thing and doing it so well that people wouldn't want to go anywhere else. Knowing that you have honed your skills in that one area and that you know every nook and cranny of that field. Sure, over time you will have the ability to branch out and be more creative with more things; but isn't it more admirable to know that you've expelled blood, sweat and tears to do that one thing so well that customers wouldn't want to go anywhere else?

A friend and I were chatting about this. About consumer loyalty and how we cannot expect to generate a loyal base of consumers if we don't offer a brand with all the same loyalty we expect from them as consumers. How can we expect them to keep coming back every month/season/year to buy our next great idea if we don't offer them something that they will love and cherish for years without fear of it losing quality or value? The general view of 'beauty' is often quite transient, but I choose to find beauty in something more - like an old pair of jeans that I will love and keep forever despite the way it slowly wears with age. That could be because of the memories it holds, or simply because those jeans have been an old, loyal friend for years and years.

Utility and function

While browsing the ever-addictive Pinterest, I came across a store I would love to pop into if I manage to visit the beautiful London soon. I am all about utility, functionality and simplicity, and this store ticks all the boxes! It's called Labour and Wait and it is found in the lovely Shoreditch district, London. If I tried to describe their ethos in any words other than their own I would do them the greatest injustice, so read what they say about their store:

"We believe in a simple, honest approach to design, where quality and utility are intrinsic.

From hardware to clothing we offer a selection of timeless products that celebrate functional design and which are appropriate in a traditional or contemporary environment.

We have assembled a carefully curated collection of new and vintage items, some of them familiar, others waiting to be discovered. These everyday classics will not date but will mellow with age and are destined to become favourites."

Below are some images taken from their website that make my toes curl in happiness.

Togs

So, I had this idea for a very simple tog bag recently, and I decided to use my dad's birthday as an excuse to try it out and give it to him as a gift. It's only the best for daddy, so I bought a very expensive pure Belgian linen for his version. He loves it and so do quite a few others, so I have decided to perfect it a bit more and make it in a few more affordable versions to sell along with my range of shirts. Today, I finished off a denim version which I'd like to get a heavy stonewash on to give it a soft, worn-in look. The one below is dad's linen style. Pictures of the denim tog will be up soon!

featsockco.com

I haven't posted in forever it seems. Been busy but also just extremely lazy - naughty! Some great developments have taken place with the little sock venture my friend Alison and I started at the end of last year. We have been accepted into Design Indaba 2013 as 'Emerging Creatives' and we are so excited to show the world our socks! Last week our great friend Sam (web portfolio) helped us put together our online store. As a result, we have not only made some sales but also been receiving emails from some wonderful stores around Cape Town who would like to stock our socks. All this love and support makes me grin from ear to ear. Below are some shots that you can also find on our online store taken by another wonderfully talented friend Cheyne.