By Invitation Only ~ November ~ Paying forward the Bloglove

Hello Dear Friends!

 

How are you?

 

Life between two oceans seems to get more and more hectic as the Silly season approaches!

 

 

It is that time of the month when I get together with Bloggers from across our wonderful world for our monthly "By Invitation Only" post, hosted by my good friend Marsha from Splenderosa.

 

 

 

Every month, invited bloggers from across the Blogosphere, post on a common topic. Marsha thought that, with the season of gifting and thanks giving upon us, it would be great to highlight a blog or blog friend whom we admire, or perhaps a new blog.

 

A wonderful way to pay forward the blog love and to start the season of gifting!!

 

 

 

Now, as any blogger will tell you, when you get that bee in your bonnet to start a blog, is can be quite daunting!!!

 

 

Let me tell you, for me, it was quite an affair. Especially since l, was not particularly savvy in the computer and design department...

 

 

So, when I started the blogging journey, being a closet Franchophile, I typed into Granny Google search.... "French Blogs on Design" ....and landed on The French Tangerine!

 

 

 

 

Well, I scrolled through post after post and thought...no ways... I can not do that!!!

 

But, of course, I was hooked already....

 

I dropped Jan from the French Tangerine and email and she came back to me with such encouragement, that I decided to take the plunge and post that first, really silly post that I wrote.... How bad can it be, I thought?

If no one reads it, it can just be an on line scarp book if nothing else.

 

So, you can say that by reading Jan's Blog, The French Tangerine, I learnt all about blogging. I visited all the blogs in her sidebar and my horizon began to expand exponentially!! I could hardly wait for her next post ...

 

Jan is of course the Mosaic Queen in Blogland and you can visit her blog and read all about this lovely lady in a post I did on her in my "Blog it Forward Series" ~Click here

 

 

 

 

The next person I found has become a precious friend and I will be forever grateful to her!!

 

She sent me an invite to my very first blog party and gave me the email address of the hostess. Of course, I did not have a clue of what a "Blog Party" entailed and felt quite silly sending an email with a long list of questions.

But, as I found out, in the Blogosphere, if you get stuck, all you do is ask and a fellow blogger will come to the rescue!

 

 

She has been a constant source of friendship, encouragement and inspiration to me. I admire the way she will speak her mind on issues that concern her. I am always in awe of her generous inclusive spirit with which she welcomes all! She is the ultimate stylish girlfriend and her blog keeps us all on our toes. Be it fashion, style, decor, food...she does it with old school glam!!

 

Of course I am talking about Marsha From Splenderosa!!

 

 

 

Marsha, is also a talented jewellery designer and her pieces are all for sale in her on line shop click here

 

 

 

 

I love her decor style and have found loads of inspiration in her posts!

 

 

 

 

Off, course fashion is her forte and be it casual, formal our dress up time, this gal knows how to give glamour its sparkle!

 

 

 

Apart from all the decor, food, fashion and inspiration that we share with our readers and fellow bloggers, we also tend to share stories of our daily lives. Our triumphs, our failures, hopes, dreams and aspirations are all shared. Marsha has been a constant source of friendship, sharing laughs, sadness and trials and tribulations with me and for that I thank you, dearest Masha!

 

I salute you!!

 

 

 Please hop over to Splenderosa  to visit all the wonderful bloggers who contribute to "By Invitation Only" The links will appear at the bottom of Marsha's post.

 

Thank you all for your precious company.

 

Live Well

 

Veronica

 

xxx

 

All images are from Splenderosa

Kindly leave your comment in the comment box below... I am all ears...

 

Kamers Vol Geskenke Part 2 ~ Meeting bloggy friends

Hello Dear Ones!!!

We have had an awesome week and weekend in Cape Town!! There is a whole lot happening between two oceans and we can barely keep up and it's not even silly season yet!!

First up.... I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting, in person,  a bloggy friend from the Eastern Cape who was on a visit to Cape Town!

Shel from the beautiful blog Just Me Shel came to visit Kamers Vol Geskenke in Somerset West. It was a delight to meet her and if you have not visited her beautifully photographed and delectable blog, yet, you are just a click away from delectableness!

Friday was a dreary day, wet and cold and so meeting Shel was the sunshine in the day!! The exhibitors were all very grateful for the wet weather as they have had sweltering heat all week long and needed a reprieve!

It was to be  a day of treats for me! Another friend decided to give her home office a miss for a couple of hours, to join me and we naturally had a glass of bubbles to celebrate! Thank you!!

I also found some Peonies, which in our neck of the woods, is a rare occurrence!! The fragrance alone is so decadent....

Saltare Grand Vin De Cap Classique and Peonies...what a treat!!

I managed to take a closer look at all the food on offer and tasting was the most pleasurable past time ever....

These Christmas decorations from Andrea Semple Topiary Creations (please click ) were a love!!

Whilst photgraphing, one bumps into other people, trying to get this angle and that, you understand bloggers? Well, it pays to bump into folks! I met another local blogger snapping away at all the pretty...Paula from the to tame me Hop over and pay forward the bloglove! Thank you and it was a pleasure to "bump" into you Paula!

Precariously perched, is the phrase that comes to mind regarding the above lamp!!

 

 

These felt flower broaches and necklaces by Malaki were gorgeous! Just adore the red and grey hearts! Contact Sulinda at Sulinda@telkomsa.net

 

 

After the rain, the stunning outdoor display by Aspididtra was shimmering with raindrops!

Well, if that silver tray on my dining table starts to bother me, I can always string it up outdoors!!

 

You can also view my previous post on Kamers Vol Geskenke (click here)

 

 

The friendship hands I bought from Colette at La Brocanteuse found a home on this old book in my entrance hall.

And this is the gorgeous gift, I received from Colette! Do you recognise it? Yes it is a moulding of her beautiful blog header! And it looks fab in my bookcases! No photo yet , sorry! I just love the packaging!

I adore the markets at this time of year, not only for the good cheer and meeting old and new friends as well as bloggy peeps, but there is so much wonderful talent out there, and my head races with all the brilliant ideas for decor, garden and food....and that keeps me happy for yonks!!

Live Well

 

Veronica

 

xxx

 

Thank you for your company!

 

Please leave your comments and chats below in the comment box! I love hearing from you...

 

 

Kamers Vol Geskenke 2012!

Hello Dear Friends

 

A post or two ago I bemoaned the fact that I was Accosted by a Christmas Pudding (click to read) flaunting her fruit at me...

 

And in no time at all it, is time to start shopping for Christmas Gifts and Decor Ideas.  Kamers Vol Geskenke has it all! In fact if you want to see your Pinterest Boards come alive, this is the place to be...

 

The magnificent setting on Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West!

First up, I had a wonderfully indulgent "Breakfast". Click here to read about that lil episode, and then it was on to finding treasures...

 

 

 

Now, if you have been reading my blog for a while, you will all be familiar with Colette, from La Brocanteuse (click to see her post) so, let me show you Colette's treasure trove first.

 

 

She always has the best decorated stall and her new line of moulded treasures are very popular! I received a beautiful gift ~ Merci Beaucoup Madam ~ which I will reveal in a later post!  Take a look...

Too gorgeous...

The friendship hands on the book went home with me...

Lace, linen and her famous monogrammed linen were beautifully displayed.

A veritable treasure trove of delightful finds, each with a piece of history and a story of it provenance.

It is always a treat to visit Colette and her delightful friend who helps at her stall. Looking forward to Friday Ladies!! A Bloggy friend from the Eastern Cape Shel, from Just Me Shel will be visiting on Friday and we are looking forward to meeting her!

Loved this Christmas theme....

 

South African traditions remixed and oh so beautiful!

I need to go find all my daughter's old ballet shoes and do this!! Although, some of them probably look a bit, tattered. Loved it...

 

 

This colourful quilt captivated me and I can just imagine the hours of work! 

 

 

A perfect day with blue skies and bluer mountains.

Outdoor whimsy...from Aspidistra Nursery. Always such a innovative display.

 

The Bespoke Laser Cut Stationary from ARTYMISS was AMAZING!!!

 

Take a look at the intricate designs.

 

 

So much for stationery!!! These items will be used as decor in my house... London will look amazing against my dark bookshelves....

 

 

 

 

Innovative design and so many wonderful ideas for home, gardens, food and much more, not to mention all the gifts.

 

 

 

 

That laser cut butterfly, bottom left is gorgeous!

 

 

 

Another stall which I adored, was the vintage feel at Nest!

 

Beautiful fabrics, loads of nostalgia and great vignettes was a delight as always!

And, how about these, to take recycling to the next level of useful decor?

These are made by Different ~ michlong3@gmail.com

There is so much to show you!!!

So, Check back here next week again after my second visit...please!

And, in the meantime, if you are local and visiting, give me a shout and say Hi!

 

Live Well

 

Veronica

 

xxx

 

All images are my own. I look forward to your comments, in the comment box below or you can drop me an email, or on Face Book in the sidebar of this blog,  or follow me on twitter @MotherCityMagic

Karoo Market Forces...

Hello Dear Friends!!

 

How are you all?

 

Rumour has it...that Christmas preparations are actually in full swing.... Sadly, I was not at all in the mood for any such frivolous endeavours...That was, until a friend posted about a market on face book and tagged me...

 

I have been avoiding all the posters on markets etc, but a tag on face book..well, it can not be ignored...and so I decided to tag along...

 

And boy, am I glad for that shove out of my comfort zone!!! Thanks Erika!!!

 

Well, have a look what I would have missed...

By the way, I was back to my usual snap happy self, so you go get another drink, while I load all the pics, and then we can have a nice chat over a cuppa....

 

 

This market, held once a year, in the stunning home of Sonette Barnardt was a feast for the eye, the taste buds and the soul...

 

Filled with art and all things vintage....it is our kinda place!

 

The theme was Markgoed (Market Things) Karoo Chateau. Now for readers who don't know, the Karoo is a semi-desert inland area of our amazing country, and it has it own rustic charm, when it comes to decor and a rich heritage to draw inspiration from.

 

 

So let's take a stroll through this Karoo Castle...

 

 

 

 The ambiance of the Karoo reflected perfectly.

 

 

 

 

So many things take me back to my childhood. Like those enamel jugs. They got used for all manner of things in my Gran's household, the enamel plates that I used to take on school camps as a kid, many moons ago, now!! I really loved the books with the flowers and then, the crochet roses on the serviette hit a note of nostalgia and I had to go look for a bit of consolation in a slice of home made cheesecake...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I could not resist the spectacle of these poppies surounding an old fountain...a happy profusion dancing in the breeze.

 

 

 

 

Loads of fabulous ideas. The pages of an old book stencilled in red for Christmas bunting that costs very little and is great fun to make!

 

 

 

 

Loved the paper Christmas tree top right and these stars strung together.

This was my beautiful view, while I was nursing away my nostalgia with cheesecake...

I know, what you are thinking....but I am closer to the bed!!!

 

 

 

 

Leaning more the French Chateau Theme...this table had me circling it a few times to absorb it all.

 

 

 

 

Loved the place mats and crowns.

 

 

 

 

You know how I love cloches!!! This was my favourite...barb wired fabulousness....LOL

 

 

 

By the way, this bustling market is now in its sixth year.... I ask you, where have I been!!!?

 

 

A cupboard full of treasure..just as well I am downscaling and my discipline is still holding up firmly!

 

 

 

...until... I saw these...

 

 

 

A walk down memory lane...

 

 

Cloched protea gives a nod to National Pride.

 

 

 

Here's what to do with them old ones.... how many of us had one of those on our touchies when we were naughty!!

This is a much better idea!

 

 

 

Spinach never looked to chic!

 

 

This market is still on until Saturday and for more info have a look at Sonette's Blog ~ click here please ~

 

I had a fabulous surprise installed when I hunted down the lady of the house to update info to tweet.... She has been following my blog for a while!!! It was such a great honour to meet with Sonette! Meeting followers has got to be the best part of what we love to do!!

 

 

 

 

As you can imagine, I am now well and truly ready for markets and Christmas decor, and in fact, I think, I will start earlier than usual getting all my bits out of the hidden depths of storage.

 

 

 

Are you decorating yet?

 

 

 

 

Sonette has a stunning home and I could not leave without a request to come back and photograph her home with all her own things, which she has had to store away in order for the the market to happen. So, looking forward to that...

 

 

 

Thank you all, for your precious company and for Sonette and all the hardworking ladies who served us. I had a fab visit with some old friends and it could not have happened in a more glam and gorgeous space!

Thank you!!

 

 

Live Well

 

Veronica

 

xxx

Any markets happening that I should know about!!??

Please leave your comments below, I am all ears...