How about a nice cuppa?

"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one." Ancient Chinese Proverb

From the Keep Calm gallery.

Illustration, and painted in real tea, by maxwellandmyrtle.

I've fallen into a comforting routine of making a special pot of tea each Sunday afternoon. I love the ritual of 'taking tea'. I've posted about it before. As a girl I couldn't understand the obsession with drinking a hot beverage on, heaven forbid, a hot day. Much happier with a tall glass of Oros while the grown-ups drank their brew. But I'm a convert. I can drink tea anytime. Or make an occasion of it. Not only is it comforting, and yes, refreshing - but it's the beautifully laid tray, the aroma of the leaves and the excuse to sip from a pretty cup. Coffee is just so robust. I feel genteel as a tea drinker. It also leaves me wonderfully nostalgic. Lapsang Souchong was a favourite of my Grandmother. A smoked tea with a distinctive flavor the black tea originates from the Fujian province of China and legend has it the smoking process was discovered by accident.

During the Qing dynasty, an army unit passing through Xingcun (Star Village) camped in a tea factory filled with fresh leaves awaiting processing. When the soldiers left and the workers could get back into the premises, they realized that to arrive at market in time, it was too late to dry the leaves in the usual way. So they lit open fires of pine wood to hasten the drying. Not only did the tea reach the market in time, but the smoked pine flavor created a sensation! Source - Englishteastore.

Another favourite, the French brand Mariage Fréres. A gift from DH after a visit to South of France I was glad to find you can buy it in Cape Town, although for an arm and a leg...

Perhaps it's the gorgeous packaging? Above packaging of a gift of Organic Earl Grey tea from China.

Green tea? Not a fan. And I've tried. It's extensive list of health benifits even meant that I took it like medicine for a while. It's quite telling really - that which is good for you never tastes like chocolate.

Of course, the fact that I'm extolling the virtues of tea doesn't mean I'm not a great fan of coffee. But that's another post. 

Indaba.

Image: Collaboration of Lincoln Durham and Nathan Walker.

Tomorrow sees the beginning of three days packed full of inspiration. The 2009 Design Indaba. My brain might just explode.

We are amused.

The people of Harold's Planet have made me laugh today. 

New banner - Earth hour

I've added the 'Earth hour' banner to this blog for the next month. The 2009 campaign has been produced by our agency and aims to unite people against climate change. By signing up and committing to switching off your lights for an hour on the 28th of March you have the power to make real change. It will mean the world. 

Pattern to product.

Remember this? It's been printed. Naked & Angry have launched a series of new products and these melamine plates are amongst them. I actually intended the typographic design to be applied to a shopping bag - kind of like a dual purpose shopping list. I'm not really mad about this execution. Perhaps the next idea I'll print myself. But I do have a great voucher to spend online... this or this? 

A magical setting.

Photography, Jillian Lochner. 

The Two Oceans Aquarium is a client of ours. They recently opened a new exhibit: 'Frogs beyond the pond' and we produced the above ad for them. A play on the princess and the frog. We really should be kissing frogs - they are the canary in the coal mine. Particularly sensitive creatures to any change in environmental conditions they act as major indicators that the ecosystem is in real trouble. And sadly an alarming percentage have already become extinct. 

Kelp forest, Two Oceans Aquarium.

In thanks for the work done on the campaign I was kindly given a table for dinner at the Aquarium last eve. As a Valentines promotion they transformed the area into a restaurant and dotted tables in amongst the amazing exhibits. DH and I were seated in front of the mesmerising kelp forest. A most memorable Valentine dinner experience in a magical setting. I hope your day was as lovely.

Lunch at Noon

Nicely designed site with lots of recipes. Improves lunch eaten with a plastic fork in front of your computer : )

A blue day.

Ffffound.

'Blue Parrot' Martha Stewart.

Tangled. A print a day.

Struisbaai harbour.

“Composure” by Chelsea James.

Where I am.

Sums me up at the moment. From Indexed. 

Sunny.

This slick modern pattern was designed for florists Bastian+Skoog Urban Flower Studio by the people of eighthourday. If your corporate identity is this beautiful why not wallpaper your office with it?

New baby.

Not a flesh and blood one. An aluminum and back-lit led super-shiny Apple macbook. 

But of course now I want this stylish 'Wooden Laptop Case with leather lining and magnetic closing device.' By Rainer Spehl. 

Heart shaped balloons, expensive flowers and stuffed animals.

I know they are too early but I couldn't resist sharing. Thanks to Han for the anti-valentine link. 

Oh, and #3 is for my DH.

'The Goatshed' lunch

'The Goatshed' lunch, originally uploaded by black_kat1.

We had a lovely lunch at Fairview. Cheese, wine and olives - what more do you need? 'Ega' is a pomegranate, green grape and Rooibos tea drink. The word 'Age' backwards, it's apparently that good for you. I can't see the years melting off quite yet : )

Wine.

A tour of the Stellenbosch wine route is in order. Stopping here for a luncheon. Happy Week end to all. 

Image by Married to the Sea.

Shadow & light.

Really interesting 'Light installations' by Mary Temple. What looks like a play of shadow and natural light is actually the use of latex paint on existing architecture. And in the case of the above floor - woodstain and varnish. These works are created in rooms with little or no natural light.