Ideas is all about MAKING your world more beautiful. Packed with creative inspiration, fresh ideas, easy projects and step-by-step instructions, this magazine is the go-to guide for crafters, stitchcrafters, makers, cooks and DIY home decorators.
CONTACT ME terena@ideasfactory.co.za ❁ instagram.com/terenaleroux We’re sitting at the ‘bar’ down on the main street, which just happens to be the only street running through the charming old Italian village. To clarify – the bar doubles up as a coffee shop where everyone gathers in the morning for breakfast, from noon for an aperitif, and in the evenings, it becomes more like a real pub, as we know it. Here, your drink doesn’t arrive without something to eat on the side, and it’s a far cry from a bowl of sad olives. This morning’s gathering was for breakfast, but we started too late and lingered too long. When the church bell chimed at noon – the proverbial plane had flown over somewhere – we immediately ordered prosecco which, of course,…
SIMPLE SOPHISTICATION (PREVIOUS PAGE) Light, bright and just waiting to be filled with celebratory toasts and plenty of laughter, this simple Christmas scheme includes vintage furnishings in an eclectic mix of styles, a seductively simple table setting – and lots and lots of fine-leaved greenery. The crisp whites add a note of purity and peace, the furniture is all about warmth and nostalgia, and the plethora of greens provide a feeling of harmony, freshness and growth. The key to making this pared-back scheme feel festive and abundant is to add greenery absolutely everywhere. Hang wreaths from the chairs and walls; twine branches on the tabletop as décor. More is more! Dressing the table with casual, chunky wine glasses and simple white crockery makes for an easy-going, laidback feel at the…
EASY DOES IT Take your time and make the process of setting your festive table an event in itself, because decorating it is always a real labour of love. Set the stage for a memorable Christmas celebration with milky white crockery, the subtle gleam of vintage cutlery and – always – lots and lots of candles. ❁ A rustic choice is best for this look when it comes to choosing crockery: the ceramics seen here are all by Mervyn Gers (mervyngers.com). You’ll also find similar pieces from Wonki Ware (wonkiware.com), while Zara Home (zarahome.com) regularly carries similar ranges, too. ❁ This is the ideal moment to bring out the set of vintage silver cutlery you inherited from your granny, if you have one. (Alternatively, hunt down a mismatched ‘set’ in…
ORIGINAL ADVENT CHRISTMAS CLOCHE Arrange a collection of spray-painted leaves, seed pods and baubles to create an engaging ‘still life’ when placed under the dome of a glass cloche. ❁ You can source cloches in various sizes at floral supply shops or vintage stores. ❁ Combine a variety of elements in different sizes and shapes – all in white, of course – for the most visually attractive display. Cardboard stars, trees and snowflakes work well as part of these arrangements too. ❁ You can change up your cloche displays as frequently as you like, or add extra elements such as a coil of battery-operated Christmas lights for extra visual appeal. ORIGINAL ADVENT Count down the days to Christmas with a handmade all-white advent calendar. ❁ To create the pieces for…
DIP-DYED PAPER TABLECLOTH We gave our paper tablecloth a dip-dyed look by spraying a diluted solution of blue ink and water onto unprinted newspaper. Hang the wet paper over a clothesline to dry, making sure the sheets do not touch, or they will stick together. Once completely dry use your sewing machine to sew gathering stitches onto the edges of each sheet to create a ruffled ‘skirt’ on each sheet of paper. Join the pieces together and stick to a round table using double-sided tape. TIP: the paper will be very delicate so make sure your sewing machine is on a slow setting. LIGHT: Upcycle a vintage chandelier with candles, delicate flowers, Christmas décor and ribbons. SET THE SCENE Create this fanciful Christmas theme by combining romantic blue and white…
SMOKED-SALMON SALAD WREATH Arrange your salad ingredients in the shape of a festive wreath for an easy but impressive starter or salad platter to add to a cold buffet. Serves: 4-6 as a starter Preparation time: 30 minutes ♥ 1 English cucumber, washed ♥ 2 ripe avocados ♥ 10ml lemon juice ♥ 60g petit herb leaf salad ♥ 150g radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced ♥ 200g smoked salmon or trout ribbons ♥ 1 lemon, sliced ♥ 160g raspberries ♥ 100g pomegranate rubies LEMON-DIJON DRESSING ♥ 15ml Dijon mustard ♥ 30ml lemon juice ♥ 5ml honey ♥ 5ml grated lemon zest ♥ 90ml canola oil ♥ Sliced crusty bread, to serve DRESSING: Whisk the mustard, lemon juice and honey together to form a smooth paste. Whisk in the oil gradually to…
