White Stripes and Green Leaves

I have a store room outside, where I keep a large part of my vintage collections.  Today I gave it a much needed clean up and tidy out.  I ‘found’ this vintage fold-up metal recliner chair with detachable foot rest.

 

I painted it white, when I bought it a few years ago, and although I love it, I just don’t have a place to display it permanently in my home.

 

I plan to sell it to someone who would like to add some cushions to those sprung metal strips, and give it a happy home.  

Late this afternoon, I took it to the top of the garden, picked some early blossoming azaleas, and let it pose for the camera!

Mail me or fill in the contact form if you are interested.  

Tickled…

I have grown quite passsionate about paper – in particular book paper.  I have learnt that each page has a grain, some pages are firm and flexible, while others are fragile and brittle and I am fascinated by the way books age from white to deep cream.

We have started to dye book paper with red ink.  These variations in colour have made such beautiful results.  Same ink bath – different book pages- many delightful shades 🙂 

We have made some large proteas from this paper and are busy with a batch of pink buttonhole proteas  at the moment too!

Freshly Found is definitely in the Pink!

Prehistoric Proteas

The paper proteas that we have been making have been such fun to design.  This ancient flower, which has been around since the days of Gondwanaland is also known as the Sugarbush or Suikerbos, because of the sweet syrup that can be harvested from some of them.

Using sticker backing paper, which is unrecyclable, because of its paper and plastic layer has been a challenge, as the plastic wax side resists all glue and paint. 
But the paper side has been a wonderful canvas to work on.  Some of the proteas have had their petals painted pink.
Christy Kiggan has worked to colour the petals of others in a different and more exciting way too.  She has used beetroot to make dye, and has dipped the petals in this dye, until the colour shows right through to the wax layer. In this closeup you can see the difference between both treatments [and the faint logo on the recycled paper]

These are all part of the new Freshly Found Recycled Paper Flower range, which will be launched at the Design Indaba Expo at the beginning of March.  
And this is where it has all been happening.  Here’s the work table.  Although it could be classified as messy, I had to take a pic .  I found the colours and rhythm of the petal shapes quite pleasing. 

New Year

Happy New Year.  
Here at Freshly Found its been a busy one!  Preparations for the Design Indaba are in full swing.  Here are some behind the scene shots:

Tammy Locke has been working hard on some stand decoration options.  I love the way she set out everything out and the end of the day and had to take a pic.  She’s been trying potato, polystyrene and sponge printing and some stencilling too.

Christy Kiggan has been doing some work with vegetable dyes. Chopping, juicing, boiling and dipping.  Expressing the true artist within.

These are just some hints of what’s to come.  We’re very excited!  Hoping to have some good pics ready soon!

Paper, Petals, Polka Dice and Trophy

I have been focusing largely on paper art and craft lately  There are some gorgeous goodies in production at the moment.  I am loving the challenge of seeing just how much can be done, with vintage book paper in particular.

These petals were from the end of a beautiful bunch of roses.  I decided to fill this paper mache bowl with them.  On the table next to them are a delicate set of paper die! Quite a lot of fun to make!

Last week I received an enquiry about a paper buck and it’s been fun doing this book-art prototype.

Have a lovely week!

More Life for Old Blooms

 Pretty, pretty pink roses – a gift from a friend.  

Past their prime. I used the petals and a cross-stitch pattern to make another rose! 

Some more petals in silver bowl to dry out for a while.  [Our climate is too damp for pot pourri] 

  Lovely to enjoy them for a while longer!

Wonderful Wedding

Last weekend we attended the wedding of our friends Skye and Ross.  

It was a lovely lovely day.  The whole day just dripped with the creative talent of Skye and her family. These gorgeous floral hearts decorated the Tiffany chairs in the garden where the wedding took place.

The tables were decorated with grey dyed crochet vintage table cloths, white enamel dishes, these PBJs, and pink proteas.  I loved the brides – bouquet – a single King Protea and lace!

The bridesmaids all had different dresses, in the same colour.  Tia Coghill of Tink Photography was the amazing photographer and you can see more of her pics of the wedding over here.

Truly an inspirational day! It was as privilege to be a part of it.