Market Madness: Kamers 2014

As you probably know, I have a little bit of a Craft Market Crazy streak around December when all the Creepy Crafters Crawl out of their hiding places in time for the Christmas Craze. Well, Kamers Vol Geskenke, has just added a new Market to their bill, one that's happening right now! To keep all of us Jo'burgers sane over these long weekends for the next month, Kamers has introduced a Market over the Easter Weekend. It's still going to be on until Monday, so you have plenty of time to get your goodies.

Click HERE for some more of my Market Adventures.

This is my delightful new pillow from a lovely little Cape Town based Online Shop called ZANA. 

Their stuff is supper fresh and has a really good texture. 

I'm a sucker for good textured things. 

You can order Online or check them out at the Biscuit Mill.

Added a new ring to my ever so slightly growing collection! This one is super cool. Its paper thin, made out of copper and sterling silver. You can check out more from Liesbet Van Cappellens' Jewelry Collection on her website: http://www.lvcjewelry.com/

This, however, was the best. this chocolate is the most delicious chocolate you'll ever taste in your life and it hail from good old Pretoria. They have 6 exciting flavours and the best chocolate package design you could ask for. Check them out on Facebook to get your hand on some! 

Ah! A good day indeed!
&Kathrynwhat

The Market Place

Today I ventured out into the world to do some exploring. Weird right, I never leave my house any more. I tagged along with my Mom (classic me right) to one of my favourite South African Markets; The Mosaiek Crafts Expo. I've been before and you can read all about that little trip here.
South Africa has so many cool Markets, and because I'm a Craft Market fanatic I tend to frequent them, from the biggest to the smallest to the weirdest and of course, they're all wonderful.

This time though was a little blast from the past and a look into the future. Gahd, I'm deep.

Ice-Cream Necklace by Two on Toast

Ice-cream and Necklaces?! Damn, could it have gotten any better than this? Two on Toast is a great little South African find started by two Besties that share my passion for tea and toast. Check out their website at: www.twoontoast.co.za They have pretty cool stuff, especially the dresses.

Denim Backpack by Skinny Cow

I love Skinny Cow, they have the coolest jewellery and accessories, and to make it even better I nabbed this beauty! Good for the beach or to be super cool which is obviously what I will be doing with it. You can check out their Facebook Page or just head on over to their shop in Linden.

Wooden Stud Earrings by Net 'n Kameel

 Net 'n Kameel has the coolest wooden broaches and earrings, but if thats not your thing you can check out their silver, cut out necklaces on their Facebook Page.

Fabric Covered Tin Mugs by Jamtin

I absolutely love to collect odd and extraordinary mugs, so you can imagine my delight when I found this beauty. Jamtin have a range of awesome Fabric covered Tin Mugs and Lanterns. You can check out their website (here) and maybe even indulge your tea scenes to one of theses guys.

So that was my little outing to the Market. Yay!

Ok

&Kathryn

Cant wait for the Kramers Market in January! This is what happened last time.

Wide Angle Lenses

Friday: Great Dane
We started off this whole adventure with a trip into the depth (not really) of Town. We had origionaly planned to go the Kitchners Carvery Bar, but instead ended up at a place called Great Dane. I had never been there and therefore had no idea what to expect. I made a great first impression on the door man by handing him R20 in about fifty coins, half of which were coppers. I know right - My life. A little chuckle with the Door Man later - Weather at me or with me I'm still not sure- we entered the Bar Slash Club into a sea of people from the hipster-est of bald black twenty something wearing polkadot bow ties to the 'poppie' girls wearing the same denim shorts and white chiffon blouses.
After pushing our way through the crowd at the bar, Zamelek and a glass of water in hand we found our way to the outside area. Tables and chairs lined the walls, but we made ourselves comfortable on these cool barrels and, what looked like, life sized cotton spools. Above our heads hung lanterns in the form of old lampshades in many different shapes and sizes. I felt like I was inside the Far Away Tree or some sort of other warped children's book where the lead characters spent their nights getting unfathomably wasted in dingy bars.
The floor is made of Fife Cent Pieces, and I bet you didn't know that.

Saturday: Neighbourgoods

Sunday: Lily n Rosa Birthday Party
Its been an incredibly long time since I've been to a house party. Here in SA we sure do know how to throw one hell of a rager. With the Black Label flowing and the awkward vibes of sober teenagers getting over their hormones nearly disguised by inebriation the party had only just begun.
People were scattered all around the garden, clad in swimming costumes, high fashion and hippie pants all around me people were getting to know each other a little better. I sat in a circle of about six people who were engage in deep, intellectual conversations. If he wasn't gay, and she wasn't so proud I'm sure they would have hooked up. I felt a little bit lost and out of my depth in these kinds of situations. I walked around, a little haze-y as to where I was going but soon found a few people that were familiar enough for me to invite myself into their group and relax a little.
It was a strange night indeed.

Monday: Dinner at Rainbow and Ice creams
Rainbow is a small Sushi Restaurant in Norwood where my Netzer Friends and I regularly attend for some delicious sushi and good times. I truly enjoy the company there and mostly what Sushi at Rainbow represents for us. I remember almost exactly a year ago to the day and even one before that, just after camp we all go get sushi and ice cream and talk about our plans for the year. Last time it was Rosa, Lily, Mitch and Myself talking about when we would all be meeting up over the course of the year in the Middle East and Northern Africa. This time we reminisced about our plans and how they had in fact come true. It was a crazily circlic expirience. This time, were all going to be here and the ice cream machine had no ice cream. Im trying not to read too much into this.

Tuesday: Greenside, Ten Rand Tuesdays, Gin and Bob Rocks
Well, for ten Rand, how could you not expect me to get unfathomably drunk in a very short space of time? We started our night at Gin playing a weirdly distorted Camp Only version of Never Have I Ever around the small table in the corner. I'm sure we all looked like a bunch of Crazies laughing and sharing intense stories. The rest of the night I spent with Marni either talking animatedly about life in Bob Rocks or on the bench just outside. There was also a little bit of cleaver Ex Boyfriend and Creepy Guy avoidance which I'm quite proud of/don't really remember.
Also, we saw Ninja. Just casually. #namedropping

Wednesday: Made Collages, The Bo and Greenside 
Recovering slightly from a hang over and just spending time with Marni doing something fun and creative was absolutely lovely and refreshing. I was making Cute Little Books for the kids leaving to UCT while Marni made a birthday card for one of her friends. The sun was moving slowly around the earth as we sat neatly under the umbrella outside, drinking tea and hanging out.
The Bohemian is a great place to make new friends, which is exactly what we did on Wednesday Night. It started off a little rocky when EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the Bar, mostly creepy old men, were giving us shit. This is probably because, despite my amazing hair and disastrous good looks and life experience. I still look 15 apparently. I disguised my shock by making a witty comment asking weather he wanted to see my fake ID or my real one. There were no bands playing so it was pretty quiet except for the rowdy table next to ours that soon joined forces and many discussions about Life, the Universe and other big round things commenced. All before heading back to Bob's for another round, and a sneaky bathroom break which clarified the myths of people bonking in public Bathrooms.

Thursday: Farewell picnic at Zoo Lake and Carlo Mombelli at the Bowls Club 
It was quite an intense day of work at the office followed by a farewell picnic in Zoo Lake. There was much too much food and drinks and cakes and sweets and chocolate and by the time 6pm rolled around we were all too excited to head over to the Bowls Club for a refreshing Beer and some good ol' Shnat Reunions (Marni not me). I was dieing of tiredness and sleep deprivation. We sat at the back of the club against the Trophy Case eating chips and watching Mr. Mombelli play his music. There were a few blurred people around me, but I wasn't really in the mood for conversation and just let my brain get a little bit molested by the Jazz Music. It was rather nice to just stop for the first time in a while
Carlo Mombelli either plays really good music or really bad music and I'm not sure if I like it.

xxx

Ye Olde Hipster Central

We've all heard about Neighbourgoods Market that has cause a massive ruckus in the streets of Johannesburg. Its the place to see and be seen by all of Joburg's trendy-est citizens, and if you haven't gotten yourself down to New Town yet, then you better get there soon. There's amazing home made food and coconut and rum drinks and the biggest and best fashionistas in the city, showing off their finest threads. Not to mention us photographers who skulk around the market snapping some tasty pictures to put on our blogs.

That's what I did this weekend.

xxx

South African Inspired #3

Rings are my new favourite accessory. 

I've started my own collection, here are a few of my favourites, although they're not from South Africa, they remind me of my time exploring the world, and I want to showcase them with some things that really make me Proud to be a Saffa.

Camera and Material Rings from Istanbul, Turkey
(Not to mention the delicious Buttermilk Rusks from Ouma...)

Right to Left: Single Band Ring from Ha' Shuk B' Eilat, Israel
Fottprint and Batman Rings from Jerusalem, Israel
Black Wooden Ring from The Karmiel Dance Festival, Israel

 Fun Fact for the Day: Milo was orrigionaly made in Australia. Bet you didn't know that...

Chamsa Good Luck Ring from Jerusalem, Israel.

xxx

South African Inspired #2

The next Crafters Market on the list to tackle before I was swept off to Cape Town for some fine friends and screaming eleven year olds, was The Parkview Market. 

There, the only treasure I found, although there were many, many talented people selling all sorts of things, was this ring. Its made by the Izimbali Group of Women from SOWETO. These women are inspired to empower themselves and started this initiative, helped by the Wire Workers of Johannesburg. You can find these rings in all different shapes, sizes and colours in Big Blue stores.

Natural Greens Button Ring

xxx

South African Inspired #1

On my arrival home from the northern Hemisphere, I was confronted by the sheer enormity of having to entertain myself for the first time in over a year. A whole week spanned in front of me, completely void of any plans. After a few days of being bored to tears, My Brothers Girlfriend treated me to the wonders that were Christmas Markets all around Jo'burg and Pretoria. These are the little beauties that caught my eye and of course, my purse strings.

Tiffany Blue Vintage Inspired HandBag

Mustache Earing Studs from Trinket

So these are my new pretties, all the way from The Karmers Vol Geskenke Market in Pretoria. You should check it out when it rolls around in the summer, and support the creative women of SA!

xxx

Just an Ice-Cream (Up) Date

Wednesday 4 April 2012
(The Day Before ALL the Bad Things Happened)

I picked Rosa up from outside a fancy hotel for a little bit of trendy-lesbian time.
We walked through the streets of Jerusalem chatting about things that happened to us recently. She told me stories of her family and I went over the same exhausted topics of boys and drama in the Etgar flat. Nothing terribly exciting was happening at all. Nothing what so ever. An odd occasion, we didn't quite know what to do with ourselves. A day without drama or tension and confusion? No weird feelings? What nonsense was this?
We ate 10 sheckle ice cream from "Internet" and met up with Lily just down the street.
The three of us sat on Tzion Street listening to the musicians and argued about the Army and Indoctrination and making Aliyah for a while. We made bracelets in the middle of the street an I said goodbye to them in the middle of a busy intersection and tucked myself into bed.

***

Friday 6 April 2012 
The Pass Over Seder.
Alyson, Liz and I got lost on our way to our host family for Seder. It was awkward for a while, then it got interesting as we discussed topics in the world and ate a lovely dinner in this nice strangers home with all his family and long lost relatives. I missed the Manoims and Sivan and Thando and being in a nice space and staying up really late talking to my friends until my Mom had to drag me away with promises to see each other the next morning at Shule.

***
Saturday 7 April 2012
Etgar ALL nighters
Tara, Jess, Rosa, Lily and Myself headed to the Kortel at 2am for a litle Easter celebration. We ended up singing and peeing in the bushes with short extracts from 'This Week in Palestie' and uncontrollable giggling and blasphemy.
I stayed up ALL night posting the posts before this one.


Sunday 8 April 2012
We became wizards. There was a Tree Apocalypse. I'm pretty sure Jeffrey thinks I'm mad.


Sprite Day 9 April 2012
I took myself for a walk through the City. I stumbled upon a crafters market and had a moment of reminiceing with myself about all the time I used to spend in crafters markets when I was small. I had alost all but forgotten about it, until then. I basically grew up in them.
I hung out with Mor for the majority of the day. We went shopping in the shuk for a bucket and some veggies for dinner. We stopped for ice cream and I fell asleep on her couch for a while. A call from Emily woke me up and I said goodbye to Mor and headed home. Rebekkah arrived shortly afterwards and we wanted dinner, but instead we ended up adventuring through the streets of J-ruz in Hippie Pants and Gangstah Hats in search of Crepes. This story will probably be the greatest Shnat Confession Ever.

<3

Dear Jozi

I have something magical to share with you.

Today, I went to a lovely little Christmas market with my mom, and they had the most amazing things there. Every last thing your little heart could desire, you could find. So, I'm sharing my amazing finds with you, in hopes that you'll support our local crafters and fashion icons.

This is Skinny Cow.
They're a local fashion and accessory store located right here in Joburg. Linden to be exact. Unfortunately they don't have a website or a Facebook page. (Much to this bloggers disappointment, because I always Google EVERYTHING before deciding its legit.)
But their stuff is so pretty and so versatile that I just can't keep it to myself.
These are the things I bought today:

This is a vintage inspired ring, 

(the last one they had at their store I might add) 

But don't fret! They also stock matching pendants, and a wide variety of different rings, for those of you who arent mad on vintage and want something a little less casual. They also had different shapes and sizes. Just take your pick!

Vintage Ring- R55.

These are the first over-sized earrings I have ever bought. 

They have such a wide variety most are vintage inspired patterns, such as floral and portraits of Audrey Hepburn. They also come in gold inlays and silver. These are made with actual material but if that's not really your thing there are some super shiny ones and smooth, glassy ones. 

And they look really good with an updo, just to show them off a little (:

Vintage Earrings- R45

These are my favorite, and I'm wearing them RIGHT NOW. 

That's how comfortable they are. Not too heavy. 

That's really important to me because I'm really fussy about the kind of dangly earrings I wear. 

They had all sorts of other bronzed hanging earrings, and matching necklaces with long and shorter chains. Look out for the rocking horse, key and teapots! They just make me feel so pretty and grown up, but still edgy.

Clock Earrings- R45

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm just like every other girl when it comes to jewelry and I probably could have bought the whole shop. But if jewelry isn't your thing, they also had bags, clothes, shoes and headbands.

Here are some of my stylin' new bags to carry the loot!

This is my new favorite thing in the whole entire history of the world. 

It's a vintage  radio bag. Is'nt it cool? 

The "Volunme" and "bass" knobs even turn! 

They also come in a lighter brown.

Radio Handbag- R225

This my mom bought actually. 

The material is slightly more durable and plastic coated. But its super cool anyway. 

They had them in different shapes, styles and sizes including blue and red floral, with matching purses, makeup bags and pencil cases.

Floral Handbag- R225

I'm kicking you out of my closet now, but I hope you'll give this lovely little boutique a visit one day. You won't regret it!
Happy Shopping!

Skinny Cow. 
Eclectic fashion and accessories.
Shop 6. 65- 4th Avenue, Linden
0849812177

With Love,
Kathryn