I love these locally made light boxes by talented Durban illustrator Colwyn Thomas. Check out how he made them here. Prices range between R700 and R750 and you can contact him at info@stonethecrows.co.za

www.colwynart.com

I love these beautiful textiles that are all made just outside of Plettenberg Bay. Master Weaver Stuart Holding started Mungo in 1998 and it’s a unique textile company that has the rare ability to create fabrics from the inception of design to the final product.

“Mungo is based in the seaside town Plettenberg Bay, South Africa and housed in the historical homestead of Old Nick Village. Here all our sampling is done on antique 19th century Hattersley looms in our Working Weaving Museum. Other fabrics are woven in a boutique weavery close by which employs and empowers the local community.

We design, weave and make a wide range of home ware products including table linens, bedding, throws, baby blankets, apparel and more.”

You can now buy this exquisite range online at http://mungoretail.com/

Handsome Things chatted to Riesa Steyn owner of Millk. Millk is well known for their unique hand carved pieces, but they also stock a wide range of fashion, décor and lifestyle products.

Tell us a bit more about yourself.

I am Riesa, creator and owner of Millk. I grew up in a small arty town, Hartbeespoort. The creative juices weren’t really flowing during my school years and my focus was mostly on the famous old analytical subjects. After school I slogged it out at UP, studied law (LLB AND BCOM), got admitted as an attorney – didn’t really like the “black and white” chess inspired uniforms, so I did my teaching diploma and taught high school and primary school kids for a while. This was more fulfilling in the sense that I had the opportunity to inspire and mould ideas through kids (who, by the way, are super creative).

During my second year of teaching I opened a small shop in Pretoria. My free time was spent on this creative corner and so the ideas started to develop. At this stage we are in the fortunate position of creating, designing, producing and sourcing our products on both a retail and wholesale level.

Our wood items are crafted from solid wood in and around the Jacaranda city, Pretoria. Our Indian “block printing” inspired stamps and brooches are carved by hand and display some of our own original designs. We aspire to create playful, colorful and unique styles.

Visit our website www.millk.co.za or blog  www.millkjar.blogspot.com and drop us a mail to say hi.

If you love letterpress like I love letterpress you’ll love the new Essie Press online shop. I’ve featured the lovely Essie Letterpress here before, but here’s a recap.

“Essie letterpress is a husband and wife design and print team, living and working on a beautiful flower farm close to Citrusdal. All of our work is custom designed – we work closely with our client to achieve a look that they are happy with.

All of our work is printed individually on a manually operated 1964 German Proofing Press. The letterpress punches the designs into the paper creating a beautiful relief not achieved with other kinds of printing. A clean, crisp look is achieved that can be both seen and felt. The cards have a handcrafted feel to them, which makes them different to cards printed on a more modern printing machine. Letterpress is a time and labour intensive process, but it is also a real labour of love for us.”

Check out the shop: http://store.essieletterpress.co.za/

I popped into the beautiful Anatomy Design store at 44 Stanley the other day. What a gorgeous little space packed with designs by Andrea Kleinloog and Mia Widlake.

Andrea is an accomplished South African interior designer known for her Lab light series which won the prestigious Most Beautiful Object in South Africa at Design Indaba 2010 and was Elle Décor International nominee 2011. I asked her how Anatomy Design got started.

“Anatomy Design started purely by luck. I was in the midst of building a chapel and wedding venue (www.netherwood.co.za), and needed a desk light. Started working on the Lab Light… with no intention to sell one. The success of the Lab Light meant we needed a place to literally sell them from… I never planned to open a shop – but here we are!”

Visit the store (next to Bean There) or check out Mia and Andrea’s websites for more designs.

www.miawidlake.com

http://www.anatomydesign.co.za/

His first children’s book, The Boy Who Cried Ninja, was published in April 2011. Between working on more books – he writes and illustrate for magazines, ad campaigns and family birthday cards.

His second picture book is out now – called Penguin’s Hidden Talent.

“It was great fun to work on, and it’s a lovely follow up to The Boy Who Cried Ninja. Basically its about a penguin who wants to enter a talent show – but can’t figure out what he’s good at. After trying a range of skills – including appliance juggling and alphabet burping, he happens on an awesome skill of his own.”

http://www.alexlatimer.co.za/

Prints of two of his illustrations are available online HERE.

Nature’s skin food has collaborated with local designers on some beautiful designer soap ranges. Cape Town designer Daniel Ting Chong designed this pretty and delicious looking pastel range below.

And Jo’burg designer Fiona Goldthrope designed the beautiful Mexican Day of the Dead range.

Handsome Things chatted to Fiona to find out more.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a Johannesburg based designer specialising in branding and packaging. I graduated from the University of Johannesburg with a diploma in Graphic Design, and spread my skills in various fields including newspaper, magazines, branding and packaging. I have been in the design business for over 15 years.

How did this project come about?

I collaborated with a local soap company Nature’s Skin Food to release a range of 100% all natural, handmade soaps. It has taken quite some months of research, testing, tweaking of designs to finally come up with a range that we are so excited about.

My designs are based on the Mexican Day of the Dead theme (Dia de los Muertos) as I particularly love the rich, graphic quality.

The black soap being an Activated Charcoal soap, and the white one is Crushed Pearl (made from actual crushed pearls – which I think is really beautiful). There is a 3rd in the pipeline which will be created from Asian Tree Bark. All 100% natural with essential oils added, not synthetic fragrance oils.

Where can we buy the soap?

Orders can be placed through either my website : www.fionagoldthorpe.co.za or through naturesskinfood.com. They will also soon be available from local Johannesburg stores.

Handsome Things chatted to Kathryn du Toit and Sam Boylan from the lovely Nest Homegrown.

When and how did you get started?

I met Sam through a decor store he used to own in Durban called ‘re-store’….I just loved his sense of style and over time we ended up becoming BFF’s……he even introduced me to my hubby and is Godfather to our Daughter. We have always inspired each other creatively and finally after 10 years, decided to collaborate, and design and create our own products…….hence Nest was born.

What inspires you?

We love useful and practical things, with clever, quirky designs…..and we appreciate good homegrown quality….and I’m sure you can guess by looking at our website, we love a splash of colour……

Where can we buy your lovely things?

The products are designed by us and everything is sourced and made locally….We are currently stocking a few stores in KZN, but if you would like a pricelist or to place an order, you can contact either Sam or myself on our emails kathryn@telkomsa.net or sam@re-store.co.za

For more awesome products check out their website  http://www.nest-homegrown.co.za/

Thanks Kathryn and Sam!

Rowan Toselli graduated from the University of Johannesburg in 2010. According to his Behance profile he loves design, spending his time creating wooden characters, doodling and searching for inspiration. He also loves tea, VW beetles and travelling.

He was also the man behind some of the great design we’ve seen in some of the previous issues of Nicework’s Nice Magazine.

Most of the toys were a collaboration between himself and Collective Efforts.

http://www.behance.net/rowantoselli

Make sure you don’t miss Paul Senyol‘s much-anticipated first solo exhibition opening this April. He’ll be showcasing a collection of new paintings on paper, entitled The Man of Dust at Salon91 in Cape Town.

This body of work will explore our shared experience of the human condition in relation to the phrase:

“And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man.”

His unique abstract style with its roots in Street Art, and inspired by great artists like Basquiat and Miró, remains open-ended, expressed through a visual language, which may be universally understood. In collaboration with Salon91 Senyol will also be publishing a highly collectable book that will catalog and form part of the exhibition and showcase the creative processes, drafts and thoughts behind the finished artworks.

MEDIUM: Abstract, mixed media paintings on paper.

26 April – 26 May 2012

Salon91 Contemporary Art Collection

Good luck Paul!

Hylton Nel is one of South Africa’s well-known ceramic artists or “artist-potter” as he describes himself. He was born in Zambia and went to school in Kimberly and later studied ceramics in Antwerp, Belgium. I’ve always admired the wonderful humour in his work, and to be quite honest, I’m not sure why I’m only featuring him now.

“Hylton Nel is a master of combining whimsy with satire and making pointed, albeit often humorous, references to his personal concerns as well as those of the world at large. In his work Nel seduces the eye with his sinuous line drawing and lush glazes, yet the mind is often taken aback when it comprehends the intensity of his imagery and inscriptions.

Nel describes himself as an ‘artist-potter’ which aptly refers to his interest in painted imagery as well as form and function. Over the past four decades he has developed a style of work that is rich in references to the decorative arts and literary and art historical sources. His plates, bowls, vases, plaques and figurative pieces are idiosyncratically decorated with witty – and sometimes poignant – line drawings and script.” - http://www.stevenson.info/artists/nel.html

Images via www.stevenson.info

Handsome Things chatted to photographer Debora Indi about music, photography and why she’s starting to think tea is overrated.

What is you background and how did you get into photography? 

I was born in Lobito, Angola, left as a baby and I was raised in São Paulo where I dabbled in ballet until early adolescence. I moved to Cape Town at 14 where I grew up, loved and lived, up until very recently.  There I aspired to be an artist and fashion illustrator. I experienced modeling, finished a degree in Fashion Design at DAF and finally realized my undeniable love for photography.

I always had photography influences in my family, my grandmother used to work in a photography shop and my father is a true lover of photography, he used to develop his own material when he was young and I love looking through his albums from back in the day, they are all so full of magic and a most of my inspiration comes from him.

I’m currently living in Lisbon for the past 2 years, finishing a photography degree at Ar.Co. – Art and Visual Communication School.

I treasure life and I’m such a dreamer. Can’t stop laughing at myself. I love tea but I’m starting to think it’s overrated so I’ve been indulging in espressos.

Digital or film?

Both. I love film, I love spending ours in the lab developing the film and the whole process of printing and manipulating the negative, dipping the paper in the chemicals and watching the latent image come to life in my own hands. It’s a slower process, more expensive also and methodical, nevertheless, it’s very creative and stimulating.

Digital nowadays is essential! It’s fun, it gives us more freedom to create and invent at a faster pace. And I treasure digital for that! It’s the method I use for work while film is more on a personal level.

What inspires you?

I’ve been traveling since I was a baby and haven’t been able to stop, wander-lusting spirit. Traveling gives me drive, inspiration and I get anxious when I settle in one place for too long.

A free spirit at heart I’m also inspired by nature, mysticism, the earthly and ethereal.

My influences come from culturally substantial artists and writers of the 20th century. The works of Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz where art and fashion go hand in hand. And a lot of music like Joy Division, Interpol, Incubus, Björk, Jefferson Airplane, Arcade Fire and Bob Dylan amongst others.

I’m obsessed about everything beautiful and I try to find beauty in the mundane.

http://deboraindi.blogspot.com/

http://www.behance.net/deboraindi

Thanks Debora!

Handsome Things chatted to young Port Elizabeth illustrator Wonder Tatum Meyer about her illustration, her inspiration and sailing around the world in a small boat.

Tell us a bit more about yourself.

I’m a freelance illustrator and I’ve just completed my 3rd year at NMMU in PE, where I majored in Printmaking and Illustration. I was considering furthering my studies at Stellenbosch, but decided to take a year off instead to work on my illustration and see where it goes.

What inspires you?

My family have always travelled, but the most exciting adventure for me was when my parents decided to pack up their jobs and our house and sail the high seas on a very small boat. During that round the world trip I was exposed to so many other cultures, beliefs and experiences that really opened my 10 year old eyes and still influences my work.

I’m also really inspired by childhood, myth, folklore and nature. And birds! I really like drawing birds.

Have a look at Wonder’s blog for more of her whimsical illustration http://wonder-meyer.blogspot.com/

Wow. These gorgeous stills are from the Suzaan Heyns AV/Short Film that was shown as an intro to her Spring/Summer 2012 collection. The video was directed by WILLEM GROBLER and the Director of Photography was DAVID PIENAAR. I’m gobsmacked.

Credits:

Producer RENIER RIDGEWAY (Silver Lining Pictures)

 Edited by ROBERT ODENDAAL.

The Colourist was RICHARD STARKEY @ 744

Digital Models – Abby and Claire Meekel

You can watch the film here.

I found these stills here.

http://www.suzaanheyns.com/

I love these handmade quilts from Thaya Bedford’s Beatnik Bazaar online shop. They are made from mostly Vintage fabric and the fabric underneath is always cotton. They can be made up to a client’s colour and size specifications at no extra cost. The quilts start from around R2200 for a double.

“The quilter’s name is Zelda and she is one talented lady who knows just how to dazzle us all with her beautiful quilt creations! Everything is sourced and made locally, with scraps made into bunting, which I also sell via my online shop www.beatnikbazaar.co.za ”

Thanks Thaya!

You can shop for them HERE.

Today, a year ago I posted a small, sad looking post with a message that read, “Welcome to Handsome Things. We hope to bring you some of the best design, art and handmade wonders from around Mzanzi.“

I didn’t really know what I was doing. I didn’t know how to link a website, how to enlarge pictures, how to link to Twitter and I even had to email Kirsty at www.minttheshop.com, who had the same WordPress theme as me, and ask her how to put a Facebook button in the sidebar. It was quite an awkward email that went something like this – Hi, you don’t know me, but I’d like to feature your shop and I also need some WordPress advice.

My biggest fear was that I’d run out of people to feature and a year later I can safely say that there are so many talented South Africans that, if I had more time, I’d be able to feature a person every day of the week.

I still don’t know what I’m doing. I know an experienced blogger would’ve lined up a fabulous birthday give-away and I would know what UB and PI values were when people enquire about them and I would have a rate card.  So I’m still pretty much fumbling/googling my way through this.

But what I do know is that nothing beats getting an email from a person I’ve featured and having them tell me how the post has generated buzz or increased their website traffic or sales. That’s what this is all about.

If this blog was a reality show it would be South Africa’s got Talent. Mind-blowing talent. And I’m proud to be able to show you a tiny part of it.

(Painting by Georgina Gratrix: My Show, Opens This Evening 29 March- 24 May 2012 at 18:30, 1st Floor, De Wet Centre, Church Street, Stellenbosch)

I discovered Nico Masemula’s charming ceramics on the wonderful Wolf Eyebrows blog the other day. I’ve battled a bit to find out more about Nico, but what I have found, thanks to the Clementia Ceramics blog, is that he’s based in Calitzdorp in the Karoo and that his mentor is the well-known SA ceramicist Hylton Nel.

I’ve also found an Afrikaans article in Die Burger about how Nico, as a young Sotho lad, serendipitously landed up in Hylton’s household in Bethulie when he accompanied a man who worked in Hylton’s garden. Hylton took Nico under his wing and when he moved to Calizdorp, Nico went with. Hylton sent him to Môrester High School in Calitzdorp and when he finished matric Hylton built him a house in the yard and took him on as his apprentice.

What a success story, because today Nico Masemula sells his ceramics on the Anthropologie site where I found these images. His work is also available at the Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town.

Maaike Bakker

Maaike Bakker

Maaike Bakker

Louis Minnaar

Louis Minaar

/ THE RIVER

From the minds of two young thinkers in a purple-flowered-city
This fantastic tale emerges, mysterious and gritty:
A sloth, on a terrible journey, hoping to recover what he has lost;
banks will be flooded, lines will be crossed.

Pretoria visual artists Louis Minnaar and Maaike Bakker present a twisting narrative exhibition of
collaborated visual works blending with words by Jaco van der Merwe.

http://www.theriverexhibition.blogspot.com/

Handsome Things chatted to young Interior designer Shara-Lee Mordt about Design. Mate, her new line of wallpaper designs.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Shara-Lee Mordt, I’m 23 years of age.

I qualified as an Interior designer in 2009 at the University of Johannesburg. After my studies, I was lucky enough to get an internship at Elle Decoration magazine, where I learnt a great deal about design and specifically all the great designers that SA has to offer.

How did you get started?

So, after working at Elle Decoration, I worked at various design companies but then decided that I was going to take my studies further. I started studying Chemical Engineering at Wits (I really don’t know why and how I thought this would be for me) where I was not happy at all:)

My uncle who is in the printing business let me use one of his older printers, so during my free time while studying, I just started doing my designs and printing them to see what they would look like. After seeing that they came out really well on print I decided that Engineering really was NOT for me and that’s how I
came to starting Design.Mate.

The collection I started on the site is just the works that I have done up until now, but I would Love to collaborate with people and companies in doing unique and custom designs.

Other South African designers who inspire you?

I was based in Johannesburg and got to work with and meet quite a few of these amazing designers who really inspired me to go ahead and do my own designs. A lot of these designers and creatives inspired me, but to name a few: Katy and Adriaan from Dokter and Misses, also Andrea Kleinloog for Anatomy Design. Works done by Peet Van Straaten from RAW studios are also really beautiful. Lastly, Porky Hefer. I love his idea of collaborative work between fellow designers. His work is just great!

Advice for other designers who are thinking of taking the plunge and starting their own lines?

My advice to someone who wants to start their own venture is to get out there and see what’s in the industry and what you can do to add to it in a positive way. It’s also great finding sites like Handsome Things:) who are there to promote and support design in SA! Just do what you are passionate about and you’ll be happy doing it:)

http://designmate.co/

Thanks Shara!