Ideas

Even when I am sitting here in my home office working on beautiful, creative magazines, I can’t help but notice how the world around me is changing. Who can? While Covid-19 has stripped so many people of their loved ones, their work and their busines

Get your new Journal – a good-life magazine and practical work-and-play book. It’s packed with reads to keep you up to date, to keep you healthy, to keep you young, to make you laugh and to challenge you. It may just change your life. On sale now! ■

COCOFEATURES.COM Lynn Rouwhorst was staying with her mother temporarily after a break-up when she heard about a new project in her Dutch town of Winterswijk. Her old school building, which had become vacant nine years earlier, was finally approved fo

Raw cement walls or paint techniques that mimic the look are becoming very popular. Here the rough brushstrokes and various shades of grey turn it into the focus wall for the room. (A CreteStone finish can give you the same effect.) For a modern head

Turmeric is a much-loved spice that adds earthy flavour and a vibrant yellow colour to food. It has amazing health benefits because it is rich in antioxidants and also helps reduce inflammation in the body. This wholesome soup is full of flavour and

Back in the day, granny, mom and the aunties all busily knitted baby booties. And there were always the sweetest little jackets in pink, blue and white for the new arrivals – all gifted to the church bazaar to raise money for the less privileged. In

unless stated otherwise Blankets from Inspired, Doornboom Farm on the N2, Heidelberg. Contact Sally 076 972 0701 ■

Advanced beginner Approximately 9 x 9cm blocked ♥ African Expressions Harmony, approximately 8g of yarn per square (colours used for samples: 2552, 2281, 2052, 2127, 2131, 2011, 2126, 2119)♥ 4,5mm crochet hook♥ scissors♥ darning needle or thinner cro

DIFFICULTY: easy Approximately 7 x 7cm ♥ African Expressions Harmony, 8 or more colours of your choice, approximately 5g of yarn per square (colours used for samples: 2552, 2281, 2052, 2127, 2131, 2011, 2126, 2119)♥ 4,5mm knitting needles♥ scissors♥

DIFFICULTY: easy (medium if you are not familiar with 'join as you go' technique) TIME: week and a half Crochet squares scarf: 22cm x 150cm ♥ mix of yarns, but the main ones are:– Scheepjes Ombré, Murderous Mint (hold inside and outside ends together

DIFFICULTY: easy to medium TIME: three weeks Small (medium, large). Medium size measures 50cm wide and 40cm long. ♥ yarns and colours used are:– African Expressions in Desire– Vinnis in Black– Scheepjes in Sapling, Cake, Wild Strawberry and Murderous

DIFFICULTY: easy – basic knitting and crochet stitches are used; medium if you are not used to 'join as you go' technique TIME: a week Scarf measures 145cm x 30cm ♥ vintage tray cloth of 30cm x 43cm♥ yarns used:– Be Inspired, Floofie, Lilac– Our Trib

DIFFICULTY: easy, beginner friendly TIME: couple of days ♥ 1 ball each Vinnis cotton in Lime 509, Raspberry 559, Violet 585, Turquoise 564, Lavender 551, Sunshine 535♥ 3,5mm crochet hook♥ darning needle♥ 4–6 buttons♥ stitch markers beg – begin(ning)

DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: about eight hours Width: 12cm Length: 23cm ♥ 1 x 100g ball of double knitting yarn in each colour (we used Elle Gold Double Knit, colour Blossom, for the main colour, Silver for the second colour and Glamour for the embroidery)

DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: about six hours Width: 54cm circumference Length: 24cm ♥ 1 x 100g balls of chunky yarn in each colour (we used Elle Gold Chunky, colour Mist, as the main colour, and Elle Gold Chunky, colour Ivory, as the second colour)♥ a pair

DIFFICULTY: adventurous beginner/intermediate TIME: 12-15 hours ♥ 1 ball African Expressions Harmony in each of the following colours: A – 2029 (Sand), B – 2281 (Watermelon), C – 2126 (Teal Blue), D – 2131 (Cherry Red), E – 2132 (Plum), F – 2011 (Fre

DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: two days ♥ pattern on page overleaf♥ fabric – calico or cotton works well♥ dressmaker’s pen♥ embroidery hoop♥ embroidery cotton in pink 602, 347; green 906, 905; blue 334; yellow 743; black 310♥ embroidery needle♥ matching sewi

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: eight hours ♥ pattern on following pages♥ fabric of your choice (see notes alongside)♥ matching machine thread♥ 164cm strap for backpack♥ 2 D-rings♥ 8 eyelets♥ eyelet tool♥ 1m cord to close backpack with♥ button♥ sharp scisso

DIFFICULTY: medium (a lot of time and patience) TIME: at least a week ♥ paper patterns (according to diagram you choose and enlarging and measuring out to scale; remember seam allowances)♥ quilt fabrics in chosen colours, patterns and shades♥ 4m unbl

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: half a day From drying dishes to hosting dinners… this tablecloth is the perfect conversation piece. You’ll need an existing tablecloth for size and a selection of new and vintage tea towels. Lay out the tea towels on top of

These biscuits are perfectly balanced to curb any craving for something sweet, without tons of sugar. And perfect to drop off or hand out as an unexpected gift. Makes: about 80 Preparation time: 30 minutes Oven temperature: 180 °C Baking time: 8-10 m

Kids are very resilient and brave, but no one likes a stay in hospital, especially if your mom and dad can’t be with you. Here are a few things you can include in your donation box for a child in need in hospital: ? A soft blanket that gives them som

We found a lovely vintage embroidery book and decided that its next lease of life should be to house embroidery items. DIFFICULTY: challenging TIME: two hours We started by carefully removing the pages of the book (called the book block) and cutting

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: two hours To make the board, paint a piece of wood with blackboard paint so you can write notes on it with chalk, and you can use movable tags as well. The idea is to list your family members, charity organisations, what you

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: half a day ♥ wire (it must be strong, but still easy enough to work with)♥ long-nose pliers♥ side cutter of diagonal pliers♥ black spray paint♥ paper♥ masking tape♥ small bell 1 Draw a basic church shape on a piece of paper a

It’s winter and time for clearing out and giving away. This may sound like a contradiction, but it’s a powerful tonic against the cold. The icy wind and rain keeps us indoors, encourages us to conserve and cocoon under cosy blankets… But I become anx

There was a little girl, Who had a little curl, Right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, She was very, very good, But when she was bad she was horrid. – Nursery rhyme attributed to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow How many times have these w