Zana featured on Etsy homepage!

Exciting news, Zana, the lovely brand my mom and I started, was featured on the homepage of Etsy, which is actually quite a big deal for those of you who know Etsy. It is a great boost to your views and It actually led us to have our first sale! 


One thing I know about Etsy is that when you sell "expensive" things, ie. over $30, it takes a while to get your brand out there and get sales. We have been approached by a few South African websites wanting to sell our products locally and that is exciting news. 


We also have new, different and fun things to sell on the horizon (aka when I get a chance to photograph them). We are also hoping to get into a few markets and just have fun with it, that's what its all about. Nothing too serious at this point, my mom and I just love to make things!

While exploring Etsy, I was looking at other stores selling from Cape Town, I came across Skinny laMinx which is an amazingly successful store by a clearly very creative and brave individual, Heather Moore. She sells locally and on Etsy and has made quite a name for herself, very inspiring! 

My little veggie garden pot label DIY project

I recently stole a trough from my parents and planted some tomatoes and lettuce. I need to bring some life onto my balcony so I thought it would be cute and quirky to add some labels so my guests know what i'm growing. Im a salad freak and I cant wait for these to be ready, will save some bucks on buying salad goods all the time. 

The equipment I used, paint your wording with a tiny paintbrush and watercolour or acrylic paint, I used watercolour paint for this one.

My freaky deer make over!

So...I bought this deer at the milnerton market the other morning. She was a bit dirty and freaky, so I sprayed her gold and gave her a little bit of a copic marker make over! Check out below!

wooden decor dream

My mother and I have so many creative ideas, we are like two peas in a pod and get so excited about the smallest (biggest) dreams. She is in the printing industry, so she pretty much knows everything about getting things made and she has so many connections. Im helping her at the moment make cusions for a vintage style french store. Such as:


 I really want to make cute words and wood shapes for the home. I know they are popular but lets be honest, they dont have many options and when you do find them they are hell expensive. So lets see how this little venture goes! Check out the cute inspiration below!

I found all these photos on various etsy stores.

 

dress mess!

Check out blow how I changed up this eye-sore CRAZY dress into a high waisted skirt which is way more practical. Im a student, I cant afford to buy new things all the time, so its nice to take what you have and change it up so it is wearable.


Who knows what went through my mind when I decided to purchase this dress a few months back, maybe it was the dark changing room of china town that made me a little(lot) visually impaired. I have all the clothes I need to reinvent stacked up on the crafty table in my flat and this one caught my eye first (how could it not?). I thought to myself, that dress would be great if it was in half - half as many chevron stripes. 

So I cut the top off leaving a little flap on the top to frill over. Cute aint it? I paired it with a white vest and a waist belt for a way cuter summer look. This will be worn to college in the future. AH, I love a little clothing rebirth.

 

ciao for now! xo

Turning unwanted into wanted - closet edition

So, I got this dress from Valley Girl when I was on holiday in Australia about 3 years ago. I think i've never left the house wearing it, not once. I think every girl has those items they make an impulse buy on and think I could SO wear this, and then never do! I have more than one.

I know what you're thinking. not so bad and still a cute dress, yes it is. I mean, I did buy it! My style has changed over the years and i'd say I dress alot more dark & oversized. My boyfriend calls my style "granny" - but what does he know about fashion. pppshhht! I dress evening during the day and black is my go-to colour.

snip snip... I cut off the bottom and the top detailing

 This is the after result, I layered it over a black maxi dress (my staple item) and layered some chains (which seem to be doing their own thing in this pic). The edges are rough still, but I love it! Its nice to have those detailed vests to slip over dresses and tops you wear over and over.

close up shot!

I love it, nice to have another item in my closet that is recycled, instead of just given to charity and then complaining I have nothing to wear. I have more old garments to snip up, check again soon! xox

well hello there!

Well hello fellow interneters. Im not much of a writer so thats why my blog lacks some pizaz and I have been thinking about what I could put on hedre that would interest me. I have been doing many DIY things since I moved into my flat! Hoping to go more into those and show everyone how I do it and what you'll need! one of my favourite bloggers who does something similar is http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/, I love her blog and follow it religiously!  A few things ive completed recently that I will share about soon!