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In this world the culture of quick fixes and throw away fashion it is always great to find an entreupreneurs reviving an artform from days gone by. Making useful items that are not only beautiful to look at, but also long lasting, environmentally friendly and just plain great to look at. Today’s finds are just such items.

Bohovio

Macrame, the art of memories, that fabulous plant hanging knotted art. taking a mere fern to heights of arty hippy chic. Who doesn’t remember making macrame decorated with those large wooden beads stolen from dads car seat cover…

True happiness in life comes from doing what you love, what you are passionate about. It’s the incredible feeling of pride when people appreciate your work, the feeling of satisfaction when you know that you’ve put every ounce of yourself into it. It’s the excitement to start a new project that lets you know that you love what you’re doing. And that’s exactly the impression that I get when chatting to Willene, owner of Bohovio. Her beautiful work with pottery and macrame truly express her passion, love and free spirited nature.

As Wilene tells me,  “The original BOHOVIO gypsy grew up in Bethlehem, a small town situated in the picturesque eastern Free State. She is a creative soul, obsessed with clouds and can not walk past something pretty without touching it.”

Wilene is a wild and free soul, more comfortable barefoot, searching for beauty to get her creative juices flowing. She loves authentic out of the ordinary decor that takes every day items to a hippy boho level – far from the everyday finds in your local mall. It was this love of the not ordinary that was the catalyst for BOHOVIO, Bohemian Vibes Studio started in January 2017.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfOH53EFBH9/?taken-by=poppy_locket

You can find BOHOVIO and all their beautiful creations on Facebook on the following link: www.facebook.com/bohovio

The Bamboo Project

Finally a stylish alternative to the single use plastic straw, which take decades to biodegrade, shockingly in the U.S alone up to 500 million single-use plastic straws are used daily… D A I L Y, yes you read right!!! DAILY.

Introducing The Bamboo Project.

Dylan and Daniella worked for two years in Vietnam and are passionate about empowering not only local south african communities but, those in Vietnam as well. Their straws are 100% natural and 100% handmade. At all levels we ensure fair labour practices are adhered to. All their bamboo is harvested in Panda free zones.

In all their dealings, they advocate for responsible development which will ensure environmental sustainability for generations to come.

Bamboo, the perfectly environmentally effective material, it is the fastest growing plant on the planet, absorbs more carbon dioxide, and releases 30% more oxygen than any other plant. It is lightweight, durable, strong and biodegradable. It is therefor the obvious choice for biodegradable straws.

The Bamboo Project’s Vision: The Bamboo Project aims to use this powerful plant to change the mindset around single-use plastic products, namely plastic straws. In our everyday lives we reuse; knives, forks, spoons, plates and cups. So why not reuse straws?

The Bamboo Project offers sustainable non-plastic alternatives to single-use plastic items currently used in South Africa and the world. We hope to change mindsets around plastic consumption and to eventually be in a position to donate a portion of our revenue to environmental protection agencies. Be the change you want to see in the world and say ‘no’ to plastic straws.

Find then at http://www.thebambooproject.co.za

    The Art of Reinvention… In this world the culture of quick fixes and throw away fashion it is always great to find an entreupreneurs reviving an artform from days gone by.

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The one thing that I love the most about shopping local are the incredible treasures that you find along the way. A few of these treasures being Beauty and the Beard and Pure Primal.

I love finding brands that embrace the nature around them and work towards creating their own unique approaches to an alternative lifestyle. Which is exactly what they have worked hard to do. They have created incredible ranges of luxury natural skincare and holistic products. Products that range from facial masks, facial serums to body butters.

Each brand bring their own unique take on natural holistic skincare and healthy lifestyle choices.

Beauty and the Beard

Purity, strength, resilience, power, simple yet still complex at the same time. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when I think about mother nature and her incredible ability to sustain life. For this reason, it is so vitally important for all of us as consumers and even businesses to become more aware of our impacts on the earth.

Beauty and the Beard was started when sisters Katie and Tarryn who both have a passion for the environment, Katie working as a designer of commercial spaces and Tarryn as an ecologist and environmental consultant in Cape Town decided that the time was ripe to develop a range of skin and homeware products that lessened the impact on the environment while still delivering a top quality product.

All the natural skincare products are free from harmful chemicals and packaged in glass and aluminum rather than plastic. Their homeware range is made from reclaimed timber, where possible, and designed to be functional, stylish quality pieces that will age well.

Both of their product ranges are inspired by the zero waste movement, encouraging people to reduce the amount of plastic used in their everyday lives. Find them on Facebook 

Review For Beauty and the Beard

A little while ago, I wrote an Instagram feature about the beautiful Cape Town based brand Beauty and the Beard.  They offer an incredible range of natural beauty products that are handmade and locally produced, with an incredible amount of care and passion.

Beauty and the Beard sent us a beautiful hamper of goodies to try out, which I was really excited to share with my younger sister Leku and hear her reviews on the product:

Hi there,

So over the past month and a bit, I’ve been trying out some really awesome products from Beauty and the Beard. These products included a face food, face mask, face mist as well as a delicious rose smelling lip balm (which I absolutely love).

So my plan was to see how these products fitted into my everyday routine and how it worked with the products I was use to.

So my whole routine worked around doing my normal face washing (with just an average drug store brand), then I would spray a little of the face mist onto my skin and gently wipe off with a clean face cloth. Once this was done, I would then work the Face food into my skin (just after cleansing) and I would leave it to quickly soak in. I absolutely loved this product!!! There’s very little to no sent which I really liked. And the product has a soft gel like consistency that soaks in very quickly and leaves the skin beautifully soft and supple without feeling greasy at all . After this I actually found that I didn’t really need to use a face cream but if you do, the products don’t feel like they create a heaven build up on your skin.

I also incorporated their face mask into a twice a week routine. Which was just amazing, it’s really easy to mix up the powder to form a paste. I actually like mixing it up myself because then the remaining product is easy to store and really isn’t messy at all.

Once I mixed up everything, I simply applied to my face and just left for the 20 minutes (as instructed) and rinsed off. I found that this mask left my skin feeling very fresh and clean, it had a very pretty subtle smell, it was easy to rinse off and my skin just felt so beautiful afterwards.

So all and all I think it was a great success. I really really loved their products.

Pure Primal

Our bodies absorb a large portion of the product we apply every day. From head to toe. Whether we’re washing our hair, applying face cream, using deodorant or scrubbing away in our bathtubs. Our bodies, externally and through absorption internally, come into contact with everything we use. Which is why it is so important to know what goes into our goodies and how these products could possibly affect us in the long run.

Pure Primal Skin takes this issue very seriously. They have worked hard to create a range of skincare products that are clean, simple and derived from all natural ingredients. A range that creates the perfect balance and harmony between ancient traditions and modern research. A brand that has created a variety of Free range Nguni & Game Tallow skincare products. Carefully made to work with our skin and provide the elements our skin so desperately craves. ·

Sylvie, the founder of Pure Primal Skin was inspired to live a more simple life. Sylvie says that after a diagnosis of and aggressive form of liver and skin cancer she found that changing her food, nutrition and lifestyle choices, she changed her outlook on life and her diagnoses. Sylvie says “I want to bring to all of South Africa the best health options, without frills or fanciness, so everyone can afford it! Here’s to health and HAPPY DAYS!”

She started to engage with the ancient traditions and to learn from the old Voortrekker secrets to skincare and simplicity of life. It was here, where she soon discovered the magical properties that certified free range and grass fed rendered animal fat, or tallow has for our skin and bodies. A product that aligns with our skins needs and cravings so perfectly. An old fashioned secret to healing and longevity. ·

And so Pure Primal Skin was born. Offering an incredible range of bioidentical, 100% waterless, natural and artisan skincare. That is sustainably sourced and locally made. ·

“Organic, Natural, Local, sustainable, raw, autoimmune-friendly and non-toxic home, body and pantry items all promoting health PRIMALLY!!”

http://www.pureprimal.co.za

I would love to give a huge thank you to @pureprimalskin for sending me through this incredible hamper to test out. Filled with yummy skin products such as their incredible cleanse, exfoliate, detox face bar, their face moisturizer as well as a divine jar of their skin food 🙌🙌 · · In case you missed it, I posted about @pureprimalskin a few weeks ago on my instagram feed so please check them out if you haven't already. @pureprimalskin provides proudly South African certified free range tallow skincareproducts that are #crueltyfree · Supports grass fed cattle · All products are #freerange · They believe in humanely raised & culled farming principals of happy cows 🙌 · · Also keep your eyes open for our exciting reviews and blog features about @pureprimalskin coming up. #lovezabuyza #lovelocalza #skinecare #madeinza

A post shared by taryn.rudling (@poppy_locket) on Apr 6, 2018 at 3:59am PDT

Review for Pure Primal 

So, a little while ago I received a beautiful package from Pure Primal containing a gorgeous selection of skin care products. From a Charcoal based Artisan Face Bar, moisturising face cream to the most divine scented jar of Mandarin Skin food. The best treat a girl could ask for.

First off, what made me so excited about using this brand is their incredible attention to producing a sustainable skincare range that draws its inspiration from the past and our ancestors ways for good skin health. Ways that were environmentally friendly and conscious of their surroundings.

Their range is cruelty free and all ingredients are sourced from ethically run local farms in their area. Which I think is absolutely amazing. But enough said about that, lets talk about the products that we got to review. The first product (which was my favorite from the set) was the Verbena & Mandarin skin food (aka whipped body butter). The first thing that I noticed when opening it up was the incredible smell. I’m always one for a yummy smelling product. It sort of reminded me of one of the lemon grass candles I once picked up during an outing to Kalk Bay, which has quickly become one of my favorite scents. You’ll also notice that their body butter range are all solid as their products don’t contain water (which dehydrates the skin) in them. But this really isn’t an issue, all I did was scoop out a little bit (a little really goes a long way), heated it up in my hands and then messaged the butter into my skin. Such an incredible product, especially during the dry winters.

Then there was the Pure Primal Face Moisturiser. I really enjoyed adding this product to my skin care regime. It’s just such a great basic product which I believe is essential. It’s a good old fashioned facial moisturiser- No frills, no perfumes or any other  nasty additives. I found this product to be (texture wised) very similar to a lip balm that then melts beautifully in your hands. I also found that it left your face feeling silky smooth and soft to the touch without feeling heavy or oily at all. In fact it was recommended for people with “oily” skin.

And finally, I was sent through their 3C Face Bar. 3C being Charcoal, Cocoa and Clay 🙂 This product I asked my sister, Emma, to review. She often suffers from bad breakouts during the month and I thought that she might enjoy a facial bar created to cleanse, exfoliate and detox the skin.

Here’ s a bit of her feedback: Hi, I really enjoyed this facial bar, it definitely helped the condition of my skin and left it feeling soft and not dry at all. I loved the faintly medicinal smell of the bar. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a mild cleansing bar.

  Beauty in the eye of the beholder The one thing that I love the most about shopping local are the incredible treasures that you find along the way.

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Shout Outs

Waddle On

From an early age when my parents took me to Boulders near Simonstown to see the penguins I have been facinated by them. I was so happy to find Martine and WaddleOn a company that sells socks to raise funds for SANCOBB in Cape Town.

Martine has an absolute passion for conservation and penguins in particular, having focussed her honours studies, hands on work and interneship and volunteering at both SANCOBB (since 2014) and Two Oceans Aquarium (since 2010) In 2016 Martine became a casual penguin keeper. Waddle on Socks was born out of the desire to help these critically endangered cuties.

The initial collection consists of 4 complimentary pair designs and introduces wearers to Rocky (at SANCCOB) and Ms Harold (at Two Oceans Aquarium).  The ultimate gifts for penguin lovers and funky sock collectors alike. – http://www.waddleonsocks.com

By Jacci Rudling (Guest Author)

Stone Lodge Elegant Wholefood

Carla, as she says had the priveledge of growing up, and living on a beautiful farm, sharing her love of food with friends and family through the years. Its was during one of these friendly dinners that the host turned to her and said that the salad dresssing he had brought ‘Needed to be marketed’ and that was the start of the journey that is Stone Lodge Elegant Wholefood.

Their range Goji Ginger Granola, Nut and Seed Granola both come in different sizes abd are gluten free, grain free, dairy free Herb Dressing, nut free, dairy free, gluten free and no added sugar and Basalmic and Chilli Dressing which is egg free, dairy free, gluten free and no added sugar. – www.stonelodge.co.za

By Jacci Rudling (Guest Author)

Reviews

Beauty and the Beard

A little while ago, I wrote an Instagram feature about the beautiful Cape Town based brand Beauty and the Beard.  They offer an incredible range of natural beauty products that are handmade and locally produced, with an incredible amount of care and passion.

Beauty and the Beard sent us a beautiful hamper of goodies to try out, which I was really excited to share with my younger sister Leku and hear her reviews on the product:

Hi there,

So over the past month and a bit, I’ve been trying out some really awesome products from Beauty and the Beard.

These products included a face food, face mask, face mist as well as a delicious rose smelling lip balm (which I absolutely love).

So my plan was to see how these products fitted into my everyday routine and how it worked with the products I was use to.

So my whole routine worked around doing my normal face washing (with just an average drug store brand), then I would spray a little of the face mist onto my skin and gently wipe off with a clean face cloth. Once this was done, I would then work the Face food into my skin (just after cleansing) and I would leave it to quickly soak in. I absolutely loved this product!!! There’s very little to no sent which I really liked. And the product has a soft gel like consistency that soaks in very quickly and leaves the skin beautifully soft and supple without feeling greasy at all . After this I actually found that I didn’t really need to use a face cream but if you do, the products don’t feel like they create a heaven build up on your skin.

I also incorporated their face mask into a twice a week routine. Which was just amazing, it’s really easy to mix up the powder to form a paste. I actually like mixing it up myself because then the remaining product is easy to store and really isn’t messy at all.

Once I mixed up everything, I simply applied to my face and just left for the 20 minutes (as instructed) and rinsed off. I found that this mask left my skin feeling very fresh and clean, it had a very pretty subtle smell, it was easy to rinse off and my skin just felt so beautiful afterwards.

So all and all I think it was a great success. I really really loved their products.

Wild Flower

Evening showers have quickly become one of my favorite times of the day, especially when you have a delicious sugar scrub waiting for you. So a little while ago, if you remember my unveiling video on Instagram, I was sent a beautiful Rose Geranium hand crafted natural body (sugar) scrub from Wild Flower. Which has been so much fun to try out.

So if you love the sweet smell of rose jam, then this is the product is for you. The perfect sweet touch to end off the day.

The sugar scrub is made from a beautiful selection of natural oils that melt while you use it in the shower. And just fill the room with a sweet sweet and completely irresistible scent.

I just love how soft and smooth this scrub leaves your skin feeling. I love that it’s made from rose petals and natural oils. I love that it’s handmade and locally produced. I absolutely love love this product.

Thank You

Finally, I would love to say a huge thank you to Her Lief for sending me through two beautiful sets of earrings, each unique and quirky in their own way.

If you would love to find out more please check out my full feature about their incredible brand and their effort to create something beautiful and new from old recycled products. Click here

  Local Finds, 26th of May Shout Outs Waddle On From an early age when my parents took me to Boulders near Simonstown to see the penguins I have been facinated by them.

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“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers

Print. Pattern. Socks. It’s an obvious match made in heaven. I love pattern, I love design and I just love socks, so I am just so excited to be showcasing Feat Sock Company, a Cape Town company delivering fabulous patterned socks which tell a story, each of them different, each of them colourful.

The last in my series of guest blogs for Poppy Locket. It’s been a blast and I can’t wait to return. Chat soon. Jacci Freimond Rudling.

There are so many small local businesses in South Africa doing what small ethically minded businesses do. Supporting local business, making sure that their sphere of influence is benefitting small local support enterprises, feeding into the local community. They say that by supporting small business, one is supporting a family, helping someone to achieve a dream, sending a child to school.

Chelsey from Feat Sock Company studied fashion design after leaving school and discovered a love of story telling through fashion. She says its wonderful to be able to tell a story through a collection, “I get to create little colourful, mobile art pieces that people walk around wearing every day, and that makes me very happy!”

The main aim of Feat is to provide customers with a fun, high quality product that supports local manufacturing industry. We are all aware of how the trend of producing clothing items in the east has decimated our local manufacturing sector. Chelsey sees it as part of their responsibility as entrepreneurs to support local industry and educate consumers about the necessity of supporting local brands. This, she says, has a direct effect on our local economy and the lives of South Africans seeking jobs.

Chelsey says that the response to their company has been amazing, with people recognising a quality South African product. Chelsey says that meeting customers and chatting about her business really helps to drive home the fact that people are buying and wearing a true South African brand.

Chelsey says that “Not only is production local, directly supporting local communities, but many of my sock designs reflect inspiration drawn from local animals, environments, flora, local pastimes (ie. surfing), etc…it makes locals proud to wear socks that are inspired by their beautiful country, and it also means that tourists buying my socks take home a little piece of Cape Town. When they take their new socks home, I believe the socks will start conversations about our wonderful country and draw more people here holidaying and supporting our economy.” Unfortunately, with the cotton industry having dwindled, the cotton for the socks is imported, but the packaging is sourced locally from recycled paper.

As far as sustainability goes Chelsey says”I think that sustainably and ethically produced products are the way forward, and something we need to push more and more. We as consumers, need to be more aware of where our products come from and who is making them. And as entrepreneurs, it is our responsibility to support local as far and wide as possible…it can only benefit us in the long run, both personally and commercially. We have to realise that there are beings involved in the making of the products we wear and produce…to ignore this is irresponsible and unethical.”

  Feat Socks. Socks your feet will be proud to wear! “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers…

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The trick is to find the style that is right for you. When it comes to trying new clothes, my advice is not to take it too seriously – it’s all about having fun. Twiggy

Hi, me again, Jacci Freimond Rudling, guest blogger.

I just love vintage, upcycled clothing that is wearable and will last forever!!!! I am an avid follower of Livia Firth and her Eco-Age agency, a brand that is ‘turning the red carpet green’ on extravaganza at a time. They say, “Eco-Age is committed to helping brands to create a culture of purpose. At a time when consumers, employees, businesses and investors have an unprecedented interest and alignment with positive social and environmental impacts” and “Whether in Colombian mines, Bangladeshi factories or Italian silk mills, our teams assess all aspects of the supply chain. We visit our clients’ suppliers. We experience, first hand, the employees’ conditions and environments. We make recommendations, working closely with brands and suppliers. Our criteria align with principles covering social justice, corporate accountability and environmental stewardship.”

In south africa we are still at the baby steps position, but, there are so many small companies doing just this on a small scale, no celebrities, no hype, just a quiet determination to do things right, better.

Introducing Elaine Blom, fashion force behind Sunshine Daisy, upcycled and ready to wear vintage clothing. Elaine grew up on in the countryside where the local library supplied her passion for fashion from an early age with a steady supply of US Vogue magazines. From the age of thirteen she knew where her passion lay, she says “I just knew if I can design beautiful clothing I’ll do this for the rest of my life!” Her mother worked for a wedding dress designer and had the knowledge to pass on, pattern making and cutting, Elaine just had to stand ready to learn.

Elaine studied fashion at Stellenbosch, and as a student, and being broke, like all students, she discovered the second hand shops in town…. this opened up a whole new avenue for her creativity. Being a fashion student, you are taught to be fashion forward, daring  and inventive, buying a jersey for R5 and upcycling it and bang… a jersey that looks like a million dollars.

It was at that time that Sunshine Daisy was born, selling upcycled vintage dresses, a year later, bored with just adding to someone else’s creations, Elaine started a Ready-To_Wear Range. Sunshine Daisy has a strong ethical and environmental interest, passing on skills to the community and in that way hopefully growing the economy. Elaine says, that without their clients, they have no business and aim to develop longstanding relationships with them.

Elaine loves to create clothing with a classic preppie look, soft feminine florals teamed with polka dots is a favourite combination. For the bold customer, Elaine loves to ctreate striking pieces that can be dressed up or down.

Sunshine Daisy is passionate about supporting local, “I love to support and give to my local South African community. As a local brand I feel that we understand that we need help to build our dreams. Help in this sense is definitely to be able to employ a seamstress, pattern maker, and to have fabric stores available to purchase fabrics and make products to sell and inevitably be able to sustain one self and those you employ.”

In their striving to be environmentally friendly, Sunshine Daisy uses locally sourced Cotton, Rayon, Viscose and Linen fabric and their labels are printed on bamboo paper. They believe that doing this helps – one step at a time – to maintaining a healthy environment. Sunshine Daisy is a brand that’s build on sustainability. Our products are manufactured by hand here in South Africa.

Favourites in the range? “It’s difficult to say which is my favourite item from my SS 2017/18 range, I love them ALL. I love classic pieces so if I should choose one I’d say the Klaradyn Dress. With a luscious off shoulder neckline, fitted midi length and bright Red colour, this dress sure will be the next ‘Take me on a Date’ Dress in your cupboard.”

“Favourites among our customers is the BLOSSOM T’S, in All the colours the BLOSSOM DAY Dress with its feminine soft look, CLARA Dress and Blouse with the soft preppy sleeve, MARIGOLD Dress- which is made from a more luxurious fabric for those special occasions, BETTY Dress – with a high classic boat neck and soft Rayon polka and finally the DOLLY Dress with the shoulder detail.”

Sunshine Daisy is on Facebook – @sunshinedaisyclothing

    Sunshine Daisy, Fashion Forward Vintage. The trick is to find the style that is right for you. When it comes to trying new clothes, my advice is not to take it too seriously…

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Nilla - Slow clothing

Nilla – Slow clothing

“Call it eco fashion if you like, but, I think it is just common sense” Livia Firth

Presenting Nilla Clothing by guest blogger Jacci Freimond Rudling. Just as we relate to the concept of slow food. Food that is created with time, love and care, so Nilla is the home of clothes created to speak of a time gone by, a time where clothes were made with love and care, where quality took time, and…

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An Ancient Tonic

“The best six doctors anywhere and no one can deny it – are sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise and diet.” Wayne Fields

A guest blog by Jacci Freimond Rudling.

Lauren from Aceso Culture is a wellness coach with qualifications in sports science as well as nutritional therapy. She walked a long path suffering from candida as well as bloating and indigestion before discovering the the benefits of a…

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Digging  Today I think Only with scents- scents dead leaves yield, And bracken, and wild carrot’s seed, And the square mustard field;

Odours that rise When the spade wounds the roots of tree, Rose, currant, raspberry, or goutweed, Rhubarb or celery;

The smoke’s smell, too, Flowing from where a bonfire burns The dead, the waste, the dangerous, And all to sweetness turns.

It is enough To smell, to…

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What is happiness? What is glee? What is that smile, she hides up her sleeve?

Is it expressed on our faces? Does it shine through our hearts? Or is it simply, The way that we feel, when we finally let go and dance.

Is happiness found in what we do? Is it found in what we say? Is happiness found in our excitement, for the start of a brand new day?

Whatever it is. However, you feel. Happiness is yours. It’s mine. It’s beautiful and real.

We all have those ‘little things’ in life that make us smile. Those things that make us happy on the inside. Whether it’s listening to a good old country tune, reading on a sunny afternoon or simply letting your creative juices run wild. There’s always that one thing to make us feel good. That one thing that gives us a warm glow, starting from our toes and working it’s happy way up to our nose. It’s the little things in life that we discover true happiness from.

Some people find happiness through creating. They find the beauty in the lines that contrast dark from light. They see the need in our world for uniqueness and expression. They see a place where imagination and understanding meet. A place where our dreams, our ideas become possibilities. A beautiful place. A happy place.

I couldn’t think of a better way to start this week off than engaging with our happy places. And most importantly, discussing a local brand that is all about embracing their uniqueness, their quirky aspects to create a range of products that trully express the happiness and love of their designer. So, it gives me a greate pleasure to introduce you to Kaatjie Produkte.

I came across this incredible brand earlier this year. From the moment that I saw her work, I just fell in love with it. Malani, the incredible talent from Kaatjie Produkte, has created a beautiful range of acrylic paintings, handmade gifts and goodies as well as an incredible selection of screen printings. Made with the soul purpose of making life a little more quirky and beautiful, in her own unique way.

…if it makes people smile and happy, I’m a happy camper!

“I started Kaatjie Produkte about two years ago. Although my day job is very enjoyable (I’m a journalist at an Afrikaans newspaper) I missed being creative… I came from a creative family.  I’ve walked around with the idea of a small business for a very long time, until my mom gave me a ticket to a screenprinting workshop as a Christmas gift… I enjoyed it a lot – it was then that I realized I must get my act together and do something with all the ideas in my head! I’m proudly South African and believe in the products of local businesses  – it’s a way to show the outside world that South Africa has a lot of wonderfull things and talent… Kaatjie Produkte was born in the garage of my house in Stellenbosch… My acrylic range is named Howzit Rosie – both Kaatjie and Rosie are my cats.  The journey so far was not easy, but so fulfulling. It takes up a lot of ones capital and time, but I don’t regret my decision.”

Some of my personal favourites from the Kaatjie Produkte range were her food themed acrylic paintings. I just loved them so much- there’s even a few hanging in my house as well as in the May Poppy Box. Which is why I was so super super excited about doing this post and being able to share her beautiful work with you.

Other paintings from her ranges include the Black Cat peanut butter, Marmite/Bovril as well as her delicious selection of Steri Stumpie paintings and so many (many) other yummy treats- just waiting for you.

So, if you would love to check out her range or see what other amazing products (from tea towels to coin bags) are available. Then please don’t hesitate to check out her Facebook page or pop in at the Blaauwklippen Family Market on a Sunday to say hii 🙂

  Until next time 🙂

  Kaatjie Produkte- Making life more quirky What is happiness? What is glee? What is that smile, she hides up her sleeve? Is it expressed on our faces?

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What is happiness? What is glee? What is that smile, she hides up her sleeve?

Is it expressed on our faces? Does it shine through our hearts? Or is it simply, The way that we feel, when we finally let go and dance.

Is happiness found in what we do? Is it found in what we say? Is happiness found in our excitement, for the start of a brand new day?

Whatever it is. However, you feel. Happiness is yours. It’s mine. It’s beautiful and real.

We all have those ‘little things’ in life that make us smile. Those things that make us happy on the inside. Whether it’s listening to a good old country tune, reading on a sunny afternoon or simply letting your creative juices run wild. There’s always that one thing to make us feel good. That one thing that gives us a warm glow, starting from our toes and working it’s happy way up to our nose. It’s the little things in life that we discover true happiness from.

Some people find happiness through creating. They find the beauty in the lines that contrast dark from light. They see the need in our world for uniqueness and expression. They see a place where imagination and understanding meet. A place where our dreams, our ideas become possibilities. A beautiful place. A happy place.

I couldn’t think of a better way to start this week off than engaging with our happy places. And most importantly, discussing a local brand that is all about embracing their uniqueness, their quirky aspects to create a range of products that trully express the happiness and love of their designer. So, it gives me a greate pleasure to introduce you to Kaatjie Produkte.

I came across this incredible brand earlier this year. From the moment that I saw her work, I just fell in love with it. Malani, the incredible talent from Kaatjie Produkte, has created a beautiful range of acrylic paintings, handmade gifts and goodies as well as an incredible selection of screen printings. Made with the soul purpose of making life a little more quirky and beautiful, in her own unique way.

…if it makes people smile and happy, I’m a happy camper!

“I started Kaatjie Produkte about two years ago. Although my day job is very enjoyable (I’m a journalist at an Afrikaans newspaper) I missed being creative… I came from a creative family.  I’ve walked around with the idea of a small business for a very long time, until my mom gave me a ticket to a screenprinting workshop as a Christmas gift… I enjoyed it a lot – it was then that I realized I must get my act together and do something with all the ideas in my head! I’m proudly South African and believe in the products of local businesses  – it’s a way to show the outside world that South Africa has a lot of wonderfull things and talent… Kaatjie Produkte was born in the garage of my house in Stellenbosch… My acrylic range is named Howzit Rosie – both Kaatjie and Rosie are my cats.  The journey so far was not easy, but so fulfulling. It takes up a lot of ones capital and time, but I don’t regret my decision.”

Some of my personal favourites from the Kaatjie Produkte range were her food themed acrylic paintings. I just loved them so much- there’s even a few hanging in my house as well as in the May Poppy Box. Which is why I was so super super excited about doing this post and being able to share her beautiful work with you.

Other paintings from her ranges include the Black Cat peanut butter, Marmite/Bovril as well as her delicious selection of Steri Stumpie paintings and so many (many) other yummy treats- just waiting for you.

So, if you would love to check out her range or see what other amazing products (from tea towels to coin bags) are available. Then please don’t hesitate to check out her Facebook page or pop in at the Blaauwklippen Family Market on a Sunday to say hii 🙂

  Until next time 🙂

  Kaatjie Produkte- Making life more quirky What is happiness? What is glee? What is that smile, she hides up her sleeve? Is it expressed on our faces?

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Hi there 🙂

Welcome to our Second Local Finds edition on this beautiful Saturday Evening. I have some exciting features install for you so sit, relax and enjoy.

Shout Outs:

Baby Yomi

For our first shout out tonight, I would like to introduce you to Baby Yomi. This incredible local brand focuses on creating a range of 100% Eco-Friendly baby wraps that are hand-made from only the finest sustainable and completely natural fibres in Cape Town 🙂

Baby Yomi focus on creating an environment for the mother or father to get to know their babies in the most natural way possible. They focus on creating a product that encourages the personal and natural contact between a parent and their beautiful little baby. “Our organic sustainable natural fibre one-way-stretch Baby Wrap gives you and your baby a safe, loving environment to get to know each other, carrying your baby in a hip abduction position which prevents hip dysplasia.” 

They have also made an incredible effort to support sustainability and eco-friendly measures throughout their production process. A mentioned previously, Baby Yomi, uses only natural organic (pesticide free) materials to create a product that is safe for both yourself, your baby and the environment, in the best way possible. “The hemp organic cotton blend is a sustainable natural material that is hypo-allergenic, UV resistant, durable and a good temperature regulator.”

If you would like to find out more about this incredible brand or check out some of the baby wraps that they have available, please head over to their Hello Pretty shop 🙂

Oh! Poppyseed

Oh boy Oh boy Oh Poppyseed, this looks good.

Our next brand is one of a tastier variety. An all plant-based ‘tastier variety’. Oh! Poppyseed is a local brand that produces their own delicious ‘veggie’ take on the South African traditional treat, biltong. Their incredible range is powered by plants but every bit as delicious as its meaty counterparts.

“Oh! Poppyseed has a purpose: to help everyone live a healthier, more ethically sound and environmentally sustainable lifestyle by providing delicious, meaty products… without the meat.”

From start to finish, Oh! Poppyseed has stayed true to their core principals when it comes to producing a product that is not only good for you but at the same time conscious of the environment and their community. From packaging their product in biodegradable packaging, creating a delicious biltong treat that is high in protein with little to no cholesterol to donating 10 percent of their profits to animal rights organisations in South Africa. What could be better than a delicious treat that does so much for everything and everyone.

The Yummy Vegan

The perfect place to find the best comfort food in Cape Town, The Yummy Vegan.

If you’re looking for a delicious vegan styled home cooked meal. The kind of feel-good comfort food that will warm you up from head to toe on one of those cold wintery Cape Town nights. Well, look no further because The Yummy Vegan has got you covered. And better yet, they even have a yummy range of conveniently frozen dishes ready and available at selected Spars.

But, that’s not all. Every Saturday from 9 am – 2 pm, at the Old Biscuit Mill you can also catch the Yummy Vegans serving up some delicious treats from Mushroom Biltong, Organic Corn Nachos to Cottage Pie and even a little something sweet on the side. Or if you’re someone who loves to create your own Yumminess, they also offer the incredible opportunity for home-based cooking classes 🙂 Where you can learn and create in the comfort of your own home.

“Our vision is to so showcase how easy veganism and plant-based cooking is.”

We are Lionhearted

It being the month that we pay homage and show our love and devotion to our beautiful mothers all over South Africa. I thought that it would be a perfect fit this Saturday evening to share We are Lionhearted with you 🙂

We are Lionhearted is a South African brand that “exist to nurture a sustainable lifestyle… Our desire is to empower women, lest they may unveil the lion heart within.” We are Lionhearted has created a brand that is for woman, woman of every generation. Woman of the past, the present and the future.

“The essence of being Lionhearted is a distinguishing nature that sets us apart from the moment we declare who we are and what we swear by. We, the brand, act as a platform for all women driven to acquire the choice to remain seen and heard.”

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Reviews:

Crede Natural oils Black Cumin Oil

Hi there, my name is Nigel Rudling. I’ve been trying out the Black Cumin oil from Crede Natural oils on behalf of Taryn.

I decided to test the cumin oil in 3 ways first was in a diffuser as an essential oil as it had a lovely nutty spicy Aroma when heated and worked really well on my diffuser. I thought that it had a very masculine fragrance a little bit like Sandalwood, in that it has Darker warmer tones but really did make the room great.

Then, The second option that I decided to try having look at ways to use cumin oil as a mouth Gargle in the evenings. I read that the oil had antiseptic properties so I thought that this would work really well, also I found that the oil had a really nice spicy taste. I put just a couple of drops into water (in a glass) and then gargled with it. It definitely freshens up your mouth and I found that the antiseptic properties helped a little with the gum disease that I had going on. I did it once a day in the Evenings and I think it’s definitely was a much more healthy alternative to commercial alcohol-based mouthwashes. I would definitely want to continue to use it as a mouthwash it that was probably my favourite way of using the oil.

Finally, The third way that I had decided to use it was as an additive in our salad dressings. They suggest you put a couple of drops into your normal sort of vinaigrette and so I used a bit of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and 3 drops of cumin oil in a vinaigrette style dressing on a salad of rocket leaf, spinach, olives and tomatoes 🙂

I think that this product is a really great versatile product to use, with amazing immune boosting properties.

Thank you.

    Local Finds- 12th of May Hi there 🙂 Welcome to our Second Local Finds edition on this beautiful Saturday Evening. I have some exciting features install for you so sit, relax and enjoy.

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Nature has an elegant beauty to her strength. She is both powerful yet gentle. Both resilient yet vulnerable. She is everything that she needs.

Nature is the source of her own strength. She is self- reliant. She is efficient and hard working. She is the perfect amalgamation of living and non-living; of microscopic and macroscopic.

She is every race. She is every gender. She is every species. Her biodiversity is the true essence of her strength and beauty.

As the human race, we have always been thought of as a selfish race. As a species only out for themselves. We take from the Earth, we take from the other species around us, without a second thought. And what for? To simply better ourselves, to ensure our own survival and happiness. But are we really that bad? I think that there are tons of brands around us, not just local but also international, that have created the perfect balance between loving ourselves and also learning to love nature. Brands that have found ways of working with nature, of contributing to her health and development and don’t simply just “take for themselves”. These are brands that are mindful of the chemicals they use, mindful of their production processes, their sourcing methods and ultimately the message that they send off into society. And I think that it is vitally important to recognise these efforts, to praise these successes and to learn from their achievements.

In the past few months alone, I have come across a variety of incredible brands (both local and international), brands that inspire me and I hope in turn inspire you as well. Brands that might not have their methods and practices perfect but are aware and try to improve wherever possible. Brands that do their best to educate those around them and are always happy to share their knowledge with us. These are the brands that I want to write about, to share with you and to get their message across in the best way that I can possibly manage. These brands mean the world to me and it has been my absolute pleasure to have had the opportunity to share their stories.

One such brand that I would love to talk about is Cherish Beauty.  Cherish Beauty is a local South African skincare and beauty brand. A brand that has worked hard to create their own perfect balance between beauty and Nature. A balance that pays homage to the wisdom and knowledge that Mother Nature has to offer while creating a line of products that work seamlessly to address all the needs of their wearer and allows her to “harness her true inner beauty, naturally”.

“My brand philosophy is all about Love for the self and Love for the Earth.  Mother Nature really does know best and all the answers are provided in Nature.  My focus is on keeping products as natural and wholesome as possible, whilst delivering the powerful benefits that can be found in all the wonderful organic oils, herbal extracts and other natural ingredients.”

Cheryl Lotter, the brilliant brains behind Cherish Beauty, has created a brand that she can truly be proud of. A brand that knows their values, their beliefs and the core principles that they can stand by and trust. They have made every effort to be conscious of their actions, not only towards the environment or the physical well-being of their customers but also in the message that they send through to society. Their message that encompasses the idea of true beauty being a natural beauty. One that can be achieved through the proper love and care of oneself.

“I believe in making self-care a life focus, and not just a treat every now and again, and I try to ensure each and every one of my products are designed around this theme.”

There’s such an incredible story behind the face of Cherish Beauty and how it came to be. A story that allows you to truly understand how this brand was created with real everyday people in mind. People who don’t have that perfect skin, people whose bodies and health go through ups and downs, good times and bad times. People who are tired of buying products that don’t actually focus on their needs, that sometimes even work against their bodies, not for it. People who want to know that the products they use are designed to work with their bodies, naturally.

The story all started after Cheryl had entered her young-adult life stage. She soon began to develop numerous health issues, one of which was adult acne and highly sensitive skin- something that I can closely relate to. Doing what most of us have done, Cheryl tried, to no avail, many different brands to find that right solution- that miracle worker to solve all our skincare nightmares. “I discovered, through trial and error, that conventional and so-called “good” skincare products are not always made with the best ingredients for the skin, and in fact can actually aggravate sensitive skin conditions.”

Later on, during her years of studying a Diploma in Diet and Nutrition, Cheryl started to learn “all about the skin and how it was related to the rest of the health of the body… also learnt about how artificial additives and chemicals can negatively affect the health of my skin (as well as my overall health!).” This important realisation helped her to see that “chemicals in conventional personal care products are often not selected for our health and benefit.” This actually inspired her to start experimenting with making her own skincare products. Products that helped to show a vast improvement in her overall skin health and eventually people started to ask about her products and ideas, they began to show an interest in her natural solutions.

Cheryl eventually went onto complete a Diploma in Formulating Organic Skincare Products and so Cherish Beauty was born.

“I continue to study and research as I honestly believe I’ll never finish learning – it’s such an exciting area of development and more and more people are becoming aware that natural really is better!”

“I believe my brand encourages the drive towards purity of body and mind, providing a skincare solution that is actually beneficial to mind and body every time it is used.”

Cherish Beauty is a brand that works to encourage a drive towards the purity of both the body and mind. A drive to create natural skincare solutions that will work to not only heal but also restore and cleanse both the mind and the body, everytime it’s used. “My brand highlights the importance of designing your life around a habit of excellent self-care, as you cannot pour from an empty cup.  In this day and age where the pace of life is at break-neck speed, I believe it is important to focus on excellent self-care inside and out, and I create my products to help people do this.”

But what would a healthy body and mind be without a healthy environment? Well, quite simply they would be utterly redundant. Our environment plays such an intricate and important role in our overall health and mental state. It’s important to take care of each of these individual aspects in order to achieve a holistic approach to your well being. A concept that Cherish Beauty has made all efforts to support, “I also endeavour to use packaging that is recyclable, reusable and as eco-friendly as possible.  I am always keeping my eyes open for better and more sustainable packaging solutions!  I am vehemently opposed to plastics and try as far as possible to keep any plastics to a minimum in my packaging.”

Everything in our lives is connected to one another. From the choices that I make to the choices that you make. From the choices that brands make to the choices that we as consumers make. Each and every decision will have a ripple effect that affects our lives, our communities lives and the environment around us. If brands, such as Cherish Beauty, make the conscious decision to create ethical products for their clients and we the consumers decide to support and encourage these brands it creates a changing force on the market available to us. A change for products that take environmental awareness seriously, that take our health and well-being into consideration and ultimately products that encourage transparency and honesty behind their motivations.

“I believe that dedication to making products using only natural and organic ingredients, in as complete a form as possible, is the answer to a healthier planet, and to that of her inhabitants.”

Cherish- Beauty By Nature Nature has an elegant beauty to her strength. She is both powerful yet gentle. Both resilient yet vulnerable.

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Information in our modern society is always right at our fingertips. Ready and easily available to use. Whether we’re out shopping, in our gardens or on our way to work, our trusted source of information is always with us.

Have a question, simply search online for an answer. It’s literally that simple. There’s an entire world of knowledge available to us, all the time. Information that has become a powerful tool for consumers who want to be more conscious, who want to know what they’re buying and the effects it can potentially have on our bodies and health. It’s a tool that our community has available. A tool that ultimately allows us to hold brands accountable for their products and their methods of producion.

Information and technology are vital tools that if used correctly can improve our lives, better our understanding and ultimately broaden our knowledge. Knowledge of what’s available to us, knowledge about different brand’s values and practices, knowledge about new processes and production methods available that are not only better for our health but also the well-being of our environment. And most importantly, the knowledge that allows us to know what products are safe, what can be trusted and what brands have our best interests at heart. So that when you go to the shop and purchase your goodies, you can make the best informed decision.

Our skin is one of our largest organs in our bodies. Often, without evening knowing it, we potentially put our health at risk on a daily basis. Risk from the chemicals we apply to our skin, the shampoos we use to wash our hair or the makeup that we cover our faces with. Often these products can contain potentially harmful ingredients. Ingredients that our skin just soaks in. I don’t know if you knew- it wasn’t something that I really thought about before this year- but our clothing that we wear every day, are often made or processed using harmful chemicals as well. Did you know that to make the average pair of jeans, it can use up to about 8000 chemicals a time* And if you think about that, how many of those chemicals are potentially harmful?

These are ideas and concepts that the information, so readily available to us, has opened many of our eyes to. One such person was Michelle, the brains behind Ben Rabbit. This incredible local brand, which offers a beautiful selection of baby & toddler clothing as well as a natural skincare range, “was born from a desire to create beautifully made products for little people with an appreciation for great design, quality + natural products.” Products that would be safe for their little bodies, good for the environment and free from any nasty chemicals.

“We believe It is not only important to be aware of what we put in our bodies, but just as important to be aware of what we put on our bodies. Babies and children’s skin is extremely sensitive which is why we need to stay away from all those nasty chemicals that are harmful to one’s skin.”

“I believe in a lifestyle of buying quality over quantity. I am passionate about great design, durable and quality goods and organic products. Ben Rabbit aims to bring all these elements across in our product offering.”

  “The idea for Ben Rabbit was born when I was pregnant with my first child in 2014. At the time I really struggled to find 100% cotton clothing as well as brands with a quirky, artistic touch.”

Ben Rabbit offers two separate ranges on their site from their fun, edgy and modern designed kids and babies clothing range to their beautiful selection of baby skincare products, that are made from only the finest quality (all) natural ingredients. Their aim was to create a brand that addressed the needs and demands of the modern families in South Africa. The need to have products that are free from synthetic or harmful chemicals. Products made from locally sourced materials. Products that are environmentally aware with minimal eco-footprints. And most importantly, products that are non-harmful to our bodies, especially the little ones.

“Our apparel range consists of quality basics and timeless pieces. Our fabrics are sourced locally in South Africa and where possible we use 100% cotton providing comfort and quality, making dressing easy and safe for both baby and mom… All our skincare is 100% natural.”

It’s about creating modern and quirky pieces that stand out in the crowd, not only for their edgy and fun designs but also for their incredible quality and attention to the finer details. It’s about creating a brand that stands out from the rest, that customers know and can trust when it comes to their little ones. A brand that supports their community and takes great care in all that they do. A brand that truly values the health and safety of their customers, a value that forms a vital part of their core.

 It’s just as important to be aware of what you put on our bodies or skin as we are aware of what you put into our bodies. Especially when it comes to  our little ones!”

  I just fell in love with this brand from the moment I first came across them. I loved their values and efforts to support a healthier (clean) market space in South Africa. I love that they keep their brand transparent, what you see is what you get. And at the same time, they have just been an incredible and genuine brand to work with, whether it was on our Instagram posts or allowing us to feature their products in our Poppy Baby Box this month. It’s just been such an honour to have had these opportunities. And I look forward to seeing what they have in store for us.

Ben Rabbit- For The Little People Information in our modern society is always right at our fingertips. Ready and easily available to use.

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nothing better to do on a cold rainy day in South Africa than simply snuggle up under a warm blanket in front of the fire with a hearty home styled meal. It really doesn’t matter what age you are, we all need a little TLC meal (a Tender Loving Cooked Meal) every now and then. A little something to make us feel warm, loved and cared for. Whether you’re a beautiful bouncing baby ready for the big boy food, a hard-working mom in need of a little help around the house or a student away from home for the first time- we all need a little help. A little home-cooked meal delivered straight to your doorstep.

Which is why I would like to introduce you to Umatie, your convenient and healthy solution for all your upcoming winter food worries. They offer an incredible selection of pre-made homestyle meals. A little something for the babies, a little something for the kids and even a little something for the whole family. Each of their ready-made dishes is packed with locally sourced fresh ingredients without any of the nasties, free from GMO produce, no MSG, no colourants or any hydrogenated fats and definitely, no added chemicals that your grandmother wouldn’t be able to pronounce. Haha, that’s always been my moms rule, “Never eat anything that your Gran wouldn’t know how to pronounce.”

So if you’re looking for a quick, healthy and easy meal, one that you know was created from start to finish, from the soil to your dinner plate in a conscious ethical manner, then you’ve come to the right place.

Umatie was created by two sisters who shared a love, a passion and a talent for creating great quality food. A love that they wanted to share with their community. With the moms who wanted an alternative to shop bought processed food. With the families who need a little help at the end of a busy day. With the parents needing a quick balanced meal on the go. They wanted to create an accessible and affordable solution for their community. “We are just two sisters with a passion for good food…We still do everything how you would at home with no shortcuts – especially not the ingredients. In fact, we have perfected our meals to offer your baby or kiddie the best there is in terms of nutrition, texture and variety.”

“…hearty & delicious frozen meals for babies, kiddies and families.”

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“I can easily do this for a 100 babies!”

Anna and Judi, the beautiful sister duo behind Umatie started their incredible business out of a small cottage with one simple freezer, a big dream and a never-ending commitment to it.  A dream that has grown and still continues to grow every day. “…It has been a very rewarding journey – to have started something from scratch, to watch it grow, to receive positive feedback and most of all, to know that we’re helping little bodies to grow.”

They have managed to perfectly bring together their unique and diverse set of skills. Skills that have each played an important role in their business. “My graphic design background, Judi’s financial background and our joint love for cooking and good food, was a great combo for our business idea.” A business idea that has transformed into a successful local brand supplying franchises such as Spar and the Wellness Warehouse across the Western Cape.

The concept of a “personal touch” is very important in their brand from each and every product being done by hand, prepared and cooked on-site to all their meals being produced in small batches to ensure the best quality for your family. Every step of production is handled with love, care and the utmost attention to detail in order to produce the perfect home styled meal. Meals that your babies, your kids and your family will love.

Another very personal touch to their brand, which has to be my favourite, is the story behind their brand’s name. So, the story goes that “when Judi was a baby she loved tomatoes but could not pronounce “tamatie” (Afrikaans for tomato) properly and instead asked our mom to please give her “Umatie”.” I just love how it’s such a relatable story. We all at some point in our childhoods had that one word that always managed to escape us. That one word that no matter how much we tried, just never came out right. That one word that our parents still remind us about, that they still bring up at any social gathering or anytime an opportunity arises. That one simple word that would become your lifelong nickname or in this case the perfect name to fit the perfect home styled family business.

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“We source our raw ingredients from local suppliers and our high quality, free-range meat from a reputable family-owned butchery. Our packaging is manufactured by a local company too and we try and support new local brands on our social media. It is always great to support one another.”

Like I always say, it so incredible when you come across a local brand that goes out of its way to support their community on a variety of different platforms. Whether it supports through buying local materials and ingredients, supporting one another by sharing each other’s stories, brands and products or providing a service that is desperately needed by the people around them. Whichever way it is, I just think its so important for us to show this support, to help uplift our community and raise awareness for local companies available.

It was so nice to see the efforts that Umatie has taken to show their own form of support, to see their efforts to create a conscious brand that lives by a standard, an ethical standard. Just like every customer that has a choice, so does every brand have a choice. A choice to adhere to ethical practices, to implement environmentally conscious strategies and to ensure that their ingredients, materials and resources are collected and sourced in a sustainable manner in order to protect our natural environment. It’s a choice, it’s an admirable choice.

“We source our fresh produce from farmers who adhere to integrated farming or Global G.A.P… All the meat we use is from free-roaming animals not treated with any routine antibiotics. Our chicken is free range and the chickens are free to roam, raised stress-free and are free from growth promoters. Our lamb is from a family-run business with over 20 years’ experience. They only source quality lambs from local farmers and they can trace the lamb back to the farmer…”

Please check out below their incredible range of products that are made from scratch with only the finest ingredients, created for you and your family:

Perfect Purees From 6+ months Smooth texture, no bits Dinky Dinners From 7+ months Slight texture, mostly smooth Mighty Munch From 10+ months Slightly coarse, chunky bits Bulky Bites From 12+ months Bite-size, grown-up texture And last but not least; Soulful Suppers For the whole family (Mix and match family meals)

If you would like to find out more about Umatie or get in contact with these incredible women, please head over to their website below: Umatie

Until Next Time, XOXO

Umatie- For the LOVE of good food. nothing better to do on a cold rainy day in South Africa than simply snuggle up under a warm blanket in front of the fire with a hearty home styled meal.

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She is clothed with strength and dignity… Proverbs 31:25

What does it mean to be female? What makes us unique? Why does society label it a weakness to embrace the qualities that make us female, to embrace our own feminity?

There is nothing weak about being female. It takes strength, it takes power but most of all it takes an incredible amount of intelligence, hard work and perseverance to master the art of being Female.

We are strong because we care, because we show empathy. We are strong in our sense of resilience, in our ability to persevere. We are strong in our abilities to care for those around us, to show love and to continue to show love in a world that at times can be unkind. Weare strong, we are female.

There’s an unspoken strength in our ability to express our vulnerability, to know our fears, to embrace our faults and to learn from our failures. We have strength in our abilities to conquer life’s obstacles, to know our own intelligence when the world sometimes refuses to recognise it, to know our own abilities when those around us question them. To know and hold true to our values, our beliefs and what we stand for in a world that tries to lead us astray. We are strong, We are female.

There’s a beauty in our uniqueness, in our diversity. There’s a beauty in embracing the aspects of oneself that makes us female, that makes us a modern woman in a modern society. We are strong, we are female.

Theophilia has created a brand that draws it’s strength, creativity and inspiration from these qualities. The qualities that make each woman a leader in society. A strong, a resilient but most importantly an empowering figure in our communities.  They are a local based clothing brand with a passion for creating “beautiful garments that speak to the femininity and strength of its wearer”.

Their incredible brand is also committed to producing a fashion line that reflects their integrity, their beliefs and their philosophies as a company. A brand that works to create garments that encompass the true essence of a sustainable and ethical fashion line, practices that are enforced throughout every step of their manufacturing process. “Our love for clothing women in fine pieces is what drives the brand to offer garments of exceptional quality, practice a ‘slow-fashion’ approach that is kind to the environment and conducts itself in an honourable manner…”

“We design capsule collections centered around a theme or scripture and hope that with every garment sold, the message, encouragement and truth that is shared with the garment is carried through to the beautiful woman wearing it. It is our goal to empower, encourage and affirm the feminine heart in all its wonder and complexities.”

We all have our own way of impacting the world around us. Some of us use our voices, some of us use our written words and then some of us use our hands, our talents and skills to show the world what we think. Take, for instance, myself, I’m what you would call a “socially awkward” human. I’ve for the longest time suffered from debilitating social anxiety. However, I’ve always enjoyed discussing current or historical topics, in my own way. Even at school, my favourite subject uses to be History. I just enjoyed learning about different cultures and events that ultimately have worked to shape our world as we know it. There was just something about writing argumentative essays that I found so incredibly addictive. I think that this activity and process taught me an invaluable skill and method to share my views without having to be a loud and out there type of person. To let people know what I think or feel, in a way that I find comfortable and enjoyable.

So after chatting with Demi from Theophilia, I learnt that she too had discovered her own way to share her beliefs and ideas with those around her. To share and impact the lives of woman in our community through her clothing and what her brand stood for. “What inspired me to start it was my need to have some form of impact in the lives of the women around me. I wanted to encourage, affirm and empower them to be all that they were created to be.” Demi wanted to use her talents to be a changing force in our community. She knew that the fashion industry could often at times be negative towards the female body image, could often be the route behind poor self-esteem and low confidence of the woman in our society. She wanted to create her own unique line that worked to build woman up, to embrace their strengths and individuality rather than conform to societies ill-conceived standards. “It seemed like the perfect combination to use my brand as a platform to share a message of encouragement, hope and love.”

Throughout her clothing collection, many of her garments hold a unique message that is carried through them. Messages that hold true to her beliefs and the values that her brand has built themselves around. Messages such as “Clothed in Gladness”, “Joy”, “Chosen” and “For a time such as this”. Each and every one of these messages is carefully chosen to empower and uplift those who wear them.

“Our embroidered tees are meant to be conversation starters and used to enc­­­ourage empower and affirm.”

Theophilia is a beautiful Greek name, often given to girls, which means “Loved by God”. Demi mentioned that she had come across this name and fell in love with not only the meaning of it but also the incredible connection that she felt every person had with it. “I think whether we like to admit it or not we all want to know love and know that we are loved by someone and in some way.”

“God is within her, she will not fall.”  Psalm 46:5

This beautiful scripture has become the inspiring motto that Theophilia works by. It has become their message of strength, a message Demi wanted to share with her customers. To share that God loves unconditionally, that he is with us and in our everyday strengths. “Psalm 46:5 is my personal favourite scripture and encourages me to go after the good things my heart desires to achieve, to pursue it, work hard at it and not be scared off by hardship or failure because I have the assurance that if God is it in, it will be a success.”

It is her beliefs that guide Demi, that inspires her to empower those around her, to encourage and support the woman who not only wear her garments but also those who help create behind the scenes of Theophilia. It is her unwavering source of strength and commitment that has allowed her to create a brand that is in its own way manufactures a vital change in our community, an opportunity for empowerment and growth amongst woman.

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I would just like to say a huge thank you to Theophilia for sending me through their Leah Co-ord set in linen (Sky blue), which is also available in stripes 🙂

I love love love this set, it’s was just such a fun (quirky) and versatile garment set. Each item was so easy to combine with items from my wardrobe to create a whole collection of everyday looks, they could easily be dressed up or dressed down completely depending on the look you were trying to create. I just absolutely loved the fun vintage feel that they had. I loved how light and free the material felt and how easy it was to mix and match each individual piece or even play up the set as a whole.

Let me know what you think of the looks that I created and what ideas you have for playing with this set.

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Until next time,

xoxo

Theophilia- Encourage, Empower and Affirm the feminine heart She is clothed with strength and dignity... Proverbs 31:25 What does it mean to be female? What makes us unique?

[poppylocket]

Happy Saturday to everyone out there and welcome to our first Local Finds feature on Poppy Locket Blog. This feature will be a regular Saturday event, a place where I can share all the fascinating brands that I’ve come across lately. A place to share, interact and show support to our local community.

-Shout Outs-

-The Fat Whale-

I would like to give a special shoutout this afternoon to a local gift boutique in Ballito, The Fat Whale. As I’ve mentioned before I absolutely love coming across stores that work to support local brands that are around them and from all corners of South Africa. Which is why I was so excited to share The Fat Whale with you. They offer a beautiful curated collection of gifts and home decor items that are locally crafted as well as a few imported gems just for you.

“We’re inspired by our fellow South African’s. We love to give you a platform to show the world what you can imagine, design & create. Our aim is to tastefully combine both locally made and imported products.”

They offer a little something special for everyone, every age and every type of person. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for a loved one, the perfect decor item, something for your kitchen or something special (and made locally) for your kid. The Fat whale has you covered.

You can now even view all their items that are available (before going to their store) by checking out their online website. SO if you would like to find out more about the brands they offer, the items that they stock or if you’re just curious like me, head over to their site and take a quick peak.

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-Kleintjies-

Who says that kids can’t be fashionable. Who says that costumes have to be boring. Well, that’s one thing that Kleintjies would never say.

Kleintjies offers a gorgeous selection of specially made swimwear for babies and toddlers. A swimwear collection that truly captures their spirit for adventure, their happiness and excitement.

Kleintjies is handmade in South Africa, offering you a beautiful variety of local cozzies made for your special little human. A little something for the boys, a little something for the girls, a little something special to capture their unique personalities.

Their cozzies are made to be chlorine resistant and have a UPF of 50 plus to help keep your little ones safe while they have fun in the sun. To find out more about their incredible range please head over to either their Facebook page or their Instagram account.

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-Reviews-

City Girl Beauty

  So a little while ago I was sent the most beautiful package from City Girl Beauty to try out and review for you guys- I actually did a whole unveiling video on Instagram, which you can check out below, if you are interested 🙂

This week I’m going to review a few of her products (not all of them yet), the ones that I thought would be great for a “Get my body ready for winter” vibe. And so I decided to review the two delicious body scrubs, as well as her absolutely divine avo body cream (which FYI will be featured in one of our upcoming Poppy Boxes).

So… just before we begin here’s a quick look at my unveiling video that was posted on Instagram a little while ago:

!!Exciting things coming up!! · · So I've got some really exciting posts about @citygirlbeauty_ coming up over the next few weeks. I was sent this incredible hamper to try out from their skin care range, which is not only locally made but also cruelty free, so exciting 😊 So stay tuned. #crueltyfree #beautycare #skincare #local #loveza

A post shared by taryn.rudling (@poppy_locket) on Mar 24, 2018 at 8:50am PDT

So where do I begin… well as a “girl” living in Gauteng, you can always expect a dry cold winter that does it’s absolute best to leave your skin feeling dry, flaky and sore. Which can be quite annoying. Especially when you’re already feeling a little sorry for yourself after having to leave the warm safe confines of your cosy bed, to venture into the cold unknown and face the world once again. Which is why I would like to share the amazing products that I was given by City Girl Beauty. Products that I think are a must have, for a sweeter winter this year.

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Sugar Body Scrubs:

Can we please just take a quick second to truly appreciate the gorgeous designs on her packaging- each one is unique and utterly beautiful. I just loved the extra element is added to her products, it really made the whole experience of using her items so special.

So, these were one of my absolute favourites in the package that I received. I was sent one of her Quince me now (yellow packaging) and one of her Flower power (purple packaging) sugar body scrubs. Which were each yummy and divine in their own unique ways.

Quince Me Now: So if you’re like me and love a little something sweet and fruity, then this sugar scrub is just the right treatment for you. It’s made from a yummy concoction of Quince and Soya milk that creates this creamy sugary sweet scrub, a perfect way to end off a long winters day. I found this product to be super easy to use, it wasn’t too rough on the skin and left you feeling super-nourished, moisturised and silky soft. I also loved the packaging which was used. I found it to be very easy to store away if you wanted to, keep clean and sticky-free or simply just seal up and leave in the shower (very slimline design).

Flower Power: So the flower power scrub had more of a subtle clean scent with gentle floral notes. It’s not overpowering at all. This sugar scrub is definitely for someone who loves a more simple scent that is both calming and fresh. What makes this scrub special is that it’s enriched with almond and avocado oil that both work to leave your skin feeling smooth and super hydrated, which is perfect for the winter time. I really loved using this scrub as well, it worked perfectly to exfoliate my skin and I found that the oils in the scrub left my skin unbelievably soft and silky smooth.

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Then, we have the perfect finish for your wintery soft skin. A delicious “multipurpose avocado face and body lotion”, ready for your all winter needs. This divine concoction is called All You’ve Avo Wanted and it’s 100% locally made, 100% natural as well as cruelty-free. Does it honestly get any better than this 🙂

I’ve been using this lotion every day for the past few weeks in the mornings just before heading out for the day. I actually found this lotion to be the perfect daytime cream as it soaked in easily, the yummy “sweet but fresh” scent also seemed to last quite a while after applying it, which for me is always a win-win situation. I also loved how soft it left my skin without making it feel oily in any way. And lastly, it comes at an amazing price on her site- definitely something not to be missed out on.

So please do yourself a huge favour and check out her store online.

–Dr Tom’s Kombucha–

Hi there, my name is Jacci

I was so excited to be asked by Taryn to try out the Dr Tom’s Kombucha teas. I have heard so much about the health benefits of them, they’re filled with anti oxidants, vitamins, minerals and probiotics. If the ancient chinese called them the elixir of youth – who am I to disagree – and we can all do with some of that!!!

So, I set out to try them. Just to mention, I was feeling the need to go on a course of probiotics at the time, so this was such a blessing. I tried them for about three weeks and the results were quite amazing. Note, I drank a small glass of the tea each morning before breakfast. Within a few days, I was feeling the difference, my acidity issues cleared up, my stomach health was visibly better. That heavy bloated feeling was gone after about a week.

My favourite flavour was the ginger flavoured drink, followed by the cranberry and the coffee.

-A big Thank you-

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I would like to say a huge thank you to Simply Boho who sent through a beautiful selection of their Jewellery to me to tryout and share with you guys.

Simply Boho is a local brand here in South Africa that offers a beautiful range of fashion and Jewellery with a unique boho twist. Made for the modern South African girl. Whether you love a touch of floral, a lace trim, somthing silver or a little something gold, Simply Boho has something special just for you.

Their pieces embrace the best aspects of the boho vibe. They embrace a free-spirited approach to create a relaxed look that still perfectly encompases the right amount of a girly touch. A touch of floral, a touch frills, a simple but beautiful touch silver and gold.

“The clothing of the Romany people (who originated in India and settled in Bohemia, hence the name) has inspired Simply Boho to create an online boutique that showcases these stunning, exotic garments and jewellery items, so we can share them with others who, like us, adore vintage Boho designs. We sourced our collections from those whom we believe share our passion to deliver a combination of beauty and quality – all at astonishingly affordable prices!”

Please head over to their new website to find out more.

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…

  Local Finds- 5 May 2018 Happy Saturday to everyone out there and welcome to our first Local Finds feature on Poppy Locket Blog.

[poppylocket]

As South Africans, we are spoilt by an abundance of local resources, skills and workmanship. There’s a never-ending supply of raw talent and craftsmanship that surrounds us, coming from every corner of our beautiful nation. Whether it’s members of your local community who have worked hard to create products that truly represent their skills, talent and passion or a local NGO that provides an indispensable work opportunity for disadvantaged families in our community- an opportunity to create, to empower and uplift. Every one of these brands, products and entrepreneurs has a story to tell, has a talent share, has a real-life dream to achieve. A dream that is powered by their passions, their commitment and hard work.

Sometimes we forget that there’s a face behind the products we buy and the brands that we choose to support (whether intentional or not). With our country being flooded with imported products, foreign brands and companies it’s quite easy to see how shopping has become a faceless and impersonal process. A process where we blindly intrust and give away our money to brands that we don’t truly know, brands that outsource their customer interactions and ultimately brands that devalue our hard work by selling products with high prices but little to no quality control. This was one of the big pulls, for me, to buy local. To buy from a brand that has a face behind it. A person that works hard to create quality products that showcase their talents, their passions and skills. A product that shows support for local companies and members of our communities.

For many of us, trying to buy local can seem a little daunting. Where do we find quality local brands? How accessible are these products? Are there brands available in my area or community? Which is why I was so excited to have come across Deer Design. Deer Design is an incredible gift store based in Johannesburg that has created a platform for local (proudly South African) products and brands. “South Africa is my home country and a place that I love and see beauty in every day. I often felt that the talent here was lost with importing. Deer Design would be a platform where entrepreneurs could bring their work to life and showcase their talents”. 

Every brand in their store is carefully handpicked to not only ensure the utmost quality of their products but also to select the perfect items that will showcase “the power and skills the designers have“.

“As a proudly South African store, everything we choose is done by sharing the passion that these artists hold and using it to create a deeper love for the South Africa we live in. We love to embark on community development projects… also help entrepreneurs grow and develop by having a place to demonstrate the skills they have”.

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  “It is always wonderful as an entrepreneur to feel that one is contributing towards a better society and trying to make a difference in other people’s lives”. Deer Design has created a platform for growth, support and exposure. Something that has proven to be a crucial tool to local brands in South Africa. But their efforts don’t stop there. Deer Design has also prided themselves on supporting brands that enforce ethical, sustainable, environmentally conscious, as well as cruelty- free practices. Especially brands that don’t just offer a local product but also contribute to the upliftment of their community and environment. As South Africans and the core to our nation’s community, buying locally has created an incredible oppertunity to support one another, to ensure our markets are exposed to unique quality items that address our individual needs, our communities needs and our environmental needs.

At the heart of Deer Design is a passion to fully support South African creatives in every way possible. From the point where materials are sourced, produced to the final designing of the products. Every care is taken to ensure that the brands showcased by Deer Design embrace fair trade, respect their employees and their rights and ultimately work to empower and uplift the lives of their workers, wherever possible. “Upskilling (improving the skills of workers, usually through training, so that they will be better at their jobs) is a huge element in our business and many of the entrepreneurs we support have invested time and passion to make sure this happens”. 

For Deer Design it is about creating a true sense of community, a truly South African community. A place where people support people. Where customers can engage with the brands and learn about their backgrounds, their passions and their reasons for creating. It’s about creating a platform for support from start to finish, a place where the little guy is not forgotten or taken advantage of. It’s about creating and enforcing the trust between the consumers and the brands they purchase from. A trust that has slowly been eroded over time due to our the modern mass-produced markets. Ultimately, it’s about creating a shopping platform that encourages and supports the wants and needs of its local community.

“I love what I do, I feel passionate when people enjoy walking into my store and seeing the wonderful talents South Africa produces. Everything we do is supporting local, from choosing our 100% South African brands, meeting all these incredible designers, traveling to different parts of South Africa to explore opportunities and giving the artists the opportunity to showcase their incredible potential. I feel that we are a local community in everything we do, we have teamed with different designers and entrepreneurs, and have come together to make a statement of who we are and what we as South Africans can do”.

“I feel that we are a local community in everything we do, we have teamed with different designers and entrepreneurs, and have come together to make a statement of who we are and what we as South Africans can do”.

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“South Africans feel passionate about local products – We feel encouraged to support our country and the development of our people”.

So if you ever find yourself in Johannesburg please do yourself a huge favour and check out their beautiful store. Trust me you won’t be disappointed. I mean how can you when they stock an incredible collection of over 30 different local and proudly South African designers such as:

Alovesupreme

Carole Nevin

Jodi Deerling

Major John

Mies

Mungo

Nina Bosch

Owami

Pichulik

Purely Porcelain

Sexy Socks

Simon and Mary

Skermunkil

WaddleOn Socks

I am so happy that I had this amazing oppertunity to share their story with you. Deer Design is truly a brand that embraces every aspect that I believe in and I just think that their store has created such an amazing opportunity for local brands around us. I can not wait to see what new adventures they have in store for us.

If you would like to checkout some of their products, you can head over to their Instagram account or have a quick look at their FaceBook page

Until Next time,

XOXO

Deer Deisgn- Community Inspired As South Africans, we are spoilt by an abundance of local resources, skills and workmanship. There's a never-ending supply of raw talent and craftsmanship that surrounds us, coming from every corner of our beautiful nation.