>> Eden is Babylonstoren

Since it was Loeries weekend last weekend, Johan and I decided to make a small holiday of it while we were down
in the beautiful Cape. I can't go to the Western Cape and not want to move there afterwards! It just makes you
realise again that we really do live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and that we are so lucky to
call this country our home.

On Tuesday we roadtripped to the Franschoek region, and stopped at Babylonstoren on our way to the guest house.
I've seen this farm feature on many blogs, and I've been wanting to go there for some time now. However, I think
that what I saw with my own eyes far exceeded my expectations of the place. I knew it was going to be beautiful,
but I didn't expect a place with such gorgeous traditional charm and a perfect modern polish. I was blown away by
the garden, and being a garden enthusiast, I couldn't wipe that fat smile off my face (it was not just a result of
all the wine I had tasted...).

We sat down for a light breakfast at the glasshouse restaurant. WOW. The food was perfect, delicious and so so fresh.
Babylonstoren is know for serving food straight out of their garden, and since guavas were is season, we had a guava
tart. I also had a beeeautiful "red" juice, with beetroot, apple and pear.

Even though Babylonstoren is famous for their beautiful garden, they also make amazing wine. After taking a slow
stroll through their garden and having a bite at one of their two restaurants, you can pop into the little farm shop.
At the shop they sell fresh baked organic bread, preserves, art, cookbooks, cheese and biltong.

I would recommend this place to anyone going to Franschoek. And as you can see by the amount of pictures I am posting...
I really really was blown away by all the prettiness! Enjoy!

How amazing is this kitchen! 

>> If you want your dreams to come true

I am starting to see a pattern here. About once a month I will write a more personal post about my journey in my career, life
and my dreams. I write about people that I admire for following their dreams, and how everybody should just go out an do it!
Easy right? I will write about that studio I want to own, that beautiful illustration print I want, or that place that I
want to visit. Dreams are great. But without a plan they are useless. Dreams can be depressing and feel far away.
Dreams are scary stuff.

...Jeez. Yes.

But I am sure that I am not the only one...everybody has a dream, don't they. That one thing that you're just burning to do with
your life. I think as scary as they are, we need a dream to feel like all is not lost, and one day, things will be different.
Maybe you hate your job and want to do something you love instead. Maybe you want to travel somewhere that looks amazing.
Maybe you want to find a perfect friend. Everybody wants something.

There is just one very unfortunate thing though. Most dreams cost money, time and work. Two things that very few people have
enough of, and the last...we'll, people are lazy. And that is why dreams are scary. Because you need to save or pay too much
for it to happen. Or, you might have to use up all your spare time to plan, or do a course, or do stuff which will leave you
feeling like there is just absolutely no time for anything else. Perhaps you simply can't afford to save and then everything
is just crap and you get depressed and you try to forget about your dream, because in your mind it's impossible or simply
too late...

Mmmm, getting clever aren't I....:-)

Anyways, as scary as dreams are, I think a dream is worth it. And if you think so too, then you will start anyways. Any goal
needs to have a plan. So do it today. Look at what you need to do to make your dream come true. Draw up a timing plan, draw up
a savings plan, register, do some extra work, do whatever necessary. Because every day you wait is a day wasted. Do something
that you feel is important. A dream IS important.

So I wrote this quote from some anonymous clever person, on a really beautiful picture by Italian photographer Manuel Cosentino. 
By the way, this project really inspired me, and I think it's beautiful. Plus it has a bit of a tik-tok tik-tok message... 

Lastly, I am very proud to say that I have stopped dreaming, and I am now doing. I have set my plan in motion to
realise my dream, and my next post about "my journey", will be about how far I've come in making it all happen:-)

>> Gorgeous spring fashion from Jane Sews

I looove this brand. Not only is the name really cool, and their website a beautiful simple design, but their actual
product blows me away. I can describe myself as a proud purist and minimalist, and I guess that's the reason why I
love Jane Sews. I love simple, timeless things, with just a touch of quirkiness. This Durban based shop

"is inspired by timeless femininity, a facination with global trends, and an eye for fine construction."

I really couldn't say it better myself. Go and have a look on their website, or see my selection of favs below.

The below outfit is totally my thing. I love everything about it!

>> Rabbit baby book

I have an incredible friend, and her name is Clarise. She is really just an overall amazing chick with a
big heart and lots of love to give, and it's a huge bonus that we happen to have a lot of the same interests
and hobbies. I love my friend Clarise, and I am so happy to have her in my life as a good friend and ready
source of inspiration. If there is one thing about her that I am always amazed by, then it is her absolute
indulgence in making other people happy. She always has the most amazing ideas and goes the extra 1000 miles
to make a person feel special. One example would be this book we made together.

This rabbit themed baby book was a project we did for one of her friend's baby shower. Clarise collected and
compiled all kinds of advice and pretty sayings from the ladies that will be attending the shower, and then I
designed and did some hand-binding to make a book. I love how soft our illustrations and watercolour washes
(all from etsy) came out, and (to me at least) the hand-binding adds a real handmade charm to it. 

Clarise, just another one of your amazing brain babies come to life, and I think Helena is going to love it!