Ideas

Ideas is the ultimate guide to fresh, modern living for women with creative flair and a passion for life. These women care for their families and the people around them and cherish them by expressing their own individuality in everything they do. They love to entertain and decorate their home with their unique style. The magazine provides an outlet for creativity and offers readers practical, creative content that transforms the mundane into the extraordinary. It’s a source of inspiration for craft, decor, entertainment and food. Ideas readers are stylish, sophisticated, modern, educated, balanced, creative, warm, caring and passionate.

FROM THE EDITOR

Words to live by

Ideas

KEEP YOUR MIND SHARP

WHAT’S NEW • HERE IS OUR LINE-UP OF WHAT'S NEW ON THE BLOCK AND ON THE SHELF.

Words to live by

BACKTO SCHOOL • What are the chances of living in your old school classroom? Good, it seems, in the case of Lynn Rouwhorst, who has created this gorgeous retro apartment in the place where she once learned her tables.

SLEEP WELL • Your bedroom is where you get some well-deserved rest after a long day. Here are a few ideas to make your room your sanctuary.

Words to live by

SPICE IS NICE • A TOUCH OF SPICE CAN ADD FANTASTIC FLAVOUR, AROMA, COLOUR AND HEALTH BENEFITS TO YOUR EVERYDAY MEALS.

ART FROM THE OVEN • Focaccia gardens are a fun way to serve this delicious bread as a snack, starter or side dish. Be creative with different vegetables and designs to wow your guests.

Words to live by

Heart’s work • Many of our wallets are becoming emptier. People are hungry, at the mercy of a struggling economy. Luckily South Africans are a nation of givers. They are industrious, the knitting needles click. Together they crochet, do pottery, woodwork, transform fabric remnants into colourful quilts. Everyone can make a difference.

Craft with heart • MOST OF US HAVE A BAG OF LEFTOVER YARNS OR A SHELF FULL OF FABRIC REMNANTS. AND THEN THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN NEED OF SOMETHING WARM, SOMETHING SOFT TO HOLD OR SIMPLY A BAG TO CARRY THEIR POSSESSIONS IN. SEE WHAT YOU HAVE AND USE THIS INSPIRATION TO DO YOUR BIT TO HELP MAKE THE WORLD A FRIENDLIER, WARMER PLACE.

Three new blocks • With these three innovative designs you can use your creativity to crochet a blanket, beanie or jersey that you can donate to a charity or to help out someone in need.

Knit some squares • We show you five different ways of knitting a square, and also how to put them together to make a cross pattern blanket.

Wrap up against the cold • The brighter the better, as you can see from this mixture of knitting and crochet.

Grannies galore • Let the grannies give you, or someone who needs it, a warm snuggly hug. All those lovely leftover yarns in your stash can be used in this fun, colourful project.

My favourite things • Combine some knitting, crochet and a vintage embroidered tray cloth to create a unique and playful scarf. Mix and match colours from your yarn stash to the tray cloth, and make a few scarves to donate to a charity.

Knit a warm cuddle • This winter knit a chunky cardigan to donate to someone who needs a bit of warmth. This is a lovely, functional project. Use the sketches to play with colour combinations – great to do while you watch your favourite shows.

Keep snug • Crochet granny squares and make a pretty cover for a hot water bottle.

Pretty handy • Keep your hands warm with these attractive embroidered mittens. Get a team together and knit a few more pairs to distribute to the elderly or people in need this winter.

Quick and cosy • This cute beanie pattern is easy to follow and quick to make, even if you’re just a beginner. It’s an ideal project to knit and donate to a charity to...