GIVEAWAY from Africapintail out of Knysna, South Africa!

The colorful and creative mind behind Africapintail is Gaynor Napier, living in the luscious and inspiring area of Knysna in the Cape Province in South Africa.  She shares her passion for everything unique with her husband, and an eccentric dog that sings!

In her own words, she finds it difficult to be able to produce fine-art works while surrounded by such natural whimsy and beauty, so she loves to include a little bit of humor, fun and a burlesque touch to all her creations, which shows!

Her work is colorful, a touch ethnic, with a feel for the theatrical.  Specifically the piece that will be on offer as a GIVEAWAY today, thanks to Gaynor’s generosity.  It’s a stunning musician cuff.  It makes me want to join a band a play the bongo drums!  Or maybe an acoustic guitar, any type of instrument where this beautiful piece would be on display as much as the music would be!



Musician's Cuff on GIVEAWAY!



She also makes the cutest belts and handbags to live for!  I’m not a frilly person when putting on clothes, I like my earthy neutrals!  And with that I would love one of her handbags, it’s vibrant and would bring some life and pizazz to any outfit!

Just a little bit of background into Knysna where Africapintail originated from. 

Knysna is one of the Garden Route's best known travel destinations and was named one of the Top 100 Destinations in the World in the TripAdvisor 2008 Travellers’ Choice Destinations Awards.

Visitors are spoilt for choice with a kaleidoscope of unforgettable experiences to choose from. From leisurely relaxation, high energy adventure and sporting activities to shopping, haute cuisine, Knysna oysters or downing the locally brewed beer, Knysna reflects the finer things in life.

Track the mysterious Knysna forest elephant, take a ferry trip or a sunset yacht cruise, hike or cycle in the beautiful forests, take a walk on the beach or sip your favourite drink while watching the sun set over the estuary. With a rich history, gourmet restaurants and a variety of art & craft rambles to add, the options are limitless.

Discover a wonderfully different Knysna, see her colourful townships and experience her essence. There are a variety of township and cultural tours available. Stay in a homestay, explore the local Rastafarian community, eat an African delicacy called “Roosterkoek” or take part in a drumming session. Meet the people – from the Woodcutters in Karatara, to the Italians in Gouna, the Khoi and San Tribes like the Griqua and the Xhosa Speaking people. Experience the Rainbow Nation at its best.

Knysna Tourist Information Centre will make choosing and booking your experiences easy, so arrive ...and the rest will come naturally.

www.visitknysna.co.za

Now it should be quite obvious the inspiration Gaynor gets on a daily basis, very lucky indeed.  Gaynor, I hope your work keeps on staying as full of life, and gains more energy with every new creation and piece you work on!

Here are all Gaynor’s details.

pintail@telkomsa.net

http://www.etsy.com/shop/africapintail

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

1.        Follow MIE Art & Crafts Blog and Facebook page

2.       Please go to Africapintail’s Etsy shop and choose your favorite item

3.       Leave a comment below on your favorite item, and why you like it so much!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/MIE-Art-Crafts-deur-Wilmarie-Viljoen/137809002935511

It’s that easy!  Winner will be announced on the 6^th of September.  The Giveaway is open to ALL!

Hope you enjoyed this introduction, and my first giveaway!

Happy days to all

The Biggest inspiration of all!

My little boy is called Wian, he's 2 years and 3 months old, and he's turned out to be my whole life.  He's whatever revolves around my world....he's my moon, he's my stars...the air I breathe, the sweet smell of Spring.  He's the reason I get up so excitedly every morning.

He's is the inspiration behind everything I do, and why I am who I am.  I never thought a little life would be able to change mine 360 degrees.

I wanted to let you see a little bit into my life, some earliers pictures of him, and how he's turned out so far.  His zest and love for life is infectious and most of the time I can't keep up with his little body!  Probably getting old.....ok, definitely getting older.....

I have a little studio space, which he obviously shares with me every day, this almost always spilling over into another part of the house!  I try to keep everything neat and tidy, but I think that might just be a pipe dream at the moment.....aaah well.

Wian will most probably be my only child, a decision coming mostly from health issues, and yes, he'll probably be a bit spoiled, but as long as he is happy, then I'll be happy.  I just ask that he's kept safe, that he's protected, and that he's spared for me for the rest of my life.

Happy days to all

Mietjie

Meet Hilda at 10VioletStreet

Hilda Kruger from 10VioletStreet’s  Ceramic’s is my latest infatuation.  Her work is absolutely inspiring and intricate.

She’s an Information Specialist by day and a Ceramicist by night.  She only started working with clay in 2010, but judging by her artwork and the fine and infinite detail she puts into every piece, art has been in her blood for a very long time!

She adores working with clay, the only down side being the smell, but that’s a small price to pay to produce such fine works of art and whimsy!

In the Vredehoek Cape Town studio of the experienced potter Amelia Jacobs, Hilda’s pieces take shape, every piece being unique and one of a kind, and the artwork on it being lovingly hand brushes on by a superfine 00 brush.

 

Hilda’s work is available for sale on Etsy as well as on her Facebook page.  Here’s he links to all!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/10VioletStreet

http://www.facebook.com/pages/MIE-Art-Crafts-deur-Wilmarie-Viljoen/137809002935511#!/pages/10VioletStreet/211158618898610

Hilda, anybody that puts in so much detail to their work, I’m instantly a fan off!

 I hope this turns out to become your day job, the art community and all your fans will be all the more grateful to see your art being displayed and hanging on their wall, speaking for itself and to all our hearts!

 

Happy days to all

Mietjie

And the winner is......!

Did you happen to get in on my latest EtsyLove giveaway? Well #15 sure did, and they’re walking away a winner :) Congrats to ‘Ida’! You are the latest EtsyLove winner and you will be welcoming Holly the Hedgehog and her little owl pal into your home very soon.

http://rachelleannemiller.com/

Thanks again to Rachelle Anne Miller for the lovely article, giveaway and exposure on her wonderful blog!

Happy days to all!

Mietjie

Rachelle, your too kind!

I just wanted to thank Rachelle Anne Miller for featuring my Etsy shop in her monthly EtsyLove blog article and giveaway!

Have a look at the link below, you can stand a chance to win the adorable BOO!beloobie Holly the Hedgehog and her little friend Orli the Owl!

http://rachelleannemiller.com/etsylove-mie-art-crafts/

I will always remember you being so kind and generous to give my little business and the critters I make a chance!

Love to you and yours!

Happy days

Mietjie

Just call her Dids!

Deirdre Botha, or better known as Dids in the art world is an amazingly talented lady!  She paints in oils, she does collages, which is one of her first loves, she makes the most beautiful vintage looking wooden blocks for kids, and she does the most wonderful crafty things with felt, from bags, to books, to brooches and magnets!

With all that she is involved in, you can see she’s a very determined and patient lady, creating something every day, looking after her 2 kids in between everything! 

She originally studied Ceramic design for 3 years, but only discovered her love for paintings after her kids had grown up a bit, giving her the freedom and time to create her beautiful artworks, sometimes combining them with collages, which is the perfect way to use repetitious patterns which she loves!

She opened up her own studio in the beginning of 2011, giving classes in oil painting and making collages, whilst she still keeps on creating herself, her products being in The Gallery in The Yard in Hatfield, Pretoria, Eau-la-la Art Café and Trends (featured in a previous article) and so many more!  She does most of the markets in Pretoria and the surrounding areas, and her art and crafts is sought after and loved by all that own them!

Her imagination is unbounded, and I’m astounded by what she conquers in every day that comes her way!  With her just opening up her Etsy store, she’s bound to take over the world, and I’m holding thumbs for her all the way!

Deirdre, you’re an inspiration……….and we need to get that coffee someday!

Here’s all the links to Deirdre’s blog and Etsy shop!  Give her the support she so rightly deserves, her work will fill your homes with warmth and an old worldly charm that no one else’s will be able to do!

http://didsworld.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/didsworld

Happy Days to all!

Mietjie