Heather reporting from Capetown

Today...a completely different continent... Africa...more precisely...its south-tip... South Africa's Capetown...hometown of Heather from skinnylaminx...Heather and I met when Bloesem was still written in Dutch and she was practicing her Dutch by reading Bloesem and giving comments in Dutch...as you know, although two distinct languages, Afrikaans and Dutch are very much related...since then Heather and I have become close blog friends...I am very happy she is sharing her favorite Capetown finds with us...

"Just up the road from me is a charming little shop called Heartworks, run by Margaret Woermann. It’s a bright and colourful place, full of amazing things but very carefully put together so you can see it all.

Margaret travels all over South Africa, finding interesting craftwork that she can sell at Heartworks. As well as finding stock for the shop, she also want to find ways to nurture her relationship with the crafters she finds, in order for them to grow their business.


One of the ways she’s done this is by starting an embroidery group at her second shop at the Biscuit Mill in Salt River. Here, a group of ladies from all over Africa sit together and work at embroidery that gets made up into teddy bears, hearts, bags and pillows, to be sold in Heartworks… and all over the world!

Last year, Gap made a huge teddy bear order that got the embroidery groups’ fingers flying!

Through Heartworks, Margaret has boosted South African crafts immeasureably, and I hope that everyone visiting Cape Town will be sure to pop in to one of the three Heartworks stores in Kloof Street, at the Gardens Centre and at the Biscuit Mill.

{PS: I have posted an interview with Margaret at the Elle Deco blog, if you want to read more about this fantastic lady and her work.}

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Comments

[laura]

Hi Irene
Like your blog!!I enjoy the writing and photos you post about Holland.My original country to.
Very interesting!
regards Laura

[stef et sa belette]

it's so cut ! but I'm a french woman so I can't buy it ! it's so far ! and I'm so sorry my english is not good

[Anke]

I love the World Tour series!
When we were on honeymoon in Cape Town there were two places (shopwise...there is so much more to see!) that left a great impression:

http://www.african-image.co.za/ (African art - sorry, there is not much information on the site, but the shops are worth checking out.)

http://www.beadmerchantsofafrica.com/ (Giant, HUGE bead store - unbelievable!)

[Freshly Found]

I visited both stores in February this year. They are very inspirational places!

[Prêt à Voyager]

Wow, what interesting an interesting place, Heather!

Anne

[Prêt à Voyager]

Wow, what interesting an interesting place, Heather!

Anne

[MK]

I too have visited the Heartworks on Kloof Street and absolutely loved it. My sister and I both bought gifts from there to bring back home to NYC.