Archive for » 2009 «

Competition Time!

30 Oct 2009 by

I am very excited to let you all know that we are running a competition with an amazing prize that has been sponsored by Shoestring Scrapbooking.

The prize – valued at R530.00 consists of ALL of the following:

1 X KI Memories Icicles Sand Alphabet R90
1 X Heidi Swapp Clear Corner Stamps R42
1 X Dimensional Glitter Stickers R16
1 X 3D Frame Set R45
1 X Heidi Swapp Journaling Spots R30
1 X Metal Charms R35
1 X Orchid Dimensional Stickers R18
1 X Sunflower 3D Stickers R18
1 X Soft Spoken Embellishments R42
1 X Scrapbooking Rub-Ons R25
1 X Buttons R24
1 X Handmade Stickers R16
1 X Decorative Embellishents R20
1 X 3D Gel Stickers R16
1 X Negative Strip R15
2 X Small Stamp Pads R20
1 X Glitter Peel Off Stickers R18
5 X Paper R10
10 X Cut Out Frame Sheets 12 by 12 R30

So…. for all you scrapbooking enthusiasts (and for everyone else, this will make an amazing Christmas present for the scrapbooker in your life – and yes, we’ve all got one!) all you need to do is either

1) Become a fan on our facebook page

or

2) Follow us on Twitter and retweet our competition announcement

or

3) or for every 5 people you tell about Jamtin (cc jude@jamtin.co.za) you’ll also be entered. (and we promise we won’t spam your friends!)

Go on – enter, it’ll take 2 minutes, and the prize is great…  Once you’re done, don’t forget to check out the Shoestring Scrapbooking blog.

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Category: Jamtin stuff  4 Comments

How to Tweet on Twitter

26 Oct 2009 by

So what’s Twitter all about you may ask – it’s all very well us asking you to follow Jamtin on Twitter, but if you’re not tweeting, it’s not really going to be to anyone’s benefit, so here is my uber basic view on the subject!

For us it’s been a great tool – one that has allowed us to follow people who are specifically interested in the handmade revolution, South Africans, and general Tweeters who we just find interesting or funny. It’s been a great way to share some of our listings and finds with the community we find ourselves in as well. I don’t believe it will replace Facebook, I don’t believe it’s a stand alone tool, but rather just one more blue bird feather in the cap, so to speak, in the social networking world that we find ourselves more and more drawn to – both out of necessity to connect with our ever expanding community and also because it’s slightly additictive once you’ve got going!

For a more eloquently blog of what Twitter is all about, this blog post titled “You are what you tweet – the Do’s and Don’ts of Corporate Tweeting” comes from Helios Design (the wonderful guys who built Jamtin) and gives a great overview for those wanting to know more about Twitter and how to get started.

Oh, and don’t forget to follow us when you’re up and running on Twitter!

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Category: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Ever missed a deadline?

21 Oct 2009 by

Like not posting enough blog posts, or getting a newsletter out on time… oh well, I’d better be careful…

missed deadline

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Category: Jamtin stuff  2 Comments

Upcoming Gift Fairs in Cape Town

19 Oct 2009 by

If anyone would like to fly me up to Cape Town for either of these two markets, please be advised that I will be more than happy and will even waiver my costs… Just the air ticket and accomodation, oh and some pocket money, would be required ;)

28 Oct - 1 Nov

28 Oct - 1 Nov

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Jamtin update

30 Sep 2009 by

I may, unofficially, be the worlds worst blogger and not quite sure how a whole month goes by with not even one single post! Sorry jamtinners, I’m a shocker. Hopefully I can make up for the lack of posts by giving you an update of where we are with Jamtin and introduce you to a handful of our listers. I can’t help but get a smile on my face when I see the listers who have joined, and have to admit that each and every day I am completely bowled over by the creativity that surrounds us, and the beautiful things at are being made right here under our noses… Anyway, I can’t list them all, but here’s a start!

A blog post from Sarah at Babazeka mentioning Jamtin has just left me feeling on top of the world – it’s amazing what positive feedback can do for someone, and can’t thank you enough for a) their blog post today and the advice they shared with me some while back and b) for giving back so massively to the community and providing such an awesome socially aware online store. It’s a site I personally love, so please do pop over to take a look!

Wish I was still living in Joburg, ok, not really, but that statement is true for the purpose of being able to attend a class at the COOK Culinary and Craft Studio who puts a whole new spin on entertaining, with sizzling cooking and table styling workshops unlike any other. The focus at the studio is on quick and easy cooking, table, flower décor and easy-make crafts. I have to admit, the food looks amazing and makes my mouth water, but it’s the beautiful table decorations and gifts they make that makes my heart beat a little faster.

Next up is a concept that I think is beautiful- I guess I’m a sucker for anything to do with kids and/or handmade things – so when I came across Heckle and Boo who turn a child’s artwork into a soft toy – well, that was me in my element.

Also got to love these felt brooches, amongst other beautiful creatures that Marisa Girardi Presents has on her listing.

Think that’s it for now, after all that talk of making things I need to make a cup of tea!

Don’t forget to become a fan of ours on facebook, or follow us on Twitter – I promise I’m a lot better at both those than I am at blogging

Happy making until next time…

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Category: Jamtin stuff  One Comment

Fabric covered baby box

27 Aug 2009 by

Ok – so I finally did it! I mentioned that I’ve wanted to do this in a previous post, and it’s definately taken me a lot longer than it should have, but a baby apparently waits for no one and when the 9 months is almost up, who am I to say “hang on little dude, your love box isn’t ready for you!”

So… not long now for us to meet this very special little baby boy, and I’m sure he’ll love the box. If not, I know his mom does love it and for now that is what matters most.

A word of warning – covering a box with fabric is not as easy as it looks and one generally does need more than 2 hands. I admit I battled with keeping the edges neat, and I almost ran out of material – somehow I miscalculated, so beware when you try this at home kids!

I’ve found some tutorials for this for my next attempt at Wink Designs, enjoy!
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Category: Things to make  One Comment

Pretty Things for Little Things – by Age-in-Action

24 Aug 2009 by

I saw a poster for this campaign at the local Shoprite Checkers yesterday and I’m just sorry that I hadn’t seen it sooner as the closing date is now  just around the corner. Anyway, the campaign calls all senior citizens to add some sparkle to the lives of needy children during Christmas this year by using their craft or stitch craft talents and making something for a needy child.

Anything practical, durable and safe to wear or play with may be entered and great prizes can be won. There are four categories to choose from: Soft Toys, CLothing, Blankets and Other (Wood, Tin or Wire)

According to the Age-in-Action website, last year ±13 356 unique handmade articles were received from across the country. All these items were distributed to needy children all around the country during December when they received an early Christmas present.

Prizes are awarded to people older than 60 who enter their handiwork, but anyone who would like to bring some joy to a needy child are invited to join in.

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Category: Doing Good  Leave a Comment

Jamtin Craft Days

31 Jul 2009 by

A little while back, well, it was some time ago actually as it was before our big move, I held a Jamtin craft day. No great shakes, just some friends who came to our house bearing glue, paint, beads, mosaic tiles, imagination, snacks and wine. There was nothing formal arranged – just the invitation to come and share the morning / lunch / afternoon with the girls, and what a great day it was. I told people that I’d be ready from about 11am onwards and I think the last person left at about 6 that evening, and probably only because we had dinner planned out with some friends that night.

So here’s my advise – so many people I speak to have been meaning to do this for a while – just do it. You don’t have to have the best studio space, or be an expert on crafting – we all just clubbed together, shared ideas and by the end of the day we had some great projects – both completed and some works in progress. It did help that I had a craft cupboard close at hand with a few items that we could use, but I’m 100% sure that I’m not the only one with a craft cupboard filled with all sorts of very important useless stuff.

Do it now – send an email out to 10 mates and book a Jamtin day! We’d love to hear back from you – feel free to send through any pics as well, or load them onto the Jamtin page on facebook – here are some from ours…

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Today I went to a ‘Retro Humour Collage Class’

30 Jul 2009 by

So don’t tell anyone, but today I bunked work and went to a “Retro Humour Collage Class” with Shannon from Fat Tuesday. I would like to call it research for Jamtin, surrounding myself with creative people, but let’s be honest; it really was just a great excuse for what was a stunning morning!

I must admit that I was a little nervous to begin with – nothing to do with anyone else, but rather I suppose the expectation of what you are there to achieve, the ‘where on earth to start’ feeling, and maybe a little bit of awe when you start viewing the work of the other people there – with many collages on display that are difficult to believe that they are first attempts.

I was soon put to ease, told to relax as it was ‘just a piece of canvas’ and reminded myself that I was there to enjoy the time out. I think that it can so often happen when you start off with creating something that the end product overwhelms you and stops your creativity – you are almost so scared of not doing it right that you don’t want to start.

Anyway – Shannon first showed me a few techniques (and before I go any further, let me just mention that I had my very own one-on-one class this morning – full use of the studio, coffee and a, hmm, frutato or something like that – little cake with fruit inside which was just delicious from Vanille next door, plus I walked out with my first collage which I just love for the bargain price of R200!

Back to the lesson and the techniques -  first I learnt a few techniques for various textures for the background, the paints that are used, the embellishments, the paper and a whole lot more that is still sinking in! The techniques and ideas are taken from Claudine Hellmuth – a mixed media collage artist and whose website is an insane inspiration after my exposure to this art form this morning!

There was lots of painting, wiping, cutting, deciding which embellishments to use, and watching what the others in the room were doing. (Shannon holds a social morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays where you can go and for R50 you have use of the studio, the materials and most importantly you have the input from the other creatives there.)

So – long story short, but this picture is the end result of my morning…. My mind is already ticking as to what I’ll be doing next.

So now not only do I have to finish my fabric covered box, still learn to crochet but I think I could get seriously get into the collaging!

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Make your own Hot Chocolate for this freezing weather

23 Jul 2009 by

Brrrr – if you’re as cold as I am, there is only one solution to make you happy and warm again!

Ingredients
3 cups full cream milk
85 grams milk chocolate chopped into small bits

For frothy hot chocolate – Bring the milk to a boil. Put the chocolate into a blender and pour in the hot milk. You can let it stand for 15 to 20 seconds so the chocolate begins to melt. Yum, is your mouth watering yet! Put the cover back on the blender, maybe put a kitchen towel over the top for extra protection and blend for about 30 seconds until it’s all mixed.

For unfrothy hot chocolate — Heat the milk in a saucepan until it just begins to boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chocolate, and stir or whisk until well blended.

Don’t be shy to put a marshmallow on top, or sprinkle with a bit of milo

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