Bubblewrap - time killer

We go through a ton of bubble wrap to package our chalkboard products so I went and researched who the genius was that invented the material.

It turns out that bubble wrap was first marketed as wallpaper but it proved unsuccessful. The company then turned it's focus on packaging and voila - the rest as they say is history.

Since it's invention in 1960 alot of people have found alternative uses for the product. The first being stress relief.

A friend told me that she bought her son a very expensive dvd and instead of watching it with her he played with the bubble wrap for the rest of the evening.

Have a look at some of the clever uses people have found for bubble wrap.

 

Outdoor advertising campaign: no more cellulite

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

 

 

Bubble wrap calendar

 

 

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

 

 

The ultimate time killer

 

 

 

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

 

Eco beauty for Vogue magazine

 

 

Picture credit: Eco beauty by Thomaas via  www.pinterest.com

 

Read more on the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_Wrap_(brand)

 

 

Enjoy your own company

It has been such an amazing journey to get to the point of having tested our product and how having registered as a Pty Ltd.

Although it seems that with the official title a heap of paper work appeared from nowhere. I have signed my signature more times in the past two weeks than ever before. Luckily I needed the practice and think I've now perfected it.

We have started doing viral campaigns and have had great response so far but hats off to OLX that's still our biggest portal for gaining new customers. From wine farms to butchers have been contacting us from this awesome site (or maybe it's our great pictures?).

Currently we are working on developing five new products to our range. Exciting new designs not currently avaliable in the market place.

The big reveal will happen at the 'Wellington Huismark' at Napier Winery, Bainskloof from 25 to 28 July this year.

Hope to see you all there!

Market day!

We will be having a stall at the Just Horses Market Day on Saturday 27 April 2013 in our little farming town of Joostenbergvlakte.

This will be the first time we join our comunity that consists of a few farmers, alot of small business owners on the small holdings, and the rest 'the horsy-types' as we lovingly call them, in a venture to show off the wonderful gems we have to offer.

We will be featuring new designs in all colours and have fun activities for the kids.

Market day @ Just Horses Equestrian Centre
Date: 27 April 2013
Time: 9am - 14:00pm
Place: Just Horses Equestrain Centre on Warburg Road, Joostenberg Vlakte

Hope to see you there!

Emily A. Clark: A Little Boy's Bedroom with Big Style

Emily A. Clark: A Little Boy's Bedroom with Big Style:

A Little Boy's Bedroom with Big Style

When we moved into our house a a year and a half ago, I quickly put together my little boy's room using most of the things from our previous home, in an effort to get it "finished" for him:

In the back of my mind, I've always planned on eventually changing the whole scheme of things--bedding, paint, bed, etc.. However, after seeing Janell's son Max's room, I'm having the urge to work on it a little sooner.

Janell, who writes the always-inspiring blog Isabella & Max Rooms, started the design process for her little boy's room re-do by interviewing the client himself, as any good designer would do. Turns out 5-year-old Max had some great ideas, including a chalkboard (she incorporated a large chalkboard "stripe" around the walls) and maps of the world (which Janell drew herself!).

I also like that she challenged herself to complete the room using mostly accessories from IKEA--some of which she transformed once she got them home.

And, if you like Max's room, her daughter's room is just as wonderful! HGTV.com recently took notice of her talents and published her first design article entitled "10 Creative Yet Simple Projects for Kids' Rooms" on their site. Congrats, Janell, on the article and a great job on Max's big boy room.

All that glitters, sparkles and shines

Glitter is such a big trend at the moment and just in time for the festive season where we tend to bling things up a bit.

We took a look at the origin of glitter and its two festive friends, sequence and confetti and found some very interesting facts.

Enjoy!

Glitter describes an assortment of very small, flat, and reflective particles. When these particles are applied to surfaces, they each reflect light in different angles causing the surface to sparkle or glitter. Glitter is similar to, but smaller than confetti or sequins. Glitter has been produced and used decoratively since prehistoric times from many different materials including mica, insects, glass, and now plastic.

The first production of modern glitter has been sometimes been credited to American cattle farmer and machinist, Henry Ruschmann, shortly after the start of WWII. With German glass glitter unavailable due to the war, Ruschmann found a market for scrap material ground into glitter made of plastic. He founded Meadowbrook Inventions, Inc. in Bernardsville New Jersey, and the company is still a major producer of industrial glitter today.

As early as 30,000 year ago, flake mica was used to give caves paintings a glittering appearance. Primitive humans are believed to have used cosmetics, which may have included powdered hematite, a sparkling mineral. Over 60,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians produced glittering cosmetics from the iridescent shells of beetles as well as finely ground green malachite crystal. Prior to modern plastics, particles of glass were used to create glittering surfaces, and glass glitter is still produced commercially.

Glittering surfaces have been found to be used since prehistoric times in the arts and in cosmetics. Sparkling fabrics have come into fashion through the ages. Prior to fabrics made with modern glitter, sequins were sewn or woven onto fabric to give it a glittering appearance. Today, edible glitter made from gum arabic and other ingredients is even used by culinary artists.

Due to its unique characteristics, glitter has also proven to be useful forensic evidence. Because of the tens of thousands of different commercial glitters, identical glitter particles can be compelling evidence that a suspect has been at a crime scene. Glitter particles are easily transferred through the air or by touch, yet cling to bodies and clothing, often unnoticed by suspects.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glitter

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

 

 

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

 

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

 

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

 

No one really knows for sure when sequins were first invented. However, gold sequins were found in King Tut's tomb. Excavators also found a shimmering, sequined shirt designed for King Tut to wear in the afterlife. Since this Egyptian King lived from approximately 1341-1323 B.C., sequins are thousands of years old.

 

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

Confetti was actually first used in Paris in 1891. Someone was taking down the decorations after a party at a really big theatrical revue called "le Casino de Paris" They decided to cut up the decorations and drop them on the guests the next evening. No one had seen Confetti before and was enthralled to the point of giddiness. Within 4 Years Confetti was being made by machine and being sold all over the world.

Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_invented_confetti

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

 

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

Picture credit: www.pinterest.com

 

 



 

 

Pretty handy pallets

We just love the very quirky and practical things crafters all over the world are doing to up cycle palette wood.

From furniture to storage and even in the garden it’s very inspirational to see people taking something that is often discarded and turning it into a focus point.

Have a look at the clever and inspirational items we have found and please read the section at the end of this post that will inform you if your pallet is safe to use.

Lots of love, D&M made with love xxx

 

Bed om pallets to create a minimal almost Eastern look to a bedroom.

djacoose.blogspot.com

 

Cupboard doors and drawers from salvaged pallets creates a warm textured element to this kitchen.

 

.inspirationgreen.com

Boxed floor cushions on a double layer pallets as lounge furniture adds to the industrial look of this apartment.



http://inspirationgreen.com/pallet-inspiration.html

 Outdoor daybed on pallets with castors to wheel in and out easily

  http://scraphacker.com/pallet-sofas/

Sleek coffetable where the wood is painted and finished off with a glass top looks very elegant

www.pinterest.com

 Kitchen island painted in dark grey screams sophistication and creates beautiful lines

 www.home-dzine.co.za

Raw pallets used as office furniture

flavahome.com

Lovelly shabby chic love seat

www.pintrest.com

Headboard of pallet wood with graphic element is the perfect focal point in this room

homebyheidi.blogspot.com

House of pallets! Adorable!

reclaimedwreckage.blog

 

Quirky plate rack from a complete pallet

www.katrinarens.it

 

Handy shelving units with vintage feel

www.pinterest.com

 

Wall cladding

www.shadesoflight.com

 

Vertical garden in pallet

www.pinterest.com

 

Neat vegetable rows planted in a pallet

www.pinterest.com

Colorful palettes against wall used as vertical gardens

www.pinterest.com

D&M made with love - our placemats made from pallet wood in dove grey

View our full range at: http://www.wix.com/dmmadewithlove/home

 

View our full range at: http://www.wix.com/dmmadewithlove/home

 

 

Are your wood pallets are safe for crafting?

Setting aside the contamination question, there's another safety issue to consider, if you're thinking about crafting with reclaimed wood pallets: fumigated or pressure treated wood.

It sounds innocuous enough, right? But the "pressure" part only gets at part of the treatment process. Manufacturers use pressure to force chemicals like formaldehyde into the wood. The idea is to prevent decay and pest infestation, but you definitely don't want those treated pallets inside your house or touching food. Fumigated wood is treated with pesticides, which also isn't great from a health standpoint.

Pallet crafters, don't despair! There are some ways to tell if your wood is treated or fumigated.

How to Tell If Your Pallets are Treated Wood

Most wood pallets will have an IPPC logo, since they oversee internationally-shipped pallets. Pallets that ship overseas are the ones usually treated or fumigated to prevent the spread of invasive pests. Here are the marks to look out for (they should be near the IPPC logo):

• HT - This means the pallet was heat treated, possibly with harmful chemicals.
• MB - This indicates that the pallet was fumigated with methyl bromide, a toxic pesticide. Pallet makers are phasing out methyl bromide, but you may still see this mark on some older pallets.

You can also educate yourself to spot pressure treated wood. Head to your local home improvement store and poke around the lumber section. Pressure treated wood looks different from untreated wood, and once you see the difference in color, it should be pretty easy to spot.