Local is Lovely: Ode to the Milk Tart

This week's Local is Lovely feature I am taking a look at one of my true loves – the milk tart.

image by world baking day

This traditional desert is a creamy mixture of cornflour, cinnamon, vanilla and milk and has been a favorite treat of mine for years. Sadly I have not yet succeeded in baking my own perfect milk tart. My last attempt ended up with a texture so rubbery it bounced when I dropped it! So if you have any good recipes please send them my way and I'll let you know which one turns out best!

Despite my milk tart failure, I have mastered a delicious adaptation, milk tart cupcakes. I'll be posting a recipe with step-by-step pictures in the near future.

And here are some more twists on the classic:

Milk tart shooters by Ideas Magazine

Milk tart cake by Simply Delicious

I Heart Market September

See you this weekend at the I heart market!

Pop Up Store Coming Soon!

I got very excited when I saw this poster for a pop up store featuring 100% South African design opening up next month. This is something I am definitely going to be giving a visit.

Local is Lovely: Proteas

I love this place so much that I am dedicating a weekly feature to it!

Every week I will pay tribute to one of my favorite things about South Africa, starting with proteas.

I must admit I have a minor obsession with these blooms. I love how they are so resilient in harsh climates, yet still look beautiful. I love that they have common names like "sugarbush" (suikerbos in Afrikaans) and that the Victorians gave them the symbolic meaning of courage.

And I love how they are inspiring creativity among local crafters and artists:

King protea cushion covers by Jezze Prints

Homeware by Tamarillo Ceramics

Wooden wall hanging by Bamboom

Origami proteas by the Shaw Sisters

Fabric design by Handmade by Me

A Durban wedding with a handmade touch

My awesome friend Debra married the love of her life, Mike in June. It was a gorgeous warm Durban winter's day filled with love, laughter and celebrations. Their photo's were done by the oh-so-talented folks from Hello Habour Photography and they have been so kind as to let me share this day with you.

But here's the best part (for me!). I was commissioned to make some original felt star wars brooches for the groomsmen to wear. They were personal and quirky and were a great feature. There's nothing like a handmade touch to make things special!

So what's the big deal about craft?

I just so happen to be writing my honors dissertation on the nature of branding craft businesses and I have been discovering some wonderful and interesting gems of knowledge in the process. Crafting is not something only grannies do, it is a form of expression that is both ancient and modern, always shifting to incorporate the influences of the time, and it's making a comeback!

I have always been drawn to crafting as a form of expression, creativity and relaxation. Here are some pictures of my tools of the trade which have given me hours of enjoyment:

Over the next few weeks I'll be treating you to some of my crafty gems of knowledge, just so you can have some interesting facts to drop in conversations. And hopefully your views and perceptions of crafting will be challenged and extended at the same time.

Feel free to add your ideas to my thoughts, as many minds are better than one:)

Love,
Bee x

Post #1

This is momentous – the first post of my brand new blog! As I write this my head is brimming with all the ideas that I have to post in the weeks and months to come. I can't wait to share some stories with you about what I have been learning about crafting and creativity.

But for now I'll leave you with a thought from Mr Einstein himself:

"creativity is intelligence having fun"