Upcycled coffee bags – one of a kind

Yesterday’s blog about Bean There Coffee Company at 44 Stanley Avenue (you can read about it here), reminded me how much I liked the gorgeous ottoman covered with recycled coffee bags from Cape Town based company Sofaworx when I first came across it on my internet travels. 

Image from Sofaworx (via Kim Gray)

The current trend to “upcycle” repurposed jute bags that were once used to carry coffee, especially organic fair-trade certified coffee, is one that I like. I love the casual elegance of the unrefined fabric, and because the production of these items will always be in limited quantities, each piece will be unique.

There are two companies in particular that are doing inspiring work. One is an Australian company, Velvet Bean who rescue, recycle and repurpose coffee sacks into unique cushions, homeware and ottomans. Their motto is “Reducing landfill, one coffee sack at a time”. 

 Image credits: All from Velvet Bean

Keeping it local, and if a trip to Sydney to buy cushions is a tad much, there is also a South African company, The Wren Design, who make bags from material “with a story.” This includes coffee sacks that have transported coffee beans all around the world or antique linen grain sacks woven between 1880 and 1910. They also use cement packaging rejects. These bags, as material, have the potential to continue on and on and on....

Image credits: All images from The Wren Design

I am so inspired I am considering getting my hands on a bag to cover our old square ottoman!

Below are a few more images showing other uses for that old coffee bag… 

Image credits: 1) Our Vintage Home 2 & 3) via TheDailyTelecraft 

A stylish coffee break at Bean There

I warned you yesterday that this week is a 44 Stanley week. So, let’s start with coffee. For me and hubby it certainly is the most important meal of the day, coming way before breakfast in our daily ritual :-)! Seriously though, it’s one of the most valuable primary products in world trade - it is the second most traded commodity after oil!

Bean There Coffee Company was the first South African coffee roastery to offer Fair-Trade coffee. Fair-Trade means that the coffee beans have been produced and traded fairly with a premium added to the price to ensure that proper social and economic investment at community level makes it possible for the farmers and their communities to farm sustainably in the unpredictable coffee market.

In practice, this means that Jonathan and his team visit the African farms and engage with them to ensure that the coffee trade makes an actual difference in their lives and to take farming equipment to them. For example, only last week in Ethiopia, he exchanged a brand new bicycle for an old one that belonged to one of the farmers, but that Jonathan thought would look good against the wall of their new Cape Town shop. I love the mental image of that farmer riding on his fancy new bike on the coffee plantation! 

Their coffee is available in my shop, or you can buy it and many other coffee gadgets online. 

For everyone in Cape Town, good news is that this blog coincides with the official launch of their Cape Town Roastery. They opened their new shop in 58 Wale Street, Cape Town. Trust me, you don’t want to wait too long before going there!!

PS. If they ever decide to send out mobile coffee vans into Joburg’s streets, I will happily pay for a parking spot outside of my house!

44 Stanley Avenue
Milpark

Visit their website of Facebook page.

Image credits: All photography by me

Another (olive) tree-covered courtyard

I love 44 Stanley. It is probably my favourite place in all of Johannesburg to just hang a bit and recharge the batteries on a Friday afternoon/Saturday morning/Sunday lunchtime (or basically anytime in between!!) 

44 Stanley Avenue used to be the garages for the Automobile Association, back in the day when Milpark was still on the edges of town, and therefore a light industrial area. When the AA moved out, the buildings were subject to vandalism and unlawful squatters until in 2003, when property developers saw the potential of the place. After an extensive make-over, the urban industrial character remains with some places left unpainted and untouched, but now it houses 25 specialty boutiques, restaurants and design studios. It is all build around two splendid courtyards where you can sit under giant olive trees and see the world go by. (How these got to be there remains a mystery!) The irregular layout which creates all kinds of semi-hidden nooks and crannies just adds to the charm. 

I will blog later this week about some of my favourite places in 44 Stanley, but will tempt you in the meantime with a few images to show you what awaits at this hidden gem. 

44 Stanley Ave
Milpark
Johannesburg

Visit their website or Facebook page. 

Image credits: All photography by me

Jacarandas in full bloom

Outside Daniel's school is a huge Jacaranda. He loves the "lavender tree" :-).

Seeing the trees all over Johannesburg in full bloom at the moment is a spectacular sight. I took this photo in Emmarentia.

Image credits: Photo by me

Events in my neighbourhood - FoodWineDesign

This weekend sees the return of the FoodWineDesign Fair sponsored by Sanlam Investment Management. Local food artisans, designers and winemakers will all gather on the 5 000 square meter roof-surface at the Hyde Park shopping centre. 

This boutique outdoor market will also feature a seated dining area under tents.  

Operating Hours:
• Friday, 25 November: 13:00 – 22:00
• Saturday, 26 November: 10:00 – 22:00
• Sunday, 27 November: 10:00 – 17:00

For more info, see their webpage of Facebook page.

Image credits: 1) FoodWineDesign 2&3) Samantha Reinders (via Poetry) 

4&5) FoodWineDesign FB page 

Sunday Edition #6

Image credits: Etsy

Under the Baobab tree

It is Saturday and off to Sandton City we go to see the new wing of the shopping mall, the Protea Court, for ourselves. It only takes about 5 seconds into the mall to see that the there is a new fashion accessory every person in Sandton seems to have. Move over Louis Vuitton handbags, ZARA shopping bags are in town!

Daniel, of course, isn’t interested in any of this, and found his amusement for the morning at the Sandton Square water fountain! (How lovely is the giant Christmas baobab tree?)

So there’s this boy. 
He kinda stole my heart.
He calls me “Mom”.

Image credits: All photos taken by me.