Simply Sam Trading - Antiques.Brocante.Gifts

We stock a variety of vintage, antique and hand-crafted items. Available on our web store simplysam.co.za or select antiques and beautiful 'proudly South African' hand-made Gift items on sale or to view at VinLee Art Gallery Hilton College Road, Natal Midlands. Hilton off-ramp, N3, Kwazulu Natal

Thursday, March 22, 2012

My internet 'Shop Keeper' on Human Rights Day at Simply Sam Trading

Yesterday was a public holiday in South Africa and we were fortunate to have our children at school, which meant my husband and I got to spend a day together, doing totally what we wished. Brookdale Spa did come to mind, but instead we decided to go on a 'Midlands Meander' on our bicycles. The round trip was about 45kms. The easy part was down hill to 'Piggys' for a brunch, but getting back home with all those hills, aah ...


The Midlands Meander has some of the most enchanting places to visit and one of my favourite has always been  Caversham Mill. The setting, almost on top of a ferocious river,is idyllic. When we arrived there, manager Clint, offered us a convivial chat and an apple for the journey, with a quick after thought of "mind the locals they drive like maniacs"!  We made it to Piggy Wiggly Country Village from Caversham Mill in 15 mins, as the down hill was great. Well, mostly down hill. 


A quick Croissant and Cappuccino had us set for the next part of the journey to Tanglewood Hotel. But first a quick look around Piggy Wiggly Country Village. Set up a couple of years ago with only a little outlet selling fresh produce and a small coffee shop, Piggys has become one of the most popular outlets on the Midlands Meander, as it now boasts at least ten different outlets with the most gorgeous offerings. I love Zulu Lulu's new 'spacious' shop by Traci and Stuart Tomkins. I picked out a number of items I'd like to send my hubby back to buy for me. Their ceramics are stunning and the children's pottery painting classes keeps children occupied with a soul filled art for a few hours.  
 by Traci Tomkins

Tour les Jours has gorgeous hand-made PJ's and other gorgeous items, you're sure to find something you can't resist. Frankie & Delilahs was new to me, but what a lovely outlet. We have a good laugh looking at their 'Britto' range of ceramics by Brazillian artist and ceramicist as they make the most colourful dog bowls that a customer had said he wanted to buy to serve chips and dip in at home. Well that would definitely get tongues (tails) wagging.


  Medium Melamine Dog Design Pet Bowl w/Steel Insert Melamine Cat Design Pet Bowl w/Steel Insert


After a serious hard slog up lots of gradual hills, we were eventually rested and ensconced at the historical Tanglewood Hotel (where it is said, Jack the Ripper is to have stayed whilst on the run). Having eaten a delicious lunch my 'dishevelled' husband announced that the only way he was going to continue our cycle, was if I booked him in the hotel for the night, to continue the cycle in the morning. Well, what do you do when you're in a fix? Call a friend. Those hills were not for Sissy's, so we called a friend to pick us up and take us home...


What a most enjoyable day off work. What made the whole thing even more enjoyable was knowing that all my hard work, working on the Simpy Sam Trading web store, was paying off as the internet became my 'shop keeper' and as I cycled around enjoying the beauty of the area, I was still selling. Our web store now boast a card facility so give it a try. simplysam.co.za



Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Check out Simply Sam Trading on the Home Front - SA Garden & Home


mag_cover_large_05db7a2b2cd8bb8cc7082d180502e5df.preview.jpeg
The latest Garden & Home is all about  'Country Style' with some really stunning interiors, including a fabulous home from our very own Dargle Valley. The furniture that is featured will send you running to our web store www.simplysam.co.za
Some beautiful gardens are featured too.

There are articles on re-vamping furniture - close to my heart of course. We are re-vamping a 1930's Chaise Longue and also an Oregon work bench which will look fab in a kitchen or on the veranda as a server. I have just sold a mirror with the most gorgeous decorative gesso vintage frame and there's an article in the magazine giving you tips on antique and vintage mirrors that can help you decide what will suit your style. We're excited as Simply Sam Trading got a little mention on the home front
Check it out ... on sale now!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Beautiful Boutique Home for Sale in Fort Nottingham, Natal Midlands - Make that move to the Countryside and live your Dream ...

Have you ever dreamed the dream of having a beautiful place, tucked away in a magnificent country setting, a wholesome place you can call your own? Often the expense puts most of us off, but if you could make this into a business proposition, then that's a different matter. Read on ....

A River Runs Through it - Boutique Home in Fort Nottingham 
R5,995 Mil
 P r i v a t e   S e l l e r 

Run your own Boutique Hotel, and make your money work for you ....



Impress your friends with this stunning home, reminiscent of an 'English Boutique Hotel', one of the most beautiful properties in the area. Only a couple of years old, it has all the modern conveniences you could ask for, set on 5 hectares of land, your own piece of paradise. Sitting on the deck overlooking spectacular views with the soft sound of your own piece of river below, this is pure escapism. You need only move in and enjoy.
Run your own Boutique Hotel from this multi level property and make your money work for you. The main bedroom en suite is quite private, on the lowest level, quite separate from the three spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms above, all with a decidedly old worlde English feel .  Consisting of a large bedroom/sitting area with its own private patio with wonderful views to ensure you feel totally spoilt . The en suite has a spacious shower room leading through to a second room that has your own private Sauna and Jacuzzi and walk through dressing room.
The Farm House kitchen, with adjacent terraced Potager,  is open plan to a spacious dining area, with a separate scullery and store room and enclosed veranda leading to parking and carports. A separate TV room is on the same level. The middle section consists of a huge 'hotel style' lounge area with your very own 'English style' Pub and views from the deck that just go on and on. 

Horse lovers can enjoy trails with free reign over of their own land, modern Stables, Tack Room and feeding area.

Modern staff rooms would be an easy conversion to a separate cottage if required.



This is a lifestyle property for the discerning buyer
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 bathroom (one en suite)
  • Sauna
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pub
  • Lounge
  • TV Room
  • Farm House Kitchen
  • Terraced Potager
  • Easy maintenance garden with working water feature at entrance
  • Fully equipped Gym
  • Dining Room 
  • Scullery
  • Wine Cellar
  • Carports
  • Modern Stables and Tack Room and feeding area
  • 3 Staff rooms with ablutions
  • River on 2 sides of property boundary
  • Approx 20km from Nottingham Road
Register , giving your full contact details, for more information on this property.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

20th Wedding Anniversary - paper or wood? ...

A twentieth wedding anniversary is a biggie. I know this because my last one, which was eighteen years, wasn't listed on the 'anniversary listing' of things to buy. However, Simply Sam Trading customer Charmaine, managed to convince her husband to purchase a lovely vintage Milliners Hat Stand Block, for their wedding anniversary recently - not because wood is what you buy for your twentieth wedding anniversary, but simply because she loves these interesting hat blocks which are quite a rare find.
Her current collection of Milliner Hat Blocks now stands at around twenty three and although the suggested gift for your twentieth anniversary is Porcelain or Aluminium, Charmaine says she just loves wooden objects. Her passion for wood even extends to wooden rolling pins, a love she thinks she may have acquired from her 'Ouma'.  I think Charmaine's husband couldn't have been happier that she'd managed to find the perfect gift for him to buy for her. Now that's love for you...