Wooden Bow Ties South Africa

Up your look with a genuine Wooden Bow Tie

Available in various woods & Designs at www.aydn.co.za
With Christmas only a matter of weeks away you want to up your game with a genuine Wooden Bow Tie hand-made and designed in South Africa. Stand out from the rest and take the "road less travelled". The bow ties are a perfect Christmas gift for a nephew, son or even grandson. All bow ties come in a wooden presentation box. 

The Ayd'n Designs 'Quality Trading' Company is a relatively new business owned and managed by my sixteen year old son, Elliot Ayd'n McDonald, who is a young designer. Everything from the website to the products are hand-made and designed by Elliot himself. 

Orders can be placed over the website and posted to you any where in the world. Alternatively stockists include KZNSA, Rosewood Collectables (Hilton, KZN) and the Tatham Art Gallery Shop (PMB).

O L I N *LIMITED EDITION

   R225.00

Original Natal Farmhouse For Sale Nottingham Road Area

Have you ever had a dream of down shifting, moving to the countryside, and living your life at a much slower pace? The Nottingham Road area in Natal has the most wonderful schools, including Clifton Prep, Michaelhouse and St Annes and Hilton College, just down the road. 

Nottingham Road has attracted Artisans and Artists for many years and has some wonderful shops and restaurants. But its biggest attraction has to be the beauty. The Hamlet of Fort Nottingham in particular is a place where time stands still. It is this little Hamlet that is responsible for Nottingham Road getting its name. Peace pervades and if you are a horse lover, the Natal Midlands is the area to be. 

So if you have been waiting for this opportunity to move, maybe this lovely Circa 1893 home is for you. Click on the pic above to view. 

Original Natal Farmhouse For Sale with separate Karoo style Cottage - Nottingham Road Area
http://www.simplysam.co.za/Welcome-to-the-world-of-Simply-Sam-Trading/Hamlet-of-Fort-Nottm-Price-R2-575-Mil-Neg

Midmar Mile Accommodation

This is just a quick note for anyone who is still looking for accommodation for the Midmar Mile on 8th February 2014, we still have a double cottage available. Email here for further information.

Purchase Gift items for your loved ones living in South Africa from Simply Sam Trading www.simplysam.co.za

Do you have loved ones in South Africa? Want to purchase lovely gift items for them from the comfort of your armchair?

Online Gifts for South Africans living internationally - sending gifts anywhere in SA

The world has become a small place and we can be in contact with our loved ones all over the world at very little expense these days using the likes of Skype, Bria or even FaceTime. I was on a trip to the UK once and took my friend around my home town of Nottingham and walked him around the Castle. The only thing was, he didn't fly over with me. He'd called on Skype and I shared my experience via this technology and he was able to walk the path with me as if he was literally by my side.

 

But the one thing we haven't managed to get right yet, is teleporting things. Wouldn't it just be awesome if you could place an order for an item and it was zapped over to you instantly. I think the closest we have come to this is Amazon, with their testing of the Robot Drones to deliver items directly to your door via the air.

Delivery is costly and unfortunately not always reliable when posting things from one country to another.

Simply Sam Trading have been selling over the internet via www.simplysam.co.za since 2007. We offer beautiful furniture and gift items, many of the gifts sourced from South African job creation projects. Our little gift cards are also made locally.

 If you have a loved one in South Africa and are at a loss as to what to buy them for a special occasion take a look at what we have on offer. And if you can't find what you're looking for, drop us a line, and we'll make suggestions and even try and source your requirement.  Looking for a last minute gift? Sometimes we're in such a rush that pressing a button is the simplest way to order. Take a look at what www.simplysam.co.za has on offer. We'll wrap it, write on the gift card, and courier to your loved one, any where in South Africa. So what are you waiting for?

Gift items at Simply Sam Trading

Pretty Cottage Nottingham Road - close to Clifton Prep & Michaelhouse

A year in Nottingham Road

We've all heard of á year in Provence' i'm sure. Well I had my own very experience renovating my little cottage in the Hamlet of Fort Nottingham. The cottage is only approximately sixty square metres, so one would think a little renovation project would have moved along pretty quickly. I started the process in January 2013 and January 2014 the cottage is now available for rent. 

It is the perfect little retreat for parents of a boarder scholar who want a semi permanent retreat for when visiting their child at either Michaelhouse or Clifton school. Located in the historical Hamlet of Fort Nottingham, set in a nature reserve, this little area offers perfect peace and privacy, with views over the neighbouring fields stabling foals and horses  . A pretty little lock-up-and-go. 

I've often heard boarder parents say that as lovely as a bed & breakfast is, the inconvenience of having to 'book out' of a place in the morning when your child only has to be at school in the evening can be a real bind. That is besides having to cart sports equipment from last season back and forth.

Rosewood Cottage is open plan: lounge, dining, granite kitchen with a huge stoop overlooking the one acre plot. The bedroom, with its anthracite stove for chilly evenings, has a romantic four poster bed with French armoire and French style shutters on the windows for a little siesta in the warm afternoons. Don't expect a TV - but rather bring your bicyle and walking shoes. The nature reserve offers more than enough entertainment.

Up-cycled vintage Mannequins all ready for Hilton Arts Fest

Here they are, my revamped mannequins which were rescued from the bin of a local museum. His & Hers all ready for the Hilton Arts Fest. 

So what do you think?

Hilton Arts Festival - Simply Sam raising funds for Khazimula

TO BE SOLD AT HILTON ARTS FEST TO RAISE FUNDS FOR kHAZIMULA CHILDREN'S PROJECT - PLEASE SHARE

This painting of Chester Williams, by world renowned painter, FLEUR FERRI, will be sold at the Hilton Arts Festival. A percentage of the funds will be handed to the Khazimula Childrens project (http://www.khazimula.co.za/) in Nottingham Road. We hope to sell the painting in excess of R35,000. The highest offer over R15,000 gets to take the painting home and will be contacted via email after the show. 

Chester Williams was the first non-white player to be included in the Springboks and was the famous winger of the SA national Springbok team that won the Rugby World Cup against New Zealand in 1995.

Fleur Ferri (1929-2006) art is represented in collections worldwide. Selected to record the last Sitting of Westminister System of Government in 6m painting of the State President & 29 Parliamentary figures for the Houses of Parliament; Has painted portraits of eminent government & public figures in SA & abroad; 14 portraits of Southern African Heads of State; among the many distinguished South Africans painted by Ferri are: Dr Anton Rupert (Rembrandt Foundation), Mr Harry Oppenheimer and Nelson Mandela

Eau-La-La - My 'French' inspired Bicycle from the local dump

I've been at it again. Yesterday I drove past the local dump and spotted exactly what I've been looking for to put outside my gate, at La Petite Maison'. Luckily, this morning, this beauty was still waiting for me. My 'French' inspired bicycle had to be old & rusted so's not to tempt theft, and that exactly what it is, with such character.

Simply Sam Trading at the Hilton Arts Festival

Simply Sam Trading at The Hilton College Arts Festival
Find us in the Campbell Hall
Simply Sam Trading will be selling some amazing pieces including quirky ceramics by great SA artists, Vintage Ware, the odd antique up-cycled piece of furniture, as well as our usual range of items. Find us at the Campbell Hall connected to the main reception building. Hilton Fest Map



Find Simply Sam Trading at the Hilton Arts Fest in the Campbell Hall along with

JOHN THE POTTER
CHRISTIANE JAMAR VARNE
AMANDA LEGGA
LIEZE MEYE
MICHELLE OFFERMAN (SHARING WITH PATRICIA LATEGAN
MARYNA WAGENAAR

Book your show tickets here

Look what I found in the Museum's Rubbish Bin

I'm all about recycling - love it. There's nothing gives me more pleasure than taking an old neglected 'thing' and restoring, either back to its original state, or up cycling into something quite wacky. This includes furniture, buildings, even broken pottery.

So you can imagine my delight, whilst driving yesterday, when I came across these two scruffy, yet vintage, mannequins outside of one of our Museums. On my trip to Paris last year I spotted lots, but the word 'Paris' stamp onto them had the prices sky rocketing. Needless to say my Parisian mannequin is still some where in Paris, to be bought on another trip.

So watch this space. I plan to give these sad mannequins a new lease on life, similar to the second photo below.

Let us sell your Antiques for you

At Simply Sam Trading we offer an online web store with beautiful items for sale, all of them wonderful quality items. If you are looking for a platform to sell your Antique items why not let us list them for you AT NO COST unless your item is sold. We work on a 'commission only' basis. We'll up-load your item, then send this out to our customers as well as advertise your items through our social media channels. Let us do the hard work for you. Simply email your pics and a description and we'll contact you for the rest. simplysam@telkomsa.net

Below is a matching pair of antique Kaap style chairs we are selling for a young entrepreneur who is saving for a trip overseas.

A pair of unique old time CHURCH CHAIRS (priced per each), with rush seats and shelves to the back section. Possibly fruit wood

Simply Sam Antiques Brocante & Gifts now at VinLee Art Gallery Hilton College Road

New Retail Outlet now open in Hilton, Kwazulu Natal

We're excited to announce that Simpy Sam Antique Brocante & Gifts have opened a retail outlet in Hilton, Kwazulu Natal. Conveniently situated at the VinLee Art Gallery, on the Hilton College Road, VinLee Gallery boasts some stunning Art, including collectable art by many well known artists in South Africa. Names such as Keneth Baker, Walter Meyer and Kaffie Pretorius, to name but a few. This was why we felt our choice of outlet had a compatible charm. Not wanting to showcase our stock in a stuffy shopping mall, we looked for an outlet with a breath of fresh air, and that's exactly what you'll find at VinLee Gallery, in the wide open landscapes, just off the Hilton College Road.

Join us weekends from 9am-4.30pm for a complimentary glass of wine, coffee or tea and drink in the beautiful views. Select antique pieces, gorgous hand-made 'proudly South African' gift items and beautiful art that will knock your socks off. If you're a descerning buyer, you'll love what we have in store for you at the VinLee Gallery. 5kms from the Hilton off-ramp on the Hilton College Road. Follow the signs for VinLee and Simply Sam Trading

Open Weekends 9am-4pm or by appointment

LeeAnn 0834504157 Sam0726059909  

Sophie's Choice Willowmore

To think we almost missed this wonderful antique shop & restaurant deli in Willowmore en route to George. Sophie's Choice in Willowmore will certainly delight the taste buds with real coffee and perfectly baked treats presented like something from a Victorian tea party. Their antique shop, though quite pricey for a little our of the way 'dorpie', has some real treasures. You will not be disappointed. About 50km away from Uniondale.

Ode to Oranges - hot off the press

Midlander, Linda Hatting, followed her dream with her recently published 'Ode to Oranges' Recipe Book filled with delicious recipes á l'orange, a simple cookbook on oranges and "parts of my life through the seasons". Stunning photography and inspiring recipes from some of the top culinary venues in the Natal Midlands. This wonderful books allows you to take a piece of the beautiful Natal Midlands home with you. So go on, spoil yourself, or treat a friend. Available on line or direct from Blueberry Gallery Cafe, R103 Nottingham Road

A Week in the Kitchen - by Karen Dudley just arrived

I love this book, A Week in the Kitchen - by Karen Dudley - which has just arrived, so I am excited to say that our copies will be at Blue Berry Gallery Cafe tomorrow.

Karen Dudley is the owner of 'Kitchen' 111 Sir Lowry St, Woodstock, Cape Town and one can see, just flipping through her beautiful book that this is Cape Town's place to visit. Beautiful beautiful photography of real people, enjoying real food, in a real stunning place.

Karen's book can be ordered online at Simply Sam Trading - postage takes approximately 7 days or visit Blueberry Gallery Cafe, R103, open daily 8am-4pm

Spoil me Valentine

Even though I realise the commercial aspect of Valentines Day, I have to say that I love the idea, when we have inadvertently neglected our partners, to have a conscious excuse to spoil the one we love.
This year I have a 'surprise' booking at the local Thai restaurant. Our daughter is having a giggle to herself because my husband mentioned to her, that he is going to surprise me, at the same restaurant. The biggest surprise is going to be when he tries to book, at the last minute, and discovers their full. But that's fine. Because that's when I'll step in and say surprise, surprise.
Isn't that a lovely partnership - that we both had the same idea and know instinctively what the other is all about.

A couple of ideas for 'spoils' from Simply Sam Trading include these stunning French Armoires that are being sold at cost, due to space constraints.
If you are a red heart person then you'll love our 'red heart' pottery, available at Blueberry Gallery Cafe.
If you're partner has really forgotten who you are - nudge him back to reality with this cute, yet heart wrenching message, by John Bauer on ceramic tile.


Happy Valentines

Woman & Home on persuing your Dreams

I see I made it into the latest edition of Woman & Home magazine and I have to say Karen Edwards did a superb job of the photographs. Check out the article here.
There are some lovely articles including one on Fee Halsted, founder and owner of Armore in Nottingham Road. Certainly worth buying.

Love a bargain? Beautiful Pieces of furniture with beautiful prices

Your opportunity to purchase gorgeous quaility items that have 'URGENT SALE' attached to their price tag

If you love a bargain don't waste time in looking at these beautiful items displayed here, which have been priced to sell quickly. The owner no longer has space and has drastically reduced these items to move them quickly. So if you are a Francofile who has longed for a well priced French Armoire, don't miss your opportunity now. Because as they say, opportuntiy doesn't knock twice.

If you have a little darling of pre-school age, this stunning vintage chair with matching hinged desk, is one of a kind and could well become a family heir loom, handed down over generations to come. It is in perfect condition and will add a special look to any young child's room.

If you work from home you deserve to have a large enough work space that gives you that 'boss' kinda feel. This is an Edwardian Partner's Desk with a lovely inlayed faux Leather top, double cupboard space one side and double drawer space on the other. So there you go, his & hers. Wife on one side, hubby on the other ...

Edwardian sideboard

All items available over our webstore: www.simplysam.co.za