We enjoyed the company of our new neighbours, Paws, at our penultimate market for the season. The last market is Sunday 25 May until we commence again on Sunday 28 September. Having had so many doggy fans popping in Leona  has already suggested making dog biscuits instead of her a rusks! Our biggest fan this week was Biscotti with his beautiful long eye lashes (putting any volumising  mascara or extensions to shame!)

One of our new neighbours at Kirstenbosch

'The Clothing Bank mission is to "Empower Unemployed Mothers Through Enterprise Development so that they can become Financially and Socially Independent". 

Founded in 2010 by Tracey Chambers (CEO) and Tracey Gilmore (COO), in response to the growing problem of unemployment amongst single mothers and the lack of support that they receive from the father of their children.We believe that if you help a mother you help a child.
Our Enterprise Development programme is a 2 year holistic training programme that empowers unemployed mothers to start a small retail trading business.  We source excess clothing from the major retailers in South Africa and use this clothing as the tool to teach.  Each woman starts running a small business within six weeks of joining the programme and the objective is that she should earn R3500 per month which is enough to feed, clothe and educate her family.  Our motto is "Don’t give a women a fish, teach a women to fish AND teach her how to sell her fish".  '
( can the above 2 paragraphs be in italic? Something that let's them stand out as not my words :) )

Thanks to Brenda from The Clothing Bank we have some wonderful tea towels. Brenda has hand stitched her initials on each hanging tag and done a wonderful job. We wanted the tea towels to have a hand finished feel to them. As we make more we will spread the work to different ladies in the programme to add their initials.

Tea Towels

Sunday's pop up tea garden started off in true English style and tradition, being up against the elements of rain!  By 9 o'clock the sun was shinning but it didn't stop the flow of tea, coffee, scones and other delights. We promise to bring more coffee next time and offer cheese with our croissants. And depending on the weather, possibly have hot milk. I think our clients forget we have no electricity or water at that end of the garden.

After a short brief which really just included a budget, a rough idea of non perishable goods and the description of clientele being tailored towards men in the movie industry  I decided to de-girly my style! (a little)  And 'man up' my branding.  Panalux ordered 10 of each hamper which we delivered last week.

Left: Smaller hamper

Right: Contents of Small hameper box

Having walked around the most beautifully designed and orchestrated garden I have ever stepped foot in, in Cape Town, anything would have tasted good. But in true Babylonstoren style  with attention to detail being on top of the agenda I was presented a wonderful Cream Tea. An experience that fed my mind with non stop creative inspiration. 

Left: Beautiful Crockery and furniture.

Right: Cream Tea! Sadly without Clotted Cream

We visited the farm in January, this time I remembered my camera! John and Jenny manufacture Pouring, Double and their famous Clotted Cream alongside their  milk. They are busy installing a butter plant which is very exciting as I will also use this in my baking. The photos allow you to see how content the Jersey Cows are in the most beautiful surroundings. John and Jenny's heard is up to 50 plus including the calves.

Left: Buttercup and her 3 week old calf

Right: Content calf and staff