Phew, what a day. The only word to describe the Mielie loft today was C-H-A-O-S. It was Mielie mamma Thursday so there was the usual noise and laughter. We also had a very wonderful client in to check progress on a very wonderful and very huge job (lips sealed - but it has something to do with those crop circles I posted a couple of weeks ago). To crown it all we also packed dozens of boxes today for 3 big orders leaving in the next day or so.
But as that clever Mr Jung said:
In all chaos, there is a cosmos, in all disorder there is a secret order.
Sentiwe, Nomelikhaya, Lindiwe and Bongs seem to concur that this little corner of chaos creates some pretty awesome bags. These will all be hopping on a plane for Germany tomorrow.
One person who must be singled out for illuminating the secret order in the Mielie chaos is Mzo, who just keeps calm, keeps tabs and keeps going. Thank you so much, Mzo.
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With less than a month to go, the World Cup is South Africa's no.1 topic at the moment. Here at Mielie things are no different. We've selected Mielie's finishing team to represent us in all matters footballish. Whenever we send a product out into the world, we always write the name of the weaver on the label, but there just isn't enough room to include the names of the finishing team who
- sew the bag up
- stitch on the handles
- sew in the lining
- sew up soccer balls
... and much much more.
So here's to Thaka, Luyolo, Richard, George & Malibongwe;
Mzo, Phumla, Mawethu, Thembisa & Nomalungisa.
We think you're champions!
The balls are a special World Cup order and will be on sale in major airports in South Africa.
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Meet Lucy Adams, who has spent the past month volunteering at Mielie. Lucy had arrived from the UK, and offered to share her (pretty impressive) organisational skills here at Mielie while she was waiting for her South African work permit. She helped us develop planning systems and production plans to help us foresee any hitches long before they become a crisis.
Enkosi khakulu, Lucy!
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For the second year running we celebrated our annual staff party at Muizenberg beach with fish & chips. It was a blast - literally and figuratively - the wind pumped, but this didn't seem to dampen any spirits!
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Hi - I'm back after a great Christmas break filled with family, friends (old and new), sunshine and mountains of food. I hope your Christmas and New Year lived up to expectations and that your year ahead is creative, productive and prosperous.
I have GREAT news - see this pic of Zanele standing on sandy plot of land?
Soon she's going to be standing in her house!
That's right, Zanele and several other Mielie weavers have each been allocated a plot, water connection and toilet. They will soon receive building supplies and will then need to find a contractor to build their houses. We are all so excited!
I will post pics of the house building in progress.
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You can weave beautiful bags, cushions, and carpets with them... or those handy Mielie strips can turn an ordinary day into a GREAT hair day!
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Today there was loads of laughter... and the odd bit of gurgling, squealing and crying in our loft. The little pudding at the bottom is Fezeka's baby - remember her? The sleeping baby is Sentiwe's grandchild.
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Thursday is sebenza (work) day at Mielie, when we see all our weavers. It's busy. It's noisy. It's messy. It rocks.
Capetonians, don't forget about the organic market at Montebello tomorrow morning. We have some beautiful baby fennel in - delicious just steamed with a blob of creme fraiche and black pepper.
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Mielie's CEO (Chaotic Environment Officer), prince Buhle, turned two today. There was singing, dancing and cheering in our happy loft... and cake and treats too, thanks to Noseko, Buhle's ever-patient gogo - granny, comforter and nurturer. Mine mnandi kuwe, Buhi!
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