RARE AS ROCKING-HORSE POO

Endless conversation about change is the barrier to actually committing to doing something and then acting is what is required” – David Jakes

Guess what’s as rare as Rocking-Horse poo?  People who say they are going to do something and then actually do it!

I recently spent a fabulous, albeit hectic week in the “Big Smoke” with one of those rare breed of human beings, my talented and beautiful friend Tamsin. Tam is on the verge of launching her business, “Tambeau“, contemporary fabrics for interiors and soft furnishings and I was genuinely touched when she asked me to leave behind village life for a short while and fly to Johannesburg to photograph her brand new collections and designs for the website.

We spent three and a half crazy days setting up and photographing 24 different fabric swatches, creating realistic room “scenes” using the textiles for cushions, roman blinds, curtains and tablecloths.  

Having Tamsin’s gorgeous home in the North of Johannesburg as a photographic studio was no hardship at all and the cherry on top was being able to catch up with all my other wonderful friends and family in my free time.  Not to mention at the end of a busy day, lounging on plump patio cushions, sipping copious glasses of delicious South African wine while chatting deep into the night accompanied by the gentle, soothing evening sounds. Yeah baby, my kind of working holiday.

Tamsin shares her delighful family home with charming husband Bryan, their two lively little boys, Dylan and Channing and three dogs.  Odie (see the featured image above) and Biscuit are the elderly yellow Labradors while Nala, the black Labrador, is the youngest and newest member of the family and a firm favourite with little Channing.

Obviously I cannot show any of the images I took of the fabrics and room scenes as Tamsin has not yet launched her business but once she has done so, I’ll be sure to put a link to her website on my blog. (UPDATE: Tambeau Fabrics is open for business!  Click on the link to view her fabulous designs www.tambeau.co.za )

 Although there was very little time to photograph anything other than the range of designs,  I did manage to squeeze in a few sneaky shots of kids, pets and the garden whenever the opportunity arose.

The boys, when they were home, mostly kept themselves entertained nevertheless some days we found ourselves Googling (can you believe that’s a verb?) in-between shots, how to make paper airplanes to keep the two young lads busy.

More than once, I was forced to pause my finger on the shutter button milliseconds before taking a shot and wait as a “helpful” canine casually ambled into the frame of my viewfinder congenially wagging its tail.

Here is Nala helping me meter for the light, Nala was failed, passed over as a Guide Dog because she has a slight skin condition but she is a sweet, gawky girl and the whole family love her.

One morning around 7 am I was roused from my slumber by Channing performing, at the top of his voice, a most joyful rendition of “Row, Row, Row your Boat”, it went something like this;

“Wow, wow, wow your boat, gently down the stweam! Mewwy, mewwy, mewwy, mewwy, life is but a dweam!”.  Too sweet.

Channing using his tongue to help me measure the light in the hallway…

One evening the boys confided their philosophy on dogs with me; Nala, they told me, is a “licker” while Biscuit is only a “sniffer” but Odie, they both agreed, is a “sniffer AND a licker”.

They were spot on, that Odie will sniff and lick you at any opportunity he gets!  Here below is an image of the aforementioned sniffer and licker posing with his beloved deflated soccer ball.

We also needed some portrait shots for Tamsin, so we headed off into the idyllic garden setting…

Dylan is the quiet shy one but he too was most eager to help.

And out came the tongue.  Hilarious! Whenever you ask someone to pull a funny face they almost always stick their tongue out.

The gentle Biscuit.  Poor old girl is having a bit of trouble with stiffness in her hind quarters, as Mr T always says “Old age is not for sissies”.

Back to the lush, green garden for a styled shot and more portrait images.  Tam was brilliant at finding vases, glassware, table lamps and rugs around the house to use as scene props.

Tamsin’s mischievous side, a smile is never far from her lips and eyes.

My favorite image of Nala.  Such a goofy girl…

Cultivate an optimistic mind, use your imagination, always consider alternatives, and dare to believe that you can make possible what others think is impossible.” – Rodolfo Costa, Advice My Parents Gave Me: and Other Lessons I Learned from My Mistakes

“You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.” – Joyce Meyer

Passionate, optimistic, determined, positive, committed and rare as Rocking-Horse poo is how I would describe this remarkable woman and I came away feeling encouraged, uplifted and inspired by her positive energy and passionate enthusiasm.  We could all do to take a leaf out of her book.

Mark my words.  This young lady is going places.

All my love

Moira ♥