How going to a Joburg market finally convinced me to get a new phone

Ugh, I need a new phone. I have finally made peace with this very uneasy truth. I have never had the opportunity to actually upgrade from one phone to the other, as I have always left my cellphone in a shop somewhere, had it stolen out of a handbag in a club or just generally misplaced it and never found it ever again. So I am one of those fortunate people who have always been forced to get a new phone, whether I was buying a cellphone or just quickly doing a simswop for a family member's old phone.

Now, I am in the position where I am forced to get a new one because my old iPhone 4S sucks, big time and it is time for un upgrade anyway. Not only is its screen smashed, the back of it is smashed too - I have replaced both so many times now that I don't even bother anymore, I know it will just be broken within the next hour or so. I am a serial cellphone dropper, notorious at that. It might be because I always want to carry everything in my hands, despite having a handbag JUST there.

The other reason I need a new phone is because this old rickety thing of mine takes KAK photos. I think all the times I've dropped it has messed with its head and no matter what I try, they all come out kak. Case in point, when my friend and I recently visited a few Joburg Markets around the city. Now, I know you might be thinking why I am using a phone to take blogpost pics and not a proper camera - truth is, I will remember everything there is to remember, but to charge the batteries on my camera? Fuggetaboutit. Where I put my four memory cards? No idea. So phones are just more reliable than I am.

Our first stop was The Sheds@1Fox , which is quite lekker on a Thursday, because it has bands going, good food, craft beer and none of the hipsters. I like hipsters though. But on Saturdays, I think it is still being overshadowed by Neighbourgoods.

Come on people, why is no one visiting 1Fox? Why trample each other to death at the other markets if you have so much more space here, but pretty much the same on offer? This problem needs to be fixed - like my phone.

Our second stop was - tuddumtish - Neighbourgoods. Whoa. Overcrowded markets probably brings out the introvert in errrbody. People watching is quite interesting, but while there I definitely thought that my tv and my couch was inching up on my priority list.

We also checked out the Factory on Grant, which is quaint and doesn't quite pack the punch of the other two markets. We went there after one of the stall owners at Neighbourgoods told us that their shop was based here - a screenprinting shop, which offers classes in the lost[?] art. BONUS: On Fridays, The Factory has a nighmarket - I am yet to visit - where you can get a stall FOR FREE and sell your goodies. I bake some mean rusks, maybe I should drop in on a Friday and sell them with some boeretroos.

Coming back to my phone, this dilemma comes in - currently my contract is dirt cheap, because it is also so ancient that it could be excavated with the dinosaurs. I don't like spending money when I don't need to.

So I thought instead of upgrading, I should just buy a newer secondhand phone and just do a simswop and keep my old dirt cheap contract. Life hack unlocked and accomplished? Methinks so.

Selling my phone? As much as I would love to have done that, and use Gumtree's new Phone Price Checker tool to see what I could get for my unapolgetically used iPhone - I doubt that anyone would want to buy this old hack Its battery doesn't even last five minutes.  But maybe I will slip it in under secondhand phones and see if I get an offer ;)

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Collaborated post
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Folkloriikka {feature}

Folkloriikka is a jewellery brand designed and crafted by Simone Toerien. The word is Finnish for “the study of folklore” and was chosen because of her love of Scandinavian design, wintery landscapes and her fascination with myths, tales and folklore.

Simone begins all of her pieces in wax, spending a wealth of time carving and etching the intricate details that bring her work to life, before casting them in sterling silver. Simone was also one of the featured artists at this year's Design Indaba. Her creations are equally enchanting as they are beautiful. The most compelling facet of Simone is that she overcomes challenges daily, but does not let it come in the way of her creativity.

1. Simone, I love all the little creatures you come up with. How did you start and how long have you been making jewellery?
Folkloriikka started as nothing more than a dream when I was working as a graphic designer in Cape Town. I left my job and moved home to Hermanus in 2012 to take time off to rest and heal after I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

It wasn’t long before I needed a new creative outlet and began a jewellery hobby course at Ralph Walton Design in Hermanus in 2013. During one of our lost wax casting classes, I made my first Fox Ring, a gift for a good friend of mine.

I began making more animal pieces to complete what would be my first range - The Familiars. It was not long after that that I was running my own online store.

I asked Simone if she minded expanding on having lupus and she said:

I wasn't sure if I should go into too much detail though it was a major part of how I ended up starting Folkloriikka. 

I have been off medication for a year, there is no cure for lupus but it no longer affects my life, occasionally my fingertips go numb (Raynaud's phenomenon), but nothing to complain about.

It used to impede my ability work, severe fatigue and joint pain that made walking difficult and driving nearly impossible. I attribute a stress free, healthy lifestyle, the fresh air in Hermanus, yoga and doing what I love to my steady recovery.

Getting my diagnosis was scary but also a huge relief, I'd been ill for years and always treated for my individual symptoms. I was able to give myself permission to let go of work commitments and take time off before pursuing my own dreams at my own pace.

As of this year I'm happy to be living and working in Cape Town again.

2. What sort of products do you make?
I make handmade woodland inspired sterling silver jewellery. All my pieces are individually carved in wax before being cast in sterling silver.

3. Where do you find inspiration for your creations?
Forests, folk tales and curiosities - odd trinkets, vintage pieces, interesting objects from all over the world that have a story to tell. My grandmother's traditional jewellery from Mexico, and her art nouveau pieces from Holland sparked my interest in the world of jewellery.

I am also inspired by other young brands that pay close attention to detail in every aspect of what they do, from crafting their products, to their photography and their marketing.

4. What are some of the challenges of being your own boss?
Trying to do everything on my own and learning that I can’t. I spend a lot of my time making stock and organising deliveries, when I’d really love to be designing and carving new pieces. I’m still working out how to find a balance.

5. How do you perceive the South African creatives/design landscape?
It’s exciting to see local designers creating products at an international standard and making great design and expertly crafted goods accessible to the South African public, especially online. I’ve always loved the simplistic, honest way many young South African designers do their marketing and presentation, their genuine love for their product inspired me to go out and do my own thing.

6. What is your favourite colour/ material to work with, and why?
So far I only work in silver, but I have plans to work with warmer tones soon. A lot of the feedback I got from the Design Indaba this year was to produce a brass range. I would also love to work in gold.

7. What would you do if you won the lotto?
I have always dreamt of having a beautiful home studio space nestled in a forest beside a lake, I would employ people to assist me in creating my jewellery so that I could spend more time learning, designing and creating new work.

8. Where to from here?
Folkloriikka is still very young and I feel like I’ve hardly begun to achieve my business’ full
potential, I would like to produce more ranges, find more local boutiques to sell my pieces and
increase my international audience and sales.

My goal is to maintain my level of attention to detail as my business expands, to keep innovating,
experimenting with new techniques and to collaborate with people who are trained in other areas
of design to develop unique products.

9. What has been your proudest moment since you started?

I have a few but my highlights would definitely be debuting on Superbalist.com as a featured
designer, it was really exciting, most of my pieces sold out within an hour. I was selected as a
2015 Design Indaba Emerging Creative which was a huge honour and an incredible opportunity
and experience.

FIND SIMONE HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/Folkloriikka
https://www.pinterest.com/folkloriikka/
https://twitter.com/Folkloriikka
https://instagram.com/folkloriikka/

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All images were provided by Simone
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