You may have viewed the slideshow of my recent trip to South Africa that I posted on my blog. It has been a month since I’ve returned, and now I'd like to take the opportunity to share with you some of my reflections from this amazing trip.

I plan to write and post some thoughts over the next three weeks. This series will reflect my brand promise - to Scatter Joy: joy through art, joy through living, and joy through giving.

Please enjoy...

No matter where I travel, I am always on the lookout for local art and inspiration. Believe me, South Africa did not disappoint!

Prevalent among the many colorful handmade treasures I found was a wide assortment of beautiful beaded crafts! There were functional beaded items, including beautiful chairs, belts, mugs… and animal sculptures galore! (More on them in a later post!)

Woven baskets made of colored telephone wire were another fun find! These intricate baskets are created by the Zulu people, the largest ethnic group in South Africa. The finished product appears to be fashioned from natural materials, but the telephone wire that comes in every color provides a wide palette for the creations!

Singita, an impressive group of safari lodges in different locations, uses charger plates and accessories to decorate the lodges. Each lodge has a different color scheme and pattern, helping to create a distinctive personality for each location.

http://basketsofafrica.com/wire.html

Check back on Wednesday for more Joy Through Art in South Africa.