agenda

My new next year's agenda. I tend to buy to the simpliest agenda I can find to give it a very personal cover, made from test prints and scraps in my favourite colours. 

And some pictures of last Sunday's exhibition/art market here.

holiday activities

do you see my daughter dancing in her gown?  :)

I never take much time to sew myself something new, but now I've managed to make me a sweet fluffy cotton summer dress out of a vintage duvet cover with red and (fluo) pink details.

My girls are already free from (secondary) school, so they are helping me out
.... doing last minute dinner shoppings and preparing meals....

 "Would you buy a few cans of tomato paste?" They return with this + six which I've already in the pan :)

fresh biological beans

.... making fine and healthy fruit smoothies enjoyed in pyjamas in the morning sun

 
.... they're having a girlfriends camping in our jungle, which I thougth was a top experience when I was their age (well a bit younger), did you?

...and they both are on to the next grade so we rewarded them with a Wii Just Dance game, which my husband and I find very amusing too :)

brooch

Leather brooch €15  ©vansan

The brooch is built up in 3 layers, the black rear is of artificial leather to avoid stretching and loss of shape. €15 (ex shipping).

Monday give away

Monday= Moonday....the best day of the week for women.

I give ALL (6) Happy Period Purses* and (2) pencil cases from previous handmade Van San collections away so you're chances are high of getting one.
I will randomly pick 8 names at noon on Moonday March 5.
The HPPs and pencil cases will also be given away randomly.

What do you have to do?
> Sign in on my blog (become follower of this blog, just push the "join this site"-button)  AND  leave a reaction at this blog post so I'll know you're there.
> Those who already are (registered) follower of this blog may leave a reaction


Spread the word!


* HPP= a purse just big enough to store a couple of sanitary pads and tampons clean and discretely in your bag. Of course you can use the HPP for any other purpose. Most purses have different front and back fabrics and some of them have a hand-cut print.

ps.  haha I just noticed the blue bookcover next to the vase, it says "We and Nature". Matches perfectly with the topic (HPP/moonday)!

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DIY small lampshade

I thought it was about time to give the poor bare lightbulb a new nice but simple lampshade for the sake of some wordly atmosphere. 

Ever since and before my Geography study I have been inspired by the graphics of maps. My attention was caught when I came across this (detail of) picture in the latest edition of Dutch magazine vtwonen; it shows a little paper bag made of a map....

picture taken from magazine vtwonen

the poor bare lightbulb in our living

So I decided to experiment on a simple lampshade out of a map of my favorite continent (being South East Asia).  I'm happy to share it with you. Of course you can use any sturdy paper you like.  
I have been succinctly so please read all descriptions and look closely at all pictures before you start. Have fun!

1.  Here are the things I thought I might be needing. You can skip the 2 round frames, I didn't use those.

So there are: 

sturdy paper, scissors, (sunflower) oil, skewers, double sided tape, colourful sewing thread and needle.

2.  Put on one side of the long end of the paper one strip of double sided tape. Peal the protective strip off and fold the paper to a long tube by putting the long ends together. If you wish a smaller lampshade you can choose to cut or tear -like I did- some of length.

3.  Cut out triangles all around the opening but first you measure the distance from centerpoint of the tube to the edge so you know how pointy the triangels have to be to close the whole top end of the tube.

4. Put small pieces of double sides tape on each triangle tip.

5.  And put all tips together to close the top end of the tube. Leave one or two slots open for the assemblage to the lightbulb.

6.  Make the paper translucent: Apply sunflower (or olive) oil to the paper by brushing carefully all over it. Give some time to let the paper suck most of the oil - check if all parts are covered by holding against the light. Then you wipe all the remaining and glossy oil with toilet paper.

 
7.  Put the paper tube to the lightbulb. and continue with the most difficult part:  you take some double sewing thread and cross stitch the open slots together. The lampshade is hanging!

 

 8.   You can stick 3 or 4 skewers through the paper very close to the fitting for a better fixation to the fitting. In my case the skewers even go great with the Asian continent.

Good luck and have fun!

By the way,  I found the poster (piece of wallpaper?) during our last vacation in Danmark, in Copenhagen at Grønlykke shop. Lovely isn't it? I've seen this before but don't remember the designer; does anybody know who designed it? And the little paper doll was made by my friend Megan from Frank&Gertrude.

DIY angel

Today I bought a fantastic vintage book full of Christmas do it yourself (DIY) paper crafts. I cannot NOT share them with you. So here is my favourite one, the angel. Description in Dutch only, sorry! If you need help, just email me.

1. Click on the pictures with the angel parts and save them in your computer. 
2. Print the 2 pictures with the angel parts, preferably on somewhat thicker paper so the angel will get a bit more solid.
3. You can read the instructions when you click on each picture, as it will pop up and the descriptions become larger. 
4. Remember you can print as many angels you like.
5. Send it to someone you love and tell him/her that he/she is your angel.
6. Enjoy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY !

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mantra clipping

I spent hours and hours of clipping these dots.... a meditative project, sitting quietly at my desk in front of the garden window.
The first breed of great tits (koolmezen) in my garden have unwittingly left the nest...

birth

Wiesje Wasbeer (racoon) was born and Spring was born. You see the tiny young fresh green leaves?
I am still at work! Since the decision was taken to close the shop, I start with the things I have long wanted to do for myself. Sowing a cardigan,  and Wiesje,  a new bag for myself, stamping a lot etc.... I enjoy it! And I also enjoy the garden view when I'm at my high working table in the living (I bought a lovely secondhand vintage high stool from a woman who recognized me from a magazine publication, can you image? !) while I'm working in the sun!
And the deliveries from the shop continue...thank you all!

My very first selfmade screenprint! 

I attend an 8x evening course in 'het Grafisch Museum' in Groningen.

And some sketches for a new print. Sometimes I really can't make up my mind what to choose.
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