nice mailbox

Today I received this wonderfully decorated cardboard box. I was super surprised by the old Dutch stamps! I think this side of the box will make it into a nice mixed media collage one day.

Teuntje liked the box and the content as well!
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inspiration

Emily Barletta, thread and paper

How does it work, inspiration?
I came across this wonderful work of Emily Barletta. She and I independently came more or less to the same forms.

Dutch sand and woods

my sketches

My form came from studies from Dutch landscape pictures while searching and finding patterns for my ++PLUSTWEE designs. Where did Emily's inspiration come from? Probably not Dutch landscapes?! I think that it's great to have different inspirational sources and end up with more or less the same. It's morphogenetic consciousness or as we say 'it's in the air'...

above: radiolarian, a deep see life form

Of course, these forms are NOT NEW as they are derived from who we are and what we consist of...   which are cells! Cells and especially the deep oceanic life forms interest me a lot lately. I want to make a few screens with cellular forms for printing.

awarded twice

Last week my blog was rewarded the Liebster Blog (favorite blog) Award TWICE!
One award was given by Nelleke of Langius Design and the second by Stephanie of Interieur-Coosje. I'm happy and grateful for it, thank you ladies!

Now I may pass The Liebster Blog Award to 5 other blogs.
I found it a difficult job to select five (and sometimes you don't know how much followers it has*) so I decided to select merely on Inspiration: on their Work, Techniques and used Colours, Subjects and Compostions, the Way they look at things shown in their pictures etc.
(in random order):

My top 5 blogs:

Joanna Rutter
Tsk Tsk 
Anja Mulder
Marjolein Perin 
Puppychick

You may pay the tribute forward, girls!

*The award is given to blogs with less than 200 followers.

If you receive such an award:

- you thank the one who gave you the award by posting a link

- you give the award on to five other blogs (and you let tim know by a comment on their blog)

- you hope that the award will be passed by to other ones

 

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Collégien

It's funny, some months ago I discovered a shop with lovely slippers. And I don't know how it works but suddenly I notice there's much to do about Collégien lately. (The same when you're pregnant, everybody seems to be pregnant.) I've seen it here and here and now here at Mikodesign. There's a give away at Mikodesign blog of Collégien slippers and if you send in a drawing or collage as well you'll have double chance of winning!
I've send this....

I did some photo editing and sketching on one of my own pictures from here.
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And have you noticed the additional options for comments given below each post?
En heb je de extra opties onderaan elk bericht gezien om commentaar te geven?
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any thing

lantern making

Studio Job

Inspirational forms, textures and patterns.
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By the way, the plastic cup things are excellent waterresistant Sintmaarten lanterns which have an atmospheric lighting. Attach the cups with staples and experiment a bit on the symmetry and the heights. You can decorate it with permanent markers if you like and punch a whole in one of the middle cups to lead through the little (electric !!) light. Success guaranteed!

moved

One of the most touching, original and renewing blogs I've seen in long while is the Minsterie van Ontroerende zaken of Auk Russchen (this Ministry of Moving Moments is part of the Ministery of Marvel founded by Yvette van der Aa). 
Auk is very unrestricted and creative in her images and language. (Unfortunately google gives a horrid translation of all this beauty, but maybe you can get a glimpse).

In a while I may call myself Executive Minister of Imprints, Image and Elaboration, or something like that... :-)
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dutch design week 2011

Among many designers there were a couple of whom we shall hear more of.

 

Elke van der Berg's work was wonderful by color and expression, but she did not even show her most beautiful work, look here for more...

Jack Brandsma's seemingly simplicity is simply perfect...

Rick Tegelaar with 'Meshmatics', lampshades of squared chicken wire and paper maché.

And of course we went to see Piet Hein Eek's new 'factory-castle' (shop, showroom, workplace and restaurant)

In this last picture Eek shows what I advise everyone to do (check my other posts for inspiring home pics): many cushions in different (non)matching patterns and colors. It brightens up your room and mood! 

You can order my cushions handprinted or of marketbought fabrics but always custom made, by sending me an email. I'm an expert in pattern and color combinations fully put together to your liking :-) But you can also buy my cushions at Noordelijk Talent in Groningen, who participate at the Dutch Design Week too!

ik verlang naar

Waar ik naar verlang vandaag
een frisse zomerjurk te dragen
met blote schouders, een uitgesneden
hals en rug en vooral goed
los om de heupen

waarmee ik dan de tuin in loop
de zon schijnt warm, maar de wind
houdt het draaglijk en brengt
de jurk in beweging en dan

ben jij er natuurlijk ook die
de jurk al even mooi vindt en samen
trekken we hem uit en hangen hem
aan een tak

en liggen te kijken in het gras naar
zo'n frisse zomerjurk in een boom, daar
verlang ik het meest naar vandaag.

(dichter: Jo Govaerts)

camilla

Tomorrow we'll go to a an amusement park thanks to the supermarket campaign. Actually  not my kind of fun but the girls love it. We'll bring girlfriends and a decent amount of healthy (and not so healthy) food supplies...and a good book (!), for I will not be in the rollercoaster all the time (Engman!)...

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inspirograph?

Richard Sarson merely uses colored pens and a compass to create these things. None of those fancy art sets or anything like that.
But I recently did buy myself one of those... it needs only a little practice, but a childhood dream come true :-)

More inspiration from a new book! You can buy it here.

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!

SALE

SALE in my Van San online shop during the month of March.
The shop will be closed from April 1.

I go on a Journey
Inwards
and abroad,
to See what's in me
and to Sort out what needs to go


Thanks for your confidence and interest. My creativity is unstopable and endless so I'll probably find some (other) way expression. 
I will continue blogging!

Dutch design

I bought this book about Hella Jongerius. And since I have a terrible cold for 2 weeks now and feeling a bit weak, I find myself some time to read this very much inspiring book! Only after turning a few pages I can't keep sitting still: I have to create something!
It contains beautiful graphic design ( by Irma Boom) and many detailed pictures. I love the colours Hella uses and her ideas on design and her work are represented in interviews with Louise Schouwenberg(sculptor and design critic).

After seeing the picture (first, above) I've decided to decorate my own shoes.... I don't know how yet...but I'll find out and show you the results when it's done.