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I'm sorry for not having been here for such a long time.
I have been busy and not busy.
I've been busy with the ECO pop-upstore which we decided to prolong its opening till the end of June. I've been busy with Marjolein to expand our Plustwee collection with beautiful felt baskets (I'll show you pictures of that later). And I have been working on some small new non-textile products for the pop-upstore.
I've been also NOT busy, simply because of illness, or boredom and of creative rut feelings, which occurs on a regular basis :(

Since I have a smartphone I realize how much work it actually is to maintain a constant update of this blog: catch my camera, upload the pictures to the computer, adjust size and shape in photoshop, then upload them into the blog and write something sensible.
Nowadays I mostly post on Instagram. The pictures above are the 'clean' unfiltered ones I recently posted on Instagram.
So... I invite you all to follow me on instagram (too) and I hope to meet you there!

Have a good day x
San

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).

pastels

 

 
My newest elaboration; a textile painting on the wall, measures 60x60 cm, all handprinted and handsewn in my favorite colours.....It is for sale, if you are interested, please feel free to send me a message.
Soft colours, even in my clothes....

bag preview

colour inspiration from documentary images of containers in a port

detail of textile painting

proven new friend

My first bag since about a year is finished! (see, i've sewn many )
Nowadays I'm happy again sewing bags because of my lovely new sewing machine. My old one (still comfortably on a corner on my working table) just couldn't sew leather which I wanted to try for a long time.
So now a shoulder bag was born today, one with leather bottom and self designed and home printed fabric on top, an adjustable strap (by poppers) from 66 cm to 125 cm, a key clip and three inner pockets, closes with a zipper, €95 excl shipping, incl VAT/BTW. You can order it here.
There's more to come as you can see in the pictures. What do think of  it?

I made a textile painting too. In my student days I used to paint a lot, now I try to make it look the same but with handprinted designs and layers of fabric and stitching.
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And you may congratulate Tineke and her blog Stop:watch here, it's their birthday tomorrow (April 24) :-)

fairly ready

Ah, I see the picture shows only 5 cushions, we have six!

++ Plustwee is ready for the Ontmoetdesign (meet design) Fair next Thursday in Groningen!
Marjolein and I will be presenting six hand felt and hand printed cushions, ready to be admired and sold. 

We worked hard as we only got 4 weeks to get ready for the fair, but the work process and atmosphere between us was great! We had fun, I hope you like the results. I'd love to hear from you what you think of it: encouragements and critisism are needed - always, but especially when presenting something new. Thank you.

 

Please pay a visit to our new website, where in a short while you can see and order the 40x60cm cushions as well.

+ + Plustwee

+ + 

'Plustwee' is the name of our newborn partnership of Marjolein Perin and me. 
Since a year or so I wanted to co-work with Marjolein and after seeing my newest designs in printing, my colour combinations she finally said yes! Kick off!

House of Design asked us to participate in the Ontmoetdesign in the Wonen&Co fair in March, from 15th till 18th in Groningen. I felt a bit honoured, so we agreed to join as it is an excellent opportunity to  present our first handmade + + products.

We're working hard... and I'm happy!!   1+1= plustwee


Some more pictures here.

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clouds

Clouds are gathering in my studio. I've used the pattern so frequently since 2009 I had to strengthen the thumbed edges with tape. These cloud cushions the yellow one's already sold but can be made again - are called WOL(k) and are for sale.

One WOL(k) cushion measures aprox. 30 x 50 cm and cost €65.

new stuff

hand screenprinted cushion 40x40 cm

with matching blue piping

 

smartphone holders with fluorescent 'darning'

details of 'darning'

hand screenprinted cushions  30x50 cm

Here are some of my newest products. I'm happy to show them finally. I hope you like it!

I've been taking it easy and slow lately merely because of two facts: I was in a creative rut, I had no pleasure in sewing and being in my tiny workspace (i.e. the attic which is also our bedroom) where I have to work on the floor most of the time and my back's started to protest. I would like to share a workspace with several people like I had before (see Werkpost).
Secondly and honestly because I do not like to have a business All by Myself anymore. I do like to be my own boss! but I much more would like to work with a creative person who is a bit more skilled in business (advertisement, communication, finances etc) than me. Meetings might not be needed everyday but once a week or so. Anyone?
So that'll determine my next activities: networking, finding a new workspace and opening a new tiny shop.
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preview

Here's a preview (a part of) of my newest design for the next screen print which I will be preparing in school tomorrow.
The design was partially drawn by hand, then scanned and edited in Photoshop. My husband is proud of me and he likes to call me an autodidactic nerd :-)
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