+ + 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.

.
.

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)!

.
.
.

+

It was great fun and so nice to be in the company of fellow worker Marjolein. We are

planning to create a co-collection and are asking ourselves it we need a name for this cooperation.
We have not decide yet but we think it's going to be something simple like  +  because it's such an asset and a value to work together.


1+1=plus.
.
.
.

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

 

.

.

.

.

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.
.
.

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.

She's hurt

With fear in her voice her friend called me to say She had fallen of her bike and that a nasty looking wound was in her leg and an ambulance was already on its way. What horror went through my head in those minutes of rush before I arrived at the scene!
Five stiches were needed to close the wound... and she's doing reasonably well now.

While she amuses herself with modern equipment during the day, I tend to crochet something like between a shawl and a stole to finish all the pieces of wool I've been saving.

opulence

Turkse tortel i.e. collared dove

It's sheer happiness for me to see we now have 4 (!!) collared doves who consider our beech as their home. Day in day out, they are there. And the little birdhouse is occupied by tits (=koolmezen), again!

Danmark

favorite beach activity

just out of bed: making breakfast for our birthday girl

Stevns Klint

 

midwinter light therapy

We had such a wonderful holiday in Rødvig, Danmark.

What I enjoyed most was the connection with my girls, without the disturbing intervention of computer and television; many games were played and we created the paper garlands and cup cakes for Eva's birthday. And we celebrated New Year with Dutch friends who stayed in a house very near by.

The weather was frighting some days, but the fire inside was so delightful...

Happy New Year!

.

.

.