Archive

Crafting

~ Count your blessings #8 ~

January 5, 2013
Art, Blessings, Blogging, Books, Crafting, giveaway, Holidays, Home, Music
2 Comments

My holiday is almost at its end, monday I will be back in the office as usual. Things will pick up where they left off. I had a great couple of weeks off; took things easy, read magazines and books and had an entire day to myself (an absolute luxury with an almost two year old). I even got to be a little bit creative and did some things I wanted to do for ages. Just small things, but they mean a lot to me.

collage cyb 1-2013

  1. I recently bought a beautiful scarf at famous hotspot Sukha Amsterdam. After a while I felt it lacked something so I embellished it with some small crochet. If you would like to read more about Sukha Vosgesparis wrote several nice posts on them.
  2. I watched a lot of Rachel Khoo on our Foodchannel 24Kitchen. I just fell in love with her simple and tasteful meals. Too bad she closed her little apartment restaurant in Paris, I would have loved to have dinner there!
  3. Sorry I didn’t have a chance to publish this book / journal by Lou Niestadt called Groots en meeslepend leven. I love its message! This book really comes from the heart. In this collage you can see a page from the book. It’s a real work of art. Handwritten and with all sorts of illustrations. You can buy it here for instance.
  4. We finally managed to hang our Ikea lamp! Our attic is so much more alive now with the light of the paper flowers on the walls and ceiling.
  5. A while ago I received a little bag with origami cranes made by Ingrid from Ingthings. I attached them all on a string and hung them in my favorite spot: next to my books.
  6. I listened and listened and listened again to Halcyon: the new album by Ellie Goulding.
  7. I made the first of hopefully a lot more pattern drawings. I love painting and dabbling with the colors.
  8. We went to the newly renovated Stedelijk Museum. The building was beautiful but unfortunately we didn’t get to see a lot of the exhibitions because we were chasing a little man around. For more on the current exhibition of Mike Kelley you can read Prentje’s nice post on it. (Note to self: do NOT ever again try to bring a two year old to a museum or any other place where silent respect is required.)
  9. I embellished one of our pillows with an old doily. You know, with Dottie Angel looking over my shoulder (as I imagine she is).

You can still join my Alphabet Bags giveaway so please do!

Count your blessings is an initiative of Anki of Zilverblauw. For a list of the other participants please check here.

{the photo of Rachel Khoo comes from her site}

~ Designer spotlight: Hattie Newman ~

November 19, 2012
Art, Crafting, Decorating, Design, Designer spotlight, Illustration, Papergoods
2 Comments

I hope you all had a fine weekend? I spent Saturday at this year’s edition of PapierHier in Amsterdam. It was the first time I attended this heaven for paper lovers. I had a great time getting to know all sorts of different paper and getting inspired by people who love paper just as much as I do. I felt like this whole world opened it’s doors to me. I just had no idea of the variety! The event was hosted by Antalis one of the leading paper company’s in Holland. One of the people who gave a lecture was Hattie Newman. This London based set designer and imagemaker works a lot with paper and can count such names as Louis Vuitton, Honda, GAP, The Times etc. among her clients. She seemed like such a sweet little thing! I just couldn’t believe she was the person behind all this beautiful work! I also made a card with a letterpress. I loved it and I would really like to do a workshop or course in letterpress techniques someday so if you have any suggestions?

{1. Installation Grafik Magazine Free Range Birds / 2. Ice lollies personal project / 3. Madame Magazine / 4. Installation Fedrigoni Mountains / 5. Set Design Louis Vuitton Theatre / 6. The real Hattie Newman

~ Some things I love #3 ~

November 10, 2012
Accessories, Crafting, Decorating, Design, Fashion, Home decor, Jewellery, Some things I love
2 Comments

November already and it’s getting really chilly and dark outside. I don’t know about you, but I’m beginning to miss the sun… November gets me thinking about wooden cabins and a burning fire, warm sweaters and hot chocolate… Is it Christmas yet?

{1. Eric Bompard kashmere sweater / 2. Crocheted stone via Pinterest / 3. Wouters & Hendrix feather bracelet / 4. Tree wallpaper via Houzz }

~ OhMarie! ~

November 1, 2012
Blogging, Crafting, Decorating, giveaway, Home decor, Lifestyle, Photography
7 Comments

Everyone present at the launch of the new digital magazine OhMarie! got a piñata with a gift. These gifts were meant as a little challenge; everyone should take a picture of them in their interior and then pass them through to the next blogger / person. Via Nina from Paper Stories I received five little lace bobbin utensils (kantklosjes). For a long time I just stared at them wondering what to do with them. Nina made such a beautiful pure photo of them and their first owner Monique also did a great job, with adding some nice images of the craft. I just saw ribbons every time I looked at them, I mean lace and ribbons right? And I wanted to hang them in my Christmas tree. But since I don’t have one yet I had to improvise. If you would like to be the next person to receive these five little friends please let me know and I will send them to you!

 

~ Dawanda design extravaganza ~

August 13, 2012
Blogging, Crafting, Decorating, Design, Fashion, Home, Home decor, Illustration, Jewellery, Lifestyle, Papergoods, Textiles, Vintage
4 Comments

I’ve been on holiday a couple of weeks and though I didn’t intend it, it became a short break from blogging too. We mostly relaxed and enjoyed the weather when it was good, read a good book or magazine when not, and really just tried to take things slow. Yesterday, to celebrate the end of my vacation, I went to the DaWanda design market at hotel Meininger in Amsterdam. DaWanda just launched a Dutch site and promoted it by having a design market with 100 handmade and unique DaWanda sellers. I was impressed by how good everything was organized. They even had somebody standing at station Sloterdijk to show people coming by train where to go, everyone received a really nice goody bag and there where beautiful flyers and floor plans. I was also honored as a blogger to be invited to the press meeting, but due to a grand logistic blunder I arrived too late for that! Such a pity, especially since it was a good chance to meet all the fellow bloggers again. A couple of weeks ago I was happy to receive a gift from DaWanda Holland. They sent this beautiful lasercut tree made by All Things we Like to hang your jewellery from. All in all I thought it was a great initiative seeing all the beautiful handmade items in real life. It’s always nice to see the person(s) behind the product and everyone did such a great job in transforming their hotel room in a nice shop!

{I Illustrations by Gemagenta - she also makes beautiful jewellery} {II Productdesign by Christine Wiegelman} {IV Illustration cards by Hellicopter} {VI sink filled with brooches by Van Ikke} {VII Jewellery by Liebelu} {VIII Hats & accessories by Jeonga Choi} {IX Illustration by Bird told me}  {X laser cut tree by All Things we Like}

Also a special mention for the following shops, please do check them out if you have a chance!

  • Swinging Chicks Boutique
  • Vezjun Young Designers (love this collective of great women talent!)
  • Studio Lilesadi textiles and surface design, beautiful illustrations and textile design by twins Dinah and Sarah Smutny
  • Diversitijd, retro knicks and knacks
  • Studio Soil, handmade vintage design – I especially like her bags and pillowcases made out of old blankets, she recycles and upcycles!)
  • Indie-ish, really nice webshop with unique handmade products by different designers

{I didn’t credit two photo’s, because I simply forgot the shop / room I made them in! If you recognize (your) products please let me know and I will make sure to correct it}

~ Magazine madness #2 ~

May 12, 2012
Crafting, Illustration, Magazines, Textiles
Leave a Comment

I hardly knew what I was getting myself into when I decided to share some of my favorite magazines with you. The thing is: I could go on forever. It’s one of my most problematic of problems: I’m interested in such a variety of things, where is it you (or rather I) begin? However, no list of favorite mags is complete without the following two, they continue to be a source of inspiration and whenever I’m blue or feeling under the weather (or both) they are just the remedie (together with a nice cup of tea).

{Mollie makes issue 13, II with photo’s of spreads of issue 13, I with photo’s of inside with own lay-out} {You can find more information on Mollie Makes the making spot}

Mollie makes highlights everything the UK has to offer in terms of ‘ making, thrifting, collecting and crafting’, but also regularly features bloggers, creatives and enthusiasts from elsewhere. It offers freebies, patterns and how to’s in a contemporary, easy going and fun lay-out. On first seeing MM online I frantically tweeted to Jane Toft the editor where I could find MM in the Netherlands! (exclamation mark) Calmly she replied: “MM is sold by AKO and Bruna retailers“. Imagine my surprise! Being available for purchase in two of our biggest magazine- bookshops!

 And then there is Flow! I remember it well: the first time I picked up Flow magazine. It was love at first sight. I became an immediate subscriber. Flow became an instant success and struck a chord with many others of my generation. Flow gave us permission to let loose our creative selves again, to dabble and be young and free, to just flow. It offers a hint of nostalgia (because sometimes our childhood can let us remember our inner flame) inspiration and insights on how to deal with a busy life (without pointing a finger). And it celebrates illustration and mixed media, beautiful books and words while being a real treat to the eyes (it also offers -paper- goodies!). A couple of years later and Flow has established itself in our magazine racks. It annually creates merchandise together with talented illustrators, highlights creative shops and is the magazine to read when you want to get all the latest creative vibes. Flow is a labor of love by two chief editors: Irene and Astrid (and two art-directors), you can feel it when a magazine is loved.

~ April fools ~

May 3, 2012
Crafting, Home, Literature, Travels, Workshop
Leave a Comment

April has come and gone and what a month! Last month we moved house, I went to the London Bookfair on a business trip, little V. had his first day in daycare and his first bath-experience, I did a bookbinding workshop, we discovered our new home town and most of all we survived our busy schedules! However special April was, I’m really glad it’s May.

~ Kindred spirits #2 ~

April 28, 2012
Art, Ceramics, Crafting, Design, Illustration, Kindred spirits, Workshop
Leave a Comment

After my involuntary blogbreak and the most hectic weeks maybe all-time, we are now more and more settling in our new home. In the coming weeks I will share with you parts of our new house, but for now I wanted to share with you the interview I had with Lisa Manuels owner of Shop elle aime. I love her illustrations and workshops, I made buttons and did a bookbinding workshop last weekend with tweeps Rivka from rrauw and Nina from Paper stories. Lisa is just the most lovely person and I was very pleased she agreed to answer my questions.

Who are you and what it is that you do exactly?

My name is Lisa Manuels and I make illustrations, I create, collect, sell and give workshops! In the north of Rotterdam I own a small shop named Elle aime. There I sell my own illustrations and creations, but also those of other designers and creators from all over the world. I also organise and teach many different creative workshops there.

How did you get to be so creative?

Probably because it runs in the family a little bit. Actually almost everyone I know is creative, everyone in his or her own way! My mother has been busy creating and crafting all her life, but as a little girl of twelve I never I didn’t see anything in it. Only later I started to appreciate the crafting, now I can’t live without!

Since when do you run your shop in Rotabs and what do you sell exactly?

My store opened on May 15 2011. I sell everything I think is beautiful, especially handmade gifts and accesoires. For instance cards by Margo Slingerland, printed things by Miko Design, jewelery by Reintroduced and porcelain by Kim Welling. I also sell masking tape: not handmade, but still really pretty!

 What are your dreams for the future?

My dream is to be able to be creative my whole life. I get very happy when I think of a workshop or teach one or when I make illustrations. So I hope to continue doing this for a long time! Next to this I would very much like to make a book with all kinds of great DIY projects. Who knows…

Which other designers / illustrators do you admire and why?

There are so many designers and illustrators I look up to! A few of them are for instance:

  • Geertje Aalders; she creates beautiful papercuts! Her work can be found regularly in Flow Magazine, such a great read!
  • Camilla Engman; a designer and illustrator from Sweden, she has such a great personal style.
  • Misako Mimoko or Eva Monleon; I really love her dolls, I also sell her work in my shop!
  • Mark Ryden; I have been in love with his work for years and will be for some time.
  • The Black Apple / Emily Martin; her work really is similar to that of Mark Ryden, but is a lot sweeter. She made two great books, really lovely!

Next to these I also love the work by Miko Design, Planet Fur, Margo Slingerland, Audrey Jeanne, Karen Barbe… I could go on and on!

Where does the name Shop elle aime come from?

My initials are L and M and when pronounced out loud they sound like ‘ elle aime’ . ‘ Elle aime’  means ‘ she loves’  in French which suits my shop perfectly, I only sell things that I love and support! During my search for a name illustrator Laure Manfre (also L.M.!) came up with this name and fortunately I was allowed to use it!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I hope to own a somewhat larger shop / workshop space, a really nice group of creative people surrounding me and a lot of inspiration still! Of course I also hope to live together with my boyfriend Floris and maybe together with some Lisaatjes and/  or Florisjes!

{All photographs are made by me / the laser cut brooches are a colloboration between Lisa and Made by White / Lisa’ s work can be found on Etsy}


~ Workshop mania ~

March 10, 2012
Blogging, Crafting, Workshop
1 Comment

Today I met the lovely Lisa Manuels, owner of Shop Elle Aime in Rotterdam at ROTABS for a workshop ‘buttons maken’ (‘making pins’?). It was so nice to meet tweep Rivka (her really nice pins are the ones on the left bottom in the image collage) there and we all oooh and aaaah’d over so many beautiful colored paper, masking tape, old illustration books and more we could use to let loose our button-making-selves. For a mother like me having a day all to myself is an unknown luxury so I thoroughly enjoyed myself just sitting there and crafting away. Lisa treated us to carrot cake which I love! I will probably become a regular customer at Shop Elle Aime and Lisa’s workshops. On my list are the bookbinding one and the one Marloes from Planet Fur teaches. Hopefully Mister will let me take a workshop once in a while…

And the result… guess what my favorite colors are…

~ Count your blessings #3 ~

March 6, 2012
Blessings, Blogging, Crafting, Movies
6 Comments

Recent blessings:

  • Ozowiezo’s twittercolumns: a thought / feeling / event captured in 126 signs ending with #twittercolumn. Diana is a true super-businesswoman and I love her work. Imagine my surprise and excitement when I heard I’d won her twittercolumn poster giveaway! I’m now the proud owner of this poster entitled ” Grijsbebaarde beer“. (in view of poetic freedom I will not attempt to translate the column), but believe me when I say it’s fine!
  • The new webshop of Zilverblauw in collaboration with Casper Boot. I love their “Never grow up”  poster! ’
  • Being mentioned’ for the very first time on one of my favorite blogs: Planet Fur (for me it’s a big deal!).
  • Snailmail from fellow bloggers/ tweeps. There is nothing like finding an envelope on your doormat with a self-made gift
{1. Crocheted bows by Noofje} {2. Origami papercranes by Ingrid}

{Do you want to read more blessings? Please check Zilverblauw for the full list with participants!}

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 782 other followers