et aussi ...

I wish everybody a very merry christmas and I'll see you next year.

During the Dutch Design Week I was able to take a masterclass on invitation by Etsy. This masterclass was an initiative from the Dutch Crafts Counsil in collaboration with the Cultural Participation Fund and Etsy and was one of a series of masterclasses. Every day of the Dutch Design Week there was a masterclass in traditional techniques, for example gold painting, felting, Delft Blue painting.             picture Dutch Crafts Counsil  The masterclass I got to take was basketry and was given by  Esmé Hofman . Esmé is one of the few left in the Netherlands who practices basketry on a high level. She collaborates with designers a lot to create new products with traditional techniques. Her passion lies with fine skein willow work, this is a very fine basketry technique. Willow skeins are being cloved in three parts and then planed by hand on a special planingbench. The skeins used can be only 1 or 2 mm thick. Every object is braided around a...

Last weekend we had a lovely trip to London, a present from my hubby. Besides the sightseeing and the great food and drinks it was a great opportunity to have a look at my lamps. In June I had an order for 5 lamps for a new to be opened juice bar: the  Mojo Juice Bar  in Soho. When we walked through Berwick Street we already saw them hanging through the window. By the way, you cannot miss Mojo, the outside is painted bright green. It was the first time I saw my lamps 'live', besides in my house. I have to say that I did have a proud little tickle in my belly. Hubby later told me that I couldn't stop grinning. Apparently the customers also like the lamps. Noa, the owner, told me that they love to touch them and they feel it adds to the living room vibe of the juice bar. Besides admiring my lamps you can get really good and healthy freshly pressed juices at Mojo Juice Bar.  So if you're ever in London. Mojo Juice Bar: 8 D'Arblay Street, corner of Berwi...

It has been very quiet on my blog lately. Thankfully not because I have nothing to do, in fact I have just been to busy. Next week I'm going on a nice long vacation and I'll be back in September with lots of news. Due to my vacation I offer 10% discount in my  Etsyshop  on all orders in August. Production and shipping will start again on the 1st of September. Use couponcode SUMMER2014 at the checkout. I will be reachable by mail for questions and custom requests. Have a great summer.

"Whether you are a cook, techie, fashion designer or an artist. Makers determine how the world looks like. Makers are the living proof that making is fun and useful. Makers are of all ages and come from everwhere. Everywhere in the world independant and community driven Maker Festivals and Maker Fairs pop up. The 'Maker Movement' has now also reached the Netherlands. In the Netherlands there are Maker Fairs in Groningen,Twente, Limburg and now Amsterdam also has a Maker Festival. The initiators of Amsterdam Maker Festival; Science Center NEMO, IFabrica, De Overkant and SVP Sfeerbeheer, want to show the public what is being produced at this moment by a new generation of makers. Whit this they want to stimulate interest for (new) crafts and technology. At the Amsterdam Maker Festival educations get a chance to profile themselves, can companies commit to makers and can a new generation of makers discover how fun and useful it is to make things." The Ka-ching...

In June, the Dutch magazine 101 woonideeën, comes with a nice crochetspecial; Happy crocheting, 24 pages of crochetfun for beginners and experts. The basics of crocheting is briefly explained and for the ones who cannot crochet (yet), there are some shoppingpages with online shops selling the most diverse crocheted products. My knobs and lamp are also nicely represented. This promotion has exellent timing since the whole month of Juni is  #etsylokaal , were I, and also a lot of other Dutch Etsysellers, will ship for free in the Netherlands.

This June I'll partcipate in #etsylokaal, an initiative of Dutch Etsy sellers to promote Etsy locally. The whole month of June I will ship for free throughout the Netherlands. Do you live in the Netherlands, use the couponcode ETSYLOKAAL in June for free shipping. If you live near Spijkenisse I'll deliver your order personally. Please take a look on  etsylokaal.tumblr.com  for more #etsylokaal participants.

Another treasury with one of my lamps in it made it to the front page of Etsy. And this time I'm in the first picture!! I want badly that tea by Korakoch

In August last year I was approached by an English book publisher. If I was interested cooperating on a new book on crochet, to be published in spring 2014 in the US. They had seen my Etsy shop and wanted to use some pictures for the gallery pages. Of course I said yes and I was very honoured. Now the time is finally here. Since February the book: 'Calamity-Free Crochet' by Catherine Hirst is available in the US. It's a nice book on crochet and next to the basics; stitches, needles, yarn, etc, it also pays attention to the little problems you can encounter. Tips, tricks and troubleshooting that come in handy not only for the beginner but also for the more experienced crocheter. It's definitely a good addition to my crochetbooks collection.

This week I got the new april issue of JAN magazine in the mail. With a nice mention of et aussi. The section Jan Living has a blue touch next month. My crocheted light in royal blue fitted nicely. Cool bulb Beautiful from the ceiling (for example next to headboard of your bed) are these crocheted lights in every length and colour. Price depends on the lenght of the cord. €81,90 (light with a 1 meter cord) www.etaussi.nl

I love these cups and vases made by Mauk Studio. Manon Maatje is the designer and maker. She got inspired by PVC pipes and parts and turned the raw forms into beautiful ceramic objects. I'm still doubting a bit between a white or a black vase, but I'm going to make my decision soon.         Mauk Studio Etsyshop         April and May

My daughter has astma, so it's a big no for us. But otherwise I would definetly want one.      Archello                                                                         Pinterest      Lacasadecoto                                                                 Lacasadecoto       Pinterest                                                                       Urban Outfitters    

Today another Etsy favourite: Studio Snowpuppe. They fold every lamp themselves from beautiful thick paper. The lampshades can be hung over CFL or led lamps, so the colour of the paper gives a nice colour to the light of the lamp.                   Studio Snowpuppe

I'm not married, but if I were to happen, then please with this ring. It's a 'wide sterling silver band ring with oxidized, roughed up finish with three scattered tiny white diamonds'.        Coco and Chia

A great alternative for the coat rack or little hook. Even empty they look stunning.                             kotipalapeli                                                           muuto                             et aussi ...                                                             teapea

I'm very in love with leather, and then of course the tough, cognac-coloured, saddle-like leather. So when, for health reasons, we had to replace our fabric couch for a leather one, the choice was easily made.         Pinterest                                                                                                        Madame Stoltz We fell for this big 4 seater. Beautiful with the open seams and because of the black legs it almost floats. It matches our oak floor, black cabinet and denim curtains perfectly.  

Two weeks ago Maaike asked me to make knobs for the dresser in her new nursery. She wanted two white, two yellow and two grey ones. I had to change the thread so they could be fixed in the drawers. Last week I received some pictures with the finished result.

A new year, a fresh start. I have redone the logo and appearance of my shops and blog and I love the result. This year I already have a lot planned and hopefully I can add lots more to that.  Just 2 little previews. Next spring a new crochet book is being published in the US and it has pictures of some of my pillows in it. Also I'm busy making summer versions of my blankets.