Mini cross stitch

Sometimes it’s nice to try something different, like this little cross stitch frame.

Instead of working in the usual size on this embroidery fabric, I chose to make very small crosses.

Love the way it worked out: they almost look like pixels in a photograph and the image gets a more natural look.

 

Making custom orders

If you want your quote, name or any other idea you’ve got designed in cross stitch? Don’t hesitate to contact me.

Together we can brainstorm and let magic happen!

I love to make and create new patterns.

 Don’t forget: personalized quotes are always unique and very special as a present!

Happy Easter

Time of Easter and spring is in the air! Oh, how I love this time of the year: the smell of new plants, flowers and the sound of lovely birds..

These crossstitch frames on the picture are partly made in my sunny backyard!

 

Time to vote!

Voting was a bit different this year during Covid-19; our well known ‘red pencil on a chain’ was gone for hygienic reasons. Instead, each voting citizen was given a pencil as a gift.

Every municipality had its own version. 

A special memento of an eventful year ...

 

 

Happy customer

After a post with my cross stitch frames on instagram and facebook I got a bunch of orders!

Of course this was a lovely surprise and I started immediately with embroidering. To make the little works even more unique, I desided to make the wooden frames by hand too.

 It’s always nice to see where your work goes when it’s finished, so I was very pleased to receive this picture from

Kootje Spek!

A perfect place to hang these Crazy Li’l Stitch Frames!

 

 

 

Cross-stitch

Cross stitch embroidery always had my interest, but somehow I didn't get around to it. 

I only did some freehand
embroidery (without a pattern) in the past, because cross-stitch embroidery seemed like a very coarse manner of working to me.

 

But after I got the book 'Borduren voor Bitches' as a present, a new world opened up to me!

In stead of a boring and well behaved one, I discovered a whole new dimension of cross stitch embroidery.  

This one is more about the message, not the pictures. This way I can create something personal and funny that makes other people (and myself included) laugh!

 

 Find more about the book 'Subversive Cross Stitch' 

from Julie Jackson

on this site.

 

 

 

A walk in the neighborhood

 Went out for a long walk in the regional forest today. It was really foggy, but the landscape was so scenic: drenched in mood and melancholy.

We must cherish these moments. Especially in times of uncertainty, nature can gives us strength and peace.

 

 

This holiday season is all about home

 Here is a collection of moments from this year... 

Creativity, lots of plants, my cat & my dearest ones have kept me going in times of limitations and solitude. 

Looking forward to the closing of 2020 and brighter days ahead!

 

 

 

 

Flying cow

 An otherworldly fun assignment: a customized baby mobile with a UFO, stars, clouds and the moon!

It was so much fun to make this baby mobile. At first I wanted to make a design with lots of planets around the flying saucer, but suddenly the saucer became really big...

Then I decided to make fewer objects and to keep them simple in colour and shape; in the end it's all about the alien of course!

 (partly after a pattern by Lalylala)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy World Animal Day

 Look at this little cutie pie: isn't she lovely?

 Can't believe she's already 7 years with me. When I got her, she was so incredibly small, everyone was afraid to step on her. 

She's still not very big, but definitely not to be overlooked!

 

 

 

 

Baby presents

 When friends tell me they're pregnant or going to have a baby, it's quite obvious I give them a handmade present!

Most of the time I ask them to make a picture of the little one with the custom made toy, because when they are happy, I am happy!

 

 

 

 

               

 

Quarantine

 What a strange time it suddenly is! We can't go out, can't go to work and have to stay at home.

Just trying to ease into self isolation by doing things I postponed, like repairing my sneakers by embroidering them (with a surprisingly nice result)!

 

Also put a nice vintage teddy bear in front of the window; he is playing hide & seek for everyone who's wandering outside..

Stay safe everyone, we will get trough this!

 

 

Everyday photographs

 My Siamese cat Zusje (little sister in Dutch) is always very interested in all sorts of stuff lying around in the house, she is so curious! She even opens my new vintage apple basket just to see what's inside!

Unfortunately my yarns are no longer safe now...

 

 

 

The end of another year

Again, another year is over and a new one begins.

Here's to a whole new year of possibilities. I hope yours is filled with joyful moments, even ones as small as the tiny crocheted shrimp in the middle of this collage!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday

 Quite often someone orders an baby present or brooch just before leaving, so even when I'm on a holiday I need to bring my yarns. But that's no problem, 'cause I love to crochet in the sun!

This picture was taken on our way to France.

Such a nice background; it looks like little tiger is taking of with his balloon!

 

 

 

 

Baby Mobile

 It's always nice to receive photos from parents or relatives who have bought or received a toy made by me; the products really come to life when they are in use.

And to see a happy or curious face of a little one that's looking at your toys..well that makes you smile!

 

 

 

Belgian market

It's that time of the year again: it is Pentecost!

On the second day, Monday to be more specific, you can find me and all of my vintage stuff in Kanne.

These festivals have been celebrated since the 70's and are a big success because of the huge flea market with over 350 exhibitors in the open air!

Pinksterfeesten Kanne

Op Het Broek 4

3770 Riemst/Kanne

 

 Belgium

 

Etsy shop

Yeay! Some fresh new items (read: brooches) are added to my Etsy shop!

These are new additions to the already existing collection 'A Humdrum life?'

Ad a bit of humor to your life and buy a banana to wear on your favorite shirt!

You can find them here

 

 

Flashback

A whole year captured in just nine moments of joy, love & happines.

Wish you all a Happy New Year folks!

 

Nature calls

Nature can be very inspiring in terms of shape, colour and material.

It makes me feel quite sad when I realize that a lot of these grown shapes will dissapear because they're transient. 

That's why I try to keep and cherish them by transforming them into wearable jewellery.

New brooches

Yes! New brooches in the making in the warm autumn sun! 

With such a lovely weather outside it's impossible to stay indoors, so I desided to make a few brand new brooch designs today. Hope I can quickly add them to my Etsy shop, so stay tuned!

End result

Last year was quite a busy one; after seven years of doubt I finally decided to start the study 

'Jeweler-Goldsmith' next to my day job. It was time to do what I love to do!

Today I can proudly tell you that I already finished this study with a small collection of brooches as final piece.

Made of fragile materials such as balsa, soapstone and acrylic resin; all combined with silver and a touch of gold, a pearl and a gemstone.

 

Study assignments

 
As a few of you might know, I started a goldsmith course last September.

Unlike my previous study at the art academy, this study focuses more on technology than on design.

My intention is to refresh my memory, expand my knowledge and to have fun of course!

Here you can see a few examples of assignments.

From up left to right under: a handmade cabochon ring with an citrine gemstone;

soldering links one by one to make a complete necklace; rings in different materials and a silver hand sawn key chain.

 

 

 

Happy 2018

My best nine of this past year; still enjoying the memories..but subtle shifting into new adventures.

Wish you all the best for 2018, with lots of cats, love, plants & creativity! 

 

Adventures

Because the next months are going to be very busy, 

I'm taking some time off for a holiday! 

Cyprus is a beautiful island with nice citizens and
a rich historical environment.

 
  For now...I'm going from one adventure to another!

New Selling point 'Eerlijk' in Amsterdam

When you go to Amsterdam, don't forget to visit

Eerlijk - coffee.cuisine.coaching in the southeast part of the centre.

It's a nice place where you can drink coffee and have a small lunch, all made with fair-trade products.

Besides a cafe, it is also a small shop with handmade products 

and they even offer 'coaching-on-demand'.

In short: an ideal spot to relax and recharge!

Eerlijk coffee.cuisine.coaching

Mon - Fri: 8.00am-6.00pm

Sat: 10.00am-5.00pm

Sun: 10.00am-5.00pm

Weesperstraat 101a

1018 VN Amsterdam 

eerlijkamsterdam.nl

Brazil adventure

For the first time in my life I traveled across the Atlantic Ocean,
all the way to Brazil and Argetnina.
I'm sure the beautiful nature and wild animals, with all their amazing colours, will be a big inspiration for my future work! 

Big cactus lover

  Went to Museum Voorlinden in Wassenaar this April,
visited the exhibition from Martin Creed.
Absolutely loved it,

this man is a genius!  


Museum Voorlinden

Open every day 11.00am-5.00pm


Buurtweg 90
2244 AG 
Wassenaar

Christmas shopping at Het Werkgebouw

 My brooches, necklaces, cacti and little terraria (even with little Christmas trees in it at the moment!) are again for sale at Het Werkgebouw.

In need for a Christmas present, 
or you just want to buy some lovely handmade goods?
We are open every weekend, so feel free to drop by! 


Open every Fri-Sat-Sun
12.00pm - 5.00pm

Het Werkgebouw

Gebouw W
Tapijnkazerne 24
6211 ME 
Maastricht

Wow! My little plants on the Etsy Facebook page!

Quite an honor, my Family Green Almost Real Ones were published 
on the Etsy Facebook page in The Netherlands!
And they are right; even on the heating they won't die!

Check my little green friends on Etsy

My little owl in Trendline Magazine

My work was for sale during Temporama 
(all sorts of different pop-up shops in the former V&D building) last May and July.

And guess what: one of my little crocheted owls was spotted and photographed by Trendline Magazine!

www.trendline-magazine.nl

Het Werkgebouw at Temporama

Temporama is part of Temporary Lane; an organization that revitalizes empty buildings in city centers. Not just by adding one pop-up shop, but by adding a range of several temporary shops with the focus on a Euregional range of products. 
Het Werkgebouw is also a participant and 
shows the work of different artists, including me.
Temporama is situated in de former V&D building.

www.temporary-lane.com
www.hetwerkgebouw.nl



Temporama

May 27 - July 3

Monday: closed
Tuesday: 10am-6pm
Wednesday: 10am-6pm
Thursday: 10am-9pm
Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 12am-5pm

Grote Staat 15

6211 CT 
Maastricht