Rococo lady, part 2

So I made two Rococo ladies. Actually I had started with the little one back in August.

I wanted to make something quick to sell at a market.

But she didn't turn out nice at all. So I didn't sell her and took her back home where she stayed hidden in a drawer for about 6 months.

I don't remember why exactly, but at one point I pulled her out of her hiding place and decided to give her a make-over. Why not? She couldn't get any more hideous anyway.

The pearl eyes are still in there. I covered them with dark wool.

I thought it would be interesting to show the the process of reworking something that didn't turn out so well into something new. It's like recycling. And it feels good.

Two angels at my table

A few days before I had to take down my art show at Sugarfactory, I received a message on Facebook from someone I didn't know. Eli West, a fellow fiber artist from America found me on Instagram and wanted to interview me for the new blog he is writing together with his colleague Hannah Crawford. Eli and Hannah were coming to Amsterdam on their grand tour of Europe in search of fiber arts and artists. How very exciting!

We met at Sugarfactory where I showed them my work and they asked me a lot of questions that are still resonating inside of me. What an amazing honor to be asked about my work, ideas and process.  It gave a whole new dimension to my own idea of myself. Thank you guys!

After the interview we said goodbye and I thought that was that. But it felt weird not knowing anything about them, so I invited them to tea at my house a few days later. This time I got to ask questions, which I won't share here, except that it felt like I had always known them. 

The next day my husband Greg was having the premiere of his comedy show How to be Frisian at the Rozentheater and they - thank goodness - came along and laughed really loud - like Americans do - in a room full of Dutchmen who smile really hard, but don't make a whole lot of noise.

Within 7 days we had seen each other 3 times and now they were off to Paris. A part of me wished I could have sneeked off with them. I can't wait to hear more about their adventures in fiber Europe and about the community they are planning to gather through their blog, which you can read here.

Meeting Eli and Hannah was magical and I am so very very thankful.

Etsy update: Four historical busts

After having been home with me for a couple of weeks now, my dolls are ready to leave again!

I just uploaded my four historical busts to my Etsy shop.

I hope they will find a loving new home.

But if not, I don't mind keeping them.

It would be great though if they can stay together.

Opening party art show SCULPTURES IN WOOL

It's almost April, but I am still reminiscing about the opening of my art show on my 45th birthday early February. What a party! So many lovely people showed up. 

I was overwhelmed by all the love and attention I got. I am glad my husband took some photos so I have a better image to hold on to than the foggy one in my head.

This is the wall in the foyer. I printed four of my photos on black wallpaper. 

What a thrill to see the name of my website - finally ready - on the wall. 

Getting a big hug from one of my oldest friends.

So happy to finally show my work to everybody I love.

Here are a couple of pics from my guests.

I even gave a speech. Which is kind of against my nature, but I am so glad I did it. I just had to explain. At 40 I finally realized I had always wanted to be an artist. I started to take art classes here and there, and I discovered the art of needle felting. Some of my work might not be that easy to look at, because a lot of my dolls are pretty sad, but they are a part of who I am and I am willing to show that part now.

I concluded by thanking a bunch of lovely people; my husband Greg for his love and support, my children Ila and Imre for their patience, my friend Marieke from Woolwoofles for inspiring me to make needle felted dolls and my father Peter for letting me show my work at his club Sugarfactory.

I've been spoiled with flowers, books and other lovely things. Thanks to all who came to my opening party at Sugarfactory!

Summer flowers - August

Browsing through my photos I realize I have not been walking much in August. I thought I would pick up my good habit once the kids would be back in school, but I've kept myself busy with all kinds of others activities. 

I don't feel entirely guilty as I am taking pilates classes twice a week now. But I should keep walking too. In September I've been biking a lot more across town, delivering cakes for our new business Missbaksels. It's a lot harder to photograph flowers when you're biking!

Meanwhile I've been taking some photos of flowers at the school gardens that I visit with my son's class once a week. Enjoy!

Needle felting for market

Early August we came back from our vacation in France. Having been away for three weeks from my studio, I was very eager to get back to 'work.' 

Together with my friend Marieke from Woolwoofles, I was planning to sign up for a couple of markets to see if anyone would be interested in buying our work. So far I hadn't finished  a whole lot of dolls and wasn't sure I wanted to part with the ones I had, so I decided to start a whole new series of dolls that wouldn't take me too much time to make. Ha! I was wrong. These babies also wanted a lot of attention! But they were fun to make.

The technique I used here is called needle felting.  You basically stab wool with a very sharp barbed needle until the wool clings together. The more you work it the firmer it gets. 

For the dresses I used scraps of fabric that I have collected over the years. Embellishments are made with (vintage) lace, ribbons and buttons.

Unfortunately the market turned out to be a bit of a disappointment as nobody wanted to buy one of my girls. So I took them home and now they're happily sitting on their shelf again, watching over me as I type this blog post.

Summer flowers - July

Early July I kept up my daily walks in Vondelpark and enjoyed the beautiful weather and bright light.  But then our Summer break started and gone was my routine. We took it easy for a week - slept in really late - and then got in the car and drove to France for the rest of the month.

There were days that were too hot to even think of photographing flowers, but I did manage to capture a treasure here and there.

If you're curious where exactly we went on holiday, I invite you to take a look at my other blog called Pig Islands where I share unique holiday places that I have discovered though out the years in Europe and the United States. I hope you enjoy and would love to hear what you think.

Vondelpark

Vondelpark

School gardens

School gardens

Vondelpark

Vondelpark

In my garden

In my mother's garden

La Pierre Verte, Uzès (France)

La Pierre Verte, Uzès (France)

La Pierre Verte, Uzès (France)

La Pierre Verte, Uzès (France)

La Pierre Verte, Uzès (France)

La Pierre Verte, Uzès (France)

La Pierre Verte, Uzès (France)

La Pierre Verte, Uzès (France)

Gite Baron, Cazouls-lès-Béziers (France)

Cazouls-lès-Béziers (France)

Gite Baron, Cazouls-lès-Béziers (France)

Please do not copy or reproduce my photo's without my permission.

Spring flowers - June

Can you still call them Spring flowers in June? 

Again I bumped into some jewels on my daily walks in Amsterdam. It has become some kind of obsession I have to admit. I cannot go from A to B without trying to spot flowers worth photographing. There are so many that qualify. 

Next month I will be in France and I am eager to find out what will enchant me there. I hope you will check in with me in August again for more (flower) photos.

Have a lovely Summer!

Ophemert

Ophemert

Ophemert

Ophemert

Ophemert

Ophemert

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

School gardens Amsterdam

Derde Kostverlorenkade Amsterdam

Derde Kostverlorenkade Amsterdam

Bellamystraat  Amsterdam

Derde Kostverlorenkade Amsterdam

Derde Kostverlorenkade Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Jacob van Lenneptstraat Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Please do not copy or share these photos without my permission!

Spring flowers - May

Here is a selection of flowers that I photographed on my daily walks in May. Again I used no filter and I did not edit them. I keep being amazed at the quality of the camera in my iPhone. I hope you enjoy them too!

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Derde Kostverlorenkade Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Jacob van Lennepstraat Amsterdam

Frans Halsstraat Utrecht

Curacaostraat Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Vondelpark Amsterdam

Hoeve De Pippert Ophemert

Hoeve De Pippert Ophemert

Please do not copy or share my photos without my permission!