early morning etsy

The bracelet of hollow green glassbeads I found in Alisha White's etsy-shop. I love the shape of this orange bag by Bayan Hippo. Well and on this one I actually should spend a whole post: J Clay's pottery, it is awesome! Check out Sheepish to keep you warm this winter, beautiful knit/crochetwork!

DDW

On our way home from France we paid a flying visit at the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. Our Dutch pride, designer Piet Hein Eek (first two images), opened his new huge factory/showroom/office/studio/restaurant in one of the old industrial Philips buildings - called Strijp R. The photo's above are taken at that location. We went (by free Design Taxi's) to other locations too, but it was apparently só overwhelming that I forgot to take any pictures at all.

The enourmous tent lamp and the 'suitcase-cupboard' are designed by Lotty Lindeman, the black and white wallpaper is by Melissa Peen. But those great glass lamps... sorry, I know they are famous, seen them before, but I don't remember the designers name! Anyone?

crochet therapy

It is my own fault that I worked too hard - 70 hours a week - for over a month. My problem: Enthusiasm! Can't say 'no' to great design projects for other companies, allthough I have a fulltime business to run.
Last week I finished the last one. Sorry that I can't post anything on these projects right now, they are still in progress (meaning: being produced), but you'll be the first to know when they see the daylight!

Anyway, I was exhausted last week, but in the same time couldn't keep my hands still. I saw Linda and Ingrid crocheting their way through the week and I thought: yeahhh, I want that too. Thanks so much to both of you for the inspiration!

It is 36 years ago that I last crocheted a potholder...and here you see: my first therapy scarf! I assure you this is the best thing to do after such a period of non-stop hard (digital)labour. I have got my energy back, I feel happy and relaxed! It is going to be a long, long scarf!

october mood

Tried to cling to summer (see beach life post last week) but wind, cold and rain made me surrender this week...it's autumn. After an Etsy-visit this morning I must say: the beautiful October-stuff I found there makes the season-switch more than bearable!
From top left: Earrings by Jillian Mackowiak. Ceramic pendant by Nifty by nature. Woolfelted pincushion Made in Lowell (by Liz Smith). And - there she is again - a crotcheted cushion cover by Emma Lamb

gift from germany

I have these great distributors abroad that I work closely with. One of them is Sabine Wittig from La Mesa, my German representative. Not only do we share the love for paperwork, we also share beautiful memories of a mutual very special friend that died almost 6 years ago.
It's a thin line between doing business and being friends sometimes... not always easy, but I still like it.
Yesterday a gift package from Germany was delivered with beautiful greeting cards from her assortment and this apple-teatowel from Koloni, that I simply had to photograph in the early morning sun.
On the gift tag it said: 'Dear Jurianne, thanks for the great cooperation, Sabine.' Isn't that super sweet?

interior living show

I had a busy Amsterdam-day last Thursday so I only popped in for a very quick visit at the 'Woonbeurs'. I avoided the men in grey suits selling Quookers and gel-fireplaces and went straight on to the 'houses'(huge stands with several rooms) of our Dutch interior magazines. VT-Wonen and 101-Woonideeën were certainly worth a visit. 101 Woonideeën was very 'tactile', with a beautiful colour palette and a very fresh Asian feel.
VT-Wonen made a statement: colourful, masculin, no nonsense, crafty, with deep dark colours! Actually, their house was so dark (and crowded) I couldn't take a proper picture!
So above you see a tiny bit of the 101-house. The ceiling was covered with lovely laundry lines with hanging patches in these great Asian pastels...loved it!

another stop at envelop

After buying one designed by Jessica Nielsen I found more beautiful cushion covers at Envelop. The purple one is from Sarah Palisi, the other one- which I definately want for Christmas - is designed by Mrs. Elliot Books.

wheather forecast: clouds

Cushion cover by Donna Wilson. Sunshine on a rainy day, if you ask me.


Cloud interior objects designed by the Bouroullec brothers for Kvadrat. For spacious museum homes! I could do with a miniature version of it...

sundaymorning-etsy-visit

The men are still sleeping, the house is ssssshhh, the yesterday newspaper has been read.... perfect moment to browse on the internet with a large hot coffee next to me. Most of the computer-related activities mean 'work' to me, so I cherish relaxed internet-moments like these!
Found some sweet things on Etsy:
This owl toy by Robin & Mould. Don't forget to check their blog too. Full of inspiring information! The hand-built ceramic miniature houses are made by The little red door. Wish I could live there on days that I feel small...

shop at envelop

It was again Irene from Bloesem who reveiled something new and exciting to me. Envelop is a fabric design goldmine! They sell household textiles designed by real pattern artists for a reasonable price. Next to that Envelop offers pattern designers a very easy way to have their fabrics produced and sold.
I bought this cushion cover with graphic hills, designed by the dutch Jessica Nielsen, who's beautiful work you can see on her own website too. It reminds me somehow of midcentury modern Finnish Marimekko-type textile. The pillow cover came today - in an Envelop of course - and I am really happy with it!

summer? spring!

Although summer started yesterday, I unfolded a little garden called 'Spring' on my table! It's a new tablecloth I designed for my friend Sabien, who has this great wholesalebusiness called Engel. I already designed Little Elephant, which has a rather different feel. Spring is definately a sunshine design, Elephant is more masculin and could serve in wintertime as well. Sabien sells both designs as tablecloths, childrens aprons (they are sooooo cute, will show them later) and place mats. It's all made of a matt coated cotton, which you can wash and even iron on the cotton side.
You can contact Engel for wholesale information and of course for a salespoint near you!

soccer world cup

If they would use these kind of balls - gorgeous embroidered woolfelt - in South Africa the coming weeks I wouldn't miss a single match. The colours and the geometric patterns of the embroidery are exactly what I have in mind as an inspiration for new designs this week (see previous post).
Deborah from Kickan & Conkers spotted them at Toirtoise General Store, an American webstore with great (and sometimes rather expensive) everyday stuff. And alternative soccer balls...

etsy today

A few lovely finds on etsy today:
Hand printed cotton/linen cushion cover, from Kalla. Mid-century modern vintage lamp with a fiberglass shade, seen at Hindsvik.
Matte stoneware designed by Paige Russel. And a cotton cloche hat from Bonniesknitting

spot on Anu

Came across her work through the inspirational blog of Lou et Tom the other day. And searching on the internet to learn more about this Finnish artist, I found out that 'the blogworld' spotted Anu Tuominen already years ago... Still I think I should show it on my blog too.
Her work is amazing, poetic, sweet. Anu makes a fairytale of small every day life!

the big Bjørke-bag

Lucky me: I have Bjørke as my friend. She's funny and sweet, she's a real inspiration and...she made me this gorgeous, XL summer bag! She combined the most wonderful vintage fabrics in a surprising way. It is not only a lovely bag: it is strong too, with a sound lining, a real piece of good craftswork!
Bjørke just told me she's planning to make some for sale, so keep an eye on her little online-shop and maybe the next one is yours!
Thanks, B!

ana kras

I don't know much about Ana Kras, only that she was born in Belgrade (Serbia) and that she makes the most wonderful lampshades! On her website she says she knits them (please correct me when I am wrong), but it looks like she winded yarn around (lovely shaped) frames of lamshades.
Thanks to Belgian bloggers Eva and Katty from Zeza & Flor who mentioned Ana's work in April.

tablecloth final

The postman was my best friend this week! Again an exciting parcel. This time from Engel, in cooperation with the Audax Textile Museum.
In March we went to the museum with our own designs, which the people of the Textile Laboratory helped convert into woven fabrics. See and read more about this 'tablecloth-project' right here. We had to wait a little while before the tablecloths and the tea towels were ready and this week they came 'home'!
The project was a gift from Engel to her designers. Well, what can I tell you...I am so happy with it, it is so amazing. I mean, it's a real tablecloth and I designed it. To be honest: I am very proud. And thankful, of course!

anthropologie

Just went virtual shopping (meaning: online and without spending any money, but having great fun) at www.anthropologie.com. Kind of new to me, this UK-based store, allthough I heard the name many times before. It has a nice style, a bit 'brocante' combined with trendy stuff. Great for an online (and King's Road) visit!

chika and jean

These faboulous textile notebooks are made by Chika and Jean from the Etsy shop Chikabird. Notebooks are - together with teatowels, pendant lamps, coffee cups and teapots - my absolute weakness!

THE summer bag

Blown away by a bag!
Made by the swedish Oddbirds, all the bags are unique and made of vintage patches. I think those large graphic patterns combine beautifully with the small romantic patterns! They are available at Cosas, the webstore of my friend and distributor Anneli in Stockholm.