happy summer

sun - part of my landscape pop-up poster

It's always a hell of a job to get everything done before the summer vacations, this time even more!

Directly after returning from my summer holiday I will have to pour the sand out of my suitcase, wash my dresses and leave for NY! I am really looking forward to the NY International Gift Fair, especially since my friend Irene Hoofs from Bloesem Blogs is going to join me!
In the meantime my husband Peter will help my European distributor & Klevering with the presentation of my (new!) designs for their stand on the Maison et Objet show in Paris.
Back from NY I will have a couple of days to prepare and build up my stand at the Dutch trade fair called Najaarsbeurs.

But first: Peleponnese (mainland) Greece, together with my three men and an e-book pile of books! Booked the flights already last year, I am curious what to find there, except for small white villages, see, sand and Byzantine culture...
Happy summer to you all!

fireplace

July in Holland: I am wearing socks and a winter cardigan while dreaming of a fireplace like these ones from Surfing Cowboys in California (do they really need fireplaces there?).

sneak preview: product in progress

Working hard (in the weekends and at night) to get my new product to the printer's next week.
I am not fond of showing half-products and sketches, but I can't resist today. On my work table there is this 'carpet' full of printed and hand cut circles, it looks so lovely, I simply had to share it!

The photo is a bit vague on purpose because it is a product in process and I have to keep you in suspense a little longer.
The new product will be presented at the New York Gift Fair in August and in the meantime I'll keep you posted here of course.

get some headspace

 

This post looks a bit off-topic, but it's not. It is about a small but important part of my daily life.
At times that everything (including me) in my world is crowded and noisy, I visit a 'room' in my mind where it is completely silent and peaceful. I meditate every morning and it makes me happy, strong and carefree.

My friend Sandra from BijzonderMOOI* gave me this link: Get some Headspace. Former Tibettan monk and founder of Get some Headspace Andy Puddicombe states: "Headspace is a project designed to demystify meditation. Using the wonders of science and technology, we make it easy-to-learn, fun-to-do, and relevant to your everyday life." According to the New York Times Andy Puddicombe is doing for meditation what Jamie Oliver has done for food.

Interested? See the video below, sign up at the website, give it a free try and get yourself some headspace online for the coming 10 days!
Have fun!

tried & tested (not yet by me)

photo's above from Petite Passport

I have had this 'problem' ever since I was a little kid: I am a dreamer. I dream about not being here and now, I dream about being there, later, somewhere in the future...

You can understand that planning vacations or business trips triggers this weakness big time. So when you all came up with emails full of tips, ideas, sleeping, eating, shopping in NYC I couldn't be happier! Thanks a lot!

Natasja (thanks!) gave me the link to Petite Passport: an awesome website hosted by travel journalist Pauline Egge. You can spend hours and hours browsing - dreaming - looking for the best hotspots (like in NYC, above) in the world, often tried and tested by Pauline herself.

photo's above from Air B&B

A couple of you also gave me the adress of Air B&B. What a great (web)concept! Private short stay apartements all over the planet, for all budgets, for all tasts. It is so much more fun to have a real house/apartment in stead of a hotel when visiting a foreign city. It gives you the feeling: Ich bin ein Berliner (or New Yorker, or Amsterdammer, or Parisien...)

New York!

Map by John Breznicky

It was an immediate YES, when Tuttobene asked me to join them in the Dutch Design stand on the International Gift Fair in New York next August.
It was a wish already for some years to set foot and grow on the US market with my designs. What better place is there to start than New York?
 
This is all so new to me, I've never crossed the endless ocean before and I must say I suddenly feel so small!

How will it be, all by myself in the big apple? Where can I stay for those six nights (not too expensive, but still clean, safe and quiet AND in Manhattan West side - talking about unrealistic whislists....)? In the few hours left next to promoting my work on the stand, where can or do I have to go?
So now I am hoping for some of your good idea's for sleeping, eating and spending time in New York, adresses, links....
I would really appreciate your email or your comment here on my blog.

 Thanks in advance!

Big Apple/La Mela by Enzo Mari

pop-up sale in Madrid

If you happen to be/live in Spain - Madrid - at the moment:
Sofia Fernández Caleri, from Mamblona has organized another pop-up Sale! Sofia used to be one of my regular stockists, but sticks to amazing pop-up-sales since a couple of years. The surprising locations and the assortment of crafty products she collects make it into an event not to be missed!

illustration by Juliana Salcedo