final launch

Here's my Fleet!

These little paper ships can
- transport your wishes to the other end of the world
- carry treats on a birthday
- invite your guests to your party 
- and decorate your home, your plants or your gifts!

For this new Fleet I designed 4 tiny ships and I think they are so cute! So now there's 11 boats in the pack: three A4-size, four A5 size and four of those new A6 size little boats. A real Fleet!
Although there are 11 boats in the Fleet pack (in the first series it is 8 pcs) the price is the same as serie 1, only € 9,95.

Dear fellow bloggers... Of course I would be so happy if you would spread my good Fleet-news over the planet. I have taken many more photo's than I show you here, and you are very welcome to download them below for use on your blog. Don't forget to send me a link (email), so I can thank you...
Thanks big time!

High res images
Low res images

earthy

the gorgeous HAY-scissors - a gift from Sandra from her own store BijzonderMOOI

While taking photo's of my new Fleet wishboats (you'll see them in a few days) I noticed that all of my new thriftshop props have earthy colours. No coral red anymore, no yellow, which was definately my favourite for years! At the moment I only want to be surrounded by deep and tranquil pastels, with hardly any constrast. Maybe I just had an overdose of bright colours in the past few years?
I find it very interesting to see my (and other persons') colour palette change and develop over the years! So: what are you into at the moment?

we showedUP last weekend!

left: photo taken from the showUP website

A couple of meters from my stand: the Stork restaurant for a healthy lunch!

The new ShowUP trade fair was beyond expectations! Good vibes, great collegues, lovely location, fantastic styling, enthusiastic visitors and even some orders (thanks guys!). This is what the professional home/gift world in the Netherlands needed.  
Enough reason to sign up for the second edtion in August!

showUP Amsterdam

Photo: Vivian Dony - Graphics Sabien Engelenburg

This is Engel's invitation for the trade fair we are going to attend in a few days. On ShowUP I'll share a stand again with my friends from Snor Publishers and Sabien from Engel will be my next door neighbour!
There are 25 great wholesale companies presenting their latest designs on ShowUP. The trade fair will be held next Sunday the 3d and Monday the 4th of February in a beautiful old industrial building alongside the water in the upcoming neighbourhood of Amsterdam Noord. We are expecting a lot of customers, collegues, bloggers and press. You are most welcome to come and visit us as well. Book a FREE ticket at ShowUP and ShowUP!

sketches of a new fleet

Two weeks ago I planned to design something new to be launched on the Amsterdam ShowUP tradefair on the 3d of February.
I felt I had outgrown the style of my very first product, the 'little wishboats' (2008) a little, but I'm still in love with the concept, so I chose to restyle them (don't worry: the first fleet will keep on sailing!).

What a struggle it was last week finding the right feel, but yesterday I suddenly knew I was on the right track. I wanted to go deeper and wiser and still keep my customers happy...
I am scared stiff that you might think: 'She's gone nuts! Where are the nice clean graphic patterns, the fresh nordic colours, where's the white base?'
I can understand, but these ragged shibori-style prints, the simple graphic lines and the deep warm colours...this style came straight from my heart yesterday. Just like that. I can only hope my blogreaders and my customers can see, feel and appreciate it.
Thank you, heart, I can allways count on you!

stella's people

Oops, my last post was a long time ago, before Christmas 2012... I hope you had some wonderful days together with your loved ones and I wish you all the best for 2013!

I would like you to meet some new friends: Stella's ceramic people. They are so cute and stylish! Next to that they have exactly the right colors, glazes, shapes, retro feeling and decoration.
Stella Baggott (Etsy shop) from London is a graphic designer/illustrator originally, started making ceramics only recently. All of her work is hand built, and every piece is one of a kind.
High on my wishlist for 2013...

free downloadable prints for danish paper stars!

 

 

 

It is already two years ago that I blogged about my 'conquest': learning to fold Danish (or German/Moravian) paper stars! I had found a great TUTORIAL and after hours of practicing, trying (and swearing) I knew I had learned something I would never forget.
Since then, as soon as I have my hands free in December (when finally my business goes down a bit after the 20st of December) I start folding stars to get my head empty and my heart cheerful!

Of course I always design my own paper star prints (see stars above). And this year I would love to share those prints with you. You can download the prints HERE (5 Mb)


If you are having a hard time folding the stars: you can use my prints as A4-size wrapping paper as well!

Merry Christmas to you all!