live add - changing trade fairs

ShowUP was, again, very nice. Everyone was happy with the light and airy location and with the number of exhibitors!

I hardly left my stand, so here's 2 photo's of mine (above) and of my neighbours Ompak, for whom I designed a new collection as well.

Doing business on trade fairs has been changing a little over the years. And I must say: somehow it's for the better. Have we been writing orders anonymously all day some years ago, nowadays trade fairs are more a kind of 'live add' with personal attention to the customers. It's much more about connecting and exchanging: telling the story behind your products, listen to the customers needs, getting to know each other. Customers are more cautious with their purchases (and I must say, so am I), and that is completely ok!

Both my new floating lightboats and my tea towels were welcomed (and ordered, yes!) with great enthusiasm! It makes me feel grateful...

ShowUP spring issue

The biggest stress for a designer/wholesaler is getting the final samples or the production at the trade shows in time twice a year. My experience is that either parcels arrive super last minute on the build-up day (when you are lucky), or the production process gets stuck somehow and you have nothing at all to show. But I never give up hope and I keep on planning semi-unrealistic launches. This dreamer is unteachable in that regard.

New products that will be there for sure are: new Sailing Lightboats (see test ship above left) and my first series of Tea Towels (yay, finally!). The tea towel  final samples are here, the production bulk will arrive within 10 days from now. 

Would love to meet you at ShowUP  next week! So if you are a professional in the field, hop over to their website and subscribe for a free ticket.

2015

my christmas on pinterest

One of my favorite relaxing activities in the scarce spare time I have in winter: filling my Christmas board on Pinterest. I throw pictures out of my last year's board and search Pinterest for new inspiring images that match my christmas mood for this year. 

And of course this collage is a dream, it's the feeling BEHIND all the Christmas fuzz. This board is not about the planning stress when you invited 10 people for dinner, not about busy food stores, it forgets the fact that that one very important ingredient for your christmas recipe is sold out everywhere and it doesn't show the pile of greasy pots & pans afterwards... 

Yes, this is the winter wonderland of my intention and my wish for you: have a warm, light, playful, and relaxed Christmas (good is good enough).

All of the above pictures can be tracked down via my Pinterest Christmas board.

christmas in madrid

Sofia did it again. She managed to find a nice location for her annual christmas pop-up shop, filled with beautifully crafted gifts! So if you are (living) in Madrid, don't forget to pay her a visit between 12 - 16 December. And please do say hello from me ;-)!

advent

Today it's the first of Advent, my favourite time of the year!

I am going for a morning walk in the woods now to find some green for the advent wreath I make every year.

The photo's above - my Christmas collection - are taken by Valerie Delsman.

floral contemporary

It is already 3 years ago that Olivier Dupon wrote about me and my work in his gorgeous book The New Artisans. I remember how proud I was to be featured in such a wonderfully published book together with so many great artisans!

This time Olivier featured florists from all over the planet as well as my favourite Dutch florist Saskia de Valk in his latest book called 'Floral Contemporary' (Thames & Hudson).

There will be a booklaunch in Amsterdam next week: Saskia will decorate the shop windows of Athenaeum Bookstore during the week and she will be present on Thursday the 27th of November to 'sign' your book with a flower...