More on money...

Talking about needing money.. I really wish we didn't need money, that there wasn't such a thing as rent. I see so many people trapped in jobs that are boring and frankly, not in the slightest bit useful to 'the world'. Of course, there are loads of people that love their job with a passion, but there are (from what I can see) many, many more who don't. I see people working for money, not for fulfilment.

I think this is a shame. Not only because people get depressed and struggle with the meaning of life or struggle to 'fit in' (this is a horrible thing too). But because so much talent, passion and energy to create things is wasted. Imagine what the world would look like if people got the space that the need for money and a meaningless job took away from them. Imagine if projects wouldn't be done because of money that could be made out of it, but just because someone had the passion to do it.

Last year I was in Spain in the summer. I went to a place filled with creativity. Right next to the highway, in and under the trees there was like a city of treehouses (or maybe; tree-towers). It was amazing.. There were statues, little houses, paintings, a maze, little bridges and these enormous towers in the trees. I found out they were made by just one very small man. José. He started building when he retired from his job and made this place, just because he felt like it, free for everyone to visit.

I can't stop thinking what wonders he would have made if he could have started building when he was younger. And what else people could create...

Welcome to the world of people who need money

Life is like a juggling act (how cheesy to start a blog post with this). It's true. I worked a bit extra to pay the rent. Okay. Then I finally got to go back to the studio to do some sketching, or so I thought. And then I got sick. Probably my body telling me not taking a break was not a good idea.

Enough with the whining. Now this post is to celebrate the fact that I'm healthy (sort of) and back to my brushes and paint and working on a book that is going to be fantastic! I've been wanting to tell more about this and I feel like it's appropriate to do so now. Ana Magdalena Zainea wrote a series of wonderful, short stories on emotions and nature. The characters in this book are animals, plants and trees. And I will be illustrating it!



- Ana's (Dutch) website-

In the meantime...

I'm spending a lot of time at my part-time job this week.. It's a fun job and it keeps me from going broke, so that's good. It does mean that I get to spend less time in my studio, but there's plenty of time for that next week.
Lucky for you, it doesn't mean that I don't have anything to share. There are still experiments and new projects and more exciting things...
I'm working on a textile project inspired by crop circles. I think it will be a blanket. Something that will be beautiful, but useful at the same time.

And there it is...

... my wheel is finally home again.
I had to miss it for four years. I left it at my parent's place, because I have very little space here. I live in two small rooms. Some things have 'moved' out, because I have a workspace now, but it doesn't matter very much.
I still decided to move it over here... It is just.. needed. I'm very happy to have it back!
So, welcome Louet.. We're going to make some wonderful things together.. I bought us a new bag of fleece a while ago. ;)

New things

A little something I am working on...
(In progress, obviously..) Just something fun to make me happy!
I am also glad to announce I'll be illustrating a book with stories written by Ana Magdalena Zainea. I'm quite sure you'll hear more about that soon.

Hooray for growing things

My garden still hasn't been 'restored' to non-jungle state, but it bothers my neighbours, not the plants. I spent my sunday afternoon on my garden, taking out some of the weeds, but mostly harvesting and watching the rain from under the roof of my shed. The smell of the rain on the plants was so good. I can't walk around in that garden without the word 'abundance' in my head. It makes me feel happy and thankful.



A little demonstration of 'abundance'; yesterdays harvest.
The courgettes and parsley were gifted by a garden neighbour. There were even more beans, I gave those to neighbours and friends.

I have been thinking that if the economic crisis would worsen and affect us very badly, I would go trough the city and plant beans along every usable fence I could find.

Guess what I took home...

... Blue Texel wool!

I went to a party yesterday that happened to be at a sheep farm.
Blue Texel is known for its blue shine in the wool. I think it is gorgeous! And quite clean already too.
I have a special project in mind for this..

The thing I love about spinning is that I get to work with a raw material - straight from the sheep. (Or washed and cleaned a little..) It hasn't been to any factory or store. I clean it, card it and turn it into yarn. A pure product.
And then I turn it into.. ... (you'll see)

Postcards!

As promised, here they are... (Or at least, some of them, I have several other prints too.)
These were for sale during my finals exposition and what is left of them will be available in my etsy shop very soon.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer (or winter, for those upside-down)..

Smiling like a crazy person

Starting today, I am officially a (small) business. My graduation felt like passing a test. The hugs and flowers were nice, but it didn't feel as important and big as this. There are many administrative things to sort out, but I am enjoying all of it. (I'm not kidding.)
I moved into my new studio and started... doing things! I caught myself peeking in trough the doorway and window several times already, thinking:
"This is my workspace!
This is MY WORKSPACE!!"

Somebody pinch me.

And I promise this will be the last PWP (post without picture).